Utah Launches Major Great Salt Lake Rescue Project in Preparation for 2034 Olympics

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Long-term drought has significantly contributed to the Great Salt Lake’s decline, but approximately 75% of the issue stems from human activities. According to research published in 2022, excessive water consumption by humans has taken a toll over the decades.

In 2022, state officials took decisive action to address the crisis. Lawmakers allocated $40 million to establish a water trust aimed at enhancing both water quality and quantity. Additionally, alterations to Utah’s water law now designate it as a “beneficial use” for farmers to redirect their allotted water into lakes, incentivizing donations and water transfers. Previously, any unused water rights could be lost.

National authorities also initiated modifications along the causeway dividing the lake’s northern and southern sections, enabling control over water and salt flow. Fortunately, this winter brought about double the normal snowfall in the mountains, which played a key role in the lake’s recovery.

Kevin Perry, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah specializing in the Great Salt Lake and its toxic dust, noted that these combined factors significantly lowered the lake’s salinity, effectively “saving it.”

According to Perry, “That huge snowpack buried and diluted all the salt in the southern part of the lake.”

The ecosystem is showing signs of recovery; “The seeds are back,” Perry remarked.

Baxter added, “This year’s flies were just tough.”

These changes were enough to temporarily avert a crisis, at least for now.

Joel Ferry, director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, expressed relief, stating, “We dodged an environmental nuclear bomb. We put away the red button.”

However, water levels have yet to return to a healthy state, and the potential impact of this year’s excessive snowfall continues to pose challenges.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Deadly Fungus Causes Ill Frogs to Leap Great Distances, Possibly in Search of Mates

Posted on November 27, 2025 by

Bellow’s alpine tree frogs enhance their jumping ability when infected with a common fungus

Robert Valentich/naturepl.com

The chytrid fungus is a lethal pathogen affecting amphibians amid an ongoing global crisis, capable of wiping out entire populations. Yet, for one endangered frog species in Australia, the infection has led to an unusual positive effect: significantly larger hops.

Verreaux’s alpine tree frog (Litoria Verouki Alpina) is impacted by the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Those infected can leap nearly a quarter further than their uninfected counterparts.

“These findings remind us of the incredible resilience of these amphibians and their responses to threats from this daunting pathogen. Remarkably, their bodies can display unexpected adaptations,” says Teagan McMahon from the University of Connecticut in New London, who was not involved in the research.

Alexander Wendt and colleagues at the University of Melbourne, Australia, investigated the impact of Bd infection on the health of alpine tree frogs, using their locomotion as an indicator of physiological health.

In their laboratory study, the researchers separated 60 frogs into groups based on infection status. Wendt and his team assessed how the frogs responded to extreme temperature conditions and measured their jumping distances when gently stimulated.

Remarkably, six weeks after infection, the frogs that had contracted Bd exhibited an increase in jumping distance of nearly 24% compared to uninfected ones. Typically, in other amphibian species, energy reserves are drained as the immune system combats the fungus. The physiological responses to Bd can vary significantly among amphibian species, offering temporary advantages in cases of sublethal infections.

“However, as soon as clinical symptoms emerge, it becomes exceedingly challenging for most species,” Wendt notes.

The immune response of alpine tree frogs does not appear robust enough to hinder their reaction to Bd, suggesting that such enhancements may aid them in locating mates quickly before their condition worsens. Other frog species are also known to amplify their mating calls when infected with Bd.

This short-term bolstering of jumping ability can be advantageous when faced with Bd. “From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes sense,” McMahon adds. “Enhanced mobility may contribute to increased transmission rates and prolong the host’s lifespan.”

The influence of Bd on amphibians is increasingly recognized as being shaped by complex interactions between host biology, the fungus, and the surrounding environment. “All we can do is gather as much information as possible to assist these species in surviving and mitigating the spread of Bd before it reaches a critical point,” Wendt emphasizes.

Topic:

Animal Behavior/
Amphibian

Source: www.newscientist.com

Kissing Likely Evolved in Our Common Ancestor with Great Apes 21 Million Years Ago

Posted on November 20, 2025 by

Kissing is common among most living great apes and likely was practiced by Neanderthals, having evolved in the ancestors of these groups between 21.5 million and 16.9 million years ago, according to a study led by researchers from Oxford University.

Neanderthal. Image credit: Gemini AI.

Kissing can be observed in various animal species, yet it poses an evolutionary enigma. While it carries significant risks, such as disease transmission, it lacks clear reproductive or survival advantages.

Until now, the evolutionary background of kissing has received limited attention, despite its cultural and emotional importance across numerous human societies.

In this recent study, Dr. Matilda Brindle and her team from the University of Oxford undertook the first investigation into the evolutionary history of kissing, utilizing a cross-species perspective based on primate family trees.

The findings indicated that kissing is an ancient characteristic of great apes, having developed in their ancestors between 21.5 and 16.9 million years ago.

This behavior has persisted through evolution and is still evident in most great apes.

The researchers also concluded that Neanderthals, distant relatives of modern humans, likely engaged in kissing as well.

This evidence, alongside earlier studies showing that humans and Neanderthals exchanged oral microbes (through saliva) and genetic material (via interbreeding), strongly implies that kissing occurred between the two species.

Dr. Brindle stated: “This marks the first exploration of kissing from an evolutionary standpoint.”

“Our results contribute to an expanding body of research that illuminates the incredible variety of sexual behaviors found among our primate relatives.”

To carry out the analysis, scientists needed to define what constitutes a kiss.

This task was challenging due to the numerous mouth-to-mouth interactions resembling kisses.

Given their investigation spanned a diversity of species, the definition had to be suitable for a wide range of animals.

Consequently, they defined kissing as non-aggressive mouth-to-mouth contact that does not involve food transfer.

After establishing this definition, the researchers concentrated on groups of monkeys and apes that evolved in Africa, Europe, and Asia, gathering data from the literature where kissing has been documented in modern primates.

Among these are chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans, all of which have displayed kissing behavior.

Following that, they conducted a phylogenetic analysis, treating kissing as a “trait” to map onto the primate family tree.

Using a statistical method known as Bayesian modeling, they simulated various evolutionary scenarios along the tree’s branches and calculated the chances that different ancestors also kissed.

The model ran 10 million simulations, producing robust statistical estimates.

Professor Stuart West from the University of Oxford noted: “Integrating evolutionary biology with behavioral data enables us to draw informed conclusions about non-fossilized traits like kissing.”

“This paves the way for studying the social behaviors of both extant and extinct species.”

While the researchers caution that current data is limited, particularly beyond great apes, this study sets a framework for future inquiries and offers primatologists a consistent method for documenting kissing behaviors in non-human animals.

“Though kissing may seem like a universal act, it’s only documented in 46% of human cultures,” remarked Dr. Katherine Talbot from the Florida Institute of Technology.

“Social customs and situations differ vastly among societies, prompting the question of whether kissing is an evolved behavior or a cultural construct.”

“This research represents a first step in addressing that question.”

This is part of a study published this week in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior.

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Matilda Brindle et al. 2025. A comparative approach to the evolution of kissing. Evolution and Human Behavior in press. doi: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106788

Source: www.sci.news

Killer Whales Surround Great White Sharks and Feast on Their Livers

Posted on November 3, 2025 by

Killer whales execute skilled hunting techniques to bring juvenile great white sharks to the water’s surface.

Marco Villegas

Killer whales in the Gulf of California have adopted a sophisticated hunting method to target juvenile great white sharks: they turn them upside down to immobilize them. This finding implies there may be a previously unnoticed pod of orcas in the area that specialize in hunting sharks.

Only a limited number of killer whale populations are documented to consume sharks, and even fewer have been observed preying on great white sharks (carcharodon carcharius). Historically, killer whales (Orcinus orca) off the coast of San Francisco have been linked to a recorded incident involving a great white shark in 1997, and a carcass recovered near Australia revealed signs of an orca attack, documented in 2023. Until recently, only one instance of a killer whale preying on a young great white shark had been noted, and that was in South Africa.

Jesus Eric Higuera-Rivas, an independent marine biologist from Mexico, along with colleagues, captured video footage of killer whales hunting juvenile great white sharks on two occasions in the Gulf of California. The initial footage, taken in August 2020, depicted five female killer whales collaboratively pushing a juvenile great white to the surface. “The killer whale was attempting to ram the great white and flip it over,” Higuera-Rivas remarked.

This tactic induced a temporary state of paralysis in the shark, known as tonic immobility. The orcas also managed to consume the energy-rich liver of the shark, sharing it among themselves. Shortly thereafter, the pod repeated their attack on another young great white shark. In August 2022, another group of five killer whales exhibited the same hunting strategy against juvenile great whites in the identical location.

Some of the killer whales involved in the first incident were identified as those previously seen hunting whale sharks and bull sharks. However, the video from the second incident was insufficiently clear to confirm if those were the same orcas. “But it’s highly probable,” says Higuera-Rivas.

The hunting behaviors of killer whale populations differ significantly based on their habitat. “Orcas are like hunting machines, akin to snipers. They employ specific strategies tailored to their prey,” Higuera-Rivas explains. These observations indicate that the killer whales in question may be part of an unrecognized group of shark hunters.

“This provides another example of a distinct feeding strategy, likely not shared by other orca groups globally,” states Andrew Trites from the University of British Columbia, Canada. However, further research is necessary for conclusive evidence, as these killer whales might descend from Pacific Northwest populations that hunt different shark species.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Footage Shows How Killer Whales Outsmart Great White Sharks.

Posted on November 3, 2025 by

Killer whales have increasingly been preying on dolphins in recent years. A recent report shows that now, new research indicates they have also devised a gruesome hunting strategy to target the livers of young great white sharks.

Hunting the world’s most formidable fish is no small feat, but the pod of killer whales in the Gulf of California has learned how to do it. They work together to flip the shark upside down, immobilizing it, and then extract its energy-rich liver for sharing.

Additionally, they have been captured on video executing this behavior.

Is this brutal behavior typical of killer whales? Yes, Professor Callum Roberts, a marine biologist at the University of Exeter not associated with the study, stated to BBC Science Focus.

“Orcas may be the most intelligent marine creatures, based on their innovative methods for hunting. Historically, killer whales targeted whales caught by industrial whalers and consumed their tongues.”

While killer whales have been observed preying on adult great white sharks in the past, these recent findings provide the first evidence of their strategic hunting techniques against them.

During their observations, the research team noted the pod killing not one, but two great white sharks in August 2020, and another pod consuming a third in 2022.

By pushing the shark to the surface and inverting it, the killer whales induce a state of tonic immobility in the shark due to the abrupt change in environment. In this vulnerable state, they can take what they want from the shark while leaving the rest behind.

Young sharks lack the experience to escape when a group is approaching. Researchers suggest that this implies killer whales may be hunting great whites more frequently than previously thought, as per findings in Frontiers of Marine Science.

“I believe that killer whales that target elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are capable of finding great whites whenever they choose,” said the study’s lead author, Eric Higuera Rivas.

“This behavior showcases the killer whales’ intelligence, strategic mindset, and advanced social learning, with hunting techniques evolving and being shared across generations within their pods.”

Climate change may play a significant role in this behavior. The intensification of the El Niño phenomenon, which results from warming in the Pacific Ocean, is expanding the habitat of great white sharks into killer whale territories. These regions are populated with young, inexperienced sharks, making them easy targets.

Experts worry that this behavior could be detrimental for the shark population.

“What benefits killer whales might not bode well for sharks. Both species are endangered,” Roberts noted. “Let’s hope they don’t spread these hunting strategies too widely.”

About our experts

Callum Roberts serves as Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Exeter and previously held the position of Chief Scientific Advisor for BBC One. He has authored several books, including the “Blue Planet II” series and Oceans of Life: How our oceans are changing (Penguin Books, £22) and Coral Reef Life (Profile Book, £12.99).

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Video Captures Orcas Preying on Great White Sharks and Consuming Their Livers

Posted on November 3, 2025 by

Certain killer whales have a preference for liver, particularly that of great white sharks.

A video captured by Mexican scientists demonstrates how an astute whale targets the apex predator’s fatty organs.

Researchers documented two killer whale hunts in the Gulf of California, one in 2020 and the other in 2022. The footage reveals a group of great white sharks flipping a young shark onto its back, disorienting it, before slicing open its side to extract its liver. The findings from this video study were published on Monday in Frontiers in Marine Science.

In one notable scene, all members of the shark clan feasted on the pink liver fat while the remainder of the shark’s body remained submerged in the ocean depths. A sea lion was seen lurking nearby, seemingly hoping to steal a meal, but orcas released bubbles to ward it off.

Marine biologist and documentarian Eric Higuera Rivas, who filmed the hunt from a nearby boat, initially did not grasp the significance of the footage until he began editing.

“On the monitor, we noticed the shark’s liver hanging out, already dislodged. Moments later, the shark emerged with the liver in its mouth,” recounted Higuera Rivas, a co-author of the study. “I was astonished to learn it was a great white shark. I could hardly believe it.”

Heather Bowlby, a researcher from Fisheries and Oceans Canada not involved in the study, noted that the footage serves as a strong reminder that even apex predators need to stay vigilant.

“We typically view great white sharks as the pinnacle of the food chain,” she stated. “It’s always beneficial to remind them that they can also be prey.”

Higuera Rivas and his team indicated that the hunt appeared to involve members of the same group of killer whales, which they have designated as Moctezuma pods. This pod regularly patrols the Baja California coast, primarily hunting elasmobranchs, including sharks and whales. Higuera Rivas has been monitoring these pods and recording their behaviors for over a decade, noting their adaptations based on the species they target.

Previously, evidence of killer whales preying on great white sharks was limited to South Africa, where they have been known to extract livers and wash the remains ashore.

Alison Towner, a marine biologist at Rhodes University specializing in the South African phenomenon, stated that while behaviors in Mexico and South Africa are similar, they are not identical; Mexican killer whales typically target younger sharks, whereas their South African counterparts focus on adults.

Towner indicated that individual killer whale pods likely learned their hunting strategies independently.

“Observing this behavior in Mexico implies that specific groups of killer whales have developed distinct methods for hunting sharks,” she mentioned via email. “Even though the same organs are the target, the manner in which they are approached varies from what we have documented in South Africa, indicating group-specific learning.”

A new study reveals that Mexican killer whales have discovered a vulnerability in great white sharks.

“When flipped over, a shark enters a state known as tonic immobility,” explained study co-author Francesca Pancaldi, a shark researcher at the National Institute of Marine Sciences. “They become immobilized, akin to a catatonic state. They simply freeze.”

The liver, a nutrient-rich and fatty organ, comprises about a quarter of a shark’s body, delivering “a substantial amount of energy,” he added.

Researchers from both South Africa and Mexico concurred that this hunting behavior is likely not new to killer whales. What has changed for scientists is the advancement of drone technology, which has enhanced the ability to observe and document these hunting events.

“I believe this has been occurring for centuries, but it’s challenging to witness such events,” Pancaldi remarked.

However, she also mentioned that climate changes may have heightened interactions between great white sharks and the octopus pods.

“In fact, we have noticed a growing presence of great white sharks in the Gulf of California over the past decade,” Pancaldi noted, explaining that the species is particularly sensitive to changes in ocean temperatures linked to weather patterns such as El Niño.

According to Towner, scientists in South Africa began observing attacks by killer whales on great white sharks nearly a decade ago. Such predatory behavior has caused great whites to abandon their usual feeding, resting, and breeding spots, referred to as assemblages.

“As a result of repeated predation, great whites have entirely vacated their traditional core gathering sites,” Towner explained. “Many sharks may have relocated offshore or to less monitored regions, which is reshaping coastal ecosystems.”

Following the exodus of the sharks, populations of Cape fur seals and sevengill sharks have surged, leading to conflicts with the primary prey species, such as small fish and smaller sharks, according to the report. This study was published in Frontiers in Marine Science earlier this year.

Mr. Towner noted that only two adult male killer whales, referred to as Port and Starboard, were responsible for the frequent attacks on great white sharks in South Africa. This predation puts pressure on great whites, which have slow growth and reproductive rates, and a similar situation could develop in Mexico if this behavior becomes more prevalent.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Exploring PMS: A Great Idea Made Simple for Today’s Mindset

Posted on October 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The menstrual cycle and aspects of women’s health have historically been underexplored

Romi Arroyo Fernandez/Nur Photo via Getty Images

The Period Brain
Sarahil Vermillion (UK); Harvest (US)

While living with my parents, my mother claimed she could always sense when my period was imminent. I vividly recall the chaos that ensued when she mistakenly purchased chicken breast instead of thighs on the evening I was tasked with cooking.

Such dramatic reactions are typical of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which is a central topic in the book The Brain of the Times: The New Science of How We Understand PMS. The author, Sarahill, who has previously examined the impact of birth control on the brain, outlines methods for managing PMS symptoms with a focus on lifestyle adjustments.

Women’s health has been largely overlooked in the scientific arena for years. Hill, who possesses a PhD in evolutionary psychology and leads a health and relationship lab at Texas Christian University, is in a good position to address these gaps. Unfortunately, her arguments can sometimes feel superficial.

At one point, she links PMS to the notion that women are told to burn an average of 2,000 calories. This implies that researchers should consider an additional 140 calories during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Hill posits that adherence to these guidelines leads to cravings and misconceptions about food, which can exacerbate the issue.

Any woman paying such close attention to her caloric intake is unlikely to dismiss a 140-calorie snack for the sake of anecdotes. To me, Hill’s reasoning appears to overly simplify the onset of PMS.

Although she references plenty of scientific studies, Hill seldom shares details regarding participant numbers or the duration of interventions, which are critical since small studies often overlook various genetic factors.

The potential genetic influence on PMS is another topic that Hill only lightly touches on. While no specific genes linked to PMS have been identified, the condition is reported to occur more frequently in identical twins compared to fraternal twins. Given this, it’s not surprising that genetic factors could also play a role in different menstrual cycle aspects.

Hill frequently suggests symptom relief through inadequately tested supplements, increased sun exposure, and varying exercise routines throughout the menstrual cycle (though the last point may hold some merit). However, acknowledging that severe symptoms could stem from genetic factors rather than merely lifestyle choices would be beneficial.

One thing I concur with Hill about is the need for further research at various menstrual cycle stages to understand how these phases affect responses to psychological treatments like drug metabolism. I also agree that it may be easier to cope with mood swings by recognizing them as natural reactions to hormonal changes, potentially alleviating my anxiety about chicken.

I didn’t finish The Brain of the Times with any groundbreaking insights on reducing PMS. Nevertheless, every book on women’s health contributes to destigmatizing issues like PMS and could encourage more extensive research.

Source: www.newscientist.com

When the Map Fails: From Great North Run to Phantom Aldi | Running Adventure

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Organizers of the Great North Run have issued an apology for featuring a map of Sunderland instead of Newcastle on this year’s finishing medal. Unfortunately, this is just one in a long list of mapping errors.

Other notable mistakes include the Phantom supermarket, hazardous climbing routes, and geopolitical missteps.

Phantom Aldi

Earlier this year, the Welsh village of Siphiliog in Denbyshire faced unexpected traffic disruptions after Aldi appeared on the map.

A nearby farm, home to around 500 residents, was mistakenly labeled as a supermarket on Google Maps, leading to a surge of shoppers and milk tankers overwhelming the area.

In response, Google stated it operated “around the clock” to monitor suspicious activities and updated the listing.

Geopolitical Failure

In December, FIFA expressed regret over the omission of Crimea from Ukraine in its mapping.

While the map outlined countries unable to compete due to political tensions, it failed to acknowledge Russian-occupied regions recognized internationally as part of Ukraine since 2014.

“We fully appreciate the sensitivity surrounding this issue and though unintentional, we sincerely regret any distress it may have caused,” the organization stated in a letter to Igor Grishenko, the UAF’s general secretary.

Bennevis’ Dangerous Route

In 2021, Google Maps revised the directions for Bennevis, the UK’s tallest mountain, after warnings about potentially “fatal” paths.

The Scottish climbing charity, John Muir Trust, cautioned that the map’s directions for the nearest parking area to the summit were dangerously misleading, especially for novice climbers, leading them onto treacherous routes without alternative paths.

Google responded by clarifying that the issue pertained to driving routes, not walking directions, and updated the map to direct drivers to visitor centers instead.

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Marathon Mishaps

At last year’s San Francisco Half Marathon, the course was mistakenly found to be short by 0.5 miles, affecting the times of thousands of runners.

Organizers claimed the route was measured accurately, but the certification map was incorrect, resulting in various discrepancies.

This was not the first instance of a mismeasured race; between 2013 and 2015, the Greater Manchester Marathon was mapped incorrectly, marking it 380 meters short. Consequently, the times of approximately 24,000 runners were deemed invalid by British athletics.

Similar issues have also arisen in past events, including the Brighton Half Marathon and the Great Scotland Run.

Taking the Wrong Steps

Google corrected a mapping error in Edinburgh after drivers were wrongly guided down a flight of steps. This route was previously accessible by vehicles, but changes in the roads had led to the installation of stairs, resulting in at least two cars getting stuck at the bottom of Calton Hill. In January, Google announced that the mapping issue had been fixed.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unlocking the Mysteries of Earth’s Extraordinary Deep Biosphere: Our Next Great Frontier

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Microbial life thrives in this thermal vent in the Pacific Ocean

Galih/Alamy

Within the Earth
Karen G. Lloyd (Princeton University Press)

While many shelves are filled with titles about forests, oceans, and deserts, the deep biosphere, an important and intriguing habitat beneath our feet, is often overlooked. Despite a few notable exceptions, literature on ecosystems ranging from the Amazon to Antarctica largely ignores this underground world.

Not anymore. Within the Earth: Discover the Strangest Life on Earth by Karen G. Lloyd serves as a crucial field guide to the underground life we’ve started to uncover. “In fact, we have yet to find the limits of where life ceases to exist,” she states.

The general unawareness of the deep biosphere’s existence reflects our surface-centric worldview. However, Lloyd, a microbial biogeochemist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, argues that learning about this life can profoundly change our understanding of existence itself.

She defines the deep biosphere as areas below the seafloor or beneath land where life thrives without sunlight, the primary energy source for most surface organisms. These environments encompass a variety of metabolic processes, from methane production arising from decomposed plants beneath a few centimeters of marsh mud to chemical processes with microbes three kilometers underground.

Discussing these microorganisms, she notes, “It’s as if there are millions of small, low-energy suns scattered throughout the Earth’s crust, each supporting its own underground ecosystem.”

How much life is present? It’s difficult to say. However, Lloyd contends that all estimates are likely underestimated. One claim suggests that marine sediments alone could hold 2.9 x 10²⁹ cells, potentially twice as many as those in continental fractures and pores, presenting astonishing figures.

Advances in genetic sequencing and field research are illuminating these rich ecosystems. Lloyd helps researchers differentiate between microbial species and deduce metabolic functions through DNA alone. This is especially helpful since many deep-dwelling bacteria and archaea have proven impossible to cultivate in surface laboratories.

It’s like a movie. Be careful not to slip on the volcanic glass shards. Don’t fall into the acid lake!

The fieldwork section discusses how scientists obtain new DNA samples—whether from hydrothermal vents, excavated continental rocks, or dripping water in deep mines. “To understand limits, one sometimes must become the explorer,” Lloyd notes.

Through engaging prose, she recounts her adventures tracking microorganisms from the high deserts of the Andes to the perilous peaks of Costa Rican volcanoes. These stories resemble scenes from action films—caution is essential to avoid slipping on volcanic glass fragments or falling into acid lakes!

Fortunately, this book transcends a mere expedition narrative. It features an extensive and approachable explanation of the chemistry that enables a deep biosphere. Although the equations involved can be complex, Lloyd adeptly guides readers to grasp the chemical frameworks that support these creatures living on the “edge of energy.”

To facilitate this challenging learning curve, she draws parallels between surface ecosystems and our dietary habits to illuminate the underground world. For instance, bacteria that metabolize sulfides are likened to “couch potatoes,” competing with methane-producing “freeloaders” by preserving hydrogen, a universal nutrient—a dramatic ecological narrative reminiscent of the Serengeti. Sulfate-reducing agents in Svalbard’s fjords “have access to a permanently stocked refrigerator.” Engaging and thrilling, her exploration of biogeochemistry is no small feat.

However, the highlight of Lloyd’s book is her assertion that certain forms of deep life may possess a sluggish metabolism, allowing individuals to survive for thousands, or even millions of years. These “eonophiles” (once confirmed to have extraordinarily long life spans) “redefine our preconceived notions about the nature of life,” she asserts. Truly, these lifestyles are alien, and how fortunate we are to uncover more about them right here on Earth!

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Emergency Measures for Artificial Cooling of the Great Barrier Reef Amidst Warming Surge

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia

Nature Picture Library/Alamy

Researchers stress the urgent need for strategies to artificially provide shade from rising temperatures affecting Australia. This alerts us following recent findings that link changes in transport fuels to an increased risk of coral bleaching.

In recent years, significant sections of barrier reefs have experienced severe bleaching due to rising sea temperatures attributed to climate change.

Adjustments made in 2020 to regulations governing fuel composition have led to additional detriment, according to Robert Ryan from the University of Melbourne. These changes have decreased sulfur dioxide emissions, which are protective pollutants for health, but have also eliminated aerosols that contribute to the cooling of marine clouds over the reefs.

In February 2022, Ryan and his team leveraged computer models to analyze the impacts of cloud cover and solar radiation in relation to fuel emissions over a span of 10 days.

They discovered that emissions at the pre-2020 levels would enhance the local cooling effect of clouds and noted that regulations aimed at reducing sulfate aerosol pollution diminished this cooling effect. Consequently, the new transport fuel regulations led to a rise in sea surface temperatures equivalent to 0.25°C, which created coral bleaching conditions that ranged from 21-40% during the studied period.

“There’s been an 80% reduction in sulfate aerosol transport, likely contributing to conditions that favor coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef,” states Ryan.

Bjørn Samset from the International Climate Research Centre in Oslo, Norway, asserts that this study will help address critical inquiries regarding the effects of reduced aerosol pollution on the surrounding environment. “The local aerosol influences may be more significant than previously considered, and we still have limited understanding of their impacts on ocean heat waves,” he remarks.

However, he cautions that the findings illustrate evident links between air quality and the conditions of clouds around notable reef systems, though they only represent a brief timeframe and are complex compared to other related research.

Ryan is also involved in efforts to devise methods to artificially cool coral reefs using Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB), a climate intervention technology that involves dispersing ocean salt particles into the atmosphere to amplify the cooling effects of marine clouds.

Researchers suggest that given their recent findings, such artificial cooling measures for large barrier reefs may be more crucial than ever. “If changes in sulfate emissions have diminished the brightening effects of ocean clouds, it could be worth reconsidering their reimplementation in targeted programs,” Ryan explains.

Daniel Harrison from Southern Cross University in Australia emphasizes that their findings indicate that MCBs can effectively cool the reef, mirroring the cooling effects seen with past shipping emissions. “This study highlights the real-world implications of ongoing changes,” he adds. “It confirms that it was indeed effective.”

Harrison has secured funding from the UK’s Advanced Research and Innovation Agency for a five-year initiative to test the MCB in the Great Barrier Reef, asserting that MCB “aims to harmonize our efforts to lower emissions.”

On the other hand, some experts remain skeptical, arguing that there is insufficient evidence to confirm the safety and efficacy of intentional MCBs. Terry Hughes from James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, has stated that previous trials of MCB were “not successful” and produced no compelling evidence that it can reduce the local sea temperatures of the reef.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Great Multivitamin Myth: How Pills Can Harm Your Immune System

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The immune system is intricate, consisting of a vast network of cells, proteins, and organs that serve as the body’s primary defense against infections. Given its vital role, it’s essential to maintain its health.

So, how can you achieve that? Similar to other crucial bodily functions, numerous supplements and products claim to enhance your immune system’s performance. However, the reality is that your body may not require these so-called enhancements. In fact, it often functions best when left to its natural processes.

Misconceptions About Immune Boosting

The idea of vitamins that “boost” immunity can be quite misleading. In theory, the immune system is self-sufficient and operates optimally if you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Moreover, “boosting” the immune system is a somewhat ambiguous notion. Simply increasing the quantity of immune cells or similar components in your body may not be beneficial and could potentially be harmful.

Consider your immune system as a finely tuned machine, operating at peak efficiency as long as it receives proper maintenance. Attempts to push this machine into overdrive may lead to overheating or malfunction.

The same principle applies to the immune system; an overstimulated immune response can inadvertently attack healthy cells, resulting in autoimmune disorders.

“The immune system can typically maintain its own balance. As long as you adhere to a relatively healthy lifestyle, no additional enhancement is necessary,” stated Dr. Bobby Cherayil, author of The Logic of Immunity, in an episode of BBC Science Focus.

“This includes a nutritious diet, sufficient sleep, regular physical activity, and avoiding harmful practices such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.”

Though a decline in lifestyle can affect our immune system, this deterioration is gradual, often requiring severe circumstances for visible infection to occur.

“A diet lacking essential nutrients or severe vitamin deficiencies can negatively impact your immune system, but such deficiencies are generally quite extreme.”

Risks Associated with Vitamin Supplements

If you maintain a healthy lifestyle—eating well, sleeping adequately, and exercising regularly—what risk is there in taking supplements aimed at enhancing your immune system?

Often, the risks are minimal, with the primary concern being the lack of effectiveness. The body can only absorb a certain amount of vitamins, and excess amounts typically pass through the body and are expelled in urine.

This applies mainly to water-soluble vitamins; however, vitamins A, D, E, and K do not leave the system so easily, and an excess can lead to toxicity. For instance, too much vitamin D can cause nausea, weakness, and may ultimately lead to bone and kidney pain if left untreated.

Many immune-boosting supplements are categorized as “multivitamins,” which encompass various vitamins and minerals in a single tablet or capsule.

A significant study associated multivitamins with a high rate of placebo effects. Research indicates no significant health statistics difference from a control group.

Clinical trials revealed no notable variation in mental or physical health outcomes between those taking multivitamins and those who were not. However, individuals consuming multivitamins often believe these products contribute positively to their health.

The danger is that individuals might assume multivitamins can substitute for other health-boosting practices, leading to neglect in other health areas such as maintaining a balanced diet.

Long-term effects of excessive vitamin intake remain less understood, with some studies suggesting a connection between multivitamin use and increased risk of cancer, heart failure, or cardiovascular issues.

Research indicates risk may increase with age. A study from the University of Minnesota found that among over 38,000 women aged 62 and older, those taking supplements had a 2.4% higher mortality risk.

This area of research continues to evolve, and not all studies reach such dire conclusions. For instance, another study found no significant correlation between multivitamin use and overall mortality rates.

Vitamins Have Their Place…for Some

For many, a healthy lifestyle is all that’s needed to keep the immune system in optimal condition. However, there are individuals with significant vitamin deficiencies that require attention.

Globally, over 2 billion people lack essential vitamins, and certain demographic groups may require additional support.

Vitamin supplements can be beneficial, particularly for older adults who struggle with chewing or swallowing. This is also true for pregnant individuals or those with digestive issues (always consult a healthcare professional).

Ultimately, the immune system remains a highly advanced, self-regulating entity. For the average person, it functions effectively on its own. Immune-boosting supplements may not pose significant risks, but they often result in “expensive urine.”

About Our Expert, Bobby Cherayil

Cherayil is an associate professor of Pediatrics at Harvard University and author of The Logic of Immunity. His research focuses on the immune system and its response to infection and inflammation.

Read More:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Before the Great Wall: Chinese Rulers Carved Shallow Grooves

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Excavation of Mongolia’s medieval wall system by archaeologists

Gideon Shelach-Lavi et al. 2025

Long before the construction of the Great Wall of China, other significant walls were erected on the Eurasian steppes, not with the intent of safeguarding the Mongolian army. Recent diggings indicate that they were established to regulate movement and to showcase power, similar to modern boundary walls.

The Great Wall of China spans thousands of kilometers, with its longest segment measuring approximately 8,850 kilometers. This section originates from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and served as a physical barrier against Mongol incursions.

In contrast to large fortifications, the earlier systems consist of a network of trenches, walls, and enclosures approximately 4,000 km wide across northern China, Mongolia, and Russia.

This infrastructure was developed between the 10th and 12th centuries by various dynasties, primarily the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234 AD). It was primarily constructed by the people of Siberia and the Zurchen from northeastern China, who were herders.

Gideon Shelach-Lavi from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, along with his team, has utilized satellite imagery and drones to explore and map these ancient walls. They are now investigating a 405 km section excavated in Mongolia, including one of the enclosures.

The structure features a trench about 1 meter deep and 3 meters wide, with the earth piled on one side, forming a compact earth wall that stands 1-2 meters tall. At intervals, a thick square stone enclosure approximately 30 meters wide was added along the wall.

The purpose of these walls is still unclear, as historical records are scarce, and they were not built at natural geographical divides, according to Shelach-Lavi.

Many historians believed they were constructed to thwart Genghis Khan’s army, which reigned over the Mongol Empire from 1206 to 1227. However, Sherach Ravi asserts that these structures would not have been particularly effective for defense. “They were not designed to repel military invasions,” he states.

Instead, he theorizes that the walls were primarily a demonstration of power — showing that the region was under the control of the Jin Dynasty. The walls allowed for the regulation of people through the enclosure gates, managing the flow of people, goods, and animals. He suggests that even though they may not have stopped armies, the walls might have been effective in preventing smaller attacks.

“The objective seems to be guiding individuals towards these enclosures, allowing for control and taxation,” he explains. “It’s all about monitoring movement, which is not so different from what we observe today.”

The findings at the enclosure also illuminate the lifestyle of the inhabitants. “This is a picturesque area,” remarks Sherach Ravi. “We have uncovered extensive evidence of livestock grazing, hunting, and fishing.”

Moreover, within the enclosure, researchers discovered stone platforms or benches that could have served as stoves or beds for the Han Chinese during the Song Dynasty, who were in conflict with the Jin Dynasty.

This suggests that significant resources went into building and maintaining garrisons, indicating that people lived there year-round and engaged in agriculture. “This is remarkable, as even today, farming activities are minimal in this region,” he notes.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Hills of Sicily were Submerged 40 Meters Below Water During the Great Flood.

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A ridge in southeastern Sicily eroded by the Great Flood

Kevin Sciberras and Neil Petroni

The jumbled deposits of rocks found on a hilltop in southeastern Sicily are left behind by the Great Flood, the largest known flood in Earth's history, which refilled the Mediterranean Sea five million years ago.

Rock deposits and eroded hills in this part of the Italian island of Sicily are the first evidence found on land of a mega-flood, scientists say. pole curling at the University of Southampton, UK. “You can actually walk around and look at it,” Carling said.

About 6 million years ago, during the so-called Messinian salinity crisis, the Mediterranean Sea separated from the Atlantic Ocean and began to dry up. Vast salt deposits were formed during this period, and sea levels may have fallen by more than a kilometer.

About 5.3 million years ago, water once again began to flow through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers initially thought the giant waterfall near Gibraltar had been reclaimed over tens of thousands of years.

But in 2009, a massively eroded channel was discovered at the bottom of the strait, suggesting more sudden deluges could occur. Since then, this evidence has continued to grow.

Carling said the flood first filled the western basin of the Mediterranean Sea. The eroded topography of the ocean floor suggests that it then spilled into the eastern basin over an underwater ridge known as the Sicilian Sill.

team members Giovanni Barreca The professor at the University of Catania in Italy, who grew up in southeastern Sicily, suspected that the land there was also formed by the Great Flood. So he and his fellow researchers took a closer look at the rock samples and analyzed them.

Sure enough, we found that the intricate deposits near the tops of some hills contained rocks that had been eroded from deeper layers and somehow transported to the top of the hills. “You can tell by their nature that they come from a lower level,” Carling says. “And they were carried over this hill.”

Many of the hills themselves have a streamlined shape, resembling the hills of Montana carved out by the great floods caused by the bursting of ice dams at the end of the last ice age. “They're very distinctive,” Carling says. “And only a very large, massive flood could streamline a feature of this magnitude.”

Detail of a Sicilian ridge formed by a huge flood

Daniel Garcia Castellanos

The researchers estimated that at the peak of the flood, water was flowing at about 115 kilometers per hour, covering the top of the hill, which is about 100 meters above modern sea level, with about 40 meters of water.

Researchers also investigated the ocean floor around Sicily and found further evidence of the deluge, including eroded ridges and channels. Their modeling suggested that the entire Mediterranean Sea was backfilled between two and 16 years, but the main flooding event in Sicily probably lasted only a few days, Carling said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Review of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: A Smart, Fascist-Fighting Open World Adventure Game

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

MToday, creating an Indiana Jones game may appear straightforward. Just take Uncharted’s Nathan Drake, transport him back in time about 80 years, give him a fedora and a whip, and witness the emergence of the golden idol. Dog mastered the formula for indie-inspired, globe-trotting action games over a decade ago. It would be understandable if Swedish studio MachineGames followed this same template.

However, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle chooses a different path. They intentionally avoid inviting such comparisons. This unconventional blockbuster shares more similarities with games like Dishonored and Hitman rather than Uncharted. While there are action and spectacle moments, along with some platforming, the focus lies more on puzzles, free-form stealth, and battling fascist enemies while disguised as a priest.

Set in 1937 between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, The Great Circle follows Indy as he investigates a cult infiltrating Marshall College and stealing valuable artifacts. Pursued by giants from this cult after stealing a cat, Indy embarks on a journey to various historical sites globally.

The environment is filled with items ideal for testing Nazi intelligence. Photo: Bethesda

His first destination is Vatican City, setting the tone for the subsequent adventures. Vatican City serves as a vast, maze-like sandbox where players can freely explore at their own pace, carefully navigating around fascist threats. With various puzzle-solving elements and exciting discoveries, players get to immerse themselves in the thrill of uncovering ancient secrets while outsmarting enemy patrols.

Vatican City offers a diverse range of challenges and hidden areas to explore, setting a high standard that makes subsequent locations like the Pyramids of Giza seem more traditional in comparison. The transition to open-world exploration in later parts of the game allows for more experimentation with Indy’s abilities.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/sq97d1RkdRM?wmode=opaque&feature=oembed" title="Official Launch Trailer: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" height="480" width="854" allowfullscreen="

With encounters against various foes like Blackshirts and the Wehrmacht, The Great Circle captures the spontaneous action reminiscent of a Spielberg film. While combat is an option, stealth remains a preferred method, with a variety of tools at your disposal for defeating enemies. The game’s combat and stealth mechanics offer a dynamic and engaging experience amidst tomb raids and cinematic storytelling.

Despite its strong points, The Great Circle occasionally lacks the urgency expected in an Indiana Jones adventure, with pacing inconsistencies in certain acts. Nevertheless, the game picks up momentum later on, leading to a satisfying conclusion that encapsulates the essence of Spielberg’s filmography.

Grave robbing is a recurring theme. Photo: Bethesda

Overall, Indiana Jones: The Great Circle is a rich and affectionate tribute to Spielberg’s work, with a deep respect for the historical context that underlies the quest for the circular MacGuffin. It blends entertainment with poignant explorations of anti-fascist themes, shedding light on the dangers of far-right ideologies and manipulation.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hubble observations reveal Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is wobbling and changing in size

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope detected Jupiter’s most distinctive feature, the Great Red Spot, on eight dates over a single 90-day oscillation period from December 2023 to March 2024. I observed it.

simon others. measured the size, shape, brightness, color, and vorticity of the Great Red Spot over one complete oscillation cycle. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Amy Simon, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Joseph DePasquale, STScI.

“We knew its motion varied slightly with longitude, but we didn’t expect it to oscillate in magnitude,” said Dr. Amy Simon, an astronomer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“As far as we know, it has never been identified before.”

“This is really the first time we’ve had a proper imaging rhythm for the Great Red Spot.”

“Using Hubble’s high resolution, we can say that the Great Red Spot is steadily moving in and out at the same time as it moves faster and slower.”

“This was very unexpected. There is no hydrodynamic explanation at this time.”

Dr. Simon and colleagues used Hubble to zoom in on the Great Red Spot and closely observe its size, shape, and subtle color changes.

“If you look closely, you can see that many things are changing every day,” Dr. Simon said.

“This includes ultraviolet observations showing that the clear center of the storm is brightest when the Great Red Spot is at its maximum magnitude during its oscillation period.”

“This indicates less absorption of haze in the upper atmosphere.”

“As the Great Red Spot accelerates and decelerates, it’s working against the jet stream, which has strong north and south winds,” said Dr. Mike Wong, an astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley.

“It’s similar to how having too many ingredients in the middle of a sandwich forces a slice of bread to expand.”

The authors contrasted this with Neptune. On Neptune, dark spots can drift violently within their latitudes without a strong jet stream to hold them in place.

The Great Red Spot is held at southern latitudes trapped between the jet stream, with limited telescopic observations of Earth.

Astronomers predict that the star will continue to shrink and then assume a stable, less elongated shape.

“Currently, we’re overfilling that latitudinal band compared to wind fields,” Dr. Simon said.

“Once it contracts within that band, the wind actually holds it in place.”

“We predict that the size of the Great Red Spot will probably stabilize, but so far Hubble has only observed it for one oscillation period.”

team’s result Published in Planetary Science Journal.

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Amy A. Simon others. 2024. A detailed study of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot over a 90-day oscillation period. planet. Science. J 5,223;doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ad71d1

Source: www.sci.news

New study suggests Jupiter’s Great Red Spot may not be the permanent feature reported by Cassini

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is perhaps the best-known atmospheric feature and a popular icon among the solar system’s objects. Its large oval shape, contrasting red color, and long lifespan make it easily visible with a small telescope. A new study led by scientists from the University of the Basque Country, based on historical measurements of its size and motion, shows that the present-day Great Red Spot was probably first reported in 1831 and is not a permanent spot observed by Giovanni Domenico Cassini and others between 1665 and 1713.

The Permanent Spot (PS) and the early Great Red Spot (GRS): (a) drawing of the PS by GD Cassini on 19 January 1672, (b) drawing by S. Swave on 10 May 1851, showing the GRS area as a clear ellipse bounded by a depression (depicted by a dashed red line). (c) photograph taken by AA Common on 3 September 1879 using a 91 cm reflecting telescope at Ealing (London). The GRS appears as a clear "dark" ellipse because it is red and the photographic plate is sensitive to violet-blue wavelengths. (d) photograph taken at Lick Observatory on 14 October 1890 using a yellow filter. All figures show astronomical images of Jupiter (south at top, east at left) to preserve the notes on the drawings. Image courtesy of Sánchez-Lavega others., doi: 10.1029/2024GL108993.

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is the largest and longest-lasting known vortex of any planet in the solar system.

The formation mechanism that produced this feature is unknown, and its longevity is controversial.

It was also unclear whether the Great Red Spot was the dark oval nicknamed the “Eternal Spot” that astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini and others reported between 1665 and 1713.

“Speculation about the origin of the Great Red Spot dates back to the first telescopic observations by Giovanni Domenico Cassini, who in 1665 discovered a dark oval at the same latitude as the Great Red Spot, which he named a permanent spot, because it was observed by Cassini and other astronomers until 1713,” said Professor Agustin Sánchez Lavega from the University of the Basque Country.

“For the next 118 years, traces of it were lost, and it was only after 1831 that S. Schwabe again observed a clear, almost elliptical structure at the same latitude as the GRS. This can be considered the first observation of the present-day GRS, possibly of the infant GRS.”

“Since then, the Great Red Spot has been regularly observed by telescopes and by various space probes that have visited the planet up to the present day.”

In their study, the authors analysed the change in the size of the Great Red Spot over time, its structure, and the behaviour of two meteorological structures, the former permanent spot and the Great Red Spot.

To do so, they used historical sources dating back to the mid-17th century, shortly after the telescope was invented.

“Based on our measurements of its size and motion, we infer that it is highly unlikely that the current Great Red Spot is the permanent spot observed by Cassini,” Professor Sanchez LaVega said.

“The permanent spot probably disappeared sometime between the mid-18th and 19th centuries, which would put the lifespan of the red spot at least 190 years.”

“The Red Spot, which in 1879 measured 39,000 kilometres along its longest axis, has now shrunk to about 14,000 kilometres and is becoming rounder at the same time.”

“Furthermore, since the 1970s, several space missions have studied this weather phenomenon in detail.”

“Recently, various instruments on the Juno spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter have shown that the Great Red Spot is shallow and thin compared to its horizontal length. Its vertical length is about 500 km.”

To understand how this giant whirlpool formed, the astronomers ran numerical simulations using two complementary models of the behavior of thin vortices in Jupiter’s atmosphere.

Powerful winds prevail on this giant planet, flowing along parallels that alternate in direction and latitude.

To the north of the Great Red Spot, winds blow westward at 180 km/h, while to the south, winds blow in the opposite direction, eastward at 150 km/h.

This creates huge north-south shear in the wind speed, which is the fundamental element that allows vortices to grow internally.

The study explored a variety of mechanisms to explain the formation of the Great Red Spot, including the eruption of a giant superstorm like those rarely observed around its twin planet Saturn, or the merging of several smaller vortices caused by sheared winds.

The results show that although anticyclones form in both cases, their shapes and dynamic characteristics are different from those of the present-day Great Red Spot.

“We believe that if one of these anomalies had occurred, it, or its effects in the atmosphere, would have been observed and reported by astronomers at the time,” Prof Sanchez Lavega said.

In a third set of numerical experiments, the researchers investigated how the GRS may arise from known instabilities in the winds that they believe could produce elongated cells that surround and trap the GRS.

Such cells were early red spots, the proto-Great Red Spot, whose subsequent shrinkage would give rise to the compact, rapidly rotating Great Red Spot observed in the late 19th century.

The formation of large elongated cells has already been observed during the emergence of other major vortices on Jupiter.

“In our simulations, thanks to supercomputers, we were able to find that elongated cells are stable when they rotate around the Great Red Spot at the speed of Jupiter’s winds, which is what you would expect to form due to this instability,” said Dr Enrique García Melendo, an astronomer at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

Using two different numerical models, the scientists concluded that if the GRS rotated slower than the surrounding winds, it would break up and the formation of a stable vortex would be impossible.

And if it were very high, the properties of the primordial Great Red Spot would be different from those of the current Great Red Spot.

“Future studies will aim to reconstruct the Great Red Spot’s shrinkage over time and elucidate in more detail the physical mechanisms underlying its persistence,” the authors wrote.

“At the same time, we try to predict whether the Great Red Spot will collapse and disappear when it reaches its size limit, as happened with Cassini’s permanent spot, or whether it will remain stable at its size limit and persist for many years.”

of result Published in a journal Geophysical Research Letters.

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Agustin Sanchez Lavega others2024. Origin of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. Geophysical Research Letters 51(12):e2024GL108993; doi:10.1029/2024GL108993

Source: www.sci.news

New research uncovers that the Great Oxidation Event persisted for a minimum of 200 million years

Posted on June 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

About 2.5 billion years ago, free oxygen first began to accumulate in meaningful levels in Earth's atmosphere, setting the stage for the emergence of complex life. Scientists call this phenomenon Great Oxidation EventBut a new study led by researchers at the University of Utah suggests that Earth's early buildup of oxygen wasn't as simple as that moniker suggests.

The Great Oxidation Event refers to the transition from a slowly reducing Archean atmosphere-ocean system to an oxygen-rich atmosphere and shallow ocean during the early Paleoproterozoic. Image courtesy of Hadeano.

“The new data suggest that the early rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere was dynamic, possibly progressing intermittently up until 2.2 billion years ago,” said Dr Chadrin Ostrander, a researcher at the University of Utah.

“Our data validate this hypothesis and go a step further by extending this dynamics to the ocean.”

By analysing stable thallium isotope ratios and redox-sensitive elements, Dr Ostrander and his colleagues found evidence of fluctuations in ocean oxygen levels that are consistent with changes in atmospheric oxygen.

The discovery helps improve understanding of the complex processes that shaped oxygen levels on Earth at key times in its history and paved the way for the evolution of life as we know it.

“We have no idea what was going on in the oceans where Earth's earliest life forms are thought to have arisen and evolved,” Dr Ostrander said.

“So knowing the oxygen content of the ocean and how it evolved over time is probably more important for early life than the atmosphere.”

In 2021, researchers discovered that oxygen wasn't permanently present in the atmosphere until about 200 million years after the global oxygenation process began — much later than previously thought.

Definitive evidence for an anoxic atmosphere is the presence of rare mass-independent sulfur isotope signatures in the sediment record prior to the Great Oxidation Event.

There are very few known processes on Earth that could produce these sulfur isotope signatures, and atmospheric oxygen would almost certainly be absent for them to be preserved in the rock record.

For the first half of Earth's existence, its atmosphere and oceans were almost devoid of oxygen. This gas was likely produced by cyanobacteria in the oceans before the Great Oxidation Event, but during this early epoch the oxygen was rapidly destroyed in reactions with exposed minerals and volcanic gases.

Scientists found that traces of rare sulfur isotopes disappeared and reappeared, suggesting that atmospheric oxygen increased and decreased multiple times during the Great Oxidation Event – it wasn't a single “event.”

“When oxygen began to be produced, the Earth was not ready to be oxygenated. The Earth needed time to evolve biologically, geologically and chemically to encourage oxygenation,” Dr Ostrander said.

“It's like a seesaw. Oxygen is produced, but there's so much oxygen destruction that nothing happens.”

“We're still trying to figure out when the scales will tip completely and Earth will no longer be able to go back to an oxygen-free atmosphere.”

To map ocean oxygen levels during the Great Oxidation Event, the authors relied on expertise in stable thallium isotopes.

Thallium isotope ratios are sensitive to the burial of manganese oxides to the seafloor, a process that requires oxygen in seawater.

The team looked at thallium isotopes in the same ocean shales, which have recently been shown to be able to track fluctuations in atmospheric oxygen during the Great Oxidation Event, along with rare sulfur isotopes.

The researchers found a significant enrichment of the lighter isotope thallium-203 in the shale, a pattern best explained by the burial of manganese oxides on the ocean floor and the buildup of oxygen in the water.

These enrichments were found in the same samples that lacked the rare sulfur isotope signature, meaning the atmosphere was no longer anoxic, and they disappeared once the rare sulfur isotope signature reappeared.

These findings were supported by redox-sensitive element enrichments, a more classical means of tracing ancient oxygen changes.

“The sulfur isotopes indicate that the atmosphere was oxygenated, and the thallium isotopes indicate that the oceans were oxygenated,” Dr Ostrander said.

“Sulfur isotopes indicate that the atmosphere has become anoxic again, and thallium isotopes indicate the same for the oceans.”

“So the atmosphere and oceans were simultaneously oxygenating and deoxygenating. This is new and exciting information for people interested in the ancient Earth.”

of Investigation result Published in the journal Nature.

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Ostrander Commercial othersCoupled oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans began 2.3 billion years ago. NaturePublished online June 12, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07551-5

Source: www.sci.news

Eliminating Predatory Starfish to Safeguard Great Barrier Reef Coral

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A diver injects vinegar into crown-of-thorns starfish as part of a culling program.

CSIRO

A culling program has successfully protected key areas of the Great Barrier Reef from voracious coral-eating starfish. Scientists who analyzed the results say efforts need to be scaled up to further protect coral reefs.

Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) are persistent predators of almost all types of coral within Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Each starfish reaches a diameter of 1 meter and eats 10 square meters of coral reef each year.

Starfish live on coral reefs, and it is believed that increased nutrient input into reef waters due to agriculture and other human factors is increasing their numbers and exacerbating coral destruction. Between 1985 and 2012, they accounted for 40 percent of coral losses in the region.

When starfish erupted across the reef from 2012 to 2022, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority conducted a massive culling program. A team of divers injects the starfish with a single shot of vinegar or cow bile, which kills the starfish and prevents it from releasing its larvae.

Roger Beeden The Park Service and colleagues found that in areas where timely removals were carried out, outbreaks were limited and coral cover recovered and increased by up to 44%. Where no culling occurred, coral losses were severe. The study also confirmed that by preventing outbreaks on strategically important coral reefs, the larvae do not spread to other reefs on ocean currents, reducing further outbreaks.

To date, the program has focused on 500 of the marine park’s 3,000 reefs scattered throughout the park, which have significant value to the tourism industry or are home to starfish. were chosen because they are known to be important for the spread of

“The results we found in this study are the result of using integrated pest management. [the starfish] Just like managing plague locusts and other pest species, it needs to be done at the right time and on the right reef,” says Beeden.

But researchers recommend expanding the program from the current fleet of five to seven ships to 10 to 15 ships. “At any given time, about a third to a half of his 500 cases are involved in the current outbreak,” Beeden said.

Terry Hughes Researchers at James Cook University in Townsville do not agree that culling programs are worthwhile. “It is becoming increasingly clear that attempts to protect Great Barrier Reef corals by culling crown-of-thorns starfish on a few reefs are just a drop in the ocean,” he says.

Mr Hughes said geographical differences in starfish numbers and coral abundance – which the study attributed to levels of culling in different parts of the Great Barrier Reef – could be explained by which areas had suffered from recent cyclones and coral mass destruction. Events they say could be explained by who is most affected by large-scale bleaching. Professor Beeden acknowledges that it is difficult to separate these factors from the effects of selection, but he says: “Our results are strengthened and are not confounded by the fact that the increase in coral cover in the Townsville region was achieved despite two large-scale bleaching events in 2020 and 2022. do not have” “

Instead, Hughes says the priority should be to tackle global warming, which is accelerating the frequency and intensity of coral bleaching. “Each time there is a bleaching event, the Australian government announces additional funding to eliminate starfish from some coral reefs, shifting the focus away from addressing the causes of these outbreaks and reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Threat to great apes from mining for electric car batteries

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Noise pollution, habitat loss and disease spread associated with mining could threaten chimpanzee populations in some African countries

Ali Wid/Shutterstock

More than a third of Africa's great apes are threatened by soaring demand for minerals essential to creating green energy technologies such as electric vehicles.

Africa has about one-sixth of the world's remaining forests, and its habitat is in countries such as Ghana, Gabon, and Uganda. The continent is also home to his four species of great apes: chimpanzees, bonobos, and two gorillas.

However, many of these great apes live in areas that mining companies are eyeing as potential places to extract goods. for example, More than 50 percent of the world's cobalt and manganese reserves are found in Africa22 percent of graphite.

To assess the scale of the threat to great ape populations, Jessica Juncker Researchers at Re:wild, a non-profit conservation organization in Austin, Texas, analyzed available data on the location of operating and planned mines and the density and distribution of great ape populations across 17 African countries. Superimposed.

The research team considered both direct impacts on great ape populations, such as noise pollution, habitat loss, and disease spillover, as well as indirect disturbances, such as building new service roads, to A 50km “buffer zone” was created around the area. And infrastructure.

A total of 180,000 great apes, just over a third of the continent's population, may be threatened by mining activities, researchers have found.

The West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Guinea had the greatest overlap between great ape populations and mining sites. In Guinea, a study found that 83 percent of the great ape population could be affected by mining.

Juncker said the team was only considering industrial mining projects. The threat may be even greater when considering the impact of man-made mines, where miners typically work in primitive and often dangerous environments.

Cobalt, manganese, and graphite are all used to make lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles. Other materials found in these countries, such as bauxite, platinum, copper, graphite, and lithium, are used to power hydrogen, wind turbines, solar panels, and other green technologies.

Juncker argues that companies should stop mining in areas important to great apes and instead focus on recycling these important materials from waste. “There is great potential in metal reuse,” she says. “All we need to do is consume more sustainably. Then it will be possible to leave at least some of the areas that are so important to great apes intact.”

She is also calling on mining companies to publicly conduct biodiversity assessments of potential mining sites. “Increasing transparency is the first step.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia experiences its fifth major bleaching event in just eight years

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is experiencing significant heat-induced coral bleaching once again, as confirmed by the country’s government on Friday.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, responsible for conservation and protection efforts for the reef, stated that widespread bleaching is occurring due to increased heat stress over the summer.

Scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science reported that this is the fifth major bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef since 2016.

Coral bleaching poses a serious threat to coral reefs worldwide, triggered by abnormal conditions such as high or cold seawater temperatures and increased acidity. When corals expel photosynthetic algae, they turn white, making them more vulnerable to disease.

While corals can recover from bleaching events, frequent occurrences make it difficult for reefs to bounce back. Climate change is causing ocean temperatures to rise, leading to more frequent bleaching events globally.

The current mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef is consistent with reports of bleaching in coral reefs in the Northern Hemisphere, exacerbated by El Niño and climate change, according to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

On March 5, researchers observed large-scale coral bleaching at a site in the southern Great Barrier Reef.Renata Ferrari / Australian Institute of Marine Science

The agency, in collaboration with scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, conducted an aerial survey covering nearly two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to assess the severity of the bleaching event.

Further research and underwater assessments are necessary to gauge the impact of the ongoing bleaching event, with plans for additional aerial surveys in other reef areas.

While heat stress has not affected the entire reef, variations exist in the extent of bleaching among different areas, as highlighted by Neil Cantin, a senior research scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Coral affected by coral bleaching (left), Arlington Reef, Central Barrier Reef, February 27.Grace Frank / Australian Institute of Marine Science

Since the first recorded bleaching event in 1998, with subsequent events in 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2022, it is clear that coral bleaching incidents are becoming more frequent, posing a significant threat to the Great Barrier Reef.

Efforts are underway to understand the overall condition of the reef and implement effective restoration measures guided by aerial surveys and underwater observations.

David Wachenfeld, the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s research program director, emphasized the urgent need to address climate change to protect the Great Barrier Reef effectively.

“Protecting coral reefs like the Great Barrier Reef from climate change requires global emissions reductions, best practices in local management, interventions to increase climate and reef resilience, and ongoing research and development,” Wachenfeld stated.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Winter life around the Great Lakes is changing due to a shortage of ice.

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Some fish species’ reproduction, shoreline erosion, and weather patterns are all at risk due to lower ice levels. This includes changing the amount of lake-effect snow that falls on nearby communities.

Research shows that the maximum annual ice area trended downward at a rate of approximately 5% for each decade from 1973 to 2023. For more information, visit NOAA’s research page.

Due to poor ice conditions, ice fishermen are turning to inland waters as their seasons on Lake Superior are impacted. Joe Friedrichs said, “In the Duluth area, their seasons don’t exist, and that definitely impacts their ability to get on the ice.”

As of Thursday, only 3.4% of the northern Great Lakes region was covered in snow. Visit the National Operational Hydrological Remote Sensing Center for more information.

With the lack of snowfall and above-normal temperatures, businesses that rely on snow activities are taking a hit. John Silliman of Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply said, “People aren’t coming to ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile anymore.”

The region is experiencing the warmest winter on record, and meteorologists predict this trend will continue into spring with higher than normal temperatures. Visit AccuWeather for more details.

The National Climate Prediction Center’s outlook suggests that the Great Lakes region will continue to experience higher than normal temperatures until early spring. This raises concerns about wildfire risk, particularly in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Learn more from the National Interagency Fire Center.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Scientists are concerned after killer whale caught on video destroying a great white shark

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The ruler of the seas may appear black and white, but it’s not as simple as it seems. For years, great white sharks have been considered apex predators, but shocking new footage shows them feeding on their own kind. This is an event unlike anything we’ve seen before.

A video captured by tourists and scientists on a boat off the coast of Mossel Bay, South Africa was vital for scientific observations published in a recent study in the African Marine Science Journal. The footage revealed an unprecedented behavior of killer whales, showcasing their extraordinary abilities, according to the paper’s corresponding author, Dr. Alison Towner.

Witnesses on the boat watched as a juvenile great white shark, measuring 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), was attacked by a killer whale known as Starboard. The whale swiftly caught the shark by its left fin, thrusted it several times, and disemboweled it, likely targeting the shark’s liver for its rich nutrients. The entire attack lasted only two minutes, and the killer whale then revealed the shark’s entrails to the onlooking boats.

Subsequent research uncovered a second great white shark carcass nearby, measuring 3.6 meters (11.6 feet) in length.

In a previous study conducted in 2022, researchers found that killer whales can hunt great white sharks in pairs. By combining intelligence and strength, these whales can effectively surround and attack their prey. However, this recent attack marks the first time a killer whale has been observed hunting a great white shark alone.

This discovery not only enhances our understanding of killer whale behavior and marine ecosystems but also raises concerns among ecosystem scientists. There’s worry that if killer whales continue to prey on great whites, it could disrupt the food chain, allowing other predators to rise and challenge the great white sharks as the apex predators.

“Upon arriving at Seal Island in Mossel Bay, the smell of shark liver oil and an oil slick indicated a recent kill,” said a passenger on the boat named Esther Jacobs from the marine conservation initiative Keep Fin Alive.

“Seeing the fin of a great white shark break the water’s surface initially sparked excitement, but as the killer whale rapidly approached, it turned into a grim reality. The moment of predation was both devastating and incredibly powerful.”

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The origin of humor in great apes: teasing each other.

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Chimpanzees enjoy teasing each other

apple2499/Shutterstock

Bonobos, orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees all poke, tickle, and even steal from their companions as a form of teasing. Understanding the mischievous behavior of these apes could help biologists uncover the origins of the human sense of humor.

Previous research They found that chimpanzees can use painful teasing, or harassment, to reinforce their hierarchical position. But he says teasing can also be a form of play and fun when the right balance of fun and aggression is struck. Isabel Romer at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany.

“So far, the playful nature of teasing has not been systematically studied,” she says. “Therefore, our goal was to identify and create standards for play that teases great apes.”

To do so, Romer and her colleagues studied five species of great apes, bonobos (Pampan Niscus), Sumatran orangutan (pongo abeli), Western Gorilla and Eastern Gorilla (gorilla gorilla and gorilla beringay) and chimpanzees (pan-troglodytes). There were a total of 34 great apes, all housed in the zoo.

The researchers recorded 504 social interactions between individuals from 75 hours of video footage. Of these, 142 were classified as playful teasing, and included 18 acts such as pecking, hitting, hair pulling, impeding movement, and stealing.

“Teasing is characterized by an element of provocation,” Romer says. “It usually starts with a teaser, is often one-sided, and repeats itself over and over again.”

Researchers found that teasers tended to stare at the target's face immediately after the action. This suggests that the teaser was anticipating the reaction. If there is no response from the target, the teaser will usually escalate the teasing by poking the target further.

One of the most important signs that the teasing is playful rather than hostile is that it usually takes place in a calm and comfortable environment. “During the interaction, participants tended to relax,” Romer says.

Cases of theft were considered to be play if the item provided no obvious benefit to the teaser or if the teaser lost interest in the item shortly after pinching it.

“We found that playful teasing is present in all four species of great apes,” Romer said. Like play in general, this behavior can also help build relationships between groupmates and test social boundaries, she says.

Romer added that the last common ancestor between humans and other great apes likely also playfully teased, which may have been a precursor to our love of jokes. Ta.

“Studying great apes is important for understanding which cognitive and behavioral traits humans share and likely evolved in a common ancestor millions of years ago.” says the doctor. Christopher Krupenier at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. “This study provides exciting evidence that all great apes appear to engage in playful teasing behavior, and also points the way for future research in other species.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Megalodon differed from a giant great white shark

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The real megalodon may have been longer and slimmer than this illustration.

Kathmandu/Shutterstock

A new analysis of fossil evidence reveals that the megalodon, an ancient shark often depicted as a super-sized great white, was actually a very different beast. A team of shark scientists concluded that this fearsome predator was longer, thinner and hunted in a different way.

He is well known for his depiction of “. meg movie franchise, Otodus megalodon It became extinct about 3.5 million years ago. It was one of the largest marine predators of all time, but no complete skeleton has ever been found, so we don’t know exactly how big it was.

2022 survey by jack cooper Doctors from Swansea University, UK, et al. IRSNB P 9893, It is housed at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels. They found it to be a stocky, powerful shark, similar to the great white shark, built to attack at breakneck speeds to attack its prey.carcharodon carcharius) current –?? but at 15.9 meters long, it is about three times longer.

charles underwood Researchers from Birkbeck, University of London, said the study made “tenuous assumptions” about megalodon’s size, mainly based on the fact that it has teeth similar to great white sharks, although it is much larger. ing. He is part of a group of 26 shark experts aiming to set the record straight with new research.

Underwood said Cooper’s team didn’t realize how incomplete the partial skeleton was. The vertebrae lack the typical size of a shark, tapering toward both the tail and the head, indicating that much of the vertebrae are missing, he said.

The researchers of the new study say that the strength of the spinal column suggests a slender body shape than the great white shark, which would make megalodon sharks very unwieldy.

“It almost certainly doesn’t feed like modern great white sharks,” Underwood said. “You wouldn’t just hover over the ocean floor, wait for the whale to move over it, and then hit the whale from below and basically tear it apart. It’s better than an ambush predator. , you’re going to need more straight-line tracking, longer tracking, because you don’t have top speed. You don’t have acceleration.”

Based on other partial fossils, the largest known specimen of Megalodon was estimated to be 20 meters long. Mr. Underwood believes that it was actually 20% longer than him, and that he was 24 meters long.

But Professor Cooper dismissed the new study as too simplistic, favoring a reconstruction of a shorter, stockier megalodon. “The bottom line is, no matter which theory you support about its body shape, it was a very large shark,” he says. “Of course, a complete skeleton would go a long way in helping us learn more. But I also don’t think we should think that this settles all debates about this very charismatic animal.”

However, the chances of finding a complete, well-preserved specimen may be low. eva stewart A professor at Britain’s Southampton University, who was not involved in the study, said he had recovered many megalodon teeth while searching for a new living species, but had seen no sign of a more complete specimen.

“I think the rest of the skeleton is just not well preserved,” she says. “For megalodon, there’s actually no fossil evidence at all.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Should the Great Pacific Garbage Patch be a priority for plastic cleanup efforts?

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Fish caught in discarded nets in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Ocean Voyages Institute/ZUMA Wire/Shutterstock

It was a bright sunny day in September 2023. Excitement filled the air and a rainbow appeared on the horizon as the team slowly pulled a giant net out of the glistening sea. ocean cleanup This project was trialling System 03 in the North Pacific. Basically she had two ships dragging a 2.2 kilometer long net designed to remove as much trash as possible. This time it was filmed for a promotional video, with one scoop weighing a record-breaking 18 tons.

Ocean Cleanup was founded in 2012 on the simple premise of trawling ocean plastic hotspots and mopping up floating debris. After years of testing and refining the technology, the organization says it is now ready to begin the planned cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a vast collection of plastic waste located between Hawaii and California. There is.

That sounds like a laudable goal. But in recent years, marine scientists have warned that efforts to mechanically remove plastic from the ocean are not only futile, but potentially harmful. It’s a waste, as we know that much of the ocean’s plastic waste is too small or out of reach to capture. And it’s probably harmful for two reasons. Firstly, new research shows that marine debris patches are home to all kinds of marine life, and secondly, cleanup efforts have removed such waste from its source. This is because efforts to stem the flow of the virus may be hindered.

So, given what we know…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Rising Temperatures Lead to Minimal Ice on Great Lakes

Posted on January 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The Great Lakes, known for ice fishing and winter's frozen waves, rang out a nearly bare New Year's bell.

Less than 0.4% of ice covered the Great Lakes on New Year's Day, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Institute, which uses satellite data to measure ice concentrations.

“There's basically nothing,” said James Kessler, a physical scientist at the institute, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “We have about 50 years of data. Today's average for January 1st is about 9%.”

Kessler said that although ice coverage is well below normal, it is not unheard of for ice concentrations to fall below 1% on January 1, still early in the season.

The amount of ice on the Great Lakes (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario) determines when and how raw materials and cargo are shipped from ports in the Midwest. Fish species such as whitefish are covered in ice to protect their eggs for reproduction. Lower ice levels could increase erosion and contribute to changes in weather patterns in the region.

Kessler said temperatures have been unseasonably high this season, making it difficult for ice to form on the lake's surface. According to his research, the Great Lakes' annual ice area varies greatly from year to year, but tends to decline at a rate of about 5% every decade.

“This is certainly a sign of climate change,” he says.

Ice typically reaches its maximum extent from mid-February to early March. In a typical year, about 40% of the Great Lakes are covered in ice at peak times.

Last year, ice coverage reached about 23% and by mid-February the ice had diminished. just covered 7% of the lake.

In 2023, Earth experienced its hottest year on record, largely due to human-induced climate change. Researchers expect temperatures to rise further this year due to El Niño, a natural climate pattern that releases ocean heat into the atmosphere.El Niño winter Warmer trends across the Great Lakes region.

seasonal outlook Temperatures in the Great Lakes region are expected to be higher than normal this year. below average ice.

Forecasters expect little change this week.

Over the next five days, “temperatures are expected to remain near normal across the Great Lakes region, making the forecast less favorable for ice growth,” one report said. Ice outlook prepared by the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Great apes display remarkable recollection of distant companions

Posted on December 22, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A groundbreaking study has revealed that great apes possess exceptional social memories, allowing them to recognize former mates over 25 years later. This discovery indicates that there are significant cognitive similarities between humans and great apes, emphasizing the depth and longevity of social connections among these close animal relatives. Published today in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, this research demonstrates the longest-lasting non-human social memory ever recorded.

The study, led by Christopher Krupenier, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, explores the remarkable social memory capabilities of great apes, particularly chimpanzees and bonobos. The research team found that these animals can recognize individuals even after decades of separation, and exhibit heightened responses to individuals with whom they had positive relationships.

To conduct the study, the researchers worked with chimpanzees and bonobos at various zoos, collecting photos of apes that had left the zoos or passed away. They then presented these photos to the apes and measured their response using non-invasive eye-tracking equipment. The results indicated that the apes displayed enduring social memory, as they looked longer at their former group members and friends, despite prolonged periods of separation. One notable example was a bonobo named Louise, who showed a strong bias toward her sister and nephew, despite not having seen them for over 26 years.

The findings suggest that great apes possess social memories that may persist for over 26 years, similar in duration to human social memory. This suggests that such memory was likely already present in the common evolutionary ancestor of humans and great apes. Moreover, these long-lasting social memories may have played a crucial role in the evolution of human culture, influencing unique forms of social interaction and relationships.

According to the researchers, this study also raises questions about the emotional impact of separation on great apes, highlighting the potential negative consequences of poaching and deforestation on their social relationships. Going forward, the team hopes to further investigate the unique social memory capabilities of great apes and examine how it may compare to other primate species.

This research, made possible by the Templeton Global Philanthropic Foundation grant TWCF-20647 and the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program, offers valuable insights into the social cognition of great apes and underscores the importance of preserving their social networks and relationships.

Source: scitechdaily.com

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