How Fear Influences Ecosystems: The Groundbreaking Insight of the Century

Explore the Science Behind Eco-Systems

After the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, significant ecological changes were observed, particularly a substantial decrease in moose populations. This decline was largely attributed to the impact of wolves on elk behavior; where wolves were likely present, elk dedicated more time to vigilance and less to foraging. Biologist John Laundre referred to this phenomenon as a “landscape of fear” in a pivotal 2001 study.

This concept builds on earlier research that suggested predator fear could influence prey behavior. Until then, it was widely assumed that predators primarily affected prey populations through physical predation alone. Laundre’s observations challenged this notion, indicating a potentially complex relationship between fear and wildlife dynamics.

Recent studies led by Liana Zanet at Western University in Ontario, Canada, further explore this landscape of fear. Over the past two decades, Zanet and her colleagues conducted experiments in British Columbia, playing predator calls near wild songbirds. Their findings revealed a marked reduction in egg-laying and hatching rates, with survival rates for hatchlings plummeting when predator sounds were used. Less than half of the hatchlings survived compared to when non-predator sounds were played. This indicates that fear alone can significantly outweigh the effects of direct predation on wildlife populations.

According to Zanet, prey animals often prioritize safety over foraging opportunities, avoiding prime feeding areas when they perceive threats. This fear-based behavior has profound ecological implications. On Canada’s west coast, the absence of natural predators like bears, cougars, and wolves has allowed raccoons to flourish, leading them to scavenge food resources along the coastline.

When Zanet’s team introduced dog barking recordings in coastal regions, they observed that raccoons largely avoided the beach, spending their time instead watching for potential threats. This avoidance behavior has contributed to the dramatic rebound of coastal animal populations in areas where predator fear is heightened. However, similar effects were not observed when seal sounds were played.

Understanding landscapes of fear is crucial for comprehending the profound impacts humans have on wildlife. In a specific study, Zanet’s team utilized camera traps to observe how wild animals responded to various sounds in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Surprisingly, they found that the fear generated by human presence surpassed that of lions, highlighting the extensive influence of human activity on wildlife behavior and ecosystems.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Connecting Extreme Weather to Climate Change: The Most Important Insight of Our Time

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January 2003: Physicist Miles Allen witnessed the River Thames flooding, threatening his home in Oxford, England. He asked, “Why did meteorologists refuse to link this incident to climate change?”

Later that year, climatologist Peter Stott from the British Met Office found himself in Italy during one of Europe’s most severe heatwaves. Instead of enjoying a vacation, he faced temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, a shocking experience for him.

Both Allen and Stott were intent on understanding climate change’s role in extreme weather events. Stott utilized existing climate models to simulate two scenarios of the 2003 heatwave: one reflecting the climate of that year and another devoid of human-induced warming.

They ran extensive model simulations and concluded that in their landmark 2004 paper in Nature, human activities have more than doubled the likelihood of experiencing a heatwave similar to that of 2003.

This groundbreaking work marked the inception of a new climate science field, which began to identify human influences on extreme weather events. Soon analyses emerged for diverse phenomena, from heatwaves to severe droughts and storms.

However, a significant challenge remained—post-event analyses often took months or years to determine the influence of climate change.

To address this, researchers, including Friederike Otto from Imperial College London, founded World Weather Attribution in 2014. This initiative facilitates swift analysis of extreme weather events, quantifying the probable impacts of climate change, with results frequently released within days.

This has dramatically altered reporting on such events globally, enabling news outlets to directly attribute deadly weather phenomena to climate change and emphasizing the real-world consequences of rising emissions.

As Otto stated, “When we began this work a decade ago, scientists and journalists maintained that individual weather events could not be blamed on climate change. That perspective has shifted immensely.”

This advancement also supports climate change litigation, with causal investigations providing evidence in numerous lawsuits against polluters worldwide. In 2022, the United Nations announced a new International Loss and Damage Fund, paving the way for climate change compensation.

In 2003, Allen queried: “Could litigation for climate change be feasible?” Thanks to developments in attribution science, the answer is now a definitive “yes.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Analyzing Hitler’s Genome Offers No Insight into His Crimes

DNA of Adolf Hitler Sequenced for Documentary

Smith Archives/Alamy

Many individuals find it challenging to discuss Adolf Hitler without losing the argument. If you feel the need to sequence Hitler’s DNA to grab attention for your TV program, you’ve likely lost the plot.

Yet, this is precisely what Britain’s Channel 4 has undertaken. The documentary Hitler’s DNA: The Dictator’s Blueprint is set to air this Saturday. While I’m reluctantly preparing to watch it, feel free to skip it.

DNA comes from a piece of cloth soaked in blood, cut from the sofa where Hitler shot himself in 1945 and now housed in a museum in the United States. Although the resulting genome contains gaps due to the sample’s age, the Y chromosome reportedly matches that of a male relative of Hitler, suggesting its authenticity.

If this endeavor had been purely academic, aimed at expanding our knowledge—perhaps to verify if Hitler had a rumored Jewish grandfather (he didn’t, according to DNA)—it might have been acceptable. Instead, we are presented with a sensational two-part documentary claiming this DNA evidence “will change the way we perceive Hitler.”

The issue lies in the implication of genetic determinism, suggesting Hitler was predestined to commit horrific acts due to his genes. While this documentary does not directly assert this claim, it comes perilously close. What else could the phrase “dictator’s blueprint” imply?

This line of reasoning is akin to arguing that cloning Hitler would lead to the emergence of numerous murderers. While ethically we disdain such an experiment, the world contains clones in the form of identical twins sharing the same DNA. Studies on twins have been used to assess the degree to which various traits and conditions arise from genetics instead of the environment.

Now, there are numerous challenges with twin research. It’s impossible to entirely disentangle genetic influences from environmental ones, especially as twins generally grow up in similar surroundings. Nonetheless, the best estimates indicate that the heritability of criminal behavior, which likely aligns closely with that of genocidal dictators, is less than 50%. Thus, there is no basis to expect that most clones of Hitler would be tyrants.

Additionally, our grasp of the human genome remains primitive. We still lack the ability to predict straightforward traits like eye color with absolute certainty, let alone more complex characteristics arising from brain and environmental interactions.

What we can do is identify genetic variations statistically associated with higher risk for conditions like autism. Individuals receive a “polygenic score” for each condition. However, possessing a high polygenic score for autism does not guarantee a diagnosis. This situation arises from various factors, including the importance of environmental influences, potential misleading associations, and incomplete identification of significant variants.

“It is crucial to emphasize that, in their current form, autism polygenic scores have no clinical applicability due to inconsistent associations and restricted generalizability,” as concluded in a recent meta-analysis.

The documentary claims that Hitler’s genome rates exceptionally high for autism, alongside mental health issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and antisocial behavior or psychopathy. His ADHD score is also reported to be above average. However, historical accounts have long suggested that Hitler exhibited such characteristics based on his actions. Genetic data does not yield definitive proof, and established diagnostic criteria do not incorporate genetic information.

More critically, what if he did display these symptoms? Are there alternative explanations for these classifications? As Simon Baron-Cohen from Cambridge University argues in the documentary, the neglect and abuse Hitler faced from his alcoholic father make it “crucial to comprehend why he developed such hatred and anger.”

He further pointed out that traits often linked to schizophrenia might connect with creativity and unconventional thought, possibly accounting for Hitler’s political and military achievements. Is this mere speculation?

For me, this represents the core issue with analyzing Hitler’s genome. We can speculate about potentially valid connections to his personality and behavior, but these could all be entirely incorrect. Moreover, this could worsen the stigma around conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

This documentary undermines its assertions as it largely reiterates established information about Hitler. The main novelty lies in the assertion that Hitler suffered from Kallmann syndrome, a condition affecting sexual development. Yet, this condition’s physical effects are extensive, and there is already documentary evidence suggesting Hitler had undescended testicles. Thus, history proves more enlightening than genetics.

Additionally, the broader question this documentary raises is whether Hitler was uniquely evil or entirely accountable for World War II and the Holocaust. Unfortunately, history reveals that genocidal dictators do not operate in isolation; they need the backing of numerous individuals.

Millions supported Hitler, other politicians enacted laws enabling his rise, and many authorities aided in enforcing the racist legislations that resulted in the Holocaust. We shouldn’t search within our genes for reasons why so many opt to become dictators; the pressing issue lies in why we allow them to do so.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Researchers Discover Smartwatches Provide Minimal Insight into Stress Levels

Smartwatches are intended to track your well-being throughout the workday, ensuring your life remains balanced.

However, recent studies indicate that these devices are not reliable for accurately assessing stress levels. You may feel overwhelmed when you’re actually just excited.

The findings showed only a weak correlation between smartwatch-reported stress and the levels participants claimed to have felt. In contrast, fatigue was somewhat related to the smartwatch data, while sleep metrics had a stronger association.

Eiko Freed, the study’s author, stated that the connection between smartwatch stress readings and self-reported stress was “essentially zero.”

He further explained, “It’s not surprising since the device doesn’t accurately reflect your emotions and may even heighten feelings of excitement and pleasure.”

Freed recalled that his Garmin had flagged him as stressed while he was exercising and enthusiastically chatting with a long-lost friend from his wedding.

“These findings prompt critical considerations about the ability of wearable tech to truly reflect our mental states,” Fried remarked. “Exercise caution; don’t rely solely on smartwatches. They are consumer gadgets, not medical instruments.”

Freed noted that while many researchers are exploring physiological indicators that could represent emotional states, the accuracy is often insufficient due to the overlap of positive and negative emotions. For instance, increased heart rate can indicate both anxiety and excitement.

Fried, an associate professor at Leiden University’s Clinical Psychology Department, monitored stress, fatigue, and sleep over three months in 800 young adults using Garmin Vivosmart 4 watches. Participants were asked to report their feelings about stress, fatigue, and sleepiness four times daily, which were then compared to the smartwatch data.

As published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, none of the participants found that their smartwatch stress readings accurately reflected their self-reported stress levels. For 25% of participants, the smartwatch indicated they were either not stressed or stressed when they felt quite the opposite.

The link between physical fatigue, dubbed “body battery” by Garmin, was “significantly stronger than stress but overall still weak,” Fried mentioned. Garmin attributes this to a combination of pulse rates and activity levels, though they do not disclose the specifics of how the body battery score is calculated.

The connection to sleep proved to be stronger, although Freed acknowledged the need for improved measurements on undisturbed rest.

In about two-thirds of sleep assessments, a notable correlation between Garmin readings and self-reported data was observed. Researchers highlighted that participants often projected that Garmin sleep duration would increase by around two hours if they reported improved sleep quality compared to a prior day rated poorly. “This effect is quite remarkable,” they noted.

The study aspires to establish early warning systems for depression, enabling wearable technology users to receive data that may facilitate preventive care before a depressive episode occurs.

There are initial indicators suggesting that reduced activity levels could be predictive, although Fried has not yet determined whether this stems from exercise’s protective role against depression or if declining energy arises as mental health deteriorates.

“Wearable technology can offer insightful information about emotions and experiences, but it’s vital to understand their limitations,” stated Margarita Panayiotou, a researcher at the University of Manchester.

“This study will elucidate the reliable insights such data can provide and contribute significantly to the ongoing discussion regarding technology’s role in understanding happiness. It’s crucial to remember that wearable data might not represent objective truths and should be interpreted within a broader context, including individual experiences and perceptions.”

Garmin was contacted for comments.

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Insight: Cancer’s Ability to Encircle Nerves Could Pave the Way for Improved Treatments

One of the most significant yet frequently overlooked success stories of this century is the increasing number of individuals who are surviving cancer.

Recent statistics affirm this; currently, half of all cancer patients in the UK survive for at least a decade, a notable improvement compared to five decades ago. The cancer mortality rate in the US has also decreased by 34% over two decades. In Australia, more than 70% of cancer patients survive for at least five years.

Several of these improvements can be attributed to reduced smoking rates and the establishment of national screening programs for various types of cancer. Additionally, advancements in treatment options have introduced groundbreaking therapies, especially in immunotherapy, encompassing monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and cancer vaccines.

Medications that focus on the interaction between cancer and our neurons show promising results

However, not all is positive. Despite encouraging advances, the incidence of cancer continues to rise, and there are indications that improvements in survival rates are slowing. To witness the extraordinary progress made thus far, one may need to reevaluate cancer from an entirely different perspective.

Fortunately, an emerging field known as cancer neuroscience may provide that new perspective, as detailed in a recent cover story. The realization that nerves play a crucial role in cancer proliferation and dissemination introduces a novel approach to treatment. Drugs designed to target the interaction between cancer cells and our neurons are already showing promise in clinical trials and are being hailed as potential breakthroughs in cancer therapy.

If cancer neuroscience leads to the next major breakthrough, the resulting drugs could be surprisingly affordable and accessible. For instance, some widely used beta blockers are currently under research.

This development is particularly welcome in light of the fact that many newer therapies can become prohibitively expensive, and challenges still exist in ensuring equitable, swift, and affordable access to optimal cancer treatments.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Latest Genomic Research Provides Deeper Insight into the Evolutionary Past of Mammoths

Scientists extracted and analyzed 34 new mammoths (Mamutus spp. ) mitochondrial genomes containing two early Pleistocene and nine mid Pleistocene giant specimens in Siberia and North America. They identified the oldest known mammoth DNA in North America from 200,000-year-old specimens found on the Old Crow River in the Yukon Territory of Canada. The results support previous research and show that mammoths from around 1 million years ago do not resemble the later mammoths.

Reconstruction of the life of the grassland mammoth (Mammuthus trogontherii). Image credit: Beth Zaiken/Center for Palaeogenetics.

Ancient DNA was recovered from specimens dated in the early Pleistocene (2.6 million to 780,000 years ago), and the stages in the Middle Pleistocene (780,000 to 126,000 years ago) could allow for the direct study of deep temporal evolutionary events that are key to understanding species formation.

Unfortunately, access to such deep-time DNA is limited, and so far only a handful of studies have been able to obtain either genome-wide data or the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) from deep specimens.

“Our analysis offers an unprecedented glimpse into how major deep-time demographic events have shaped mammoth genetic diversity over time.”

By analyzing 34 new mammothmite genomes along with more than 200 previously published mammothmite genomes, the researchers found that diversification events across the mammoth lineage appeared to be consistent with well-explained demographic changes during the early and mid-Pleistocene.

Their findings support the ancient Siberian origins of the major mammoth lineage and reveal how changes in individual dynamics contributed to the expansion and contraction of different genetic clades.

“The constant cost of sequencing technology has left mitogenomes somewhat forgotten. However, our study shows that they are more abundant than nuclear DNA and are therefore important for evolutionary biology.

The current research not only advances understanding of mammoth evolution, but also contributes to a wider field of ancient DNA research.

Scientists have developed and applied an improved molecular clock dating framework and improved methods of estimating sample age beyond radiocarbon dating limits using genetic data.

This methodological advancement provides a powerful tool for future research into extinct and endangered species.

Professor Love Darren, a researcher at Stockholm University, said:

“We are extremely excited to see genetic data from more mammoth specimens sampled over the past million years.

Team’s result Published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

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J. Camilo Chacón-Duque et al. 2025. The evolution of the mammoth genome for a million years. Molecular Biology and Evolution 42(4): MSAF065; doi: 10.1093/molbev/msaf065

Source: www.sci.news

Newly discovered Silurian fossils provide insight into the intricate early development of molluscs

Paleontologists have discovered two new three-dimensionally preserved aculiferous mollusks from the Silurian period, showing that the earliest molluscs were more complex and adaptable than previously known. It was revealed that there was.

3D model of punk ferox (above) and emo swirl (Bottom) Reconstructed as a digital virtual fossil. Image credit: Mark Sutton, Imperial College London.

The two new Aculifera species are punk ferox and emo swirllived about 430 million years ago.

The specimen was discovered in a Silurian deposit in the county of Herefordshire, England.

These had distinctive spikes and other features that set them apart from the earlier molluscs mentioned above.

Dr Mark Sutton, a paleontologist at Imperial College London, said: “Molluscans are one of the largest and most diverse groups of animals on Earth.

“However, early acripheran molluscs are less well known than their relatives.”

“Information about this group was limited, and for a very long time we thought they were fairly basic, simple, and primitive.”

“It's extremely rare to find fossils that are so well-preserved and have such detailed soft tissues.”

“We were able to create 'virtual fossils', or 3D digital models. This provided us with a treasure trove of information and revealed that the evolutionary branches of molluscs include: It helps you understand that punk ferox and emo swirl It was much more evolutionarily rich and diverse than we expected. similar to other mollusk groups. ”

Sutton and his colleagues used two different methods to obtain clear images of both the interior and exterior of the fossil.

First, an X-ray scan was used to closely observe the internal structure without damaging the exterior.

The fossil is then carefully crushed into very thin layers and photographed at each stage to create 3D images of its external features.

The researchers found that both fossils had smooth undersides, suggesting they lived on the ocean floor, and both had some unique features and unconventional locomotion strategies.

of emo swirl The fossil is preserved in a folded position, suggesting it moved like an inchworm to grasp the vertebrae and push forward.

Meanwhile, how punk ferox Scientists weren't sure if it was still mobile, but it turned out that it had ridge-like legs, unlike any mollusk that exists today.

“The name is punk ferox and emo swirl In fact, our first nicknames for these ancient mollusks were inspired by some of their unique features and personalities,” Dr. Sutton said.

punk ferox In particular, its spiky appearance clearly resembles a rebellious punk rocker. emo swirl It complemented it nicely. ”

“meanwhile punk ferox They resemble insect-like molluscs with long spines, but also have wide legs and chiton-like gills. ”

emo swirlIt resembles an earthworm with a similarly long body and spines, but also features a chiton-like shell and compressed body. ”

“Such a combination of features helps us better understand the evolutionary tree of molluscs. This points to a story involving more complexity and diversity than previously thought.”

of study Published in a magazine nature.

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MD Sutton others. New Silurian aculiferan fossils reveal the mollusk's complex early history. naturepublished online on January 8, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08312-0

Source: www.sci.news

Analysis of fossilized stomach contents provides insight into the origins of dinosaurs

Swedish and Polish paleontologists are using hundreds of fossilized fecal and vomit samples from the Polish Basin in central Europe to reconstruct the rise of dinosaurs to play a dominant role in Earth’s ancient ecosystems. I investigated.



Bone-crushing archosaur fecal fossil smoke, smoke In the background is reconstruction. Image credit: Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki.

The fossil record shows that dinosaurs evolved during the mid-Triassic period (247 to 237 million years ago).

However, the dominance of dinosaurs in terrestrial ecosystems was not seen until the early Jurassic period, about 30 million years later.

Although many non-dinosaur tetrapods (four-limbed vertebrates) were expelled during this period, questions remain as to why dinosaurs came to dominate the ecosystem.

“The real detective work is piecing together ‘who ate who’ in the past,” said Martin Kvarnström, a paleontologist at Uppsala University.

“Being able to examine what animals ate and how they interacted with their environment helps us understand what enabled dinosaurs to be so successful.”

Dr. Kvarnström and his colleagues reconstructed the food web using more than 500 fossilized remains of digestive material (such as feces and vomit), known as bromalite, collected from the Polish Basin, which spans the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic period. We investigated this transition by constructing a.

“The research material was collected over a period of 25 years,” said Dr. Grzegorz Niedrzywicki, a paleontologist at Uppsala University and the Polish Geological Institute.

“It took years to piece everything together and paint a coherent picture.”

“Our study is innovative because we chose to understand the ecology of early dinosaurs based on their dietary preferences.”

“There were a lot of surprising discoveries along the way.”

Analysis of these remains (including 3D imaging of internal structures to reveal undigested food content) is compared to the existing fossil record, along with climate and botanical data, to determine the size and presence of vertebrates during this period. We estimated the change in quantity.

These data indicate that non-dinosaur tetrapods replaced omnivorous ancestors of early dinosaurs that evolved into the first carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs towards the end of the Triassic.

Researchers now believe that environmental changes associated with increased volcanic activity may have led to a greater variety of plant prey, which in turn led to the emergence of larger and more diverse herbivore species. Suggests.

This led to the evolution of even larger carnivorous dinosaurs by the beginning of the Jurassic period, completing the transition to dinosaur dominance within the ecosystem.

This analysis sheds light on the emergence of dinosaur dominance within the Polish Basin ecosystem.

“Our findings support the idea that stochastic processes and competitive advantage enabled dinosaurs’ great evolutionary success,” the authors said.

“Dinosaurs gradually achieved supremacy over 30 million years of evolution.”

“The processes illustrated by the Polish data may explain global patterns and shed new light on the emergence of environmentally dominated dinosaur dominance and gigantism that persisted until the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.” We suggest that there is a

team’s paper Published in a magazine nature.

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M. Kvarnström others. Digestive content and food webs record the advent of dinosaur supremacy. naturepublished online on November 27, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08265-4

Source: www.sci.news

Doctors provide insight into the experience of dying

Similar to childbirth, the process of dying involves stages and noticeable progressions. The speed at which this process occurs varies from person to person, just like in childbirth. In some cases, medical support may be necessary to ensure that dying, or childbirth, is as safe and comfortable as possible.

As death nears, most individuals lose interest in eating and drinking. This is a normal occurrence, and sometimes only a small amount of food may be welcomed when regular meals become overwhelming.

Dying individuals often experience extreme fatigue due to a lack of energy. While sleep usually helps to replenish energy and aid in recovery, in the final stages of life, the impact of sleep diminishes as the body weakens towards death.

Individuals approaching death spend less time awake and more time in a state of apparent unconsciousness. When they do wake up, many report feeling as though they had peacefully slept without any sense of being unconscious.

If the dying person relies on regular medications to manage symptoms, it is important to transition to medications that can be administered without the person needing to be awake. Skin patches, syringe pumps, or suppositories can be considered. It’s crucial to note that loss of consciousness is typically a result of the dying process itself rather than the medication.

What happens in the final moments?

As death progresses, heart rate decreases, blood pressure drops, skin temperature decreases, and fingernails darken. Internal organs also slow down as blood pressure declines. Restlessness, confusion, and periods of deepening consciousness may occur during this time.

While there are no established methods for studying the experiences of dying individuals, recent studies suggest that the unconscious brain may respond to noise as death approaches. Breathing patterns in an unconscious person are governed by the brain stem’s respiratory center, leading to heavy breathing and occasional saliva flow.

Breathing patterns may shift from deep to shallow and fast to slow until breathing eventually slows, becomes shallow, pauses, and ceases altogether. Following a few minutes without oxygen, the heart stops beating.

Recognizing common patterns of dying and understanding its stages can help companions comprehend what is happening, alleviate fears of unlikely complications, and empower them to seek medical assistance if necessary to manage symptoms and ensure a peaceful passing. Additional information can be found in BBC Short Films on Death.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Graviton: An Insight into a Particle with Gravitational Behavior

Have you found any traces of gravitons?

zf L/Getty Images

For decades, physicists have been searching for gravitons, the hypothetical particles thought to carry gravity. Although they had never been detected in space, particles like gravitons have now been observed in semiconductors. Using these to understand the behavior of gravitons could help unify general relativity and quantum mechanics, which have long been at odds.

“This is a needle in a haystack. [finding]. And the paper that started all this goes back to 1993. ” lauren pfeiffer at Princeton University. He wrote the paper with several colleagues. Aaron Pinchukdied in 2022 before finding any hint of the elusive particle.

Pinchuk's students and collaborators, including Pfeiffer, have completed the experiment they began discussing 30 years ago. They focused on electrons within a flat piece of the semiconductor gallium arsenide, which they placed in a powerful refrigerator and exposed to a strong magnetic field. Under these conditions, quantum effects cause electrons to behave in strange ways. The electrons interact strongly with each other, forming an unusual incompressible liquid.

Although this liquid is not gentle, it is characterized by collective motion in which all the electrons move in unison, which can lead to particle-like excitations. To investigate these excitations, the team illuminated the semiconductor with a carefully tuned laser and analyzed the light scattered from the semiconductor.

This revealed that the excitation contains a type of quantum spin that had previously been theorized to exist only in gravitons. This isn't a graviton itself, but it's the closest thing we've ever seen.

Liu Ziyu The professor at Columbia University in New York who worked on the experiment said he and his colleagues knew that graviton-like excitations could exist in semiconductors, but they needed to make the experiment precise enough to detect it. He said it took many years. “From a theoretical side, the story was kind of complete, but the experiments weren't really convincing,” he says.

This experiment is not a true analog of space-time. Electrons are confined in flat, two-dimensional space and move more slowly than objects governed by the theory of relativity.

But he says it is “hugely important” and bridges various previously underappreciated areas of physics, such as materials physics and the theory of gravity. Kun Yan from Florida State University was not involved in this study.

but, Zlatko Papik Researchers at the University of Leeds in the UK cautioned against equating the new discovery with the detection of gravitons in space. He said the two are equivalent enough for electronic systems like the one in the new experiment to serve as a testing ground for theories of quantum gravity, but they are not equivalent for all quantum phenomena that occur in space-time on a cosmic scale. It says no.

This connection between particle-like excitations and theoretical gravitons also yields new ideas about exotic electronic states, team members say. de Linjie At Nanjing University, China.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Insight into historical scientific advancements provided by antique clocks

Shimei medium with a print of the coronation of Louis XIV

National Palace Museum

These gorgeous antique clocks not only represent time, but also a window into an era of cutting-edge scientific innovation.

Each of these works, dating from 1662 to 1795, is part of a new exhibition. Zimingzhong: The Clockwork Treasure of China's Forbidden City At the Science Museum in London. It “explores how we measure time and the technical expertise, creativity and international trade behind centuries-old clocks,” said curator Jane Desborough. states.

Zimeichu in the shape of an artificial flower pot

National Palace Museum

called Ziming Middle School This bell, which means “self-ringing bell” in Mandarin, was brought to China by European missionaries during the Qing Dynasty and was prized by the Chinese emperor, who collected hundreds of them and built them in the Forbidden City in Beijing to emphasize his imperial status. It was exhibited in the palace. And a luxurious taste.

Zimingzhong celestial globe and original case included

National Palace Museum

Many of the things that made Ziming Middle School The technology incorporated into the intricate case was so prestigious that hundreds of skilled craftsmen were required to produce just one watch. Some of the complex devices still used in some clocks may have been used to time the duration of celestial events.

European style Shimeichu

National Palace Museum

The main image is Ziming Middle School It depicts the coronation of King Louis XIV of France, with other images depicted in smaller images (taken from below the main image): penjing (“Potted Landscape”) Delicate artificial flowers. A small celestial observation device that displays the movement of stars and planets around the Earth. There is also a print by 18th century painter Joshua Reynolds (pictured above). The exhibition will run until June 2nd.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Clearlake and Insight announce $4.4 billion agreement to privatize software company Alteryx

Alterix is an Irvine, California-based software company that develops data science and analytics products. announced Private equity firms Clearlake Capital Group and Insight Partners announced that they have agreed to acquire the company in a deal valued at $4.4 billion.

Clearlake and Insight reportedly beat out another private equity firm, Symphony Technology Group. report I’ve been fighting for Alteryx for a few days now.

Clear Lake and Insight’s deal also includes debt, valuing Alterix’s equity at about $3.46 billion. report Reuters – A 29.1% premium to the company’s closing price on Friday. It is expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and approvals.

The direct impact on Alteryx’s approximately 2,900 employees is not clear.

“In addition to providing significant and solid cash value to our shareholders, this transaction provides increased working capital and industry expertise; “It gives us the flexibility of being a private company.” “Over the past several years, we have executed a comprehensive transformation strategy to strengthen our go-to-market capabilities and establish a strong cloud and AI innovation roadmap. We are excited to partner with Clearlake and Insight for the next stage of Alteryx’s journey. ”

Alteryx’s predecessor, SRC, was co-founded in 1997 by Dean Stoecker, Olivia Duane Adams, and Ned Harding and initially focused on creating a data engine for demographic-based mapping and reporting. In 2006, SRC released a software app. Alteryx as a platform for building analytical processes and services. By 2011, SRC had changed its name to his Alteryx, and by that time SRC had become the company’s core product.

Alteryx went public on the NYSE in 2017 after raising tens of millions of dollars from VC firms including Toba Capital, Insight, Sapphire Ventures, ICONIQ Capital, and Meritech Capital Partners.

More recently, Alteryx moved to a subscription-centric business model and significantly expanded its AI-powered feature offering as part of its strategy to capture the growing demand for data analytics services. according to The value of the big data analytics market could reach $105.08 billion by 2027, up from $37.34 billion in 2018, according to analyst firm Research and Markets.

Alteryx currently counts more than 8,300 companies as customers, including Coca-Cola, Vodafone, Walmart, and Ford. In its coverage of the deal today, SiliconAngle said: Note That Alterix generated Revenue for the last quarter was $232 million, an increase of 8% from the same period last year. Also, annual recurring revenue grew nearly three times faster over the same period, increasing by about 21% to $914 million.

“When we founded Alteryx in 1997, we did so with a vision for the future of data science and analytics. Today, Alteryx is a differentiated platform that extends the democratization of data in a controlled way. We stand out as an industry leader with “The agreements with Clearlake and Insight demonstrate the strength of our business and the value of Alteryx’s capabilities and innovation.”

Source: techcrunch.com