Revived Human Retinas Show Light Response 10 Hours Post-Mortem

Posted on July 9, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Preserving Retinal Function Outside the Body: A Breakthrough for Transplantation

Michael Lutz/Alamy

Recent studies show that human eyes can function outside the body for up to 10 hours after death, doubling previous records. By supplying blood and oxygen to donor eyes, researchers have ensured that the eyes can still respond to light, maintaining structural integrity and health.

“This study marks a significant advance toward the potential for whole-eye transplantation,” states Thomas Johnson of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, who was not involved in the research. “Achieving a mild response outside the body is a remarkable milestone.”

Over 1 million people in the UK experience blindness or low vision. Irreversible eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration impact the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

Progress has been made in transplantation techniques. Corneal transplants enhance vision for patients with damaged corneas; however, treating the retina remains challenging due to its connection to the central nervous system.

In 2023, a partial face transplant and a full eye transplant were performed, but vision restoration was not achieved—a significant hurdle. The retina is vulnerable to degeneration due to oxygen deprivation, known as ischemia. Johnson explains, “Even brief periods of ischemia may cause permanent damage to light-sensitive neurons and circuits.”

Eimear Byrne from Barcelona University of Science and Technology led researchers who aimed to mitigate this damage by replicating the conditions donor eyes encounter in the body.

They developed a system that channels blood through a flexible tube into the ophthalmic artery, nourishing the eye and surrounding tissues. The Eyes-in-Care-Box utilizes sensors to deliver oxygenated solution, ensuring optimal pressure and flow.

The researchers tested their technique on six donors, where one eye was perfused, while the other was not. Results indicated that the perfused eyes maintained retinal structure and cellular health for up to 24 hours, contrasted with rapid deterioration in the non-perfused eyes.

After perfusing 36 additional eyes, they found that 15 exhibited electrical light responses akin to those in living humans—lasting up to 10 hours post-mortem, double the previous average of five hours. Although other scientists made similar discoveries in 2022, the reasons for the limited response in 21 eyes remain unclear.

A significant challenge persists: regenerating the severed fibers of the optic nerve to connect with the brain’s visual center. Johnson highlights, “Without this regeneration, the donor eye cannot relay vision to the recipient’s brain.”

While this new research does not resolve that issue, maintaining healthy eye metabolism after death may facilitate future strategies for vision restoration and enhance donor eyes’ resilience to ischemic damage.

Many organizations are investigating potential interventions to promote optic nerve regrowth. “Now is the perfect time to integrate these promising strategies for whole-eye transplantation,” Johnson expresses.

Byrne’s team suggests the Eyes-in-Care box could also allow for testing vision-related treatments on human eyes instead of alternative animal models. “This technology has significant potential for advancing the understanding of biology and pathology, as well as developing new in vitro models for testing drugs and other treatments,” Johnson asserts. “These results will be directly applicable to human diseases and biology.”

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Groundbreaking Jurassic Fossil Sheds Light on How Birds Evolved from Dinosaurs and Lost Their Tails

Posted on July 8, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Chinese paleontologists have recently identified a new species of small Jurassic bird, offering fresh insights into the evolution of avian anatomy. The short tail of this bird provides compelling evidence that early birds transitioned from the long, dinosaur-like tails to a more compact coccyx, facilitating the development of flight.

Reconstruction of Jenhernis Buyu. Image credit: Chung-Tat Cheung.

Modern birds are distinguished among vertebrates by their short tails, which comprise a fused bony structure known as the coccyx. This structure anchors the tail feathers and plays a crucial role in flight.

Unlike their dinosaur ancestors, which had long, bone-rich tails made up of numerous vertebrae, the evolution of birds involved a significant transformation that remains poorly understood due to the scarcity of fossils illustrating intermediate stages.

The newly discovered bird species, Jenhernis Buyu, appears to play a critical role in this evolutionary puzzle.

Dr. Zhou Zhonghe, a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, states, “Evolutionary biologists have often suggested that a transitional species with a shortened but not fully fused bony tail is biologically improbable, as long-tailed and short-tailed birds appeared nearly simultaneously in the early fossil record without clear intermediates.”

The holotype specimen of Jenhernis Buyu was discovered in 2024 in the Nanyuan Formation near Yangyuan Village in Zhenghe County, Fujian Province, China. This fossil dates back 148 to 150 million years, during the late Jurassic period, a time when some of the earliest bird species began to diversify.

This discovery represents the fourth taxonomic group of birds linked to what paleontologists refer to as the Zhenghe fauna. Notably, Baminornis has also contributed to our understanding, although it is represented by an incomplete specimen.

Estimations based on the circumference and length of the femur suggest that Jenhernis Buyu weighed between 74 to 163 grams, making it smaller than the previously known smallest bird, Archeopteryx.

“To our knowledge, this is the smallest adult non-pygostyle theropod known to date,” the research team stated.

Holotype specimen of Jenhernis Buyu. Image credit: Wang et al., doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aeb5202.

Jenhernis Buyu is notable for having only 15 vertebrae in its tail, whereas other early avian relatives often possess more than 30 separate, non-fused vertebrae.

The peculiar box-shaped last two coccyges feature anatomical characteristics also found in distant dinosaur relatives like Codypteryx, challenging previously held beliefs about tail shortening and caudal column fusion occurring simultaneously.

“This anatomical diversity illustrates a stepwise evolutionary transition. In the evolution of early birds, the reduction and shortening of vertebrae occurred prior to the fusion of the caudal column,” explained Dr. Ming Wang from the Institute.

The analysis indicates that Jenhernis Buyu was uniquely adapted compared to other nearby Jurassic birds, which suggests it did not thrive in arboreal or terrestrial habitats.

The researchers assert, “The body size, skeletal structure, and ecological niches of the symbiotic Zhenghe birds differ significantly, providing undeniable evidence of extensive adaptive radiation occurring by the end of the Jurassic period.”

This groundbreaking discovery contributes to settling longstanding debates regarding the timing of the initial diversification of early avian species.

For more details, refer to their study published in this month’s issue of Scientific Progress.

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Wang Ming et al. 2026. Jurassic Birds Unveil the Gradual Evolution of the Avian Coccyx. Scientific Progress 12(27);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aeb5202

Source: www.sci.news

83-Million-Year-Old Fossil Sheds New Light on Antarctica’s First Dinosaur Discovery Timeline

Posted on July 2, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

A small fossil, unearthed on an Antarctic island over 40 years ago, is identified as the tail vertebra of a titanosaur sauropod dinosaur that roamed Antarctica around 83 million years ago. This significant discovery was detailed in a new study published in Acta Paleontology Polonica. Notably, this is the first dinosaur bone discovered in Antarctica and the second sauropod fossil known from the region.

Reconstruction of the life of an Antarctic titanosaur. Image credit: Andrew McAfee, Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

This rare Antarctic dinosaur vertebra was discovered in the Santa Marta Formation on James Ross Island, located at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Cataloged as BAS D.8621.25, this specimen originates from the Campanian period of the Late Cretaceous, approximately 83 million years ago.

The fossil was originally unearthed on December 9, 1985, by British Antarctic Survey geologist Michael Thomson and German paleontologist Reinhard Förster, but its significance remained unknown until recently.

According to Professor Paul Barrett, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum in London, “At first glance, this looks like an ordinary fossil, but as the first dinosaur fossil discovered on the continent, it holds an important place in the history of Antarctic exploration.”

He adds, “When this animal was alive, Antarctica would have been covered in lush temperate forests, providing ample food for large herbivores.”

“The potential for more dinosaur discoveries in Antarctica exists. As ice levels recede due to climate change, we may uncover additional evidence of this rich biodiversity,” he stated.

In the recent study, Barrett and colleagues classified BAS D.8621.25 as a member of the titanosauridae family, which includes some of the largest land animals known to have existed.

This specimen is believed to be a juvenile or dwarf species, measuring only 6 to 7 meters long.

Dr. Mark Evans, a paleontologist and manager of geological collections at the British Antarctic Survey, noted, “When I first found this bone in our collection a few years ago, I suspected it might be a dinosaur. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was likely a titanosaur caudal vertebra.”

BAS D.8621.25 specimen collected from the Santa Marta Formation on James Ross Island, Antarctica. Image credit: Barrett et al., doi: 10.4202/app.01315.2025.

The BAS D.8621.25 fossil is not only the first dinosaur bone collected in Antarctica but also predates the famous armored dinosaur Antarctopelta oliveroi, discovered in 1986, long thought to be the continent’s first discovery. This new finding represents the second sauropod fossil identified in Antarctica.

This discovery indicates that Antarctica was home to various lineages of long-necked sauropods during the Cretaceous period, reinforcing its role as a land bridge uniting South America, Australia, and New Zealand before the fragmentation of Gondwana.

Dr. Matthew Lamanna, a paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, remarked, “This bone sat in a collection drawer for decades until new research unveiled its identity. It’s rare evidence that long-necked sauropod dinosaurs once lived in Antarctica.”

Samantha Beeston, a researcher at University College London, added, “This serves as a powerful reminder of why museums collect and preserve artifacts. Emerging methods and expertise enable scientists to unlock discoveries from specimens that have long remained obscure.”

She concluded, “For many, Antarctica appears to be an enigmatic and remote world, yet discoveries like this captivate scientists seeking to understand the evolution of our planet.”

“During the Cretaceous when this animal existed, Antarctica was part of the Gondwana supercontinent. This discovery illustrates how its relatives migrated between South America and Australia via Antarctica,” Beeston explained.

Researchers are utilizing modern technologies such as CT scans to analyze the internal structure of bones, and the CT data employed in this study facilitated the elucidation of previously hidden anatomical details, enhancing our understanding of fossil anatomy.

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Paul M. Barrett et al. 2026. A titanosaur sauropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Antarctica. Acta Paleontology Polonica 71 (2): 349-362; doi: 10.4202/app.01315.2025

This revision maintains the original HTML structure while optimizing the content for SEO by adjusting the phrasing and adding relevant keywords.

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble Discovers Ultraviolet Light Emissions from Early Universe’s Small Starburst Galaxies

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Just 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang, the galaxy MXDFz4.4—one of the universe’s smallest galaxies at only 100 times the size of the Milky Way—emitted a powerful burst of ionizing light through the neutral hydrogen that enveloped it. This phenomenon provides astronomers with unprecedented insights into the reionization process of the universe.

This diagram depicts the galaxy MXDFz4.4 as it existed 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Leah Hustak, STScI.

MXDFz4.4 thrived during the Reionization Era, a transformative period in cosmic evolution.

In the early stages post-Big Bang, the gas surrounding stars and galaxies obstructed high-energy ultraviolet light.

Gradually, this gas transitioned to a transparent or ionized state over hundreds of millions of years, rather than a sudden change.

“It was previously believed that observing galaxies like this would be impossible,” stated Dr. Ilias Guvarts, a postdoctoral researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute.

“Researchers anticipated that the dense ‘fog’ of neutral hydrogen would obscure the ionizing light.”

“Hubble not only detected this light but also uncovered intriguing details about the galaxy’s features.”

Visible-light images from Hubble reveal that intense bursts of young stars have cleared MXDFz4.4 and its vicinity. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / Ilias Goovaerts, STScI / Marc Rafelski, STScI & JHU / Anton Koekemoer, STScI / Alyssa Pagan, STScI.

“Although astronomers have identified many galaxies from this period in cosmic history, MXDFz4.4 is unique as it is the only one to have emitted ionizing photons,” Dr. Mark Rafelski from the Space Telescope Science Institute noted.

Long exposure observations by Hubble showed that a massive young star within MXDFz4.4 was responsible for the ultraviolet light filtering through the primordial universe.

These stars emerged simultaneously over the past few million years and are closely compacted together.

Interestingly, MXDFz4.4, though about 100 times smaller than the Milky Way, is forming stars at a rate 10 times greater.

“The presence of numerous young, hot, massive stars in a compact area aids in dispersing the opaque gas,” explained Dr. Guberts.

The research team’s paper was published on June 23, 2026, in the Astrophysical Journal.

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Elias Guvaarts et al. 2026. MXDFz4.4: First test of LyC emitters 250 million years after the epoch of reionization and the Lyα form as a tracer of LyC escape at high redshifts. APJ 1005, 34; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae75b0

Source: www.sci.news

How Daily Exposure to Bright Light Can Help Prevent Dementia

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers at Guangzhou Medical University conducted a comprehensive study tracking approximately 88,000 individuals over eight years, revealing a significant correlation between daytime light exposure and reduced rates of dementia.

Zheng et al. displayed findings that link higher daytime light exposure to a decreased risk of dementia. Image credit: Zheng et al., doi: 10.1002/gps3.70039.

“Dementia is recognized as the leading neurodegenerative disease globally, characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function and deterioration in daily living activities,” stated co-senior author Dr. Hongliang Feng and colleagues.

“With the aging global population, the incidence of dementia is rising swiftly, and effective treatments remain scarce, creating significant health and socio-economic challenges.”

“Thus, there is a pressing need to identify protective factors and create effective prevention strategies.”

“The natural light-dark cycle, highlighted by darkness during the night and brightness throughout the day, is a crucial environmental signal that governs endogenous circadian rhythms.”

“This circadian regulation influences various aspects of physiology, behavior, and cognitive functions.”

“Conversely, disturbances in circadian rhythm are prevalent among individuals with dementia and are linked to an elevated risk of developing dementia in the general population.”

In this pivotal study, the authors monitored 87,577 adults from the UK Biobank during a median follow-up period of 8.1 years.

Findings indicated that participants exposed to light levels of 1,000 lux or higher (approximately equivalent to the brightness of indirect outdoor light) had a roughly 16% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those in dimly lit settings.

Notably, the benefits escalated with increased light intensity. Individuals who spent at least 42 minutes daily in environments with 5,000 lux or higher experienced an approximate 17% reduction in their dementia risk.

It’s crucial to note that light exposure was measured using a wrist-worn sensor continuously for seven days in real-world conditions, rather than relying on self-reported data.

“Our findings position daytime light exposure as a novel, robust, and quantifiable indicator of dementia risk,” the researchers concluded.

When evaluated alongside 15 known dementia predictors using a machine learning model, inadequate daytime light was found to be more predictive than factors such as obesity, alcohol consumption, air pollution, and traumatic brain injury.

Conservation groups illustrated the strongest links, particularly among individuals with chronic nighttime light exposure, known as night owls, and those carrying the ApoE ε4 genetic mutation, which is the most significant known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

In these vulnerable populations, dementia risk reduction reached as high as 41%.

The researchers propose that daytime light may contribute to stabilizing the body’s circadian rhythms and preserving certain brain structures.

Conversely, exposure to light at night displayed no notable association with dementia risk.

“The insights from this study could shape future research and public health guidelines, advocating for light-based interventions that promote increased daytime light exposure as an economical strategy to enhance brain health, particularly in at-risk groups,” the scientists concluded.

Read their paper published in the journal General Psychiatry.

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Nana Jen et al. 2026. Association between daytime and nighttime light exposure as measured by wearable devices and dementia risk: a prospective cohort study. General Psychiatry 39 (3): e70039; doi: 10.1002/gps3.70039

Source: www.sci.news

Unlock Youthful Skin with Red Light Masks: 2 Important Considerations to Keep in Mind

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Red light therapy masks may seem a bit eerie with their ominous glow, reminiscent of a horror movie. Yet, these innovative skincare tools are more than just an online trend; they are backed by extensive research.

According to a market analysis, the red light therapy industry has blossomed into a multi-billion dollar sector, supported by decades of scientific studies.

“The underlying science is valid. It’s not a hoax,” says Dr. Zakir Rahman, a clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford Medical School.

The discussion isn’t about whether red light influences cells, but rather to what extent it does and who may benefit from it.

Understanding the Effects of Red Light Therapy

Anyone who’s experienced a sunburn knows that light impacts skin cells negatively. But what is the effect of other wavelengths, like red light?

This inquiry was posed by Hungarian scientist Endre Mester in 1967. He aimed to replicate an earlier study that suggested a powerful red laser could shrink tumors in mice. While he couldn’t replicate the results with a less potent laser, he discovered something even more astonishing: lab mice that were shaved exhibited significantly faster hair growth under gentle red light.

This surprising finding laid the groundwork for red light therapy, or photobiomodulation, based on the principle that while high-energy light can harm cells, lower-energy light may offer healing benefits.

While the precise mechanisms remain under investigation, numerous scientists suggest that red light acts on molecules in the mitochondria, as Dr. Jessica Garelick, a dermatologist in New York City, explains: “Red light is absorbed by cytochrome C oxidase, a crucial enzyme in the mitochondria, triggering energy production and cellular signaling.”

The challenge lies in translating these intriguing lab findings into real-world applications. “Study designs differ widely, necessitating further research to fully grasp the effects,” Garelick noted.

However, growing consensus supports the idea that red light therapy is beneficial. A recent review indicates that red light therapy shows effectiveness in treating neuralgia, certain pain types, hair removal, persistent skin ulcers, and radiation-induced skin burns.

Dr. Rahman emphasizes that there is “considerable data” supporting skin rejuvenation claims associated with red light therapy, which is believed to reduce pigmentation and enhance collagen production, improving overall skin tone and reducing fine lines.

A 2005 survey revealed that 90% of participants noted improvements in signs of aging after several weeks of LED red light therapy.

Emerging evidence suggests red light therapy can aid cellular healing – Credit: Getty

Dr. Garelick points out that significant evidence supports the use of red light therapy for conditions like ulcers, acne, wound care, and scar treatment.

Researchers are exploring broader applications of red light therapy, generating media interest for its potential benefits in treating conditions such as arthritis, dental issues, certain eye disorders, ADHD, dementia, and traumatic brain injuries. However, caution is warranted.

Although further studies are needed to determine long-term outcomes, the initial evidence is promising enough that many healthcare professionals consider red light a valuable therapeutic tool.

Learn More:

What to Consider Before Trying Red Light Therapy

If you’re contemplating red light therapy, where should you begin?

Devices come in various forms, sizes, and power levels, including masks, panels, and helmets. Treatments can be conducted at home with LEDs or in clinics using more powerful lasers.

Be cautious of claims about official endorsements. “It’s frustrating when devices assert FDA approval,” Dr. Rahman remarked.

FDA approval is typically limited to high-risk medical products; red light therapy devices only require 501(k) clearance, a less stringent process confirming the device is similar to previously classified products.

“FDA-cleared” means the device is safe, but not necessarily effective.

Some devices market themselves as more powerful, yet higher power does not always guarantee better results. “Using too much can be harmful,” warns Dr. Garelick.

Consistency is key when using red light therapy; adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions and be prepared to commit. If treatment is halted, “the benefits fade,” Dr. Rahman cautions. Dr. Garelick recommends maintaining realistic expectations, noting that results may take time since everyone’s skin responds differently.

It’s advisable to consult a dermatologist before beginning treatment, especially for individuals with light-sensitive conditions like lupus or melasma, or for those with darker skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology states that people with darker skin may be more sensitive to visible light and at greater risk for hyperpigmentation, resulting in darker spots lasting longer than from normal sun exposure.

While red light therapy offers potential benefits, maintaining proper skincare routines—like sunscreen application—is crucial – Credit: Getty

Ultimately, while red light therapy has its place in skincare, it should complement a healthy lifestyle.

For those who may not want to invest in red light devices, outdoor activities can also be beneficial. Dr. Rahman suggests taking walks during sunset, as they not only expose individuals to natural red light but also help lower cortisol levels and enhance cognitive function.

In addition, consistent use of sunscreen remains essential for preventing skin aging.

Learn More:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Astronomers Detect Warped Light from Interstellar Turbulence in the Milky Way Galaxy

Posted on May 16, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery by directly detecting how turbulent clouds of ionized gas between stars bend and distort radio signals from distant quasars for the first time.

The radio signal from quasar TXS 2005+403 travels approximately 10 billion light-years to Earth, passing through the Cygnus region, one of the Milky Way’s most tumultuous environments. The left image depicts a quasar with a vibrant accretion disk and jets emanating into space, resembling lighthouses in the dark. The right image illustrates how turbulent gas distorts our view of the quasars, similar to how fire haze obscures objects behind it. Image credit: Melissa Weiss / CfA.

The interstellar medium, the space between stars in our Milky Way, is filled with clouds of ionized gas and electrons, creating a turbulent environment.

As radio light waves from distant quasars navigate this chaotic material, they become bent and distorted, akin to how haze from a fire blurs our vision of objects behind it.

While this distortion has allowed astronomers to infer turbulence’s presence over the years, fully understanding its intricate structure has proven challenging—until now.

Astronomer Alexander Pravin from Harvard University, alongside colleagues from the Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, focused on the quasar TXS 2005+403 for this groundbreaking study.

This bright radio source, driven by a supermassive black hole, lies approximately 10 billion light-years away in the constellation Cygnus.

As its radio light travels toward Earth, it is refracted and altered while traversing the Cygnus region, recognized as one of the Milky Way’s most turbulent and scattering settings.

“Most of the information we gather from the radio data does not originate from the quasars themselves but rather from the scattering effects caused by turbulence in this region of the Milky Way,” stated Dr. Pravin.

“This scattering, along with the resultant distortions, enables us to investigate turbulence and improve our understanding of its structure.”

To delve deeper into the influence of turbulence on the light from TXS 2005+403, researchers analyzed nearly a decade’s worth of archival data from NSF’s Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA).

Initially, they anticipated that as the radio light passed through the Milky Way, it would gradually blur and fade.

Contrary to their expectations, they discovered distinct, consistent patterns that created structured, mottled distortions in the light—evidence of turbulence’s influence.

“The farthest pair of telescopes would typically be unable to observe the quasar image, but surprisingly, they clearly detected its faint glow,” noted Dr. Pravin.

“This phenomenon cannot be explained by simple blurring or characteristics of the quasars themselves; the effects of interstellar turbulence are evident as it behaves as theorized.”

“The scattering properties along this line of sight through the galaxy have shown persistence over time.”

For more details regarding the survey findings, check out this paper published in the Astrophysical Journal Letter.

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AV Pravin et al. 2026. Direct detection of interstellar turbulence signatures on quasars by very long baseline interferometry: TXS 2005+403. APJL 1003, L4; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae60f4

Source: www.sci.news

Revolutionary ‘Metajet’ Uses Light to Navigate Sails for Interstellar Travel

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Artist’s Impression of a Light Sail

Richard Bisley/Science Photo Library

Artist's impression of a light sail — Artist’s Impression of a Light Sail

Richard Bisley/Science Photo Library

Recent advancements in interstellar travel technology have brought us closer to utilizing light sails—massive sheets that harness reflected light to journey vast distances in space. Researchers have now developed a method to effectively pilot these innovative sails.

Kaushik Kudalkar from Texas A&M University comments, “We understood that any light or laser could transmit momentum, but our breakthrough allows for directional control.” His team has designed a compact device called the “metajet,” leveraging both refraction and reflection to enable motion in multiple directions simultaneously.

The metajet is crafted from a metasurface, a thin, textured material engineered to manipulate light. In this project, researchers inverted traditional applications by using light to influence the metasurface. A series of small pillars embedded in the material modulate the light intensity and momentum, controlling the device’s movement. The overall diameter of the metajet is approximately 0.01mm.

In experimental trials, the researchers submerged a silicon metajet in water and illuminated it with a laser, observing its movements through a microscope. Remarkably, the metajet managed to levitate and propel itself horizontally, achieving speeds of around 0.07 millimeters per second.

Metajet in Motion: Captured Every 10 Seconds

Kaushik Kudtarkar et al. 2026

Kudalkar emphasizes, “Now that we understand the forces acting on this device, we can redesign the metasurface for increased control.” They envision metasurfaces capable of changing shape dynamically, paving the way for advanced light sails in space exploration.

These technologies have implications beyond space; they can also be adapted for biomedical applications, such as directing drugs to specific sites. Kudalkar states, “While lasers can push drugs, they risk damaging sensitive molecules due to heat. With MetaJet, drugs can be delivered without exposure to harmful heat from the laser.”

The research team is exploring compatibility with various light wavelengths, particularly broad-spectrum sunlight, to enhance the effectiveness of light sails in space travel. “This pushes the boundaries of science fiction,” says Kudalkar.

Topics:

Materials Science/
Space Exploration

Source: www.newscientist.com

780,000-Year-Old Charcoal Sheds Light on Early Human Fire Mastery

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

The Acheulian hominins at Gesher Benot Ya’akov, an archaeological site in Israel, utilized driftwood from lake shores for their hearths, according to groundbreaking research led by archaeologists from the Catalunya Institute for Human Evolution and Society and Bar-Ilan University. A 780,000-year-old charcoal fragment discovered at the site highlights that survival hinges not on the perfect wood but on a profound understanding of the surrounding landscape.

The ancient inhabitants of Israel’s Gesher Benot Yacob site likely used earthen ovens to cook fish at temperatures below 500 degrees Celsius. Image credit: Ella Maru / Tel Aviv University.

“The substantial charcoal assemblage from Gesher Benot Yaakov offers invaluable insights into the daily lives of early humans who harnessed fire, as few similar remains exist at other prehistoric sites,” explained Professor Nama Goren Inbar from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

“While many ancient locations show only scant traces of fire, this Acheulian site reveals a detailed record of repeated fire use over tens of thousands of years.”

“Gesher Benot Yaakov offers a layered history of human settlement along the paleo-shores of Lake Hula, documenting the return of generations of Acheulian hunter-gatherers across more than 20 archaeological horizons.”

At Gesher Benot Ya’aqov, researchers unveiled an active environment, discovering the remains of hunted animals along with a variety of plant foods including fruits, nuts, and seeds gathered from the lake shore.

“One striking layer captures a pivotal moment. Alongside stone tools and plant remnants, an elephant skull and associated bones were found, providing evidence of large-scale hunting,” the researchers noted.

“The spatial layout of these remains indicates that the animals were disposed of on-site.”

“Fire was central to this ancient camp life.”

Charcoal fragments analyzed under an ESEM microscope. Image credit: M. Moncusil, PHES.

The study focused on a single human strata dating back approximately 780,000 years, analyzing 266 charcoal pieces using microscopy to identify their botanical origins.

The findings revealed a remarkable array of plant species, including ash, willow, grapes, oleander, olive, oak, pistachio, and the earliest known evidence of pomegranate in the Levant.

Interestingly, the charcoal assemblages indicated greater plant diversity compared to other excavated plant remains, such as seeds and unburned wood, suggesting a broader sampling of the surrounding ecosystem by firewood collection.

These findings illuminate ancient landscapes, showcasing a mix of lush lakeside vegetation and open Mediterranean forests while revealing early human interactions with their environment.

The hominins of Gesher-Benot-Yakov likely relied on driftwood naturally accumulating along shorelines, rather than selectively gathering certain wood types. Fallen branches and logs, carried by water to the shore, provided a ready source of fuel.

The charcoal composition closely reflected the surrounding wood availability, implying a practical strategy to utilize natural resources.

This suggests that firewood availability may have influenced early human settlement choices. Lake shores offered fresh water, edible plants, animals, and tools, all essential for sustaining fires.

Spatial analyses showed that dense charcoal clusters corresponded with fish carcass concentrations, particularly the teeth of large carp, adding substantial evidence for controlled cooking fires at this site approximately 800,000 years ago.

These discoveries enhance our understanding of early hominin cognitive abilities, indicating that they could control fire, organize their surroundings, and develop complex survival strategies.

However, while hunting and tool-making demanded careful organization, firewood collection seems to have been a more routine activity based on availability rather than specific preferences.

This provides a glimpse into skilled communities closely attuned to their environments, who repeatedly returned to resource-rich habitats.

“The charcoal assemblage at Gesher Benot Yakov offers a unique dataset to examine the relationship between fire use, environmental conditions, and human behavior,” the authors concluded.

“This discovery refines current models of early fire practices and underscores the importance of local resources in shaping Middle Pleistocene behavior and lifeways.”

For more insights, see their study published in Quaternary Science Review.

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Ethel Allue et al. 2026. Paleoenvironmental and behavioral insights into firewood selection by early Middle Pleistocene hominins. Quaternary Science Review 38: 109973; doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2026.109973

Source: www.sci.news

Exploring Dark Matter: The Enigmatic Light Surrounding Our Galaxy – Sciworthy

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Astrophysics has long pursued the enigmatic concept of dark matter. This investigation was notably advanced by Vera Rubin in the 1970s when it became apparent that the outer regions of galaxies rotate more rapidly than visibility would suggest. Researchers categorized this occurrence under the umbrella of dark matter. Observations such as how light bends around galaxy clusters and the distribution of matter across the universe, alongside fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation, all indicate that a substantial portion of the universe remains unseen.

Current cosmological models, particularly the ΛCDM framework, suggest that dark matter consists of slow-moving particles possessing mass and gravitational influence but negligible electromagnetic interaction. This makes dark matter virtually invisible and capable of traversing through ordinary matter.

The ongoing search for dark matter particles aims to elucidate their properties and distribution within the Milky Way galaxy. While scientists can calculate the motion of stars from the galactic center to the sun without acknowledging dark matter, the dynamics shift beyond this range. A dark matter halo envelops the galaxy, extending approximately 230,000 parsecs or 4 quintillion miles (7 quintillion kilometers) from the center, and is believed to constitute about 95% of the galaxy’s total mass.

A research team from University College London explored the geometry of the Milky Way’s dark matter halo. They assumed the galaxy was in equilibrium and examined stable star positions at the galaxy’s outskirts to model the shape and orientation of the dark matter halo necessary for these arrangements. By aligning this model with historical data on the Milky Way’s development, they gained deeper insights into the galaxy’s structure.

Utilizing the Gaia survey—a satellite mission mapping millions of stars in the Milky Way from 2013 to 2025—the team analyzed the average number of stars in the galaxy’s older outer regions, referred to as the stellar halo. They also assessed the position and velocity of stars within it, discovering that the stellar halo is elliptical and tilted relative to the Milky Way due to a similarly shaped but significantly larger dark matter halo.

A simplified diagram illustrating the shape and orientation of the dark matter halo compared to the stellar halo and the Milky Way’s disk. Not to scale. By the author.

The research team concluded that their findings challenge previous models suggesting the dark matter halo is almost spherical. They determined that the halo’s tilt relative to the Milky Way’s disk is approximately 43°. This tilt is comparable to that of other disk galaxies with dark matter halos, which average about 46.5° and exhibit a 18° greater inclination than stellar halos. They posited that a stable, tilted, non-spherical dark matter halo implies overall galaxy stability, especially given its collision with another galaxy at least 8 billion years ago. Enhanced measurements of the halo’s shape could yield further insights into this merger.

For future research endeavors, the team developed a model representing a snapshot of a galaxy with a tilted, rectangular dark matter halo, integrating the density and motion of stars. Their simulations exhibit additional nuances consistent with observations from the Gaia survey, indicating that the halo becomes increasingly tilted—with angles ranging from 10 degrees near the center to 35 degrees at distances of 6 to 60 kiloparsecs (100 to 100 quintillion miles, or 200 to 2 quintillion kilometers)—and transitions from elliptical to more circular shapes as the distance from the center increases. The team suggests that subsequent research could build on this model and explore more intricate features, such as interactions between the Milky Way and neighboring galaxies including the Large Magellanic Cloud.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Resolving a Century-Long Debate: The True Nature of Light Explained

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

We now clearly understand that light is both a wave and a particle.

Anna Bliokh/Getty Images

Understanding Light as Both Wave and Particle — We now clearly understand that light is both a wave and a particle.

Anna Bliokh/Getty Images

Check out an excerpt from our Lost in Space and Time newsletter, where we highlight intriguing ideas monthly. Sign up here.

In 1937, physicist Clinton Davison received the Nobel Prize for uncovering that electrons—once purely viewed as particles—could showcase wave-like behaviors. He famously critiqued: “The perfect child of physics […] turned into a two-headed gnome.” This illustrated that waves and particles are not mutually exclusive, with both light and electrons as prime examples.

Davison was not alone in this contemplation. A decade earlier, Albert Einstein engaged in a heated debate with Niels Bohr regarding the perplexing nature of light. Their discourse relied on Gedanken Experiments, as they lacked the technological means to conduct experimental observations. However, by 2025, Einstein and Bohr’s once-theoretical concept was enacted in labs, demonstrating light’s duality as both wave and particle.

The nature of light has long sparked debate. In the 17th century, mathematician Christian Huygens defended the wave theory of light, countered by physicist Isaac Newton’s particle theory. Huygens published his work, Treatise on Light, but his legacy was overshadowed by Newton’s prominence upon his passing in 1690.

In 1801, physicist Thomas Young conducted the iconic double-slit experiment, a key effort to elucidate light’s true essence. It was akin to proclaiming, “I am a wave,” to his contemporaries. This consensus persisted until the resurgence of debate in 1927 between Einstein and Bohr, revisiting not just the double-slit experiment but the very nature of light itself.

The experiment involved directing light through two narrow parallel slits towards a screen. If light behaved as particles, one would expect to see two distinct light spots. However, Young and later physicists observed a stunning interference pattern—a series of alternating dark and light stripes indicative of wave characteristics, resulting from the constructive and destructive interference of light waves.

What continued to fuel the discourse nearly a century later was Einstein’s adherence to earlier experiments involving photons impacting gold, suggesting a particle-based explanation for light, while simultaneously assessing hints of light’s particle nature throughout the experiment.

The complexity of quantum theory added another layer, asserting that interference patterns emerged even when single photons traversed one at a time. Scientists found it challenging to conceptualize a single photon navigating through two slits simultaneously, further complicating the understanding of light’s dual characteristics.

Bohr’s solution came through the principle of complementarity, claiming that while photon behavior could be visualized through various experiments, the properties of waves and particles could never be simultaneously observed.

Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein in a historical photo

Alamy

In a theoretical construct, Einstein suggested adding a spring mechanism to detect photon passage through the slits, proposing that observing spring deformation could hint at a photon behaving like a particle while still showcasing wave-like characteristics on the screen. He believed this could provide glimpses of both light heads.

Bohr countered using the uncertainty principle, asserting that measuring photon behavior—whether it be momentum or position—would inherently obscure the other property, thus erasing the interference pattern. Their discussions, while unresolved, became foundational in quantum mechanics.

According to Philip Treutlein from the University of Basel, modern physicists see the debate settled, yet a century passed before experimental validation was achieved. This was largely due to the complexity of manipulating subatomic particles like photons, necessitating extremely precise experimental conditions. Collaborative efforts from teams at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and MIT have now made it possible to test these phenomena in laboratory settings.

Utilizing ultra-cold setups and advanced measurement techniques, researchers demonstrated the effects of photons on atomic structures, akin to detecting a gentle breeze through rustling leaves. Their experiments confirmed the trade-off Bohr predicted between interference pattern clarity and momentum disturbance, validating the quantum theory’s predictions.

In closing, the latest findings show that photons indeed manifest both wave and particle properties concurrently, a revelation made possible through modern nuclear physics advancements. The possibility of observing both aspects of light without the typical exclusion has transformed our understanding of light’s nature.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Fossil Discovery Sheds Light on the Origins of Earth’s First Fish

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists from Australia and China have conducted two groundbreaking studies on the fossilized remains of a remarkable Devonian lungfish. Utilizing advanced imaging technology, they have unearthed previously overlooked anatomical details, significantly enhancing our understanding of early vertebrate evolution. Their findings have been published in the Canadian Journal of Zoology and the journal Current Biology.

Paleolophus yunnanensis, a unique lungfish species that thrived in southern China’s waters 410 million years ago. Image credit: Brian Choo, Flinders University.

In a recent study, lead researcher Alice Clement, a paleontologist at Flinders University, investigates The Mystery of Kainokara, a fossil known from a single specimen found in the Late Devonian Gogo Formation of Western Australia.

“New research, including the analysis of previously neglected specimens, is gradually uncovering the rich diversity of lungfishes found in Australia’s significant fossil sites,” said Dr. Clement.

“One particularly enigmatic specimen originates from Australia’s earliest ‘Great Barrier Reef’, a Devonian reef located in the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia.”

“When first described in 2010, this unusual specimen was so perplexing that the authors speculated it might represent an entirely new type of fish never documented in science.”

“Using advanced scanning techniques, we developed comprehensive digital images of both the external and internal structures of the skull, revealing the complexity of this fascinating lungfish’s brain cavity.”

“In fact, we confirmed that earlier interpretations may have been from an upside-down perspective.”

“We were also able to compare the well-preserved inner ear region with other lungfishes,” noted Flinders University paleontologist Hannah Thiele.

“This provides an essential data point in the rich collection of lungfish and early vertebrate species.”

“This research enhances our understanding of the evolutionary progression of these ancient lobe-finned fishes, both in Gondwana and globally.”

In a separate study, Flinders University paleontologist Brian Chu and colleagues reveal a newly discovered species of lungfish from the Devonian period in China, Paleolophus yunanensis.

“The discovery of Paleolophus yunanensis offers unprecedented insight into the transitional phase between the early appearance of lungfish and their extensive diversification millions of years later,” said Dr. Chu.

“At this time, this group was just beginning to develop unique feeding adaptations that would serve them well throughout the remainder of the Devonian period and into the present.”

“Lungfish, including the ancient lineage found in Queensland, Australia, have fascinated researchers due to their close evolutionary relationship with tetrapods, the four-limbed vertebrates that include humans.”

“The distinctive skull of the newly discovered lungfish from 410-million-year-old rock formations in Yunnan offers crucial insights into the rapid evolutionary changes during the Early, Middle, and Late Devonian periods.”

“The new specimens exhibited both similarities and differences compared to the earliest known specimens, such as Diabolepis fossils from southern China and uranolophus found in locations like Wyoming and Australia.

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Hannah S. Thiele et al., deciphering The Mystery of Kainokara from the Late Devonian Gogo Formation, Australia. Canadian Journal of Zoology, published online January 28, 2026. doi: 10.1139/cjz-2025-0109

Tuo Qiao et al., 2026. New fish fossil sheds light on the rapid evolution of early lungfish. Current Biology 36 (1): 243-251; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.11.032

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient 773,000-Year-Old Hominin Fossils from Morocco Shed Light on the Origins of Homo sapiens

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Recent discoveries of hominin fossils in the Thomas Quarry I cave located in Casablanca, Morocco, provide crucial insights into the early origins of homo sapiens. These findings indicate that the lineage leading to modern humans was potentially established in Africa nearly 800,000 years ago. The fossils, although similar in age to the ancestor of homo discovered in Spain, display a mix of primitive and advanced traits reminiscent of post-Eurasian hominins, including homo sapiens.

Reconstruction of homo erectus.

Paleoanthropologists have long debated the origins of Neanderthals and Denisovans, the last common ancestors of modern humans. Genetic studies reveal that this ancestor likely existed between approximately 765,000 and 550,000 years ago, although fossil records are still inconclusive.

While some researchers have posited a Eurasian origin based on fossils unearthed in Atapuerca, Spain, dating back to 950,000 to 770,000 years ago, the new findings from Morocco reinforce the theory of an African origin.

Recent discoveries from the Moroccan cave, including mandible fragments, teeth, vertebrae, and femur pieces, bolster the evidence supporting Africa as the cradle of human evolution.

Analysis of the sediments surrounding these fossils indicates that they date back approximately 773,000 years, coinciding with significant changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, aligning with the era of the ancestor of homo.

Interestingly, the new fossils present distinct morphological differences. The evidence suggests that regional differentiation between Europe and North Africa was already evident by the late Early Pleistocene, spanning from around 1.8 million to 780,000 years ago.

The Moroccan fossils exhibit a blend of primitive features linked to species like homo erectus alongside more modern traits found in homo sapiens and Neanderthals.

For instance, their molar size aligns with earlier homo sapiens fossils, while the jaw shape resembles that of Neanderthals and other African archaic humans.

Although the Moroccan fossil may not serve as the ultimate last common ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans, it is likely a close precursor.

“The Moroccan fossils likely represent an advanced form of homo erectus in North Africa, situated on a lineage close to the evolutionary divergence between African and Eurasian lineages,” stated the researchers.

“Our findings underscore the Maghreb region as vital for understanding the emergence of our species and strengthen the argument for an African origin of homo sapiens,” they concluded.

Findings are detailed in a recent study published in Nature.

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J.J. Havlin and colleagues. Early human fossils from Morocco and the emergence of homo sapiens. Nature, published online January 7, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09914-y

Source: www.sci.news

2026 Controversial Satellite Launch: Reflecting Light Back to Earth

Posted on January 5, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Artist Rendering of Reflect Orbital Satellite

Image Credit: Reflect Orbital

Artist’s rendering of Reflect Orbital satellites — Artist Rendering of Reflect Orbital Satellite

Image Credit: Reflect Orbital

The bold initiative by Reflect Orbital aims to commence in 2026, deploying satellites to reflect sunlight back to Earth. This technology seeks to illuminate dark regions for visibility and enhance energy generation. However, many astronomers express skepticism regarding the project’s feasibility and its implications for scientific research.

Reflect Orbital, a US-based company, aspires to provide “sunlight on demand.” Their first satellite is expected to launch in early 2026, illuminating ten locations as part of its inaugural “world tour.” Plans include deploying thousands of satellites fitted with extensive mirrors designed to reflect sunlight back to the Earth, catering to needs such as remote control, defense, infrastructure, and energy production.

By 2030, Reflect Orbital anticipates having sufficient satellite coverage to deliver 200 watts per square meter to solar farms on Earth, mimicking the light levels of dusk and dawn, thereby facilitating reliable energy production, especially in regions lacking natural light.

Despite these ambitions, their Federal Communications Commission (FCC) specifications suggest that a single satellite may not generate significant power. Astronomers, including members from Tucson’s Dark Sky Consulting and the American Astronomical Society, utilized these filings to underscore potential energy limitations.

As highlighted by John Valentine, a prominent scholar in the field, the reflected light would only exceed a full moon’s brightness fourfold, indicating insufficient electricity generation. In order to produce more significant light output, deploying satellites with a multitude of reflectors would be essential, presenting logistical challenges and increased costs.

Furthermore, the dynamic nature of the mirrors could pose challenges for astronomical research, since they might intermittently produce flashes of sunlight. Additionally, even micro-damage to a satellite’s reflector from tiny meteoroids could scatter light unintentionally, complicating operational efficiency.

Reflect Orbital is actively engaging with the scientific community to explore solutions for these arising concerns. As of now, the company has not responded to inquiries from New Scientist.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Fossil Analysis Sheds Light on Early Human Walking Evolution: Expanding the Debate

Posted on January 3, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

*Sahelanthropus*: Fossil comparison with chimpanzees and humans

Williams et al., Sci. Adv. 12, eadv0130

Comparison of Sahelanthropus fossils with chimpanzees and humans — *Sahelanthropus*: Fossil comparison with chimpanzees and humans

Williams et al., Sci. Adv. 12, eadv0130

The long-standing debate regarding whether our earliest ancestors walked on knuckles like chimpanzees or stood upright like modern humans may be closer to resolution, yet skepticism remains.

Scott Williams and researchers at New York University recently reanalyzed fossil remains of Sahelanthropus tchadensis, indicating that this species possessed at least three anatomical features suggesting it was our earliest known bipedal ancestor.

The journey to this conclusion has been extensive.

Fossilized remains of a skull, teeth, and jawbone from approximately 7 million years ago were first identified in 2002 in Chad, north-central Africa. The distinctive features of this ancient species, including its prominent brow ridge and smaller canine teeth, were quickly acknowledged as diverging from ape characteristics.

Analyzing the skull’s anatomy suggests it was positioned directly over the vertebrae, analogous to other upright, bipedal hominins.

In 2004, French scientists uncovered the femur and ulna associated with the Sahelanthropus skull from Chad. However, it wasn’t until 2020 that researchers claimed the femur exhibited curvature similar to that of non-bipedal great apes.

Since then, scholarly debate has fluctuated. For instance, in 2022, researchers Frank Guy and Guillaume Daver of the University of Poitiers argued for anatomical features of the femur that indicate bipedalism. In 2024, Clement Zanoli and colleagues from the University of Bordeaux countered, suggesting Guy and Daver’s assertions were flawed, as the anatomical characteristics of bipedalism may also appear in non-bipedal great apes.

Lead study author Williams started with a “fairly ambivalent” stance on Sahelanthropus.

His team investigated the femur’s attachment point for the gluteus maximus muscle, finding similarities to human femur anatomy.

They also compared the femur and ulna size and shape; while similar in size to chimpanzee bones, they aligned more closely with human proportions.

Additionally, they identified the “femoral tuberosity,” a previously overlooked feature of Sahelanthropus.

“We initially identified it by touch, later confirming it with 3D scans of the fossil,” Williams shared. “This bump, present only in species with a femoral tubercle, contrasts smooth areas found in great apes and plays a critical role in mobility.”

This area serves as an attachment point for the iliofemoral ligament, the strongest ligament in the human body. While relaxed when seated, it tightens during standing or walking, securing the femoral head in the hip joint and preventing the torso from tilting backward or sideways.

However, Williams expressed doubts about whether this study would fully end the conversation about how Sahelanthropus moved.

“We are confident Sahelanthropus was an early bipedal hominin, but we must recognize that the debate is ongoing,” Williams noted.

In response to a recent paper, Guy and Daver issued a joint statement asserting that humans likely began walking on two legs by 2022: “This reaffirms our earlier interpretations about Sahelanthropus adaptations and locomotion, suggesting habitual bipedalism despite its ape-like morphology.”

They acknowledged that only new fossil discoveries could unequivocally conclude the matter.

John Hawkes, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, also endorsed the new findings, noting their implications for understanding the complex origins of the hominin lineage.

“It may be deceptive to perceive Sahelanthropus as part of a gradual evolution towards an upright posture. It reveals crucial insights into these transformative changes,” Hawkes commented.

However, Zanoli contended, stating, “Most of the evidence aligns Sahelanthropus with traits seen in African great apes, suggesting its behavior was likely a mix between chimpanzees and gorillas, distinct from the habitual bipedalism of Australopithecus and Homo.

Explore the Origins of Humanity in South-West England

Join a gentle walking tour through the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age, immersing yourself in early human history.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Gemini South Telescope Shines Light on the Butterfly Nebula

Posted on November 29, 2025 by

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the International Gemini Observatory’s completion, students in Chile chose the Gemini South Telescope to capture an image of NGC 6302, also known as the Bug Nebula or Butterfly Nebula (Caldwell 69).

This image captured by the Gemini South Telescope showcases the planetary nebula NGC 6302. Image credit: International Gemini Observatory / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / J. Miller & M. Rodriguez, International Gemini Observatory & NSF’s NOIRLab / TA Rector, University of Alaska Anchorage & NSF’s NOIRLab / M. Zamani, NSF’s NOIRLab.

NGC 6302 is a planetary nebula situated 2,417 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.

“Planetary nebulae are a type of emission nebula formed by a massive star at the end of its lifecycle, shedding material and surrounded by an expanding, glowing shell of ionized gas,” stated astronomers at the International Gemini Observatory.

“These intriguing structures usually have a circular, planet-like appearance, which is how they earned the name ‘planetary nebulae’ from early astronomers who observed them through telescopes.”

While various dates are associated with the discovery of NGC 6302, a 1907 study by American astronomer Edward E. Barnard is commonly credited, though it could have been discovered earlier in 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop.

This nebula is characterized by an extremely complex dipolar morphology, highly excited gases, elevated molecular weight, and the presence of crystalline silicate dust.

Its butterfly shape extends over two light-years, roughly half the distance from the Sun to Proxima Centauri.

“In recent images obtained from the Gemini South Telescope, the glowing ‘wings’ of the Butterfly Nebula appear to emerge from the interstellar medium,” the astronomers explained.

“This visually stunning object was chosen by Chilean students for the 8.1-meter telescope as part of the Gemini First Light Anniversary Image Contest.”

“This competition engaged students at the Gemini telescope site, honoring the legacy established by the International Gemini Observatory since its first light in November 2000.”

In 2009, astronomers utilized the Wide Field Camera 3 on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to identify the central star of NGC 6302 as a white dwarf. This star shed its outer layers over 2,000 years ago and now possesses about two-thirds the mass of the Sun.

It ranks as one of the hottest known stars, with a surface temperature exceeding 250,000 degrees Celsius (450,000 degrees Fahrenheit), indicating it must have formed from a substantially large star.

Further investigation of NGC 6302 uncovers a dramatic formation history.

Before its transformation into a white dwarf, the star was a red giant approximately 1,000 times the diameter of the Sun.

This massive star expelled its outer gas layer, moving outward from the equator at a relatively slow rate, forming a dark donut-shaped band still observable around the star.

Other gases were expelled perpendicular to this band, restricting outflow and creating the bipolar structure visible today.

As the star evolved, it released strong stellar winds that pierced its “wings” at speeds exceeding 3 million kilometers per hour (1.8 million miles per hour).

This combination of slow and fast-moving gases further sculpted the “wings,” revealing a vast terrain of cloudy ridges and pillars.

Now, as a white dwarf, the star emits intense radiation that elevates the temperature of NGC 6302’s “wings” to over 20,000 degrees Celsius (approximately 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit), causing the gas to glow.

“Dark red areas in the image represent regions of energized hydrogen gas, while deep blue spots indicate regions of energized oxygen gas,” the researchers mentioned.

“These materials, alongside other elements like nitrogen, sulfur, and iron discovered in NGC 6302, are critical for forming the next generation of stars and planets.”

Source: www.sci.news

The Re-examination of Light and Magnetism: Nearly Two Centuries of Progress

Posted on November 19, 2025 by

Illustration of Faraday’s experiment demonstrating the polarization of light by a magnetic field

Enrique Sahagun

SEI 274892023 — Illustration of Faraday’s experiment demonstrating the polarization of light by a magnetic field

Enrique Sahagun

In 1845, physicist Michael Faraday presented the first direct evidence linking electromagnetism and light. This connection has proven to be even more substantial than Faraday anticipated.

During his experiment, Faraday directed light through a glass containing a boric acid and lead oxide mixture placed within a magnetic field. He observed that this altered the light, resetting its polarization direction upon exiting the glass.

For the last 180 years, it has been widely accepted that light acts as an electromagnetic wave, with the “Faraday effect” illustrating how interactions between the magnetic field, charges in the glass, and the light’s electric component result in the rotation and alteration of the light waves as they enter the material.

Interestingly, it has long been assumed that the magnetic component of light has minimal involvement in the Faraday effect. However, Amir Capua and Benjamin Assulin, a research team from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, has demonstrated otherwise.

“We now comprehend that the secondary component of light interacts with matter,” Capua states.

Capua explains that two main reasons deterred researchers from exploring the magnetic component of light’s involvement in the Faraday effect. First, magnetic forces within materials such as Faraday glass seem relatively weak compared to electrical forces. Second, when a material like Faraday glass is magnetized—aligning the quantum spins of its components with the magnetic field—these spins typically do not synchronize with the light wave’s magnetic component, indicating a weak interaction.

However, Capua and Assulin discovered that if the magnetic component of the light is circularly polarized (spiral-shaped), it may interact more strongly with the magnetic spins within the glass. They concluded that this is due to the magnetic component of light consisting of several corkscrew waves, even without deliberate manipulation.

Calculations by the two researchers revealed that if Faraday’s experiment were replicated using a magnetic material called terbium gallium garnet (TGG) instead of glass, this magnetic interaction could account for 17 percent of the Faraday effect when visible light passes through. Moreover, if infrared light were used with TGG, magnetic interactions might contribute up to 70 percent of the observed Faraday effect.

Igor Rozhansky, a researcher at the University of Manchester, UK, states that the new calculations are compelling and suggest promising experimental evaluations in the future. The previously overlooked magnetic component of the Faraday effect could provide researchers with innovative approaches to manipulate spin in materials, Rozhansky notes. He further mentioned that it remains an open question whether this effect may surpass the conventional Faraday effect in certain materials.

Future experiments could reveal discoveries extending from fundamental physics to practical applications. Capua envisions potential uses for the interaction between the magnetic spin of some materials and the magnetic component of light, which could lead to advancements in spin-based sensors and data storage technologies.

Science of the Renaissance: Italy

From Brunelleschi and Botticelli to polymaths like Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei, delve into the remarkable scientific minds and discoveries of the Renaissance that solidified Italy’s position at the forefront of scientific innovation.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Reinterpretation of Light and Magnetism: Two Centuries in the Making

Posted on November 19, 2025 by

Illustration of Faraday’s Experiment Revealing the Polarization of Light by a Magnetic Field

Enrique Sahagun

In 1845, physicist Michael Faraday provided groundbreaking evidence connecting electromagnetism and light. This relationship has proven to be stronger than Faraday initially anticipated.

During his experiment, Faraday directed light through a mixture of boric acid and lead oxide contained in a magnetic field. He noticed a shift in the light, with its polarization direction being altered upon exiting the glass.

For the last 180 years, it has been a widely held belief that light acts as an electromagnetic wave, with the “Faraday effect” illustrating how the interplay of the magnetic field, the charge within the glass, and the electric component of light causes a rotation and deviation in the direction of light waves once they leave the material.

Surprisingly, scholars have long assumed that the magnetic aspect of light has little impact on the Faraday effect. However, Amir Capua and Benjamin Assulin from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, have demonstrated otherwise.

“We now recognize that the secondary aspect of light interacts with matter,” explains Capua.

Capua notes two reasons why the magnetic component of light’s involvement in the Faraday effect has been overlooked. Firstly, the magnetic forces present in materials like Faraday glass seem significantly weaker compared to their electrical counterparts. Secondly, when a substance such as Faraday glass is magnetized, the quantum spins of its constituents behave like miniature magnets and often fail to synchronize with the magnetic component of the light wave, implying minimal interaction.

However, Capua and Assulin realized that if the magnetic component of light is circularly polarized (spiral or corkscrew-shaped), it may engage more effectively with the magnetic spins within the glass. They reached this conclusion based on the observation that light’s magnetic component naturally comprises several corkscrew waves without needing any specialized manipulation.

The researchers’ calculations indicate that repeating Faraday’s experiment using a magnetic material called terbium gallium garnet (TGG) in place of glass could account for 17 percent of the Faraday effect noted when visible light travels through it. When infrared light traverses the TGG material, magnetic interactions could explain as much as 70 percent of the resulting Faraday effect.

Igor Rozhansky from the University of Manchester, UK, asserts that these new calculations are compelling and point towards feasible experimental inquiries. The previously overlooked magnetic component of the Faraday effect could unveil new methods for controlling spin within materials, according to Rozhansky. He suggested it remains an open question whether this effect might surpass the traditional Faraday effect in certain materials.

Future experiments may yield groundbreaking findings, spanning from fundamental physics to practical applications. Capua envisions the possibility of utilizing the interaction between the magnetic spin of select materials and the magnetic component of light to manipulate materials, potentially leading to innovative spin-based sensors and data storage systems.

Science of the Renaissance: Italy

Explore the great scientific minds and breakthroughs of the Renaissance, from Brunelleschi and Botticelli to polymaths like Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei, and discover Italy’s pivotal role in shaping scientific inquiry.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

AI Research Sheds Light on Why Super-Recognition Skills Excel in Face Identification

Posted on November 5, 2025 by

They are salisbury novichok addict uncovering a murder suspect or even identifying a sexual predator. The research offers fresh insights into why superrecognizers excel at facial recognition.

Previous studies indicate that individuals with exceptional facial recognition skills observe more regions of the entire face compared to average individuals.

Recently, researchers have employed advanced AI techniques to reveal how this perspective enhances their capabilities.

“It’s not solely about seeing everything, it’s about using your vision intelligently,” stated the lead author of the study, Dr. James Dunn from UNSW Sydney.

In a recent article published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Dunn et al. highlight how they extracted eye-tracking data from a previous study involving 37 superrecognizers and 68 typical recognizers.

In their experiment, participants viewed both images of entire faces and segmented images focusing on the regions they were examining.

In this new research, the team utilized this data to reconstruct the visual information that was available to the participants’ eyes.

This “retinal information” was processed through a deep neural network (DNN), an AI system trained for facial recognition. Participants provided the AI with either a complete image of the same face they had seen or a different one.

In all instances, the AI generated a score indicating how closely the retinal information matched a given complete facial image.

The research team compared outcomes between typical participants and super-recognizers, along with data drawn from randomly chosen areas of the initial facial images.

The findings indicated that the AI system’s effectiveness improved as the visibility of the observed facial feature increased.

Moreover, across all levels of visibility, the AI performed optimally when relying on retinal data from superrecognizers.

“This suggests that variations in facial recognition capability are partly due to our active exploration and sampling of visual data, rather than just post-processing by the brain,” Dunn remarked.

The team then examined whether their findings simply indicated that superrecognizers looked at more areas of the face and gathered more data.

However, they discovered that even when the same amount of retinal information was captured, the AI performed better with data from super-recognizers.

“Their advantage lies not only in the quantity but also in the quality of information,” says Dunn. “They focus on areas that provide more identity cues, making each ‘pixel’ they select significantly more valuable for facial recognition.”

Dr. Rachel Bennett, a facial processing expert from Brunel University in London who was not involved in the study, praised the research.

“The key contribution to understanding super-recognition is that effective facial recognition isn’t only about examining specific areas or spending more time looking at the face. Super-recognizers explore not just larger areas, but also gather more advantageous data,” she asserted.

Dr. Alejandro Estudillo from Bournemouth University noted that the study was conducted by showing participants still images in highly controlled environments.

“It will be crucial to see if the same patterns emerge in more natural, dynamic contexts,” he said.

This study implies there are strategies to enhance facial recognition; however, it seems unlikely that anyone can train to become a super-recognizer.

“At present, we cannot determine if these eye movement patterns can be effectively trained,” Bennett remarked.

Dunn stated that research indicates super-recognition is likely influenced by genetics and is often inherited.

“Superrecognizers appear to instinctively identify the most crucial features. This is challenging to teach, as it differs from one face to another,” he explained.

Researchers have created a free test to help identify supercognitive traits: New South Wales face test.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ultracold Clock Sheds Light on Quantum Physics’ Impact on Time

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

What is the quantum nature of time? We may be on the verge of discovering it

Quality Stock / Alamy

SEI 267717982 — What is the quantum nature of time? We may be on the verge of discovering it

Quality Stock / Alamy

How does time manifest for a genuine quantum entity? The most advanced clocks can rapidly address this query, enabling us to test various ways to manipulate and alter the quantum realm, thereby delving into the uncharted territories of physics.

The notion that time can shift originates from Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity. As an object approaches the speed of light, it appears to experience time more slowly compared to a stationary observer. He expands upon this with a general theory of relativity, which demonstrates a similar temporal distortion in the presence of a gravitational field. Igor Pikovsky from the Stevens Institute in New Jersey and his team aim to uncover whether a similar effect occurs within the microscopic quantum landscape, utilizing ultra-cold clocks constructed from ions.

“The experiments we’ve performed until now have always focused on classical time, disregarding quantum mechanics,” says Pikovsky. “We’ve observed a regime where conventional explanations falter with an ion clock,” he continues.

These clocks consist of thousands of ions cooled to temperatures nearing absolute zero via laser manipulation. At such low temperatures, the quantum state of an ion and its embedded electrons can be precisely controlled through electromagnetic forces. Thus, the ticks of an ion clock are governed by the electrons oscillating between two distinct quantum states.

Since their behavior is dictated by quantum mechanics, these instruments provided an ideal platform for Pikovsky and his colleagues to investigate the interplay between relativistic and quantum phenomena on timekeeping. Pikovski mentions that they’ve identified several scenarios where this blending is evident.

One example arises from the intrinsic fluctuations inherent in quantum physics. Even at ultra-low temperatures, quantum objects cannot be completely static and instead must oscillate, randomly gaining or losing energy. Team calculations indicated that these fluctuations could lead to extended clock time measurements. Although the effect is minute, it is detectable in current ion clock experiments.

The researchers also mathematically analyzed the behavior of ions in a clock when “compressed,” resulting in “superpositions” of multiple quantum states. They found that these states are closely linked to the motion of the ions, influenced by their internal electrons. The states of ions and electrons are interconnected at a quantum level. “Typically, experiments necessitate creative methods to establish entanglements. The intriguing aspect here is that it arises organically,” explains team member Christian Sanner from Colorado State University.

Pikovski asserts that it is intuitive to think that quantum objects existing in superposition cannot simply perceive time linearly, though this effect has yet to be experimentally confirmed. He believes it should be achievable in the near future.

Team member Gabriel Solch from the Stevens Institute of Technology mentions that the next step is incorporating another crucial aspect of modern physics: gravity. Ultra-cold clocks can currently detect temporal extensions caused by significant variations in the Earth’s gravitational pull, such as when elevated by a few millimeters, but the exact integration of these effects with the intrinsic quantum characteristics of the clock remains an unresolved question.

“I believe it is quite feasible with our existing technology,” adds David Hume from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Colorado. He highlights that the primary challenge is to mitigate ambient disturbances affecting the clock to ensure it doesn’t overshadow the effects suggested by Pikovsky’s team. Successful experiments could pave the way for exploring unprecedented physical phenomena.

“Such experiments are thrilling because they create a platform for theories to interact in a domain where they could yield fresh insights,” remarks Alexander Smith at St. Anselm College, New Hampshire.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New Tektite Discovery Sheds Light on 11-Million-Year-Old Asteroid Impact in Australia

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Tektite forms almost pure glass (with minimal crystalline inclusions) when space debris impacts the Earth, causing surface materials to melt and be ejected hundreds or thousands of kilometers away.

Map of Ananguite strown field based on Tektite location. Image credit: Musolino et al. , doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119600.

“Tektite is a specific type of glass formed by impacts, recognized particularly for its distribution across extensive spray fields far from the source crater,” stated Professor Fred Jordan from Curtin University and his team.

“The widespread distribution in Central Europe (14 million years ago), North America (35 million years ago), the Ivory Coast (1 million years ago), and from China to Australia (780,000 years ago) has been traced back to the spread originating from Central Europe, known for four distinct scattered fields located in Central America (800,000 years ago).

“The corresponding tektites include Moldavites, Bediasite-Georgiaite, Ivorites, Australiasites, and Belizites, respectively.”

A newly identified type of Tektite, called Ananguite, has been found primarily in South Australia.

“Discovering a new Tektite field is akin to opening a new chapter in Earth’s tumultuous geological history,” remarked Professor Jourdan.

“These glasses are indigenous to Australia and reveal ancient impact events previously unknown to us.”

“Each piece acts as a small time capsule from the depths of our planet’s history.”

“What adds intrigue to these findings is that, despite the considerable impact, the crater has yet to be located.”

“Understanding when and how frequently large asteroids strike Earth can also assist in evaluating the risk of future impacts, which is vital for planetary defense.”

Photos of six Tektites studied by Musolino et al. Scale bar – 2 mm. Image credit: Musolino et al. , doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119600.

“The glasses differ from all previously known tektites,” noted PhD candidate Annam Solino from AIX-Marseille University.

“These tektites are distinct due to their unusual chemistry and an approximate age of 11 million years.”

“They indicate a shock event that is completely separate from the fields associated with well-known Australian tektites.”

“While Australian tektites formed roughly 780,000 years ago and have spread across the globe, these tektites are significantly older and suggest major impacts that were previously overlooked.”

The team’s research paper was published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

____

Anna Musolino et al. 2025. Australia’s new tektite spray field dates back 11 million years, originating from a volcanic arc impact crater. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 670:119600; doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119600

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Discover Vast Numbers of Black Holes 12.8 Billion Light Years Away, Actively Growing

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The immense black hole at the center of Radio Quasar RACS J032021.44-352104.1 (shortened to RACS J0320-35) is currently expanding at one of the fastest rates ever recorded.

Artist illustrations and x-ray images from Chandra for Racs J0320-35. Image credits: NASA/CXC/INAF-BRERA/IGHINA et al. / SAO / M. WEISS / N. WOLK.

The black hole residing in RACS J0320-35 has a mass approximately 1 billion times greater than that of the sun.

This system is situated about 12.8 billion light-years away from Earth, meaning astronomers are observing it as it existed just 920 million years after the universe’s inception.

It emits more X-rays than any other black hole identified in the universe’s first billion years.

Black holes are the driving force behind what scientists refer to as quasars.

This luminous giant’s energy is fueled by the significant amount of material that falls into the black hole.

The same research team discovered this black hole two years prior, but further observations from Chandra were required in 2023 to gain more insights.

Data from X-ray observations suggests that this black hole is expanding at a rate that exceeds the typical limits for such objects.

“It was somewhat surprising to observe such a dramatic growth in this black hole,” commented Dr. Luca Idina, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

As material is drawn towards the black hole, it heats up and generates intense radiation across a wide spectrum, including X-rays and optical light. This radiation creates pressure on the infalling material.

Once the falling speed reaches a critical threshold, the radiation pressure counterbalances the black hole’s gravity, making it usually impossible for material to fall inward more rapidly. This upper limit is known as the Eddington limit.

Researchers believe that black holes growing slower than the Eddington limit must originate with solar masses exceeding 10,000, allowing them to achieve a mass of 1 billion solar masses in the early universe.

Such massive black holes may originate from unique processes, often linked to incredibly dense clouds of gas that contain heavier elements than helium.

Interestingly, RACS J0320-35 is expanding at a remarkable speed, estimated to be 2.4 times greater than the Eddington limit, indicating that its formation may have followed a more typical path, beginning with a mass of less than 100 solar masses resulting from massive star explosions.

“By determining a black hole’s mass and growth rate, we can infer its initial size,” said Dr. Alberto Moretti, an astronomer at INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera.

“This calculation permits us to evaluate various theories regarding the formation of black holes.”

To investigate how rapidly this black hole is growing (at rates between 300 and 3,000 solar masses per year), researchers compared the theoretical model with Chandra’s X-ray spectra, assessing the X-rays emitted at various energy levels.

The findings indicated that Chandra’s spectrum closely matched their expectations based on a model for black holes developing beyond the Eddington limit.

Supporting data from optical and infrared observations further corroborates the conclusion that this black hole is accumulating mass faster than the Eddington limit permits.

“How did the universe generate the first generation of black holes?” mused Dr. Thomas Connor, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

“This is one of the most pressing questions in astrophysics, and this singular object propels our quest for answers.”

Moreover, this research also sheds light on the origins of the jets of particles emitted by some black holes that approach the speed of light, as observed in RACS J0320-35.

“Jets like these are uncommon in quasars, suggesting that the accelerated growth of black holes may play a role in the formation of these jets,” the author remarked.

Their paper is set to be published in the Astrophysical Journal.

____

Luca Idina et al. 2025. X-ray investigation of the possibility of Super Eddington accretion in a wireless loudsal of Z = 6.13. apjl 990, L56; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/aded0a

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists Identify Potentially Habitable Planet 40 Light Years Away with Ideal Atmosphere

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Rocky, Earth-sized planets in our Milky Way may be surrounded by atmospheres, with new research indicating a strong possibility of liquid water on their surfaces, supporting the potential for life.

Two separate papers, to be released on Monday in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, focus on the TRAPPIST-1 system, which contains seven rocky planets orbiting a single star. Both studies present initial findings from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, suggesting that one planet, TRAPPIST-1e, could possess a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, although further research is necessary to confirm this.

These findings represent significant progress in the search for extraterrestrial life both within our solar system and beyond.

Recently, NASA revealed that rock samples from Mars may harbor evidence of ancient microorganisms. Presently, Mars has a thin atmosphere made primarily of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon, but billions of years ago, it likely possessed a much thicker atmosphere that allowed liquid water to exist on its surface.

For quite some time, scientists have maintained that water is a crucial element for life.

For a planet or moon to retain water in liquid form, it must have an atmosphere that prevents instant evaporation into space. This makes the search for exoplanet atmospheres one of the most exciting and promising areas of astronomical research.

“Ultimately, our goal is to identify planets that can support life,” stated Ryan McDonald, an exoplanet astronomer at St Andrews University, Scotland, and co-author of both studies. “To do this, we first need to identify whether these planets have atmospheres.”

The TRAPPIST-1 system is located 40 light-years from Earth and has been extensively studied since its discovery in 2016, as some of its planets may have conditions suitable for extraterrestrial life.

One light year is approximately 6 trillion miles.

Specifically, TRAPPIST-1e is thought to reside in the so-called “habitable zone,” where liquid water could be present on the surface—not too close to the star to be scorching hot and not too far to freeze.

In a recent study, astronomers utilized NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to observe four “transits” of TRAPPIST-1e, which occur when the planet passes in front of its star. While the telescope did not directly detect the planet’s atmosphere, it measured how light passing through the atmosphere was absorbed, if one is present.

Like a prism, light can be split into different color bands across the spectrum, and variations in how particular colors are filtered or absorbed can help identify the presence of specific atoms or gas molecules.

For instance, if a specific color is absorbed, it may indicate a high concentration of carbon dioxide, while other color changes could suggest the presence of hydrogen, oxygen, methane, or nitrogen.

“If no color variation is present, the planet is likely just a barren rock,” McDonald noted. “Barren rocks won’t show any color changes in response to light.”

During the four transits, researchers found no signs of a hydrogen-rich atmosphere surrounding TRAPPIST-1e, nor did they observe any indications of a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. However, observations from the Webb telescope suggest a potential nitrogen-rich atmosphere.

“This is an exciting development that will significantly narrow down the prospects for a more Earth-like atmosphere,” remarked Caroline Piaulett Graeb, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago who was not involved in the new research.

Earth’s atmosphere is composed of a significant amount of nitrogen gas. Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, has an atmosphere primarily made of nitrogen and is believed by NASA to harbor a vast underground sea. Although it may be habitable, the methane-rich environment of the moon differs greatly from conditions on Earth.

Piaulet-Ghorayeb, the lead author of a study published last month in the Astrophysical Journal, focused on another planet in the TRAPPIST-1 system, TRAPPIST-1d. This planet is also located within the habitable zone, but the study found no evidence of common Earth-like molecules such as water, carbon dioxide, or methane.

Studying these distant worlds poses significant challenges.

The TRAPPIST-1 star is small and exceptionally active, producing considerable background noise that complicates researchers’ efforts. McDonald and his team dedicated over a year to analyzing data from the Webb telescope in order to isolate and identify chemical signatures from TRAPPIST-1e and its star.

To confirm the presence of an atmosphere, McDonald and his colleagues plan to observe TRAPPIST-1e during an additional 15 transits over the coming years.

They are also looking into three other planets, TRAPPIST-1f, TRAPPIST-1g, and TRAPPIST-1h, which are located further out in the system.

This research aims to bring scientists closer to answering some of the most persistent questions regarding exoplanets and the existence of life.

“We have not yet reliably confirmed the atmosphere of rocky planets outside our solar system, but it opens the door to studying temperate planets,” said Piaulett-Ghorayeb. “However, there is still much to explore.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

40 Years of Light from Earth May Harbor Conditions Favorable for Life

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Artist’s Impression of the Planet TRAPPIST-1e

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Exciting indications suggest that one of the planets in the TRAPPIST-1 star system, located around 40 light-years away, may have an atmosphere suitable for life. However, scientists aim to obtain 15 additional images to confirm this.

TRAPPIST-1 is a small red star hosting at least seven planets. Discovered in 2016, it has become a focal point for astronomers hunting for extraterrestrial life, as three of its planets lie within the Goldilocks Zone, where liquid water can exist.

Ryan McDonald from St Andrews University, UK, states that the discovery of TRAPPIST-1 stirred considerable excitement among astronomers. However, subsequent imaging of three exoplanets—two of which are in the Goldilocks zone—did not identify any atmospheres, which was a letdown. Yet, McDonald and his team have maintained a focus on TRAPPIST-1e, situated at the center of this zone, and now hold a positive outlook.

In 2023, McDonald and colleagues utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to examine TRAPPIST-1e and have continued to enhance their images of this world. Through the analysis of starlight alterations as distant planets cross in front of stars, scientists can deduce the composition of atmospheres and identify beneficial life-sustaining chemicals.

Nonetheless, TRAPPIST-1’s classification as a red dwarf complicates these measurements due to its cooler nature compared to our sun. This cooling effect can lead to prevalent atmospheric chemicals like water also existing within the star itself. Consequently, it’s crucial to differentiate TRAPPIST-1e’s atmospheric signals from those of the star’s light. This challenging task requires innovative models and extensive effort. Initial findings suggest that TRAPPIST-1e may possess a life-friendly atmosphere, potentially representing a pivotal moment in the search for habitable conditions in the universe.

“The data exhibits fluctuations in accordance with atmospheric modeling, aligning well with nitrogen-rich atmospheres and possibly including methane,” remarks McDonald. “Among all the spectra collected from the TRAPPIST-1 system, this is the most promising, indicating potential atmospheric components.”

Should the nitrogen-rich atmosphere hypothesis be confirmed in subsequent analyses, McDonald states the next step will be to search for gases such as methane or carbon dioxide and utilize climate models to assess surface temperatures and the potential for liquid water.

However, the researchers caution that current data cannot entirely dismiss the possibility that TRAPPIST-1e is merely a barren rock. Additional observations are imperative. They have data from four JWST observations but aim for an additional 15 in the near future. “We need to minimize the error margins,” comments McDonald.

Matthew Jenge from Imperial College London notes that while many exoplanets are being discovered, astronomers are eager to pinpoint those with conditions conducive to life.

“Complexities arise because a planet can be in the right orbital zone but, with the wrong atmosphere, may become inhospitable like Venus. Astronomers are investigating numerous exoplanets, and eventually, one will likely be found with a nitrogen/oxygen-rich atmosphere. Photosynthesis may be key to achieving oxygen richness,” he says.

“If [TRAPPIST-1e] is habitable, consider what transpired on that planet over the past 7.6 billion years. The older the planet, the higher the likelihood of developing intelligent life,” he adds.

McDonald believes that by 2060, data may reveal multiple planets whose existence is hard to explain without including life forms, though he stresses that proving the existence of extraterrestrial life is still a distant goal. “We remain skeptical,” he concludes.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Discover Sunny Cafés in the City of Light: The App You Need in Paris

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In August, Paris typically quiets down as many residents scatter across the beaches and shores for their monthly vacation. Businesses close, and the city comes almost to a halt. Among those who stay are the eternal seekers of Paris: on a quest to find a sunlit terrace for their evening Aperitif.

Securing the ideal spot on the sidewalk outside a cafe can often depend on a timely walk or a quick message from friends. This summer, however, digital solutions gained traction with the quintessentially French take on the old Apple motto: “There’s an app for that.” Jveuxdusoleil is an app that tracks the sun’s movement through the city’s maze, pinpointing exactly where you can snag a sunny seat on your cafe terrace. This innovation arrives at a time of particular uncertainty in Paris.

Jean-Charles Levenne, who taught app development in 2020, created Jveuxdusoleil (“I Want Sun”) as a side project to address personal challenges.

Using a solar position algorithm alongside building height data from the open-source mapping platform OpenStreetMap, Levenne’s app highlights sunny terraces while dimming those in shadow. Users can update the app for new spots or corrections (e.g., trees casting unexpected shadows), thus turning it into a continually evolving and community-driven tool. While the technology is applicable in other cities, most of the app’s terraces are in Paris, which Levenne believes makes it particularly beneficial.

“The app functions globally, but initially focused on Paris due to its unique challenges compared to other French cities,” he remarked. “Finding a sunny spot can be tricky because of the narrow streets and towering buildings.”

The terrace acts as a vantage point to take in the essence of Paris. Chairs are typically arranged facing the street rather than each other, allowing patrons to observe the bustling world around them. The absence of a strong tipping culture in France reduces the urgency for quick table turnover, allowing customers to savor just a drink and linger for hours. For many Parisians, the terrace becomes a second living room.

Pierric Bourgot, a photographer and journalist with about 20 published books, has created a documentary on French bistro culture, emphasizing that the Paris terrace offers one of the city’s most authentic perspectives.

“The terrace embodies a specific concept of Art de Vivre (the Art of Living), as we say in France; it’s a space where diverse groups gather,” Bourgot explained. “You’re not enclosed; you’re somewhat in the street, one foot inside and one foot outside. You’re immersed in the city and the vibrancy of life.”

Searching for the sun after the darkest winter in decades

Jveuxdusoleil’s user base has consistently grown since its launch, now boasting over 1,300 active users weekly, and that number was mirrored during interviews with Levenne. Usage spikes in spring, as Parisians yearn for sunlight after enduring months of a dreary winter.

This year, Jveuxdusoleil experienced a surge, reaching nearly 20,000 visitors in a single week in early March, following a grim 2024 winter, which was noted as the darkest in three decades. Paris, in particular, struggled with multiple stretches of days without sunlight. Jveuxdusoleil remains a passion project for Levenne, who has not profited from it and says, “Actually, it costs money to maintain a server.”

The Parisian photographer I spoke with remarked that the intricate nature of Jveuxdusoleil is part of its charm—using the app to locate a sunny street for a photo while enjoying a drink with friends. Its functionality is streamlined, featuring a single slider to set the time and sunlight, positioning it as an accessible app for everyone.

Can an app revive the declining terrasse culture?

While the user base of Jveuxdusoleil isn’t universally widespread, many young French individuals I encountered on the terraces of Paris had not heard of the app. Yet its existence represents a digital embrace of French bistro culture at a pivotal moment.

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According to French Heritage Inventory documents filed in May 2024, the number of French bistros has decreased from 500,000 in 1900 to fewer than 40,000 today. The document notes that Paris has seen a drop from 5,000-6,000 bistros in the 1970s and 1980s to just over 1,000 currently. The Alliance of French Bistro Owners has successfully sought national recognition in September 2024, and has been campaigning since 2018 for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Bourgault attributes this “genocide” to the significant reduction in French bistro density over the past century, faced with relentless threats—exemplified by the shift from 100 bistros per 100,000 people to just 1 per 2,000. The proliferation of cars and highways has redirected traffic away from such venues nationwide, while television, smartphones, and digital communication have lessened the need for socializing on local terraces. Additionally, bistro owners cite globalization and changing consumer preferences as threats to bistro culture.

A law passed in 1941 prohibited the establishment of new cafes, allowing the acquisition of existing licenses only. This stagnation has rendered these establishments particularly vulnerable, especially in Paris, where property prices have surged. French commentators have long decried the “Americanization of Paris,” noting that traditional bistros are increasingly overshadowed by the rapid expansion of McDonald’s and other chain restaurants as habitual meeting spots for many young people.

Pierric noted that technological advances have also played a role in the decline of bistros. People now order deliveries via their phones and when they do venture out, they frequently stay glued to their devices instead of engaging with strangers at the comptoir. He pointed out that the app could actually revitalize Parisian bistro culture.

“Its geographical visualization grounds you in the real world, emphasizing that we are here on Earth,” he stated.

“When encountering friends at the bistro for drinks, we don’t meet in the ether. We gather in a cafe rich with personality, character, and decor. What’s more, we are aware that we are not just two AIs exchanging data protocols. We engage face to face, and it feels undeniably real.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hubble Discovers Remnants of a White Dwarf Merger 130 Light Years Away

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The White Dwarf represents the compact core that forms when stars exhaust their fuel and collapse. These remnants are the ashes of Earth-sized stars, typically about half the mass of the Sun, composed of carbon-oxygen cores surrounded by layers of helium and hydrogen. Utilizing far-ultraviolet data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have identified carbon in the atmosphere of the famously large white dwarf WD 0525+526. They also determined that the overall mass of hydrogen and helium in the star’s atmosphere was significantly lower than anticipated based on single-star evolution.

An illustration of a merger with a white dwarf sub-huge star (size without scale) that would have occurred in the past. Image credit: Snehalata Sahu/Warwick University.

WD 0525+526 is located approximately 130 light years away in the constellation Auriga.

With a mass exceeding that of our Sun by 20%, this white dwarf is classified as a super-genocide, and its formation process remains poorly understood.

Typically, such white dwarfs form from the collapse of massive stars. However, Hubble’s UV data indicates that WD 0525+526 has a hydrogen-rich atmosphere originating from its core.

“In optical light, WD 0525+526 appears to be a massive yet typical white dwarf,” remarked Sneharata Saff, an astronomer at the University of Warwick.

“However, the ultraviolet observations from Hubble allowed us to detect faint carbon signatures that optical telescopes could not observe.”

“The presence of a small amount of carbon in the atmosphere suggests that this massive white dwarf is likely the product of a merger between two stars.”

“We also believe that many similar merged remnants may pose as white dwarfs in a predominantly hydrogen atmosphere.”

“Only ultraviolet observations can reveal them to us.”

Typically, hydrogen and helium create dense, barrier-like layers around the white dwarf core, concealing carbon-rich elements.

In a stellar merger, the hydrogen and helium enveloping layers can burn away almost entirely as the stars combine.

The resulting single star possesses a very thin envelope that does not prevent carbon from surfacing, which is precisely what is observed in WD 0525+526.

“We found that the hydrogen and helium layers are around one billion times thinner than those typical of a white dwarf,” noted Antoine Bedard, an astronomer at Warwick University.

“We believe these layers were stripped away during the merger, allowing carbon to manifest on the surface.”

“However, this phenomenon is also unusual, as the carbon present is about 100,000 times less than that found on the surfaces of other merged remnants.”

“Coupled with the star’s elevated temperatures—nearly four times hotter than the Sun—the diminished carbon levels suggest that WD 0525+526 evolves at a much faster pace than previously observed.”

This discovery will aid in understanding the destiny of binary star systems, which are crucial for related phenomena such as supernova explosions.

Alongside the enigma, this significantly hotter star’s carbon migrates to the surface.

Other merged remnants later cool enough for convection to bring carbon to the surface; however, WD 0525+526 remains too hot for this process.

Instead, the author identified a subtle mixing process known as semiconvection, uniquely observed in this White Dwarf.

This mechanism permits small amounts of carbon to gradually ascend into the star’s hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

“Finding conclusive proof of individual white dwarf mergers is rare,” remarked Professor Boris Gensick from Warwick University.

“Yet, ultraviolet spectroscopy enables us to detect these signals early, while carbon remains invisible at optical wavelengths.”

“Because the Earth’s atmosphere filters out UV rays, such observations must be conducted from space—currently, only Hubble is capable of this.”

“As WD 0525+526 continues to evolve and cool, we anticipate more carbon will emerge at the surface over time.”

“For now, this ultraviolet illumination offers rare insights into the early aftermath of stellar mergers.

Survey results are published today in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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S. Saff et al. The remnants of Hot White Dwarfs revealed by ultraviolet detection of carbon. Nature Astronomy Published online on August 6th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02590-y

Source: www.sci.news

Decam Reveals Hidden Cluster Light in Galaxy Cluster Abell 3667

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The glow within the cluster is the soft luminosity of stars that have been stripped from their galaxy amidst the layers of galaxy clusters.

Abell 3667 is depicted in this Decam image. Image credits: CTIO/NOIRLAB/NSF/AURA/ANTHONY ENGLERT, Brown University/TA Rector, Noirlab/M. Zamani & D of University of Alaska Anchorage & NSF. De Martin, NSF’s Noirlab.

Galaxy clusters comprise thousands of galaxies, varying widely in age, shape, and size.

Typically, they have a mass about 10 billion times that of the Sun.

Historically, galactic clusters were regarded as the largest structures in the universe, spanning hundreds of millions of light-years and including numerous galactic clusters and groups, until superclusters were discovered in the 1980s.

Nonetheless, galaxy clusters still hold the title of the largest gravitationally bound structure in the universe.

“The study of galaxy clusters not only informs us about the formation of the universe, but it also places constraints on the characteristics of dark matter,” stated Brown University astronomer Anthony Englat and his team.

One significant clue astronomers seek to grasp the history of galactic clusters is the light within the cluster. This faint glow is emitted by stars that have been stripped from their original galaxy due to the immense gravitational forces of the forming galaxy cluster.

These stars provide evidence of past galactic interactions, although most current telescopes and cameras face challenges in detecting them.

The subtle intra-cluster light from the galaxy cluster Abel 3667 shines vividly in new images created from a total of 28 hours of observation at 570 megapixels using the Dark Energy Camera (Decam) at NSF’s M. Blanco 4-M Telescope, a program of NSF’s Noirlab at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.

“Abell 3667 is located over 700 million light-years away from us,” the astronomer mentioned.

“Most of the faint light sources in this image are distant galaxies, not foreground stars from our own Milky Way.”

“In Abell 3667, two small galaxy clusters are currently merging, as evidenced by the luminous bridge (yellow) of stars extending toward the center of this image.”

“This bridge is formed from material stripped off from the merging galaxies, forming one massive conglomerate known as the brightest cluster galaxy.”

“Not only does this sparkling sky encompass distant galaxies, but it also highlights faint foreground features due to the prolonged exposure.”

“The Milky Way’s hair follicles, or integrated flux nebula, consist of faint clouds of interstellar dust that appear as soft bluish chains crossing the image.”

“These structures are patches of dust that are illuminated by the light of the stars within our own galaxy.”

“They present as diffuse, filamentous formations that can span extensive areas of the sky.”

Survey results will be published in the Astrophysics Journal Letter.

____

Anthony M. Engrat et al. 2025. Announcing optical bridges in Abel 3667 in-cluster light: LSST precursor data. apjl 989, L2; doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ade8f1

Source: www.sci.news

Introducing the New James Bond: How 007 First Light Earns Its Thrilling License | Games

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

For those years that seem to linger without fading away—marking the conclusion of the 25th 007 film and representing Daniel Craig’s iconic portrayal of the beloved spy—there remains no successor ready to don the tuxedo, order a martini, or take the wheel of an Aston Martin. At least, it’s not yet in cinemas. However, for the first time in Bond history, audiences will encounter the new James Bond in video games before he makes his film debut.

Crafted by the Danish studio IO Interactive for the upcoming 007 First Light, the new Bond has a strikingly handsome yet doll-like appearance. His fresh face and bright blue eyes are a departure from Craig’s rugged charm, as they lean more towards a youthful innocence rather than sharp intensity. This iteration of Bond doesn’t reject these classic traits but rather embraces them. First Light serves as an origin tale, designed to redefine one of entertainment’s most enduring protagonists for a new generation of gaming fans.

“We decided to start with origins so we could explore questions like, ‘Who was James Bond as a youth, and what does it mean to be a 00 agent?’ What does it truly signify to be 007?”

Historically, most James Bond video games have leaned heavily into the shooter genre, heavily inspired by the classic 1997 Nintendo 64 title, GoldenEye 007. Despite the ongoing success of the first-person shooter genre, the 007 games saw diminishing returns, with lackluster reviews and declining sales for 2012’s 007 Legends effectively sidelining Bond’s video game career—until IO approached Eon Productions with an exceptional concept.

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“There’s an exciting shootout in the film, but if we really think about it, there isn’t that much,” Elverdam remarks. Addressing the discrepancies between the film and the game became a fundamental aspect of IO’s pitch, with the intent of allowing players to embody characters outside the constraints of cinema.

This was a familiar process for IO, which, between 2016 and 2021, successfully redefined the Hitman series—a franchise centered around elite contract killers. With a remarkable awareness of what worked in the previous Hitman games (focusing on strategic planning and problem-solving rather than gratuitous violence) and discarding the elements that did not resonate (such as convoluted narratives), the results were astounding: a series of endlessly replayable puzzles that allowed players to vanish without a trace. The satirical, clever tone of Hitman: The World of Assassination became a standout hallmark for IO.

“All of these elements [from Hitman],” Elverdam mentions, “if we adapt and innovate those, we can create a true Bond experience. These innovations should encompass driving, stealth, and yes, shootouts.”

“It’s not just about shooting”… Bond ventures onto the road with 007’s First Light.
Photo: IO Interactive

The title fits perfectly, as this game represents the first flicker of hope for a cherished franchise that has faced challenging times. Announced initially as Project 007 in November 2020, the game has persevered through Bond’s turbulent waters, a situation that began with a $8.45 billion (£6.3 billion) merger between MGM, the studio behind Bond, and Amazon in March 2022. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson helm this family business.

In February, Broccoli and Wilson ceded creative control to Amazon as part of a major contract, effectively ending the Broccoli family’s 63-year stewardship of the Bond film franchise. Since then, Amazon has begun to outline its plans, including hiring Denis Villeneuve to direct the next installment. The world is now watching and waiting for a casting decision, eager to see what this transition means for one of cinema’s most lucrative franchises.

However, while the upcoming film unfolds, the new game possibly holds the potential to leave a lasting mark. The 007 First Light Trailer doesn’t reveal much, yet it builds excitement. It’s a montage that rekindles everything fans adore about 007—the intricate traps and gadgets reminiscent of the Roger Moore era, coupled with the formidable physical presence of Craig’s portrayal and the charming attitude that has unified all iterations of the character.

Everything fans cherish about the series. Photo: IO Interactive

“To truly pursue high ambitions, it’s essential to examine various Bond installments, understand the essence of each, and infuse your unique perspective,” Elverdam states.

The creative director for First Light is keen to discuss Bond’s essence but remains tight-lipped regarding certain specifics of his version. For instance, the identity of the voice actor portraying Bond is still under wraps. Nevertheless, Elverdam acknowledges that due to Bond’s lasting appeal, he is a character not easily thrust into contemporary narratives.

“Each Bond represents the zeitgeist of their era, regardless of your intentions. That’s simply how it is,” he explains. “What is perceived as a threat, or desirable qualities, inevitably evolves over time.” Elverdam poses several thought-provoking questions that IO considers as they craft their rendition of Bond: When do you improvise? What does it mean to serve a king and a kingdom? Why engage in such tasks in the first place?

If Elverdam and IO adeptly address these queries, they may well establish a closer connection to the next film’s Bond than one might expect.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ancient Protein Analysis Sheds New Light on the Rhino Family Tree

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have extracted ancient enamel protein sequences from fossilized teeth of epiacaratherium sp., a nasal bacteria that thrived in the High Arctic of Canada between 240 and 21 million years ago (early Miocene). This recovered sequence enabled researchers to ascertain that this ancient rhino diverged from other syoxidants during the mid-Eocene Oligocene period, approximately 410-250,000 years ago. Additionally, the findings illuminate the distinctions between two principal subfamilies of rhinocerotinae and Rhinocerotinae, indicating a more recent division of bone development around 340-22 million years ago.

Reconstruction of three extinct rhinoceros species: foreground features a Siberian unicorn (Elasmotherium sibiricum), accompanied by two Merck rhinos (Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis); In the distant background is a wooly rhino (Coelodonta antiquitatis). Image credit: Beth Zaiken.

Dr. Mark Dickinson and his team from York University investigated the teeth of epiacaratherium sp. They utilized a method known as chiral amino acid analysis, which aids in understanding how these proteins were preserved over time.

By assessing the degree of proteolysis and comparing it with previously studied rhino material, they confirmed that the amino acids originated from the teeth themselves, not from subsequent contamination.

“It’s astounding that these techniques allow us to revisit the past and delve deeper,” Dr. Dickinson remarked.

“Armed with our understanding of ancient proteins, we can now pose intriguing new questions regarding the evolution of ancient life on Earth.”

The rhinoceros holds particular significance as it is currently categorized as an endangered species. Exploring its extensive evolutionary history offers vital insights into how past environmental shifts and extinctions have influenced present biodiversity.

Historically, scientists have depended on the morphology of fossils or, more recently, ancient DNA (aDNA) to reconstruct the evolutionary narratives of long-extinct species.

Nonetheless, aDNA typically does not last more than a million years, constraining its utility in unraveling deep evolutionary history.

Although ancient proteins have been detected in Miocene fossils, previous samples extending back over 4 million years had been constrained to roughly the last 10 million years—full sequences were necessary for robust reconstructions of evolutionary lineages.

The latest research significantly broadens this temporal scope, indicating that proteins may endure across extensive geological timescales under optimal conditions.

“Success in analyzing ancient proteins from such old specimens provides fresh perspectives for scientists globally, who possess remarkable fossils in their collections,” stated Dr. Fazeera Munier of York University.

“This crucial fossil aids our understanding of the distant past.”

The results were published in the journal Nature this week.

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RS Patterson et al. Phylogenetically significant proteins from the early Miocene era. Nature Published online on July 9, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09231-4

Source: www.sci.news

Major Study Links Nighttime Light Exposure to Heart Disease Risks

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Optimizing Darkness in Your Night Environment

Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock

SEI 2575076471 — Optimizing Darkness in Your Night Environment

Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock

Exposure to light at night significantly raises the risk of heart disease, according to extensive research.

Various environmental and behavioral signals synchronize the body’s circadian rhythms, the internal clocks that manage physiological functions. However, contemporary lifestyles often disrupt these biological mechanisms, heightening sensitivity to health issues.

Light is a primary regulator of circadian rhythms and has been linked to numerous health implications. For instance, shift workers exposed to nighttime light face a higher risk of heart disease.

Previous studies utilizing satellite data have indicated associations between residents of brightly lit urban areas and heart disease, focusing solely on outdoor light at night. Daniel Windred, from Flinders University in Adelaide, and his team sought to determine if overall light exposure impacts cardiovascular health.

They monitored approximately 89,000 individuals without pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, equipping them with light sensors for a week between 2013 and 2016. “This represents the largest research effort on personal light exposure patterns affecting cardiovascular health to date.”

The sensors captured both natural and artificial light sources, including emissions from mobile phones. Over the eight-year period, participants who experienced the brightest nights showed a 23-56% increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to those exposed to darker nights.

For example, individuals in the highest light exposure category included those who activated overhead lights for an hour from midnight to 6 AM. “This scenario places them within the 90th to 100th percentiles of nighttime light exposure,” Windred noted. He emphasized that the body continues to react to artificial light even after it is turned off, and short exposures can disrupt circadian rhythms.

Researchers accounted for factors such as gender, age, smoking habits, and shift work. They also demonstrated that the connection between light exposure and heart disease risk remained constant, regardless of sleep duration, sleep efficiency, or genetic predisposition.

Interestingly, although women generally have a lower incidence of heart disease at the same age as men, exposure to bright nighttime light can neutralize this protective effect due to estrogen. Evidence suggests that women experience more significant melatonin suppression in response to bright light, making their circadian systems more sensitive compared to men.

Disruption of circadian rhythms can compromise glucose tolerance, elevating the risk for type 2 diabetes, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Such disruption also influences blood pressure and can increase the risk for abnormal cardiac rhythms due to conflicting signals between the brain and heart.

“The significance of these findings must not be understated,” stated Martin Young from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “As a 24/7 society increasingly disrupts our circadian systems, this study underscores the notable health risks linked to such exposure.”

Windred suggests that individuals strive to maintain a darker nighttime environment. “Optimize your sleep schedule to ensure darkness during bedtime. If you awaken during the night, utilize dim lighting and avoid bright overhead lights.”

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Neanderthal-Shaped Skulls Could Shed Light on Why Some Individuals Experience Headaches

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

3D Models of Skulls from Modern Humans and Neanderthals

Courtesy of Kimberly Anne Plomp

Abnormalities in the skull that compress the lower brain can lead to headaches and various neurological issues, potentially passed down from Neanderthals.

Individuals with Chiari malformations possess a smaller, flatter skull base near the spine junction, causing the cerebellum to be pressed into the neck’s spinal canal.

Type 1 Chiari malformations, which are the least severe, may impact about 1 in 100 individuals. Symptoms can include headaches, neck pain, sleep apnea, and numbness, although some may remain asymptomatic.

Approximately 15 years ago, Yvens Barbosa Fernandes, a neurosurgeon at Campinas State University in Brazil, observed that the skull base of his Chiari patients bore resemblance to Neanderthal specimens from the European Museum, particularly the gentle slopes of the occipital bone where the cerebellum rests. Neanderthals had larger brains than modern humans, yet their skulls were more oblique at the foreheads and bases, resulting in a flatter shape compared to the rounder modern human skulls.

In 2013, Barbosa Fernandes published his hypothesis, suggesting that the shape of Chiari skulls could have a genetic link to an extinct human species, Homo sapiens. “In Chiari’s case, I began to consider a lost connection between anthropology and medicine,” he stated.

Motivated by this theory, Kimberly Plomp from the University of the Philippines in Quezon City and her team created digital 3D models of 46 Chiari 1 skulls and 57 unaffected skulls using CT scans. Their comprehensive mathematical analysis confirmed that the Chiari-affected skulls exhibited more cerebral compression at a flat angle at the base where the cerebellum is located.

Subsequently, the group compared these recent skulls with digital models of eight fossilized heads from Homo Neanderthalensis, Homo Erectus, Homo Heidelbergensis, and ancient Homo sapiens.

They discovered that the skull base measurements of Neanderthal heads closely matched those of modern humans with Chiari, while the skull bases of all other ancient species resembled typical modern humans without Chiari. “This underscores the notion that these modern humans may share Neanderthal characteristics,” suggesting another way Neanderthal genes could influence our health.

For Barbosa Fernandes, this research offers solid backing for his hypothesis. “It makes sense; a less pronounced angle results in less space for the modern human brain,” he noted. “Until now, I lacked scientific evidence to support my theory. This research brings me significantly closer to that proof.”

Looking ahead, the team intends to analyze the DNA of individuals with Chiari malformations in search of Neanderthal genetic markers, according to Plomp.

Other Chiari malformations (types 2-4) are believed to stem from various causes. Type 2 is associated with severe forms of spina bifida, while types 3 and 4 are exceedingly rare and can pose life-threatening risks.

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Webb Sheds New Light on the Structural Evolution of Disk Galaxies

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Modern disk galaxies frequently display distinct thin and thick disks. The mechanisms driving the formation of these two discs and the timeline of their emergence are still unanswered questions. To investigate these issues, astronomers examined various epochs (statistical samples of 111 edge-on disk galaxies dating back up to 11 billion years, or approximately 2.8 billion years post-Big Bang) utilizing archived data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

Webb/nircam composite images of a quarter of the team’s samples were sorted by increasing redshift. Image credit: Tsukui et al., doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf604.

Present-day disk galaxies often comprise extensive, star-rich outer disks alongside thin, star-like disks.

For instance, the thick discs of the Milky Way reach approximately 3,000 light-years in height, while the thin discs are roughly 1,000 light-years thick.

But what mechanisms lead to the formation of this dual disk structure?

“The thickness of high redshift discs, or unique measurements from the early universe, serve as benchmarks for theoretical research that can only be conducted using Webb,” states Takagi, an astronomer at the Australian National University.

“Typically, older, thicker disk stars are dim, while the younger, thinner disk stars dominate the galaxy.”

“However, Webb’s exceptional resolution allows us to observe and highlight faint older stars, enabling us to distinguish between two disk structures in a galaxy and measure their thickness separately.”

Through an analysis of 111 edge-on targets over cosmological time, astronomers studied both single-disc and double-disc galaxies.

The findings indicate that galaxies initially form a thick disk, which is followed by the formation of a thin disk.

The timing of this process is contingent on the galaxy’s mass: high-mass, single-disk galaxies transitioned to two-disk structures around 8 billion years ago.

In contrast, a thin disk emerged about 4 billion years ago within low-mass, single-disk galaxies.

“This is the first time we’ve resolved a thin star disk at such a high redshift,” remarked Dr. Emily Wysnioski from the Australian National University.

“The novelty becomes evident when observing the onset of thin star disks.”

“It was astonishing to witness a thin star disk from 8 billion years ago, and even further back.”

To elucidate the transition from a single thick disk to a dual-disk structure, as well as the timing differences between high-mass and low-mass galaxies, researchers expanded their investigation beyond the initial edge-on-galaxy samples. They examined data showing the movement of gases from large millimeter/sub-millimeter arrays (ALMAs) in Atacama and ground surveys.

By considering the movement of the galaxy’s gas disks, they found their results aligned with the “turbulent gas disk” scenario.

In this framework, the turbulent gas disks of the early universe catalyze intense star formation, leading to the creation of thick star disks.

As stars form, they stabilize the gas disks, diminishing turbulence and consequently resulting in thinner disks.

Larger galaxies can convert gas into stars more efficiently and thus calm down more quickly than their lower-mass counterparts, leading to the formation of the earlier thin disk.

“This study delineates structural differences between thin and thick discs, but we aim to explore further,” Dr. Tsukui mentioned.

“We look to incorporate the types of information typically acquired from nearby galaxies, such as stellar movement, age, and metallicity.”

“By doing so, we can bridge insights from both nearby and distant galaxies, enhancing our understanding of disk formation.”

Survey results were published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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Takagi Tsukui et al. 2025. The emergence of thin and thick discs of galaxies across the history of the universe. mnras 540(4): 3493-3522; doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf604

Source: www.sci.news

Light Has Transformed into a Liquid Mimicking Spacetime

Posted on June 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers can construct structures that mimic lab black holes

Science Photo Library/Alamy

By shaping light into a liquid-like form, researchers aim to deepen their grasp of black holes and other intriguing phenomena.

Though observing supermassive objects like black holes directly is a challenge, scientists have employed quantum effects to create valuable analogs in laboratory settings. For instance, they have previously simulated space-time with ultra-cold atoms to mimic a black hole’s material.

Now, Kevin Falk from the Kastler-Brossel Laboratory (LKB) in Paris and his team have utilized light to generate highly controlled analogs of space-time.

They achieved this by trapping light within small cavities made of reflective semiconductor materials, allowing it to bounce between layers and interact with the material’s charge. This quantum interaction ultimately converts light into a liquid-like state.

Researchers can manipulate this fluid with lasers to replicate the geometry of space-time, creating structures that correspond to a black hole’s event horizon. The object can fall but will not return.

Their light-based “space” is meticulously controlled, enabling Falk and his colleagues to visualize events and create sudden space-time structures.

They plan to use this unique simulation to investigate how Hawking radiation emitted from black holes varies with abrupt changes in the event horizon. However, achieving this requires cooling and isolating the experiment to amplify the quantum effects involved.

“This work represents a remarkable experimental achievement,” says Juan Ramon Muñoz de Nova from Complutense University in Madrid, who has contributed to initial measurements of Hawking radiation in black hole simulations involving ultracold atoms. He believes these new experiments present opportunities to observe various phenomena, such as how black holes vibrate and produce “ring” effects.

Friedrich Koenig from St Andrews University in the UK notes that this research offers “the most valuable platform” to explore new concepts related to gravity and the complex interplays between gravity and quantum effects.

One striking outcome of this study is the potential to reveal that the observed black holes might not be what they seem. Maxime Jacquet from LKB explains that the first image captured of a black hole by the Event Horizon Telescope may appear authentic, but the visual representation of a black hole may not equate to its true nature.

There could be sizable objects that distort light like black holes, creating a false appearance without an observable event horizon. Theoretical investigations suggest this is feasible, and light-based experiments may allow for further exploration of this possibility, according to Jacquet.

“We must exercise caution. While we have these analogs, fluids and black holes are fundamentally different entities,” warns Falk. “However, this experiment enables us to experiment with testing theories related to black holes.”

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Webb Observes the Sombrero Galaxy in Near-Infrared Light

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

With the aid of the NICAM (Near-infrared camera), astronomers aboard the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have captured new images of the Sombrero Galaxy.

The new Webb/Nircam image reveals the prominent bulge of the Sombrero Galaxy, which consists of a dense cluster of stars at the galaxy’s center, while dust on the outer rim obscures some starlight. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/STSCI.

The Sombrero Galaxy is situated approximately 28 million light years away in the Virgo constellation.

Also referred to as Messier 104, M104, or NGC 4594, this galaxy was discovered by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain on May 11, 1781.

It has a diameter of 49,000 light years, which is nearly twice that of our Milky Way galaxy.

The Sombrero Galaxy displays features typical of both spiral and elliptical galaxies.

It features a spiral arm and a prominently illuminated central bulge that resembles two hybrid forms.

Viewed edge-on, the Sombrero Galaxy sits at a six-degree angle south of its plane, with the dark dust lane creating a striking visual.

“Researching galaxies like the Sombrero through various wavelengths, including near-infrared with Webb, as well as data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, assists us in understanding the formation and evolution of this intricate system and its constituent materials,” said an astronomer.

“Unlike Hubble’s visible light images, the dust disk is not detectable in Nircam’s new near-infrared imagery.”

“This is because the longer wavelengths of infrared radiation emitted by stars penetrate dust more effectively, resulting in less obstruction of stellar light.”

“In mid-infrared images, the dust actually emits light.”

“Research indicates that the smooth surface and subtle glow of the galaxy hint at a turbulent history,” the astronomer noted.

“Anomalies discovered over the years suggest that this galaxy may have been involved in a violent merger with at least one other galaxy.”

The Sombrero galaxy is home to approximately 2,000 globular clusters, which are dense collections of hundreds of thousands of ancient stars bound together by gravity.

“Spectroscopic analyses reveal unexpected variances among the stars in these globular clusters.”

“Stars that form under similar conditions and from the same materials typically share similar chemical ‘fingerprints,’ such as the same abundance of elements like oxygen or neon.”

“However, the apparent variations among stars in this galaxy’s globular clusters are notably significant.”

“The merging of various galaxies over billions of years can explain these discrepancies.”

“Further evidence supporting the merger hypothesis is seen in the distorted look of the galaxy’s inner disk.”

“While our observations categorize it as edge-on, it actually gives the impression of being at quite an angle,” they added.

“Seen from six degrees off the galaxy’s equator, our viewpoint allows us to glimpse it slightly from above, rather than straight on.”

“From this vantage point, the inner disk appears tilted inward, resembling a funnel rather than a flat plane.”

“Nircam’s advanced resolution reveals parts of the galaxy that look red, indicating the presence of red giants—cooler stars that shine brightly due to their larger surface areas.”

“These red giants are also visible in mid-infrared, but the smaller blue stars in the near-infrared become indistinguishable at longer wavelengths.”

“Additionally, Nircam’s images capture a variety of galaxies in differing shapes and colors scattered across the backdrop of space.”

This color diversity offers astronomers insights into characteristics such as their distances from Earth.

Source: www.sci.news

Study Suggests All Humans Emit Subtle Light Until Death

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

All living beings, including you, emit subtle, etheric, semi-visible light that continues until death. Recent research supports this idea.

This mysterious luminescence might lead one to believe it is an indication of an aura or something similar.

However, Dr. Daniel Oblak, a physicist from the University of Calgary and the study’s lead author, explained to BBC Science Focus that while the concept of an aura is metaphysical and unscientific, the emitted light is not. Known as Ultraweak Photon Emission (UPE), it is a natural byproduct of metabolism.

“I would like to emphasize that UPE usually results from biochemical processes and is thus akin to what occurs with glow sticks.”

“UPE is so faint that it is imperceptible to the human eye and can be completely obscured by other light sources unless in total darkness.”

Don’t think that you can observe your own sparkle simply by closing the curtains and turning off the lights; this light is 1,000 to 1,000,000 times dimmer than what the human eye can detect.

These four mice emitted significantly more ultrweak photon emissions (UPEs) while alive (top) compared to after death (bottom). – Credits: Salari et al, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2025

UPE arises when a chemical within a cell creates an unstable molecule, known as a reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is essentially a byproduct of metabolic activity.

As ROS levels increase, other molecules become “excited,” meaning they carry excess energy, and it is this energy that emits light.

The primary factor driving this phenomenon is oxidative stress, a kind of cellular damage caused by aging and disease. The greater the oxidative stress experienced by the body, the more ROS—and consequently, more light—is produced.

“When an organism ceases to live, it halts metabolism, thereby stopping the emission of ultrawave photons,” he remarked.

To investigate UPE, scientists in Calgary measured the UPE generated by immobilized and deceased mice and damaged leaves.

Using specialized cameras, they found that living mice emitted significantly more light than their deceased counterparts. Conversely, the leaves released more light in areas that were damaged compared to intact regions.

This is due to increased oxidative stress in the scratched areas. However, the dead mice did not emit light as their bodies no longer underwent metabolic processes.

The leaves of St. Stwhere were illuminated by scratches and chemical damage. – Credits: Salari et al, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2025

Dr. Oblak highlighted that the significance of UPE lies in its ability to provide a non-invasive method to assess the health of living organisms.

“This technology could be utilized to monitor tissue status, such as in transplants, or to gauge crop and forest health, especially regarding the stress levels in organisms,” he explained.

Nonetheless, this field remains rife with uncertainties. For instance, Oblak pondered: “Perhaps UPE is not merely a byproduct of metabolic processes; it may also serve a purpose,” although scientists have yet to reach a consensus.

Read more:

About our experts

Dr. Daniel Oblak is an associate professor in the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary. He earned his PhD in Quantum Optics from the University of Copenhagen in 2010, having previously completed his Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees at Aarhus University. Currently, his research interests encompass quantum information science, long-range encryption, quantum networks, and quantum light interfaces.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Amazing Fireballs Light Up the Sky in Mexico City, Sparking Awe and Memes Galore

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Bright objects falling from space lit up the sky in the Mexican capital around 3am on Wednesday, spreading over plains, volcanoes, and small towns.

Videos of a fireball that streaked across a Latin American country and exploded into a burst of light in Mexico City captured the attention of many.

“No, the meteorite that exploded last night is not a reason to reach out to your ex,” someone tweeted. Meteor shower.

Soon, the internet was filled with edited images of fireballs featuring cartoon characters and political jokes.

Bright objects illuminate the sky in Mexico City early on Wednesday.webcamsmx via AP

Mexican scientists quickly realized that the object streaking across the sky was not a meteorite but a bolido. This was Bolido.

Bolido, as defined by NASA, is “a very bright meteor that is spectacular enough to be seen over a large area.”

Mario Rodriguez, a space science researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, explained that it could be classified as a meteor or a fragment of one.

Bolido, resembling a shooting star, creates a fire as it descends through the Mexican skies in the early hours of Wednesday.

“Due to the high pressure on the object, they begin to flare up with their trailing tails and emit light,” Rodriguez stated, part of a team of scientists analyzing the video that amazed many Mexicans. He added that unlike meteorites impacting the Earth, bolidos disintegrate in the atmosphere.

According to him, this particular meteor was around five feet long and posed no danger to the public.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Physicists develop innovative form of structured light: Optical rotation

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

According to a team of Harvard physicists, the structure of the optically rotating animal continues in a logarithmic spiral.

The evolution of light beams carrying the optical decy as a function of propagation distance. Image credits: Dorrah et al. , doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr9092.

“This is a new behavior of light consisting of optical vortices that propagate space and change in an anomalous way,” says Professor Federico Capaso, a senior author of the study.

“It can potentially help you manipulate small substances.”

With a unique twist, the researchers have discovered that orbital angular momentum-mediated beams of light grow in mathematically recognizable patterns found throughout nature.

Reflecting the Fibonacci number sequence, their optical rotations propagate into logarithmic spirals found in Nautilus shells, sunflower seeds, and tree branches.

“It was one of the unexpected highlights of this study,” says Dr. Ahmed Dora, the first author of the study.

“Hopefully we can help others, who are experts in applied mathematics, to further study these light patterns and gain unique insight into their universal signature.”

This study is based on previous research by the team using thin lenses etched with thin nanostructures to create a light beam with controlled polarization and orbital angular momentum along its propagation path, converting the input of light into other structures that change when it moves.

Now they have introduced another degree of freedom in their light. There, spatial torque can be changed as it propagates.

“We show even more versatility in control and we can do it on a continuous basis,” said Alfonso Palmieri, co-author of the study.

Potential use cases for such exotic rays involve the control of very small particles, such as colloids, in suspension, by introducing new types of forces according to the unusual torque of light.

It also allows for precise optical tweezers for small operations.

Others have demonstrated light that changes torque using high-intensity lasers and bulky setups, but scientists have created theirs with a single liquid crystal display and a low-intensity beam.

By showing that they can create rotary rotary devices in industry-compatible, integrated devices, the barriers to entry for their technology to become a reality are much lower than in previous demos.

“Our research expands the previous literature on structured light, providing new modalities for light and physics, and sensing, suggesting similar effects of condensed material physics and Bose-Einstein condensates,” they concluded.

study Published in the journal Advances in science.

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Ahmed H. Dora et al. 2025. Rotation of light. Advances in science 11 (15); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adr9092

Source: www.sci.news

Can the Light Phone III prevent “brain rot”?

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Dear reader, I have a confession: I suffer from the illness that young people call “Brain corruption” Things I can’t think deeply after scrolling too much on my phone. It’s difficult to complete a book these days.

Many people have this problem. Many have created a category of minimalist tech products that strive to eliminate us to be distracted, from AI pins, the artificially intelligent lapel pins that take notes to phones that only have basic features.

The latest example, $600 Light Phone IIIa peeled mobile phone that does little from a Brooklyn startup. The latest version, which began shipping in March and has been set to a wider release in July, can call, text, take photos, view map instructions, play music and podcasts, and many others can’t.

There is no web browser. Also, there is no app store. That means there are no Ubers who welcome rides, slacks, or social media. There’s no even an email.

“When you use it when you need it and turn it back on, it goes away in your life,” said Kaiwei Tang, chief executive of Light, a startup that has developed multiple iterations of light phones over the past nine years. “We tell many customers that they feel less stressed, they become more productive and creative.”

I used it as my main phone for a week, because I wanted to know if a light phone can cure me brain rot. There was a moment when I enjoyed it. I didn’t want to stare at the phone screen while I was waiting for the train, resting at the gym or eating alone. The phone sounded wonderful and clear. The Maps app did an amazing job navigating me around town.

It reminded me of a simple time when we mostly used our phones for Converse before we put them away to focus on other tasks.

But for a week, the flaws of the stupid phone call were lacking in my enjoyment. I suddenly realized I couldn’t enter the station. We looked up the names of our new restaurants and controlled the garage doors.

Part of it has nothing to do with the light phone itself, which is a decent product, but how society as a whole relies on advanced smartphone capabilities.

This is how my week ran errands, commute, and went out on Lower Technology phones.

Get started

When I set up a light phone review unit over the weekend, the phone, which looked like a black rectangular slab, was quite bare bones. The phone’s menu was a black screen showing a white text list for mobile phones, cameras, photo albums and alarm functions. To add more tools, I had to access the dashboard using a web browser on my computer. There, we were able to install features such as the map app, notepad, and timers.

I was ready to go, so I decided to live without my iPhone for at least a while.

I’m commuting

On Monday morning, I took the train from Oakland, California to San Francisco and started commuting. When I arrived at the station I realized that I couldn’t get in without an iPhone. This is because many years ago, I had converted my physical transit pass, Clipper cards, into virtual cards stored in my smartphone’s mobile wallet.

The light phone didn’t have a mobile wallet to load a virtual transit card, so I went back home badly to get my iPhone and eventually showed up in the office 30 minutes late.

Go to the gym

One night, I got a similar hit at a rock climbing gym. To enter, members use their mobile phones to log in to the gym website and generate a temporary barcode that is scanned at the entrance. The light phone didn’t have a web browser and could not create a barcode, so we had to wait in line at the front desk.

Text a friend and take photos

I added some of my closest friends to my address book over a light phone and texted them explaining my experiment. When I typed the device’s keyboard, some felt slow as there was no auto-correct feature to fix typos. As a result, the conversation was concise.

The cheer continued as I sent pictures of people. The unlit and grainy image appeared to have been created with telephone cameras for at least 15 years.

“Retro!” said one friend in response to a blurry photo of my daughter.

“Wow, that’s bad,” another friend said of the dimly lit photo of my corgi Max.

Photo taken on the author’s Corgi’s light phone, Max looked unlit and grainy.credit…Brian X. Chen/New York Times

The founders of Light said they are proud of the Light Phone camera, which has a nostalgic feel to it.

I’m running errands

One afternoon I had to drop off Amazon’s return at the UPS store. We have selected the most convenient shipping options, including displaying QR codes for scanning.

problem? Light phones didn’t have an email app or web browser to download codes. Instead, I loaded it onto my computer screen and snapped mediocre photos on my phone.

When I brought the package to UPS and presented the photos, I held my breath and hoping the image was clear enough. UPS employees kept the scanner and after three attempts they heard beeps and transport labels printed.

Not only is it a relief, but how troublesome.

lunch

Another afternoon my wife and I went out for an improvised lunch. I had to back out the car and ask my wife to use her iPhone to close the garage door with the app myq. (Our physical garage door opener stopped working years ago.)

After that, I was trying to remember the name of a new sushi restaurant I read recently on my food blog. It was inevitable that I would dig deeper into my blog posts on a light phone. In the end we speculated and went to the wrong restaurant. However, it was good to have lunch together without the temptation to check my email.

Conclusion

I admire the goal of light phones, but my experience shows that there is nothing realistically possible or can buy to bring us back to a simpler era. Many aspects of our lives revolve around highly capable smartphones, travelling around town, working, paying for things, dominating home appliances.

This light cell phone experiment reminded me of glamping.

I can’t think of many people who make them work to make light phones realistically use only their mobile phones. Many of us rely on tools like Slack and email to communicate.

A light phone may be a good choice for unplugging while you’re off work, as a secondary leisure phone similar to a weekend car. But even so, camera quality may be a contract breaker for some.

Light’s CEO Tang admitted that Light Shone is not for everyone, but added that parents are considering buying a mobile phone for their children not distracted at school. The company is also working on adding more tools, including the ability to request mobile payments and Lyft cars.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Insightful Discoveries: New Fossils Shed Light on Plesiosaurus Diversity and Local Adaptations

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

German paleontologists have unearthed a very well-preserved skeleton of the early Jornaian plesiosauloid species Plesioptery Wildi.

MH 7 Skeleton Plesioptery Wildi Abdominal view. Image credit: Marx et al. , doi: 10.7717/peerj.18960.

From a global perspective, the early Jurassic was characterized by the steady division of the Supercontinent Pangaea and associated climate change that produced alternating greenhouses and ice house conditions.

These paleoenvironmental changes coincided with radiation in various reptile groups. Plesiosauria.

The early Jurassic fossil records of the Plesiosaurus are particularly diverse, with members of Plesiosauroidea, Pliosauridae and Rhomaleosauridae being represented by numerous species in Europe, particularly in Germany and the UK.

3 m long skeleton Plesioptery Wildi It provides new clues about the evolution and geographical distribution of early Jurassic Precio Sources.

Fossils that were 180 million years ago posidonienschiefer layer Near Holtzmadden in southern Germany.

The specimen, called MH 7, is one of the most complete and distinct plesioaurus skeletons found in the region.

“Unlike the fishy scallions and marine crocodile parents who dominate the fossil record of this formation, Pleciosaurus is relatively rare,” said Miguel Marx, a paleontologist at Lund University and his colleagues.

“Therefore, new discoveries offer rare glimpses into the biodiversity of these long-necked marine reptiles.”

“MH 7 represents someone who refines this type of known trait and refines its validity as a clear taxa.”

Phylogenetic analysis shows that Plesioptery Wildi It is a close-related early potential plesiosaualoid Franconiasaurus Brevispinus.

“This finding suggests a progressive evolutionary transition to more derived cryptocrizids in the late Jurassic period,” the paleontologist said.

“It supports the idea that Prisiosaurus species may have been regionally different in the Epicontoninent Seas of early Jurassic Europe, reinforcing the pattern of paleobiogeographic segregation.”

“The Holtzmadden specimen gives us an unprecedented view Plesioptery Wildi At a more mature stage of development, we can refine our understanding of this species and its place in the evolution of plesiosaurus,” said Dr. Marx.

“It also suggests that different plesiosaurus communities may have evolved in different regions of the European sea during the early Jurassic region.”

“Our research reinforces the Pleciosoaurus already evolves specialized adaptations and distinct regional lineages much faster than we believed,” added Dr. Sven Sachs, a researcher at the Naturkunde Museum Bielefeld.

“This has important implications for understanding how marine reptiles responded to changes in the Jurassic ocean environment.”

study Published in the journal Peerj.

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M. Marx et al. 2025. New specimen of Plesioptery Wildi We reveal the diversification and possible uniqueness of Cryptocrizia precursors in the early European Jurassic Plecioaurauro assembly. Peerj 13:E18960; doi:10.7717/peerj.18960

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble sheds light on atmospheric composition and dynamics of Uranus

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The 20-year Hubble study of Uranus provides valuable data to help you understand the atmospheric dynamics of this distant ice giant. This serves as a proxy for studying the deformation of similar sizes and compositions.

The image sequence shows changes in Uranus over the past four years when Hubble’s STIS instrument observed Uranus over 20 years. Over that period, astronomers saw Uranus season as the Antarctic region (left) entered winter shadows, and the Arctic region (right) brightened, and began to become more direct view as summer approached the north. The top row of visible light shows how Uranus’ colours look to the human eye, as can be seen by even amateur telescopes. In the second line, false-colored images of the planet are assembled from visible and near-infrared light observations. The color and brightness correspond to the amount of methane and aerosol. Both of these quantities were indistinguishable before STI first targeted Uranus in 2002. Generally, the green area has less methane than the blue area, and the red area does not show methane. The red area is in the limbs, where the stratosphere of Uranus is almost completely free of methane. The two bottom rows show the latitudinal structures of aerosols and methane, inferred from those visible from 1,000 different wavelengths (colors) to near-infrared. In the third row, bright areas show cloudy conditions, while dark areas show clearer conditions. In the fourth row, the bright areas show depleted methane, and the dark areas show the total amount of methane. At mid- and low-latitude latitudes, aerosol and methane depletion has a unique latitude structure that has changed little over 20 years of observation. However, in polar regions, aerosol and methane depletion behave very differently. In the third row, aerosols near the Arctic show a dramatic increase, becoming very dark in the early days of the Northern Spring and very bright in recent years. It appears that aerosols also disappear in their left limbs when solar radiation disappears. This is evidence that solar radiation alters aerosol haze in Uranus’s atmosphere. On the other hand, methane depletion appears to remain very high in both polar regions throughout the observation period. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Erich Karkoschka, LPL.

Uranus is a giant ice planet about four times the diameter of Earth.

It has a hydrogen and helium feel and has a bit of methane that gives it a blue tint.

Uranus lies to its side and rotates, its magnetic field is biased – it tilts at the center 60 degrees from its axis.

When Voyager 2 passed Uranus in 1986, it provided a close-up snapshot of the planet facing sideways. What it saw resembled a bland blue-green billiard ball.

In comparison, Hubble recorded the story of 20 years of seasonal changes from 2002 to 2022.

During that period, it was used by a team of astronomers led by Dr. Erich Karkoschka of the University of Arizona and Dr. Larry Slomovsky and Dr. Pat Free of the University of Wisconsin. Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrometer (stis) Draw an accurate picture of Uranus’ atmosphere structure.

Researchers observed Uranus four times in 20 years: 2002, 2012, 2015, and 2022.

They found that unlike gas giants Saturn and Jupiter, methane was not evenly distributed on Uranus.

Instead, it is heavily depleted near the pole. This depletion remained relatively constant for 20 years.

However, the structure of aerosols and hazes changes dramatically, and brightens significantly in the Arctic region as the planet approaches the northern summer solstice in 2030.

Uranus takes Earth age just over 84 years to complete the single orbit of the Sun.

Therefore, for over 20 years, the team has seen the spring almost north to make the Northern Pole shine directly in 2030, before shining the equator of Uranus.

“Hubble’s observations suggest a complex atmospheric circulation pattern for Uranus during this period,” the scientists said.

“The data most sensitive to methane distribution shows polar inundation and upwelling in other regions.”

Source: www.sci.news