Research: Squid Evolved 100 Million Years Ago and Experienced Rapid Radiation

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have adopted a cutting-edge digital fossil mining technique to examine over 250 fossil beaks from 40 ancient squid species. The findings indicate that there is no prolonged slow-moving change associated with the slower parietal layer, previously linked to the mass extinction event of late white matter around 66 million years ago. Early squid species had already established large populations, surpassing the biomass of both ammonites and fish. They evolved into intelligent and agile swimmers, contributing to modern marine ecosystems.

This lithograph features Loligo Forbesii, a squid species from the order Myopsida. Image credit: Comingio Mercuriano.

Squid are recognized as the most diverse and widely distributed group of marine cephalopods in today’s oceans, serving a crucial role in marine ecosystems as both predators and prey.

Their evolutionary success is generally attributed to the loss of a rigid external shell, a significant characteristic of their parietal ancestors.

Yet, their evolutionary beginnings remain unclear due to the scarcity of fossils from soft-bodied organisms.

The fossil record for squid dates back around 45 million years, with most specimens discovered consisting of fossilized statoris, or small calcium carbonites that assist in balance.

The early absence of such fossils has led to hypotheses that squid diversified following the mass extinctions during the Cretaceous period, approximately 66 million years ago.

Molecular studies of living squid species provide estimates regarding their divergence times; however, these estimates have become increasingly uncertain because of the dearth of prior fossil evidence.

In this recent study, Shin Ikegami, a paleontologist from Hokkaido University, and colleagues addressed these deficiencies using high-resolution grinding tomography and advanced image processing to digitally scan rocks as layered cross-sectional images, effectively revealing hidden 3D models.

This method was applied to Cretaceous carbonate rocks in Japan, resulting in the discovery of 263 fossilized squid beaks from 40 species across 23 genera and five families.

Results indicate that squid emerged around the boundaries of the early and late Cretaceous, roughly 100 million years ago, followed by a rapid diversification.

The authors assert that this newly uncovered fossil record significantly extends the documented origins of the two main squid groups: oegopsida extending back about 15 million years and myopsida extending as far back as 55 million years.

Early oegopsids showcased unique anatomical features that later species lacked, hinting at rapid morphological evolution, whereas Myopsids already displayed modern characteristics.

This study further indicates that late Cretaceous squids were more populous and often larger than their contemporaneous ammonite and bony fish counterparts. This ecological dominance might have triggered the radiation of bony fish and marine mammals roughly 30 million years ago, establishing squid as the first intelligent and agile swimmers that shaped modern marine ecosystems.

“In terms of population and size, these ancient squids were evidently proliferating across the oceans,” stated Dr. Ikenakamoto.

“Their body size rivaled that of fish, often even surpassing the ammonites found alongside them.”

“This demonstrates that squid thrived as the most abundant swimmers in the ancient seas.”

“These discoveries revolutionize our understanding of marine ecosystems in the past,” remarked Dr. Yasuhiro Iba from Hokkaido University.

“Squids were likely the pioneers of fast, intelligent swimmers that dominated the modern ocean.”

Study published in the journal Science.

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Shin Ikegami et al. 2025. The origin and radiation of squid revealed by digital fossil mining. Science E 388 (6754): 1406-1409; doi: 10.1126/science.adu6248

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Karawon Fossils Discovered in New Zealand, Dating Back 19 Million Years

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have unearthed a new species of large passerine birds based on fossilized remains from the Bannockburn Formation near St. Bathans in Otago, New Zealand.

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina Tibicen), adults and juveniles, in Tabeumi, Fiji. Image credits: Charles J. Sharp, https://www.sharpphotography.co.uk / CC by-sa 4.0.

The newly identified bird inhabited New Zealand during the early Miocene period around 19 million years ago.

It has been named St. Batan’s Caloun (MioStrepera Canora), closely related to the Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina Tibicen) found in New Zealand today, likely exhibiting an entirely black plumage.

“We’ve experienced a lot of excitement and hard work,” shared Dr. Paul Scofield, senior curator at the Canterbury Museum.

“We probably haven’t encountered a member of this large magpie family for just five million years.”

“New Zealand’s ecosystem has undergone significant transformations over millions of years, welcoming diverse species throughout various eras,” noted Dr. Trevor Worthy, a researcher at Flinders University.

“There’s a notion that we should strive to restore New Zealand to its pre-European ecosystem.”

“However, that ecosystem had been in a constant state of flux for millions of years.”

“By the time humans arrived, Aotearoa had already lost much of the floral diversity that once thrived.”

“There were limited tree seeds available, but the decline of the choloun and other pigeons indicates this loss.”

“Different plant and animal groups emerged between 2.6 million and 11,700 years ago.”

“Even more have come since humans began to inhabit the land.”

“New Zealand’s pre-European ecosystem isn’t inherently better or worse than any other period in the past.”

“The fossil record hints at the absence of a utopian state and encourages us to celebrate the diversity present today.”

The fossilized remains of MioStrepera Canora were found at the St Bathans fossil site, which was once located at the bottom of a vast prehistoric lake.

“The research revealed that the Miocene bird population in New Zealand bears surprising similarities to contemporary Australian birds,” Dr. Scofield mentioned.

“New Zealand was vastly different during the Miocene, between 200,000 to 5 million years ago.”

“If you walked through New Zealand’s forests during that time, you would have seen abundant eucalyptus, laurel, and casuarinas, much like the forests of Australia today.”

“The most significant factor shaping New Zealand’s current landscape was the extinction of many plants and animals that thrived in warmer climates, following a rapid cooling that began around 13 million years ago.”

“It was likely not the only bird call you would have heard in ancient New Zealand.”

The discovery of MioStrepera Canora is detailed in a paper published in the journal Palz.

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Worth it et al. A large-scale clastatin passerine (Aves, Artamidae, Cracticinae) from the early Miocene of New Zealand. Palz published on June 25th, 2025. doi:10.1007/s12542-025-00736-x

Source: www.sci.news

Extreme Heat Envelops Us: 160 Million on Alert from Texas to Maine

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In Paterson, New Jersey, over 100 individuals required medical attention during two outdoor graduation ceremonies on Monday, as the heat index soared to 107 degrees. That evening, Mayor Andre Seig declared a state of emergency, leading to the cancellation of all recreational activities due to the extreme heat.

Monday saw record high temperatures exceeding 60 degrees nationwide, with predictions extending from the southeast up to New England throughout the week.

Preliminary daily records were established on Tuesday in New York City (99 degrees), Philadelphia (for the first time since 2012), and Raleigh, North Carolina (100 degrees).

New monthly records for June were set in Boston (101 degrees) and Providence, Rhode Island (100 degrees), while Newark recorded a staggering June high of 103 degrees.

The National Weather Service indicates that the oppressive heat conditions are likely to persist through the evening.

“Overnight lows are anticipated to remain in the ’70s, with urban areas along the East Coast struggling to dip below 80 degrees at night,” the Weather Service remarked in a brief forecast on Tuesday..

These elevated temperatures are attributed to high-pressure ridges, which are currently parked over the eastern United States. Known as thermal domes, these systems effectively trap heat in the region, leading to prolonged periods of elevated temperatures.

While some relief may arrive towards the weekend, heat and humidity levels are expected to remain elevated over the coming days.

“The most severe cumulative heat impacts are expected on Friday across the eastern Ohio valleys stretching from the Mid-Atlantic to Thursday, resulting in multi-day oppressive heat,” stated the Weather Service.

All individuals are at risk for heat-related illnesses and fatalities, but the excessive heat and humidity—especially over several days—pose a particular risk to children, those with pre-existing health conditions, the elderly, and outdoor workers. These health concerns are increasingly pressing as climate change leads to more frequent, intense, and lasting heat events.

While the eastern U.S. battles the heat dome, a severe storm system could impact parts of Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Additionally, heavy rainfall and flooding are likely for much of New Mexico and southwestern Texas.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Ancient Frog Fossils Dating Back 55 Million Years Unearthed in Australia

Posted on June 21, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The discovery of Litoria Tylerantiqua indicates that Australian tree frogs (Perodrius) were already present in Australia when the continent was still attached to Antarctica and South America.

Artist Reconstruction of Litoria Tylerantiqua (right) alongside the previously described species Platyplectrum casca (left) from Margon in southeast Queensland. Image: Samantha Yabsley, https://www.instagram.com/shy_art.

Litoria Tylerantiqua lived in Australia during the early Eocene period, approximately 55 million years ago.

The fossilized frog bones were retrieved in the 1990s by paleontologists at the University of New South Wales while screenwashing clay samples from the Tingamara fossil frog site in Margon, Queensland.

“About 55 million years ago, Australia, Antarctica, and South America were connected as the last remnants of Gondwana,” stated Dr. Roy Furman and his colleagues at the University of New South Wales and the Australian National University.

“During this era, the global climate was warmer, facilitating forested corridors linking South America and Australia.”

“Previously, Australia’s oldest tree frogs were believed to have originated from the late Illuminocene (around 26 million years ago) and the early Miocene (approximately 23 million years ago).”

“Fossils from the late Illuminocene have been discovered in the Northern Territory’s kangaroo wells and the Etadunna formation in Lake Palancarina, South Australia. Furthermore, the Riversley World Heritage Area in Queensland unveiled an early Miocene tree frog.”

“This new species extends the fossil record of Perodrids by roughly 30 million years, bringing it closer to the timeframe when Australian tree frogs diverged from their South American counterparts,” they noted.

“Previous estimates based on molecular clock analyses suggest that Australian and South American frogs diverged approximately 33 million years ago.”

Litoria Tylerantiqua is the only other known frog from Margon, also identified as Platyplectrum casca (previously categorized as Lechriodus Casca), recognized as the oldest frog species in Australia.

Both have existing relatives in Australia and New Guinea, showcasing incredible resilience over time.

“Despite their fragile nature, these frogs have surprisingly thrived, surviving numerous major extinction events since their origin around 250 million years ago.”

“Current global extinction threats, fueled by human activities like rapid climate change and the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, pose significant challenges for frogs. The fossil record reveals how certain frog groups have navigated past adversities, potentially by adapting to less-threatened habitats.”

“This insight might guide future conservation efforts, such as relocating endangered frogs to safer environments.”

One such species, the Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree), is currently endangered due to habitat hostility caused by climate change.

“If fossil records show similarly structured frogs occupying very different habitats, today’s frogs could potentially benefit from reintroductions into comparable environments.”

The findings are detailed in a study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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Roy M. Furman et al. New fossil discoveries for early Eocene perodrids from local faunas of Southeast Queensland, Margon, Tingamara, and frog molecular lineages. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology published online on May 14, 2025. doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2477815

Source: www.sci.news

Warm and Humid Climate Creates Ideal Conditions for Pterosaurs to Soar 220 Million Years Ago

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A recent study by paleontologists integrated data on the ancient climate of a specific region with fossil distribution information regarding Triassic eye pteraurauromorphs (pterosaurs + lagerpetids).

Foffa et al. Lagerpetids, alongside overall pterygoid morphospace, likely thrived in southwestern Pangaea (i.e. modern-day South America), indicating that pterosaurs may have originated at lower latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Image credit: James Kuether.

“Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight more than 60 million years ago—the oldest known birds,” stated Davide Foffa, a paleontologist from the University of Birmingham.

“Nevertheless, our comprehension of early pterosaur evolution is constrained by significant temporal and anatomical gaps separating these highly adapted flying reptiles from their closest terrestrial relatives.”

“The fossil records for pterosaurs and their related species remain incomplete, and fundamental aspects of early evolution, including timing, domains of existence, initial radiation, and the ecological context of paleontology, are not well understood compared to other contemporary groups such as dinosaurs.”

The researchers concentrated on the distribution of two closely related groups: Pterosaurs and Lagerpetids.

“Lagerpetids existed roughly 240 million years ago as a group of agile reptiles that lived in smaller land areas and among trees,” they noted.

“These small terrestrial reptiles are now recognized as the closest relatives to pterosaurs, and this study shows they endured a wider range of climatic conditions than their aerial counterparts, including the arid landscapes of ancient Pangaea.”

“This adaptability resulted in a broader distribution of this group.”

“Conversely, pterosaurs seemed to be restricted to humid environments found in limited regions of the ancient world, as evidenced by fossils discovered in modern-day Italy, Austria, and the southwestern United States.

During the late Triassic period, global climatic conditions began to change, with an increase in warm and humid environments outside the equatorial region.

This shift provided an opportunity for flying reptiles to expand across the globe, including present-day high-latitude areas such as Greenland and South America.

“While dinosaurs roamed the Earth, I find it fascinating to envision that these formidable reptiles ruled the skies during that era,” remarked Dr. Foffa.

“However, the origins of pterosaurs remain cloaked in mystery. Our research contributes new insights into this puzzle, proposing that early evolution among groups was likely influenced by shifting climates and environments during the Triassic.”

“Climate change significantly affects biodiversity, both today and throughout geological history,” stated Dr. Emma Dunn, a paleontologist at Friedrich Alexander Universitat Erlangen Nurnberg.

“Recent advancements in modeling techniques have enabled paleontologists to better understand how climate change has shaped the biodiversity of significant fossil groups like pterosaurs in just the past few years.”

“The combination of ecological models and fossil data is emphasized by Dr. Alessandro Chiarenza, paleontologist at University College London, who noted:

“Lagerpetids flourished as generalists, while pterosaurs, initially constrained to a humid tropical niche with possibly limited flight capabilities, occupied equatorial territories.”

“As the climate transformed and forest corridors emerged, their wings propelled them to every corner of the planet, ultimately allowing them to survive one of Earth’s greatest extinctions.”

“What started as a tale of lost fossils is evolving into a paradigmatic example of how paleoclimate, past climate, and evolutionary innovations intertwine, illuminating the complex history that has fascinated paleontologists for over two centuries.”

Study published in the journal Natural Ecology and Evolution.

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D. Foffa et al. Paleobiogeography of climate drivers and lagerpetids and early pterosaurs. Nat Ecol Evol published online on June 18th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41559-025-02767-8

Source: www.sci.news

OpenAI CEO Claims Meta is Luring Employees with $100 Million Signing Bonuses

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The CEO of OpenAI asserts that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has attempted to attract leading artificial intelligence experts by offering a staggering $100 million (£74 million) “crazy” signing bonus, intensifying the competition for talent in this rapidly expanding industry.

Sam Altman discussed this offer during a podcast on Tuesday. Meta has not confirmed the claims. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, indicated there was no further comment beyond the CEO’s remarks.

“They started making these enormous offers to a lot of people on our team – a signature bonus of $100 million plus compensation,” Altman stated during a podcast hosted by his brother, Jack. “It’s unbelievable. I’m really pleased that none of our top talent has decided to accept it, at least for now.”

He remarked:

Recently, Meta initiated a $15 billion initiative aimed at developing computerized “superintelligence,” AI that can outperform humans in all domains. The company has acquired a significant stake in the startup Scale AI, valued at $29 billion and founded by 28-year-old programmer Alexandr Wang.

Last week, Silicon Valley venture capitalist Deedy Das, tweeted that “the competition for AI talent is absolutely absurd.” Das, principal at Menlo Ventures, noted that despite Meta offering a $2 million salary, he had lost AI candidates to competitors.

In another report from Aintopic, an AI firm backed by Amazon and Google and founded by an engineer who left Altman’s company, it was revealed that it is “poaching the top talent from its two main rivals, OpenAI and DeepMind.”

The race to recruit top developers is driven by rapid advancements in AI technology and the quest to achieve human-level AI capabilities, known as artificial general intelligence. A recent estimate from the Carlisle Group, cited by Bloomberg, forecasts spending on hardware to exceed $1.8 trillion by 2030 for computational power.

Some tech firms are acquiring entire companies to secure top talent, such as Meta’s Scale AI investments and Google’s $2.7 billion purchase of Calither.ai last year. He co-authored a 2017 research paper warning that is regarded as a significant contribution to the current wave of large-scale language model AI systems.

Meta began as a social media platform, while OpenAI was originally a nonprofit but transitioned to a for-profit model last year. The two entities now find themselves in competition. Altman expressed skepticism about Meta’s capability in advancing AI, stating, “I don’t believe they are a company that excels at innovation.”

He recalled Zuckerberg’s early assertions about developing social media features during Facebook’s inception, but noted that “it was evident that it wouldn’t resonate with Facebook users.”

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“I perceive some similarities here,” Altman remarked.

Despite significant investments in the sector, Altman indicated that the outcomes “should lead to legitimate superintelligence rather than just incremental improvements. [and] It doesn’t have as profound an impact as we might expect.”

“You can achieve these remarkable feats with AI, yet still live your life much as you did two years ago,” he commented.

“I believe the next five to ten years could be pivotal for AI in terms of discovering new scientific advancements, which is a bold assertion, but I genuinely believe it to be true. [AI has accomplished].”

Source: www.theguardian.com

OpenAI Secures $200 Million Contract with US Military for “Warfighting” Initiatives

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

On Monday, the US Department of Defense awarded OpenAI a contract worth $200 million to implement artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for military use.

The San Francisco-based firm is tasked with “developing prototype frontier AI capabilities to tackle critical national security challenges in both combat and enterprise areas,” as outlined in the Department of Defense award agreement.

As stated by OpenAI, this program marks the company’s inaugural partnership under a startup initiative aimed at integrating AI within government functions. In a blog entry, the organization intends to demonstrate how advanced AI can significantly enhance various administrative tasks, such as healthcare for service members and cyber defense.

The startup assures that all military applications of AI are in accordance with usage guidelines established by OpenAI.

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The major tech company is, predictably, promoting its tools to the US military alongside Palantir, an AI defense firm established by Peter Thiel, a conservative tech billionaire influential in Silicon Valley’s rightward shift.

OpenAI and defense tech startup Anduril Industries announced a collaboration late last year to create and implement AI solutions “for security missions.” This partnership merges OpenAI’s models with Anduril’s military technologies to bolster defenses against drones and other “unmanned aerial vehicle systems.”

“OpenAI develops AI with the aim of benefiting as many individuals as possible and endorses US-led initiatives to ensure technology upholds democratic values,” stated Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.

Source: www.theguardian.com

23AndMe Fined £2.3 Million by UK Regulators Over 2023 Data Breach | Technology News

Posted on June 17, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The genetic testing firm 23AndMe has been penalized with a fine exceeding £2.3 million following a significant cyberattack in 2023, which compromised the personal information of over 150,000 UK residents.

Sensitive data, including family tree details, health reports, names, and postal codes, were among the information breached from the California-based company. The UK Intelligence Commission’s office confirmed the breach after employees discovered that stolen data was being offered for sale on the social media platform Reddit.

Intelligence Commissioner John Edwards referred to the incidents during the summer of 2023 as “a deeply damaging violation.” The data breach affecting the UK was just a fraction of a larger security incident that compromised data from 7 million individuals.

23AndMe offers DNA screening for £89 through a saliva-based kit, allowing users to trace their ancestry in terms of ethnicity and geographical origin. However, many customers sought bankruptcy protection in the US in March, requesting the removal of their DNA data from the company’s records following the hack.

The penalty coincided with a $355 million acquisition bid for the company led by former CEO Anne Wassicki.

Edwards noted that the data breaches included sensitive personal information, family histories, and even health conditions of numerous individuals in the UK.

“As one affected individual remarked, once this information is out there, it cannot be altered or replaced like a password or credit card number,” he added.

UK data protection regulators found that 23AndMe did not take fundamental steps to safeguard user information, revealing inadequacies in its security system, including a failure to implement stricter user authentication measures.

Hackers exploited a widespread weakness due to the reuse of passwords compromised in unrelated data breaches. They employed automated tools in a method called “credential stuffing.”

Edwards remarked, “The warning signs were evident, and the company’s response was sluggish. This has made individuals’ most sensitive data vulnerable to exploitation and harm.”

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A company spokesperson stated that 23AndMe has taken various measures to enhance security for individual accounts and data. They have made a firm commitment to improving the protection of customer data and privacy in connection with an initiative that will benefit 23AndMe, a nonprofit associated with Wojcicki, the TTAM Research Institute.

Fines are part of the substantial penalties imposed on various organizations by ICOs in recent years due to their inability to secure data from hacking and ransomware incidents. In 2022, a fine levied against construction firms exceeded £4.4 million when staff data was compromised, including contact information, bank details, sexual orientation, and health data.

In March of this year, NHS IT supplier Advanced Computer Software Group faced a fine of nearly £3.1 million for endangering the personal information of approximately 80,000 individuals.

Source: www.theguardian.com

20 Million Clouds of Energy Particles Found Surrounding Distant Galaxy Clusters

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomers have identified the largest known cloud of energy particles encircling galaxy clusters, with around 20 million annual clouds around the galaxy cluster PLCK G287.0+32.9.

This new composite image, created using X-rays from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory (blue and purple), radio data from Meerkat Radio Telescope (orange and yellow), and optical images from Panstarrs (red, green, and blue), illustrates the giant galaxy cluster PLCK G287.0+32.9. Image credit: NASA/CXC/CFA/Rajpurohit et al. / panstarrs / sarao / meerkat / sao / n. wolk.

Located 5 billion light years from Earth in the Hydra constellation, PLCK G287.0+32.9 has garnered astronomers’ attention since its initial detection in 2011.

Prior research uncovered two bright relics, revealing a massive shock wave illuminating the cluster’s edges. However, the extensive, faint radio emissions filling the space between them went unnoticed.

Recent radio images have shown that the entire cluster is enveloped in a faint radio glow that is nearly 20 times the diameter of the Milky Way, suggesting an extraordinary and powerful phenomenon at play.

“We anticipated finding a bright pair of relics at the cluster’s edge. Found “The Harvard & Smithsonian Astrophysics Center” mentioned: “The Harvard & Smithsonian’s Astrophysics Center is a great way to help you get started,” Dr. Kamursh Rajprohit, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, noted.

“No energy particle clouds of this magnitude have been spotted in such galaxy clusters or anything comparable.”

Previous record holders, located around Abel 2255 in the Galaxy Cluster, spanned about 16.3 million light years.

In the central region of the cluster, Dr. Rajprohit and his team identified radio halos where frequencies of this scale are typically undetectable, marking the first discovery of size at 114 million light years at 2.4 GHz.

The findings posed questions for the team, providing compelling evidence of magnetic fields where cosmic ray electrons and magnetic fields extend throughout the cluster.

However, it remains uncertain how these electrons can accelerate over such vast distances.

“Very extended radio halos are seldom visible across most frequencies, as the electrons responsible for them tend to lose energy. They are aged and have cooled over time,” Dr. Rajpurohit stated.

“The discovery of this colossal halo has now led to a significant increase in radio emissions between the catastrophic impact and the rest of the cluster.”

“This suggests something is actively accelerating or re-accelerating the electrons, yet none of the usual explanations apply.”

“We suspect that extensive shock waves and turbulence may be contributing factors, but additional theoretical models are needed to arrive at a definitive conclusion.”

This discovery offers researchers a new pathway to investigate cosmic magnetic fields—one of the primary unanswered questions in astrophysics—helping to elucidate how magnetic fields shape the universe on the largest scales.

“We’re beginning to perceive space in ways we have never imagined,” Dr. Rajprohit emphasized.

“This necessitates a reevaluation of how energy and matter traverse through its grandest structures.”

“Observations from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, managed by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, reveal boxy structures, comet-like tails, and several other distinct features of the cluster’s hot gas, indicating that the cluster is highly disturbed.”

“Some of these X-ray features correspond with radio-detected structures, pointing to substantial shocks and turbulence driven by merging events, facilitating electron acceleration or re-acceleration.”

“In the core of a cluster, some of these features may arise from the merger of two smaller galaxy clusters, or an explosion triggered by an exceptionally large black hole, or a combination of both.”

Source: www.sci.news

100,000 UK Taxpayer Accounts Compromised in £47 Million HMRC Phishing Scam

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

HM’s revenues and customs have experienced a loss of £47 million due to phishing scams that have compromised tens of thousands of tax accounts, a panel of lawmakers has been informed.

On Wednesday, two senior tax officials briefed the Treasury Commission, reporting that 100,000 individuals have been contacted or are being contacted after their accounts were locked as part of an “organized crime” investigation initiated last year.

John Paul Marks, CEO of HMRC, stated that the affected taxpayers will face “no financial loss.”

He explained to the committee: “About 0.2% of the Pay population is being notified, with approximately 100,000 individuals informed that unusual activity has been detected on their Pay accounts.”

Marks clarified that this pertains to individual workers’ payment accounts, not business accounts.

He further elaborated: “This incident involved organized crime phishing for identity data outside of the HMRC system, which unfortunately affects banks and other entities that utilize that data to set up Payer accounts for refunds or accessing existing accounts.”

He informed MPs of investigations into issues from last year that “involve jurisdictions beyond the UK,” which led to “arrests last year.”

Angela McDonald, HMRC’s deputy chief executive and second permanent secretary, added:

“Ultimately, we successfully protected £19 billion that was targeted during last year’s attacks.”

McDonald made it clear that this breach is “not a cyber attack, there has been no hacking, and data has not been extracted.”

She went on to state: “The act of compromising someone’s system to extract data and implement ransomware constitutes a cyber attack. That is not what transpired here.”

HMRC reported that it has secured the details of the affected accounts and has eliminated logins to prevent future unauthorized access.

Incorrect information has been purged from tax records, and authorities are verifying that no other details have been altered.

Affected individuals will receive notifications from HMRC within the next three weeks.

Marks noted that HMRC’s phone line experienced an outage on Wednesday afternoon, but this was “accidental” and would be “up and running” by Thursday.

A spokesperson for HMRC stated: “We have taken steps to safeguard our customers after identifying attempts to access a minimal amount of tax revenues and will collaborate with law enforcement both domestically and internationally to bring the culprits to justice.

“This was not a cyber attack; instead, it involved criminals utilizing personal information from phishing activities or data obtained from other sources to attempt to claim funds from HMRC.”

“We are sending letters to affected customers to assist in securing their accounts and to reassure them that they have not lost any money.”

Last week, UK banks and payment companies were advised to enhance their anti-fraud systems for international transactions due to a rising number of fraudsters targeting individuals abroad.

Recent statistics indicated that international payments account for 11% of the losses attributed to push payment fraud in 2024.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fossils from 73 Million Years Ago Reveal the Earliest Evidence of Bird Nesting in Polar Regions

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Polar ecosystems are bolstered and enriched by birds that nest there seasonally, serving as keystone members of these ecosystems. Despite the significant ecological role of polar birds, the origins of high-center nests remain unclear due to limited fossil evidence. A recent study conducted by paleontologists explored an extensive collection of bird fossils from the late Cretaceous Purine Cream Formation in Alaska.

Illustration of Cretaceous birds alongside other dinosaurs from the same period. Image credit: Gabriel Ugueto.

“Birds have existed for 150 million years,” stated Lauren Wilson, a doctoral candidate at Princeton University.

“For a significant portion of that time, they constructed nests in the Arctic.”

In their research, Wilson and colleagues studied the bones and teeth of fossilized birds from the Alaska Prune Creek Formation, dating back 73 million years.

They identified various bird types, including land birds, seagull-like birds, and diving birds that bear similarities to some modern ducks and geese, all of which were nesting in the Arctic while dinosaurs roamed the same territory.

Before this research, the earliest known evidence of breeding birds in the Arctic or Antarctic was approximately 47 million years ago, following the asteroid impact that wiped out 75% of Earth’s species.

“This will extend the timeline by 25-30 million years for records of birds breeding in the polar regions,” remarked Dr. Pat Druckenmiller, director of the University of Alaska Museum.

“The Arctic is recognized as a modern nursery for birds.”

“Finding bird bones from the Cretaceous period is exceptionally rare,” Wilson noted.

“Discovering baby bird bones is almost unheard of, making these fossils particularly significant.”

“We conducted extensive mapping of Alaska for fossil birds—it wasn’t on anyone’s radar,” added Dr. Druckenmiller.

“Now, we are one of the premier locations in the country for bird fossils from the dinosaur age.”

“Given the richness of this information, these small bones and teeth offer exceptional insights into the fauna from that era.”

It remains uncertain whether these newly discovered specimens are the earliest recognized members of Neornithes, a category that encompasses all modern birds.

Some of the newly unearthed bones exhibit skeletal characteristics exclusive to this group. Additionally, like contemporary birds, some did not possess true teeth.

“If they belong to a modern bird lineage, they would represent the oldest fossils ever found,” explained Dr. Druckenmiller.

“Currently, the oldest such fossils are about 69 million years old.”

“However, establishing that requires the discovery of a partial or complete skeleton.”

Survey results I will be featured this week in the journal Science.

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Lauren N. Wilson et al. 2025. Evidence of bird nesting in the Arctic dates back to the Cretaceous period. Science 388 (6750): 974-978; doi: 10.1126/science.adt5189

Source: www.sci.news

Bankrupt DNA Testing Company 23andMe Acquired for $256 Million | Technology

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has announced its plan to acquire genetic testing firm 23andMe Holding for $256 million through bankruptcy auctions, as revealed on Monday.

Regeneron stated that it adheres to 23andMe’s privacy policy and relevant laws concerning customer data usage, and is prepared to provide detailed explanations to court-appointed supervisors regarding this data. The deal is expected to finalize in the third quarter.

“The Regeneron Genetics Center has a solid track record of safeguarding genetic data for individuals globally while pursuing scientific discoveries that leverage this information for societal benefit.” “We assure our 23andMe customers that we will uphold strict standards of data privacy, security, and ethical oversight, enabling us to enhance human health.”

Lawmakers scrutinized the bankruptcy proceedings initiated in March, expressing concerns that genetic data from millions of clients could end up in the hands of unscrupulous buyers. One organization, the Global Biodata Trust, formally proposed acquiring 23andMe, advocating for consumer control over data, allowing individuals to either store their DNA information in a trust or share it with related public benefit companies.

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Nevertheless, this bid also posed risks to customer privacy. The United States presently lacks comprehensive privacy regulations that enforceable guidelines around how Regeneron manages, utilizes, and shares genetic data acquired from 23andMe. This absence allows businesses to modify their privacy policies at will, often without prior notice to users. Without federal privacy laws, there is minimal recourse to hold organizations, including nonprofits, accountable.

Last month, 23andMe agreed to permit court-appointed supervisors to oversee client genetic information and security policies throughout the bankruptcy process.

Under the new agreement, Regeneron will acquire all of 23andMe’s assets, with the exception of Telehealth Service Lemonaid Health, which 23andMe intends to shut down. Following the completion of the transaction, 23andMe will continue as a direct or indirect subsidiary of Regeneron, the company stated.

The company has gathered genetic data from 15 million customers who ordered DNA test kits online and provided saliva samples. Weak demand for ancestor test kits has been exacerbated by the data breaches that occurred in 2023.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Top US Crypto Exchange Estimates Recent Cyberattack Costs Could Hit $400 Million: Our Response to Cybercrime

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The leading cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S. estimates that cyber attacks compromising account information for a “small subset” of users will incur costs ranging from $180 million to $400 million. Coinbase noted that this estimate does not factor in the $20 million ransom demanded by hackers, which the firm opted not to pay.

As the largest platform for cryptocurrency transactions in the United States, Coinbase reported that while attackers accessed sensitive information like names, addresses, and emails, they did not acquire login credentials or passwords. Nevertheless, the company is refunding customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attackers.

The hackers engaged various contractors and employees based outside the U.S. to extract information from internal systems. In response, Coinbase promptly terminated the implicated employee.

Furthermore, Coinbase has also declined to pay the ransom and is actively collaborating with law enforcement. Instead, they have offered a $20 million reward for information regarding the perpetrator.

“We are committed to investigating this case, enhancing security measures, and providing reimbursements to affected customers instead of funding criminal activities,” the company stated in its blog post.

On May 11, the company received an email from an unidentified threat actor claiming to possess information about certain customer accounts and internal documents. This revelation comes just days before Coinbase is poised to enter the Benchmark S&P 500 Index, representing a historic milestone in the cryptocurrency sector.

Security remains a significant issue for the cryptocurrency industry. In February, BYBIT, the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange globally, disclosed that an attacker had stolen approximately $1.5 billion worth of digital tokens.

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In 2024, the total amount of funds stolen from hacking of cryptocurrency platforms reached $2.2 billion, according to a report from the blockchain analytics firm Chain Orisys. This marks the fourth year in a row that such hacks have surpassed $1 billion.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fossil Trucks Discovered in Australia Extend Reptile Origins by 35 Million Years

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have uncovered fossilized tracks of reptile-like creatures from the early Carboniferous Tonan period, approximately 355 million years ago, within the snow plain formation in Victoria, Australia. This discovery indicates that such animals originated from Gondwana, where Australia was centrally located.

Artist’s impression of early reptile track makers from 355 million years ago. Image credit: Martin Ambrozik.

Tetrapods evolved from a group of fish that transitioned from aquatic to terrestrial life around 390 million years ago during the Devonian period.

These ancestral beings are the forebears of all modern vertebrates inhabiting land, including amphibians and various mammals, reptiles, and birds.

The oldest known amniotic fossils previously discovered date back to the late Carboniferous period, roughly 320 million years ago.

The findings from this 355 million-year-old snow plains slab, found by two amateur paleontologists, reveal that reptiles were already present 35 million years earlier than previously thought, at the dawn of the Carboniferous.

“Upon recognizing this, I understood that we had the oldest evidence globally of animals akin to reptiles, pushing back the evolutionary record by at least 35 million years beyond prior findings in the Northern Hemisphere,” stated Professor John Long from Flinders University.

“The fossilized tracks uncovered in the Mansfield region of northern Victoria, Australia, were created by creatures resembling small, agile, Goanna-like animals.”

A slab containing 355 million-year-old tracks from Australia’s Snowy Plains formation. Image credit: Long et al., doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-08884-5.

“When I initially encountered this specimen, I was astounded. Just seconds later, I noticed that the nail impressions were remarkably preserved,” said Dr. Grzegorz Niedwiedzki, a researcher at Uppsala University.

“Nails are characteristic of all early amniotic species but are absent in other quadruped lineages,” added Per Erik Ahlberg, a professor at Uppsala University.

“The combination of nail marks and foot shapes suggests that the track maker was a primitive reptile.”

According to the research team, this discovery profoundly impacts the understanding of early tetrapod evolution.

Although all stem tetrapods and stem amniotes must have emerged during the Devonian period, evidence suggests that tetrapod evolution progressed significantly faster than previously believed, with far fewer Devonian tetrapods than assumed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj7bttru0l8

“Skeletons can reveal much about an animal’s capabilities, but trackways capture behavior and illustrate how the animal functioned,” explained Dr. Alice Clement from Flinders University.

“This new fossilized trackway we examined dates from the early Carboniferous, making accurate age identification crucial. We achieved this by comparing the various fish fauna in these rocks to similar morphotypes found in well-dated sedimentary layers from across the globe, providing a timeline constraint of approximately 10 million years.”

“This finding redefines a segment of evolutionary history,” remarked Dr. Gillian Garvey from La Trobe University.

“Much has occurred in Australia and Gondwana, indicating that the narrative is still unfolding.”

The findings are detailed in a paper published in the journal Nature.

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Ja Long et al. Early amniote tracks revise the timeline of tetrapod evolution. Nature published online on May 14th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08884-5

Source: www.sci.news

3M to Pay Up to $450 Million for Water Contamination Settlement

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

3M is expected to pay New Jersey between $400 million and $450 million over the next 25 years. The company is implicated in the contamination of drinking water across the nation with harmful “forever chemicals,” known as PFAS.

The Minnesota-based chemical corporation has produced PFAS for decades at the Chambers Works site in Deepwater, New Jersey, situated along the Delaware River. This facility was previously owned by the competitor DuPont.

Officials have stated that this settlement marks the largest single clean water agreement in New Jersey history. In 2019, New Jersey launched a lawsuit against 3M, DuPont, and other PFAS manufacturers, citing contamination of the drinking water supply from the facility.

PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are found in numerous everyday products, such as nonstick cookware, water-repellant clothing, and stain-resistant carpets. Exposure to these chemicals is associated with metabolic disorders, reduced birth rates in women, delayed child development, and higher risks of certain cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.

As part of the settlement announced on Tuesday, 3M will allocate between $400 million and $450 million to New Jersey over 25 years, aimed at damages and improving drinking water treatment.

New Jersey noted that DuPont and its spinoff, Kemoul, which operates the facility, are not included in the settlement. The remaining parties are anticipated to take the matter to trial. DuPont chose not to comment.

“Businesses that contaminate our water supply must be held accountable,” stated New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “For years, 3M was aware its PFAS chemicals were permanently polluting the New Jersey environment, yet they evaded responsibility. That time is over.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Chambers Works facility historically produced gunpowder and materials for nuclear purposes, aiding in the development of the atomic bomb. Recently, the site has manufactured a range of chemicals, including PFAS.

New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Sean M. Latourette remarked that the pollution issue extends far beyond drinking water. “PFAS are present throughout New Jersey, even reaching soil in forests distant from landfills,” he noted.

New Jersey is only the second state to settle with 3M regarding PFAS-related drinking water pollution claims, following Minnesota, which saw 3M agree to pay $850 million in 2018 for similar issues affecting natural resources.

In 2023, 3M also reached a nationwide settlement of up to $12.5 billion with public water suppliers to tackle PFAS contamination in drinking water.

3M characterized the agreement as a “crucial step toward mitigating risks and uncertainties” related to historical PFAS contamination. The company indicated that it had begun phasing out the production of two major PFAS substances in 2000 and aims to stop all PFAS production by 2025.

3M clarified that the settlement should not be seen as an admission of guilt and noted that it would incur a pre-tax charge of $285 million in the second quarter.

This week, the EPA was set to announce whether it will uphold the stringent PFAS drinking water standards established by the Biden administration last year.

Chemical companies and utilities have sued the agency over this decision. The Trump administration was due to inform the court on Monday whether it would continue to support these standards but instead requested a 21-day extension to determine its next steps.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Tesla Board Chair Robindenholm Sells $188 Million in Stock as Profits Decline

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In March, following a significant decline in Tesla’s stock price, Elon Musk informed employees that he was “committed to inventory.”

Robin Denholm, the chair of Tesla’s board, appears to have disregarded this advice. According to an analysis by Securities Filing’s New York Times, she has profited $180 million from selling Tesla shares she obtained through her board role within the last six months.

With this, her total earnings from Tesla stock sales exceed $530 million since she became chair in late 2018.

These stock transactions have raised questions regarding Denholm’s confidence in Tesla’s future. Her recent sales, executed under a pre-established trading plan created last summer, coincided with Musk’s demanding involvement in the Trump administration. Consequently, Tesla’s car sales have experienced a decline as Musk’s political endeavors alienated some customers. The company’s profits for the first quarter of 2025 plummeted to their lowest level in four years.

Denholm has the right to purchase stocks through stock options granted by Tesla from 2014 to 2020, which have dramatically increased in value. For instance, last week, she acquired over 112,000 shares at $24.73 each and sold them the same day for upwards of $270.

“To discard her inventory does not send a message that this is a board chair invested in the company’s future,” stated New York City Director Bradlander, overseeing the city’s five public pension funds, which held more than 3 million Tesla shares valued at around $817 million as of March.

A spokesperson for Denholm asserted that Tesla compensates its executives in a manner “fully aligned with shareholder interests.”

“The appreciation of Tesla’s director’s choices reflects the company’s superiority over its industry peers, yielding distinctive returns for shareholders who own the company,” he added.

Stock options, which have historically constituted the bulk of Tesla’s compensation, are valuable only if the company’s stock price appreciates. Those exercising options to acquire shares may choose to sell or retain their new shares.

Denholm has sold over 1.4 million Tesla shares while retaining 85,000 shares and approximately 49,000 stock options. Comparative Methods, a consulting firm, has scrutinized the compensation strategy. Her most recent stock transactions occurred under a plan initiated in July shortly after Musk endorsed Donald J. Trump for president.

Regulatory frameworks allow executives and insiders to engage in such transactions without disclosing numerous plan specifics, including their motivations or the terms for stock disposal. They also possess considerable latitude to rescind plans.

Denholm, an experienced technology executive from Australia, typically maintains a low profile and avoids public commentary on Tesla or Musk. She joined the Tesla Commission in 2014 and became chair after Musk stepped down in 2018 as part of an SEC settlement.

Criticism from investors, activists, and Delaware judges has arisen regarding her and other board members for not serving as a check on Musk’s influence, with assertions that the Tesla director has failed to keep him focused on the company.

“Musk operates as if there were no board oversight,” wrote Delaware Chancery Court Prime Minister Catalyne St. J. McCormick last year, noting the case was valued at approximately $56 billion when ruling in favor of shareholders contesting Musk’s 2018 compensation package. Judge McCormick characterized Denholm’s oversight of Musk as “Rakkadichal.”

Tesla’s appeal against the decision led to the annulment of Musk’s pay package, with Denholm actively disputing Judge McCormick’s allegations.

“Everyone who knows me understands I’m not lacking in assertiveness. I know what that word means now,” Denholm told the Financial Times last year. “It’s probably the farthest from the truth. I’m genuinely passionate and highly engaged with my duties.”

In the trial concerning Musk’s compensation, Denholm characterized her earnings from the Tesla board as “life-changing.” Compensation at Tesla was also scrutinized in another lawsuit in which Denholm and fellow board members reached a settlement in 2023.

Musk, who has been a part-time CEO of Tesla for years, has assumed even more responsibilities over time, regularly engaging with Washington and orchestrating President Trump’s strategies to reduce governmental spending and oppose federal employees.

Recently, Musk stated he would reduce his Washington presence by one or two days each week. Nevertheless, his focus will remain divided as he manages several other enterprises, including SpaceX and X, the social media platform he owns.

The first transaction based on Denholm’s recent trading plan occurred in November, shortly after the presidential election, as Tesla’s stock began to rise. In December, the stock reached a new high, and she continued to sell until early May, even as prices declined amid consumer backlash against Musk’s political activities.

Following recent losses, the stock has decreased by approximately 34% from its peak.

Musk acknowledged Tesla’s challenges during a March meeting with employees. “If you read the news, it feels like you understand.”

He reiterated his advice to employees not to sell their shares, asserting that Tesla will evolve into the world’s most valuable company through the realization of self-driving taxis and advanced robotic technologies. “The future is exceptionally promising,” he stated.

Denholm’s sales have significantly outpaced those of other Tesla board members.

In 2023, she and other current and former board members agreed to a settlement for shareholder lawsuits concerning their compensation, collectively agreeing to return $735 million. They denied any wrongdoing. Additionally, on May 1, a stock option valued at over $130 million was canceled to fulfill Denholm’s obligations, according to securities filings.

Following the lawsuit in June 2021, the board resolved to relinquish the new stock grants.

During the same period, Denholm also made more from selling company shares than other corporate committee leaders. The Times assessed stock sales made by chairs of the most valuable companies in the U.S., distinct from the executives of those companies, like Denholm.

The next non-executive chair who benefited significantly from selling shares in his oversight capacity is Stephen Hemsley of UnitedHealth Group. Since November 2018, Hemsley has profited over $100 million from UnitedHealth shares, all accrued during his tenure as CEO of the healthcare firm.

UnitedHealth reviewed the findings but refrained from commenting. On Tuesday, the company announced its decision to appoint Hemsley as its new Chief Executive while also retaining the chair position.

Sales carried out by executives and directors often predict subpar performance from the companies they lead, according to various academic studies.

Leaders like Denholm possess access to confidential information and a profound understanding of how broader economic factors can impact corporate performance. Nejat Seyhun, a finance professor at the University of Michigan, observes that this can render their transactions particularly lucrative.

Insiders “establish plans when they hold such information,” remarked Professor Seyhun. “If circumstances shift, they can easily rescind those plans.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Research Indicates Long-range Gene Regulation Evolved Over 650 Million Years Ago

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Distal regulation—the capacity to control genes across vast distances, spanning tens of thousands of DNA letters—emerged during the early stages of animal evolution, approximately 650-700 million years ago (the Kleigenian era).

Diagram of DNA molecules. Image credits: Christophe Bock, Max Planck Informatics Institute/CC BY-SA 3.0.

Distal adjustment relies on the physical folding of DNA and proteins, along with intricate loops.

This mechanism enables regions distant from a gene’s starting point to activate their functions.

This additional regulatory layer may have assisted the first multicellular organisms in developing specialized cell types and tissues without necessarily inventing new genes.

Key innovations likely originated from marine creatures or common ancestors shared by all existing animals.

Ancient organisms developed the ability to fold DNA in a controlled manner, forming 3D loops that facilitated direct contact between different segments of DNA.

“These organisms can utilize their genetic toolkit in various ways, akin to a Swiss Army knife, which allows them to fine-tune and explore innovative survival strategies,” explains Dr. Nacional Accidental Accidental Genmica, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Genome Regulation.

“I was surprised to find that this level of complexity dates back so far.”

Dr. Kim and his team discovered these insights by examining some of the oldest branches of the animal family tree, including species such as walnut-shaped comb jellies (Mnemiopsis leidyi), placozoans, cnidarians, and sponges.

They also investigated single-celled relatives that share a common ancestor with animals more recently.

“Studying unique sea creatures enables us to uncover much new biology,” states Professor Arnau Sebe-Pedrós, a researcher at the Center for Genome Regulation.

“Previously, we focused on comparing genomic sequences, but thanks to new techniques, we can now analyze the gene regulatory mechanisms that influence genomic function across species.”

A large individual of Mnemiopsis leidyi with two aboral ends and two apical organs. Image credit: Jokura et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.07.084.

Researchers applied a method known as Micro-C to map the physical folding patterns in each of the 11 types of DNA analyzed. To provide context, each human cell nucleus contains approximately 2 meters of DNA.

Scientists sifted through 10 billion sequencing data points to create detailed various 3D genome maps.

Although no evidence of distal regulation was found in single-celled relatives of animals, early branches such as comb jellies, placozoans, and cnidarians exhibited numerous loops.

Over 4,000 loops were identified across the genome, particularly in the sea walnut.

This discovery is remarkable considering its genome consists of roughly 20 million DNA characters.

In contrast, the human genome contains 3.1 billion characters, with our cells housing tens of thousands of loops.

Previously, distal regulation was believed to have first emerged in the last bilateral ancestors, which appeared on Earth around 500 million years ago.

However, the comb jelly’s lineage branched off early from other animal lineages roughly 650-700 million years ago.

“The debate over whether the comb jelly predates the sponge in the tree of life has persisted in evolutionary biology, but this study suggests that distal regulation occurred at least 150 million years earlier than previously thought,” the authors concluded.

A paper detailing these findings was published today in the journal Nature.

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IV Kim et al. Chromatin loops are characteristic of the ancestors of animal regulatory genomes. Nature Published online on May 7, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08960-W

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of a Massive Wandering Black Hole Located 600 Million Light-Years Away

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The discovery of this superwalled black hole was made possible by the newly identified tidal disruption event, AT2024TVD.

Tidal Disruption Event AT2024TVD. Image credits: NASA/CXC/University of California, Berkeley/Yao et al. /ESA /STSCI /HST /J. DEPASQUALE.

“A tidal disruption event (TDE) occurs when stars are either stretched or ‘spaghettified’ by the immense gravitational forces of black holes,” explained UC Berkeley researcher Dr. Yuhanyao.

“The remnants of the torn-apart stars are pulled into a circular orbit around the black hole.”

“This process creates high-temperature shocks and emissions that can be detected in ultraviolet and visible light.”

The AT2024TVD event enabled astronomers to utilize the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to identify elusive wandering supermassive black holes, supported by observations from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Interestingly, these 1 million rogue black holes are often found to be supermassive and actively consuming surrounding material.

Among the roughly 100 TDEs recorded by the Light Sky Survey, this marks the first instance of an offset TDE being identified.

In fact, at the center of the host galaxy lie ultra-massive black holes differing in mass by 100 million solar masses.

Hubble’s optical precision indicates that the TDE is located just 2,600 light-years from the larger black holes at the galaxy’s core.

This distance is comparable to just one minute of the span between our Sun and the central ultra-massive black hole of the Milky Way.

The larger black hole expels energy as it accumulates material, classifying it as an active galactic nucleus.

Interestingly, the two supermassive black holes exist within the same galaxy but are not gravitationally linked like a binary pair.

Smaller black holes can potentially spiral toward the center of the galaxy, eventually merging with their larger counterparts.

However, at this point, they are too distant to be bound by gravity.

“AT2024TVD is the first offset TDE captured through optical observations, opening up new possibilities for studying this elusive population of black holes in future surveys,” Dr. Yao remarked.

“Currently, theorists have not focused extensively on offset TDEs.

“I believe this discovery will drive scientists to search for more instances of this type of event.”

The black holes responsible for AT2024TVD are traversing the bulges of gigantic galaxies.

Black holes periodically consume stars every tens of thousands of years, lying dormant until their next “meal” arrives.

How did the black hole become displaced from the center? Previous studies suggest that three-body interactions can eject lower-mass black holes from a galaxy’s core.

This theory may apply here, given its proximity to the central black hole.

“If a black hole undergoes a three-body interaction with two other black holes in the galaxy’s core, it can remain bound to the galaxy and orbit the central region,” explained Dr. Yao.

Another possibility is that these black holes are remnants from a smaller galaxy that merged with the host galaxy over a billion years ago.

In such a case, the black hole could eventually merge with the central active black hole in the distant future. As of now, astronomers remain uncertain about its trajectory.

“There is already substantial evidence that the galaxy will increase its TDE rate, but the presence of a second black hole associated with AT2024TVD suggests a past merger has occurred.”

The team’s survey results will be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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Yuhan Yao et al. 2025. A massive black hole located 0.8 kpc from the host nucleus. apjl in press; Arxiv: 2502.17661

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Salmon and Pike Ancestors Thrived in Alaska’s Freshwater 73 Million Years Ago

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have identified three new fossil species. Sivulliusalmo Alaskensis was found in a purine cream formation in northern Alaska, USA.

Chinook salmon (oncorhynchus tschawytscha). Image credit: US Geological Survey.

“Sivulliusalmo Alaskensis reveals significant insights,” remarked Dr. Patrick Druckenmiller, the director of the University of Alaska Museum in the North.

“Our research uncovers several additional species of ancient fish new to the Arctic, including two new pike species: Archaeosiilik Gilmulli and Nunikuluk Gracilis, as well as the oldest record within the group comprising carp and minnows.”

“Many fish we now consider unique to Alaska’s high-latitude environment existed alongside dinosaurs.”

The discovery of Sivulliusalmo Alaskensis adds an impressive 20 million years to the fossil history of the salmon family.

Previously, the oldest known salmonidae fossil was from British Columbia and Washington.

“It’s noteworthy that the Salmonidae, which typically thrives in cold water, adapted and flourished during the warm Cretaceous period, enduring for millions of years amidst significant geographical and climatic changes,” noted Andres Lopez, Fish Curator at the University of Alaska in the north.

“Even though the Arctic was warm during that era, there would still be substantial seasonal variations in temperature and sunlight, much like today.”

“Salmon were among the fish adept at navigating these dramatic shifts.”

“Despite the planet’s numerous geological and climatic transformations, the ancestors of the same species group persisted in dominating the region’s freshwater ecosystems.”

The new species is the latest finding from the Prin Creek Formation, renowned for its dinosaur fossils discovered along the Colville River in northern Alaska.

During the Cretaceous period, Alaska was significantly closer to the Arctic than it is today.

“Fish fossils are among the most abundant in the Purine Creek Formation, yet they are challenging to distinguish in the field,” stated Dr. Druckenmiller.

“Consequently, we transported the fine sand and gravel samples to our museum lab, where microscopic analysis revealed the bones and teeth.”

“Our new findings heavily rely on small, fossilized jaws, some of which are small enough to fit on the edge of a pencil eraser.”

For detailed examination, the researchers employed micro-computed tomography to digitally reconstruct the small jaws, teeth, and other bones.

“We identified very distinct jaws and other components of the salmon family, which were recognized as belonging to this lineage,” said Dr. Druckenmiller.

“The presence of salmonidae in the Cretaceous polar regions and their coexistence with common low-light fish from this period suggests that salmonidae likely thrived in northern climates.”

“The high latitudes of the northern regions may have been vibrant centers for their evolutionary development.”

This paper was published in the journal Paleontology papers.

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Donald B. Brinkman et al. 2025. Fish from the Purine Cream Formation in the northern slopes of Alaska: the pre-Cretaceous and their paleobiogeographic significance. Paleontology papers 11(3): E70014; doi: 10.1002/spp2.70014

Source: www.sci.news

Pinterest Settles Christine Martinez Lawsuit for $34.7 Million

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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Pinterest has agreed to a $34.7 million settlement regarding a lawsuit from an early advisor who claims to have helped co-create the platform without receiving compensation.

Christine Martinez, aged 44 and a friend of Pinterest co-founders Ben Silbermann and Paul Sciarra, initiated legal action against the company in 2021. The lawsuit alleged implicit contracts, idea theft, unfair competition, and violations of business practices. Martinez asserted that she contributed numerous ideas for the app, such as the concept of organizing images on a “board,” yet received no payment for her efforts.

Pinterest, renowned for its virtual pinboarding and a significant female user base, announced the settlement with Martinez in its November 2024 Financial Application.

“No one wishes to engage in litigation. I’m incredibly relieved and excited about this outcome,” Martinez stated in a recent interview.

According to a statement included in the settlement, “Mr. Martinez contributed valuable marketing and community growth strategies during Pinterest’s early development.” Both parties expressed satisfaction in amicably resolving this longstanding issue.

Pinterest chose not to comment further.

This settlement comes amidst a pattern of complaints and legal actions brought against Pinterest by female employees and executives.

In 2020, Pinterest settled a gender discrimination lawsuit with former Chief Operating Officer Françoise Brougher for $22.5 million. Additionally, over 200 employees signed a petition that year advocating for policy changes following allegations of racial bias, sexism, and retaliation against the company.

Silbermann, who served as CEO of Pinterest, stepped down from his position in 2022.

Martinez, who possesses expertise in e-commerce and interior design, claimed that Silbermann and Sciarra sought her guidance prior to Pinterest’s official launch in 2010.

She alleged that she originated the idea for photo boards and coined the prevalent “Pin IT” phrase, which helped prominent design and lifestyle bloggers utilize the platform for promotion. According to her lawsuit, elements of the programming code on Pinterest were named in her honor.

While she never entered into a formal contract with Pinterest, it was understood that she would eventually be compensated. Pinterest went public in 2019 and boasts a market capitalization exceeding $18 billion.

Martinez currently serves as a board member and strategic advisor for Gingo, an AI-based online shopping platform designed for women.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Concerns Emerged from Foresight AI Utilizing 57 Million NHS Medical Records

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Foresight AI Model employs information derived from records of hospitals and family practitioners across the UK

Hannah McKay/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The developers assert that an AI model trained with medical records of 57 million individuals through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) could eventually assist physicians in anticipating illness and hospitalization trends. Nonetheless, other academics express significant concerns over privacy and data protection associated with the extensive utilization of health data, acknowledging that even AI developers are unable to ensure the absolute protection of sensitive patient information.

This model, branded as “Foresight,” was initially created in 2023. Its first iteration leveraged OpenAI’s GPT-3, the prominent language model (LLM) that powered the original ChatGPT, using 1.5 million authentic patient records from two hospitals in London.

Recently, Chris Tomlinson from University College London and his team broadened their objectives, claiming to develop the world’s first “national generative AI model for health data” with significant diversity.

Foresight utilizes Meta’s open-source LLM, LLAMA 2, leveraging eight distinct datasets of medical information routinely collected by the NHS between November 2018 and December 2023, including outpatient appointments, hospital visits, vaccination records, and other relevant documents.

Tomlinson notes that his team has not disclosed any performance metrics for Foresight, as it is still undergoing evaluation. However, he believes that its potential extends to various applications, including personalized diagnoses and forecasting broader health trends such as hospital admissions and heart conditions. “The true promise of Foresight lies in its capacity to facilitate timely interventions and predict complications, paving the way for large-scale preventive healthcare,” he stated at a press conference on May 6.

While the foreseeable advantages remain unsupported, the ethical implications of utilizing medical records for AI learning at this magnitude continue to raise alarms. Scholars argue that all medical records undergo a ‘degeneration’ process before integration into AI training, yet the risk of re-identifying these records through data patterns is well-established, especially in expansive datasets.

“Creating a robust generative AI model that respects patient privacy presents ongoing scientific challenges,” stated Luc Rocher at Oxford University. “The immense detail of data advantageous for AI complicates the anonymization process. Such models must operate under stringent NHS governance to ensure secure usage.”

“The data inputted into the model is identifiable, so direct identifiers will be eliminated,” remarked Michael Chapman, who oversees the data fueling Foresight, in a speech at NHS Digital. However, he acknowledged the perpetual risk of re-identification.

To mitigate this risk, Chapman explained that AI functions within a specially created “secure” NHS data environment, guaranteeing that information remains protected and accessible solely to authorized researchers. Amazon Web Services and Databricks provide the “computational infrastructure,” yet they do not have access to the actual data, according to Tomlinson.

Regarding the potential to expose sensitive information, Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye from Imperial College London suggests evaluating whether a model can retain the information it encounters during training. When asked by New Scientist whether Foresight has undergone such testing, Tomlinson indicated that it has not, but they are contemplating future assessments.

Employing such an extensive dataset without engaging the public regarding data usage may erode trust, cautions Caroline Green at Oxford University. “Even anonymized data raises ethical concerns, as individuals often wish to manage their data and understand its trajectory.”

Nevertheless, prevailing regulations offer little leeway for individuals to opt out of the data utilized by Foresight. All information incorporated into the model emanates from NHS datasets gathered on a national scale and remains “identified.” An NHS England representative stated that the existing opt-out provisions do not apply, asserting that individuals not wishing to share their family doctor data will not contribute to the model.

As per the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), individuals should retain the option to withdraw their consent concerning personal data usage. However, training methods involving LLMs like Foresight make it impossible to eliminate a single record from an AI tool. An NHS England spokesperson commented, “The GDPR does not pertain since the data utilized to train the model is anonymized, and therefore we do not engage with personal data.”

While the complexity of GDPR concerning the training of LLMs presents novel legal issues, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office indicates that “identified” data should not be viewed as equivalent to anonymous data. “This perspective arises because UK data protection laws lack a definition for the term, which can lead to misunderstanding,” the office emphasizes.

Tomlinson explains that the legal situation is compounded as Foresight is only engaged in studies pertaining to Covid-19. This means that exceptions to data protection laws instituted during the pandemic remain applicable, points out Sam Smith from Medconfidential, a UK data privacy advocacy group. “This Covid-specific AI likely harbors patient data, but such information cannot be extracted from the research environment,” he asserts. “Patients should maintain control over their data usage.”

Ultimately, the conflicting rights and responsibilities surrounding the utilization of medical data in AI developments remain ambiguous. “In the realm of AI innovation, ethical considerations are often overshadowed, prompting a reevaluation beyond merely initial parameters,” states Green. “Human ethics must serve as the foundational element, followed by technological advancements.”

The article was updated on May 7, 2025

Corrections regarding the comments made by the NHS England spokesperson were duly noted.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

NSO Group Ordered to Pay Meta $167 Million in Damages

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Israeli cybersecurity company NSO Group has been ordered to pay Meta $167 million in damages, concluding a six-year legal dispute after NSO hacked 1,400 WhatsApp accounts belonging to journalists, human rights activists, and government officials.

In December, U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled that NSO had breached cybersecurity laws by using the well-known Pegasus spyware to target mobile phones configured with WhatsApp across 20 countries. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, provides an encrypted messaging platform used by over 2 billion individuals.

In March, Meta sought damages from NSO, and last week the court convened to discuss potential penalties. The ruling was made on Tuesday following two days of deliberation.

“Today’s verdict imposing penalties on NSO is a crucial deterrent for the spyware industry against unlawful activities targeting American companies and users globally. This is a threat to the entire industry, and we must all work to safeguard it.”

WhatsApp announced that it would donate the damages to digital rights organizations dedicated to protecting individuals.

“We are excited to share our commitment to providing a variety of services to our users,” stated Gil Rainer, Vice President of Global Communications at NSO Group. “We firmly believe that our technology plays a vital role in preventing serious crimes and terrorism, and is employed responsibly by authorized government agencies.”

WhatsApp initially filed a lawsuit against NSO in 2019, claiming they had accessed WhatsApp servers without authorization. An NSO executive testified about the company’s capability to install Pegasus software on targeted mobile devices without users’ awareness. This executive asserted that Pegasus assists law enforcement and intelligence agencies in combating crime and securing national safety.

Similarly, Apple sued NSO for device hacking in 2021, though it dropped the case in September. Additionally, in 2021, the Commerce Department blacklisted NSO, stating the firm acted “contrary to U.S. national security or foreign policy interests.”

Spyware, a type of software that infiltrates mobile phones, laptops, and other devices, is increasingly used to surveil unsuspecting victims. Initial spyware from NSO required targets to click on links or images sent via WhatsApp, which would then be unintentionally downloaded on their devices.

Evidence presented during the trial indicated that the latest version can penetrate phones through sent text messages without any action needed from the recipient. The proceedings also revealed that NSO has developed technology capable of infiltrating other messaging applications.

John Scott-Railton, an external expert whose work highlights how NSO Group’s spyware targets individuals through WhatsApp, remarked that Tuesday’s decision would adversely affect the company.

“NSO’s operations rely on compromising American companies,” stated Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity watchdog affiliated with the University of Toronto. “Dictators can exploit this to track dissidents. This ruling conveys a strong message.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Research: Multiple Pterosaur Groups Became Global 160 Million Years Ago

Posted on May 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Pterosaurs often glide above dinosaurs, but recent analysis of fossilized footprints indicates that some of these flying reptiles were equally adept at traversing the ground.

Terrestrial migration and tracking morphology of vegetative eye type skeletal morphology: (a) Reconstruction of the ctenochasmatoid orbit Ctenochasma elegans walking with ipsilateral gait, where the fore and hind legs on the same side of the body move together. (b) Manual and pedal morphology of Ctenochasma elegans; PES is plant and pentadactyl, while Manus is digital grade, functionally triductyl as the large fourth digit supporting the outer wing is folded during terrestrial movement. (c) Height map of pterosaur manus and PES footprints in the holotype of Ichnotaxon Pteraichnus stokesi that matches Ctenochasma elegans; (d) height maps from the Pterosaur trackway; Pteraichnus ISP. From the Upper Jurassic Casal Formation of Claysac, France. An outline drawing of (e) interpretation Pteraichnus ISP. Scale bar – 20 mm in (c), 200 mm in (d) and (e). Image credit: Smith et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.017.

“We have been diligently working to enhance our understanding of their lives,” stated Robert Smith, a doctoral researcher at the University of Leicester.

“These footprints offer insights into their habitat, movement, behaviors, and activities in ecosystems long gone.”

In this study, Smith and colleagues uncovered three distinct types of pterosaur footprints, each elucidating various lifestyles and behaviors.

Tying these footprints to specific groups presents a valuable new avenue for exploring how these flying reptiles lived, migrated, and adapted over time across different ecosystems.

“At last, 88 years after the initial discovery of Pterosaur tracks, we understand precisely who made them and the methods employed,” remarked Dr. David Unwin, Ph.D., from Leicester.

The most striking finding emerged from a group of pterosaurs known as Neoazdalci. Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest flying creatures, boasts a wingspan of 10 meters.

Their footprints have been found in both coastal and inland regions worldwide, supporting the notion that these tall creatures not only ruled the skies but also cohabited the same environments as many dinosaur species.

Some of these tracks date back to an asteroid impact event 66 million years ago, alongside the extinction of both pterosaurs and dinosaurs.

Ctenochasmatoids, recognized for their elongated jaws and needle-like teeth, predominantly left tracks in coastal sediments.

These animals likely traversed muddy shores or shallow lagoons, employing specialized feeding techniques to capture small fish and floating prey.

The prevalence of these tracks indicates that these coastal pterosaurs were far more common in these habitats than the infrequent fossil remains suggest.

Another type of footprint was unearthed in rock formations, alongside the fossilized skeleton of the same pterosaur.

The close correlation between footprints and skeletons provides compelling evidence for identifying the print makers.

Known as Dsungaripterids, these pterosaurs featured robust limbs and jaws; the tips of their curved, toothless beaks were designed for grasping prey, while the large, rounded teeth at the rear of the jaw were ideal for crushing shellfish and other resilient foods.

“Footprints are frequently overlooked in Pterosaur studies, yet they yield a wealth of information regarding their behavior, interactions, and environmental relationships,” stated Smyth.

“A comprehensive analysis of the footprints enables us to uncover biological and ecological insights that cannot be obtained elsewhere.”

The team’s paper is published in the journal Current Biology.

____

Robert S. Smith et al. Identifying Pterosaur track makers provides important insights into Mesozoic ground invasions. Current Biology Published online May 1, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.017

Source: www.sci.news

TikTok Fined €530 Million by Irish Regulators for Failing to Ensure User Data Protection from China

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

TikTok has been penalized €530 million (£452 million) by the Irish regulator for failing to ensure that European user data transmitted to China would be safeguarded from access by the Chinese government.

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) oversees TikTok’s operations across the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes all 27 EU member states along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

It was determined that the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform breached the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by not adequately addressing whether EEA user data sent to China is shielded from the authorities there.

The DPC remarked: “TikTok did not consider the potential access by Chinese authorities to EEA personal data. China’s national security and anti-terrorism laws have been noted as diverging from EU standards by TikTok.”

According to the DPC, TikTok did not “verify, assure, or demonstrate” that the European user data sent to China was afforded a level of protection comparable to that guaranteed within the EU.

TikTok stated that it would not “certify” that the DPC transfers European user data to Chinese authorities. The company claimed it has never received such a request from Chinese officials nor provided user data to them.

Moreover, TikTok has been directed to cease data transfers to China unless compliant processing measures are implemented within six months.

For instance, the National Intelligence Act of 2017 in China mandates that all organizations and citizens “support, assist, and cooperate” with national intelligence efforts.

The DPC noted that the data was “remotely accessed by TikTok’s Chinese staff.”

The watchdog also reported that TikTok provided “false information” during the investigation, initially claiming it had not stored user data from the EEA, but later acknowledging the possibility of storing “limited” European user data in China.

The Dublin-based regulator expressed that it takes “inaccurate” submissions very seriously and is evaluating whether additional regulatory actions are necessary.

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The security of TikTok user data has been a longstanding concern among politicians regarding its Chinese ownership. The app still faces the threat of a ban in the US, with legislators on both sides of the Atlantic cautioning that the Chinese state may have access to user data. TikTok is managed by an organization based in Beijing.

In response to the ruling, TikTok announced its intent to appeal and mentioned that safeguards have been put in place under the Project Clover Data Security Scheme, introduced in March 2023. The DPC investigation covered the period from September 2021 to May 2023.

The DPC’s decision also included a finding from 2021 that a privacy statement provided to users did not disclose that data could be accessed in China when personal user data was transferred to a third country. The Privacy Policy was subsequently revised in 2022 to clarify that data is accessible in China.

Following the changes in 2022, TikTok acknowledged that it could access European user data in countries like China to perform checks on platform functionalities, including the effectiveness of algorithms that recommend content to users and identify problematic automated accounts.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research: Multiple Groups of Pterosaurs Became Global 160 Million Years Ago

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Pterosaurs often glide above dinosaurs, but recent examinations of fossilized footprints reveal that some of these flying reptiles were equally adept at terrestrial movement.

Terrestrial migration and tracking morphology of vegetative eye type skeletal morphology: (a) Reconstruction of the ctenochasmatoid orbit Ctenochasma elegans walking with an ipsilateral gait, where the fore and hind legs on the same side move together as a pair. (b) Manual and pedal morphology of Ctenochasma elegans; PES is plant and pentadactyl, while Manus is digital grade, functionally triductyl as the large fourth digit supporting the outer wing is folded during terrestrial movement. (c) Height map of pterosaur manus and PES footprints in the holotype of Ichnotaxon Pteraichnus stokesi, showing a form that matches Ctenochasma elegans; (d) height maps from part of the Pterosaur trackway; Pteraichnus ISP. From the Upper Jurassic Casal Formation of Claysac, France. An outline drawing of (e) interpretation of Pteraichnus ISP. Scale bar – 20 mm in (c), 200 mm in (d) and (e). Image credit: Smith et al, doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.017.

“We have been diligently working to enhance our understanding of these creatures,” stated Robert Smith, a doctoral researcher at the University of Leicester.

“These findings provide insights into their habitats, movement patterns, and daily activities in ecosystems long since vanished.”

In this research, Smith and his team identified three distinct types of pterosaur footprints, each offering insights into various lifestyles and behaviors.

By correlating footprints with specific groups, a robust new method emerges to study how these flying reptiles thrived, migrated, and adapted to diverse ecosystems over time.

“Finally, 88 years after the initial discovery of Pterosaur tracks, we have pinpointed precisely who created them and how,” remarked Dr. David Unwin, Ph.D., from Leicester.

Perhaps the most striking revelation comes from a group of pterosaurs known as Neoazdalci. Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest flying creatures, boasts a wingspan of 10 meters.

Their footprints have been found in both coastal and inland areas worldwide, supporting the theory that these long-legged animals not only soared through the skies, but also inhabited the same environments as numerous dinosaur species.

Some of these tracks date back to an asteroid impact event 66 million years ago, coinciding with the extinction of both pterosaurs and dinosaurs.

Ctenochasmatoids, recognized for their elongated jaws and needle-like teeth, left footprints primarily found in coastal sediments.

These animals likely walked along muddy shores or shallow lagoons, employing unique feeding strategies to capture small fish and floating prey.

The prevalence of these tracks suggests that these coastal pterosaurs were far more common in these habitats than than the rare fossilized remains.

Another type of footprint was located in rock formations, where fossilized remains of the same pterosaur were also found.

The close association between footprints and skeletons offers compelling evidence for identifying the track makers.

These pterosaurs, known as Dsungaripterids, possessed robust limbs and jaws; their toothless, curved beaks were adept at securing prey, while their large, rounded teeth were ideal for crushing shellfish and other resilient foods.

“Footprints are often overlooked in Pterosaur studies, yet they yield a wealth of information about the behaviors and interactions of these creatures with their environment,” emphasized Smyth.

“A detailed analysis of these footprints allows us to uncover biological and ecological insights that other methods may not provide.”

The team’s paper was published in the journal Current Biology.

____

Robert S. Smith et al. Identifying Pterosaur track makers provides crucial insights into Mesozoic terrestrial invasions. Current Biology, published online on May 1, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.017

Source: www.sci.news

TikTok Fined $600 Million for Transferring European User Data to China

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

On Friday, Tiktok was fined 530 million euros ($600 million) for breaching the European Union’s data privacy regulations after regulators found that personal data of users was wrongly transferred to China.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission announced the penalty, stating that Tiktok did not adequately safeguard data from its European users, including some accessible to staff in China, violating the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

This fine ranks among the largest under the GDPR and adds to the difficulties faced by Bitedan, Tiktok’s Chinese parent company, especially amidst U.S. pressures on non-Chinese companies to divest or face bans in the U.S. The Irish authorities noted that if Tiktok fails to fulfill specific requirements, it may be ordered to cease data transfers to China within six months.

European regulators indicated that Tiktok’s insufficient protections risked user information across the 27-nation bloc. Irish authorities further stated that the Chinese government could potentially access data from users under its anti-terrorism and espionage laws.

With approximately 175 million users in Europe, Tiktok stated it complies with EU laws, asserting that it “has never received requests for European user data from Chinese authorities and has never provided them with such data.”

Tiktok plans to contest the ruling, which could lead to a protracted court battle with the Irish government, Tiktok’s primary regulator in Europe. The company’s European headquarters is situated in Ireland, which is responsible for enforcing GDPR.

Tiktok mentioned that the Irish Data Protection Commission did not take into account its 2023 initiative to invest 12 billion euros in data protections for users within the EU, including the development of a data center in Finland.

The company cautioned that “this ruling may establish precedents that could have widespread repercussions for European companies and industries operating globally.”

Last month, Ireland’s regulators announced that Tiktok had uncovered a “limited” amount of user data stored on servers in China, following a series of denials.

Graham Doyle, vice-chairman of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, commented on the situation in a statement.

Source: www.nytimes.com

The Massive Meteorite Impacted Northwest Scotland 990 Million Years Ago.

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Recent research by Curtin University reveals that an ancient influence, previously believed to have occurred 1.2 billion years ago, actually took place 990 million years ago, leading to the formation of the STAC FADA member. This discovery corrects the dating of some of the UK’s oldest non-marine microfossils and their significance in the timeline of eukaryotic colonization on land.

STAC FADA member. Image credit: Tony Prave.

“We utilized small zircon crystals as geological ‘time capsules’ to accurately date the impact at 990 million years ago,” stated Professor Chris Kirkland from Curtin University.

“These tiny crystals recorded precise moments of impact, some transforming into the rare mineral Reidite, which forms under extreme pressure.”

“This provided irrefutable evidence that the meteorite strike initiated the STAC FADA deposit.”

“When a meteorite strikes, it partially resets the atomic clocks within the zircon crystal. Although these ‘broken clocks’ can’t generate dates, they developed a model to reconstruct timing, affirming the impact’s occurrence 990 million years ago.”

The impact events coincided with the earliest emergence of freshwater eukaryotes, the ancient precursors to plants, animals, and fungi.

“The new date indicates that these life forms in Scotland appeared roughly at the same time as the meteorite impact,” Professor Kirkland remarked.

“This presents intriguing questions about whether significant impacts could have affected environmental conditions, potentially influencing early ecosystems.”

“The impact crater has yet to be located, but this study has gathered additional clues that may eventually uncover its position.

“Understanding the timeline of meteorite impacts will enable us to explore their potential effects on Earth’s environment and the diversification of life beyond the oceans.”

The team’s findings will be published in the journal Geological.

____

CL Kirkland et al. The impact of Scottish meteors 100 million years ago. Geological Published online on April 28, 2025. doi: 10.1130/g53121.1

Source: www.sci.news

Fossils of Terrestrial Apex Predators Dating Back Six Million Years Unearthed in the Dominican Republic

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A recent study conducted by the Florida Museum of Natural History reveals that this apex predator is a type of Cebucid crocodile with origins in South America.

The Cebushid crocodile ruled the South American landscape after the dinosaurs vanished, remaining dominant until roughly 11 million years ago. Image credit: Jorge Mackey.

The sebecids were the last survivors of notosuchia, a large and varied group of extinct crocodiles with fossil records that trace back to the era of dinosaurs.

Notosuchians exhibited a wide range of sizes, diets, and habitats, distinguishing themselves from their alligator relatives, as most inhabited terrestrial environments.

The Sevecid behaved like a carnivorous dinosaur, sprinting with four long, agile limbs and tearing flesh with its notorious teeth.

Some species were equipped with protective armor made of bone plates embedded in the skin, reaching lengths of up to 6 m (20 feet).

The catastrophic mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period, which eradicated non-avian dinosaurs, also nearly led to the extinction of the notosuchians.

In South America, only the Sevecids survived post-dinosaurs, quickly ascending to the role of apex predators.

The open waters separating the Caribbean islands from the South American mainland posed significant challenges for the Sevensids when it came to swimming.

In a new research effort, paleontologist Jonathan Bloch and his colleagues from the Florida Museum of Natural History analyzed vertebrae from fossilized teeth and spinal vertebrae dating back six million years, collected from the Paleopoultry 1 site in Savanna Grande de Boya, Dominican Republic.

“Our first question upon discovering these teeth in the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean islands was: what could they be?” Dr. Bloch mentioned.

The team also examined 18 million-year-old teeth found in Cuba and 29 million-year-old specimens from Puerto Rico.

“The fossils suggested evidence supporting the Girllandia hypothesis,” they noted.

This theory posits that a temporary land bridge or chain of islands enabled the migration from South America to the Caribbean.

“If the serrated teeth found in other Caribbean islands also belong to the Sevecid, the history of these giant reptiles stretches beyond just the Dominican Republic.”

“They would have played a significant role in shaping the ecosystems of this region for millions of years. However, today, evidence of large terrestrial predators is scarce.”

“In their absence, smaller endemic predators like birds, snakes, and crocodiles have evolved to fill gaps in the food chain,” he added.

“We could not have predicted this just by studying modern ecosystems,” Dr. Bloch remarked.

“The presence of large predators greatly differs from our previous assumptions, and it’s thrilling to explore what further discoveries might await in the Caribbean fossil record.”

The team’s paper was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

____

Lázaro W. Viñola López et al. 2025. The South American Sevecid from the Miocene of Hispaniola documents the presence of apex predators in the ecosystems of the Early West Indies. Proc. R. Soc. B 292 (2045): 20242891; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2891

Source: www.sci.news

Spotify Invested $100 Million in Podcasters Amidst Escalating Creator Conflict

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Since January, Spotify has disbursed over $100 million to podcast creators and publishers, as reported by the New York Times’ Dealbook.

These payments stem from a program launched in 2025, which opens up new revenue opportunities for eligible hosts. This initiative also aims to draw more creators (and their audiences) to Spotify, especially as video podcasting has gained traction on YouTube.

Video content now leads the podcasting landscape. According to Edison’s survey, more than half of Americans aged 12 and older have watched video podcasts — primarily on YouTube. Report As of January, Spotify claims to have attracted 1 billion podcast listeners each month, positioning itself as the leading platform for podcasts. Meanwhile, Media King continues to surpass Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with its original video podcasting efforts that began in 2019.

In contrast to YouTube, Spotify has become somewhat vulnerable in the podcasting space, attracting 170 million podcast listeners per month from a broader audience of 675 million. For context, YouTube invested over $70 billion into creators and media entities from 2021 to 2024.

On Tuesday, the company announced its financial results, projecting approximately 540 million euros in pre-tax revenue within a total of 4.2 billion euros, as per S&P Capital IQ.

Although Spotify is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, it is headquartered in Stockholm. The company maintains a stronghold in the sector due to its impressive roster of talent, including the distribution of advertisements for the widely popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast. It achieved its first profitable year in 2024, with Rogan’s podcast also available on YouTube.

The new partner program is designed to mitigate YouTube’s advantages. Like YouTube, Spotify historically compensated creators solely through ad revenue sharing, but it now provides further incentives for video uploads. Eligible creators can earn additional revenue depending on the engagement levels of their premium subscribers.

Spotify is actively working to attract additional viewers. In November, they unveiled their partnership program, stating that paid subscribers in specific regions would not encounter dynamic ads on video podcasts. As a result, video consumption has surged by over 40% since January, according to Spotify.

The pressing question is whether Spotify can persuade creators to shift their priorities.

David Coles, host of the horror fiction podcast “Just Creepy: Scary Stories,” mentioned that he is reevaluating his “home platform” after Spotify’s revenue recently outpaced YouTube’s. In the last quarter, Coles reported earnings of about $45,500 from Spotify. Since joining the new partner program, his Spotify revenue increased to around $81,600.

For larger shows and podcast companies like YMH Studios, which boasts 2.1 million YouTube subscribers and produces popular podcasts such as “2 Bears, 1 Cave,” the revenue boost has been even more pronounced. YMH Studios reported that its quarterly earnings from Spotify have more than tripled after enrolling in the partner program, although it chose not to disclose specific figures.

Creators have pointed out that this is still early in the program, but Alan Abin, head of advertising revenue at YMH Studios, referred to the new payment framework as a “game changer” and a “pleasant surprise.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Discovery of fossils of 113 million fiery ants in Brazil

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists describe the oldest known members of Haidomyrmecinae – An extinct subfamily of ants that were only during the Cretaceous period – preserved as an impression of limestone rocks in the Krato Formation in northeastern Brazil.

Vulcanidris cratensisholotype. Scale bar – 2 mm. Image credit: Lepeco et al. , doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.023.

It has been named Vulcanidris cratensisthe new ant species lived 113 million years ago (early Cretaceous period).

This species represents the oldest and most definitive ant known in science, and is also the most complete evidence of the early evolution of ants in the fossil record.

“Vulcanidris cratensis The author, Dr. Anson Lepeco, a paleontologist at Dr. Zloria da Universad de Sao Paulo, stated:

“What makes this discovery particularly interesting is its belong to an extinct “hell ant”, known for its strange predatory adaptation. ”

“Even though it is part of an ancient lineage, the species already exhibits highly specialized anatomical features, suggesting unique hunting behaviors.”

The oldest previous ants were found in France and Myanmar and were preserved in amber instead of limestone.

The presence of hell ants in Brazil indicates that ants are already widely distributed and diversified early in their evolution.

“There was an hell ants explained by Amber, and this was the first time I could visualize them in a rock fossil,” Dr. Lepeco said.

Dr. Lepeco and his colleagues discovered a very well-preserved Ant specimen and systematically examined one of the world’s largest collections of fossil insects from. Krato Layera deposit known for its exceptional fossil preservation.

“When we encountered this extraordinary specimen, we quickly recognized its importance not only as a new species, but also as a potentially conclusive evidence of ants in the Krato Formation,” Dr. Lepeco said.

“The finding highlights the importance of a thorough investigation of existing collections either privately or in museums, and highlights the fauna of Brazilian paleontology and the country’s unexposed fossil insects.”

Using microcomputed tomography imaging, paleontologists discovered it Vulcanidris cratensis It was previously closely related to hell ants, known only from specimens preserved in Burma mber, Myanmar.

This finding shows that ants must have been widely distributed worldwide and repeatedly crossed Cretaceous lands.

But what surprised them most was the professional traits of Hell’s Ants.

“We were hoping to find the features of the hellish ant, but we were shocked by the features of the feeding device,” Dr. Lepeco said.

“Unlike modern ants with laterally moving mandibles, this species had a mandible with face and face projections running forward in front of their head and eyes.”

“Finding such anatomically specialized ants for 113 million years ago challenges our assumptions about how quickly and complex adaptations these insects have developed.”

“The complex forms suggest that even these early ants had evolved sophisticated plundering strategies that were already very different from their modern counterparts.”

“The discovery of this new ant specimen raises broader questions about the evolutionary pressures that have led to the unique adaptation of hell’s ants.”

“Advanced imaging tools allow us to explore these fossil specimens in greater detail than ever before.”

Discovery of Vulcanidris cratensis Reported in a paper It’s published in the journal today Current Biology.

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Anderson Repeco et al. Ants from Hell from the Lower Cretaceous period in Brazil. Current BiologyPublished online on April 24, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.023

Source: www.sci.news

The masterminds behind a $243 million cryptocurrency heist

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A quiet honor
Veer Chetal, a recent graduate of Immaculate High School in Danbury, was about to begin his studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey. In 2022, he completed the “Future Lawyers” program, and the story on the pure white website of the year showed a photo of a smiling child wearing glasses wearing a Tommy Hilfiger windbreaker over a Red Polo.

Classmates remember Cetal as a shy and car fan. “He’s staying on his own for a bit,” says Marcodias, who has become friends with Cethal Junior Year. According to another classmate named Nick Paris, this was true for Cetal up until the day in the middle of his fourth graders who appeared at school driving a Corvette. “He just parked a lot. It was 7:30am and everyone was like that. what?” Paris quickly rolled up with BMW, and then he began wearing Louis Vuitton shirts and Gucci shoes.

Chethal said he made a code to trade money. Diaz said Chethal showed him a phone transaction as proof one morning during his homeroom class. Once, Chethal rented a large house in Stamford, Connecticut, and held a three-day gathering with friends. “I was in the basement at some point. I was just messing around with my friends. I was looking at him like his cell phone, like he was, avoiding everyone at the party,” Diaz says. “And, oh, I thought it was a bit strange.” Paris remembers during a school parade, police stopped his Lamborghini Ursu Cetal for a traffic violation. “He literally called his lawyer out there before answering the police question. Everyone was. Wow, this guy is doing something for him.

Independent investigators say that Chetal is a secretly member of COM, an online network of chat groups with roots in the 1980s hacking underground, and an online network of chat groups that act as a social network for cybercrime or ambitious things. In an affidavit from an unrelated case, FBI agents described COM as “a geographically diverse group of individuals organized in various subgroups, all engaged in different types of criminal activity through online communications applications such as Discord and Telegram.” According to FBI affidavits and experts studying COM, activities of various subgroups include making false reports to agencies such as emergency services or schools to trigger police responses. Once the hacker takes over the target phone number, the Sim exchange is made by tricking the customer and service representative. Ransomware attacks using malware that deny users or organizers access to computer files. Cryptocurrency theft; and corporate intrusions.

Allison Nixon, chief research officer of Unit 221B, a group of cybersecurity experts, has been following this growing corner of the Internet since 2011 and is widely considered to be a distinguished expert at COM. She says that most COM members are young men from Western countries. In group chat, many people talk about universities and take cybersecurity classes. For many, the gateway is through video games such as Runescape, Roblox, and Grand Theft Auto.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Researchers examined 8 million US speeches and uncovered unexpected patterns

Posted on April 23, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Research has revealed a significant decline in the use of evidence-based language in American political speeches since the 1970s.

Findings published in the journal Natural human behavior stemmed from an analysis of over 8 million speeches delivered in the US Congress over the last 140 years.

“We wanted to understand why some politicians who frequently lie are perceived as honest,” stated Dr. Segun Aroyehun, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Constance in Germany, as quoted in BBC Science Focus. “Often, it is because they speak about their beliefs and come across as genuine.”

Earlier research by Aroyehun and colleagues highlighted a shift in language usage among US Congress members towards belief-driven and intuitive language, departing from evidence-based language.

“There is a clear distinction between evidence-based truth and intuitive truth, where emotions play a crucial role,” Aroyehun explained.

To delve deeper, the team probed historical records to ascertain if this shift was a recent occurrence.

Utilizing machine learning models, the researchers combed through almost 150 years of Congress speeches, establishing a scoring system based on keywords signifying evidence-based or intuition-based language.

While evidence-based keywords comprised terms like “analysis”, “data”, “study results”, and “study”, intuition-based language included phrases such as “perspective”, “common sense”, “prediction”, and “believe”.

Both Republicans and Democrats have exhibited similar language changes in their political speeches over the past 140 years. – Getty

Each speech was assessed based on the evidence-intuition language ratio.

The results were striking. While the ratio fluctuated over the 140-year period, evidence-based language predominated until the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s before a shift took place. Since the 1970s, intuition-based language has gradually gained prominence.

Aroyehun noted that this trend applied to both Democratic and Republican politicians, with a recent uptick observed in evidence-based language among Democrats.

He underscored that the ratio does not determine the veracity of the speech content.

Nonetheless, these linguistic shifts have had repercussions. The team juxtaposed these changes with measures of legislative polarization and income inequality, observing a simultaneous decline in parliamentary productivity—measured by statute quantity and quality—over this period.

“The core message here is the significance of rhetoric,” Aroyehun emphasized. “The nature of truth pursuit reflected in US Congress language is integral to gauging social and political well-being.”

The team aims to employ similar methodologies to analyze speeches in Germany and Italy, tracking trends across diverse democracies.

About our experts

Segun Aroyehun is a postdoctoral researcher affiliated with the Social Data Science Group at the University of Constance. He holds a PhD from Centro derestigación Computación, IPN, focusing on devising robust strategies to combat offensive content on social media. His research has been featured in publications like Natural human behavior and Natural Communication.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Twenty million years ago, the giant freshwater crayfish inhabited New Zealand.

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The fossil record of freshwater crayfish is surprisingly sparse, mainly containing trace fossils, some body fossils, and rarely gastroscopy. Paleontologists from Flinders University, the University of New South Wales, the Canterbury Museum and the University of Canterbury have discovered that the small molars (jaws) of the lower jaw of Gondwannan freshwater crayfish have a stiff, robust apatite layer. They discovered eight jaw fragments of a fossil freshwater crayfish that lived in New Zealand during the early Miocene period.

Swamp Yabby (Cherax Latimanus), Australian freshwater crayfish species. Image credits: McCormack & Raadik, doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5026.3.2.

Prehistoric freshwater crayfish grew to about 25 cm long compared to about 8 cm of today’s New Zealand species.

“Crayfish were important creatures in ancient settings,” says Dr. Paul Scofield, senior curator at the Canterbury Museum.

“The crayfish’s body does not fossil because it is made from the wrong chemical elements. However, the molars in the jaw are made of different materials, like mammalian teeth, so they do fossil because they are made from different materials.”

“This means that we can clearly say where freshwater crayfish lived in prehistoric times. It will speak more about prehistoric ecosystems and how they worked.”

Dr. Scofield and his colleagues sifted through hundreds of thousands of small fossil fragments found near St. Batan in central Otago and used microscopes to identify prehistoric crayfish to identify each piece.

Crayfish were identified from eight jaw fragments each, about 4 mm in length.

An exciting observation was to show that the three lower jaws showed that the three types lived together.

There are currently only two species in New Zealand and live in different parts of the country.

Fragments are very rare. One distance of the 100 kg fossil fragments recovered from St. Batan produced only one fragment.

“We also identified the first fossilized Yabby buttons, which are calcium deposits that form in the stomachs of crayfish,” said Dr. Trevor Worthy, a paleontologist at Flinders University.

“Historically, paleontologists have often misidentified Yabby buttons as fossilized fish teeth.”

“Several fragments like these are sitting in boxes of museum collections around the world and are marked with question marks. Now we can say what they are.”

“Small fossils can reveal a lot about prehistoric life,” said Dr Vanessa de Petri, a paleontologist at the University of Canterbury.

“It’s not just about big sexy bones, it’s about the little things. Every piece has a story to tell.”

Team’s result It was published in Alcheringa, Australian Journal of Palaeontology.

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Trevor H. Worthy et al. Decapoda, Parastacidae, of the fossil mandible from the early Miocene of New Zealand. AlcheringaPublished online on April 13th, 2025. doi:10.1080/03115518.2025.2488056

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of a 100 million year old armored dinosaur’s footprints in Canada

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

It will be assigned to a new ICHNOSPECIES Ruopodasaurus clava the footprints of these dinosaurs found in northeastern British Columbia and northwest Alberta confirm the presence of antirosaurus antirosaurus during the Middle North American period.

Cast specimen of Ruopodasaurus clava From the Murray River, British Columbia, Canada. Image credits: Arbor et al. , doi: 10.1080/02724634.2025.2451319.

“There are two major groups in Ankylosaurus,” says Dr. Victoria Arbor, an evolutionary biologist and vertebrate paleontologist at the Royal BC Museum and the University of Victoria.

“The Nodosaurid Ankylosaurs have a flexible tail and four toes, while the Ankylosaurs have a tail club like the Sledgehammer, with only three legs.”

“Unlike the well-known Ichnospecies of the Ankylosaurus. Tetrapodosaurus borealis These new tracks found in North America with four toes – Name Ruopodasaurus clava – There are only three, so anywhere in the world makes the first known example of antirosaurus footprints.”

“Ruopodasaurus clava means “falling lizards with clubs/maces,” referring to both the mountainous areas where these tracks were discovered and the distinctive tail clubs of these dinosaurs.

They don’t know exactly what the dinosaurs made, but Ruopodasaurus clava Although it looks like a footprint, paleontologists know it was about 5-6m long, thorny, armored, and had a stiff or full tail club.

“Ankylosaurus is my favorite group of dinosaurs, so it’s really exciting for me to be able to identify new examples of these dinosaurs in British Columbia,” Dr. Arbor said.

Newly discovered Ruopodasaurus clava The footprint dates back to the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 100 million to 94 million years ago.

No bones of Ankilosauride were found in North America about 100-84 million years ago, leading to speculation that antirosauride disappeared from North America at this time.

These footprints show that during this gap in the skeletal fossil record, tailed ankylosauruses were alive and well in North America.

This finding also shows that two major ankylosaurus of Nodosaurus – Nodosaurus and Ankylosaurus groups coexist in the same region during this time, including this new three indirect species.

“We’ve seen a lot of experience in the world,” said Dr. Charles Helm, scientific advisor at the Tumbler Ridge Museum.

“It’s really exciting to know that through this research there are two types of Ankylosaurus that call this area home. Ruopodasaurus clava It has been identified only in this region of Canada.”

“The study also highlights how important the Peace Region in northeastern British Columbia is to understand the evolution of dinosaurs in North America.

“This discovery gives us a new part of the puzzle about ancient creatures that once roamed Canadian stuff.”

Findings are reported in a paper in Journal of VertebratePaleontology.

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Victoria M. Arbor et al. Ichnotaxon, a new tyrophoran from British Columbia, Canada, confirms the existence of antirosaurus dinosaurs in the central Cretaceous period of North America. Journal of VertebratePaleontologyPublished online on April 14th, 2025. doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2451319

Source: www.sci.news

Study shows the Sakhallo Arabian desert was verdant for 8 million years

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Sakhallo-Arabian desert is one of the largest biogeographical barriers on Earth, hindering the dispersion between Africa and Eurasia, including human movements in the past. Recent research suggests that this barrier has been in place for at least 11 million years. However, a new Griffith University-led study shows that numerous humidity intervals have occurred in the Sakhallo-Arabian desert over the past 8 million years.

Marcouska et al. It shows wet intervals that have recurred inside Central Arabia over the past 8 million years. Image credit: Paul Breeze.

Arabia is at the heart of the largest near-continuous chain of arid lands on the planet. A harsh and often highly dry belt that stretches from the Sahara to the Tar Desert.

Sakhallo-Arabian desert barriers limit animal dispersion and divide Africa and Eurasia into areas of Afrotropic, palate, and Indomalaya biogeography, each characterized by a distinct assemblage of plants, animal species and communities.

While the persistence of this desert barrier serves as a major control over the depiction of these biogeographical regions, improvements in climate throughout the Sakhallo-Arabian region allow for dispersion among them.

As a result, the region is a “transition zone” and hosts a complex fauna mixture with characteristics of Africa, Eurasia and South Asia.

Recent research suggests that a dry beyond this desert barrier and that it has begun to be highly aridity and highly dry on the edge of northern Arabia 9 million years ago in the completely arid state of the Sahara at least 11 million years ago.

“However, fossil evidence from the late Miocene (marked by rising earth temperatures) and the Pleistocene (including multiple ice ages) suggests the existence of an episode within the interior of the water-dependent animal Sakhallo-Arabian desert.”

“It is possible that animals such as crocodiles, quids, cobopotamids, and absoscideans were supported by rivers and lakes that are almost nonexistent from today’s arid landscape.”

“These wet conditions could promote the dispersion of these mammals between Africa and Eurasia, and Arabia serves as an important crossroads in continental-scale biogeographic exchange.”

In the new study, Professor Petraglia and colleagues analyzed a set of osteoscopic electrons (mineral deposits such as bulls and stellates) from a series of caves from within Arabia.

It is one of the longest aleoclimatic records available in Arabia today, and represents one of the longest space paleoclimatic records in the world.

“Little was known about Arabian paleoclimate before this time,” said Dr. Monica Markowska of Northumbria University.

“The findings highlight that the effects of monsoons have been weakened and polar ice coverings in the Pleistocene during the Pleistocene have been strengthened, reducing precipitation during humidity intervals and changing over time.”

“Although Arabia has traditionally been overlooked in the dispersion of Africa and Yolasia, research like ours is increasingly revealing the central location of mammal and human migration,” added Dr Faisal Al-Jiblin, who led Saudi archaeologists on the Heritage Committee.

result It will be displayed in the journal Nature.

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M. Markouska et al. The recurrence of humidity in Arabia over the past 8 million years. NaturePublished online on April 9, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08859-6

Source: www.sci.news

Eric Schmidt, ex-Google CEO, purchases a luxury London mansion for £42 million

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has purchased a mansion in Holland Park for nearly £42 million, joining a string of significant transactions in London’s prime real estate markets.

As reported by the Financial Times, Schmidt, who led Google from 2001 to 2011, acquired a two-level stucco apartment in west London last May.

The Grade II listed building, as per official Land Registry records, includes a MEWS house at the back and was last sold in 2022 for £36.2 million. This sale follows other notable deals in London’s real estate market, including the recent £139 million sale of a 40-bedroom mansion in Regent Park.

Schmidt, now planning to rent out the property, is part of a trend where wealthy Americans are investing in luxury London real estate. In 2020, Americans surpassed Chinese buyers in the capital, accounting for 9.3% of foreign buyers compared to 5.6% in 2019, according to Knight Frank.

The interest in British citizenship among Americans has also seen a sharp increase, with over 6,100 US citizens applying for UK citizenship – a 26% rise from 2023 and the highest number since data collection began in 2004.

While there have been large transactions at the top end of the London market, overall activity has slowed. In 2021, there were 443 London homes sold for over £5 million, up from 308 in 2019 pre-pandemic levels, as per Savilles.

London’s capital price growth has been modest, recording its lowest annual price growth in the UK at 1.9% compared to the national rate of 3.9% in February. Northern Ireland saw the highest growth at 13.5%, followed by Scotland at 3.9% and Wales at 3.6%. London remains the most expensive location to buy a home, with an average price of £529,369.

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A representative for Schmidt declined to comment. A spokesperson informed the FT: “Eric is making investments in luxury real estate properties worldwide.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Researchers unearth massive dinosaur tracks dating back 167 million years on the Isle of Skye

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have discovered 131 large theropods and sauropods in the formations of the central Jurassic Kirmalag at Prince Charles’s point, located on the northwest coast of the Troternas Peninsula in Sky.

A 167 million-year-old dinosaur trackway located at Prince Charles’s point on the Isle of Skye. Image credit: Blakesley et al. , doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319862.

The rocks of Isle of Skye are rich in dinosaur footprints, providing insight into the distribution and behavior of dinosaurs at critical times of evolution.

The newly discovered footprint was left in the wavy sands of an ancient subtropical lagoon dating back to the mid-Jurassic period about 167 million years ago.

The footprint is 25-60 cm long and comes in two types. This is a round “Tyre-Size” track, made by three untidy trucks left by Bipedal: a carnivorous theropod, a tetrapod, and a long-necked sauropod.

Based on comparisons with previous fossil discoveries, the most likely truck maker is Megalosaurus Similar to early branching members of the Neosauropod group CethiosaurusBoth are known from British skeletal ruins.

According to paleontologists, many of these footprints occur together in successive steps.

The longest of these trackways is over 12m, among the longest known examples from the Isle of Skye.

The spacing and orientation of these trackways represent slow walking without consistent orientation or interaction with each other, and what is probably left by the dinosaurs is casually crushed at slightly different times.

The site at Prince Charles’s point supports previous evidence that the Jurassic Sauropod frequently visited Scottish lagoons.

However, this site contains a higher percentage of theropod tracks than similar locales, perhaps indicating differences in the environment between these ancient lagoons.

The site also does not have footprints from other dinosaurs such as Stegosaurus and Ornithopods, but it remains unclear whether these animals really do not exist in this environment or simply did not leave a mark on this site.

“Prince Charles’s footprint at points provides fascinating insight into the behavior and environmental distribution of meat-eating theropods and plant-eating long-necked sauropods during key periods of evolution.”

“In Sky, these dinosaurs obviously preferred shallow, submerged lagoon environments to muddy air exposed.”

“Interestingly, this site also has historical significance as a location for Skye, where Prince Bonnie landed and hidden while flying through Scotland following the Battle of Culloden.”

Discoveries are reported in a paper Published online in the journal PLOS 1.

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T. Blakely et al. 2025. A new central Jurassic Lagoon margin assembly of theropod and sauropod dinosaur trajectories from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. PLOS 1 20(4): E0319862; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319862

Source: www.sci.news

NASA reduces funding by $420 million for climate science, monthly modeling, and other projects

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

NASA’s funding cuts have already impacted US research and education programs

dcstockphotography/shutterstock

NASA has cancelled contracts and grants worth up to $420 million, following guidance from the Trump administration’s government efficiency (DOGE). The reductions will impact research projects and education programs in the United States, but NASA says it’s perfect for checking exactly which organizations are affected.

After Doge, an independent task force led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, NASA confirmed the amount but refused to specify which programs were cancelled. Casey Drier The Planetary Association, a California-based nonprofit organization, list of a program that has recently lost funds using the agency’s public grant database. NASA has since deleted the database and did not respond to questions about the accuracy of the list.

Much of the cuts on Dreyer’s list coincides with President Donald Trump’s skepticism about climate science and his administration’s active targets regarding his interpretation of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) program.

Climate-related cancellations include a Massachusetts Institute of Technology project that uses satellite sensors to map the impacts of extreme heat, air pollution and flooding. Another target was a University of Oklahoma study to develop digital twin simulations that predict the impact of flooding on tribal lands.

However, it is unclear why NASA has ended support for other research, such as using bioengineering cells to investigate how spaceflight affects the human body and modelling how lunar dust can contaminate future lunar missions.

NASA spokesman Bethany Stevens said New Scientist The agency is “to work with the Ministry of Government Efficiency initiative to optimize the workforce and resources.” Doge urged agencies across the US government to cut funding or shut down altogether.

But it says that ongoing grants and contract cancellations will fly in the face of a “strict” review process that selected them in the first place as “the most scientifically appropriate proposal.” Michael Batario At Yale University. “Politics cannot and should not define what is scientifically worth studying at the level of individual grants,” says Batario, who is studying the atmosphere of Mars and Titan in preparation for future missions.

“DEI related cuts get me the most out of the way.” Bruce Jacoski He was the lead scientist at NASA’s Maven Mission to Mars at the University of Colorado, Boulder. “These grants are about reaching out to underrepresented groups and making people accessible to training and education. None of them appears to promote people who are less qualified than more qualified.”

For example, NASA cut funding for a conference hosted by the National Association of Black Physicists, a longtime nonprofit that promotes the professional well-being of African-American physicists and physics students. “We were told that the reason for cancelling the contract is to comply with the president’s executive order regarding the DEI,” he said. Stephen Robersonpresident of the National Association of Black Physics. “We would like to appeal this decision and explain further why an annual conference, in which people of all races and academic levels present scientific research, is considered a DEI.”

New Scientist They reached out to researchers and organizations that they thought were affected, but few responded to the National Association of Black Physicists. The San Diego Aerospace Museum, featured on Drayer’s list, said NASA’s funding for educational events appears to be still intact, despite the NASA database indicating changes to the grant’s end date. NASA did not respond to requests to verify the status of this fund.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Eggshell Fossils of Dinosaurs and Crocodiles from 100 Million Years Ago Unearthed in Utah

Posted on March 29, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A team of paleontologists from Lake Forest College, Stellenbosch University, University of Minnesota, and North Carolina State University described a new population of fossil eggshells, members of the formation of cedar mountains, a well-known unit among scientists studying early lobular epochs.

A 100 million-year-old dinosaur eggshell fragment from a Mussantit member of Cedar Mountain Formation. Image credit: Lake Forest College.

The first fossil eggshells from Mussantit members of Cedar Mountain Formation were described over 50 years ago.

Since then, in half a century, the diversity of fossil eggshells in this rock unit has been limited to only one egg type.

However, Dr. Josh Hedge and his colleagues at Lake Forest College revealed another story.

“We found new dinosaur egg types here and here, which we didn’t see before,” Dr. Hedge said.

“When previous research explained one type, we found five types of eggshells in this area.”

“Three eggshell fragments belonging to the feathered bipedal dinosaur, two types of dinosaurs with dinosaurs with ornitopod ducks, and a truly funky discovery: some crocodile eggshells.”

These new discoveries challenge the traditional view of one of the different types of dinosaurs that live in ecosystems.

“You can see patterns of coexisting dinosaurs,” Dr. Hedge said.

“Just as multiple big cat-loving animals coexist in Africa’s savanna, we can see the co-occurrence of similar types of dinosaurs in one geographical area.”

Researchers hope to uncover information that will lead to a better understanding of ecosystems 100 million years ago.

They are currently researching ways to better understand these oviraptorosaur eggs.

“We found so many eggshells, so we hope that we can distinguish between individuals who share a single nest, not just the species, for example, because we have sample sizes large enough to interpret them at a higher resolution,” Dr. Hedge said.

Team’s paper Published online in the journal PLOS 1.

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J. Hedge et al. 2025. Diversity of fossil eggshells from Mussentuchit members of Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah. PLOS 1 20(2): E0314689; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314689

Source: www.sci.news

Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, proposes a $50 million donation to Bowdoin College for AI programs.

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is hoping to encourage more researchers and students to delve into the impact of artificial intelligence on human norms. To support this cause, Hastings made a generous donation of $50 million to his alma mater, Boudine College, establishing a research initiative on “AI and Humanity,” the largest gift the liberal arts college has received since its founding in 1794.

The ultimate goal of the program, according to Hastings and school officials, is to transform Boudine into a hub for investigating the risks and consequences of AI. It also aims to equip students to address emerging technologies that are capable of producing human-like text and creating formulas for potential new medications.

The concept for this initiative stemmed from conversations between Hastings and President Boudin over recent months. They see it as an opportunity to enhance the academic experience by incorporating AI into education and research. Some of the funds will be used to hire 10 new faculty members to support professors looking to integrate AI into their teaching and research.

In a recent interview, Hastings emphasized the importance of researchers addressing these critical questions given the rapid advancements in AI and the potential disruptions it could bring to various aspects of human life, such as work and relationships.

He stressed the urgency of preparing for the transformative impact of AI, comparing it to the rapid growth of social networks that initially caught many off guard with their societal implications.

Dr. Zaki, a cognitive scientist and President of Boudin, expressed his hope that Bowdoin faculty and students will develop an ethical framework for exploring and utilizing AI technology to address fundamental questions.

He posed thought-provoking questions about the ethical dimensions of AI and stressed the moral duty of educators to engage with these issues.

As AI becomes more pervasive in daily life, millions of people are utilizing it for tasks ranging from information retrieval to generating computer code. The creators of these tools predict that even more advanced AI systems will significantly alter our daily routines.

While some tech leaders in Silicon Valley paint a positive image of an AI-driven future, the new initiative at Boudin College seeks to critically examine how AI is reshaping society for better or for worse. Hastings hopes this program will ensure that technological advancements are aligned with benefiting people and society.

Expressing his optimistic view on technology, Hastings believes that human progress is closely tied to our moral and ethical systems. He highlights the importance of strengthening these systems to guide technological development for the betterment of humanity.

Source: www.nytimes.com