Tag Archives: Reason

Scientists Uncover the (Surprising) Creepy Reason Humans First Domesticated Cats

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Recent studies have uncovered new insights regarding the timing and locations of cat domestication. Contrary to the belief that these early felines were simply pampered companions or helpful pest eliminators, it appears they may have primarily been bred for mass sacrificial purposes.

Historically, it was thought that the domestication of cats began over 9,000 years ago as Wildcats started to adapt to the first agricultural settlements.

As grain storage attracted rodents, North African Wildcats (Ferris Livica) began hunting these pests, fostering mutually beneficial relationships that ultimately led to domestication.

However, this model is now being rigorously examined. “North African wildcats, the wild ancestors of domestic cats, were believed to have been tamed during the Neolithic era,” states Dr. Shawn Doherty, an archaeological scientist at the University of Exeter and lead author of a study featured in BBC Science Focus.

“Our research challenges this narrative by reviewing existing osteological, genetic, and iconographic evidence. We propose that cat domestication actually began in Egypt around the first millennium BC.”

Dr. Doherty’s team reassessed ancient cat artifacts from archaeological sites across Europe and North Africa, from antiquity to the present, utilizing zooarchaeological analysis, genetics, and radiocarbon dating. They found that the bones from agricultural villages in Cyprus dating back 900 to 500 years ago closely resembled those of Wildcats, undermining prior assumptions of early domestication.

Some misconceptions stem from the small size of cat bones, which can migrate between soil layers over time. “We employed radiocarbon dating to verify the ages, revealing that many cat remains are significantly more recent than previously believed.”

This data implies that the domestication of cats actually occurred much later than previously thought.

Millions of cats were sacrificed and mummified in ancient Egypt, dating from the late period to the Ptolemaic period (715-30 BC). – Getty

Researchers suggest that while rodent control may have played a role in domestication, religion could have been even more significant. In ancient Egypt, cats were revered as sacred to the goddess Bastet, and millions were kept for sacrificial purposes.

“The bond between domestic cats and the Egyptian goddess Bastet peaked in the first millennium BC,” Dr. Doherty noted. “Millions of mummified cats have been discovered in temples dedicated to her. During the Victorian era, these remains were often exhumed and transported to England for use as fertilizer.”

Through the breeding of vast numbers of kittens for ritualistic sacrifice, traits that made them more manageable may have gradually been selected, leading to the emergence of the domestic cat.

A second genome-related study, co-authored by Dr. Doherty, analyzed 87 ancient and modern cat genomes, finding no evidence that domestic cats migrated to Europe with Neolithic farmers. Instead, they likely arrived within the last 2,000 years from North Africa.

“I think this illustrates that the bond between humans and cats is not necessarily a result of the length of time they have been together, unlike with dogs,” Dr. Doherty stated.

Considering the motivations behind their early domestication, it is no surprise that cats exhibit such ethereal behavior.

Both studies are preliminary and are currently awaiting formal peer review.

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About our experts

Shawn Doherty is a senior researcher at the University of Exeter. His expertise lies in exploring deep time and animal-environment interactions through the integration of fauna, biomolecules (isotope analysis, proteomics, and genetics), alongside historical and anthropological studies.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Reason Behind Cameras Suddenly Appearing at Elder Care Facilities

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The supportive living facility in Edina, Minnesota, where Jean H. Peters and her brothers operated their mother in 2011 looked lovely. “But you start to discover things,” Peters said.

Her mother, Jackie Hoygan, was 82 years old and widowed with memory problems.

“She wasn’t in the bathroom so her pants would be soaked,” said Peters, 69, a retired nurse prettier in Bloomington, Minnesota. She dropped to 94 pounds.

Most ominously, Peters said, “We’ve noticed that we’ve noticed that there’s no bruise in her arm.” The complaint to the administrator brought “many excuses” directly, by phone and email.

So Peters bought a cheap camera from Best Buy. She and her sisters set it up on the fridge in their mother’s apartment.

Monitoring from the app on the phone, the family watched Hourigan go for hours without any changes. They heard her screaming and yelling at her assiding her, treating her roughly.

They saw another aide woke her up for breakfast and leave the room despite the fact that he opened the door to his heavy apartment and was unable to go to the dining room. “It was traumatic to know that we were right,” Peters said.

In 2016, after filing a police report and lawsuit, Peters helped discover the elder voice advocate after his mother’s death. Minnesota passed in 2019.

Though they are still controversial subjects, care facilities cameras have acquired status. By 2020, eight states will join Minnesota and enact laws that allow them to be made. According to national consumer voices for quality long-term care: Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington.

Since then, the pace of legislation has been featured, with nine states in place: Connecticut, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming. Several other laws are pending.

California and Maryland use guidelines rather than law. State governments in New Jersey and Wisconsin lend cameras to families who are interested in the safety of their loved ones.

But Bill was defeated too. Recently in Arizona. March, second year, Camera invoice It overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives, but failed to get floor votes in the state Senate.

“My temperatures are getting a little higher now,” said Rep. Quang Nguyen, a Republican, who is the main sponsor of the bill and plans to reintroduce it. He denounced Arizona’s opposition from industry groups, including Reading, representing nonprofit aging service providers, for the failure of the bill to pass.

The American Medical Association, whose members are primarily for commercial use, has not achieved national status on camera. However, the local affiliate also opposed the bill.

“These people who vote for no should be called out publicly and said, ‘You don’t care about the elderly population,'” Ngguen said.

Some camera laws only cover nursing homes, but most also include living support facilities. Most obligations require residents (and roommates) to provide written consent. Some people are looking for signs to warn staff and visitors that their interactions may be recorded.

The law often prohibits tampering with cameras and retaliation against residents who use them, and “contains stories about people who have access to the footage and whether it can be used in lawsuits,” added Lori Smetanka, executive director of National Consumer Voice.

It is unclear how seriously the facility takes these laws. Some relatives In the interviewed report for this article, the administrator said that cameras were not allowed, but never mentioned the issue again. The cameras placed in the room remained.

Why is it a surge in legislative conditions? During the Covid-19 pandemic, families have been locked up from the facility for several months, Smetanka noted. “People are looking at their loved ones.”

The change in technology has probably contributed to Americans as they become more comfortable with video chats and virtual assistants. Cameras are almost ubiquitous in public places, in workplaces, in police cars, in police uniforms and in people’s pockets.

Initially, camera propulsion reflected fears about the safety of loved ones. Kari Shaw’s family, for example, had already been sacrificed by a trusted home care nurse who stole the painkillers her mother had prescribed.

So when Shaw and his sisters, who live in San Diego, moved their mother to life in Maple Grove, Minnesota, they quickly set up a moving camera in her apartment.

Their mother, 91, is severely disabled and uses a wheelchair. “Why wait for something to happen?” Shaw said.

In particular, “people with dementia are at high risk,” added Eilon Caspi, a gerontologist and researcher of elder abuse. “And they may not be able to report the incident or recall the details.”

But these days, families simply use cameras to keep in touch.

Anne Sewardson, who lives in Virginia and France, uses the Echo Show for a video visit with her 96-year-old mother at Memory Care in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Art Siegel and his brother had a hard time talking to their mother, who was 101, who was helping her live in Florida. Her cell phone frequently died as she had forgotten to charge it. “I was worried,” said Siegel, who lives in San Francisco and had to call the facility and ask staff to check on her.

Now, an old-fashioned phone is installed next to her favorite chair, and a chair-trained camera uses a trained camera to know when she can speak.

As Camera discussion Continuing, the central question remains unanswered. Do they enhance the quality of care? “There are studies that are not cited to back up these bills,” said Clara Bellidge, a gerontologist at the University of Washington. We are researching elder care techniques.

“Do cameras actually prevent abuse and neglect? Will the facility change or improve its policies?”

Both camera opponents and supporters cite concerns about the privacy and dignity of residents.

“You should also consider the importance of ensuring privacy during visits related to mental, legal, financial or other personal issues,” Reading spokesperson Lisa Sanders said in a statement.

You can turn off the camera, but it’s probably unrealistic to expect residents and growing staff to do so.

Furthermore, surveillance can treat these staff as “survivors who have to stop bad behavior,” Dr. Bellige said. She has seen facilities that have cameras installed in all residents’ rooms.

Ultimately, experts can’t replace the improved care that hinders problems, even if the camera detects them. It is an effort that requires engagement from families, better staffing by facilities, training, supervision, and more aggressive federal and state oversight.

“I think of cameras as a symptom, not a solution,” Dr. Bellidge said. “It’s a band-aid that can distract you from the difficult question of how to provide high-quality, long-term care.”

The new old age, KFF Health News.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Iron-rich minerals containing water may be the primary reason for the red hue of Mars.

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This iron mineral, called ferihydrite, formed under oxidative conditions during cold, humid periods on early Mars, continuing its transition to the current overheating environment.

This image of Mars Express's high-resolution stereo camera shows Mars glove set on a dark background. The planet's disc has patches of yellow, orange, blue and green, all with a muted gray hue throughout, representing the various compositions of the surface. Image credits: ESA/DLR/FU BERLIN/G. MICHAEL/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.

Mars is easily identified in the night sky due to its prominent red tint.

Thanks to a fleet of spacecrafts that have been studying planets over the past decades, this red colour is known to be due to rusty iron minerals in the dust.

In other words, iron bound to the rocks of Mars reacted at one point with water and oxygen in the air, just as how rust on Earth formed.

For more than billions of years, this rusty material, iron oxide — has been broken down into dust around the planet by the wind, a process that continues today.

However, iron oxide has a lot of flavour and the precise chemistry of Mars' rust is heavily debated as it is a window into the environmental conditions of Earth at the time.

And what's closely linked to it is the question of whether Mars has been habitable to date.

Previous studies of the iron oxide components of Martian dust based solely on spacecraft observations found no evidence of water contained within it.

Therefore, planetary researchers say that this particular type of iron oxide is formed under hematite, which is formed under dry surface conditions through reaction with the Martian atmosphere for billions of years after an early wet period on Mars. I had concluded that it had to be.

However, new analysis of spacecraft observations combined with new laboratory techniques shows that Mars' red colour is better matched by iron oxides containing water known as ferihydrite.

Felihydrite usually forms quickly in the presence of cold water, so it must have been formed when Mars was still water on the surface.

The minerals hold a watery signature to this day, despite their spreading down to the ground.

Dr. Adomas Valantinas, a researcher at Brown University, said:

“Ferihydrite, mixed with volcanic rock basalt, has proven to be the most suitable for the minerals found in Martian spacecraft.”

“Mars is still a red planet. It's not only about understanding why Mars is red, but it also means that our understanding has changed.”

“The main meaning is that Mars was rusting faster than before, as ferrihydrite could only form when water was still on the surface.”

“In addition, under current conditions on Mars, ferrihydrite remains stable.”

Mars has acquired its iconic color from the combination of rust and erosion over its 4.6 billion years of history. Image credits: ESA/ATG Europe/Valantinas et al. , doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56970-z.

Other studies have also suggested that ferrihydrite may be present in Mars' dust, but the current study has been the first comprehensive study through a unique combination of space mission data and new laboratory experiments. Provide evidence.

The authors used an advanced grinder machine to create replica Mars dust, achieving realistic dust grain sizes equivalent to 1/100th of human hair.

To make a direct comparison, the samples were then analyzed using the same technology as the spacecraft orbiting the spacecraft, and ultimately identified ferrihydrite as the best match.

“This study is the result of a complementary dataset from a fleet of international missions exploring Mars at orbital and ground levels,” says Dr. Colin Wilson, PhD, Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) from ESA and Mars Express Project Scientist. said.

Mars Express's dust mineralogy analysis helped to show that even the highly dusty regions of the planet contain water-rich minerals.

Also, thanks to TGO's unique trajectory, you can see the same area at different lighting conditions and angles. Researchers can unravel the particle size and composition essential to replicate the correct dust size in the lab.

Data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and ground-based measurements from NASA's Mars Rovers Curiosity, Pathfinder and opportunity also helped to assert ferrihydrite.

“We are eagerly awaiting the results of our upcoming missions, including ESA's Rosalind Franklin Rover and sample returns from NASA/ESA Mars.

“Some of the samples that have already been collected by NASA's Perseverance Rover and are waiting for their return to Earth contain dust. Putting these precious samples into the lab will result in dust. You can accurately measure the amount of ferihydrite contained and what this means to understand the history of water and the potential for life on Mars.”

“This research is an opening opportunity for the door,” said Dr. Jack Mustard, a planetary scientist at Brown University.

“It gives us a better opportunity to apply the principles of mineral formation and conditions and tap time.”

“More importantly, the return of samples from Mars, which are currently being collected through patience.”

Survey results It will be displayed in the journal Natural Communication.

____

A. Valantinas et al. 2025. Detection of ferrihydrite in the red dust of Mars records ancient cold and wet conditions on Mars. Nut commune 16, 1712; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-56970-z

Source: www.sci.news

What is the reason for furry animals wagging wet dogs?

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Most pet owners have probably seen their furry friends get soaking wet. After dripping for 1 second, they spray water everywhere. wet dog shake. Almost all hairy mammals, from dogs, cats, and mice to lions, tigers, and bears, shiver and dry when their fur gets wet. But even though it's common for dogs to get wet and shiver, scientists still don't know what causes this behavior.

Our skin is very sensitive to touch. Most people can easily distinguish the gentle touch of a loved one, a breeze, the movement of a pest on the skin. We sense touch through our nervous system using specialized cells called . somatosensory neurons Detect changes in our skin. Hairy animals have 12 unique types of somatosensory neurons that sense and respond to touch. One such neuron is C-LTMRresponds only to mild, slow stimuli. When these neurons sense something, they react strongly by sending strong electrical signals through the nervous system. The research team wondered if these neurons were responsible for the tremors in wet dogs.

To investigate the link between C-LTMR neurons and wet dog tremors, the researchers first measured this behavior in mice. They used a dropper to place droplets of sunflower seed oil on the necks of 10 mice and monitored their behavior for five minutes. Mice initiated wet dog shaking within an average of 10 seconds after droplet placement, often 3 to 4 times every 18 seconds. After the first minute, the mice stopped shaking frequently and instead groomed and scratched themselves.

So the researchers wanted to know whether the shivering in wet dogs was an automatic behavior triggered by neurons that sensed these droplets. To test this, they used genetic engineering techniques. crisper In order to remove the genes that create touch sensors in neurons, piezo 2. CRISPR is piezo 2 Gene for finding mouse cells themselves piezo 2 gene. CRISPR then disrupts the gene, preventing the mouse cells from making touch sensors. When researchers placed oil drops on the necks of genetically engineered mice, wet dog shakes did not occur. The researchers concluded that touch is the main mechanism that triggers the automatic shivering behavior in wet dogs.

Many somatosensory neurons use Piezo2 to sense touch, so the researchers are unable to pinpoint the neurons responsible for the wet dog's tremors. However, some genes are only produced by certain types of neurons. The researchers used genetic engineering to target these genes, a process called light-sensitization. optogenetics. These light-sensitive genes produce proteins that become activated when scientists shine a blue laser on them. The researchers used optogenetics to create light-sensitive C-LTMR neurons and compared them to other light-sensitive somatosensory neurons.

When the researchers shined a light on the skin of seven light-sensitive C-LTMR mice, the mice shivered 60% of the time like a wet dog. But mice with other light-sensitive neurons did not show the dog-wetting tremors in response to the laser. The researchers found that photosensitive C-LTMR mice responded best 80% of the time when the laser was applied to the neck rather than the back or thighs, with 30% and 0% responses, respectively. Ta.

The researchers thought this might indicate that C-LTMR neurons were sending signals through other neurons in the spine. spinal parabrachial neurons or SPN. To test this, the researchers cultured SPNs containing optogenetic C-LTMR neurons in Petri dishes. When they shined a laser on C-LTMR neurons, the electrical signals within the SPN were measured with electrodes, showing that these neurons were communicating.

The researchers concluded that wet dog tremors are caused specifically by C-LTMR neurons in the spine. They hope that future studies can build on their findings and gain a deeper understanding of the connections between C-LTMR neurons and the brain. Continuing these studies will impact how scientists understand wet dog tremors in mammals and how hypersensitivity and other contact-based symptoms develop in humans. Possibly.


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Source: sciworthy.com

The Adorable Reason Why Cats Get Zoomy After Using the Litter Box

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Zoomies are a hilarious sight. Watching a cat bounce off walls like a pinball is pure entertainment. One moment they’re leaping over furniture, and the next they’re careening into a lampshade. They zip around here, there, and everywhere before inevitably falling asleep.

Most cats will experience zoomies at some point, also referred to as “periods of frenzied random activity” or “FRAP.” This behavior is more common in the early and late hours of the day and is often seen in kittens and young cats.

Zoomies may also occur after a bowel movement, leading to terms like “poo” and “clap ‘n flap.” Several theories exist to explain this behavior.

Photo credit: Kyle Smart

Some believe it may be a response to a dirty litter box, as cats are naturally clean and want to distance themselves from their waste quickly.

Others suggest it could indicate a gastrointestinal issue or digestive illness.

One theory proposes that the behavior harks back to a cat’s wild instincts, as fecal matter can attract predators. By defecating swiftly, cats may avoid drawing unwanted attention.

https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2024/12/GettyImages-1457965473.mp4
Zoomies are also known as Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAP).

On a different note, gastroenterologist and author Dr. Anish Sheth hypothesized that large stools could stimulate the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to abdominal organs.

This stimulation may decrease heart rate and blood pressure, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain and potential dizziness. The outcome? A goofy moment of cat craziness, or zoomies.

While this theory is intriguing, conventional wisdom suggests that vagus nerve activity typically relaxes animals rather than making them more active. As a result, the debate continues.

This article explores the question “Why do cats get zoomy after pooping?” posed by Ann Rosales via email.

If you have any queries, feel free to reach out to us at: questions@sciencefocus.comor message us on Facebook, Twitter, or visit our Instagram Page (please include your name and location).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The amusing reason why these monkeys are attracted to long noses

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Proboscis monkeys are renowned for their loud, bulbous calls and are among the most famous primates in the world. Contrary to popular belief, their noses are not so large that they need to be held under their arms when eating. They have a healthy diet.

Endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo, these Old World monkeys are known for their social and friendly nature. They live in troops, with a harem group consisting of dominant males, females, and young males, while bachelor groups may include males and sometimes females.

These monkeys inhabit mangrove swamps and forests near rivers, where they feed on fruits, seeds, and leaves. They prefer unripe fruits due to the high sugar content in ripe fruits, which can cause their already plump bellies to swell further.

Baby proboscis monkeys are born with bright blue faces and black fur, but gradually change to their adult colors as they grow – Photo credit: Getty

They are unique among primates for regurgitating and re-chewing their food (rumination) and have multiple-chambered stomachs similar to cows. The bacteria in their stomachs aid in digesting tough foods and detoxifying them.

Everything about these monkeys is large, from their stomachs accounting for a quarter of their body weight to their long limbs and tails. Males can weigh up to 24 kg (about 52 lbs) and have large noses, earning them the nickname “Orang Branda” or “Dutchman” from local Malays.

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It turns out that female proboscis monkeys prefer males with large noses, which can grow up to 17 cm (6.5 inches) in length. This trait is sexually selected, with women showing a preference for males with bigger noses due to its association with body quality and vocalization. The size of the nose indicates fertility and influences the male’s success in attracting females.

https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2024/12/Monkey.mp4
Male proboscis monkeys use their large noses to make loud noises to attract mates.

Interestingly, males with larger noses also tend to have smaller canine teeth, despite the lack of territorial aggression in proboscis monkeys. Troops of monkeys often interact, and members may move between groups, gathering at night to sleep in the same areas.

Proboscis monkeys are adept swimmers with partially webbed limbs, using a splash-free dog paddle to navigate their habitat. Their main threat comes from human activities like deforestation for timber and agriculture, leading to a drastic decline in their population.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

One simple reason why baby sharks are are more frightening than adorable

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When it comes to cuteness, it’s all subjective. Depending on the species, baby sharks can be as small as palm-sized infants like small spotted cat sharks that hatch from “mermaid's purse” egg cases or directly from their mothers as long-bodied pups with outstretched arms.

This is especially true for sand tiger sharks, although it’s surprising how these tiny creatures grow so big. Sand tiger sharks are one of the many species where fertilized eggs hatch inside the female’s body and develop in the womb.

It’s quite common for shark fetuses to feed on unfertilized eggs, a behavior seen in over a dozen species. Sandwich shark embryos are even more developed, with ultrasound scans showing them swimming between the uterus prongs, likely searching for more sustenance.

After a year of gestation, female sand tiger sharks give birth to one or two large pups, considered the survivors of a fierce intrauterine battle. While their size at birth helps protect them from many predators, they are also at risk of getting caught in fishing nets, pushing them closer to extinction.

Researchers studied shark carcasses caught in nets across South Africa to understand why unborn sand tiger sharks engage in cannibalism. They found that females carrying more advanced embryos produced fewer fetuses due to intrauterine competition.

DNA testing revealed that sand tiger shark fetuses are born to multiple fathers in a litter, showing a complex mating system where the offspring of one dominant male tend to outcompete their half-siblings.

It’s unclear why this occurs, but it could be a strategy for females to select the best mate or for the strongest sperm to produce the most viable offspring. This article dives into the intriguing world of baby sharks and their complex familial relationships.

This article addresses questions like: “How cute are baby sharks in real life?” – Jacob Barnett, Peterborough

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Pneumatic tubes are making a surprising comeback for this unexpected reason

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Do you remember the days when pneumatic tubes were used for fast delivery of packages, mail, and important documents? Despite being touted as the future of delivery technology in shows like Futurama and Star Trek, pneumatic tubes started to disappear with the rise of the Internet, online purchasing, and improved communication methods.

Surprisingly, pneumatic tubes are now making a high-tech comeback, primarily in hospitals where they are used for quick, hygienic, and safe transportation of samples and sensitive information within large buildings.

How did the pneumatic tube come about?

The idea of pneumatic tubes initially included plans for a mass transit system where people would travel through tubes at high speeds using jets of air. While this idea didn’t fully materialize, some unique uses of pneumatic tubes included sending messages across tables in a Berlin bar and transporting various items like money, parts, and even fish in different industries.

Why are they returning?

Even though pneumatic tubes fell out of use in many areas, hospitals have continued to utilize them for efficient internal transfers. The modern version of pneumatic tube systems is highly automated, allowing for quick deliveries of samples and medicines within hospital premises.

Aside from hospitals, pneumatic tubes have found applications in waste disposal systems, such as the one on Roosevelt Island in New York, where these tubes whisk away trash at high speeds, eliminating the need for trucks and crews for garbage collection.

Overall, the pneumatic tubing market is expected to grow in the coming years, with valuations increasing and projects being built worldwide in various industries like dairy farms, cannabis dispensaries, and more.

It’s fascinating to see how technology that originated in the 1850s is making a comeback in the modern world.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

What was the reason behind Donald Trump sharing an AI-generated fake video of Taylor Swift?

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circleWhen Donald Trump posted a series of AI-generated images that falsely portrayed Taylor Swift and her fans as supporters of his presidential campaign, he inadvertently endorsed the efforts of an opaque non-profit organization aiming to fund prominent right-wing media figures and with a track record of disseminating misinformation.

Among the modified images shared by Trump on Truth Social were digitally altered pictures of young women sporting “Swifties for Trump” shirts, created by the John Milton Freedom Foundation. This Texas-based non-profit, established last year, claims to advocate for press freedom while also seeking to “empower independent journalists” and “fortify the pillars of our democracy.”




President Trump posts AI imitation of Taylor Swift and her fans Photo: Nick Robbins Early/Truth Social



Screenshot of @amuse’s “Swifties for Trump” tweet. Photo: Nick Robbins Early/Truth Social/X

The foundation’s operations seem to involve sharing clickbait content on X and collecting substantial donations, with plans for a “fellowship program” chaired by a high school student that intends to grant $100,000 to prominent Twitter figures like Glenn Greenwald, Andy Ngo, and Lara Logan. Despite inquiries into the foundation’s activities and fellowship program through tax records, investor documents, and social media posts, the John Milton Freedom Foundation did not offer any comment.

Having spent months endorsing conservative media figures and echoing Elon Musk’s allegations of free speech suppression from the political left, one of the foundation’s messages eventually reached President Trump and his massive following.

Experts caution about the potential dangers of generative AI in creating deceptive content that could impact election integrity. The proliferation of AI-generated content, including portrayals of Trump, Kamala Harris, and other politicians, has increased since Musk’s xAI introduced the unregulated Grok image generator. The John Milton Freedom Foundation is just one among many groups flooding social media with AI-generated content.


Niche nonprofit’s AI junk reaches President Trump

Amid the spread of AI images on X, the conservative @amuse account shared an AI-generated tweet from Swift fans with its over 300,000 followers. The post was tagged as “Satire,” marked with “Sponsored by the John Milton Freedom Foundation.” Trump then reposted screenshots of these tweets on Truth Social.

The @amuse account, managed by Alexander Muse, enjoys a broad reach with approximately 390,000 followers and frequent daily postings. Muse, indicated as a consultant in the Milton Foundation’s investor prospectus and a writer of right-wing commentary on Substack, has numerous ties to the @amuse account. The AI content includes depictions like Trump vs. Darth Vader and sexualized images of Harris, with the prominent watermark “Sponsored by: John Milton Freedom Foundation.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Real Reason Teens “Addicted” to Video Games: It’s Us, Not Them

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ohOn Sunday, The Observer published a sensitive article about video game addiction, interviewing therapists who work in the field and affected families. Real, compulsive, life-altering addiction, whether to video games or anything else, is of course devastating to those affected. In 2018, the WHO classified gaming addiction as a specific disorder. (It is different from technology addiction.) A specialized gaming disorder center established in the UK has treated over 1,000 patients. Thankfully, judging by the figures, this is a rare case, affecting less than 1% of the 88% of teenagers who play games.

The article asks the question: “Why are so many young people addicted to video games?”, which will no doubt have struck a chord with many parents who despair at the amount of time their children spend in front of a computer or games console. But as The Guardian’s video games editor and correspondent, we believe that many of those worried about the amount of time teenagers spend gaming are not dealing with an issue of addiction or compulsive behaviour. If we want to know why so many teenagers choose of their own free will to play 10 to 20 hours a week, we should look around us, rather than pathologising gaming.

Gen Z is the most surveilled generation ever born. We blame our kids and teenagers for not going outside, but at the same time we limit their freedom and close off their space. Parents may miss spending all day outside, riding their bikes around the neighborhood, but at the same time they treat their kids’ smartphones like tracking devices, demanding regular check-ins, infiltrating their social media feeds, and building databases of their activities and friend groups. The pandemic may have subsided, but it wasn’t just lockdowns that kept kids indoors.

Where will teenagers go without parental anxiety? Over the past decade, YMCA Data It indicates more than 4,500 youth activities jobs will be cut and 750 youth centres will be closed. According to the Music Venue Trust:Every week, two grassroots music venues close. The nightclub industry is in freefall. Playing in the park invites the suspicion of overprotective adults who assume these treasured recreational spaces are for young children only. City squares, skate parks, and pedestrian zones that were once public spaces are now insidiously privatized, monitored by CCTV and guarded by private security guards.

So it’s no wonder that teenagers retreat into the online world of video games. It’s the last space unencumbered by parents or other authority figures, the last place beyond adult control. You can spend all day doing what you want with your friends in Red Dead Redemption, Minecraft or Fortnite, without being interrupted or complained about, and without having to spend £5 on a latte every 30 minutes. If you can’t get therapy, at least you can relax and chat with friends in soothing games like Stardew Valley, Unpacking or Coffee Talk. You can travel freely and for free in Elden Ring or The Legend of Zelda. In Euro Truck Simulator, elderly relatives can’t suddenly vote to restrict your access to the continent.

There’s no doubt that spending all day in bed is unhealthy and lonely, but can you blame this generation for being anxious and withdrawn? They’ve been confined to their homes for over a year recently. There’s a great deal of despair and disillusionment in a world where homeownership is an illusion, lifelong job security is increasingly rare, and young people are accused of being lazy and complacent. The country’s minimum wage for 18-year-olds is £8.60, and an hour’s work barely buys you a pint in a London pub – if you can even find a job at all.

Outside of gaming, the media landscape is dominated by news sources that ridicule, slander and criminalize young people as woke wimps. The Conservatives’ last attempt to rally support before the election was to reinstate National Service for 18 year olds to teach them respect and public spirit. This is a generation that put their lives, friendships, relationships and education on hold to save their grandparents. It’s no surprise they want to escape into the virtual world. It’s amazing they want to return to the world we built for them.

Meanwhile, real action on the environmental crisis is being thwarted by incompetent politicians who cozy up to corporate polluters and right-wing conspiracy theorists who deny there’s any problem at all. Experts are wrestling with how far protesters should be allowed to block roads, while water companies are filling the oceans with human waste. When it’s time to reap what we’ve sown, all of these people will be dead, but not Gen Z. They’ll have a job for life for sure.

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Today’s teenagers are gaming more than any generation before them. They’re also experiencing a mental health crisis, with one in three reporting mental health issues ranging from anxiety and depression to, of course, addiction. Even if there is a relationship between these things, it’s not the cause. We’re eager to blame anything for the problems our kids are experiencing, from smartphones to social media to video games — that is, anything but ourselves.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Purpose of Leap Year 2024: Understanding the Reason Behind It

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It may surprise you, but the universe isn’t perfect, at least not from a human perspective. One clear example of this imperfection is the existence of leap years like 2024.

What is a leap year?

By definition, a leap year occurs every four years, adding an extra day to make the year 366 days long instead of the usual 365. This extra day falls on February 29th rather than the typical February 28th.

Why do leap years occur?

The discrepancy between a year (Earth’s orbit around the sun) and a day (Earth’s rotation) drives the need for leap years to align our calendar with the Earth’s journey around the sun. This misalignment accumulates over time, necessitating the addition of leap years to keep our calendar in sync with the seasons.

“Leap years play a crucial role in aligning our calendar with the Earth’s orbit around the sun,” explains Dr. Minjae Kim, a Research Fellow in Astrophysics at the University of Warwick.

The Julian calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC added a day every four years, but it slightly overcorrected the discrepancy between the solar year and the calendar year. Reforms led to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which provides rules for determining leap years, reducing the error rate to about one day every 3000 years.

Celebrities with leap year birthdays

  • Jack Rousma: NASA astronaut born on February 29, 1936.
  • Ja Rule: American rap legend born on February 29, 1976.
  • Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castechon: Prime Minister of Spain born on February 29, 1972.
  • Karen Jones: American competitive swimmer born on February 29, 1984.

Is it possible to create the perfect calendar?

Despite efforts to improve calendars, there is no perfect solution due to the dynamic nature of space. The concept of time harmonizing with natural rhythms is temporary, as our days get longer and Earth’s orbit changes over long timescales. For now, the Gregorian calendar remains adequate.

About our experts

Dr. Minjae Kim: Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick, focusing on planetary science and dust signatures in debris disks around stars.

Dr. James McCormack: Assistant Professor in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Warwick, specializing in transiting exoplanets and the European Space Agency’s PLATO mission.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

I discovered the reason behind the distinct flavor of oranges

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Many compounds contribute to orange flavor

Photography/Shutterstock

Chemical analysis revealed 26 compounds responsible for orange’s distinctive flavor. This discovery will help plant scientists create disease-resistant orange hybrids that are just as tasty as the original variety.

In recent decades, citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing, has devastated citrus production around the world. orange (Citrus sinensis) say they are particularly affected by this disease Anne Plott at the American Horticultural Research Institute in Florida.

Plotto and his colleagues wanted to see if it was possible to create a hybrid that was resistant to citrus greening disease while retaining the characteristic orange flavor.

To identify the chemicals responsible for this flavor, researchers analyzed 179 juice samples from a variety of citrus fruits, including oranges and mandarins.Citrus reticulata), three-leaf mandarin orange (Citrus trifoliata) and its hybrids. Trained citrus testers also tried each sample and rated how much it tasted like orange juice.

They found that the strongest orange-flavored juices all contained 26 specific compounds. Seven of these compounds are a type of chemical called esters, which seem to be the key to differentiating the taste of oranges from tangerines.

Plott and her team then conducted genetic analysis of the fruit and discovered genes involved in the synthesis of all seven esters they named. C. sinensis alcohol acyltransferase 1.

“This gene is expressed more in varieties that produce more esters,” team members say jen fan at the University of Florida.

The research could eventually help create disease-resistant hybrids with a rich orange flavor, Plott said. “This discovery may allow us to screen citrus hybrid seedlings early to get the desired orange flavor, rather than waiting 10 to 15 years for the trees to bear fruit,” she said. says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

What is the reason behind science’s heavy reliance on mathematics?

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The following is an excerpt from the Lost in Space-Time newsletter. Every month, we Give a keyboard to a physicist or mathematician and let them talk about some fascinating ideas from their corner of the universe. You can sign up for Lost in Space-Time for free here.

“Science is written in the language of mathematics,” Galileo declared in 1623. And over the past few centuries, science has become increasingly mathematical. Mathematics now seems to have complete supremacy, especially in the fields of quantum physics and relativity. Modern physics education seems to include deriving theories such as…

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Surprising Reason Why Mental Exertion Can Drain Our Energy

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The myth that we only use 10 percent of our brains has been completely debunked. Perhaps this idea persists because it is so tempting to believe that you can become a genius simply by learning how to tap into your dormant 90 percent. In reality, no part of your brain can keep up with demands, and your brain is always switched on, even when you're asleep or not thinking at all.

But that doesn't necessarily mean that your brain uses the same amount of energy while daydreaming as it does when you're concentrating. We've all experienced the feeling of being mentally exhausted after concentrating on a difficult problem. It certainly feels like a lot of work to think about it in detail, but is it really? The answer is more nuanced than you might think.

It is true that the brain is a starving organ. “It's the most energy-intensive part of your body,” he says. Nili Ravi At University College London. It makes up about 2% of your body weight, but consumes about 20% of your energy at rest.

Most of this energy is used to maintain varying levels of electrical charge across the neuron's membrane. This unbalanced state must be restored after the neuron fires the signal. “That requires a lot of fuel,” he says. Ewan McNay at the University at Albany in New York.

Interestingly, when it comes to energy use, the brain doesn't differentiate between tasks we traditionally think of as “difficult” and tasks that come more naturally. This was the first…

Source: www.newscientist.com

The reason behind the burning up of Hayabusa’s lunar lander in Earth’s atmosphere.

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Launch of the Peregrine Lunar Module on a Vulcan rocket on January 8th

APFootage / Alamy Stock Photo

The mission of the Hayabusa lander is over. The American company that built Astrobotic, a lunar lander whose plans failed, was unable to complete its trip to the moon due to a fuel leak, so it was brought back and burned in Earth's atmosphere.

What was wrong with the Hayabusa lander?

Just seven hours after launching on a Vulcan rocket on January 8, engineers noticed that Peregrine wasn't facing the right direction and its solar panels weren't charging the batteries that power its electronics. Shortly afterward, it was discovered that fuel was leaking from the aircraft. It was eventually determined that the oxidizer tank had ruptured, probably due to a stuck valve, and that the leak had generated a small amount of thrust, causing the probe to change direction. By the time everything was figured out, Peregrine had already lost too much fuel to reach the moon, let alone perform the maneuvers needed to land gently on the moon.

The peregrine falcon was in space for days, but what was it doing all that time?

Astrobotic's engineers were able to correct Peregrine's orientation, and once the solar panels were oriented in the correct direction, the battery was charged. This will allow Peregrine operators to perform a quick test ignition of the main engine and power on the onboard spacecraft, allowing them to better understand the spacecraft's operation in space and determine what went wrong. Helpful. They also remotely switched on some scientific instruments and made measurements of radiation in interplanetary space that could provide useful scientific insights. By operating the spacecraft for several days, Astrobotic will also be able to decide whether to extend its mission in space by changing from its planned moon landing, or continue on its way back to Earth. I was given time to do it.

Why did it have to be brought back to Earth rather than left in space?

Although the peregrine falcon could have survived a little longer in Earth orbit, there were some risks to leaving it there. Eventually, the spacecraft will run out of fuel completely and become essentially a cannonball flying uncontrollably around the Earth. This type of space debris can cause significant damage to operating satellites.a statement The Astrobotic article says: “Ultimately, we have to balance the risk of a damaged spacecraft causing problems with our own desire to extend Peregrine's life, operate the payload, and learn more about the spacecraft. .”

Wouldn't it be dangerous to bring it back to Earth?

It's actually much safer to return the spacecraft to Earth. Satellites are regularly deorbited in this way, usually burning up in the incredible heat they experience as they plummet through the atmosphere. The falcon was also carefully targeted towards the Pacific Ocean just east of Australia to minimize the risk of any surviving debris hitting populated areas.

What about the other things Peregrine was carrying?

In addition to scientific instruments, the spacecraft also carried two controversial payloads sent into space by a company called Celestis, which provides what is called a “commemorative spaceflight.” These two vessels of hers contained cremated human remains. Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry and actors James Doohan and Nichelle Nichols. It is unclear whether the capsule survived Earth's atmosphere and ended up in the ocean.

Why do missions to the moon continue to fail?

Indeed, this is the third mission to land on the moon that has failed in the last year, but that's only partially due to the difficulty of sending a probe into space and making a soft landing hundreds of thousands of kilometers away. Lunar landing attempts have also increased significantly, many using new equipment and protocols that have not yet been tested. While there are understandably some growing pains, more moon landings are planned in the future, and Astrobotic executives are already discussing plans to try again.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

What is the reason for gravity pulling us downwards instead of upwards?

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Einstein’s theory of general relativity explains gravity as the result of the curvature of spacetime by mass, in contrast to the dual ability of magnetism to attract and repel. This theory introduces the concept of the gravity well, which is central to understanding gravity. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Why does gravity pull us down instead of up?

Gravity is the reason objects with mass or energy are attracted to each other. This is why apples fall to the ground and why planets revolve around stars.

Magnets attract some types of metals, but can also repel others. So why do we only feel gravity?

In 1915, Albert Einstein discovered the answer with his general theory of relativity. The reason gravity pulls you to the ground is because any object with Earth-like mass actually bends or curves the fabric of the universe called space-time. That curvature is what is felt as gravity.

What is space-time?

Before we get into the complex world of gravity, we need to understand space-time.

As the name suggests, spacetime is a combination of the three dimensions of space (length, width, and height) and the fourth dimension (time). Using exceptional mathematics, Einstein was the first to realize that the laws of physics operate in the universe. space and time merge.

What this means is that space and time are connected. When you move very quickly through space, time moves more slowly than for someone who is moving slowly. This is why astronauts travel so fast through space. Aging a little slower than people on Earth.

The Earth curves space-time, so you fall toward the Earth instead of away from it. Credit: Tokamac/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Matter does not create gravitational hills, but gravitational springs.

Recall that gravity is the idea that objects in the universe are attracted to each other because space-time is curved and curved. When Einstein came up with the theory of general relativity, he showed that all objects in the universe can bend space-time. In physics terminology, matter is mass and energy.

Your brain normally thinks of the world in three dimensions, so it’s very difficult to think of the four dimensions of space-time as a single idea. To help you visualize it, imagine the surface of a trampoline. If nothing is placed on it, it is flat. However, when you stand on a trampoline, the trampoline stretches out beneath your feet, creating a valley around you. When a ball is on the trampoline, it will roll towards your feet.

Gravity acts in the same way that objects roll toward your feet when you stand on a trampoline.

This is a two-dimensional example of how space-time works. Your mass stretched the trampoline, creating a so-called gravity well into which the ball would roll. This is very similar to the way the gravity of a heavy object like the Earth pulls things like you and me towards it.

Even more strangely, space and time are connected. Time is also stretched by heavy objects.!

In the movie “Interstellar”, the characters go to a planet close to Earth. Black HoleAnd while there, they age more slowly than others.

The heavier the weight, the steeper the sides of the trampoline will be. This is why really huge objects in the universe, such as the sun and black holes, have stronger gravity than Earth.

So why does gravity pull you down instead of pushing you away?

Imagine someone gets under a trampoline and gets pushed up. The ball rolls away! This would be a gravity hill, not a gravity well. As far as scientists know, matter, or objects, always create gravity wells, but not gravity hills. Scientists can imagine something made of exotic matter or energy that would force gravity to push you into space, but so far they have discovered nothing that would force gravity to push you away from Earth. There are no people.

Written by Mario Borunda, Associate Professor of Physics, Oklahoma State University.

Adapted from an article originally published in conversation.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Astrophysicists uncover the reason behind the absence of spiral galaxies in our supergalactic plane

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Astrophysicists have discovered why spiral galaxies like the Milky Way are rare in the supergalactic plane, a dense region of our local universe. The study, led by Durham University and the University of Helsinki, used simulations on the SIBELIUS supercomputer to show that dense galaxy clusters on a plane frequently merge, transforming spiral galaxies into elliptical galaxies. The discovery is consistent with telescope observations, supports the Standard Model of the Universe, and helps explain long-standing cosmic anomalies in the distribution of galaxies.

Astrophysicists say they have found the answer to why spiral galaxies are similar to our galaxy

This image showing an elliptical galaxy (left) and a spiral galaxy (right) includes near-infrared light from the James Webb Space Telescope and ultraviolet and visible light from the Hubble Space Telescope. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, Rogier Windhorst (ASU), William Keel (University of Alabama), Stuart Wyithe (University of Melbourne), JWST PEARLS team, Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

Evolution of galaxies in dense star clusters

In dense galaxy clusters in supergalactic planes, galaxies frequently experience interactions and mergers with other galaxies. This transforms the spiral galaxy into an elliptical galaxy (a smooth galaxy with no obvious internal structure or spiral arms), leading to the growth of a supermassive black hole.

In contrast, away from the plane, galaxies can evolve in relative isolation, which helps maintain their spiral structure.

Innovative simulations and important discoveries

Research results will be published in a magazine natural astronomy.

The Milky Way is part of a supergalactic plane that includes several giant galaxy clusters and thousands of individual galaxies. Most of the galaxies found here are elliptical galaxies.

The research team used the SIBELIUS (Simulations Beyond the Local Universe) supercomputer simulation, which tracks the evolution of the universe over 13.8 billion years, from the beginning of the universe to the present.

Distribution of the brightest galaxies in the local universe. observed in the 2MASS survey (left panel) and reproduced in the SIBELIUS simulation (right panel). Both panels show projections in supergalactic coordinates down to about 100 megaparsecs (Mpc). The nearly vertical stripes of the sky represent the region of the sky hidden behind our Milky Way galaxy. The simulation accurately reproduces the structure seen in the local universe.Credit: Dr. Thiru Sawala

While most cosmological simulations consider random patches of the universe and cannot be directly compared to observations, SIBELIUS aims to accurately reproduce observed structures, including supergalactic planes. . The final simulation is in remarkable agreement with telescopic observations of the universe.

Contribution and significance of research

Study co-author Professor Carlos Frenk, Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics at Durham University’s Institute of Computational Cosmology, said:

“This is rare, but not a complete anomaly. Our simulations reveal details of galaxy formation, such as the change from spirals to ellipses due to galaxy mergers.”

“Furthermore, the simulations show that the Standard Model of the Universe, which is based on the idea that most of the mass of the Universe is cold dark matter, is one of the most remarkable structures in the Universe, including the magnificent structure of which the Milky Way Galaxy forms part. This shows that the structure can be reproduced.”

The unusual separation of spiral and elliptical galaxies in the local universe has been known since the 1960s and was included in a recent list of “cosmic anomalies” compiled by renowned cosmologist and 2019 Nobel Prize winner Professor Jim Peebles. prominently mentioned.

Study lead author Dr Thiru Sawala, a postdoctoral fellow at Durham University and the University of Helsinki, said: lecture.

“Then we realized that simulations had already been completed that might contain the answer. Our research shows that the known mechanisms of galaxy evolution also work in this unique cosmic environment. Masu.”

Reference: “A distinct distribution of elliptical and disk galaxies across local superclusters as a ΛCDM prediction” by Til Sawalha, Carlos Frenk, Jens Jachet, Peter H. Johansson, and Guillem Laveau, 2023. 11 20th of the month, natural astronomy.
DOI: 10.1038/s41550-023-02130-6

The supercomputer simulations were run on the Cosmology Machine (COSMA 8) supercomputer hosted by Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology on behalf of the UK’s DiRAC high-performance computing facility, and on CSC’s Mahti supercomputer in Finland. .

This research was funded by the European Research Council, the Academy of Finland, and the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Source: scitechdaily.com