A New Research Center to Investigate How AI Can Facilitate “Human Communication” with Pets

Posted on July 12, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

If your cat is acting aloof, your dog is whining, or your rabbit is doing that quirky foot thing again, you might feel a familiar pang of guilt that most pet owners experience.

For those eager to gain insight into the minds of their devoted companions, help may soon be available thanks to the launch of the first scientific institution focused on the empirical study of animal consciousness.

The Jeremy Coller Centre at Animal Sentience, located at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), will commence its research on September 30th, examining non-human animals, including evolutionarily distinct creatures like insects, crabs, and squid.

Leveraging a diverse range of global expertise, the £4 million center’s initiatives encompass neuroscience, philosophy, veterinary science, law, evolutionary biology, comparative psychology, behavioral science, computer science, economics, and artificial intelligence.

One of its most intriguing projects is to investigate the potential for humans to “communicate” with pets. – However, there are necessary precautions to consider.

“We attribute human traits to pets, and with the rise of AI, the way your pet interacts with you may evolve significantly,” stated Professor Jonathan Burch, the center’s inaugural director.

“Nevertheless, AI frequently produces pleasing but inaccurate responses rather than adhering to objective truths. This poses serious risks to pet welfare,” added Burch, whose advocacy for animal welfare has expanded to include cephalopod mollusks and decapod crustaceans.

Burch highlighted issues like separation anxiety, where dog owners seek reassurance that prolonged absence won’t harm their pets. Future “translation” applications rooted in large-scale language models may promise that reassurance but could mislead by delivering comforting illusions instead of addressing true animal needs.

“We urgently require a framework to ensure the responsible and ethical application of AI concerning animals,” emphasized Burch. “Currently, there’s a complete lack of regulation in this domain. The Centre aims to establish globally recognized ethical standards.”

This research aims to “bridge the gap between what people believe about animals and their actual behavior towards them.” Photo: Zpagistock/Getty Images

Birch also underscored the absence of regulations concerning animals and unmanned vehicles. “We engage in many debates without addressing individuals, but we’re neglecting issues affecting pets.”

AI and agriculture represent another pressing concern for the center. “The agricultural sector is rapidly adopting automation, and this trend will only accelerate,” Burch noted. “Yet, it’s progressing with minimal oversight and dialogue. This poses significant ethical dilemmas about the nature of animal relationships in farming. If such relationships are essential, the current trajectory is not ideal.”

The centre will collaborate with non-governmental organizations to formulate guidance, conduct research, and establish codes of practice to advocate globally.

Jeff Sebo, director of the Environmental Animal Protection Center at New York University, stated that the issues surrounding animal perception and welfare, the influence of AI on animals, and public attitudes toward them are “among the most crucial, challenging, and overlooked matters we face as a society.”

“Humans coexist with millions of species and approximately 100 million individual animals, affecting them worldwide, willingly or not,” he remarked.

Professor Christine Andrews, a trustee of the new center, expressed her ambition to address what she perceives as a significant scientific dilemma. – Particularly, how to restore awareness in the event of a stroke or similar medical emergencies?

“We still struggle to understand why some humans remain aware while others become unresponsive,” she said. “Yet, we recognize that investigating simpler systems may yield answers. Science has advanced significantly in genomics and medicine through the study of basic organisms.”

“A deeper understanding of how other animals feel and communicate will help us recognize our own shortcomings in treating them,” Burch asserts. Photo: Robert Leader/Getty Images

Another trustee, Dr. Christophe Dont, expressed intrigue regarding human perceptions of animal sensations.

“One of today’s most pressing behavioral challenges is closing the gap between what people believe about animals and their actual actions,” he remarked.

“People generally care deeply about animals, yet numerous systems, habits, norms, and economic factors hinder genuine change in treatment practices.”

“I aim to utilize behavioral science to explore resistance to consuming cultivated meat, as an example.”

Jeremy Koller, whose foundation has pledged a multi-year commitment to the Center, aims to revolutionize our “speciesism” mentality.

“Only through a better understanding of other animals’ feelings and communication can we confront our shortcomings in their treatment,” he explained. “Much like the Rosetta Stone revealed the mysteries of hieroglyphics, I believe AI will unlock our comprehension of how other animals experience interactions with humans.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Alpha Males: An Exception to the Norm, According to Groundbreaking New Research

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Forget everything you thought you knew about alpha males: Major new research suggests that clear male dominance in primate societies is not a universal truth, indicating that in many species, females either hold equal power or may even surpass males.

Over five years, researchers gathered data from 253 primate populations across 121 species to investigate gender power dynamics. Rather than relying on generalizations, they meticulously documented behavioral patterns.

“We aimed to observe individual-level interactions, identifying specific conflicts rather than relying on overarching categories like ‘men dominate here’,” stated study co-author Dr. Dieter Lukas in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “We then assessed how frequently men and women actually come out on top.”

The findings challenge deeply-held stereotypes.

Out of the populations studied, male dominance was noted in only 25 of the 151 observed groups, where they triumphed in over 90% of contests against females. Female dominance was observed in 16 groups, while the remaining 70% displayed moderate or variable gender dynamics.

“Strict male dominance was a surprisingly rare occurrence,” said Dr. Ellis Fuchard, the author of a related study, to BBC Science Focus. “We were aware of existing literature and did not anticipate it to be the majority, but discovering it was under 20% was more surprising than expected.”

The frequency of sexual conflict—clashes between males and females—was also found to be considerably higher than previously thought, comprising nearly half of all adult disputes.

Lucas pointed out that most studies tend to focus exclusively on either males or females, with few examining the interactions between the two. “However, here,” he remarked, “the conflict between genders is clearly highlighted, showcasing frequent confrontations.”

A group of chakma baboons during a grooming session. To the left, a large male is groomed by a smaller female along with a juvenile. In this species, males tend to dominate over females. – élise Huchard

This research also challenges the notion that power dynamics are solely dictated by physical prowess. In numerous primate societies, female dominance arises not from strength, but from control over reproduction.

“If a female chooses not to mate, a male is powerless to intervene,” Huchard explained. “If females manage breeding, it can serve as a leverage point in their interactions with males.”

While researchers are cautious about extrapolating their results to human behavior, they suggest the findings illuminate the remarkable flexibility of gender roles among our evolutionary relatives.

“We have two close relatives, the chimpanzee and the bonobo. One exhibits male dominance while the other operates predominantly under female leadership,” Huchard noted. “Thus, even prior to our research, we understood that these dynamics are not deterministic.”

The findings indicate that the social hierarchy within primate societies—and possibly humans—is adaptable, shaped by environmental conditions, group composition, mating strategies, and individual relationships. In essence, no single model dictates who holds power.

Read more:

About our experts

Dieter Lukas is an evolutionary biologist specializing in the social systems of both past and present populations, approached from a comparative perspective at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. His recent studies challenge fundamental assumptions in human behavioral ecology, revealing that variations in human behavior are likely influenced by similar factors that guide the behaviors of other mammals and birds.

élise Huchard is a researcher at the University of Montpellier in France. Her primary focus is on mammalian social behavior, conducted through comparative analysis, as well as long-term investigations in natural populations. She also serves as the editor-in-chief of the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New Research Uncovers Small Crystals in Interstellar Amorphous Ice

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Low-density amorphous ice is one of the most prevalent solid materials in the universe and plays a crucial role in deciphering numerous well-known anomalies of liquid water. Despite its significance and discovery nearly 90 years ago, its structure remains a topic of debate. In a recent study, researchers from the University of London and Cambridge found that prior computer simulations of low-density amorphous ice were influenced by a disturbed structure where the ice was not entirely amorphous. Instead, it contained small crystals measuring 3 nm in width, slightly wider than a single DNA strand. In their experimental studies, actual samples of amorphous ice, which formed through different methods, were recrystallized (i.e., warmed up). They observed that the resulting crystal structure varied based on the method used to generate the amorphous ice. The researchers concluded that if the ice was completely disordered, it would not retain any imprint of its previous shape.

Low-density amorphous ice structure: Many small crystals (white) are hidden in the amorphous material (blue). Image credits: Michael B. Davis, UCL & Cambridge University.

“We now have a solid understanding of what the most common ice structures in the universe look like at the atomic level,” states Dr. Michael Davis, a researcher at the University of London and Cambridge.

“This is significant because ice is involved in numerous cosmological processes, including planet formation, galaxy evolution, and the movement of matter throughout the universe.”

For their investigation, Dr. Davis and his colleagues utilized two computer models of water.

They simulated the freezing of water molecules in these virtual “cages” by cooling to -120 degrees Celsius (-184 degrees Fahrenheit) at various rates.

These different cooling rates affected the proportions of crystalline and amorphous ice produced.

The researchers determined that low-density amorphous ice, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction studies, appears to align with a mixture of up to 20% crystallinity and 80% amorphous structure (i.e., researchers fired X-rays at ice and analyzed the deflection patterns).

Using an alternative method, they created a large “box” filled with numerous small ice crystals tightly packed together.

The simulation then disordered the regions between the ice crystals, resulting in structures remarkably similar to those obtained from the initial approach of 25% crystalline ice.

In additional experimental efforts, scientists generated actual low-density amorphous ice samples through various methods, including deposits of water vapor onto extremely cold surfaces (mimicking how ice forms on interstellar dust) and from high-density amorphous ice (ice crushed at very low temperatures).

These amorphous ice samples were then gently heated to provide energy for the formation of crystals.

They noted variations in the structure of the ice depending on its origin, particularly regarding the arrangement of molecules in a hexagonal (6x) formation.

This provided indirect evidence that low-density amorphous ice contained crystalline constituents.

Should it be entirely disordered, the ice would lack any memory of its prior form.

The findings raised further inquiries about the nature of amorphous ice, such as whether crystal size varies based on the formation method, and whether truly amorphous ice is achievable.

“Water is essential to life, yet our understanding is still incomplete,” remarked Professor Michael Ryde from Cambridge University.

“Amorphous ice may be key to explaining many anomalies observed in water.”

“Ice holds potential as a high-performance material in space,” added Dr. Davis.

“It can shield spacecraft from radiation and supply fuel in the form of hydrogen and oxygen.”

“Understanding the various structures and properties is critical.”

Moreover, this research touches upon a speculative theory regarding the origins of life on Earth.

This theory posits that life’s building blocks were transported here on an icy comet, known as Panspermia.

“Our findings indicate that this ice might be a suboptimal transport medium for these biological molecules,” stated Dr. Davis.

“This is due to the reduced space available for partial embedding of these components in the crystal structure.”

“Nonetheless, the theory could still hold merit, as there are amorphous regions within the ice capable of storing and concealing life’s building blocks.”

“Ice on Earth captivates our curiosity due to our warm climate,” observed University College professor Christophe Salzmann from the University of London.

“You can see the intricate order of snowflakes in their symmetry.”

“Ice elsewhere in the universe has long been viewed as a frozen snapshot of liquid water: a disordered arrangement that is fixed in place. Our findings suggest that this perception is not entirely accurate.”

“Our results also prompt questions regarding the properties of amorphous materials in general.”

“Such materials are vital in advanced technologies.”

“For instance, fiberglass used for data transmission must be amorphous or disordered to function.”

“If these materials contain small crystals, their performance can potentially be enhanced by removing them.”

The findings were documented in a paper published today in the journal Physical Review B.

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Michael Benedict Davis et al. 2025. Low-density amorphous ice contains crystalline ice grains. Phys. Rev. B 112, 024203; doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.112.024203

Source: www.sci.news

Minister Urges Revamp of UK’s Top AI Research Laboratories

Posted on July 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Technology Secretary has urged a comprehensive restructuring of the UK’s foremost AI Institute, emphasizing defense and national security, as evidenced by a detailed letter advocating for leadership modifications.

Peter Kyle expressed that it is evident that additional measures are necessary to ensure that the government-backed Alan Turing Institute realizes its full potential.

In a letter to the ATI chair, which was reviewed by the Guardian, Kyle suggested that the institute’s focus should shift towards prioritizing defense, national security, and “sovereign capabilities,” referring to the ability of nations to regulate their own AI technologies.

Seeking new priorities implies that ATI’s current focus has been on health and environmental issues. Under the proposed “Turing 2.0” strategy, defense and security will become two of the lab’s three main areas of concentration.

“Advancements in defense and national security initiatives should be central to ATI’s operations, and ties with the UK’s security, defense, and intelligence reporting communities should be reinforced accordingly,” Kyle stated.

Revealing that the Turing 2.0 strategy falls short of governmental expectations, Kyle expressed his desire for a change in ATI’s leadership.

“In order to achieve this vision, it is crucial that ATI’s leadership aligns with the institute’s newly defined focus,” he wrote as first reported by Politico. “While we recognize the current leadership’s achievements in reforming the institute during challenging times, we must carefully evaluate the importance of having management with relevant experience and industry knowledge to guide this transition.”

ATI is chaired by Doug Gurr, the former head of Amazon’s UK operations and interim chair of the UK competition watchdog.

The Institute is undergoing a reorganization under CEO Jean Innes, with indications that one in five employees may place ATI’s reliability in “serious jeopardy.” Late last year, ATI expanded its staff by 440, but has since initiated a redundancy process.

Although ATI operates with nominal independence, it recently secured £100 million from the government under a five-year funding agreement. The letter indicated that ATI’s “long-term funding arrangement” could be assessed next year. Kyle noted that the government intends to maintain its current levels of research and development in national security and defense over the next three years while increasing the number of defense and national security personnel integrated into the lab.

Dame Wendy Hall, a professor of computer science at the University of Southampton and co-chair of the 2017 Government AI Review, cautioned that the proposed changes would result in ATI no longer functioning as a national laboratory.

“If the lab centers on defense and security, it won’t serve as a national lab for AI,” Hall remarked. “The scope is too narrow. If the government seeks an AI lab focused solely on defense and security, it should explicitly state that.”

In February, the government demonstrated its focus on national security within its AI strategy by renaming the AI Safety Institute, which was established under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

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Kyle’s letter labeled the government’s 50-point AI action plan as a “demonstration” of the UK’s AI ambitions. The plan aims for a 20-fold increase in publicly managed AI computing resources by 2030, with a goal of integrating AI into the public sector.

An ATI representative stated that the institute is committed to “critical missions” supporting the UK, including defense and national security.

“We align with the government’s vision of AI to enhance the UK, welcome acknowledgment of our pivotal role, collaborate closely with the government to advance its priorities, and continue to provide scientific and innovative contributions for the public good,” the spokesperson affirmed.

The Departments of Science, Innovation, and Technology asserted that these proposed changes represent a “natural progression” for ATI following the renaming of the Safety Institute.

“We believe these suggested changes not only ensure that the Alan Turing Institute delivers genuine value but also play a significant role in safeguarding our national security,” the spokesperson concluded.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research Indicates a Connection Between Lactose Intolerance and Nightmares

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A recent study involving 1,082 students at Macewan University explored sleep quality, dietary habits, and the perceived connection between the two, revealing a notable relationship between nightmares and lactose intolerance.

Nielsen et al. The research indicates a link between lactose intolerance, dairy consumption, nightmares, and sleep deprivation. Image credit: Micya HNBS.

“The intensity of nightmares shows a strong correlation with lactose intolerance and various food allergies,” noted Dr. Torre Nielsen, a researcher at the University of Monttoriol.

“These findings suggest that modifying dietary habits for individuals with food sensitivities may help alleviate nightmare occurrences.”

“This also explains why many attribute dairy consumption to their unpleasant dreams!”

In this study, 1,082 students from Macewan University were surveyed regarding the perceived connections among sleep duration and quality, dreams, nightmares, and various food items.

Participants’ relationships between their mental and physical well-being and their diet were also examined.

About a third of the respondents reported experiencing regular nightmares. Women were noted to reminisce about their dreams more and were nearly twice as likely to report sleep deprivation and nightmares compared to men.

Roughly 40% of those surveyed admitted to eating late at night or believing certain foods might disrupt their sleep. Around 25% felt that specific foods had a negative impact on their sleep quality.

Interestingly, those who adhered to healthier eating habits tended to report more negative dreams and were less likely to remember them.

“Journalists frequently inquire, especially around food-centric holidays, about the effects of food on our dreams. Now we have some insights,” Dr. Nielsen explained.

The majority of participants who criticized certain foods for causing sleep disturbances pointed to sweets, spicy foods, or dairy products.

A relatively small segment—5.5% of participants—believed their eating habits influenced the nature of their dreams, with many citing sweets and dairy as making their dreams more vivid or bizarre.

Researchers discovered a link between lactose intolerance, gastrointestinal issues, nightmares, and poor sleep quality, comparing reports of food intolerances with reports of nightmares and sleep deprivation.

Consuming dairy products can trigger gastrointestinal problems, leading to discomfort that affects one’s dreams and quality of sleep.

“Nightmares are particularly troubling for those with lactose intolerance, especially those experiencing severe gastrointestinal symptoms that disrupt their sleep,” stated Dr. Nielsen.

“This aligns with the understanding that various physical sensations can significantly impact our dream experiences.”

“Frequent nightmares can be highly disruptive, often waking individuals in uncomfortable states.”

“This may also lead to behaviors aimed at avoiding sleep.”

“Both issues contribute to a lack of restful sleep.”

Survey results will be published in the journal Frontiers of Psychology.

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Torre Nielsen et al. 2025. More Dreams of the Rarebit Devil: Correlation between Food Sensitivity and Food in Sleep and Dreams. Frontiers in Psychology 16; doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1544475

Source: www.sci.news

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

Research Indicates Omega-6 Fatty Acids Do Not Elevate Inflammation Markers

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In an extensive community-based investigation, researchers from the Fatty Acid Institute identified a weak yet statistically significant inverse relationship between various inflammatory biomarkers and omega-6 fatty acids.

This image features Oenothera biennis, plants that produce oils with a high linolenic acid content. Image credit: Georg Slickers/CC by-sa 4.0.

“Chronic inflammation is acknowledged as a significant risk factor for various health disorders,” stated President William Harris of the Fatty Acid Institute and his colleagues.

“Omega-6 fatty acids, especially linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA), have been identified as either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory agents. Researchers have considered both positions regarding dietary intake.”

The researchers utilized data from the Framingham Offspring study, a prominent cohort study in the Boston region.

This groundbreaking longitudinal research initiative began in 1971 and follows children from the original Framingham Heart Study, examining genetic and lifestyle factors influencing cardiovascular and metabolic health.

It has yielded valuable insights into chronic disease risks and prevention for decades, establishing itself as one of the most dependable sources for understanding long-term health trends.

This investigation is cross-sectional, meaning LA and AA levels were evaluated alongside 2,700 inflammation-related biomarkers in the same blood samples.

We statistically analyzed the association between the levels of these two omega-6 fatty acids and the levels of 10 blood and urine biomarkers related to inflammation and oxidative stress.

After statistically controlling for several potential confounding variables (such as age, race, gender, smoking status, blood pressure, and weight), researchers discovered that elevated LA levels were significantly linked to lower levels of five out of the 10 biomarkers.

For AA, higher levels were associated with reduced concentrations of four markers; however, there was no statistically significant relationship with higher inflammation/oxidation levels, unlike LA.

“These new findings clearly indicate that individuals with the highest LA (and AA) levels in their blood exhibit less inflammation than those with lower levels,” Dr. Harris remarked.

“This result contradicts the expectation if omega-6 fatty acids were deemed ‘pro-inflammatory.’ In fact, they seem to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties.”

“Amidst discussions in the media about the dangers of seed oils—the primary source of LA in diets—numerous voices advocate for reducing LA consumption.”

“This recommendation lacks a scientific basis, and this study, along with others, suggests the opposite: rather than decreasing LA intake, increasing it may be the healthier choice.”

“These findings diverge from the prevailing narrative but are consistent with earlier studies.”

“Numerous studies within medical literature support the findings presented here.”

The study was published in the journal Nutrients on June 22nd.

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Heidi T.M. Lai et al. 2025. Erythrocyte omega-6 fatty acids and biomarkers of inflammation in the Framingham offspring study. Nutrients 17 (13): 2076; doi: 10.3390/nu17132076

Source: www.sci.news

Canada’s Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt Contains Fragments of Earth’s Oldest Crust, Research Reveals

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Geologists have found significant evidence indicating the preservation of Hadean Rocks, with an age of 4.16 billion years. The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt offers a rare glimpse into the early Earth.

Canadian Nuvvuagittuq Green Stone Belt. Image credit: Jonathan O’Neill.

The earliest geological history of Earth remains largely unclear due to the scarcity of rocks and minerals from the Hadean period (over 4.3 billion years ago).

These ancient materials are often altered or destroyed as the planet’s crust undergoes continual recycling through various geological processes.

“One potential survivor of the Hadean era crustal rock is the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt,” stated Dr. Christian Saul, a senior author from the University of Ottawa and his colleagues.

“However, this perspective is contentious. Some researchers argue that the isotopic data backing these estimates might instead reflect later geological mixing rather than the true age of the layers.”

“If proven to be of Hadean origin, the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt would represent the oldest known preserved rock sequence on Earth.”

“This could yield critical insights into early geology and possible environments for the emergence of life.”

To refine the age of the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, researchers concentrated on specific types of ancient rock intrusions known as metagabbro within the belt.

These intrusions intersect with ancient basaltic rocks, enabling the authors to utilize combined uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating to determine the minimum age limits of older layers, along with both short and long-lived samarium-neodymium (Sm-Nd) isotopic analysis.

Sm-Nd data yielded a consistent age of approximately 4.16 billion years, irrespective of the sample location or mineral composition.

The convergence of both isotope systems producing the same age in rocks with clear evidence of magma differentiation strongly supports their Hadean era crystallization.

This is in accordance with the Hadean Eon surviving within the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt.

“Studying these rocks allows us to trace back to the origins of our planet,” noted Dr. Jonathan O’Neill, a researcher at the University of Ottawa.

“This will enable us to gain a better understanding of how the first continent formed and help reconstruct the environment in which life emerged.”

Survey results published in the journal Science.

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C. Sole et al. 2025. Evidence of Hadean Mafic invasion in the Canadian Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt. Science 388 (6754): 1431-1435; doi: 10.1126/science.ads8461

Source: www.sci.news

Australian Stingless Bee Honey Exhibits Unique Antibacterial Properties, Research Reveals

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Honey sourced from Australian stingless bees, often referred to as sugar bag honeybees, has long been a vital food source and a traditional remedy for ailments such as itching and pain among Indigenous Australian communities. A recent study has examined the antibacterial properties and chemical composition of honey from three species of Australian stingless bees: Tetragonula carbonaria, Tetragonula hockingsii, and Austroplebeia australis. The results revealed these honeys possess strong antibacterial capabilities against various human pathogens, exhibiting efficacy on par with or superior to that of most European honeys derived from Apis mellifera.

Tetragonula carbonaria comb. Image credit: Tobias Smith.

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health issue.

Numerous natural substances have developed complex defenses against microbial threats and may serve as potential therapeutic agents.

While the medicinal qualities of European honey have been extensively researched, the therapeutic potential of Australian stingless bee honey is still in its early stages.

Kenya Fernandez, a researcher from the University of Sydney, noted:

“Unlike honey from European honeybees, which predominantly depends on hydrogen peroxide for its antibacterial effects, the honey from Australian stingless bees demonstrates high levels of hydrogen peroxide along with non-peroxide activity, making it a robust and versatile candidate for therapy.”

The study found that the honey retained antibacterial properties even without hydrogen peroxide, indicating that these traits are inherent to the honey.

“Bee Manuka honey’s notable non-oxide antibacterial activity is a key factor behind its commercial success,” Dr. Fernandez added.

“However, it heavily relies on a specific nectar source from the Myrtle plant (Leptospermum).”

“In contrast, the consistent antibacterial effectiveness of heat-treated non-toxic honey from Australian bees—regardless of various locations and nectar sources—highlights the unique qualities of these bees.”

Professor Dee Carter at the University of Sydney remarked:

Researchers are hopeful that this reliability will enhance the potential for commercial health applications.

Nonetheless, challenges concerning scalability persist. Each stingless bee hive produces roughly 0.5 liters of honey annually, complicating large-scale production.

“Although the yields are modest, these hives require less upkeep than traditional bee hives, enabling beekeepers to manage a greater number of hives,” stated Dr. Ross Groag from the University of Sydney.

“Encouragingly, the commercial value of honey may foster the growth of more hives and pave the way for scalability in commerce.”

“In the past year, native stingless bee honey has made strides toward local and global commercialization, having received endorsements from Australian and New Zealand food safety authorities.”

“This regulatory backing is crucial in establishing a niche market for high-value, low-volume products.”

The survey results were published on May 21st in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

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Kenya E. Fernandez et al. 2025. Potent antibacterial activity and unique physicochemical properties of honey from Australian stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria, Tetragonula hockingsii, and Austroplebeia australis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 91 (6); doi:10.1128/aem.02523-24

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Human Footprints in White Sand Estimated to Be Up to 22,400 Years Old: New Research

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The identification of human footprints in White Sands, New Mexico, estimated to be between 21,000 and 23,000 years old, was a significant advancement in our comprehension of the earliest inhabitants of the Americas. However, this research faced scrutiny concerning the dependability of radiocarbon dating materials, such as common aquatic plant seeds Rupiah Silhosa and coniferous pollen grains. A recent study, spearheaded by University of Arizona researcher Vance Holiday, indicates that the ancient mud from Perelora ceotero, the third material utilized for dating the footprints, dates back to approximately 20,700 to 22,400 years ago.

Ancient human footprints found in White Sands National Park, New Mexico, USA. Image credit: Bennett et al. , doi: 10.1126/science.abg7586.

Historically, scientists believed that humans entered North America roughly 16,000 to 13,000 years ago.

However, the footprints found at White Sands indicate that human presence in the area dates back to between 23,000 and 21,000 years ago. This timeline offers insights into the development of culture in North America.

The remnants of 10,000-year-old prints, uncovered nearly a century ago at a site near Clovis, New Mexico, led to a classification of artifacts long considered to represent the earliest known cultures in North America.

Critics have challenged two prior studies over the last four years, asserting that ancient species and pollen in the soil used for dating the footprints are unreliable indicators.

“The record is consistently strong, and it’s challenging to explain it all,” Dr. Holiday stated.

“As I mention in my publication, it would be an extraordinary coincidence for all these dates to be inaccurate.”

Thousands of years prior, the white sands formed from a series of lakes that eventually dried up.

Wind erosion created layers of plaster on the sand dunes that now characterize the region.

The footprints were excavated from stream beds that once fed into this ancient lake.

“Wind erosion has erased part of the narrative, leaving that segment lost. The remainder is buried beneath the world’s largest accumulation of plaster sand,” Dr. Holiday remarked.

For their latest research, Dr. Holiday and his team returned to White Sands in 2022 and 2023, excavating new trenches to gain deeper insights into the lakebed’s geology.

“We’ve put in considerable effort to explore this area,” stated Jason Windingstad, a doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona.

“You essentially find yourself questioning everything taught about North American populations.”

The authors recognize that their research hasn’t addressed lingering questions posed by critics since 2021: Why are there no artifacts or settlements left by the individuals who made the footprints?

“This is a valid inquiry. Some footprints discovered during the 2021 survey belong to a trackway that was created in mere seconds,” they explained.

“It is entirely plausible that hunter-gatherers would act with caution to avoid leaving resources in such a brief timeframe.”

“These individuals were aware of their resources and were distanced from their replacements.”

“They wouldn’t abandon artifacts casually. It doesn’t make sense for you to be viewing a debris field.”

The team’s recent findings will be published in the journal Advances in Science.

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Vance T. Holliday et al. 2025. Perelorace Geochronology supports the last Glacier Max (LGM) age of human tracks in White Sands, New Mexico. Advances in Science 11 (25); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adv4951

Source: www.sci.news

The Most Ineffective ChatGPT Prompts for Environmental Research, According to Studies

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Each time I interact with ChatGPT, I consume energy—what does that really mean? A new study has highlighted the environmental costs of using large-scale language models (LLMs) and provided insights on how users can minimize their carbon footprints.

German researchers evaluated 14 open-source LLMs, ranging from 14 to 72 billion parameters, administering 1,000 benchmark questions to assess the CO2 emissions generated in response to each.

They discovered that utilizing internal reasoning to formulate answers can result in emissions up to 50 times greater than those generated by a brief response.

Conversely, models with a higher number of parameters—typically more accurate—also emit more carbon.

Nonetheless, the model isn’t the only factor; user interaction plays a significant role as well.

“When people use friendly phrases like ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ LLMs tend to generate longer answers,” explained Maximilian Dorner, a researcher from Hochschule München Applied Sciences University and the lead author of the study, to BBC Science Focus.

“This results in the production of more words, which leads to longer processing times for the model.

The extra words don’t enhance the utility of the answer, yet they significantly increase the environmental impact.

“Whether the model generates 10,000 words of highly useful content or 10,000 words of gibberish, the emissions remain the same,” said Dorner.

Being polite to an AI platform uses more power – Getty

This indicates that users can help reduce emissions by encouraging succinct responses from AI models, such as asking for bullet points instead of detailed paragraphs. Casual requests for images, jokes, or essays when unnecessary can also contribute to climate costs.

The study revealed that questions demanding more in-depth reasoning—like topics in philosophy or abstract algebra—yield significantly higher emissions compared to simpler subjects like history.

Researchers tested smaller models that could operate locally, yet Dorner noted that larger models like ChatGPT, which possess more than 10 times the parameters, likely exhibit even worse patterns of energy consumption.

“The primary difference between the models I evaluated and those powering Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT is the parameter count,” Dorner stated. These commonly used models have nearly tenfold the parameters, which equates to a tenfold rise in CO2 emissions.

Dorner encourages not only individual users to be mindful but also highlights that organizations behind LLMs have a role to play. For instance, he suggests that they could mitigate unnecessary emissions by creating systems that select the smallest model necessary for accurately answering each question.

“I’m a big supporter of these tools,” he remarked. “I utilize them daily. The key is to engage with them concisely and understand the implications.”

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About our experts

Maximilian Dorner, PhD candidate at Hochschule München Applied Sciences University.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New Research Indicates Harbin Fossils Are Linked to Denisovan Population

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The renowned “Harbinclanium” dates back at least 146,000 years, previously classified as a distinct species: Homo Longhi.

Reconstruction of Harbin’s individuals in his habitat. Image credit: Chuang Zhao.

The skull of Harbin was unearthed in 1933 during the construction of a bridge over the Songhua River in Harbin city, Jiangxi Province, China.

Due to systematic recovery processes over extensive periods, precise locations and data pertaining to the fossil layers were unfortunately lost.

The fossils are notably large, surpassing all other archaic humans, exhibiting a low and elongated shape that lacks the rounded contours typical of modern human crania.

Features include a large, nearly square eye socket, a pronounced brow ridge, a wide mouth, and prominent teeth.

The cranial capacity is estimated at 1,420 mL, aligning within the ranges of Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and surpassing earlier Homo species.

This specimen, often referred to as the “Dragon Man” fossil, likely represents individuals under the age of 50.

In a recent study, Dr. Qiaomiei Fu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleague from the Institute for Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleontology performed a detailed analysis of the fossils and their dental calculus.

They identified over 308,000 peptides, around 20,000 proteins, and confirmed the presence of 95 endogenous proteins.

Additionally, they found 122 single amino acid polymorphisms (SAPs) unique to humanity, reaffirming the classification of the Harbin specimens within the Homo genus.

Significantly, three variants unique to Denisovans were identified, establishing a phylogenetic connection between the Harbin fossil and Denisova 3, small fragments from Denisova Cave.

“Prior to this discovery, Denisovan fossils were sparse and fragmented, complicating our understanding of their morphology and evolutionary background,” the researchers stated.

“The Harbin Fossils, identified as a new species Homo Longhi, exhibit crucial morphological similarities to Denisovan remains found elsewhere.”

Harbin’s personal portrait. Image credit: Cicero Moraes, doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24648591.

The researchers also successfully extracted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the dental calculus of the fossil.

The findings confirmed that Harbin individuals belonged to the early mtDNA lineage of Denisovans.

“The mtDNA aligns with the variability observed in Denisovan mtDNA and is associated with the lineage carried by early Denisovan individuals in southern Siberia, previously identified in Denisova Caves,” the authors mentioned.

“This indicates that Denisovans occupied a broad geographical range across Asia during the mid-Pleistocene.”

The detection of Denisovan mtDNA in Harbin’s skull aids in linking Denisovans with distinct morphological traits and recognizing other specimens as Denisovan, particularly when ancient DNA is either poorly preserved or challenging to procure.

For instance, fossils from Dali, Jinniushan, and Hualongdong display comparable morphological features to the Harbin skull, suggesting they may represent the Denisovan population.

“The connection between Denisovan mtDNA and Harbin skull morphology enhances our understanding of the morphological relationships between Denisovans and other central Pleistocene fossils in East Asia,” the researchers concluded.

“Moreover, exploring host DNA from dental calculus opens new avenues for genetic research related to the mid-Pleistocene.”

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Qiaomei Fu et al. Harbin’s personal proteome from the late Pleistocene. Science published online on June 18th, 2025. doi:10.1126/science.adu9677

Qiaomei Fu et al. Denisovan mitochondrial DNA from the dental calculus of the Harbin skull, over 146,000 years old. Cell published online on June 18th, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.040

Source: www.sci.news

The Remarkable Journey of American Dogs Through Ancient DNA Research

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Pre-contact Central and South American dogs (Canis Familiaris) – These are all dogs that existed prior to the arrival of European settlers, originating from a single maternal lineage that spread into North America. A recent study led by researchers at Oxford University indicates that the divergence times of dog breeds in North, Central, and South America align with the agricultural expansion occurring between 7,000 and 5,000 years ago, particularly highlighting the adoption of corn in South America.

Manin et al. Illustrating the gradual southward spread of dogs alongside early agricultural societies. Artwork by John James Audubon and John Bachman.

“Dogs traveled with the initial waves of people entering North America at least 15,000-16,000 years ago,” stated Oxford University researcher Aurely Mannin and colleagues.

“They were the only type of livestock brought to America from Eurasia before the arrival of European settlers.”

“Archaeological and physical evidence suggests that Arctic dogs were utilized for sledding, aiding groups of humans traversing the frigid tundra of Siberia.”

“Analysis of ancient DNA indicates that all dogs before contact with European settlers possess mitochondrial DNA from a lineage unique to the Americas.”

“Dogs from this lineage disseminated throughout the Americas, with the exception of the Amazon Basin, suggesting they became known only following the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century.”

In this latest study, the authors sequenced 70 complete mitochondrial genomes from both archaeological and modern dogs collected from Central Mexico to Central Chile and Argentina.

The findings indicate that all pre-contact dogs in Central and South America descended from a singular maternal lineage that diverged from North American dogs when humans initially settled the continent.

Instead of a rapid spread, dogs exhibited a slower pattern known as “segregation by distance,” gradually adapting to new environments and migrating with people between 7,000 to 5,000 years ago, coinciding with the rise of corn cultivation in early agricultural communities.

The influx of Europeans brought new dog breeds that predominantly replaced indigenous strains; however, researchers discovered that modern Chihuahuas still retain maternal DNA from pre-contact Mesoamerican ancestors.

These rare genetic traces underscore the enduring legacy of the first American dogs and the deep roots of this iconic breed.

“This research emphasizes the significant role that early agricultural communities played in the dispersal of dogs worldwide,” Dr. Manin remarked.

“In the Americas, it reveals that dogs were able to adapt slowly enough to develop genetic distinctions between North, Central, and South America.”

“This is quite unusual for livestock and unveils new avenues for research into the relationships between dogs and early agricultural societies.”

“This study contributes a new chapter to the extensive shared history of dogs and humans, influenced by migration across continents, survival, and lasting relationships,” the scientists concluded.

Survey results are set to appear in Proceedings of the Royal Society b.

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Aurely Manin et al. 2025. Ancient dog mitogenomes support the double dispersion of dogs and agriculture into South America. Proc. R. Soc. b 292 (2049): 20242443; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2443

Source: www.sci.news

Research Reveals How This Easy Snack Habit Can Lower Your Cholesterol

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Consuming 50g of almonds (approximately 45 nuts) each day can boost your cholesterol levels and provides numerous metabolic advantages.

This information comes from a recent study conducted by Oregon State University (OSU). The findings were published in Nutritional research.

Researchers engaged 77 adults aged 35-60 in a 12-week clinical trial, where participants snacked daily on either 320 calories of almonds or crackers.

All subjects had metabolic syndrome, characterized by various risk factors for chronic illnesses such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This includes conditions like excess abdominal fat, elevated blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, low “good” cholesterol, and high triglyceride levels.

Professor Emily Ho, a co-author of the study and director of the Linus Pauling Institute at OSU, noted in BBC Science Focus that almond consumption reduces cholesterol levels, particularly LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol), enhances gut health, decreases inflammation, and improves gut microbiota.

“The control group that consumed crackers didn’t show the same positive outcomes,” she stated. “Eating almonds did not lead to weight gain; in fact, there was a minor reduction in waist circumference and an improvement in vitamin E levels among participants, which is vital for the population.”

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient crucial for the proper functioning of various organs, nerves, and muscles, as well as for reducing blood clotting; however, many individuals in the UK and the US fail to consume sufficient amounts of vitamin E in their diets.

Participants who consumed almonds daily experienced numerous benefits for their metabolic health – Credit: Limpido via Getty

“Almonds are packed with various bioactive compounds, including essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin E and magnesium, along with fiber and numerous polyphenols that possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are truly nutritious snacks.”

She emphasized that substituting your usual snack with a handful of almonds can yield substantial health benefits, especially when included in a balanced and varied diet.

read more:

About our experts

Emily Ho is a prominent professor at Oregon State University and director of the Linus Pauling Institute. Her research focuses on antioxidants, gene expression, and dietary chemoprevention strategies, particularly investigating the role of antioxidant nutrients such as zinc in maintaining DNA integrity and the development of cancer.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New Research Reveals the Ancient Origins of Fish Biofluorescence

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Biofluorescence, the process of absorbing high-energy light and re-emitting it as low-energy wavelengths, has been observed in various vertebrate and invertebrate lineages, particularly among fish. Research conducted by the American Museum of Natural History indicates that fish biofluorescence can be traced back at least 112 million years and has evolved over 100 times, predominantly in fish inhabiting coral reefs.

Phylogenesis of teleosts showing ancestral state reconstruction (absence/present) of biological fluorescence. Image credit: Carr et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59843-7.

“Researchers have long known that biological fluorescence is prevalent in marine creatures, including sea turtles and corals, particularly among fish,” stated PhD Emily Kerr, a student at the American Museum of Natural History.

“To truly grasp the reasons and methods behind this unique adaptation, we need to explore the evolutionary background and the variety of biofluorescence currently utilized for camouflage, predation, or reproduction.”

In a first study published in the journal Natural Communication, Carr and colleagues investigated all known biological fluorescent extents, focusing on a species of bony fish, which comprises the largest living vertebrate group today.

This research identified 459 biological fluorescent species, including 48 previously unrecognized as biologically fluorescent.

The researchers discovered that biological fluorescence has evolved over 100 times in marine teleost fish, dating back to approximately 112 million years ago, with the initial occurrence found in eels.

Furthermore, fish species residing in or near coral reefs developed biological fluorescence approximately ten times faster than their non-reef counterparts, leading to a surge in fluorescent species following the mass extinction event around 66 million years ago that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs.

“This pattern coincides with the emergence of modern coral reefs and the rapid infiltration of fish into these environments, particularly after a significant loss of coral diversity due to the Cretaceous extinction,” Kerr explained.

“These relationships imply that the rise of contemporary coral reefs may have spurred the diversification of fluorescence in reef-associated teleost fish.”

Among the 459 documented biological fluorescent extents indicated in this study, the majority are linked to coral reefs.

In a second survey published in the journal PLOS 1, Kerr and co-authors employed a specialized photographic system with ultraviolet and blue excitation lights, alongside emission filters, to analyze the wavelengths emitted by fish from the ichthyology collection at the American Museum of Natural History.

These specimens, collected over the past 15 years during museum expeditions to locations like the Solomon Islands, Greenland, and Thailand, had shown fluorescence previously; however, the full spectrum of biological fluorescence emissions remained unexplored.

This study unveiled a broader diversity in the colors emitted by teleost fish, with some displaying at least six distinct fluorescence emission peaks across various wavelengths, surpassing prior reports.

“The unexpected variation observed among a wide array of these fluorescent fish suggests that they may utilize highly diverse and intricate signaling systems based on species-specific fluorescent emission patterns.”

“As these studies illustrate, biological fluorescence is extensive and remarkably phenotypically diverse among marine fish.”

“Our goal is to enhance our understanding of how fluorescence operates within these varied marine ecosystems and its role in evolutionary diversification.”

“The multitude of fluorescence emission wavelengths identified in this study could significantly impact the discovery of new fluorescent molecules that are routinely employed in biomedical applications, including the diagnosis and treatment of fluorescence-related ailments.”

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Carr et al. 2025. The extensive evolution of repeated biological fluorescence in marine fish. Nat Commun 16, 4826; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59843-7

Carr et al. 2025. Marine fish display exceptional variability in biological fluorescence emission spectra. PLOS 1 20 (6): E0316789; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316789

Source: www.sci.news

Research: Triassic Reptiles May Have Migrated Across Unfavored Tropical Regions

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists employing a novel method of geographic analysis have theorized about the dispersion of paleo-ausauromorphs following the Permian mass extinction, one of the most significant climate events in Earth’s history.

Benggwigingasuchus erimicarminis Pansarassan Ocean Coast. Image credit: Jorge Gonzalez.

The earliest pale aurauromorphs, akin to contemporary reptiles, are perceived by many synthetic biologists as existing in dead zones, believed to thrive only in select regions due to extreme heat prevalent in tropical zones.

In a recent study, paleontologist Joseph Flannery Sutherland from the University of Birmingham, along with his team, uncovered clues on how these reptiles traversed the globe during the Triassic period.

The researchers employed a novel modeling technique grounded in landscape reconstruction and evolutionary phylogenies.

Having survived the extinction event, Archosauromorphs became a crucial component of the Triassic Earth’s ecosystem, paving the way for the emergence of dinosaurs.

Current research indicates their later success can be attributed to their ability to traverse up to 16,000 km (10,000 miles) across tropical dead zones to explore new ecosystems.

“Despite being among the direst climatic events in Earth’s timeline, resulting in the death of more species than in any other epoch, life persisted,” remarked Dr. Flannery Sasherland.

“The group of Archosauromorphs emerged from this event and became key players in shaping life thereafter.”

“The gaps in their fossil records are beginning to reveal insights into aspects of these reptiles we previously overlooked.”

“By utilizing the modeling system, we created images representing the condition of Archosauromorphs amid these gaps and their dispersal across the ancient landscape.”

“This research examined topography and routes mapped through both spatial and temporal dimensions, which we have coined as our ‘Tardis’ approach.”

“Our findings suggest these reptiles exhibit remarkable resilience to the extreme climates of the Panguian tropical dead zone, enabling them to endure these harsh conditions and reach distant regions.”

“This capacity to thrive in inhospitable tropical environments likely gave them the edge necessary to prosper in the Triassic landscape.”

“While life has often been dictated by environmental factors, integrating the limited and uncertain knowledge of ancient terrains with the incomplete understanding of extinct species is challenging,” stated Professor Michael Benton from the University of Bristol.

“However, combining fossil data with reconstructed maps of the ancient world offers a means to address these challenges within the context of evolutionary trees.”

Study published in the journal Natural Ecology and Evolution.

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JT Flannery-Sutherland et al. The phylogeny, described as a landscape, illuminates the ecological radiation of early paleoasauromorph reptiles. Nat Ecol Evol Published online on June 11th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41559-025-02739-y

Source: www.sci.news

New Research Uncovers Insights into Neanderthal Migration from the Caucasus Mountains

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Genetic and archaeological findings indicate a significant Neanderthal migration from the western regions to central and eastern Eurasia during the late Pleistocene. Genetic evidence points to dispersion occurring between 120,000 and 80,000 years ago, while archaeological sites in Altai date back to as early as 60,000 years ago. The specifics of the migration route and its timing have been heavily debated due to the limited number of archaeological connections between these regions. Recent studies suggest that Neanderthals likely utilized river valleys as natural pathways, enabling them to traverse approximately 3,250 km (2,000 miles) through the Urals and South Siberia in under 2,000 years.

E. Coco & R. Iovita suggest that the Neanderthals could have quickly spread from Caucasus Mountains to Altai Mountains, running along the north route between MIS 3 and MIS 5e. Image credit: Abel Grau, CSIC Communications.

“Our research indicates that despite facing natural barriers like mountains and large rivers, Neanderthals may have traversed northern Eurasia much more swiftly than previously thought,” stated Dr. Emily Coco, PhD, who initiated this investigation as a PhD student at New York University and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Algarve.

“These findings offer valuable insights from archaeological records regarding ancient migration routes that remain underexplored and highlight the potential of computer simulations to unveil new information about ancient movements that have shaped human history.”

In creating a simulation of the two Millennial Journeys of Neanderthals, Dr. Coco and her colleague Dr. Radu Iovita from New York University analyzed topographic elevations, ancient river paths, glacial barriers, and temperature variations to model individual movement decisions.

The researchers identified two potential migration routes from ancient periods – during ocean isotope stage 5E (approximately 125,000 years ago during MIS 5E) and during ocean isotope stage 3 (from MIS 3, starting around 60,000 years ago) – both characterized by warmer temperatures making them conducive for movement.

Simulations indicated that Neanderthals could reach the Siberian Altai Mountains in Eurasia within 2,000 years in either MIS 5E or MIS 3, following the same general northern route through the Urals and southern Siberia, often intersecting with known archaeological sites from the same timeframe.

The authors believe this study enhances our understanding of Neanderthal interactions with other ancient human populations.

Specifically, their route would have led them to regions already inhabited by Denisovans, which aligns with existing evidence of interbreeding between the two species.

“The Neanderthals could have traveled thousands of kilometers from the Caucasus Mountains to Siberia in just 2,000 years by navigating river corridors,” said Dr. Iovita.

“While some researchers speculate about this type of rapid, long-distance travel based on genetic evidence, demonstrating it has been challenging due to the sparse archaeological record in the region.”

“Our detailed computer simulations suggest that this transition may have been a predictable outcome of the landscape conditions during prior warm climate periods.”

Survey results published online in the journal PLOS 1.

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E. Coco & R. Iovita. 2025. Agent-based simulations reveal the possibility of multiple rapid northern routes for the dispersion of the second Neanderthal from the West to East Eurasia. PLOS 1 20 (6): E0325693; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325693

Source: www.sci.news

Advanced AI Experiences “Total Accuracy Breakdown” When Confronted with Complex Issues, Research Finds

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers at Apple have identified “fundamental limitations” in state-of-the-art artificial intelligence models, prompting concerns about the competitive landscape in the tech industry for developing more robust systems.

In a study, Apple noted that the advanced AI model, known as the large-scale inference model (LRMS), experienced a “complete collapse in accuracy” when faced with complex challenges.

Standard AI models outperformed LRMS on tasks of lower complexity, yet both encountered “complete collapse” on highly complex tasks. LRMS attempts to handle intricate queries by creating detailed reasoning processes to break down issues into manageable steps.

The research, which evaluated the models’ puzzle-solving capabilities, revealed that LRMS began to “reduce inference efforts” as it neared performance breakdowns—something researchers labeled as “particularly concerning.”

Gary Marcus, a noted academic voice on AI capabilities, characterized the Apple paper as “quite devastating” and highlighted that these findings raise pivotal concerns regarding the race towards achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), which would enable systems to emulate human-level cognitive tasks.

Referencing large language models (LLMs), Marcus remarked: “[of] AGIs, who can fundamentally change society, are joking about themselves.”

Moreover, the paper indicated that early in the “thinking” process, the inference model often squandered computational resources seeking solutions for simpler problems. However, as complexity increased, the model initially considered incorrect answers before ultimately arriving at correct ones.

When confronted with complex issues, the model experienced “collapse” and failed to generate accurate solutions. In one instance, it could not succeed even with an algorithm provided to assist.

The findings illustrated that “as problem difficulty rises, models begin to intuitively diminish inference efforts as they approach critical thresholds that closely align with the accuracy collapse point.”

According to Apple experts, these findings highlight “fundamental scaling limitations” in the reasoning capabilities of current inference models.

The study involved LRMS-based assignments like the Tower of Hanoi and River Crossing puzzle. The researchers acknowledged that their focus on puzzles signifies a boundary to their work.

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The study concluded that current AI methodologies may have hit fundamental limitations. Models tested included OpenAI’s O3, Google’s Gemini Thinking, Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet-Thinking, and Deepseek-R1. Google and Deepseek will be approached for comments, while OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, opted not to provide a statement.

Discussing AI models’ capacity for “generalizable reasoning” or broader conclusions, the paper observes:

Andrew Rogoiski from the People-centered AI Institute at Surrey University remarked that Apple’s findings illustrate the industry remains grappling with AGI, suggesting that the current methods may have hit a “dead end.”

He added, “The revelation that the large model underperforms on complex tasks while faring well in simpler or medium-complexity contexts indicates we may be approaching a profound impasse.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Former OpenAI Board Member: US Targets Science and Research While Criticizing ‘Big Gifts’ to China in AI Development

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The former OpenAI board member, Helen Toner, commented that the US administration’s focus on academic research and its approach to international students is “a tremendous gift” to China in the competition surrounding artificial intelligence.

Toner, who serves as the Strategic Director of Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), joined OpenAI’s board in 2021 following a career dedicated to analyzing AI and the dynamics between the US and China.

At 33 years old, Toner—an alumna of the University of Melbourne—was part of the board for two years until she left alongside founder Sam Altman in 2023. There were concerns regarding Altman’s communication consistency and the board’s confidence in his leadership.

In the following tumultuous month, Altman was initially dismissed and then reinstated, while three board members, including Toner, were sidelined. Their situation has become the subject of an upcoming film, and along with the film’s director Luca Guadagnino, they have reportedly met in person.

According to Time Magazine, Toner was recognized as one of the top 100 most influential figures in AI for 2024, a testament to her advocacy for AI regulation by policymakers worldwide.

At CSET, Toner leads a team of 60 researchers focusing on AI applications for white papers aimed at briefing policymakers, particularly in military, labor, biosecurity, and cybersecurity contexts.

“My primary focus is on the intersections of AI, safety and security issues, the Chinese AI landscape, and what is termed frontier AI,” explained Toner.

Toner expressed concern that the US may fall behind China in the AI race. Although US export controls on chips complicate China’s access to competitive computing power, the country is making substantial strides in AI, illustrated by the surprising success of its generative AI model, Deepseek, earlier this year.

Toner criticized the Trump administration’s research cuts and international student bans as being “gifts” to China in the AI competition with the US.

“It’s undeniably a significant gift for China. The current US approach to attacking scientific research and the talents of foreigners—a considerable part of the US workforce comprises immigrants, many from China—is a boon for them in this contest,” she remarked.

The AI boom has raised alarms about job security, with concerns that AI may replace many human jobs. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, which developed the generative AI model Claude, recently stated that AI could eliminate 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs, potentially leading to a 20% unemployment rate over the next five years.

Though Toner acknowledged Amodei’s predictions, she noted, “While I often find his assertions directionally correct, they tend to sound overly aggressive in timelines and figures,” but she agreed that disruptions in the job market are already occurring.

“The current capabilities of [language model-based AI] are best suited for small, manageable tasks rather than long-term projects that require human oversight,” she advised.

Experts suggest that organizations heavily invested in AI are feeling pressure to demonstrate returns on their investments. Toner remarked that while practical applications of AI can yield considerable value, it remains unclear which business models or players will successfully unlock that value.

The integration of AI services could range from enhancing existing applications, such as a phone keyboard that transcribes voices, to standalone chatbots, but she remarked that it’s still uncertain what role AI will ultimately play.

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Toner noted that the push for profitability presents risks that could overshadow the advancement race in AI.

“This reflects how companies are weighed down by the need to balance between rapid product releases and the thorough testing needed to implement additional safety measures that could also complicate user experience,” she elaborated.

“Such companies must make these trade-offs while feeling the pressure to accelerate as much as possible.”

Toner voiced her concerns regarding the concept of a “progressive power” of AI, which suggests gradual integration of AI systems into various societal and governmental facets; acknowledging it may be too late to reevaluate this path.

She expressed optimism regarding AI’s potential to enhance scientific research, drug discovery, and autonomous driving solutions like Waymo, which could significantly reduce road fatalities.

“With AI, the goal isn’t perfection; it’s to exceed existing alternatives. In the automotive sector, the alternative involves thousands of annual deaths. If we can improve that scenario, it’s remarkable; countless lives could be saved,” she articulated.

Toner humorously mentioned that a friend suggested potential actresses to portray her in the film.

“One suggestion was a stunningly talented actress,” she said. “Anyone they choose will definitely be a worthy pick.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research: Early Drivers of Fire Use for Meat Preservation and Predator Protection, Not Cooking

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The advent of fire marks a significant point in human evolution, though scholars continue to debate its primary function. While cooking is frequently regarded as a key factor, researchers from Tel Aviv University propose that the protection of meat and fat from predators is more plausible. Homo Erectus lived during the Lower Paleolithic era, approximately 1.9 to 0.78 million years ago.

Homo Erectus.” width=”580″ height=”435″ srcset=”https://cdn.sci.news/images/2018/07/image_6228_1-Neanderthal-Fire-Use.jpg 580w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2018/07/image_6228_1-Neanderthal-Fire-Use-300×225.jpg 300w” sizes=”(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px”/>

Miki Ben-Dor & Ran Barkai’s research highlights the nutritional value of meat and fat from large prey in the Lower Paleolithic, questioning the significance of culinary practices in shaping human dietary evolution and offering new insights into adaptations in Homo Erectus.

“The origins of fire usage is a ‘burning’ question among prehistoric researchers globally,” stated Professor Barkay, a co-author of the study.

“By around 400,000 years ago, it was widely accepted that fire was commonly used in domestic settings. I concur with the idea of meat roasting, as well as its use for lighting and heating.”

“However, there remains a debate concerning the past million years, with various theories put forth to explain early human interactions with fire.”

“This study aimed to approach this issue from a new angle.”

“For early humans, the use of fire wasn’t a given; most archaeological sites dated around 400,000 years ago show no signs of fire usage,” explained Dr. Miki Ben-Dor, lead author of the study from Tel Aviv University.

“However, in many early locations, there are clear indications of fire usage, even if there’s no evidence of burnt bones or roasted meat.”

“We see early humans—nearly Homo Erectus—utilizing fire sporadically for specific purposes rather than regularly.”

“Collecting fuel, igniting a fire, and maintaining it involved substantial effort, requiring a compelling energy-efficient reason.”

“We propose a new hypothesis for that motivation.”

In their research, the authors reviewed existing literature on all identified prehistoric sites between 1.8 million and 800,000 years ago where fire evidence has been found.

They identified nine sites globally, including Gesher Benot Ya’aqov and Evron Quarry in Israel, six sites in Africa, and one site in Spain.

The study also drew from ethnographic research on contemporary hunter-gatherer societies, relating their behaviors to ancient conditions.

“We examined the common features of these nine ancient sites and found they all contained a significant number of bones from large animals, mainly elephants, hippos, and rhinoceroses,” Dr. Ben-Dor noted.

“Previous research has shown these large animals were critical to early human diets, providing a substantial portion of their caloric needs.”

“For instance, the meat and fat from a single elephant can supply millions of calories, enough to sustain a group of 20 to 30 people for over a month.”

“Thus, hunting elephants and hippos was highly valuable—essentially a ‘bank’ of meat and fat that required protection and preservation, as it was sought after by predators and susceptible to decay.”

Through their analysis of findings and assessments of energetic benefits of preserving meat and fat, the researchers arrived at new conclusions that challenge previous theories. Early fires served dual purposes: first, to safeguard valuable resources from predators, and second, to facilitate smoking and prevent spoilage.

“This study introduces a novel perspective on the motivations behind early human fire use: the necessity to protect large game from other predators and the long-term preservation of substantial meat supplies,” Professor Barkay explained.

“Cooking may have occurred occasionally after fire was established for these protective purposes.”

“Such usage could elucidate evidence of fish roasting around 800,000 years ago found at Gesher Benot Ya’aqov.”

“Our approach aligns with evolving global theories that characterize major prehistoric trends as adaptations to hunting and consuming large animals, followed by a gradual shift to smaller prey exploitation.”

Survey results were published in the journal Nutrition Frontier.

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Miki Ben-Dor & Ran Barkai. 2025. The bioenergy approach supports the conservation and protection of prey, rather than cooking, as a primary driver for early use of fire. Front. Nutr. 12; doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1585182

Source: www.sci.news

New Research Hints That Our Milky Way May Avoid Collision with Andromeda Galaxy

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Milky Way galaxy is often believed to be on a collision path with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy. This merger, anticipated roughly 5 billion years in the future, is expected to create a new elliptical galaxy. However, recent studies indicate that the likelihood of such a catastrophic event may be less than previously assumed.

These images depict three encounter scenarios between the Milky Way galaxy and the neighboring Andromeda galaxy. Top left: Messier 81 and Messier82. TopRight: NGC6786. BOTTOM: NGC 520. Image credits: NASA/ESA/STSCI/DSS/Till Sawala, Helsinki University/Joseph Depasquale, STSCI.

The Milky Way navigates through space, its trajectory affected by the gravitational forces from nearby galaxies, including Andromeda, Triangulum, and the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Consequently, prior studies have proposed for over a decade that the Milky Way is likely to collide with Andromeda, forming a new elliptical galaxy referred to as Milkomeda in about 5 billion years.

Dr. Thiru Sawara, an astronomer at the University of Helsinki, stated:

In their latest research, Dr. Sawara and colleagues utilized updated data from the ESA Gaia satellite and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to model the Milky Way’s movement through space over the next 10 billion years, while also refining estimates of the masses of local galaxies.

They discovered that there is about a 50% chance that no collision will occur between the Milky Way and Andromeda during this time frame.

The authors suggest that previous analyses overlooked certain calculations and uncertainties, including the gravitational influence of the Large Magellanic Cloud (a smaller galaxy orbiting the Milky Way).

They also propose that a merger with the Magellanic Clouds is nearly certain within the next two billion years, prior to any potential interaction with Andromeda.

“Even with the latest and most precise observational data at hand, the future of local galaxy groups remains uncertain,” Dr. Sawara remarked.

“Interestingly, there are roughly equal probabilities of widely discussed merger scenarios or, conversely, scenarios where the Milky Way and Andromeda remain unaffected.”

The team’s findings will be featured this week in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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T. Sawara et al. There is no certainty regarding the Milky Way and Andromeda collision. Nature Astronomy. Published online on June 2, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02563-1

Source: www.sci.news

Research Reveals This Popular Pantry Staple Can Help Lower Your Cholesterol Daily

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Regularly incorporating chickpeas into your diet can lead to a notable reduction in cholesterol levels. Discover more at the Nutrition 2025 Meeting in Orlando.

A 12-week research study by the Illinois Institute of Technology explored the impact of consuming one glass of chickpeas or black beans daily with a group of 72 pre-diabetic adults.

Participants were randomly assigned to consume chickpeas, black beans, or rice (as a control) along with their usual meals. Blood samples were taken at the beginning, middle, and conclusion of the study to monitor alterations in cholesterol, inflammation, and blood glucose levels.

The findings indicated that total cholesterol levels dropped significantly from an average of 200.4 to 185.8 milligrams per deciliter after 12 weeks of daily chickpea intake.

Among the legumes studied, only chickpeas were linked to lower cholesterol. “No significant changes in cholesterol were detected with black bean consumption,” stated Morgan Smith, who spoke to doctoral candidates from the Illinois Institute of Technology presenting their research at the conference. BBC Science Focus.

Additionally, chickpeas appeared to reduce inflammation in the short term. “By the six-week mark of chickpea consumption, we noted a significant decline in highly sensitive C-reactive protein (HS-CRP),” Smith remarked. This protein serves as a marker for inflammation in the body.

“Nevertheless, these results diminished by week 12. Although HS-CRP remained lower at week 12 compared to the baseline, the distinctions were no longer statistically significant,” she explained.

Conversely, while black beans did reduce inflammation, they did not impact cholesterol levels.

These results imply that chickpeas and black beans may provide varied health advantages due to their unique nutritional compositions.

Participants consuming one glass of chickpeas daily for 12 weeks experienced a significant reduction in cholesterol levels. – Getty

“We are currently investigating this, particularly concerning the bioactive components that set apart black beans from chickpeas,” Smith added. “We are analyzing the (poly)phenol content of both the intervention and the corresponding metabolite profile in the blood.”

Smith noted that chickpeas and black beans were selected for their “richness in dietary fiber, plant-based proteins, and bioactive compounds,” and for their convenience as canned options.

“Participants were in a free-living state and simply asked to integrate canned black beans or chickpeas into their regular diet without any specific preparation guidelines,” she stated.

While the study did not yield changes in blood glucose levels, researchers are still examining data related to glucose regulation and plan to explore how legumes influence gut microbiota.

“We are particularly focused on identifying changes in microbial metabolites, like short-chain fatty acids, and how these alterations enhance metabolic health outcomes,” Smith remarked.

“Ultimately, our aim is to deepen our understanding of the connections between diet, microbiome, and chronic disease prevention.”

The complete findings of this study are yet to be published in peer-reviewed journals.

About our experts

Morgan Smith is a doctoral candidate in food science and nutrition at Illinois Institute of Technology. She has contributed to peer-reviewed research featured in the journals Nutrition and Healthy Aging and Metabolites.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Research Uncovers That Humans Are Seasonal Beings

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Biological processes such as sleep, heart rate, and metabolism are regulated by the circadian clock found in nearly every cell in the human body. However, modern lifestyles challenge this natural timing mechanism in ways for which we are not well-suited. Factors like industrialization, shift work, artificial lighting, and smartphone usage significantly impact our sleep and circadian rhythms. A recent study from the University of Michigan reveals that our circadian rhythms continue to align with seasonal changes in sunlight. This result was published in the journal NPJ Digital Medicine.

Kim et al. We believe that substantial individual differences in shift work adaptation, which are vital for shift workers’ health, can be explained in part by the biological mechanisms of seasonal timing. Image credit: Sasin Tipchai.

“We may not want to admit it in today’s world, but humans are inherently seasonal,” stated Dr. Ruby Kim, the study’s lead author.

“The duration of daylight and the sunlight we receive significantly influence our physiology.”

“Our research demonstrates that the timing of biologically significant seasons plays a role in how individuals adapt to changes in their daily routines.”

“These findings could lead to new avenues for investigating and understanding seasonal affective disorders, a form of depression linked to seasonal variations.”

“It could also point to new areas of exploration regarding a range of health issues related to sleep schedules and alignment with circadian rhythms.”

“This work holds great promise for future discoveries, potentially impacting metabolic and cardiovascular health as well as mental health conditions such as mood disorders and anxiety.”

The study also indicated that humans possess a seasonal genetic component, which might explain the significant differences in how individuals are impacted by variations in daylight.

“Some individuals may adapt better, while others might fare much worse,” remarked Professor Daniel Foger, a senior author of the study.

Investigating this genetic component could help researchers and healthcare providers identify where an individual falls on the adaptation spectrum, although achieving this will require more time and effort.

For now, this study serves as an important first step in reshaping our understanding of human circadian rhythms.

“Many people tend to perceive their circadian rhythm as a singular entity,” explained Professor Foger.

“Our findings indicate that it’s not one clock, but rather two.”

“One clock tracks dawn, and the other tracks dusk. They communicate with each other.”

Researchers adjusted their studies of circadian rhythms according to seasonal sunlight by analyzing sleep data collected from thousands of participants using wearable health technology like Fitbits.

All participants were medical interns involved in a one-year internship as part of a healthcare study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Interns are shift workers whose schedules frequently change, which also changes their sleep patterns.

Moreover, these schedules often run counter to the natural day-night cycle.

The observation that the circadian rhythm of this group demonstrated seasonal dependence is a strong indicator of how deeply ingrained this feature is in humans, which is unsurprising.

“It makes a lot of practical sense. Our brain physiology has been attuned to track dusk and dawn for millions of years,” stated Professor Foger.

“Then industrialization came along in an evolutionary blink, and we’re still trying to catch up.”

Participants in the healthcare study also provided saliva samples for DNA analysis, enabling researchers to include genetic factors in their evaluations.

Previous genetic studies have identified specific genes involved in how circadian clocks in various animals respond to seasonal changes.

Since humans share this gene, the authors could pinpoint a smaller group of interns with slight variations in their genetic makeup.

For this group, shift work was more disruptive due to the misalignment between seasonal circadian rhythms and their sleep schedules.

This leads to many questions, particularly regarding the health implications and how shift work affects different individuals.

However, these are questions researchers will seek to investigate further in the future.

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R. Kim et al. 2025. Seasonal timing and individual differences in shift work adaptation. npj digits. Pharmaceuticals 8, 300; doi:10.1038/s41746-025-01678-z

Source: www.sci.news

New Research Uncovers Opportunistic Hyperdevelopment in Megatooth Sharks

Posted on May 26, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In a study published today in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, paleontologists examined the ratio of two distinct zinc isotopes in the enamel of 19 dental species from early Miocene marine ecosystems, including the Megatooth Sharks Otodus Megalodon and Otodus chubutensis.

Otodus Megalodon became extinct 3.6 million years ago. Image credit: Alex Boersma/PNAS.” width=”580″ height=”421″ srcset=”https://cdn.sci.news/images/2023/06/image_12042-Otodus-megalodon.jpg 580w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2023/06/image_12042-Otodus-megalodon-300×218.jpg 300w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2023/06/image_12042-Otodus-megalodon-104×75.jpg 104w” sizes=”(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px”/>

Otodus Megalodon became extinct 3.6 million years ago. Image credit: Alex Boersma/PNAS.

Otodus Megalodon was a colossal megatooth shark that inhabited the world’s oceans from 23 to 3.6 million years ago.

It could reach a length of at least 15 meters, making it one of the largest apex marine predators since the Mesozoic Era.

“Otodus Megalodon,” stated Dr. Jeremy McCormack from Goethe University in Frankfurt, “was estimated to require about 100,000 calories per day.”

“Scientists have generally believed that megalodon primarily consumed whales.”

“At least, that’s what it depended on if whales were available for extended periods.”

“However, it seems that Megalodon had a much broader range of prey than previously thought.”

In the recent study, Dr. McCormack and his colleagues investigated the ratio of zinc-64 and zinc-66 isotopes in the dental enamel of 19 fossil species from sediments that are 20.4 to 16 million years old, discovered in the shallow waters of the Burdigalian seaways in what is now southern Germany.

“Zinc is ingested through food, which means the heavier zinc-66 is stored in muscles and organs,” they explained.

“As a result, fish that consume other fish accumulate a high amount of zinc-66. Therefore, those that eat them will have even less.”

“This is why Otodus Megalodon and its relative Otodus chubutensis exhibited the lowest ratios of zinc-66 to zinc-64 at the top of the food chain.”

“Seabreams that fed on mussels, snails, and crustaceans represented the lowest level of our food chain study,” Dr. McCormack noted.

“Following that were smaller shark species, including Requiem sharks, and the ancestors of modern whales, dolphins, and porpoises.”

“Larger sharks, such as sand tiger sharks, occupied higher levels of the food pyramid, with immense sharks like Aralosera coscuspidatus and Otodus sharks containing Megalodon at the top.”

“However, Otodus sharks cannot be distinctly differentiated from lower levels of the pyramid.”

“Megalodons were versatile enough to consume marine mammals and large fish, depending on their availability from both the upper and lower tiers of the food pyramid.”

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Jeremy McCormack et al. The vegetative ecology of Miocene marine vertebrates reveals the Megatooth Shark as an opportunistic hypercarnivore. Earth and Planetary Science Letters Published online on May 26, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119392

Source: www.sci.news

New Research Suggests Mars’ Gradient Stripes are Dry

Posted on May 26, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Slope stripes are prominent dark markings on Martian slopes that naturally form and can fade over decades. Some planetary scientists interpreted these features as evidence of liquid flows, raising the possibility of a currently habitable environment on Mars. However, recent research by Brown and Bern Universities offers alternative explanations, focusing on drying processes associated with wind and dust activities.

This image captures the impact crater in the Sirenum Fossa region of Mars, taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on March 30, 2015. The crater is about 3,300 feet (1 km) wide, displaying sharp rims and well-preserved features, indicating a relatively recent origin. The steep inner slope is carved into the gully and exhibits a recurring slope system on equator-facing slopes. Image credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/Alfred McEwen.

“A significant focus of contemporary Mars research is understanding active processes on the planet, including the potential presence of liquid water on its surface,” states Dr. Admos Valantinus, a postdoctoral researcher at Brown University.

“In our study, we examined these features but found no evidence of water. Our model supports the idea of a dry formation process.”

The unusual stripes were first identified from images sent back by NASA’s Viking mission in the 1970s.

These stripes typically appear darker than the surrounding terrain, stretching across sloped regions that can extend several hundred meters.

While some stripes endure for years or decades, others appear and disappear more rapidly.

The phenomenon known as recurring slope features (RSLs) tends to manifest in the same locations during Mars’ warmest periods.

The origins of these stripes have fueled much debate among planetary scientists.

Seeking new insights, Dr. Valantinus and his colleague Dr. Valentin Bickel employed machine learning algorithms to catalog as many slope streaks as possible.

After training the algorithm on confirmed sightings of slope streaks, it was used to analyze over 86,000 high-resolution satellite images.

The outcome was the first comprehensive global map of slope streaks on Mars, featuring over 500,000 individual streaks.

“With this global map, we can compare it against a database of various factors such as temperature, wind speed, moisture, and rock slide activity,” said Dr. Bickel.

“This enables us to search for correlations across a vast number of cases to better comprehend the conditions under which these features form.”

This extensive analysis indicated that slope stripes and RSLs are generally not linked to conditions that would suggest the presence of liquid or frost, such as specific gradient directions, significant surface temperature fluctuations, or high humidity levels.

Instead, the authors posited that both features are likely to form in areas with moderate wind speeds and dust deposition, consistent with arid origins.

Researchers concluded that these stripes likely arise when fine layers of dust suddenly slide down steep slopes.

Variability in triggering factors was noted. Slope stripes are observed more frequently near recent impact craters where shock waves can disturb loose surface dust, while RSLs tend to be more prevalent in areas affected by dust devils and rockfalls.

Collectively, these findings raise new questions about the viability of slope stripes and RSLs as indicators of habitable environments.

This research holds significant implications for future Mars exploration efforts.

While a habitable environment may seem like an appealing exploration target, NASA aims to be cautious in this regard.

Earthly microorganisms potentially present on spacecraft could contaminate Mars’ habitable zones, complicating the search for extraterrestrial life.

This study suggests that the risk of contamination at slope streak locations is relatively low.

“This demonstrates the advantage of a big data approach,” noted Dr. Valantinas.

“It helps eliminate certain hypotheses from consideration before launching a spacecraft for exploration.”

The results were published on May 19, 2025, in Nature Communications.

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VT Bickel & A. Valantinas. 2025. The streaks on the slopes of Mars are dry. Nature Communications 16, 4315; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59395-w

Source: www.sci.news

China’s Unexpected Surge in Regional Internet Censorship: A Research Overview

Posted on May 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Authorities in China seem to be rolling out a more stringent version of the internet censorship system in Henan province, imposing tighter controls over information access for its tens of millions of residents compared to others in the country.

A research paper published by the Great Firewall Report this month indicates that internet users in Henan—one of China’s most densely populated provinces—were blocked from accessing five times as many websites from November 2023 to March 2025 compared to the national average.

“Our findings highlight striking instances of censorship emerging in the region,” stated the researchers, including authors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Stanford University.

China has established the most advanced and extensive internet censorship system globally. Users are barred from accessing a majority of Western news sites and social media platforms, which includes popular services provided by Google, Wikipedia, and Meta.

Under the “Great Firewall,” online content is scrutinized and censored by a combination of governmental bodies and private companies that adhere to regulations requiring removal of content deemed “sensitive.” This often involves topics regarding historical or current events that conflict with the official narrative of the Chinese Communist Party.

Researchers began their investigation after residents in Henan reported that many sites accessible elsewhere in China were unavailable in their province. They discovered millions of domains not blocked by central firewalls at one point that were inaccessible to Henan users.

By acquiring a server from a cloud provider, the authors monitored internet traffic within Henan. They conducted daily tests on the top 1 million domains from November 2023 to March 2025, revealing a significant rise in blocks during 2024. The results indicated that Henan’s firewall obstructed around 4.2 million domains during the survey period—over five times the roughly 741,500 domains obstructed by regular Chinese censorship measures.

The domains specifically blocked in Henan predominantly came from business-related websites. Recent financial protests in the province have led researchers to theorize that increased information control might stem from concerns about their managed economy.

In 2022, thousands in Henan participated in protests after being denied access to their bank accounts. The situation escalated when demonstrators found their mobile health codes—essential for pandemic management—turned red, restricting their movement. Subsequent to this, five staff members faced penalties for misusing health regulations to quash the protests.

Other regions of China have also seen heightened internet restrictions. For example, after a deadly ethnic riot in July 2009, the government imposed a ten-month internet blackout in Xinjiang, a Uyghur minority region in Western China. Thereafter, internet usage in Xinjiang has been monitored much more rigorously than in other areas, with Tibet also facing strict online controls.

The rise of a regional censorship regime in Henan is notable as it is not typically identified as a hotspot for such measures by Chinese authorities.

Researchers have not been able to ascertain whether the intensified controls were imposed by the local Henan government or the central government in Beijing.

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The swift advancements in Chinese AI technologies have proven beneficial for both censorship enforcement and evasion efforts. Recently, China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced new monitoring tools enabling surveillance of users on virtual private networks (VPNs), designed to bypass internet restrictions. The MPS Institute has also introduced tools claiming to monitor accounts on Telegram, reportedly processing over 30 billion messages.

Minshu Wu, the lead author of “Henan Studies,” uses pseudonyms to safeguard their identity. Conversely, AI technologies can also be utilized to develop more sophisticated and adaptive censorship and monitoring tools.

The Henan Cyberspace Issues Committee has not responded to requests for comment.

Additional contributions by Lilian Yang

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Research Reveals Clown Anemone Fish Shrink to Survive Heat Stress

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

You can identify it from its leading role in the film Finding NEMO: the Clown Anemone Fish (Amphiprion percula). This research addresses methods to minimize social conflict, as discussed in the paper published in the journal Advances in Science.

Versteeg et al. We studied the growth of individual clown anemone fish during marine heat waves. Image credit: Beatrice.

“The Clown Anemone Fish and its stunning sea anemone host, Radianthus magnificus,” expressed Melissa Verstegue, a doctoral researcher at Newcastle University, alongside her colleague Melissa Vertegue.

“Anemonefish inhabit coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, where heat stress events are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, yet reef dwellers often approach their thermal limits.”

“These heat stress events can adversely impact both the anemones and the clownfish that reside within them.”

“The clown anemone fish exist in a social structure comprising dominant breeding pairs and several subordinate, non-breeding individuals.”

“The growth and size of clown anemone fish correlate with their environmental and social conditions, with dominant individuals growing to match the size of their anemone and the resources available. Subordinate fish maintain a specific size ratio to avoid conflict and potential eviction.”

In this research, Versteeg and co-authors measured the lengths of 134 clownfish over five months and tracked water temperatures every 4-6 days during increasingly common ocean heat waves exacerbated by climate change.

This collaboration was conducted with the Mahonia Na Dari Conservation and Research Centre in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea.

The findings reveal that clownfish can adjust their body length, potentially shrinking in response to heat stress.

This reduction increases an individual’s chances of surviving heat stress events by up to 78%.

The study also indicates that coordination among clownfish is crucial, as they are more likely to survive heat waves when paired with their breeding partners.

This marks the first documented instance of coral reef fish reducing body length in response to environmental and social factors.

“This doesn’t merely lead to weight loss under stress; these fish genuinely become shorter,” notes Versteeg.

“We are still uncertain about the exact mechanisms behind this, but it’s known that a few other species can also exhibit similar shrinkage.”

“For example, marine iguanas can reabsorb some of their bone material and decrease in size during environmental stress.”

“We were astonished to observe these fish shrink; we rigorously measured each individual across five months.”

“Ultimately, we discovered size reduction was quite common within this population.”

“During our study, 100 out of the 134 fish observed shrank.”

“It was surprising to witness how rapidly clownfish can adapt to changing environments, showcasing their ability to alter size both as individuals and breeding pairs in response to heat stress, which serves as an effective survival strategy.”

The authors also highlight that individual size reduction may help explain the declining sizes of fish in our oceans.

“Our results affirm that individual clownfish can shrink in response to heat stress, potentially affected by social dynamics and exhibiting improved survival potential.”

“If this phenomenon of individual size reduction is widespread across various fish species, many could show decreased sizes, suggesting a viable hypothesis for further research in this area.”

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Melissa A. Verstigue et al. 2025. Individual clown anemone fish shrink to survive heat stress and social conflict. Advances in Science 11 (21); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adt7079

Source: www.sci.news

New Research Reveals Asian Elephants Have Larger Brains Than Their African Relatives

Posted on May 21, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Elephants are fascinating creatures. Despite their allure, our understanding of the elephant brain remains limited, and there are notable neuroanatomical differences between the Asian (Elephas Maximus) and African elephants (Loxodonta africana), which have largely gone unexplored. In a recent study, researchers from Humboldt Universität in Berlin and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research collected numerous elephant brains to investigate the macroanatomical features that differentiate the species. Surprisingly, they found that Asian elephants possess a larger brain and greater grey matter volume than African elephants, an intriguing contrast given the smaller body size of Asian elephants.

Asian elephant in Myanmar. Image credit: John Jackson.

“The morphological distinctions among elephant species are well-documented,” stated Dr. Marav Schah from Humboldt Universität Berlin and his colleagues.

“For instance, African savanna elephants are larger and have bigger ears than their Asian counterparts.”

“It is also noted that only female African elephants grow larger tusks compared to the minimal tusks found in Asian females.”

“These disparities indicate significant genetic divergence between savanna elephants in Asia and Africa, believed to have arisen 50,000 to 8 million years ago.”

In this research, the team examined the brain weights and structures of both Asian and African elephants via dissections, existing literature, and MRI scans from wildlife and zoo animals.

The findings revealed that adult Asian elephants are significantly heavier than their African counterparts, whose brains average just over 4,400 grams.

This specific finding could not be definitively validated for male elephants, as data for the brain weights in Asian males is limited.

However, the cerebellum appears proportionately heavier in African elephants (22% of total brain body weight) compared to Asian elephants (19%).

Researchers also demonstrated that elephants undergo extensive postnatal brain growth.

By adulthood, an elephant’s brain is roughly three times heavier than at birth.

This indicates that elephants experience notably more brain growth than all primates; except for humans, where the brain weighs only about one-fifth of its final weight at birth.

A boy African elephant in Kenya. Image credit: George Wittemyer.

“The variance in brain weight is likely the most significant difference among these two elephant species,” Dr. Shah noted.

“This accounts for the behavioral variations observed between elephants in Asia and Africa.”

“For instance, the two species display markedly different interactions with humans.”

“Asian elephants have been partially domesticated for millennia and serve as working animals across various cultures and regions.”

“Conversely, only a handful of cases of partial domestication have been somewhat successful with African elephants.”

“It is considerably harder to integrate an African elephant into human society compared to an Asian elephant.”

The study was published today in the journal pnas nexus.

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Marav Shah et al. 2025. The larger and relatively small cerebellum of Asian elephants compared to the African savanna elephants. pnas nexus 4(5): PGAF141; doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf141

Source: www.sci.news

New Research Confirms: Fingers Wrinkle Consistently When Soaked in Water

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A recent investigation by researchers at Binghamton University reveals that the wrinkle patterns on terrain caused by prolonged human hand immersion in water remain consistent and repetitive over time.

Images of skin wrinkles on topography were overlaid with each other from two different time points 24 hours apart, with opacity levels (a) 0%, (b) 50%, (c) 100%. Image credit: Guy German.

Several years ago, Guy K. Germany from Binghamton University conducted research into the reasons behind the wrinkling of human skin after prolonged exposure to water.

It was commonly assumed that water causes the skin to swell and wrinkle, yet substantial research to validate this was limited.

The finding revealed that the contraction of blood vessels beneath the skin leads to the formation of these wrinkles.

Recent research indicates that the topographical patterns of these wrinkles are consistent across multiple instances of immersion.

“The blood vessels maintain a relatively static position. They may shift slightly, but in relation to each other, they remain largely unchanged,” stated Dr. Deutsche.

“This suggests that wrinkles will form in a consistent manner, and we have confirmed this through our study.”

The researchers submerged subjects’ fingers in water for 30 minutes, captured images, and repeated the process under identical conditions at least 24 hours later.

By analyzing the photographs, Dr. Deutsche and his colleague Rachel Raytin observed identical patterns of raised loops and ridges after both immersion events.

“We also uncovered some fascinating aspects during our study,” Dr. Deutsche remarked.

“I learned that individuals with median nerve damage in their fingers do not exhibit wrinkles.”

“One of my students revealed, ‘I have median nerve damage in my finger.’ We tested this hypothesis—no wrinkles!”

While it was amusing to explore these inquiries, this new research may have significant applications in forensic medicine, such as in fingerprinting at crime scenes or identifying remains found after extended exposure to water.

“My father, a retired British police officer, encountered such challenges during his career in law enforcement,” Dr. Deutsche shared.

“Biometrics and fingerprinting are ingrained in my thinking. I constantly ponder these topics due to their compelling nature.”

Survey results will be published in Journal of Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials.

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Rachel Raytin & Guy K. Germany. 2025. For reproducibility of the topographical pattern of water finger wrinkles, soak in human skin. Journal of Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 165, 106935; doi:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.106935

Source: www.sci.news

Research Reveals That 14,350 Years Ago, the Most Powerful Known Solar Storm Triggered Radiocarbon Spikes

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Solar particle events from the sun are infrequent but powerful, significantly influencing the creation of cosmic genic isotopes. For instance, radiocarbon (¹⁴c) in the terrestrial environment leaves a distinct mark on natural archives, such as dating artifacts. Over the last 12,000 years, eight such events have been identified, the most notable occurring in 775 AD. Recently, a candidate for a new extreme solar particle event was discovered, marked by the largest known radiocarbon peak dating back to 12350 BC. A recent study indicates this event was 18% more intense than the 775 CE event and likely transpired between January and April of that year, with early March being the most probable time frame.

Illustration of the artist of Solar Storm. Image credit: NASA.

“Solar particle storms significantly enhance the natural production of cosmic isotopes, such as radiocarbon, in the atmosphere due to cosmic rays from galaxies,” stated Kseniia Golubenko, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oulu, along with her colleagues.

“Such enhancements, preserved in annual tree rings, act as clear timestamps in the universe, enabling absolute dating of tree samples.”

“These dramatic spikes, referred to as Miyake Events, are named after the Japanese researcher who first identified them. They provide crucial data for scientists examining solar activity, ancient Earth systems, and space climate.”

“Miyake events help us pinpoint the exact calendar year of floating archaeological timelines,” added Professor Ilya Usoskin from Oulu University.

“The radiocarbon signals from such events have enabled researchers to accurately date Viking settlements in Newfoundland and Neolithic communities in Greece.”

For the reconstruction of solar particle storms under ancient glacial climate conditions, the authors developed and utilized a new chemical climate model called SOCOL:14C-EX.

This model was successfully validated using tree ring data from the 775 CE event and applied to ice age conditions to analyze the event from 12350 BC.

“The ancient events of 12350 BC are the only known extreme solar particle occurrences aside from the stable warm climate of the last 12,000 years,” Dr. Golubenko stated.

“Our estimates reveal that, compared to the largest events of the modern satellite era, the Particle Storm of 2005 was over 500 times weaker.”

“Other documented solar particle storms took place in 994 BC, 663 BC, 5259 BC, and 7176 BC, with several more candidates currently under investigation.”

“The 12350 BCE occurrence also establishes new worst-case scenarios,” she added.

“Understanding its magnitude is vital for assessing the risks posed by future solar storms.”

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

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Kseniia Golubenko et al. 2025. The new SOCOL:14C-EX model reveals that radiocarbon spikes from the late glacial age of 12350 BC were caused by record extreme solar storms. Earth and Planet Science Letters 661:119383; doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119383

Source: www.sci.news

Research Reveals AI’s Ability to Voluntarily Develop Human-Like Communication Skills

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Research indicates that artificial intelligence can organically develop social practices akin to humans.

The study, conducted in collaboration between the University of London and the City of St. George at the University of Copenhagen, proposes that large-scale language modeling (LLM) AI, like ChatGPT, can begin to adopt linguistic forms and societal norms when interacting in groups without external influence.

Ariel Flint Asherry, a doctoral researcher at Citi St. George and the study’s lead author, challenged the conventional perspective in AI research, asserting that AI is often perceived as solitary entities rather than social beings.

“Unlike most research that treats LLMs in isolation, genuine AI systems are increasingly intertwined, actively interacting,” says Ashery.

“We aimed to investigate whether these models could modify behaviors by shaping practices and forming societal components. The answer is affirmative; their collaborative actions exceed what they achieve individually.”

In this study, groups of individual LLM agents ranged from 24 to 100, where two agents were randomly paired and tasked with selecting a “name” from an optional pool of characters or strings.

When the agents selected the same name, they received a reward; if they chose differently, they faced punishment and were shown each other’s selections.

Although the agents were unaware of being part of a larger group and limited their memory to recent interactions, voluntary naming conventions emerged across the population without a predetermined solution, resembling the communicative norms of human culture.

Andrea Baroncelli, a professor of complexity science at City St. George’s and the senior author of the study, likened the dissemination of behavior to the emergence of new words and terms in our society.

“The agents don’t follow a leader,” he explained. “They actively coordinate, consistently attempting to collaborate in pairs, with each interaction being a one-on-one effort over labels without a comprehensive perspective.

“Consider the term ‘spam.’ No official definition was set, but persistent adjustment efforts led to its universal recognition as a label for unwanted emails.”

Furthermore, the research team identified naturally occurring collective biases that could not be traced back to individual agents.

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In the final experiment, a small cohort of AI agents successfully guided a larger group towards a novel naming convention.

This was highlighted as evidence of critical mass dynamics, suggesting that small but pivotal minorities can catalyze rapid behavioral changes in groups once a specific threshold is achieved, akin to phenomena observed in human societies.

Baroncelli remarked that the study “opens a new horizon for AI safety research, illustrating the profound impact of this new breed of agents who will begin to engage with us and collaboratively shape our future.”

He added: “The essence of ensuring coexistence with AI, rather than becoming subservient to it, lies not only in discussions but in negotiation, coordination, and shared actions, much like how we operate.”

Peer-reviewed research on emergent social practices within LLM populations and population bias is published in the journal Science Advances.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research on Modeling Unveils New Insights into Venus’ Crust

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Planetary scientists initially believed that Earth’s outer crust would become thicker over time, particularly due to the perceived absence of forces pushing it back into the planet’s interior. However, researchers from Open University, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and the Lunar and Planetary Institute suggest that processes involved in crustal transformation, centered around rock density and melting cycles, offer a different perspective.

An artistic interpretation of active volcanoes on Venus illustrates a subduction zone where the foreground crust of a topographical groove descends into the planet’s interior. Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Peter Rubin.

The earth’s crust is rock-like and composed of massive, slowly migrating plates that fold and create faults through a process known as plate tectonics.

For instance, when two plates collide, a lighter plate can slide over a denser plate, forcing it downward towards the underlying mantle.

This phenomenon, referred to as subduction, plays a crucial role in regulating the thickness of the Earth’s crust.

As the rocks penetrate deeper into the planet’s interior, they undergo transformations due to increased temperature and pressure, a process known as metamorphosis, which is one contributing factor to volcanic activity.

“Conversely, Venus consists of a singular skin with no signs of subduction seen in Earth’s plate tectonics,” noted Justin Filibert, PhD, associate director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center for Astromaterial Research and Exploration Sciences.

Through modeling, Dr. Filibert and his team found that Venus’s crust averages about 40 km (25 miles) thick, with some areas reaching up to 65 km (40 miles).

“This is surprisingly thin compared to Earth’s conditions,” Dr. Filibert remarked.

“Our model suggests that as the crust thickens, it becomes so dense at the bottom that it either breaks off to merge with the mantle or heats up enough to melt.”

“Thus, while Venus lacks movable plates, its crust still goes through metamorphosis.”

“This finding marks a significant advancement in understanding geological processes and planetary evolution.”

“The breaking and melting of crustal materials can reintroduce water and elements back into the planet’s interior, fueling volcanic activity.”

“We are developing a new model for how materials are recycled within the planet, providing insights into the processes that can trigger volcanic eruptions of lava and gases.”

“It reshapes our understanding of how Venus’ geology, crust, and atmosphere interact.”

“The forthcoming phase involves gathering direct data on Venus’s crust to test and refine these models.”

“The extent of volcanic activity on Venus remains uncertain.”

“While we postulate numerous volcanic phenomena, research indicates a need for extensive data to validate our assumptions.”

Relevant survey findings will be published in the journal Nature Communications.

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J. Semprich et al. 2025. The thickness of the earth’s crust and the transformation of Venus as a driver for recycling. Nat Commun 16, 2905; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-58324-1

Source: www.sci.news

Inside the Museum: Beetles Feeding on Meat for Scientific Research

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Navigating past the enormous hanging blue whales and the Alaska brown bear on the ground floor of the American Museum of Natural History, you’ll stumble upon an unassuming, concealed door. Above it are small signs.

“Bug colony.”

Behind this door, accessible solely to a select group of museum staff, thousands of carnivorous skin beetles tirelessly work around the clock, carrying out specimen preparation tasks that even the museum’s most skilled professionals cannot manage.

They consume the flesh from animal skeletons, leaving only pristine bones behind.

Many skeletons are too intricate for human cleaning, so the museum’s osteologic preparation team turns to these six-legged workers to ready specimens for research and display.

The operation takes place in three gray wooden boxes, about the size of a foot locker, which house the colony. These boxes are lined with stainless steel, and their flexible tops unveil a range of small creatures, including beetles, feasting on the remnants of primarily birds. They devour morsels of flesh still attached to the carcasses.

The room resonates with soft, crackling noises. “Adding milk makes it sound like frying food or cooking rice,” mentioned Rob Pascocello, a colony caretaker.

The beetles are tiny—only a few millimeters long—capable of entering the narrowest crevices in animals and nibble away without damaging fragile skeletal structures, according to Scott Schaefer, the overseer of the museum’s vast collection of specimens and artifacts, which comprises over 30 million items.

“They do an exceptional, meticulous job that human hands cannot replicate due to delicacy,” Schaefer explained. “It’s gentler than boiling the specimens or subjecting them to chemicals or acids.”

Museum representatives state that this industrious colony has processed countless carcasses, including a significant portion of the over 30,000 bird skeleton specimens housed for decades. “They slip into tiny spaces and go unnoticed, continuing to feed until there’s nothing left,” Schaefer noted.

On a recent weekday, Paul Sweet, the collection manager for ornithology, stood in the bug room, pointing out that the name is misleading from a scientific standpoint.

True bugs, known scientifically as Hemiptera, have mouthparts designed for piercing and sucking. In contrast, beetles—known as Coleoptera—typically have a cylindrical shape with chewing mouthparts.

The colony has effectively reduced the once vibrant pink flamingos into mere bundles of bones. The majestic snowy owl was similarly transformed. Among the remnants was a tiny skeleton in a canister, with bones smaller than a toothpick.

“That’s a songbird,” Pascocello remarked.

Skin beetles are scavengers commonly found in the wild, nests, and animal burrows, feasting on deceased animals.

Museum officials mentioned that this dermatological colony, introduced from Africa in the 1930s, has remained self-sufficient. Sweet noted that the current beetle population has been at the museum for 35 years, though it remains uncertain whether they are descendants of the original colony.

Regardless, beetles only live for six months, leading Pascocello to humorously state, “they’re all related.” He also mentioned having a backup colony in his bedroom during the museum’s closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On this particular day, Sweet was preparing to feed the colony a Northern Gannet, a seabird recovered from Midland Beach on Staten Island. It had already been stripped, dried, and had most of its meat removed by researchers before being handed over to the beetles for final preparation.

Within minutes, the bodies were swarming with beetles. While smaller birds can be entirely cleaned in just a couple of days, a larger skeleton, like that of a gannet, may take up to two weeks.

Pascocello once provided beetles to feed orangutans, while Sweet had given them the remains of an emu. However, the size of the specimens presented determines how they are handled; larger ones must be provided in pieces, such as the remains of a Cuban crocodile named Fidel, sourced from the Bronx Zoo in 2005.

Before pristine skeletons are boxed and cataloged, they are soaked in water and frozen for several days to eliminate any residual beetles and eggs.

Beetles pose no threat to humans, but an infestation within the museum’s specimen collection is undesirable. A sufficient quantity of beetles means strips of petrolatum jelly at the top of the box and sticky patches on the room’s doorway.

If the supply of specimens falls short, Pascocello will resort to chicken as an emergency food source. Sweet mentioned providing the colony with pig feet during the pandemic, as it was the least expensive meat available at the supermarket.

The beetle’s voracious appetite serves as a reminder that significant scientific work doesn’t always happen in spotless laboratories. Above the door, beneath the “Bug Colony” sign, a handwritten note reads:

“The unpleasant odor emanating from behind this door is perfectly normal.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Research Reveals: Africa’s Stunning Starry Skies Foster Bonds of Friendship

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) Recent studies reveal their behavior of “reciprocity,” where they assist each other with the expectation of future favors.

Lamprotornis superbus) at Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart, Germany. The lighter-colored bird is flanked by two adults. Image credit: Dennis Irrgang / CC by 2.0.” width=”580″ height=”387″ srcset=”https://cdn.sci.news/images/2025/05/image_13887-Lamprotornis-superbus.jpg 580w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2025/05/image_13887-Lamprotornis-superbus-300×200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.sci.news/images/2025/05/image_13887-Lamprotornis-superbus-84×55.jpg 84w” sizes=”(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px”/>

Superb Starling family (Lamprotornis superbus) at Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart, Germany. The lighter-colored bird is between two adults. Image credit: Dennis Irrgang / CC by 2.0.

The Superb Starling is a passerine bird belonging to the Sturnidae family.

This species is widespread, inhabiting various regions in East Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and beyond.

These birds form large mixed groups consisting of 7 to 60 individuals, with an average size ranging from 13 to 41 members.

“The social structure of Starlings is complex, comprising not only family units but also a mix of both related and unrelated individuals, much like humans.”

“It’s well-known that animals tend to assist their relatives to enhance genetic fitness and propagate their genes.”

“While Starlings prioritize helping relatives, they also lend support to unrelated individuals.”

Professor Rubenstein and his team discovered that this support arises through the establishment of mutual relationships.

However, proving that such behaviors are present in non-relatives remains challenging.

The study is rooted in two decades of research by the authors on these birds in Africa, thriving in the harsh savannah climate.

From 2002 to 2021, thousands of interactions among hundreds of birds were documented, alongside DNA samples to analyse genetic links.

By merging behavioral data with genetic information during 40 breeding seasons, they posed pivotal questions: Did birds prioritize aiding relatives? Did they assist non-relatives when related individuals were available? Did they reciprocate support over time?

Ultimately, the findings revealed that while helpers prioritized their relatives, they often supported specific unrelated individuals consistently, even when relatives could assist.

“Many of these birds forge friendships that develop over time,” Professor Rubenstein stated.

“Our next goal is to investigate how these relationships are formed, their longevity, and why some bonds remain strong while others diminish.”

The study was published today in the journal Nature.

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Advertising et al. The enigmatic role of mutual assistance among birds in cooperative breeding. Nature Published online on May 7, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08958-4

Source: www.sci.news

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

Genetic Research Uncovers the Origins of Bats

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In the early 2000s, bats infected with coronavirus transmitted the virus to raccoon dogs and other wild mammals in southwestern China. Many of these animals were sold in markets where the coronavirus resurfaced. Consequently, the SARS pandemic spread to 33 countries, resulting in 774 fatalities. Months later, researchers identified a mammalian coronavirus known as Palmcoten, found in markets central to the outbreak.

In a study published Wednesday, a team of researchers drew comparisons between the evolutionary paths of SARS and COVID-19, 17 years apart. They examined the genomes of the two coronaviruses responsible for the pandemics, alongside 248 related coronaviruses in bats and other mammals.

Jonathan Pechal, an evolutionary virologist at the University of Edinburgh and author of the study, noted that the histories of the two coronaviruses mirrored each other. “In my opinion, they are very similar,” he stated.

In both instances, Dr. Pekal and his team assert that coronavirus transmission originated from bats in southwestern China to wild mammals. Soon after, wildlife traders transported infected animals hundreds of miles to urban markets, leading to widespread human outbreaks.

“When wildlife is sold in urban centers, pandemics often follow,” stated Michael Warby, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona and co-author of the research.

This research appears at a politically charged moment. Last month, the White House launched a web page titled “Laborek: The True Origins of COVID-19,” asserting the pandemic stemmed from a lab accident in Wuhan, rather than market interactions.

In a budget proposal issued on Friday, the White House indicated that it was “confirming” the lab leak theory, which justified an $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health.

The Chinese government responded with a flat denial of claims that COVID was caused by a lab leak in Wuhan, suggesting instead the virus may have originated from a laboratory in the U.S.

“A thorough and detailed investigation into the origin of the virus should be conducted in the United States,” the statement read.

Sergei Pond, a virologist at Temple University, expressed skepticism regarding the resolution of COVID’s origins. He voiced concerns that political rhetoric from both governments could hinder scientific inquiries into the virus’s origins.

“If it weren’t tragic, you’d have to laugh at how things have unfolded,” Dr. Pond commented.

In the initial weeks of the early 2020 pandemic, the virus responsible, SARS-CoV-2, emerged alongside notions of biological weapons created by the Chinese military. A cohort of scientists analyzing available data at that time dismissed this claim, indicating that while they could not dismiss accidental lab leaks, they leaned towards the natural origins of COVID.

Over the ensuing months, Dr. Warby, who was not part of that group, grew dissatisfied with the lack of compelling evidence favoring one theory over another. He co-signed an open letter with 17 other scientists advocating for further investigation to ascertain the most likely explanation.

“We felt there was much yet to be learned, so let’s not dismiss the lab leak theory,” Dr. Warby asserted. “Let’s investigate.”

As Dr. Warby and other researchers scrutinized COVID’s origins, the American intelligence agencies conducted their assessments. Their conclusions were varied. The FBI and CIA support the lab escape theory from the Wuhan Institute, albeit with little certainty. The Department of Energy expresses low confidence in the possibility of a virus escape from another lab in Wuhan, while other institutions favor a natural origin.

Scientists have struggled to evaluate the evidence behind these conclusions as the relevant institutions have not published supporting data or analyses. However, Dr. Warby and his colleagues have released several papers in scientific journals. Along this journey, Dr. Warby became convinced that the COVID pandemic originated at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan.

“Scientifically, that’s evident,” Dr. Warby remarked, referencing both HIV and the Spanish flu, two diseases with origins that have been thoroughly studied.

In their recent study, Dr. Warby, Dr. Pekal, and their colleagues examined 250 genomes of coronaviruses, leveraging genetic similarities and differences to establish relationships. They successfully reconstructed the evolutionary timeline of the coronaviruses responsible for both SARS and COVID-19, known as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.

The ancestors of both coronaviruses have been circulating in bats across China and its neighboring regions for hundreds of thousands of years, specifically inhabiting southwestern China and northern Laos for the last 50 years.

When coronaviruses infect bats, they sometimes cohabitate with another coronavirus. This can lead to the accidental creation of a hybrid virus carrying genetic material from both original coronaviruses, a process referred to as recombination.

“These are not ancient events,” noted David Rasmussen, a virologist at North Carolina State University involved in the new research. “These occurrences happen frequently; these viruses are truly mosaic in nature.”

In 2001, shortly before the SARS pandemic emerged, researchers found that SARS-CoV had undergone significant genetic mixing among bats. This led to the virus’s potential evolution into a human pathogen. However, given that Guangzhou is hundreds of miles from the ancestral area of SARS-CoV, it’s improbable that the virus gradually reached the city through bats.

Researchers generally concur that ancestors of SARS-CoV infected wild mammals, which were subsequently sold in markets around Guangzhou. Shortly after the onset of the SARS pandemic, the presence of SARS-CoV was confirmed in palm civets and other wild mammals traded in the market.

A similar trend was observed with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The final recombination event in bats occurred between 2012 and 2014, just five to seven years prior to the COVID outbreak, hundreds of miles away from northeastern Wuhan.

Moreover, this signifies a considerable distance from the area where the virus’s ancestors circulated, paralleling the journey that SARS-CoV undertook via the wildlife trade.

Proponents of the lab leak theory emphasize the significant distance between Wuhan and the habitats of the closest relatives of SARS-CoV-2. They argue that if bats traveled to the area around Wuhan without infecting local mammals, scientists must have been collecting coronaviruses from bats in southwestern China and experimenting on them in the lab.

American scientists have critiqued the Wuhan Institute of Virology for lax safety measures in their coronavirus experiments. Nevertheless, no evidence has confirmed that the ancestors of SARS-CoV-2 were present at the institute prior to the pandemic. Recent research by Dr. Warby and his colleagues illustrates that bat coronaviruses can traverse considerable distances via wildlife trade without any scientific intervention.

The researchers argue that these findings align with a study published in 2022, identifying the Huanan Wet Market in Wuhan as the site of the initial COVID outbreak. Wild mammals were sold at this venue, and early cases of COVID were documented there. Moreover, Chinese researchers collected various strains of SARS-CoV-2, exhibiting different mutations at this location. Dr. Warby and his team posited that the virus likely spilled over from wild mammals at the market on two separate occasions.

Dr. Pond stated that while the new study supports the wildlife spillover theory, he does not believe the issue has been definitively settled. He highlighted two statisticians’ critiques from last year, regarding the modeling behind the 2022 study. Dr. Warby and his colleagues have provided a rebuttal to those criticisms. “That debate is still ongoing,” Dr. Pond remarked.

Mark Eloit, former director of the Pasteur Institute in Paris, emphasized the importance of the new research in clarifying the origins of SARS-CoV-2.

However, he also noted that the coronavirus exhibits significant differences from closely related bat viruses. Following its divergence from those viruses, it would have undergone mutations or recombination to effectively spread among humans.

“I contend that the potential for recombination events—either incidental or deliberate—remains as plausible as the hypothesis of zoonotic transfer via intermediate hosts at the market,” Dr. Eloit argued.

Dr. Eloit and other scientists concurred that discovering intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 among wild mammals would significantly bolster the argument for natural spillover. However, Chinese officials examined various animals at the onset of the pandemic but found no traces of the virus.

Before scientists could conduct studies, wildlife vendors at the Huanan Market removed animals from the stalls, and when China ceased wildlife trade, farmers culled their animals.

“There are large gaps in our knowledge, and we can’t overlook that,” Dr. Pond remarked.

Stephen Goldstein, a geneticist at the University of Utah, remarked that while he was not involved in the new study, the findings serve as a cautionary reminder of future pandemic risks. Wild mammals traded in markets within regions where SARS and COVID-19 emerged can wreak havoc in urban centers hundreds of miles away. “These viral fragments are present in numerous places,” Dr. Goldstein concluded.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Research Reveals Fenugreek and Okra Extracts Can Eliminate Up to 90% of Microplastics from Water Sources

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Researchers at Talton State University have discovered that extracts from okra and/or fenugreek can attract and eliminate as much as 90% of microplastics from sea, freshwater, and groundwater.

Srinivasan et al. We demonstrated that plant-based polysaccharides exhibited better microplastic removal efficiency than polyacrylamides commercially used in water treatment. Image credit: Srinivasan et al., doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4C07476.

Microplastics are emerging as significant pollutants that pose a threat to aquatic environments globally.

These solid polymers, measuring less than 5 mm, originate from larger plastic debris and the fragmentation of environmental emissions.

These contaminants not only inflict physical damage but also act as carriers for other harmful pollutants that cling to microplastics.

When consumed by organisms, these microparticles can lead to bioaccumulation and bioproliferation.

Conventional wastewater treatment methods using inorganic and organic polymer flocculants are not eco-friendly and can introduce toxicity.

Dr. Rajani Srinivasan and her team at Talton State University have been investigating a safe, plant-based strategy for attracting and eliminating contaminants from water sources.

In laboratory experiments, they found that okra, fenugreek, and tamarind polymers effectively adhered to microplastics, allowing them to aggregate and sink for easy separation from water.

To prepare the sticky plant polymer, sliced okra pods were soaked in separate containers of water overnight.

The resulting extracts were collected, dried, and ground into a powder.

Analysis revealed that the powdered extracts contained polysaccharides, which are natural polymers.

Initial tests on pure water contaminated with microplastics indicated: (i) One gram of any of the quart (1 liter) powders was highly effective in trapping microplastics. (ii) Dried okra and fenugreek extracts removed 67% and 93% of the plastic in one hour, respectively. (iii) A combination of equal parts okra and fenugreek powder reached a maximum removal efficiency of 70% within 30 minutes. (iv) Natural polymers proved significantly more effective than synthetic commercial polyacrylamide polymers typically used in wastewater treatment.

The researchers conducted tests using real water samples contaminated with microplastics.

They collected samples from various water sources around Texas and analyzed them in the lab.

The removal efficiency of plant extracts varied based on the original water source: okra was most effective in seawater (80%), fenugreek showed 80-90% efficiency in groundwater, and a 1:1 mixture of okra and fenugreek achieved 77% efficiency in freshwater.

The scientists suggest that natural polymers display different efficiencies due to the diversity of microplastic types, sizes, and shapes across water samples.

“While polyacrylamide is commonly used for contaminant removal in wastewater treatment, extracts from okra and fenugreek provide biodegradable and non-toxic alternatives,” they stated.

“Using these plant-based extracts for water treatment can eliminate microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxins into the treated water, thereby reducing long-term health risks for the public,” Dr. Srinivasan added.

The team’s work has been published in the journal ACS Omega.

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Rajani Srinivasan et al. 2025. Fenugreek and okra polymers as therapeutic agents for removing microplastics from water sources. ACS Omega 10(15):14640-14656; doi:10.1021/acsomega.4C07476

Source: www.sci.news

Trump Administration Plans Major Cutbacks to LGBTQ Health Research

Posted on May 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Trump administration has terminated over $800 million in research related to the health of LGBTQ individuals, halting studies on cancers and viruses that predominantly impact sexual minority groups, and has intensified efforts to combat the resurgence of sexually transmitted infections, as highlighted by a New York Times analysis of federal data.

Reflecting its strong opposition to diversity initiatives and adolescent gender care, the administration has actively sought to eliminate standard measures and research affecting transgender health.

This crackdown reaches beyond specific issues, curtailing essential medical research on diseases disproportionately affecting LGBTQ populations, which constitute nearly 10% of American adults.

An examination of grant-related reviews revealed that out of 669 grants, 323—almost half—were fully or partially canceled in early May regarding LGBTQ health.

Federal authorities had earmarked $806 million for projects that were canceled, many of which were anticipated to generate additional funding in the coming years.

Numerous research institutions faced funding losses. This includes not just high-profile targets like Johns Hopkins and Columbia but also public universities in the South and Midwest like Ohio State University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Florida State University has canceled a research initiative worth $41 million, which included significant efforts to prevent HIV among adolescents and young adults, who account for the majority of new infections in the U.S. each year.

In a cancellation letter issued in recent months, the NIH justified the reductions by stating that LGBTQ projects “no longer align with agency priorities.” In some cases, the agency claimed that the canceled research was “based on gender identity,” resulting in “unscientific” outcomes that disregarded “biological reality.”

Other termination letters indicated that researchers erred by focusing on “artificial and unscientific categories” primarily driven by vague equity objectives.

These funding cuts come after a decade of increased federal support for LGBTQ research, encouraged by the NIH during the Obama administration, which welcomed grant proposals that focused on sexual and gender minorities.

Supporters of President Trump contend that much of this research is tainted by ideological bias.

“There was a trend of scientific malpractice to align conclusions with preconceived notions,” stated Roger Severino from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank influential in shaping Trump administration policies.

“It was founded on the erroneous belief that biology is almost irrelevant, alongside the political agenda that sought to normalize the idea of changing one’s sex.”

Researchers stated that canceling research on a broad range of diseases affecting sexual and gender minorities has effectively created a perception of a hierarchy among patients, deeming some as less valuable.

“Certain segments of the U.S. population should not be considered inferior as subjects of research,” remarked Simon Rosser, a professor at the University of Minnesota, whose lab focused on cancer in LGBTQ individuals before significant funding was withdrawn.

“This is a clear example of bias,” he emphasized. “It’s a form of prejudice in scientific research.”

The cancellation of these projects is a striking indication of the widespread dismantling of the research framework that has supported medical study in the United States for the past 80 years.

In addition to halting studies, federal officials have delayed grant payments, postponed review meetings, and expanded new grant awards.

Recently, Trump proposed slashing the NIH budget from approximately $48 billion to $27 billion, citing part of a broader agenda perceived as aimed at combating “radical gender ideology.”

The legality of these terminations remains uncertain. Two separate lawsuits challenge the broad cancellation of grants, with a group of researchers and others arguing that the Trump administration lacked a lawful basis for these cuts in 16 states.

The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services have not provided comments upon request.

Health department spokesperson Andrew Nixon stated to the Daily Signal, a conservative outlet, last month that the shifts which “alleviate politicized gender and identity studies” were “in line with the president’s executive order.”

In a statement, the NIH commented: “NIH is taking steps to terminate research funding that does not align with NIH and HHS priorities. We are committed to reinstating traditions that support evidence-based science.”

Lost funding has hindered critical studies on antibiotic resistance, undiagnosed autism among sexual minorities, and specific cancers that disproportionately affect these groups. The funding cuts have resulted in layoffs at several LGBTQ-focused laboratories that were poised for expansion.

Historically, the NIH has reserved grant cancellations for rare instances of research misconduct or potential participant harm. Scientists now argue that the recent cuts are doing more harm than protection for research participants.

They indicated the cessation of clinical trials where federal funding is short, affecting the care of volunteer participants.

“We are halting initiatives that prevent suicide and sexual violence,” remarked Katie Edwards, a professor at the University of Michigan, whose funding for various clinical trials involving LGBTQ individuals has been canceled.

The HIV studies have been particularly severely impacted.

The NIH has terminated major grants to the Adolescent Medical Exam Network for HIV/AIDS interventions, a program that established precursors for using medication therapy in adolescents to prevent infections.

The regimen known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is recognized as a promising strategy to reduce HIV transmission in youth.

The funding reductions threaten to amplify HIV transmission among young sexual minority men using stimulants as they aim to monitor a continuous trial of products that prevent both HIV and unplanned pregnancies, alongside sexual health counseling and behavioral therapy.

With the termination of numerous other HIV studies, these cuts are undermining Trump’s aims established during his prior term to eradicate the national HIV epidemic within a decade, according to scientists.

The NIH has also halted efforts relating to other sexually transmitted infections.

Dr. Matthew Spinelli, an infectious disease researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, was in the midst of clinical trials on common antibiotics for post-exposure prophylaxis aimed at preventing syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia infections.

The trial involved a randomized study assigning participants to different antibiotic regimens to assess metabolism.

He hoped that the findings would provide valuable insights into the efficacy of treatments for women. He previously advocated for this research.

However, health officials ceased funding for the March study, objecting to research based on “gender identity.” Consequently, Dr. Spinelli could not apply federal funds to monitor participants already on antibiotics.

Moreover, he risked wasting thousands of doses of antibiotics acquired using taxpayer money. Dr. Spinelli warned that discontinuing efforts against infections like syphilis and HIV will allow new outbreaks to arise.

“The HIV epidemic is poised to surge again as a direct result of these actions,” Dr. Spinelli stated. “This is catastrophic for the communities affected.”

Despite a recent focus on the negative consequences of medical transition, federal officials have canceled several studies examining the potential risks of hormone therapies. These projects aimed to understand whether such treatments could elevate the chances of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, brain development issues, or HIV.

Other canceled grants sought to address mental health challenges in transgender individuals. Transgender youth, who currently represent around 3% of high school students, report significantly higher instances of persistent grief and suicide attempts.

For Dr. Edwards at the University of Michigan, funding has been halted for one of her six canceled studies examining how depression and self-harm among transgender teens can be mitigated.

Another study aimed at promoting supportive care for LGBTQ youth and reducing dating violence and alcohol consumption among these individuals.

The NIH categorizes studies strictly by specific illnesses, complicating efforts for agencies to estimate budgets for LGBTQ health research. Nonetheless, a report from March suggested that such studies accounted for less than 1% of the NIH’s portfolio over a decade.

The Times sought to quantify the scale of funding cuts in LGBTQ medical research by assessing grant titles. Research summaries were available for each of the 669 grants the Trump administration identified as fully or partially canceled in early May.

The review included studies designed to recruit participants from sexual and gender minorities, extending beyond grants strictly tied to LGBTQ issues and highlighting significant health disparities.

Grants related to diseases outside of the LGBTQ scope were excluded from this assessment.

The Times focused solely on NIH research grants but acknowledged that the Trump administration also discontinued LGBTQ programs elsewhere in the federal health system, including proposals to eliminate specialized suicide hotlines for LGBTQ youth.

The reduction in funding has hollowed out fields that not only flourished over the past decade but also encompassed a variety of health threats beyond HIV.

Researchers claim young academics have lost their positions in LGBTQ-related research and are erasing traces of their work from online profiles.

Brittany Charlton, a professor at Harvard School of Public Health, had five grants canceled, including one examining the notable uptick in stillbirth rates among LGBTQ women.

Discontinuing research into health threats impacting gender and sexual minorities ultimately affects the broader population, she stated. “When those around you become ill, it impacts you too, even if you believe it doesn’t,” she concluded.

Irena Fan contributed reporting.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Seven Years of Research Uncover Fresh Perspectives on Consciousness

Posted on May 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A diverse group of neuroscientists evaluated two rival theories of consciousness: Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and Global Neuron Workspace Theory (GNWT). IIT posits that consciousness arises when information within a system is intricately connected and unified, provided it is consciously recognized and functions as a cohesive entity. In contrast, GNWT proposes that a network of brain regions emphasizes significant information, bringing it to the forefront of our awareness and broadly sharing it as it enters consciousness, thereby forming a conscious experience.

Various theories elucidate how subjective experiences emerge from neural activity. While these theories have independent support, they have not been directly compared. Ferrante et al. We present an open science adversarial collaboration that juxtaposes Integrated Information Theory (IIT) with Global Neuron Workspace Theory (GNWT) through a theoretical Chinese consortium. Image credit: NASA/ESA/JPL-CALTECH/STSCI/SCI.NEWS.

Both philosophers and scientists have engaged in the pursuit of understanding the subjective aspects of consciousness (like experiencing pain or seeing vivid rainbows) and their connection to brain’s physical processes.

This endeavor has led to the simultaneous development of various consciousness theories, offering conflicting interpretations of the neural foundations of consciousness.

Moreover, empirical support for any given theory often hinges on methodological choices, pointing to potential confirmation bias in testing these theories.

A convergence of consciousness theories into a broadly accepted neuroscience framework could have profound medical, social, and ethical repercussions.

To facilitate this aim, the authors examined both IIT and GNWT through expansive open science adversarial collaborations designed to foster progress in consciousness research based on constructive disagreements.

“IIT proposes that consciousness results from the cooperation of various brain regions, integrating information much like a cohesive team effort,” the researchers noted.

“It arises from how these regions are interconnected and how they communicate, extending beyond just individual brain parts.”

“However, this research did not uncover sufficient sustained connections in the brain’s posterior areas to substantiate this notion.”

“The GNWT posits that consciousness is localized in the brain’s frontal regions, but this study also found inadequate evidence to support this idea,” they added.

This study included 256 participants, marking a significant milestone for this kind of experimentation.

Researchers displayed various visual stimuli and monitored the brain’s activity while participants viewed these stimuli using three common neuroimaging methods that track blood flow and electrical/magnetic activity.

“Our findings indicate a functional link between neurons in the early visual areas and those in the frontal regions, helping illuminate how perceptions are intertwined with thoughts,” they remarked.

“These results underscore the prefrontal cortex’s significance in consciousness, suggesting that while it plays a vital role in reasoning and planning, consciousness itself may be tied to sensory processing and perception.”

“In essence, intelligence pertains to actions taken, while consciousness refers to mere existence.”

“This discovery could reshape our understanding of consciousness and inform issues related to loss of consciousness, such as in comas and nutrition.”

Understanding the origins of consciousness could aid in identifying “secret awareness” in patients who are severely injured yet unresponsive.

“It became evident that no theory could definitively refute the other,” commented Professor Anil Seth from the University of Sussex.

“The theories pursue fundamentally different objectives in their assumptions and explanations, and the available experimental methods are too coarse to allow one theory to conclusively prevail over the other.”

“Regardless, the findings from this collaboration remain invaluable. There’s a wealth of insights to gain about both theories, along with new understandings of when and where visual experiences can be discerned in the brain.”

Survey results this week will be featured in the journal Nature.

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O. Ferrante et al. (Cogged the consortium). An antagonistic examination of global neuronal workspace and integrated information theory. Nature Released on April 30th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-0888-1

Source: www.sci.news

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.

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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