Knoxville, Tennessee – From exhilarating goals to devastating defeats, the FIFA World Cup captivates its audience.
Next year, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will commence, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, marking a historic event.
This tournament may feature superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and is the first occasion where three nations co-host in 16 cities, making it the most complex World Cup ever, as per FIFA.
“No matter if they’re in Seattle or playing in Guadalajara, I need these pitches to perform consistently. I want the same bounce and the same player-to-grass interaction,” said an expert.
“Safety is paramount and must be my top priority,” Ferguson stated during an interview at the University of Tennessee facility in Knoxville, where researchers collaborate with Michigan State to help FIFA evaluate each venue’s pitch preparations for the tournament.
“Players need to feel confident as they make quick directional changes; the ground must be stable,” he added.
Managing over 12 venues for NFL games and concerts full of monster trucks is no small feat.
The U.S. venues could face increased scrutiny after last summer’s Copa America Tournament raised concerns, notably from players like Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who referred to conditions at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium as a “disaster.”
“There’s no doubt that last year’s tournament raised the stakes,” Ferguson remarked, referencing the tournament that featured the best 16 teams from North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean.
“Research was in progress, but Copa highlighted more traditional hesitations regarding international football pitches. Venue schedules are packed with events transitioning from one to another continuously.”
U.S. stadiums have long been central to the debate on natural versus artificial turf in terms of safety. Next summer, all venues will adopt artificial stitch blends of natural grass, focusing on both the underlying structure and the grass itself.
In April, NBC News had exclusive access to the Knoxville facility, where researchers led by Professor John Solochan are tackling these challenges.
The team is investigating artificial stitches and layering techniques beneath the grass to improve root growth and ensure light use, contributing to consistent pitch quality indoors and outdoors.
Solochan, who specializes in turfgrass science and management, mentioned that the mix for warm-season venues includes Bermudagrass, while cool-season venues use a blend of perennial rye and Kentucky bluegrass. Indoor venues also benefit from recommended drainage layers, contributing to a firmer pitch.
“Many of these trials here were unsuccessful,” Solochan explained as he showcased a grid filled with grass plots labeled with different variables. Some experiments involved sewing fibers together to fortify the play surface, while others examined the upper layers typical in World Cup venues featuring flooring for concerts and artificial turf.
The facility includes setups that simulate indoor stadium growth conditions, along with a flex machine that tests the impact on players’ ankles by pressing soccer shoes into the grass. The initial data shows promising insights.
“You can track the speed of the ball as it moves. By analyzing the footage, we can determine its recovery speed, angle, and exit coefficients,” Solochan noted while standing next to a machine resembling one used for NFL punt returns.
Ferguson concluded, “It’s the science that underpins the game. That’s what elevates the sport.”
A group of physicists from Oxford University has accomplished the lowest error rate (just 0.000015%, or one error in 6.7 million operations) in quantum logic operations.
Ion trap chip rendering. Image credit: Jocchen Wolf and Tom Harty of Oxford University.
“As far as we know, this is the most accurate qubit manipulation ever reported globally,” stated Professor David Lucas from Oxford University.
“This represents a crucial milestone in constructing a practical quantum computer capable of solving real-world problems.”
To conduct meaningful calculations on quantum computers, millions of operations must engage numerous qubits.
Consequently, if the error rate is excessively high, the end result of the computation becomes useless.
Error correction techniques can address mistakes, but they require additional qubits, which come at a cost.
By minimizing errors, new methodologies decrease the number of qubits needed, leading to a reduction in both the cost and size of the quantum computer itself.
“By significantly decreasing the chances of errors, this advancement will greatly lessen the infrastructure necessary for error correction, paving the way for future quantum computers to be smaller, faster, and more efficient,” said Molly Smith, a graduate student at Oxford University.
“Kitz’s precise control is beneficial for other quantum technologies, including timepieces and quantum sensors.”
This groundbreaking accuracy was attained using trapped calcium ions as qubits.
These ions are ideal candidates for storing quantum information due to their longevity and resilience.
Researchers adopted an alternative method, using electron (microwave) signals to manage the quantum states of calcium ions instead of traditional lasers.
This technique is more stable than laser control and offers several advantages for constructing practical quantum computers.
For instance, electronic control is less expensive and more robust than lasers, facilitating easier integration into ion trap chips.
Moreover, the experiment was conducted at room temperature and without magnetic shielding, simplifying the technical necessities of operating quantum computers.
“This record-setting achievement signifies a significant milestone, but it is part of a larger challenge,” the author remarked.
“In quantum computing, both single and two-qubit gates must function together.”
“Currently, the gates of the two-qubit systems still experience a very high error rate, approximately 1 in 2,000 even in the best demonstration to date.
Their paper has been published online in the journal Physical Review Letters.
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MC Smith et al. 2025. Single qubit gate with errors at the 10-7 level. Phys. Rev. Lett, in press; doi: 10.1103/42w2-6ccy
“That’s the million-dollar question,” he remarked. “I don’t have a very satisfactory answer.”
There are three distinct types of Sargassum found in the Caribbean and surrounding regions, buoyed by small air sacs, which makes their presence truly remarkable. According to Burns, scientists are currently observing various factors influencing its growth, which depend on sunlight, nutrients, and water temperature.
Experts also point to agricultural runoff, warmer waters, and alterations in wind, currents, and rainfall as factors that can have an impact.
Large mats of algae in the open ocean create what Burns refers to as a “healthy and thriving ecosystem,” home to species ranging from tiny shrimp to endangered sea turtles. However, Sargassum close to shore can wreak havoc.
It can block sunlight essential for coral reefs and seagrasses, and when the algae sink, they may suffocate these ecosystems. Once washed ashore, the organisms that inhabit the algae either perish or are scavenged by birds, according to Burns.
The massive piles of odorous seaweed pose a significant challenge for the Caribbean, especially since tourism is a vital economic driver for many small islands.
“It’s a hurdle, but it hasn’t impacted every corner of the Caribbean,” said Frank Comitto, a special advisor to the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association.
At a popular tourist destination in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, officials have invested in barriers to keep Sargassum from reaching the beaches, he noted.
In St. Maarten’s Dutch Caribbean territory, teams equipped with backhoes were mobilized for an emergency cleanup after residents reported a strong ammonia and hydrogen sulfide odor.
“The smell is quite unpleasant,” Burns stated.
Meanwhile, in the French Caribbean, officials plan to quickly utilize storage barges and specialized vessels capable of collecting several tons of seaweed daily.
Sargassum “will harm our coastlines, hinder swimming, and create unbearable living conditions for local residents,” French Prime Minister François Beilou recently informed the press.
However, Comitto mentioned that employing such vessels is “very costly” and not widely accepted, while an alternative method (using heavy machinery) is labor-intensive.
“We must tread carefully, as sea turtle eggs might be affected,” he advised. “You can’t just go there and bulldoze everything away.”
As some Caribbean islands face financial challenges, most cleanup efforts fall to hotels, with certain guests receiving refunds and complimentary shuttles to unaffected beaches.
Each year, the volume of Sargassum increases at the end of spring, peaks during summer, and then starts to decline in late autumn or early winter, noted Burns.
The recent record levels remain relatively stationary. Experts are hopeful for more Sargassum in June.
Cat (Ferris Katas) has become a beloved companion to people worldwide. Despite its widespread popularity, the genetic factors influencing its behavior have been largely unexplored. A new research team from the Kyoto University Wildlife Research Center has focused on the Androgen receptor gene (ar), located on the X chromosome, and its association with feline behaviors, such as purring.
Okamoto et al. found that male cats with short alleles displayed higher directional call/voicing scores, whereas females with short alleles exhibited increased aggression towards strangers compared to their counterparts with long alleles. Image credit: Natary Anderson.
“Cats are cherished companion animals that significantly contribute to society through their interactions with humans,” said lead author Okamoto and colleagues.
“However, most negrid species, such as the African Wildcat (Ferris Livica), have solitary ancestors, while domestic cats often form groups and display social behaviors.”
“They communicate with both humans and other cats utilizing a range of behaviors and signals, including olfactory cues, touch, visual cues, and vocalizations.”
“Purring, a distinctive vocalization of cats, plays a significant role in vocal communication.”
“Initially, purring may signify a mother’s health, but it continues to facilitate communication among cats beyond the weaning phase.”
“In a social context, purring promotes security and comfort, expresses familiarity, and invites play, though its precise function remains unclear.”
For this study, researchers evaluated the behavior of 280 cats, all of whom were neutered or mixed breeds living in their owners’ homes.
DNA samples were collected and analyzed to compare the ar gene with those from other negrid species.
“Upon reaching out to participants, we quickly received responses and warm messages from 265 cat owners across Japan within just a day,” Okamoto remarked.
“This highlighted the strong public interest in feline research.”
“The findings suggest a genetic basis for both purring and vocal communication.”
“Cats with the short-type androgen receptor gene received higher ratings from their owners than those with the long-type gene.”
“Additionally, male cats with the short form displayed increased vocalizations towards humans, indicating a genetic link to vocal communication.”
“Conversely, female cats with the shorter-type gene demonstrated heightened aggression towards unfamiliar individuals.”
“These findings could indicate a decreased significance of vocal communication in cats raised by humans from kittenhood, particularly those that are typically purebred.”
“Prior studies indicated that purebred cats are more likely to carry long-form genes than their mixed-breed counterparts.”
“This study included numerous mixed-breed cats that were rescued and were previously strays.”
Through comparisons of cat genes with 11 other genes, researchers discovered that both leopard and fishing cats were genetically similar to domestic cats and possessed shorter types, while domestic cats did not exhibit longer types found in other species.
These results imply that the emergence of long types may be linked to genetic changes related to domestication and selective breeding.
“These results may help predict behavioral trends based on genetic data, enhance observation and care based on needs, and ultimately improve animal welfare,” the authors stated.
The team plans to broaden their research focus to include other negrid species.
“Through our research, we aim to enrich our understanding of cats and foster better relationships between felines and humans,” Okamoto concluded.
This study was published online on May 28th in PLOS 1.
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Y. Okamoto et al. 2025. The relationship between androgen receptor genes and cat behavioral traits (Ferris Katas). PLOS 1 20(5): E0324055; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324055
This article is based on an original release by Kyoto University.
In 2020, the Zwicky Transient Facility observed a location in the night sky that suggested the merging of two stars. This phenomenon was identified as a bright red nova, known as Submin’s Red Nova, or slrn. Two years later, astronomers revisited the same area and discovered indications that the star had engulfed nearby planets, referred to as ZTF SLRN-2020.
Earlier observations made using near-infrared telescopes revealed chemical traces such as titanium oxide and carbon monoxide. The event’s brightness was primarily in low-energy wavelengths rather than visible light, indicating a merger event involving bodies between the masses of Neptune and Jupiter.
The stars in this system are not active; the planet did not actively approach but was instead consumed by the star. This raised questions about the physical mechanisms that caused the interaction. The team examined two scenarios: one where a star expanded during its lifecycle to reach the planet’s orbit, and the other where a planet lost energy and spiraled inward toward the star, a phenomenon termed orbital attenuation.
To evaluate these scenarios, the team conducted follow-up measurements on ZTF SLRN-2020 using instruments onboard the JWST, specifically the Near-infrared Spectrometer and Mid-infrared Instrument. They also performed ground-based observations with the Gemini North Telescope Near-Infrared Imager. By combining data from these instruments, the team obtained a comprehensive understanding of the low-energy light emission patterns from ZTF SLRN-2020, revealing insights into the system’s current structure and dynamics.
Illustration of the ZTF SLRN-2020 system before and after the planet is engulfed. Left: A Sun-like star with an exoplanet akin to Neptune or Jupiter. Right: After the planet’s orbit decayed and it fell into the star, material was expelled, forming a cooler outer dust shell and a hotter inner dust disk. Created by the author using Microsoft PowerPoint.
In their analysis, astronomers identified four key characteristics. The remaining stars displayed a reddish hue, highlighting a significant presence of high-energy electrons in the star’s hydrogen, along with substantial carbon monoxide. There were also traces of phosphine, a compound typically found around gas giants and in the vicinity of young stars. Using computer modeling, the team evaluated which scenarios could realistically produce these observed patterns.
Measurements of star color indicated that ZTF SLRN-2020 is quite similar to the Sun but is roughly 70% of its size. The star is too young to have undergone the expansion associated with its later life stages. Consequently, the planet’s orbit became destabilized, leading to its gradual engulfment by the star. This collision likely released energy, igniting the star’s brightness in 2020 and stimulating the hydrogen in its outer layer.
The team theorized that during the collision, the star would have expelled material from the planet. The emissions of phosphine and carbon monoxide suggested that the ejected material originated from two different layers of dust around the star: a cold outer shell and a hot inner disk. Observations did not reveal any remnants of the planet’s core still orbiting the star, indicating that it was entirely consumed, losing even its outer layers.
The researchers deemed this event a new frontier in physics, as it marks the first observed case of planetary engulfment. The data collected from various instruments can provide future researchers with essential insights when investigating similar instances.
An unusual ancient marine reptile has been formally recognized, decades after its fossil was initially found in Canada.
This 12-meter creature, Traskasaura Sandrae, was a type of predator contemporaneous with dinosaurs. It resembled a long-necked plesiosaurus with peculiar anatomy and a distinct top-down hunting approach.
“The presence of its bizarre characteristics — it was an animal that appeared quite unusual — made it nearly impossible for researchers to classify it,” said Professor F. Robin O’Keefe, a paleontologist at Marshall University and the lead author of the study, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
The original fossil was found along the Pantledge River on Vancouver Island in 1988, having remained on the ground for 85 million years. Surprisingly, it was nearly complete, with the skull, neck, limbs, and tail, although one side had deteriorated. “It appeared well-preserved from a distance,” O’Keefe noted.
It wasn’t until certain elements were uncovered that the pieces began to align.
“The remarkable preservation allowed us to investigate some of the odd features of the adult fossils and to interpret what we were observing,” O’Keefe explained. “The discovery of this second skeleton permitted its classification as a new species.”
The juvenile fossilized remains aided scientists in identifying the new species. – Courtney and District Museum and Paleontology Center
Among its unique traits is its shoulder structure, which diverges from that of known plesiosaurs, facing downward.
In contrast, its flipper resembles an inverted airplane wing, featuring a more curved underside rather than the top. “This emphasized the animal’s upside during its unique hunting approach,” O’Keefe noted.
This is significant as it implies that Traskasaura hunted in an atypical manner: by descending upon its prey from above.
“Normally, reptiles swim in water where light comes from above, leading animals to hunt upwards as they spot prey silhouetted against the surface light,” O’Keefe explained. “This animal approached it differently.”
Its potential prey likely included creatures related to modern squids and octopuses, as well as extinct coiled-shelled ammonites, which were crushed with its sharp teeth.
Despite its formidable size and appearance, Traskasaura was by no means the apex of the ancient seas. “It was substantial, yet it didn’t possess a notably large neck or head,” O’Keefe remarked. “If a Mosasaur, known for its large teeth, were to seize it, it could inflict serious damage.”
Nevertheless, Traskasaura would have thrived in the ocean, feasting on abundant resources. Unfortunately, like all plesiosaurs, the species faced extinction during the mass extinction event approximately 66 million years ago.
“They were flourishing, and their ecosystems were relatively robust until an asteroid impact decimated all the large animals,” O’Keefe stated.
Read more:
About our experts
F. Robin O’Keefe received his Honorary Biology degree from Stanford University in 1992 and a Ph.D. in 2000, specializing in evolutionary biology at the University of Chicago. He has been a professor at Marshall University since 2006, teaching over 200,000 undergraduate students across various subjects, from human anatomy to comparative zoology and Earth’s history.
A recognized expert in marine reptiles from the age of dinosaurs, O’Keefe was awarded the 2013 Drinko Distinguished Research Fellowship for his work on the reproduction of plesiosaurs.
One of the modified grey wolves created by Colossal
Giant Biology
On April 7, a prominent biological science organization announced that the genetically altered wolf is “the world’s first successful animal.” Many appeared to take this claim seriously. New Scientist was one of the few outlets to refute this assertion, clarifying that these were grey wolves enhanced through gene editing.
In a later interview, Colossal’s chief scientist, Beth Shapiro, seemed to concur, stating: “We cannot recreate anything that is identical to the extinct species. Our animals are grey wolves with 20 cloned gene edits,” as reported by New Scientist. “We’ve always communicated this. The term ‘miserable wolves’ irritates some people.”
Richard Grenier from Oxford University noted a significant shift from Colossal’s earlier messaging, interpreting Shapiro’s statement as a clear reflection of their scientific approach. “I see a stark contradiction between the statement’s content and their past communications and promotional efforts,” he remarked.
He referred to a major press release announcing the birth of a gene-edited wolf, which repeatedly labeled them as “miserable wolves.” Shapiro defended this characterization during an interview with New Scientist on April 7.
“We employ the concept of morphological species, asserting that if they visually resemble this animal, they are classified as such,” she explained at the time.
The appearance of gene-edited wolves as “miserable” remains uncertain. For instance, some evidence suggests that the original wolves had a reddish hue, contrary to the white coat depicted. Claudio Cirero from Oxford University pointed this out.
Despite statements from Cirero and other experts declaring that the gene-edited grey wolf is not a true representation of the extinct species, Colossal maintained its stance. “[W]E continue to support our designation of Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi as ‘disastrous wolves’,” they affirmed in a statement on X.
In a more recent interview, Shapiro reiterated that Colossal had always clarified that the animal in question was simply a gene-edited grey wolf.
“We did not obscure this fact. The backlash arose from our labeling them as miserable wolves,” she explained. “We clarified that they are grey wolves modified with 20 edits. We communicated this from the outset.”
Shapiro also attempted to distance the project from any implication that the possibility of bringing back extinct species might lessen the urgency for conserving endangered ones, a notion supported by some factions of the Trump administration. “Now it’s linked to the idea that we need not be concerned about extinctions. This is problematic,” she remarked.
“The crucial point here is ‘sudden’,” states Grenier. He indicates that it has been long recognized that if the public perceives de-extinction as feasible, support for conservation may dwindle. Colossal, he argues, should recognize this risk. Their website declares: “Extinction is a critical issue we face… and the solution is not simply to reverse it.”
While Colossal has made significant strides in scientific innovation, Grenier asserts that their claims are fundamentally flawed. “This is transformative, groundbreaking science. It goes beyond merely reversing extinction,” he concluded.
Stingless blackberries (Lubus subgenus Lubus) canes are highly favored by growers due to concerns regarding food and worker safety, as well as the potential damage to fruit caused by the mechanical injuries associated with stings.
John’s et al. We identified a single locus that regulates unstimulated cane. Image credit: Gerald Antonio Romero.
Blackberries represent a specialized crop that is capturing a larger portion of the fresh berry market.
The rising demand coupled with increasing production costs has created a need for cultivars adaptable to various environmental and management practices.
Stings pose a challenge in blackberry production systems, presenting food safety issues and causing mechanical damage to the fruit, thereby reducing its shelf life.
The primary aim of a fresh market blackberry breeding program is to introduce thornless cultivars. These terms are often used interchangeably in existing literature.
Stinging differentiates plant-based differentiation from thorns and spines due to the formation of cortical and epidermal cells.
“Blackberry breeders lacked the genetic information required to ascertain whether certain plants were devoid of what is technically called nausea, commonly referred to as thorns,” stated Dr. Margaret Worthington, a researcher with the Arkansas Agricultural Experimental Bureau.
“All fresh market blackberry varieties are Tetraploid, meaning they possess four copies of all chromosomes as opposed to the two copies found in humans.”
“The greater the number of copies, the more challenging it becomes to conduct genetic analyses.”
“Previously, the locus and positioning of genes on chromosomes linked to spine traits were unknown.”
The team’s findings introduced the first diagnostic markers related to any traits developed and documented in blackberries.
“These markers are the first publicly available tools developed for both fresh market and processed blackberries,” expressed Dr. Ellen Thompson, Global Rubus Breeding and Development Director at Hortifrut Genetics.
“Markers expedite the breeding process, saving time and resources, and facilitate faster decision-making before seedlings are introduced into the field.”
The authors utilized genome-wide association studies to pinpoint the loci responsible for the spineless traits.
They gathered DNA samples from a total of 374 blackberry varieties.
These samples underwent genotyping, which is a highly accurate method that scans and identifies genetic codes impacting stinging characteristics.
If these variants, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), show significant correlations with certain traits, it implies that genes in that area might influence those traits.
These SNPs, or markers, highlight regions associated with the characteristic in question.
“Genetic markers are currently being implemented in blackberries and raspberries, but the technology is more mature for row crops like rice and soybeans,” noted Dr. Worthington.
“Genetic markers are widely utilized in row crops to select for disease resistance, growth or flowering periods, and other desirable traits.”
Another significant discovery from this study indicates that the absence of genetic mutations around chromosome RA04 leads to linkage disequilibrium blocks, or regions where genetic markers are more likely to be inherited together than by chance.
For the genes that are spineless within this block, these traits are often inherited from parent to offspring along with various other genes, including those linked to high acidity, lack of cold resistance, and less desirable traits like canes that require support to remain upright.
“The focus on selecting for spineless plants has inadvertently resulted in the loss of genetic variation surrounding the locus,” Dr. Worthington commented.
“Crossbreeding with thorny plants can help restore this variation.”
The team’s paper has been published in the journal G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics.
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Carmen A. Johns et al. Genetic control of exhalation in tetraploid blackberries. G3: Genes, genomes, genetics Published online on March 20th, 2025. doi:10.1093/g3journal/jkaf065
Often referred to as the Earth’s “twin planet,” Venus presents a stark contrast in surface conditions, atmospheric composition, and structural characteristics. Gaining insight into the internal mechanisms that shape Venus’s surface remains a key objective in planetary science.
An artist’s impression of a volcanic eruption on Venus. Image credit: ESA/AOES Mediaab.
The Earth’s surface is perpetually reshaped through the continual movement and recycling of vast sections of the crust, known as tectonic plates, which float above the viscous mantle.
Unlike Earth, Venus lacks tectonic plates, but its surface is still influenced by molten material rising from beneath.
To better comprehend the processes underlying these transformations, scientists have examined structures known as corona.
With sizes ranging from dozens to hundreds of kilometers, coronae are primarily formed where hot, buoyant mantle material ascends and pushes against the lithosphere above.
These features generally exhibit an oval shape and are surrounded by a concentric fracturing pattern.
Researchers estimate that hundreds of coronae are present on Venus.
Utilizing archival data from NASA’s Magellan mission, Dr. Gael Cascioli from the University of Maryland and colleagues identified signs of surface or subsurface activity that significantly shaped many of Venus’s coronae.
“Coronae are not observable on Earth today. However, it is conceivable that our planet’s early history included formations before the advent of plate tectonics,” stated a recent paper published in the journal Advances in Science.
“By integrating gravity and topographical data, this research has provided critical new insights into the subterranean processes that likely continue to influence Venus’s surface today.”
Launched in 1989, Magellan employed a radar system to penetrate Venus’s dense atmosphere and create detailed maps of its mountainous and plain terrains.
Among the various geological features mapped, coronae were notably enigmatic, with their formation remaining initially unclear.
Since then, planetary scientists have detected numerous coronae in regions where the lithosphere is thin and geothermal activity is high.
“Coronae are plentiful on Venus, representing significant features, and over the years, multiple theories have been proposed concerning their formation,” remarked Dr. Anna Gürcher, a researcher at the University of Bern.
“The exciting aspect of our research is that we can now assert that ongoing activity processes driving their formation are highly probable.”
“We hypothesize that similar processes may have also taken place early in Earth’s history.”
Researchers have developed advanced 3D geodynamic models illustrating different scenarios for the formation of plume-induced coronae, which were then compared with Magellan’s gravity and topographic data.
Gravity data has proven instrumental in enabling researchers to detect low-density regions below the surface and identify buoyant structures at elevated temperatures, something that topographical data alone cannot reveal.
Of the 75 coronae analyzed, 52 exhibited buoyant mantle materials beneath them, suggesting potential for significant structural processes.
One critical process is subduction. On Earth, this occurs when one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another.
Friction between plates can induce earthquakes, and as older rocky material descends into the hotter mantle, those rocks melt and re-emerge at the surface through volcanic activity.
On Venus, various forms of subduction are suspected to happen around several coronae.
In this context, hot rock buoyancy within the mantle forces material into the lithosphere, resulting in surface material rising and spreading outward, colliding with surrounding areas and pushing some material back down into the mantle.
Additionally, another structural process known as lithosphere drip may exist, with denser cold materials sinking from the lithosphere into the heated mantle below.
Several locations have also been identified where a third process might be occurring, where molten rock plumes beneath thicker areas of the lithosphere could potentially drive volcanic activity above.
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Frog Casioli et al. 2025. Spectra of structural processes in Venus’ coronae revealed by gravity and topography. Advances in Science 11 (20); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adt5932
Artificial intelligence can perform tasks similarly to humans, if not more effectively, particularly in crafting persuasive arguments rather than just being unable to shout.
Experts have raised concerns about the implications this has, especially regarding the integrity of elections.
“If we can deploy persuasive AI on a large scale, we could envision an army of bots micro-targeting undecided voters with tailored political narratives that seem authentic,” he mentioned. Additionally, he pointed out that such influences are challenging to monitor, harder to regulate, and nearly impossible to detect in real time.
“It would be surprising if malicious entities hadn’t begun using these tools to disseminate misinformation and biased propaganda,” Salvi stated.
Nonetheless, he also noted that persuasive AI could have positive effects, such as reducing conspiracy beliefs and political polarization, as well as encouraging healthier lifestyle choices.
Each participant was assigned a topic for discussion. Did these topics lead to debates such as “Should students wear school uniforms?” or “Should abortion be legalized?” Each participant was randomly given a stance to argue.
Before and after the discussions, participants rated their level of agreement with the proposals.
In half of the pairs, whether human or AI, additional information about the opponents, like age, gender, ethnicity, and political affiliation, was provided.
The results from the 600 discussions showed that Chat GPT-4 was as effective as its human counterparts in persuading others, provided no personal information was shared.
However, access to such personal details made the AI more convincing than humans. When both types of opponents were similarly unpersuasive, the AI was able to shift participants’ opinions 64% of the time compared to human opponents.
Upon further investigation, the team found that AI’s persuasiveness was particularly evident on topics that elicited less strongly held views.
The researchers noted that when human participants were paired with AI, they correctly guessed their partner’s identity about 75% of the time. The team also observed that AI utilized a more analytical and structured approach compared to human participants, but not all engaged in arguments they personally supported. However, the team cautioned that these aspects did not fully account for AI’s persuasiveness.
Rather, its effectiveness seemed to stem from its ability to tailor arguments to individual preferences.
“It’s akin to debating with someone who makes a compelling case,” Salvi remarked, noting that the impact could be even greater with more detailed personal information, such as insights derived from someone’s social media activities.
Professor Sander van der Linden, a social psychologist at Cambridge University who did not participate in the study, remarked that it reopened discussions about the potential for large-scale manipulation of public opinion through personalized conversations with language models.
While he indicated that various studies, including his own, have shown that the persuasiveness of language models relies on analytical reasoning and evidence use; one study revealed that personal information did not enhance Chat GPT’s persuasiveness.
Professor Michael Wooldridge, an AI researcher at Oxford University, acknowledged that while there are beneficial applications of such systems, like health-related chatbots, there are many concerning aspects as well, including the potential exploitation of these applications by harmful groups targeting youths.
“As AI continues to evolve, we will witness an increasingly broad range of potential technological abuses,” he asserted. “Policymakers and regulators must act decisively to stay ahead of these threats rather than constantly playing catch-up.”
This mutation is associated with Rho GtPase Activated Protein 36 (ARHGAP36). Research conducted by a team from Stanford University School of Medicine suggests that this anomaly occurs in genes of various mammals.
The orange mutation linked to sex in domestic cats results in various reddish/yellow patches in their fur, clearly demonstrating random X inactivation in female turtles and calico cats. Unlike most coat color genes, other mammals lack evident homologs for the orange associated with gender. Research by Kaelin et al. shows that this mutation results from a 5 kb deletion leading to ectopic and melanocyte-specific expression of the ARHGAP36 gene. Image credit: Kaelin et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.055.
Various mammals exhibit orange shades—like tigers, golden retrievers, orangutans, and red-headed humans—but this is particularly prevalent in domestic cats (Felis catus). The orange coloration is sex-linked and is observed more frequently in males.
“In many species with yellow or orange pigments, these mutations almost exclusively occur in one of two genes, neither of which is sex-linked,” states Christopher Kaelin, PhD, a researcher at Stanford University School of Medicine and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.
Scientists have pinpointed typical mutations that stimulate skin pigment cells to generate yellow or orange pigments instead of the default brown or black; however, they only had vague notions about locating corresponding mutations in cats.
They were aware that the mutation, termed sex-linked orange, was located on the X chromosome due to the predominance of male orange cats.
Male cats with this sex-linked orange will exhibit a complete orange coat, while females must inherit the mutation from both X chromosomes to appear fully orange.
A female cat possessing one copy of the sex-linked orange will showcase a partially orange coat with a pattern known as Tortoiseshell, or with patches of orange, black, and white known as Calico.
This variability arises from a phenomenon in females called random X inactivation, where one X chromosome becomes inactive in each cell.
Consequently, a mosaic pattern of pigment cells develops, some expressing the sex-linked-orange and others not.
“I observed this genetic anomaly over 100 years ago,” Dr. Kaelin recalled.
“It was the genetic puzzles that sparked my interest in Sex Link Orange.”
Building on prior research that dissected segments of the X chromosome housing mutations, Dr. Kaelin and his team methodically concentrated on the sex-linked orange mutation.
“Our ability to do this was facilitated by the development of genomic resources for cats made available in the last five to ten years,” Dr. Kaelin explained.
“This includes a fully sequenced genome along with various cat breeds.”
The researchers also obtained DNA samples from cats at neutering and spaying clinics.
Initially, they searched for a variant of the X chromosome common among orange cats and identified 51 candidates.
They excluded 48 of the candidates as they were also present in several non-orange cats.
Among the remaining three variants, one was speculated to play a significant role in gene regulation: ARHGAP36.
“When we identified it, ARHGAP36 had no association with pigmentation,” Dr. Kaelin stated.
This gene, well-conserved across mammalian species, has drawn attention from cancer and developmental biology researchers.
ARHGAP36 is typically expressed in neuroendocrine tissues, where its overexpression can lead to tumors; however, its association with pigment cells remained unknown.
Notably, it was discovered in a pumpkin-colored cat by Dr. Kaelin and his colleagues.
“ARHGAP36 is not present in mouse, human, or non-orange cat pigment cells,” Dr. Kaelin noted.
“The orange cat mutation appears to induce ARHGAP36 expression within pigment cells, where it is normally not present.”
This irregular expression in pigment cells disrupts intermediate steps in known molecular pathways governing coat color.
In other species, typical orange mutations interrupt earlier stages in that pathway; however, in cats, sex-linked oranges confuse the latter stages.
“It’s certainly an unusual mechanism for gene alteration in specific cell types,” said Dr. Kaelin.
The team’s findings are detailed in a study published this week in the journal Current Biology.
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Christopher B. Kaelin et al. Molecular and genetic properties of sex-linked orange coat colors in domestic cats. Current Biology Published online on May 15th, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.055
A 2023 study by Professor Haino Falk and his team at Ladbou University revealed that not just black holes, but all cosmic entities can “evaporate” through a mechanism akin to Hawking radiation. Following the publication, the researchers were inundated with inquiries regarding the duration of this process. Their latest findings estimate that the universe’s conclusion is approximately 1078 years away. If only radiation, similar to Hawking radiation, is taken into account, the timeline shortens to just a few years. This represents the time required for a white dwarf—the most stable astronomical object—to collapse through a Hawking-like radiation process. Previous research, which overlooked this effect, had estimated the lifespan of white dwarfs to be around 101100 years.
An artistic depiction of neutron stars undergoing gradual ‘evaporation’ through Hawking-like radiation. Image credits: Daniëlle Futselaar/Artsource.nl.
“Thus, the ultimate conclusion of the universe will arrive significantly sooner than anticipated; however, rest assured, it will still take an incredibly long time,” noted Professor Falk.
In 1975, physicist Stephen Hawking proposed that particles and radiation could escape black holes, challenging the conventional framework of relativity.
Near the edge of a black hole, two transient particles emerge; one gets drawn into the black hole while the other successfully escapes.
A notable outcome of Hawking radiation is the gradual disintegration of black holes into particles and radiation.
This finding stands in opposition to Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Professor Falk and his co-authors determined that the process of Hawking radiation applies to various objects with theoretically significant gravitational fields.
Their further calculations indicated that the “evaporation time” for an object is contingent entirely upon its density.
Surprisingly, neutron stars and stellar black holes have an identical decay time of 1067 years.
This result was unexpected, given that black holes possess a more intense gravitational field.
“However, black holes lack a surface,” remarked Dr. Michael Wandrack, a postdoctoral researcher at Radboud University.
“They reabsorb parts of their own radiation, which inhibits the process.”
“We also explored how long it would take for humans and the moon to evaporate via Hawking-like radiation: about 1090 years,” the researcher added.
“Naturally, other mechanisms could lead to faster disappearance for humans and the moon.”
“This research exemplifies an exciting interdisciplinary collaboration, merging astrophysics, quantum physics, and mathematics to yield new insights,” stated Professor Walter Van Suisilecom from Radboud University.
“By pursuing these inquiries and examining extreme scenarios, we aim to enhance our understanding of the theory. Hopefully, one day, we will unravel the enigma surrounding Hawking radiation.”
Recent studies indicate that wild chimpanzees exhibit a natural talent for drumming, tapping to the rhythms present in their environment.
A significant international collaboration involving researchers from Europe, Africa, and America has concluded that chimpanzees drum with intentional rhythms, striking the trunks and roots of trees as they move and vocalize. These discoveries offer scientists valuable insights into the potential origins of human musicality.
“Humans are fundamentally rhythmic beings,” stated Professor Katherine Hofighter from St Andrews University in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “Rhythms permeate our music, dance, and songs, and even in our conversations. This may be part of our evolutionary inheritance, as it is a universal trait among humans.”
To investigate the roots of this rhythm, researchers turned to our closest living relatives.
“Since both language and music are non-fossilized skills, it’s impossible to find them in the geological record and trace their evolution,” remarked the study’s lead author, Vesta Eleuteri from the University of Vienna in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “We must examine other species and investigate the foundational elements that may precede the development of language and music.”
Hobaiter added: “This demonstrates that the elements of rhythm existed long before humans evolved into humans.”
Four images portray an eastern chimpanzee from the son’s community in Budongo Forest (Uganda) drumming with a wooden buttress. – Credit: Adrian Soldati
Recently published research in Current Biology represents the culmination of years of meticulous observations and analyses, encompassing 371 recorded chimpanzee drumming encounters across 11 wild chimpanzee communities in West and East Africa.
“People often underestimate the time commitment required to gather this data,” explains Hobaiter. “While the forest is my happy place, it sometimes means decades of research at each location.”
All recordings were carefully collected, coded, and analyzed. The researchers measured the duration of each drumming sequence, the intervals between hits, and the variability of the rhythms, concluding that these rhythms were not random.
Moreover, individual chimpanzees showcase their own unique styles of drumming. Regional variations also exist among different chimpanzee communities and subspecies.
For instance, West African chimpanzees tend to maintain regular spacing between drum hits, whereas East African chimpanzees display a mix of shorter and longer rhythms.
While the reasons for these differences remain unclear—Hobaiter mentioned they “got a bit crazy”—Eleuteri proposed these variations might stem from social or cultural differences among chimpanzee subspecies.
Habaiter emphasized that these rhythmic distinctions highlight the importance of conservation efforts: “Every group of chimpanzees holds unique significance.”
“Recognizing that distinct populations or subspecies have unique differences is crucial for preservation,” she asserted. “Losing any group could result in the disappearance of a unique culture, music, or rhythmic heritage that can never be restored.”
Read more:
About Our Experts
Vesta Eleuteri is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Behavior and Cognitive Biology at the University of Vienna, focusing on African elephant communication. She has previously researched chimpanzee drumming at the University of Rome and the University of St Andrews.
Katherine Hofighter is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at St. Andrews University, with 15 years of experience studying primates in Uganda and across Africa. Her research group, The Wild Minds Lab, emphasizes long-term field studies on communication and cognition in wild African apes. She has spent nearly six months in the field and has recently established new research sites in Uganda (Bugoma Primate Conservation Project) and Guinea (Moenvating Chimpanzee Project).
The National Institutes of Health has implemented a policy that prevents American scientists from allocating their funds to international research collaborators, raising concerns about the implications for studies on critical issues like malaria and pediatric cancer.
On Thursday, the new NIH director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, made this announcement. Coincidentally, Deputy Director Dr. Matthew J. Memoli criticized these so-called sub-awards in an email shared with the New York Times.
Dr. Memoli stated, “If you can’t clearly justify why you’re doing something overseas, you can’t do it anywhere else and can’t benefit Americans.”
The impending restrictions will also extend to domestic sub-awards in the future, coinciding with executive orders aimed at reshaping the nation’s scientific priorities amidst declining NIH funding and stalled federal grants at numerous premier universities.
On Monday, President Trump enacted an executive order to restrict experiments that could enhance the risks posed by pathogens and limit support for so-called gain-of-function research in nations like China.
Researchers receiving NIH grants have frequently employed sub-awards to foster international collaboration, a crucial component for studying diseases such as childhood cancer, malaria, and tuberculosis, which is less prevalent in the U.S.
However, there has been increased scrutiny in recent years due to lax reporting and tracking of funds. Following a critical report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2023, the NIH introduced more stringent oversight requirements.
Proponents of scientific and medical research argue that as science grows more complex, collaborative efforts that engage participants and researchers globally are becoming increasingly vital.
“Competitiveness in science necessitates a collaborative approach,” stated Dr. E. Anderskolb, CEO of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association. “No single lab, agency, or investigator possesses all the necessary tools to address the complex questions we’re facing.”
Many of these studies require a significant number of subjects. For instance, scientists can more precisely classify the types of pediatric cancers, leading Dr. Kolb to comment, “we’re entering a niche of diseases that are becoming progressively smaller.”
“Thus, if you’re aiming to conduct clinical trials for new treatments that could aid these children, attempting to only enroll U.S. children might prolong the trial duration by decades,” he added. “Collaborating with international partners allows us to expedite these trials and deliver treatments to our children much sooner.”
In unveiling the new directive, Dr. Bhattacharya referenced a GAO report criticizing the funding awarded to international universities, research institutes, and firms.
Dr. Bhattacharya added that the issues raised by the GAO “could undermine trust and safety for U.S. biomedical research entities.”
Tracking NIH expenditures for these international organizations is challenging. A notable obstacle pointed out by the GAO, as reported by journal Nature, estimated total funding to be about $500 million annually.
Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, is utilizing NIH funding for HIV prevention and treatment research in Kenya and South Africa.
Researchers like her are required to furnish detailed information when applying for international sub-awards, she explained.
Currently, international partners must access lab notebooks, data, and other documents at least once annually, as noted by Dr. Gandhi. All expenses must comply with Foreign Awards and Component Tracking Systems.
“It’s extremely stringent, similar to using taxpayer funds,” Dr. Gandhi remarked.
“Each year, when submitting your progress report, you must account for every dollar spent on international locations. You’ll detail where it was allocated, how much laboratory testing costs, and who the principal investigators are—every facet.”
It remains unclear how the new policy will be implemented. The NIH has not responded to requests for further information.
The NIH stated it will not retroactively reverse foreign sub-awards that are already in effect “at this time,” and will continue to grant funding to international organizations.
However, the new policy prohibits the reissuance of new, competitive awards if they include proposals for sub-awards to foreign institutions.
“If the project is unfeasible without foreign sub-awards, the NIH will collaborate with the recipient to negotiate the bilateral termination of the project,” stated the agency.
The new policy seems to be slightly less comprehensive than what Dr. Memoli outlined in his internal email.
“Sub-awards to foreign sites cannot proceed,” he wrote. “This has been mismanaged horrendously in recent years and is utterly irresponsible. We must act immediately. If there is a foreign site involved in our research, we need to either start closing it or devise another method to track it properly.”
GAO reports indicate that several federal departments are seeking improved surveillance following criticism regarding lax reporting. However, the office did not advocate for the complete termination of such funding.
The 2023 GAO Report reviewed $2 million in direct and sub-awards, the majority coming from the NIH, awarded to three Chinese research institutions, including the Wuhan Virology Institute, between 2014 and 2021.
The Virology Institute received a sub-award from the University of California, Irvine and the non-profit EcoHealth Alliance. Collaborating with the Alliance and Chinese scientists led former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to suspend funding last year. Recently, the Trump administration updated its government portal for COVID-19 information to suggest that a novel virus emerged from a lab in Wuhan.
According to a GAO report, NIH oversight has not consistently ensured that foreign agencies comply with requirements, including biosafety regulations.
Another GAO report indicated that one reason for the difficulty in tracking spending is a federal policy requiring the reporting of sub-awards of $30,000 or more.
The report examined approximately $48 million in NIH and State Department funding provided to Chinese companies and research institutions between 2017 and 2021.
“The full extent of these sub-awards remains unknown,” and the data retrieved were found to be incomplete and inaccurate, with numerous expenditures exempt from reporting.
A group of researchers from the UK and Ukraine has introduced an innovative approach for the safe reevaluation of abandoned farmland following the 1986 Kornovir nuclear disaster.
Zoning of contaminated territory in Ukraine based on current and field research plots. Image credit: Smith et al, doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107698.
Since the Kornovir incident, extensive regions in northern Ukraine have been deemed too hazardous for agricultural activities.
An exclusion zone of 4,200 km2 surrounds the nuclear site, remaining uninhabited and now serves as one of Europe’s largest natural reserves.
Additionally, a 2,000 km2 mandatory resettlement area was never entirely deserted.
Thousands of residents still reside in this region, complete with schools and shops, yet official investments and agricultural use are prohibited.
Since the 1990s, experts in Ukraine and internationally have suggested that, despite the radioactive and radiostrontium pollutants, the land can be safely re-utilized.
Nonetheless, due to political complexities, the land remains officially classified as abandoned.
This hasn’t deterred some farmers from tackling the issue themselves, initiating informal agricultural practices in certain areas.
The latest study, spearheaded by scientists from the University of Portsmouth and the Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology, corroborates these farmers’ beliefs. Most regions are safe for crop cultivation.
Utilizing a 100-hectare testing site in the Zhytomyr region, the researchers established a straightforward yet effective protocol for evaluating the absorption of radioactive materials by typical crops such as potatoes, grains, corn, and sunflowers.
By analyzing soil samples and assessing external gamma radiation, they confirmed that the radiation exposure levels for agricultural workers are significantly below Ukraine’s national safety threshold and much lower than average natural background radiation globally.
The results indicate that, with proper monitoring and adherence to Ukraine’s food safety guidelines, many crops can be safely grown in these formerly restricted zones.
Professor Jim Smith, the study’s lead author, remarked, “This research is crucial for communities impacted by the Chornobyl disaster.”
“Since 1986, a great deal of misinformation regarding radiation risks from Kornovir has adversely affected individuals still living in abandoned regions.”
“We now have a validated, science-based method to reintroduce valuable farmland into formal production, ensuring safety for both consumers and workers.”
“This extends beyond Kornovir; it’s about leveraging science and evidence to guarantee people’s safety.
The study will be published in the Journal of Environmental Radioactivity.
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JT Smith et al. Protocol for radiation assessment for agricultural use of Ukrainian land abandoned after the Kornovir accident. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Published online on April 28, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107698
The Trump administration’s proposal to drastically reduce support for research institutions and halt federal funding for universities like Harvard and Columbia has prompted European leaders to offer financial assistance to US-based researchers, viewing it as a “huge miscalculation.”
French President Emmanuel Macron remarked on Monday, “A few years ago, it was unimaginable that one of the world’s great democracies would dismiss a research program simply because the term ‘diversity’ was included.”
He made these comments at the University of Sorbonne in Paris during an event named Europe for Science, which was organized by the French government and the European Union.
Macron indicated that countries heavily reliant on free scientific inquiry would be making an “unthinkable mistake” in their policies.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced a €500 million ($566 million) investment at a conference aimed at making Europe an attractive destination for researchers over the next two years.
While this sum pales in comparison to the significant cuts besieging American universities, Von der Leyen highlighted a $100 billion international research initiative, Horizon Europe, dedicated to scientific advancements like genome sequencing and mRNA vaccines.
Although she did not mention the U.S. directly, she characterized the global climate as one where “basic, free, and open research is under scrutiny.”
She exclaimed, “What a huge miscalculation!”
In Europe, there is a growing consensus that Trump’s approach has forsaken traditional American values of freedom, liberty of expression, and democracy, especially through his ties with autocrats and the undermining of science and higher education. This shift has not only affected the markets but also sparked a sense of opportunity across the continent. Attracting top scientific talent to vibrant and independent universities is viewed as part of a broader initiative to establish Europe as a formidable global player.
In the long term, the European Commission, the EU’s enforcement body, plans to enshrine scientific freedom into a law known as the European Studies Area Act and to double grants for researchers who confront adversity.
“Our primary goal is to ensure that European science remains open and free. It’s our hallmark,” von der Leyen emphasized.
The conference, attended by government officials and prominent researchers from across Europe, was predominantly driven by the Trump administration’s assault on science and threats to educational institutions. Increasingly, the U.S. is being perceived as a strategic adversary, and welcoming American researchers is seen as a long-term strategy to counter this threat.
This was Macron’s call to scientists: “If you cherish freedom, assist us in safeguarding it.”
Recently, France unveiled a program aimed at attracting U.S.-based researchers, pledging to cover up to 50% of the funding required to entice international scholars, particularly in fields under attack from the Trump administration, such as climate science and sustainable energy. However, specific funding was only confirmed on Monday, with Macron committing $113 million to the initiative.
The alarm in Europe grew as the Trump administration enacted job cuts and froze funding for major U.S. research institutions. Disappointment intensified when the U.S. government targeted diversity programs and attempted to dictate which fields of study and research were permissible, as noted by Harvard President Alan M. Gerber.
Harvard has initiated legal action against the Trump administration over a $2.2 billion funding freeze. Last week, Trump suggested revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status.
The U.S. government has also terminated staff at leading scientific research centers, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health, the largest biomedical research funder worldwide.
Concurrently, some federal agencies have scrubbed specific terminology deemed objectionable by the Trump administration from their websites and applications. Terms like “climate science,” “diversity,” and “gender” have been labeled as taboo.
Collectively, these actions have fostered a climate of unease within academic and research institutions, raising concerns not only regarding their ongoing work but also the long-term sustainability of research in the U.S.
French Education Minister Elizabeth Bourne articulated this sentiment during a meeting on Monday: “In the United States, academic freedom faces challenges as it once was a haven for researchers. The boundary between truth and falsehood is blurring, compromising the distinction between fact and belief.”
French universities are on the frontline, aiming to capitalize on the potential brain drain from the U.S. AIX Marseille University has interviewed roughly 300 candidates for this purpose as part of a program initiated in March, responding to the cuts imposed by the Trump administration. Many other institutions have since adopted similar measures.
“In alignment with our self-interest and values, we must now become a refuge for knowledge wherever it faces pressure,” stated Lewis Vassy, President of the University of Science PO in Paris.
A proposal by former French President François Hollande aims to establish a legal status for “scientific refugees” who face threats to their research endeavors in their home countries.
However, some university presidents and professors have criticized this initiative, arguing that while France seeks to attract American researchers, it is simultaneously cutting higher education and research budgets to tackle the nation’s growing budget deficit.
On Monday, the European Union kicked off its initiative to draw scientists and researchers to Europe through grants and new policy proposals following the freezing of government funding related to diversity, equity, and inclusion by the Trump administration.
“A few years back, it would have seemed unimaginable that one of the world’s major democracies would terminate a research initiative simply because it included the word ‘diversity,'” stated French President Emmanuel Macron at the “Choose Science” event in Paris.
“No one would have believed it possible for a significant democracy to hinder a researcher’s chances of obtaining a visa,” Macron remarked. “Yet, here we are.”
Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, joined Macron at Sorbonne University, announcing a new “super grant” program aimed at offering “long-term perspectives and a prime viewpoint” in various disciplines.
She specified plans to allocate 500 million euros ($566 million) between 2025 and 2027 to “make Europe a beacon for researchers,” with funds directed to the European Research Council, which boasts a budget exceeding 16 billion euros ($18 billion) from 2021 to 2027.
Von der Leyen emphasized that the 27 EU nations aim to “institutionalize the freedom of scientific inquiry” with new legislation. “As global threats increase, Europe will not compromise on this principle,” she asserted.
Macron announced that the French government will shortly present new initiatives to bolster investments in science and research.
Recently, hundreds of university researchers in the U.S. faced funding cuts from the National Science Foundation due to an executive order from President Trump, impacting programs focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and misinformation.
To date, over 380 grant projects have been eliminated, including efforts to combat internet censorship in China and Iran, as well as initiatives working with Indigenous communities to study environmental changes in Alaska’s Arctic.
Several of the affected grants aimed to diversify the demographics of individuals pursuing studies in science, technology, and engineering, prompting protests from scientists, researchers, and doctors in the streets.
While not explicitly naming the Trump administration, von der Leyen characterized the undermining of free and open research as a “huge miscalculation.”
“Science knows no borders, gender, ethnicity, or political affiliation,” she declared. “We believe that diversity is a vital human asset and the lifeblood of science. It is among the most valuable global resources and must be safeguarded.”
With von der Leyen seizing this opportunity, she is promoting European scientific avenues and leveraging the shift in U.S. policies. Trade relations have altered since Trump took office in January, including a tariff war that began last month.
The former German defense minister and trained medical doctor has committed to addressing obstacles faced by scientists and researchers, particularly regarding excessive bureaucracy and business access.
Macron stated that scientific research should not be dictated by a limited number of individuals.
Macron concluded, asserting that Europe “must become a sanctuary” for scientists and researchers, sending a clear message: “If you value freedom, come here to support our research, help us improve, and invest in our future.”
In the universe, there’s an unseen flow of particles and energy that surrounds and passes through us. This phenomenon is akin to the force from Star Wars, though it is grounded in reality. This so-called “force” is a critical by-product of nuclear processes and high-energy particle interactions that maintain the universe, known as neutrinos.
Neutrinos are tiny subatomic particles that travel close to the speed of light without an electric charge, constantly flowing through us. As you read this, approximately 100 trillion neutrinos are passing through your body every second, yet you’re completely unaware of them! As fundamental components of the universe, neutrinos aren’t composed of smaller particles, making them elementary particles.
Neutrinos originate from nuclear and high-energy reactions. Most neutrinos reaching Earth come from nuclear reactors and various stars. These neutrinos are low-energy, about 400 kiloelectron volts (6 x 10-14 Joules). To put that in perspective, it would take nine quarters to match the energy contained in a single 12-ounce soda can. Additionally, neutrinos from beyond our solar system can strike Earth, possessing billions to trillions of electron volts of energy, which would require about 4 trillion yen to equal the energy of the same soda can.
Astrophysicists are eager to discover the origins of high-energy neutrinos emitted from deep space. They proposed that these neutrinos are generated by rapidly moving protons, known as cosmic rays that collide with unstable particles called pions. Physicists theorize that these collisions can generate high-energy gamma-ray photons and sometimes ultra-high-energy neutrinos. According to this hypothesis, neutrino detectors may observe a spike in detections from the same areas in the universe where gamma rays have been identified by other scientists.
To test this theory, the team analyzed neutrino detection data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica. They noted that detectors like IceCube are one of three methods for scientists to uncover activities occurring in space, alongside gravitational wave detectors and telescopes. However, this is a challenging task, as scientists must wait for neutrinos to collide with atomic nuclei in water molecules. Such collisions produce a distinct blue light known as Cherenkov radiation that is measurable by the detector, and by evaluating the patterns of Cherenkov emissions, researchers can assess the energy levels of the incoming neutrinos.
Once the neutrino detector was installed, the next task was to identify areas where gamma rays are typically found. To achieve this, astrophysicists utilized data from the Large High-Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). This data revealed gamma rays originating from sections of the sky containing much of the Milky Way galaxy, known as the galactic plane. The research team created a sky map delineating areas where LHAASO scientists detected gamma rays and developed several model maps predicting potential neutrino events, comparing them against IceCube neutrino detection data. One model assumed neutrinos could emerge from anywhere on the galactic plane, while another suggested they would arise from regions with dense gas concentrations, and a third posited that neutrinos could be emitted from all directions in the sky.
Astrophysicists then evaluated these maps against 2,500 days of IceCube data collected between 2011 and 2018, during which approximately 900,000 high-energy neutrinos were identified. Statistical analysis revealed that slightly more neutrinos originated from the galactic plane, supporting the theory that these particles are produced when cosmic rays collide with pions. They focused on specific regions of the galaxy, particularly near the constellation Sagittarius, where the most significant neutrino detections occurred. They recommended that future research focus on this part of the sky to study high-energy particle collisions in the universe.
While researching crystal formation, scientists at New York University discovered a unique rod-shaped crystal previously unrecognized.
Zangenite. Image credit: Shihao Zang/Nyu.
Crystals are solid substances composed of particles arranged in repeating patterns.
This self-organization process—often described by researchers as “regulating order from chaos”—was traditionally believed to follow a predictable, classical growth model.
However, they are discovering that crystals can grow through more intricate pathways rather than simply forming building blocks step by step.
To investigate crystal formation, some researchers utilize crystals consisting of small spherical particles known as colloidal particles. These particles are significantly larger than the atoms in other types of crystals.
“Studying colloidal particles allows us to observe the crystallization process at the level of individual particles, which is challenging for atoms due to their small size and rapid movement,” explained Stefano Sacanna, a professor at New York University.
“With colloids, we can visually analyze the shape of the crystal under a microscope.”
To gain insight into how colloidal crystals form, Professor Sacanna and his team conducted experiments observing the behavior of charged colloidal particles under various growth conditions as they transitioned from a salty suspension into a fully developed crystal.
They also conducted thousands of computer simulations to model the growth of the crystals and to explain their experimental observations.
The researchers found that colloidal crystals form through a two-stage process: the initial amorphous mass of particles condenses, followed by a transformation into an ordered crystal structure, resulting in a diverse range of crystal types and shapes.
During the experiments, New York University PhD student Shihao Zan encountered a rod-shaped crystal that he could not identify.
While it appeared similar to a previously discovered crystal, detailed examinations revealed differences in the grain combinations and the presence of a hollow channel at the tips of the crystal.
He compared the unknown structures with over 1,000 crystals found in nature but found no match.
By utilizing computer modeling, the researchers were able to simulate the exact crystals, enabling them to study the elongated, hollow shapes more closely.
“This was somewhat perplexing, as crystals are typically dense; however, this one featured empty channels running throughout its length,” remarked Dr. Glenn Hocky from New York University.
“The combined effects of this experiment and simulation led me to realize that this crystal structure had never been documented before,” added Professor Sacanna.
They named the newly identified crystal l3s4 and informally referred to it as “Zangerite” during a lab meeting, reflecting its composition as per Zang’s discovery.
“We study colloidal crystals to replicate the real-world scenarios of atomic crystals, but we never anticipated discovering crystals that wouldn’t resemble those found in nature,” stated Zan.
The discovery of Zangenite holds potential for exploring applications related to hollow low-density crystals and may lead to the identification of more new crystals.
“The channels within Zangenite resemble characteristics found in other materials and may aid in filtering or enclosing internal contents,” Dr. Hocky noted.
“We once thought it was uncommon to find new crystal structures, but we may now be on the verge of discovering additional, yet uncharacterized, structures,” Professor Sacanna added.
A paper detailing this study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
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S. Zan et al. 2025. Direct observation and control of nonclassical crystallization pathways in binary colloid systems. Nat Commun 16, 3645; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-58959-0
Andrew Wozniak, a chemical oceanographer at the University of Delaware, found it difficult to comprehend the scene before him. Dr. Wozniak was stationed at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, nearly 1.6 miles below the surface, aboard Alvin, the research submersible. As far as his eyes could scan, there lay a nearly desolate expanse of jet-black rock.
Just a day prior, this area was alive with the bustling activity around the Tika hydrothermal vent, situated about 1,300 miles west of Costa Rica. The rocky seabed was home to a vibrant ecosystem, teeming with life. Bright crimson-tipped giant tubeworms intertwined with clusters of mussels, encapsulated in a tapestry of thriving organisms. Crustaceans scuttled about, while ethereal white fish glided gracefully in search of their next meal.
Now, however, only a solitary cluster of dead tubeworms remained amid the darkened landscape. The vivid orange glow of molten lava flickered through the rocks, and a fine mist clouded the water.
“My mind was racing to grasp what had transpired,” Dr. Wozniak said. “Where did everything go?”
Then it dawned on him: he and his fellow explorers had observed the aftermath of a volcanic eruption that had obliterated a once-thriving ecosystem beneath a fresh layer of lava.
This marked the first time scientists had directly witnessed a clear eruption along a ridge in the Central Ocean, a volcanic mountain chain stretching approximately 40,000 miles globally. Baseball seams signify the boundaries of tectonic plates that, when separated, can trigger volcanic eruptions, creating new crust and layers of Earth’s structure beneath the ocean. Approximately 80% of Earth’s volcanic activity occurs at the seafloor, predominantly along the mid-ocean ridge. Before this recent observation, only two underwater eruptions had been documented, neither occurring along the mid-ocean ridge, noted Bill Chadwick, a volcanologist from Oregon State University who was not part of the research team.
“This is an incredibly exciting first,” he remarked.
Such observations provide an invaluable opportunity for scientists to explore fundamental processes of our planet: the formation of new seabeds and their dynamic influence on marine chemistry, ecosystems, microbial life, and beyond.
“Experiencing it in real time is an extraordinary gift. I’m truly envious,” said Deborah Kelly, a marine geologist at the University of Washington who did not participate in the research.
Dr. Wozniak and his team set sail on the R/V Atlantis before diving into the Alvin submersible. Their initial mission was to examine the carbon emissions from Tika’s vents, funded by the National Science Foundation. Hydrothermal vents act as planetary piping systems, discharging heated seawater from the seabed and facilitating the transport of heat and chemicals from within the Earth, thus regulating marine chemistry and sustaining a unique community of deep-sea organisms.
Tuesday morning’s dive commenced like any other. Alyssa Wentzel, an undergraduate from the University of Delaware, accompanied Dr. Wozniak in Alvin, sharing her excitement about descending into the ocean’s depths for a 70-minute journey to the seabed. As the lights dimmed, bioluminescent jellyfish and tiny zooplankton danced in the water.
“It felt magical,” she remarked. “It truly leaves you speechless.”
However, as they neared the site, the temperature gradually increased, shrouding the area in a dark haze. The seabed’s usual dull gray and brown tones were replaced with tendrils of glassy rock, an outcome of rapid cooling when lava makes contact with cold water.
As the particles clouded Alvin’s view, Caitlyn Biadshire, a pilot from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, guided the submersible while monitoring the temperature closely, concerned about the safety of the submersible and its crew. Ultimately, the pilot decided a retreat was necessary.
“It was a breathtaking sight,” they reflected. “Everything I observed just days earlier has been wiped away. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been there within hours of the eruption.”
After returning to the ship, the team learned that a sensitive microphone, known as a Hydrophone, was onboard the Atlantis and had recorded a series of low-frequency rumbles and crackling sounds reminiscent of a campfire.
This represented the third known eruption at the Tika Vent since its discovery in the 1980s. For decades, marine geologist Dan Fornari and his colleagues have closely monitored the site, tracking changes in temperature, water chemistry, and other factors. By combining these analyses with models of seafloor diffusion, they predicted an eruption was imminent, forecasting it could happen either earlier this year or in the previous year.
In 1991, they reached Tika shortly after an eruption began. Although it may have still been active, they lacked visual confirmation of the lava. This time, he asserted, there was no doubt about what the Alvin crew witnessed. “This was the closest we’ve ever come to witnessing the onset of an eruption,” he stated.
The team continues its research into volcanic activity. Due to safety considerations, they are now collecting data and capturing images from the Atlantis remotely.
This data aids researchers in unraveling the mysteries of deep-sea volcanism and its significance within marine ecosystems. “It’s all connected to understanding the overall system of Earth and the ocean,” Dr. Fornari stated. “The relationship is both intricate and beautiful.”
Italian scientists have figured out how to achieve a flawlessly creamy pasta sauce each time by delving into the physics of cooking Cacio E Pepe.
Cacio E Pepe translates to “cheese and pepper” and is a classic Italian dish made with pasta, Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper.
Despite its simplicity, this recipe can easily be mishandled. Combining warm pasta water with cheese can lead to a sticky clump of cheese and watery pasta instead of a smooth, creamy sauce.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona in Spain, the Max Planck Institute for Complex Systems Physics in Germany, the University of Padova in Italy, and the Institute of Science and Technology in Austria collaborated to analyze the science behind a creamy Cacio E Pepe sauce.
To achieve a completely creamy pasta sauce like Cacio E Pepe, the starch in pasta water serves as a crucial stabilizer when mixed with cheese – Photo Credit: Getty
“We are Italians living abroad,” said Dr. Ivan di Terlizzi from the Max Planck Institute. “We often gather for dinner and enjoy traditional dishes.
“While cooking Cacio E Pepe, I thought this would be an intriguing physical system to investigate and explain. Plus, it served a practical purpose to avoid wasting good Pecorino.
A recent study, published in Liquid Physics by the American Institute of Physics, revealed that the secret to a creamy, cheesy sauce lies in the water.
Typically, fats like oils and cheese should not mix with water. However, the starch in the pasta water, when added to the cheese, acts as a stabilizer to create creamy emulsions.
Research author Dr. Daniel Busiello explained to BBC Science Focus that when cheese is heated, its proteins “change composition” and stick together.
“But starch mitigates this effect by binding to cheese proteins, reducing their direct interactions and thereby limiting aggregation,” he detailed.
According to scientists, the ideal pasta water for a creamy Cacio E Pepe sauce contains about 2-3% starch, and they advise against accidentally leaving starch in your water.
“Starch is a critical ingredient, and its quantity can be precisely measured. Therefore, we recommend using accurately measured amounts of starch,” Da Terlizzi said. “This can only be achieved if you have the correct amount of powdered starch in proportion to the cheese you are using.”
As a result, the researchers suggest adding a measured amount of potato starch or corn flour to the water, rather than pouring raw pasta water directly into the pan.
They also recommend allowing the water to cool before incorporating the cheese.
For perfect creaminess, scientists advise first mixing the water and starch, then combining this starch-water mixture with the cheese, adding it all to the pan, and slowly heating it. Finally, add the black pepper and pasta.
Busiello noted that the scientists’ recipe “remains faithful to Italian traditions,” with the only alteration being the use of powdered starch to maintain control over the amount used.
“An experienced chef probably does not require our recipe,” he remarked. “However, we offer a method to ensure that traditional Cacio E Pepe can be prepared even in challenging situations, like cooking large amounts of pasta, effortlessly.”
“Of course, we tested this method with over two kilograms of pasta, and all our guests enjoyed it!”
Busiello added that measuring starch could also benefit other Italian pasta dishes, such as spaghetti Aglio e olio and Carbonara, which also rely on pasta water and cheese sauce.
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About our experts
Dr. Daniel M. Busiello is a distinguished PKS fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Dresden, Germany, and works as an independent researcher. He previously studied at the University of Salerno and Pisa before completing his PhD in Entropy Production in Non-equilibrium Systems at Padova University.
Officials from federal health agencies have decided to reverse the ruling that led to the dismissal of numerous scientists at the Food Safety Labs. They are also reviewing whether other critical positions have been affected.
A representative from the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the reinstatement of these employees and mentioned that several individuals will also be returned to the office responsible for handling freedom of information requests.
In recent months, approximately 20% of FDA positions have been cut, marking one of the most significant workforce reductions among all agencies impacted by the Trump administration.
An HHS spokesperson stated that the departures were misleading due to erroneous employment codes.
In light of contradictory statements from FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty McCurry during a recent media interview, the decision to rehire scientists researching food-related illnesses and product safety—such as infant milk powder—will follow shortly.
“You could argue that no cuts were made to scientists and inspectors,” Dr. McCurry stated during Wednesday’s CNN broadcast.
Contrarily, many scientists were laid off from food and drug safety labs nationwide, including Puerto Rico, and from the veterinary unit working on avian flu safety. Employees on leave indicated that scientists in the tobacco sector, who were let go in February, including those examining the health implications of vaping, have not been considered for paid leave and reinstatement.
It remains uncertain how many dismissed employees will be permitted to return.
According to a department spokesperson, about 40 employees from Chicago’s Moffett Lab and a lab in the San Francisco area are being offered positions. Researchers in these facilities investigate various facets of food safety, including how chemicals and bacteria permeate food packaging and methods to ensure safety for infant formula. Some scientists in Chicago have also analyzed the findings of other labs to ensure the safety of milk and seafood.
Dr. Robert Caliph, the FDA commissioner under President Joseph R. Biden, described the term “decapitation and visceral withdrawal” as fitting for the abrupt loss of agency expertise. He noted that the FDA is already behind in meetings designed to assist businesses in developing safe products.
“Much of that involves routine daily tasks that significantly affect overall safety, though they’re not particularly controversial,” he commented. “It just requires effort, and they need personnel present to carry out their duties.”
Dr. McCurry also mentioned that the layoffs do not impact product reviewers or inspectors. However, their responsibilities are being hindered by voluntary departures, the reduction of support staff, and widespread disruptions at agencies, as many are looking to exit, according to former employees.
Hundreds of drug and medical device reviewers, representing about a quarter of the agency’s workforce, have opted out of major projects. As discussed on CNBC. Under FDA Ethics Rules, staff participating in employment interviews are prohibited from conducting agency reviews on products from firms seeking employment.
Dr. Gottlieb characterized the job cuts as “deep,” impacting the Bureau of Policy’s ability to process which drug brands can be offered as low-cost generics. Approvals for generic drugs could potentially save consumers billions.
The reduction in support staff overseeing inspections at food and drug facilities abroad has raised security concerns. Many of those who lost their positions were responsible for surveillance, ensuring inspectors’ safety, especially in hostile regions.
Harvard Medical School’s cutting-edge microscopes have the potential to revolutionize cancer detection and lifespan research. However, a scientist who developed computer scripts to extract maximum information from the images found herself in immigration detention for two months, jeopardizing significant scientific advancements.
The scientist in question is 30-year-old Russian-born Xenia Petrova, who worked at Harvard’s renowned Kirschner Institute until her arrest at Boston Airport in mid-February. Currently detained at the Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana, Petrova is fighting against deportation to Russia, where she fears persecution and imprisonment due to her participation in protests against the conflict in Ukraine.
The incident involving Petrova and the detention of scholars across the country have hindered American universities’ ability to attract and retain crucial talent, a concern raised by Petrova’s colleagues. In fields where expertise is highly specialized, the loss of talent could have grave global implications for the future of medicine and scientific discovery. Scientists and faculty members are contemplating leaving institutions nationwide out of fear that their visas may be revoked or impacted by immigration enforcement actions.
“It’s like a meat grinder,” Petrova, as per a person talking to NBC News from the Louisiana facility, described her situation. “We are all in this system, regardless of having a visa, green card, or a valid reason.”
Petrova’s first immigration court hearing in Louisiana is scheduled for Tuesday morning, where she expects more clarity on her asylum case. Dr. Leon Peshkin, a prominent research scientist at Harvard University’s Faculty of Systems Biology and Petrova’s supervisor, received a call from Customs and Border Protection on February 16, notifying him of Petrova’s detention at Logan International Airport for failing to declare a sample of frog embryos used in research.
International researchers are increasingly anxious about the Trump administration’s strict stance on illegal immigration, with concerns that these policies could deter other foreign scientists from coming to Harvard. Recent surveys indicate a significant portion of scientists are contemplating relocating to Europe or Canada due to actions taken by President Donald Trump.
Researchers from the University of Utah and the University of New Mexico used artificial “earthquakes” to investigate the magma beneath Yellowstone, a closely monitored hypervolcano. The team deployed truck-mounted bibroseis, large mechanical vibrators, to generate seismic waves throughout the national park. By recording these waves with 650 ground sensors, scientists were able to examine the underground volcanic structures.
Dr. Jamie Farrell, a geologist at the University of Utah and study co-author, explained, “In a way, we’re causing our own earthquakes and recording all that data on seismometers. With so many sensors, we can obtain a clear image of what’s happening below the surface.” This investigation revealed that the top of the magma chamber is approximately 3.8 km below the surface, with 86% consisting of solid rock and 14% containing molten rock, gas, and liquid pockets.
Scientists deployed a portable seismometer called Geophone to measure vibrations from artificial earthquakes – Credit: Jamie Farrell, University of Utah
Professor Bill McGuire, an expert in Geophysical and Climate Hazards, noted that using artificial seismic waves to study underground geology is not new but has not been applied in Yellowstone for determining magma depth before. Despite the proximity of the magma to the surface, the study confirmed that an eruption is not imminent.
Mike Poland, the chief scientist at the US Geological Survey and Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, remarked, “Yellowstone provides valuable insights into volcano behavior worldwide. While another super eruption is possible elsewhere, Yellowstone is not currently at risk.”
For more information:
About our experts:
Professor Bill McGuire: Professor Emeritus of Geophysics and Climate Hazards at University College, London. McGuire is a science writer and broadcaster with a forthcoming book on how past events shape our future.
Dieting can become monotonous over time. While counting calories for a week or two may be manageable, doing it daily for months on end can be unbearable.
If you can relate to this struggle, a recent study conducted at the New Year’s trial might offer some relief. The research discovered that certain forms of intermittent fasting led to slightly more weight loss compared to traditional daily calorie counting.
Published in Internal Medicine Chronicles, the study compared two dietary approaches among 165 overweight or obese adults.
One group followed a 4:3 intermittent fasting plan (eating normally for four days, restricting intake for three days), while the other group reduced daily calorie consumption.
Calorie counting can result in deficits from weight loss, but the body’s metabolism is not an exact calculator, and individual responses to the same calorie intake can vary widely – Photo Credit: Getty
Both groups received exercise support and behavioral coaching, including food diaries, personalized feedback, and gym memberships.
After 12 months, participants in the fasting program lost an average of 7.6% of their body weight, compared to 5% in the daily calorie restriction group.
They also exhibited slightly positive changes in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and fasting glucose levels.
4:3 What is intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting (IMF) focuses on significantly reducing food intake on a few days a week, unlike time-restricted eating (TRE), which involves eating within a daily window (e.g., 10 am to 6 pm).
In the 4:3 IMF plan, participants chose three non-consecutive “fast” days (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday) during which they consumed only 20% of their usual calorie intake, amounting to approximately 400-600 kcal for women and 500-700 kcal for men. The remaining four days emphasized healthy food choices, but participants were free to eat as normal.
“Counting calories can be mentally taxing,” said Professor Daniel Ostendorf, a co-author of the study, to BBC Science Focus. “Limiting it to three days a week may have made it easier to follow over time.”
A 4:3 fasting approach can promote a decrease in calorie intake without conscious effort and show weight loss benefits.
Despite both groups having the same overall calorie target for the week, the fasting group achieved slightly greater weight loss. However, this study suggests that 4:3 intermittent fasting could be a promising option but is not a cure-all.
“The key finding of this study was that the 4:3 approach resulted in more weight loss than traditional calorie restriction,” commented Dr. Adam Collins, a nutrition scientist at the University of Surrey not involved in the research.
Collins pointed out that some unmeasured factors could impact calorie intake, emphasizing the potential benefits of intermittent energy restriction over daily calorie restriction.
Should you give it a try? According to Ostendorf and lead researcher Professor Victoria Catenacci, they advise choosing a dietary strategy that feels sustainable in the long term for weight loss goals.
“Our study suggests that 4:3 IMF can be a viable option based on additional evidence,” they concluded.
About our experts
Daniel Ostendorf is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, specializing in designing lifestyle intervention programs for adults. His research has been published in journals such as Nutrients and American Journal of Public Health.
Victoria Catenacci, MD is an associate professor at the Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado, focusing on endocrinology, metabolism, and diabetes. Her research has been showcased in journals like Nature reviews endocrinology and Physiology and behavior.
The principle of quantum superposition allows the system to be prepared with two arbitrary state superpositions. A paradigmous example is the superposition of two coherent states. Superposition of such states is usually referred to as the Schrödinger cat state, but in Irwin Schrodinger’s original thought experiment, a cat-temperature-equal system system is prepared with superposition of two mixed states dominated by classical variation. Physicists at the University of Innsbruck have now managed to create the state of Hot Schrodinger cats with a superconducting microwave resonator.
Yang et al. We generated highly mixed quantum states with different quantum properties. Image credit: Innsbruck University.
SchrödingerCat states are an attractive phenomenon in quantum physics, where quantum objects exist simultaneously in two different states.
In Erwin Schrödinger’s thought experiment, it is a cat living and dead at the same time.
In real experiments, such simultaneity is seen in the positions of atoms and molecules, as well as the vibrations of electromagnetic resonators.
Previously, these analogues to Schrodinger’s thought experiments were first created by cooling quantum objects to their ground state.
In a new study, Dr. Gerhard Kirchumere and his colleagues at Innsbruck University demonstrated that it is indeed possible to create quantum superpositions from thermally excited states.
“Schrodinger also envisioned a living, namely “hot” cat in his thought experiments,” says Dr. Kirchumere, author of the study.
“We wanted to know if these quantum effects could also be produced if they didn’t start from the ‘cold’ ground state. ”
To generate the Schrödinger CAT state, researchers used a transmon Qubit with a microwave resonator.
They have succeeded in creating quantum layers at temperatures up to 1.8 k. This is 60 times the ambient temperature of the cavity.
“Our results show that it is possible to generate highly mixed quantum states with distinct quantum properties,” says Dr. Ian Yang, the first author of the study.
Scientists used two special protocols to create the state of Hot Schrodinger cats.
These protocols have been used previously to produce CAT states starting from the ground state of the system.
“It turns out that the tuned protocol also works at high temperatures and produces clear quantum interference,” said Professor Oriol Romero Isart, co-author of the study.
“This opens up new opportunities for the creation and use of quantum superpositions, for example, in nanomechanical oscillators.
“When I first mentioned our results, many of our colleagues were surprised because we usually think of temperature as a disruption to quantum effects,” says Thomas Agnius, co-author of the study.
“Our measurements confirm that quantum interference can last even at high temperatures.”
The findings could benefit quantum technology development.
“Our work reveals that quantum phenomena can be observed and used in warm, less ideal environments,” Dr. Kirchem said.
“If the system can create the interactions it needs, temperature is ultimately irrelevant.”
a paper The findings were published in the journal Advances in science.
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Ian Yang et al. 2025. Hot Schrodinger cat condition. Advances in science 11 (14); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adr4492
New research suggests that the peeps, cries, and groans of wild bonobos, a species of great apes living in Africa’s rainforests, can convey complex ideas in ways that resemble elements of human language.
According to a study published in the Journal Science, the closest living genetic relatives of humans can combine different calls to construct phrases that modify the meaning of another, challenging the notion that only humans possess such abilities.
Simon Townsend, a professor at the University of Zurich and the author of the study, stated that while language is not unique to humans, bonobos seem to exhibit language features in their communication systems.
Experts have found the research to be persuasive, suggesting that bonobos may be beyond chimpanzees in their communication abilities, with other species possibly exhibiting similar behaviors as well.
Young male bonobo scratching his head. Lukas Bierhoff / Kokolopori Bonobo Research Project
Witness
Melissa Bursett, the lead author of the University of Zurich study, spent about six months in the Democratic Republic of the Congo studying wild bonobos at the Kokoropoli Bonobo Reserve, documenting their various vocalizations and behaviors.
The study mapped over 700 vocal calls in relation to their meanings and highlighted instances where bonobos combined different calls to convey new meanings, demonstrating their complex communication abilities.
Researchers believe that bonobos, along with chimpanzees, share common ancestors with humans, providing insights into the evolution of language and communication among early humans.
The origin of language
Bonobos, with their sophisticated communication systems, serve as a link to understand the evolution of human language and shed light on how early humans developed complex forms of verbal communication.
The study raises questions about the ancient origins of human language and how bonobos and chimpanzees exhibit building blocks of communication that help in understanding the transition to more advanced languages in humans.
Despite the challenges in studying wild bonobos, researchers see them as a unique opportunity to reflect on human history and evolution, emphasizing the importance of preserving these endangered species.
It is common to assume that individuals who are overweight derive more pleasure from food compared to those with smaller bodies, but this is not accurate. Instead, individuals tend to experience increased pleasure from their diet as they gain weight.
Researchers have now identified the reasons behind this phenomenon, as well as how restoring the pleasure response can be facilitated by adopting a healthier diet.
“Obesity is often associated with an excessive enjoyment of food. People believe they cannot resist unhealthy food options,” explained Professor Stephan Lammel, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Berkeley and the senior author of the study, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.
“However, both our research and previous studies indicate the opposite: Over time, individuals may experience a decrease in food-related pleasure.”
These findings are linked to the role of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with rewards, motivation, and pleasure. Researchers have discovered that overweight mice have lower levels of a molecule called neurotensin, which impacts dopamine responses to food.
“Contrary to popular belief, individuals with obesity may not eat for pleasure. In reality, much of their eating habits are influenced by routines and emotional cues rather than pleasure or desire,” Lammel added.
To investigate this further, researchers fed a group of mice a high-fat, unhealthy diet and observed their eating behavior. The results showed that the mice preferred the high-fat diet over regular low-calorie foods, indicating a preference for unhealthy options.
However, when presented with high-calorie treats like butter, peanut butter, and chocolate, the mice showed less interest compared to those on a normal diet. This suggests that their food choices were driven by habits rather than pleasure.
Further experiments involving stimulating brain circuits connected to dopamine yielded interesting results. While normal weight mice responded positively to the treatment, overweight mice did not, indicating an issue with dopamine and neurotensin levels.
The researchers were able to correct this by switching some mice to a normal diet, resulting in a return to normal levels of neurotensin, dopamine function, and interest in high-calorie foods. Additionally, artificially restoring neurotensin levels in other mice led to weight loss and improved food motivation, mood, and mobility.
“Our findings suggest that targeting neurotensin signaling through genetic strategies could help rebalance food motivation and promote healthier eating habits,” Lammel stated.
It is important to note that this study was conducted on mice fed high-fat diets, so the results may not directly apply to obese individuals. Nevertheless, the implications for human health are promising.
When asked about the potential impact on people, Lammel commented, “It could potentially make it easier for individuals to maintain a healthy weight without solely relying on willpower or restrictive diets.”
About our experts
Stephen Lammel: Associate Professor of Neurobiology at the Department of Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. Investigator at Weil Neurohub with a focus on neural circuits mediating motivation and reward. Member of the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute.
A new species of dinosaurs has been uncovered in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. Known as Duonychus tsogtbaatari, this dinosaur possessed two feet long claw fingers on each hand, belonging to the Teresino Sauria.
Referred to as Duonychus, which is the Greek term for two claws, this dinosaur stood approximately 10 feet tall, weighed around 570 pounds, and was part of the Therizinosaurs group. It displayed a unique set of characteristics, including feathers.
These dinosaurs existed in Asia and North America during the Cretaceous period, spanning from 145 to 66 million years ago.
Despite having only two claws, researchers described Duonychus in a study published in the JournalIscience as an “effective climber” capable of reaching branches or vegetation masses up to five inches in diameter.
A claw belonging to Duonychus Tsogtbaatari, excavated in Mongolia.Kobayashi et al. / Science via Reuters
NBC News reached out to the research team for additional comments.
The fossil specimen was unearthed in 2012 by scientists at the Institute of Paleontology at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, dating back 90 million years and showcasing exceptional diversity.
Although the fossil was a partial skeleton missing the skull and legs, the hands were remarkably well-preserved. The Duonychus individuals were not fully grown, and their claws measured approximately 1 foot in length.
Therodinosaurus belonged to a group of herbivorous dinosaurs such as tyrannosaurus and spinosaurus, but mainly consumed leaves from large shrubs and trees.
The discovery of Duonychus and its two claws was described as remarkable by Michael Benton, a vertebrate paleontology professor at the University of Bristol, UK, who was not involved in the study.
Initially, dinosaurs possessed five fingers like humans, eventually losing two over time, leading to the majority having three fingers, Benton explained in an email to NBC News on Wednesday.
Benton highlighted that the number of digits did not impact their capabilities, mentioning that the third finger was shorter in length, potentially serving a specific purpose.
He emphasized the vast diversity and varied shapes and functions of dinosaurs, stating that they are incredibly diverse.
According to the study, the fossil records of Terazinosauria are particularly abundant in Cretaceous sediments in East Asia, particularly in Mongolia and China.
Researcher of University of California, Davis We generated the chromosomal scale reference genome of the most widely grown pistachio variety, “Kerman.”
pistachio(Pistasia Bella) A sustainable nut crop with exceptional climate resilience and nutritional value. Image credit: NONAME_13.
pistachio(Pistasia Bella)) Along with cashews and mangoes, it belongs to the family of the Anacardia family and is the only species of the genus. Pistasia It is grown for edible fruits.
Although commonly known as nuts, pistachio fruit is a plant-based heat-deficient collision consisting of leathery exomesocarps, inner stone inner membrane (shell), and edible seeds (kanel).
Pistachios are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins.
Given the highly resilient resilience to abiotic stress, particularly drought and salt, pistachio trees are predicted to be an important source of sustainable nutrition in the face of next-generation climate change, with global production of pistachios more than doubled in the past 20 years.
“Scientists have previously sequenced pistachio DNA, but the new genetic maps are very detailed and accurate,” says Dr. J. Greymonroe, a researcher at the University of California, Davis.
“Improved accuracy of the new reference genome is like moving from hand-drawn maps of the landscape to satellite images from Google Earth.”
The authors also identified four important stages of nut growth from flower to harvest, providing a complete physiological assessment, including shell hardening and kernel growth.
“Knowing how nuts change through development will help farmers make better decisions, such as when to water the trees, leading to more sustainable pistachio production,” said Dr. Bárbara Blanco-lute, University of California, Davis.
“A more accurate assessment of its development will also provide growers with a better strategy for harvesting and help avoid problems such as insect damage and fungal infections.
“It was important to detail not only the physical changes in pistachios, but also the genetic and molecular drivers of those properties.”
“Genome sequencing contains precedent configuration information on how different genes behave in nuts over the growing season.”
Researchers also identified genes and pathways that affect the nutritional value of pistachios.
This includes insight into how proteins and unsaturated fatty acids accumulate. This is important for both shelf life and dietary benefits.
“We get information on how all of these nutritional properties can be obtained with pistachios and how they can be improved from a management perspective,” Dr. Blanco Raul said.
Jaclyn A. Adaskaveg et al. In short, the development of the pistachio genome and kernel. New BotanistPublished online on March 19, 2025. doi: 10.1111/nph.70060
According to the French government, the opinion he expressed about the Trump administration’s policies on academic research prevented French scientists from entering the United States this month.
French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Philip Baptist explained that the move is worried.
“Freedom of opinion, free research and academic freedom are values that we continue to proudly support,” Baptist said in a statement. “I defend the possibility that all French researchers can be faithful to them in compliance with the law, wherever they are in the world.”
Baptist did not identify the scientist whose backs were turned away, but said the academic works at the publicly funded National Science Research Center in France, where he was traveling to a conference near Houston when border officials stopped him.
US authorities refused to enter the scientist and later deported him as his phone included exchanging messages with colleagues and friends.
It was not immediately clear why border authorities forced the scientists to stop, why they looked up the contents of his phone, or why they found the conversation undesirable.
Customs officials are permitted to search for mobile phones, computers, cameras or other electronic devices from travelers across the border. According to US Customs and Border Protectionthough agents say such cases are rare. In 2024, less than 0.01% of international travelers who arrived searched for electronics, according to the agency.
Baptist’s office declined to provide further details regarding the incident. A spokesman for the US Embassy in Paris also declined to comment.
A spokesperson for the National Center for Science and Research said the scientists who were turned away did not want to talk to the media and declined to comment further.
Agence France-Presse News Agency Reported previously The scientist refused to enter the United States.
Minister Baptist has been particularly vocal over the past few weeks by denounceing the threat to academic freedom in the United States. There, the Trump administration’s funding cuts and layoffs target higher education, scientific research and the federal government’s own scientific workforce.
Baptist urges French universities and research institutions to welcome researchers looking to leave the United States.
“Europe must be there to protect research and welcome talent that can contribute to its success,” Baptist said. I wrote it on social media After meeting with his European counterparts in Warsaw on Wednesday, he dealt with the “threat to free research in the United States.”
Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the American advocacy group, the Union of Concern Scientists, said he was worried that incidents involving French scientists would have a calm effect on cross-border research cooperation.
“My fear is that these are more and more early cases,” Dr. Jones said. “I’ve heard from my network that people are very concerned about all sorts of international travel in either direction.”
“It should be worrying for all of us,” she added. When scientists restrict movement to conferences and other events designed to advance research, she said “it’s the masses that suffer.”
We have all pondered the age-old question – are the colors I see the same as the colors you see? Is my red your red, my yellow your yellow, and my slight teal the same as your slight teal?
It seems like an unsolvable mystery, even for experts in psychology and neuroscience. The relationship between how we perceive the world and the brain activity that underlies it is still largely unknown. This phenomenon is known as “Qualia,” the subjective and qualitative aspect of conscious experience.
However, new research featured in the scientific journal pnas suggests that there may be an answer to this puzzling question. Scientists at Kyoto University in Japan have been studying whether children see colors differently from each other and from adults.
The study, led by Moriji Yuho, aimed to understand how children perceive and experience the world. To do this, they developed a program that could assess color similarities without relying on verbal explanations. Participants, including Japanese children aged 3-12, Chinese children aged 6-8, and Japanese adults, were asked to evaluate the similarity of nine colors on a 4-point scale.
The results showed notable similarities in color perception among participants, despite age-related differences in understanding and verbal expression. This suggests that young children experience color in a similar way to adults, with minimal cultural differences between Japanese and Chinese children in the study.
However, the researchers suggest that further studies involving diverse cultural backgrounds are needed to confirm these findings. They believe that this research could provide valuable insights into how young children perceive the world. Morimura stated, “Our research offers a new methodology for scientifically studying the conscious experiences of young children.”
Anchorage, Alaska – Volcanoes near Alaska’s biggest city show new signs of anxiety. Experts say the likelihood of an eruption in Mount Spall is increasing in the coming weeks or months.
The Alaska Volcanic Observatory said Wednesday it measured “a significant rise in volcanic gas emissions” during recent turbulence, with the signs indicating that the eruption was not certain in weeks or months, but not certain.
“We hope for more seismic activity, gas emissions and surface heating before the eruption. “Such strong anxiety could provide additional warnings for days to weeks.”
What is Mount Spur?
It is an ice-covered volcano about 80 miles northwest of Anchorage, 11,070 feet high.
Mount Spur is one of Alaska’s 53 volcanoes and has been active within the last 250 years. There are two main vents.
When did Mount Spur last erupt?
The last known eruption from the Summit Bent was over 5,000 years ago. Meanwhile, Crater Peak Vent erupted once in 1953 and three times in 1992. Crater Peak Vent is about two miles south of the summit.
Since then, there have been periods of increasing earthquakes and other activities between 2004 and 2006, but no other eruptions. Last October, the observatory raised the green to yellow mount spur alert status when seismic activity increased significantly and ground deformation was discovered in satellite data.
The most likely outcome of current anxiety would be the eruptions or eruptions of 1953 and 1992, the observation deck said.
But “there is a possibility that there will be no eruptions, current activity will die slowly, or even smaller eruptions may occur,” wrote John Power, a geophysicist at the station’s US Geological Survey, in an email.
What are the effects of the eruption?
According to the observation deck, eruptions of the last century lasted three to seven hours, rising more than 50,000 feet above sea level, producing ash columns deposited ashes in communities in southern Alaska.
In 1992, about a quarter inch of ash from the anchorage began to stay inside or wear masks if they were to go outside to avoid breathing the ashes. The clouds drifted all the way to Greenland.
Volcanic ash is angular and sharp, and is used as an industrial abrasive. Powdered rocks can shut down the jet engine.
The 1992 eruption prompted temporary closures of airports in Anchorage and other communities.
In states where most communities are not connected to Alaska’s main road system, closing airports is more than inconvenient. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is one of the busiest cargo hubs in the world.
When her school closed in March 2020, Baltimore English teacher Chimere Sweeney thought that once the US got the new SARS-COV-2 virus, she would return to her students. But “There was another plan in life,” she said when she quickly got Covid and never recovered.
Initially, Sweeney developed only muscle pain. By the second week she began having panic attacks, blurry vision, constipation and partial hearing loss. Half of her face freezes “like concrete.” She forgot her phone number and address and stuttered. Within a month of contracting, she lost 30 pounds.
“In two weeks, I was told I would be better,” said Sweeney, now 42. “But my two weeks didn't come.”
Almost five years later, she still suffers from severe whole body pain, insomnia, depression, painful rash and boiling, uncontrollable urination, short-term memory loss and irregular periods.
“I'm a healthy 37-year-old woman and I might have had to pop allergy pills many times, but I took 10-12 medications per day to control almost every system in my body,” Sweeney said.
The World Health Organization characterized Covid as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, so scientists don't fully understand why some people develop chronic diseases and disordered conditions after their first virus infection. The US may have come throughout the winter after the first pandemic without a massive surge in cases, but each infection is at risk of developing a long community. Some scientists are looking for a new type of clinical trial designed for the longest and most debilitating covid patients.
Long covid is known to be the cause Over 200 different symptoms There are no approved tests or recommended treatments in almost 12 organ systems, including those of the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, eyes and skin. Research shows long covid It's more common for middle-aged people, especially women and those with weakened immune systems, but anyone who catches the virus can get it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there is one in every 20 adults in the United States, or about 14 million. Living with a long covid. Other data shows that 5.8 million children It may be affected by the condition as well. However, experts say these numbers are likely to be underestimated as there is no official surveillance system in place.
Billion Dollar Research Initiative Called Recover Started by the National Institutes of Health, finding the causes and potential treatments of covid, I've reached that promisesays scientists and patient advocates.
Meanwhile, experts fear that extreme cuts in federal spending by the Trump administration could be possible It undermines long Covid's research effortswhich could further delay the discovery of treatment. Last month, President Donald Trump ended his secretary as a health and welfare secretary Advisory Committee on Long Covid.
This indefinite dye microscope image, available to the US National Institutes of Health in February 2020, shows the novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2, shown in yellow, emerges from the cell surface and is cultured in laboratory culture.niaid-rml via AP file
W. Medical Director, UT Health Austin. Dr. Michael Broad Post-Covid-19 Program In Texas, “We build boats while we're at the sea and we're trying to understand together. [with patients] …But we need to build on the progress we have already made. ”
“We are not offering answers that are worthy of the public health crisis we are facing,” he said.
Causes of long covids
SARS-COV-2, which causes Covid, is not the only virus that causes prolonged symptoms. Another condition called myalgia encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) shares many similarities with the long community; Caused by infection Among other things, Epstein Barr, influenza, and water cell-zoster virus.
Brode said Covid is unique because it is more likely to cause chronic disease than other pathogens. It has not yet been determined why it could lead to long-term symptoms. Experts have come to several theories so far.
One idea is that Virus remains hidden in different tissues Broad said after the infection subsided. These viral particles continue to thrust and stimulate the immune system in ways that cause long covid symptoms.
Another potential cause is Reactivation of other virusessitting in a dormant state of people's bodies, such as EBV and HIV.
Dr. Igor Coralnik, co-director of Northwest Medicine's Comprehensive COVID-19 Centre, said Covid could also trick the immune system into producing antibodies that attack people's own healthy organs and tissues.
Some evidence shows covid It affects the inner layer of blood vesselswhich leads to the formation of small clots and helps explain the symptoms, such as irregular heartbeat and heart failure, that some long-term community patients experience, Koralnik said.
It is unclear whether one or a combination of these factors will cause long covid, experts say. But the evidence suggests that they are all linked to an increase in inflammation in the body, Coralnik said, it's yours The risk of long covid increases with each covid infection.
“It's like a river that's over a dam,” Coralnik said. “The more episodes of Covid, the higher the river levels will go to where it is overflowing, and there will be a long flood of COVID symptoms.”
Diagnosis of long covids can be complicated
There are diagnostic tools to check for long covid symptoms, such as MRI scans for heart abnormalities. There are no tests that can diagnose the condition Or distinguish it from similar diseases, the CDC says.
As a result, people need to stay away from work, school or other responsibilities and endure numerous clinical tests and scans that are not only expensive, but also stressful and time-consuming. This is a broad exclusion process that prevents people from getting the help they need, Broad said.
Eye, intestine, and immune system clue
The current challenge is to find one or more biomarkers of genes, proteins, or other substances associated with a particular condition that will help diagnose long covid.
a Recover your research Released last year, routine lab tests, including 25 standard blood and urine tests, showed little difference in biomarkers, with or without previous symbiotic infections. Researchers concluded that these tests may not be useful in the diagnosis of long-term COVID.
Koralnik and his team recently discovered that people with long covids are reducing blood flow in small blood vessels in the retina. This reduced flow is thought to reduce blood circulation in and around the brain, and the small organelles called mitochondria, which convert oxygen into energy, are described as “toxic.”
This theory can explain why many people with long covid experience cognitive problems, fatigue and exercise intolerance, Coralnik said. Overall, the findings published in the Journal of Imaging in February are The retina can become a long covid biomarker.
Other studies suggest that biomarkers may be present in the gut and immune system, but Brode noted that these early findings are based on small groups of people and should be considered in salt grains.
As useful as diagnostic tests, experts say that for those with prolonged symptoms, some experts should not slow scientists in searching for long covid treatments.
Julia Moore Vogel, senior program director at Scripps Research, and Patient-led research cooperation Regarding long covid, he said that other conditions like migraines do not have reliable biomarkers or tests to confirm the diagnosis. Several drugs have been approved To handle it.
“I think we'll get there,” said Vogel, a long-distance runner before developing the long-time Covid in 2020. “But I personally don't think it should contain anything.”
Unfortunate advances in long covid treatments
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved treatments, particularly for long covids. Experts are not sure if they'll get it anytime soon.
“When I first got sick, I was OK, I had to survive for just three to five years. At least, I think I have options as I have decent symptom management trial data. But we've made little progress in treatment,” Vogel said. “There are currently promising research beginning, but it's not close to the amount that should be burdened by the disease.”
Most clinical trials test whether medications used to treat other conditions are useful for long-term COVID. For example, researchers at the University of British Columbia Low-dose naltrexone – Approved drugs for opioid and alcohol use disorders. The drug is thought to have anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties and is used off-label in people with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, making it potential as a long-term symbiotic treatment.
Other drugs Barishinibapproved for treating rheumatoid arthritis and acute charlation, and Temelimabuexperimental drugs often administered to people with multiple sclerosis have also been investigated as potential long covid treatments.
Instead of a particular treatment, people with long covids must balance rest and activity in a strategy called pacing and undergo physical and cognitive behavioral therapy for further support. Many people will often rely on several drugs, including antiviral Paxlovid, to treat symptoms.
But realistically, “we may not actually have one silver bullet treatment,” says Alison Cohen, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who coexisted for three years for a long time. Cohen said that long covid will take a “multi-faceted approach” to take a “multi-faceted approach” in a very diverse way.
What will you do in the future for recovery?
As long as SARS-COV-2 continues to spread, everyone is at risk of a long Covid, Cohen said. And now, evidence shows that recovery from the condition is rare. A survey released last month found it Only about 6% of people with long covid recover According to Cohen, two years later. Covid vaccinations were associated with better long-term recovery, especially among those who won booster shots.
People who improve are experiencing many “ups and downs,” Coralnik said. “You need to expect a lot of collisions on the road.”
“Living with a long Covid is tiring,” Cohen said. “So for everyone who doesn't live with it, it's important to think about what we can do to support those who have them.”
In the meantime, clinical trials must be designed to accommodate and include the patients they intend, Vogel said. Many people are tied to their homes and beds and cannot travel due to the risk of multiple in-person visits or flare-ups of symptoms, she added. “There are too many things you can't know until you put them on the table,” she said.
Although we don't know when a long community community finally gets the answers and security they need, Vogel keeps her head high.
“We know we can do that. We are confident that a well-designed and well-tested exam will at least improve the quality of life. “But I can't think of any other way. I can't accept that this is for my life.”
The first researchers in science created mice that exhibit properties similar to extinct woolly mammoths.
Colossal Biosciences, an American Biotechnology Company, utilized CRISPR genome editing technology to develop the “Colossal Woolly Mouse.”
These mice are not miniature mammoths but have DNA designed to express mammoth-like properties, making them well-suited for cold environments.
An unpublished study published on Biorxiv explains how researchers modified seven mouse genes to give them a woolly coat.
This marks the first instance of a “living model” of animals with mammoth-like attributes.
Two “woolly mice” created by scientists
“Observing these mice is akin to peering into the past through a specialized lens,” said Dr. Louise Johnson, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Reading not involved in the study. “This technology provides an exciting avenue to test our theories about extinct organisms.”
She added, “Researchers successfully adjusted the mouse genome towards the mammoth genome for the first time.”
Through extensive computer analysis, researchers studied mammoth and African elephant genomes from 1.2 million years ago, modifying mouse genes related to hair growth and cold tolerance to create the final edited seven-gene combination. However, these mice do not possess an exact replica of mammoth genes, leading researchers to doubt the genes responsible for mammoth properties.
The Significance of this Discovery
According to Colossal Biosciences, this development is a groundbreaking step in addressing extinction. The company aims to reintroduce other extinct species with the goal of rebuilding ecosystems to maintain Earth’s balance. Founder Ben Lam envisions reviving species like dodos, giant ice age bears, and extinct Tasmanian marsupials known as thylacines.
Not all scientists are convinced of the immediate impact of this discovery.
While genetic manipulation has been used to create various models, including humans and extinct species, some remain skeptical. Professor Dusko Ilic, a stem cell science professor at King’s College London, acknowledges the milestone but warns of potential risks and ethical implications of such experiments.
While comparing mammoth and elephant genomes offers insights into adaptation and genetic traits, transforming mice into mammoth-like creatures may not directly translate to creating woolly elephants adapted for Arctic environments.
Many scientists doubt the feasibility of replicating mammoths through genetic manipulation alone without a complete understanding of their genetic makeup.
Feedback is the latest science and technology news of new scientists, the sidelines of the latest science and technology news. You can email Feedback@newscientist.com to send items you believe readers can be fascinated by feedback.
Delicate topics
Feedback reads many academic articles, but we often suffer from their titles, which is not despicable and clearly unclear. What’s even worse is that it is the preface to the academy, which is said to be said to be a reference to humorous pop culture.
However, sometimes you come across research with a lively title and key points. We love the 2000 structural biology paper.”Ribosomes are ribozymes“This is an absolute model of efficiency (suppose you know the meaning of two nouns), and there is a February paper on Biorxiv. New Scientist Contributor Chris Sims, titled “The rough mental map of the breast is fixed to the nipple“.
It may probably require a bit of context. Parts of the human body are more sensitive to touch than other parts of the body. The face, especially the lips – and the tips of the fingers are very sensitive, but our backs are much less.
This is one of the classic experiments you can do at home. Get chopsticks and other dull tools and happily thrusts your partner gently. Whether you’re poking them with your lips or fingertips, or even just millimeters, you’ll know if you’re moving the continuous pork location. But if you thrust them back, they’ll be awful to decide if you’ve moved it or not. This is because the back has less touch sensitive nerves there.
The authors of this new preprint discovered a gap in the literature. “Tactile vision has been extensively studied in the limbs and face, while the torso vision has attracted much less experimental attention. The breasts are largely ignored,” they write.
Do not drag the suspense. The breasts have very low tactile vision, which can be seen as even worse than the back. Apparently, “Touch had to be 3-4 times further away from the chest than the hand to get comparable position identification performance.”
Feedback is not sure what this is at all Caroline Cleared Perez I had it in mind when she wrote it Invisible womandocumenting the myriad ways in which women have been excluded from scientific research. However, as part of the basic information, it appears to have its purpose.
The main point of feedback is that you want to be a wall fly due to the recruitment process. “What do you want to do with me?”
Even longer words
In early November 2024, I paddled the column with a long, increasingly long torrent of words as I had a bit of lack of feedback due to a short break (for a long time) of Global Idiosai.
Apart from that, we did it wrong. Francis Wenban Smith wrote to point out our mistakes: “You were two letters short in an attempt to pad out your column with ‘Flocsinocinosis’. The correct word is “Floccinaucinihi Lipilification.” “
If you can’t see the difference between the blizzards of these two letters – and we will not blame you. I couldn’t clearly do that, so the second has an extra “li” just before “piri”. Feedback would like to assure readers that they have been given harsh stories.
In the process of verifying that I actually misspelled Floccinaucinaucinihi Lipilification, the feedback entered two versions into popular search engines. The correct version brought up dictionary entries as highlighted responses. The wrong version brought up our article (embarrassing). Above that was an AI summary of the fake words. This is the opening line:
“Flocsinisia is a long term meaning to view something as unworthy or trivial. It was the longest word in the Oxford English Dictionary until 1982. Flocsinisia is a 29-letter word with 12 syllables. It contains nine me, but no e.”
Unlike AI, readers who can count to 29 will notice everything that claims that the number of letters and syllables is wrong. Feedback is proud to contribute to the continuous pollution of our information ecosystems in our own small ways.
Unsafe date
Like many others in life, dating is becoming a micro-target. You can also use huge apps like Tinder, but there is also an increasing number of dating sites that have never been seen before.
Perhaps all niches are aimed at people who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19. Or, more precisely, “We don’t support any kind of vaccination, but the raw treatment is specifically tailored to non-vaccination or mRNA-based injections for Covid-19.”
Feedback has many questions about uninjected, the most pressing of which is how does the company decide who can participate? Perhaps this is so basic, so there’s no need to say it, but it can’t prove to be negativity.
After scrutinizing the site’s FAQ, we found the answer. [sic] We have a foundation of trust and we operate in an honorary system. However, we recommend “Raw Verified” upgrades for those who want the most security and security when selecting a future partner. The untreated verified member has proven vaccinated via affidavit. “Like Sars-Cov-2, love is in the air.
Have you talked about feedback?
You can send stories to feedback by email at feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week and past feedback can be found on our website.
Entomologists describe a new species of the Tiger swallow (genus genus) Papirio) From eastern North America.
Papilio Sorstian: (a) male, holotype and (b) female, arotype. Scale bar – 10 mm. Image credit: Derotler et al. , doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1228.142202.
Papirio It is a large genus of swallowtail butterflies within the family Papillonidae.
The only representative of the Papillionini family, the genus contains about 200 scientifically recognized species.
Newly identified members of the genus Papilio Sorstianbelongs to North America Papilio Glaucus Species group.
” Papilio Glaucus The group is a model research system for insect evolutionary biology. ” Dr. B. Christian Schmidt Arknides, nematodes and colleagues wrote on paper from the Canadian National Insect Collection.
“Recognition and boundaries” Papilio Glaucus and Papilio canadensis Three decades of study in speciation, host plant adaptation, hybridization, and molecular evolution have been conducted as a pair of classical sibling species. ”
“Recently, we have discovered a third species. Papilio appalachiansisprovided unprecedented insights into speciation by hybridization. ”
” Papilio Glaucus The group is primarily part of the clades of the subgenos of the New World clades on a large scale Pterourussometimes recognized as a distinct genus,” they added.
“The various within the group demonstrate adaptation to a variety of thermal niches that are warmly characterized (Papilio Glaucus), intermediate (Papilio appalachiansis), and cool (Papilio canadensis) Climate region; all have a wide larval host plant diet and are not limited by its distribution. ”
Papilio Sorstian It is closely related to these three species, but unlike all of the series of characters.
“The most important differences are evident in developmental biology and biology,” the researchers wrote.
“Papilio Sorstian Compared to May for all other species, it is unique during long delays in appearance after adult escape, starting from late June to early July to late June to early July. ”
Papilio Sorstian'The geographical range is Papilio Glaucus The southern end of Papilio canadensis.
“Core Range Papilio Sorstian It includes eastern and south-central Ontario, northern and central New York, and adjacent Vermont, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.2The scientist wrote in his paper.
“In New York Papilio Sorstian He lives in most of the states except the Southeast and New York City metropolitan areas. ”
“In Canada, Papilio Sorstian It extends westward from Montreal, Quebec, to the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario and south to the Niagara region. ”
“The western limits seem to be on the east coast of Lake Huron. We haven’t seen any verifiable specimens of the west there.”
“Current evidence is consistent with the possibility Papilio Sorstian There is a recombinant evolutionary origin of Papilio appalachiansisThey added.
“However, the evolutionary origin of this kind, Papilio Glaucus-complex, I still can’t answer. ”
“Recognizing and defining the taxonomic identity of this unique evolutionary lineage is our hope to provide a staging point on the fertile grounds for future research.”
CJ Derotler et al. 2025. A mysterious new species of the tiger swallow (Capidae, Papillonidae) in eastern North America. Zookeys 1228:69-97; doi:10.3897/zookeys.1228.142202
Google’s AI “co-scientists” is based on the company’s Gemini major language model
Raa/Nurphoto/Shutterstock
Google has announced an experimental artificial intelligence system that uses advanced reasoning to help scientists integrate vast amounts of literature, generate new hypotheses, and propose detailed research plans. “Idea with [the] “AI co-scientists” is about giving scientists a superpower,” says Alan Karthikesalingam of Google.
The tool, which has not yet been officially named, is based on Google’s Gemini major language model. When researchers ask questions or specify goals, they come up with their first idea within 15 minutes, for example, to find a new drug. According to Google’s Vivek Natarajan, several Gemini agents “discuss” these hypotheses with each other, ranking them over the next hours and days, and improving them.
During this process, agents can search the scientific literature, access databases, and use tools such as Google’s AlphaFold system to predict protein structure. “They constantly refine ideas, discuss ideas, criticize ideas,” says Natarajan.
Google has already made the system available to several research groups and has released a short paper explaining its use. The teams who tried it were keen on the possibilities, and these examples suggest that AI co-scientists can help integrate their findings. However, whether the example supports the claim that AI can generate new hypotheses is debatable.
For example, Google says a team used the system to find a “new” method of potentially treating liver fibrosis. However, drugs proposed by AI have been previously studied for this purpose. “It is well established that all identified drugs are anti-fibrotic.” Stephen O’Reilly at the UK biotechnology company Alcyomics. “There’s nothing new here.”
The potential use of this treatment is not new, but team members Gary Peltz at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, two of the three drugs selected by AI co-scientists showed promise in testing for human liver organoids, while the two he selected were both his. There is no growing evidence supporting a choice. Peltz says Google gave him a small amount of money to cover the costs of the test.
In another paper, Jose Penades Imperial College London and his colleagues explain how co-scientists proposed hypotheses that matched unpublished findings. He and his team are studying mobile genetic elements that can move between bacteria – bits of DNA that can move between bacteria – mobile gene elements. Some mobile genetic elements hijack the bacteriophage virus. These viruses consist of a DNA-containing shell and a tail that binds to specific bacteria and injects DNA into IT. Therefore, if the element can enter the shell of a phage virus, you can ride another bacteria for free.
One mobile genetic element creates its own shell. This type was particularly popular and confused Penade and his team. The answer they discovered recently is that these shells can connect with different phage tails, allowing mobile elements to enter a wide range of bacteria.
The discovery was still unpublished, but the team asked AI co-scientists to explain the puzzle. The number one suggestion was to steal a different phage tail.
“We were shocked,” Penades says. “I sent an email to Google. I can access the computer. Is that right? Otherwise, I can’t believe what I’m reading here.”
However, the team released a paper supplied to the system in 2023 – how this family of mobile genetic elements “It steals the tail of a bacteriophage and spreads naturally.” at the time, researchers thought that the elements were limited to obtaining tails from phages that infect the same cell. Only later they discovered that elements can pick up tails floating outside the cell.
So one explanation of how AI co-scientists came up with the correct answer is that they missed the obvious limitation that stopped humans from getting it.
What’s clear is that instead of coming up with a whole new idea, you’re given everything you need to find the answer. “Everything was already public, but it was publicly available on different bits,” Penades says. “The system was able to put it all together.”
The team tried other AI systems already on the market, but none of them came up with an answer, he says. In fact, some people didn’t manage it even when they gave the answer to a paper explaining it. “This system suggests something you’ve never thought of,” says Penades, who hasn’t received funding from Google. “I think it’s going to change the game.”
It becomes clearer over time whether it really changes the game. There’s a mix of Google’s track record when it comes to claiming AI tools to help scientists. Its Alphafold system withstands hype and won the team behind it a Nobel Prize last year.
Despite his discoveries, Palgrave believes that AI can help scientists. “In general, I think AI has a huge amount of contributions to science when implemented in collaboration with experts in their respective fields,” he says.
Geoscientists at the University of Southern California, the University of Los Angeles, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Cornell University, the Institute of Geology at the University of Utah and the University of Utah have said they have detected structural changes near the center of the Earth.
The inner core of the Earth was previously thought to be solid. Image credit: USC Graphics/Edward Sotero.
Professor John Vidale, a researcher at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, said:
“What we discovered is evidence that the surface near the inner core of the Earth is undergoing structural changes.”
Located 5,000 km (3,000 miles) on the surface of the Earth, the inner core is fixed by gravity within the outer core of the molten liquid. Until now, the inner core was widely considered to be a solid sphere.
“The original purpose was to further diagram the deceleration of the inner core. However, when I was analyzing decades of earthquake records, one dataset of seismic waves remained. It was strangely distinctive from that,” Dr. Vidale said.
“Later I realized I was staring at evidence that my inner core was not solid.”
In this study, the authors recorded seismic waves recorded by Yelson and Yellow Knife Receber Array Stations in North America from repeated seismic pairs in the North-South Sandwich Islands between 1991 and 2023.
One dataset of seismic waves from the latter station contained non-characteristic properties that researchers have never seen before.
“The dataset initially confused me,” Dr. Vidale said.
It was not revealed that seismic waveforms represent additional physical activity in the inner core until the team improved their resolution techniques.
Physical activity is best described as a temporal change in the shape of the inner core.
New research shows that surfaces near the inner core can undergo viscous deformation, altering their shape and shifting at the shallow boundary of the inner core.
The most obvious cause of structural changes is the interaction between the inner and outer cores.
“It is widely known that the melted outer core is a turbulent flow, but that turbulence has not been observed to contiguously contiguously to the inner core of the human timescale,” Dr. Vidale said. Ta.
“The first thing we're looking at in this study is the outer core that probably disrupts the inner core.”
“This discovery could open the door to uncover previously hidden dynamics deep within the Earth's nucleus, and lead to a better understanding of the Earth's thermal and magnetic fields.”
study Published in the journal Natural Earth Science.
____
Je Vidale et al. Variations in annual scales at both rotation speed and surfaces near the inner core of the Earth. nut. GeosciPublished online on February 10th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01642-2
It is not unusual for the Earth’s core to experience changes in its rotational speed and shape over time. However, recent research has revealed some unexpected developments.
Scientists have been debating the reasons behind peculiar alterations in seismic waves caused by earthquakes. One side argues that changes in the rotational speed affect the travel time of the waves, while the other side suggests that alterations in the shape of the inner core are responsible. A new study published in Natural Earth Science by Chinese and US scientists indicates that it could be a combination of both factors.
The study reveals that in 2010, the Earth’s inner core started to rotate faster than other planets, potentially impacting seismic waves with changes near the surface of the core. These waves, similar to X-rays, provide insights into the planet’s interior. The findings are expected to provide more information about the core’s properties and structure.
“These findings present observable changes that offer a clearer understanding of how the inner core evolves over a few years. There could be more surprises in store,” said Professor John Emilio Vidale, the lead author of the study, to BBC Science Focus.
The Earth’s core is almost as hot as the sun’s surface and is located approximately 6,500 km (4,000 miles) below the Earth’s surface, with pressure exceeding that of the deepest ocean depths. Due to these extreme conditions, direct exploration of the core is not feasible.
Scientists rely on seismic waves generated by earthquakes to study the core. By analyzing how these waves travel through different layers of the Earth, including the core, scientists can gain a better understanding of its structure and movement.
In this recent research, the team focused on seismic waves from 121 repeat earthquake pairs in the South Sandwich Islands between 1991 and 2023. By examining changes in the arrival times and waveforms of these signals over decades, the team identified minor shifts in core movement.
These findings revealed interesting trends in the Earth’s inner core. It rotated faster than the mantle and crust for decades before slowing down around 2010. However, some earthquakes showed no significant time shifts, indicating occasional pauses or reversals in rotations.
The study also made secondary findings, suggesting that factors other than rotation might be affecting the inner core. The team believes that viscous transformations near the inner core’s boundary could be influencing its behavior.
While this behavior may appear unstable, further data is needed to confirm its normality and deepen our understanding of how the Earth’s core functions.
According to Vidale, the simplest explanation is that the movement of the outer core initiates rotations in the inner core, readjusting its position over decades. However, the exact mechanisms behind these adjustments remain uncertain.
“The inner core’s movements may not follow a harmonious pattern, as they seem to align with the outer core’s movements,” he explained.
While this study presents intriguing insights into the Earth’s core behavior, it could pave the way for more discoveries in the future. Vidale suggests that further analysis may reveal more about the core’s activity and its potential impact on Earth’s magnetic field and other phenomena.
This could help researchers understand unpredictable occurrences that may affect satellite operations and compass readings, although they may not have a direct impact on daily life.
About our experts
John Vidale is a professor of Earth Sciences and Dean at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on earthquakes, the Earth’s structure, volcanoes, and seismic hazards. Vidale has held various roles in earthquake research institutions and warning systems, contributing significantly to our understanding of seismic events.
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