Scientists showcase innovative self-assembling electronics technology

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New proof of concept workpublished in a magazine materials horizonpaving the way for self-assembly of more complex electronic devices without relying on existing computer chip manufacturing techniques.

Bottom-up nano-to-microfabrication is of critical importance in modern electronics and optics. However, conventional multiscale array manufacturing techniques face the challenge of reconciling the conflict between the pursuit of better device performance and lower manufacturing costs and/or energy consumption. Chan others. We introduce a facile method for fabricating mixed-metal arrays based on directed self-assembly in which organometallic adducts derived from passivating oxides of ternary liquid metals are polymerized to fabricate mixed-metal wires. Image credit: Julia Chan.

“Existing chip manufacturing techniques involve many steps and rely on highly complex technology, making the process costly and time-consuming,” said Martin Tuo, a professor at North Carolina State University.

“Our self-assembly approach is significantly faster and cheaper.”

“We also demonstrated that this process can be used to tune the bandgap of semiconductor materials and make the materials responsive to light. This means this technique can be used to create optoelectronic devices. ”

“Furthermore, current manufacturing techniques have low yields, resulting in a relatively large number of unusable and defective chips being produced.”

“Our approach is high-yielding, meaning we produce arrays more consistently and with less waste.”

“We call this new self-assembly technique the directed metal-ligand (D-Met) reaction. Here's how it works,” he added.

“We start with liquid metal particles. In our proof-of-concept work, we used field metals, which are alloys of indium, bismuth, and tin.”

“Liquid metal particles are placed next to a mold and can be made into any size or pattern. A solution is then poured into the liquid metal.”

“The solution contains molecules called ligands, which are made up of carbon and oxygen.”

“These ligands collect ions from the surface of the liquid metal and hold them in a specific geometric pattern.”

“The solution flows across the liquid metal particles and is drawn into the mold.”

As the solution flows into the mold, the ion-containing ligands begin to assemble, forming more complex 3D structures.

Meanwhile, the liquid part of the solution begins to evaporate, which causes the complex structures to become more and more tightly packed into the array.

“Without a type, these structures can form somewhat chaotic patterns,” Professor Tusiad says.

“But because solutions are constrained by type, structures form in predictable, symmetrical arrangements.”

“Once the structure reaches the desired size, we remove the mold and heat the array.”

“This heat causes the ligand to decompose, liberating carbon and oxygen atoms.”

“Metal ions interact with oxygen to form semiconducting metal oxides, and carbon atoms form graphene sheets.”

“These components form an ordered structure consisting of semiconducting metal oxide molecules wrapped in graphene sheets.”

Professor Thuo and his colleagues used this technique to create nanoscale and microscale transistors and diodes.

“Graphene sheets can be used to tune the bandgap of a semiconductor, making the semiconductor more or less responsive depending on the quality of the graphene,” said Dr. Julia Zhang, a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University. Ta.

Additionally, the researchers used bismuth in their proof-of-concept work, which allowed them to create photoresponsive structures.

This allows the authors to use light to manipulate the properties of semiconductors.

“The nature of D-Met technology means that these materials can be manufactured on a large scale, limited only by the size of the molds used,” Professor Thuo said.

“By manipulating the type of liquid used in the solution, the dimensions of the mold, and the rate of evaporation of the solution, we can also control the semiconductor structure.”

“In short, we have shown that highly structured and highly tunable electronic materials can be self-assembled for use in functional electronic devices.”

“This research demonstrated the creation of transistors and diodes.”

“The next step is to use this technology to create more complex devices, such as 3D chips.”

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Julia J. Chan others. guided infinitely Assemble mixed metal oxide arrays from liquid metals. materials horizonpublished online on November 25, 2024. doi: 10.1039/D4MH01177E

This article is a version of a press release provided by North Carolina State University.

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists find a new exoplanet in Kepler-51 system

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Kepler-51 is a 500-million-year-old G-type star that hosts four low-density planets. new paper Published in astronomy magazine.

This diagram shows the Kepler-51 planetary system. Image credit: NASA / ESA / L. Hustak, J. Olmsted, D. Player & F. Summers, STScI.

Kepler-51 It is located approximately 2,615 light years away in the constellation Cygnus.

The star, also known as KOI-620, was already known to host three Saturn-sized “superpuff” exoplanets: Kepler-51b, c, and d.

First discovered by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope in 2012, these worlds have orbital period ratios close to 1:2:3 (45, 85, and 130 days, respectively).

It is several times more massive than Earth and has a hydrogen/helium atmosphere.

“Superpuff planets are very unusual in that they have very low masses and very low densities,” says Penn State astronomer Jessica Libby Roberts.

“The three planets known so far orbiting the star Kepler-51 are about the same size as Saturn, but only a few times the mass of Earth, making them as dense as cotton candy. ”

“We think they have small cores and huge atmospheres of helium hydrogen, but we don't know how these strange planets formed and how their atmospheres developed. It remains a mystery why the star was not blown away by the intense radiation of the young star.

“We had planned to use Webb to study one of these planets to answer these questions, but now we have to describe the fourth, low-mass planet in the system.”

To examine evidence of Kepler-51e, the fourth planet in the system, astronomers conducted extensive passes over 14 years from a variety of facilities, including the Webb, Apache Point Observatory telescopes, and Penn State Davey Laboratory telescopes. We utilized a timing dataset.

“We conducted a so-called 'brute force' search, testing different combinations of planet properties to find a four-planet model that explains all transit data collected over the past 14 years.” said Kento Masuda, an astronomer at Osaka University.

“We found that the signal is best explained if Kepler-51e has a mass similar to the other three planets and follows a fairly circular orbit of about 264 days. That's to be expected.”

“Other possible solutions we've found include larger planets in wider orbits, but we think that's unlikely.”

It is unclear whether Kepler-51e is also a superpuff planet, as researchers have not observed Kepler-51e transiting the Sun and therefore cannot calculate its radius or density.

According to the team, a wide range of demographics (

“Superpuff planets are fairly rare, and when they do occur, they tend to be unique in planetary systems,” said Penn State astronomer Jessica Libby Roberts.

“If explaining how three superpuffs formed in one star system wasn't enough of a challenge, now we have to explain a fourth planet, whether it's a superpuff or not. And we can't rule out the possibility that there are more planets in this system.”

“Kepler-51e's orbit is slightly larger than Venus and just inside the star's habitable zone, so there could be a lot more going on beyond that distance if we take the time to look.”

“Continuing to observe variations in transit timing could help us discover planets further away from their stars, which could aid in the search for planets that may harbor life.”

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Kento Masuda others. 2024. The fourth planet in the Kepler-51 system revealed by fluctuations in transit timing. A.J. 168, 294; doi: 10.3847/1538-3881/ad83d3

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists uncover mysteries of quantum entanglement in proton particles

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Physicists have discovered a new way to look inside protons using data from smashups of high-energy particles. Their approach uses quantum information science to map how the tracking of particles flowing from electron-proton collisions is affected by quantum entanglement inside the protons. As a result, it became clear that quarks and gluons, the basic building blocks of the proton’s structure, are affected by so-called quantum entanglement.

Data from past proton-electron collisions provide strong evidence that proton quarks and gluon oceans are entangled, which plays a key role in strong force interactions. There is a possibility that there are. Image credit: Valerie Lentz / Brookhaven National Laboratory.

“Until we did this work, no one had observed the internal entanglement of protons in experimental high-energy collision data,” said Brookhaven Laboratory physicist Zhoudunming (Kong) Tu. states.

“For decades, we have had the traditional view of the proton as a collection of quarks and gluons, and we have had many questions about how the quarks and gluons are distributed within the proton, so-called single particles. The focus has been on understanding the nature of

“Now that we have evidence that quarks and gluons are entangled, this situation has changed. We have a much more complex and dynamic system.”

“This latest paper further deepens our understanding of how entanglement affects the structure of protons.”

“Mapping the entanglement between quarks and gluons inside the proton provides insight into other complex questions in nuclear physics, such as how parts of the larger nucleus affect the proton’s properties. There is a possibility that

“This will be one of the focuses of future experiments at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC), a nuclear physics research facility scheduled to open at Brookhaven Laboratory in the 2030s.”

In their study, Dr. Tu and his colleagues used the language and equations of quantum information science to predict how entanglement would affect particles flowing from collisions between electrons and protons.

Such collisions are a common approach to probing the structure of protons, most recently performed at the Hadron Electron Ring Accelerator (HERA) particle collider in Hamburg, Germany, from 1992 to 2007, and were used to investigate the future EIC. Experiments are also planned.

The equation predicts that if quarks and gluons are entangled, it can be revealed from the entropy of the collision, or disorder.

“Think of a child’s cluttered bedroom with laundry and other things strewn about. Entropy is very high in that cluttered room,” Dr. Tu said.

Calculations show that protons with maximally entangled quarks and gluons (high “entanglement entropy”) should produce a large number of particles with a “random” distribution (high entropy).

“For maximally entangled quarks and gluons, a simple relationship exists that predicts the entropy of particles produced in high-energy collisions,” says the theory, which is affiliated with both Brookhaven Institute and Stony Brook University. said Dr. Dmitri Kharziyev of the house. .

“In our paper, we used experimental data to test this relationship.”

The scientists started by analyzing data from proton-proton collisions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, but they also wanted to look at “cleaner” data produced by electron-proton collisions. .

Physicists have cataloged detailed information from data recorded from 2006 to 2007, including how particle production and distributions change, as well as a wide range of other information about the collisions that produced these distributions. It became.

When we compared the HERA data with the entropy calculations, the results were in perfect agreement with our predictions.

These analyzes, including the latest results on how the particle distribution changes at different angles from the point of collision, provide strong evidence that quarks and gluons inside the proton are maximally entangled .

“Unraveling the entanglement between quarks and gluons reveals the nature of their strong force interactions,” Dr. Kharziyev said.

“It could provide further insight into what confines quarks and gluons inside protons, one of the central questions in nuclear physics investigated at the EIC.”

“Maximum entanglement inside the proton appears as a result of strong interactions that produce large numbers of quark-antiquark pairs and gluons.”

of the team work appear in the diary Report on advances in physics.

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Martin Henczynski others. 2024. QCD evolution of entanglement entropy. Progressive member. physics 87, 120501; doi: 10.1088/1361-6633/ad910b

This article is based on a press release provided by Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Source: www.sci.news

Collaboration of Scientists to Solve the Mystery of the World’s Rarest Whale

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The rarest whale in the world, known as the Spade whale, has only been seen seven times. Very little is known about this mysterious species. A group of scientists and cultural experts from New Zealand recently gathered around the nearly perfectly preserved Spade whale to unravel its decades-old mystery.

“Words cannot articulate how extraordinary this is,” exclaimed Anton van Heerden, a senior marine science adviser at the New Zealand Conservation Service, who named the whale to distinguish it from others. He added, “For me personally, it’s unbelievable.”

Van Helden has been studying beaked whales for 35 years, and Monday marked his first time participating in a dissection of the whale. This is also the first time in history that this creature, found dead on a New Zealand coast in July, has been carefully examined.

No one has ever witnessed a Spade whale alive at sea.

A rare whale washed ashore on New Zealand’s South Island in July.
New Zealand Department of Conservation/AFP – Getty Images File

Researchers at the Agricultural Research Center near Dunedin are studying the 5-meter (16-foot) male whale in hopes of uncovering more information over the next week.

Van Heerden mentioned the possibility of a parasite unknown to science living inside the whale, as well as the mystery surrounding how this species communicates and eats.

Only six other Spade whales have been found, all buried before DNA testing could confirm their identities.

New Zealand has been a hotspot for whale strandings, with the first Spade whale bones discovered in 1872. DNA sequencing confirmed the species in 2002, but its extinction was unclear until two whales washed up dead in 2010.

During the dissection, the researchers worked respectfully alongside the indigenous Maori people, who consider whales as precious treasures. Traditional beliefs and practices were observed throughout the process.

After the dissection, the whale’s jawbone and teeth will be stored by the Maori tribe and replicated using 3D printing technology.

Spade-toothed whales are believed to inhabit the South Pacific Ocean, one of the deepest oceanic regions, making them even more enigmatic.

Anatomist Joy Lydenberg from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York expressed interest in understanding the life of these whales rather than just their cause of death, hoping to find insights applicable to humans.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

As hurricane season wraps up, scientists explore surprising trends

Posted on November 30, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Saturday.
The pattern of activity surprised forecasters. The season was busy early on, with strong storms occurring later in the season, but quiet during what is normally considered the peak period.
Climate change has most likely caused the observed storms to become more intense.

A bizarre and devastating hurricane season officially came to an end Saturday, and forecasters are looking into its many surprises.

Philip Klotzbach, a Colorado State University meteorologist who specializes in Atlantic hurricane forecasting, said, “Every year there are one or two things that bother me, but this year there were more than usual.” he said.

Most forecasters are predicting a very active hurricane season as early as April, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its best forecast ever.

In the end, there were 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes. Although this was at the low end of the range most forecasters expected, it was still above normal and a “very active” season.

What surprised researchers was how strange the season unfolded. It got off to a roaring start in June when Hurricane Beryl became the first Category 5 storm to be observed in the Atlantic Ocean. But from mid-August to early September, everything went quiet. The season typically reaches its peak around September 10th. But it was the first time since 1968 that no named storm formed during those weeks.

Just when researchers thought their predictions were wrong, storm activity picked up again and Hurricanes Helen and Milton struck, causing billions of dollars in damage.

Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Gulf of Mexico on October 8th.
NOAA/NESDIS/Star

“The normal seasonal cycle has been reversed,” Klotzbach said. “What was striking to me was that it was like a switch was flipped, completely off, then completely on. For Helen, nothing happened, and for East Atlantic and Milton, The storm continued.”

Researchers are studying what causes this strange pattern to better understand the factors that cause hurricanes and improve future predictions.

Researchers predicted this spring's hurricane season would be busy and dangerous because of record-high ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and the possibility that La Niña, a pattern of natural fluctuations, could take hold. Ta. Ocean heat provides fuel for hurricanes and can intensify them faster. La Niña is associated with hurricanes because it often reduces atmospheric stability.

“Early on, we thought it was going to be our busiest season on record,” Klotzbach said.

Although ocean temperatures remained at or near record highs in the North Atlantic, La Niña events did not develop as strongly, said Matthew Rosen, chief hurricane forecaster at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. Krans said.

A combination of other factors most likely contributed to the alarming stagnation in activity.

Approximately 60% of hurricanes occur as a result of Africa's tropical monsoon season. draws moisture into an area called the Sahel. However, this year's monsoon developed elsewhere.

“The monsoon reached so far north and was so strong that it reached areas that hadn't had rain in 45 years,” Rosencrans said, adding that this change had weakened the development of tropical cyclones. Ta.

Rosencrans said another climate pattern, called the Madden-Julian Oscillation, a group of storms that pass near the equator, also likely contributed, with storm development slowing in early September and then later in the month. It is said that hurricanes are starting to occur.

Researchers will spend the winter examining which factors had the most influence through climate and weather models.

“This is an opportunity to learn, to observe systems and let the Earth teach us something new,” he said.

Despite a mid-season interruption due to a tropical storm, 2024 set several records. According to a review published by Klotzbach, five hurricanes have made landfall in the continental United States, tied for the second-highest number in history.

Destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen's flooding in Batcave, North Carolina, on October 8.
Tama Mario/Getty Images File

On September 28, heavy rains from Hurricane Helen caused record flooding and damage in Asheville, North Carolina.
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images File

Helen was the most powerful hurricane to hit Big Bend, Florida. Since September 25th, seven hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic Ocean, the most on record.

Hurricane Milton set a record for tornado warnings in Florida, spawning dozens of tornadoes.

Research suggests climate change has worsened Helen and Milton's symptoms. Both hurricanes underwent a rapid intensification process, with their sustained wind speeds increasing by at least 35 miles per hour over a 24-hour period. This trend is becoming more common as global temperatures rise.

Additionally, scientists studying the effects of climate change on weather have discovered that: Rainfall amounts for single-day events like Milton are currently about 20% to 30% higher due to climate change.. Researchers, in collaboration with the World Weather Attribution project, determined that Milton's wind speeds were likely 10% stronger due to the effects of climate change. The group had similar results during Hurricane Helen.

A destroyed home in Lakewood Park, Florida, on October 10th.
Giorgio Vieira/AFP – Getty Images File

According to a report published by Climate Central, a nonprofit organization that tracks climate change, all 11 of this year's Atlantic hurricanes An additional 9 to 28 miles per hour due to human-induced global warmingmainly due to the record-breaking warmth of the ocean.

Rosenkrans said research generally does not suggest that the number of named storms (winds of 39 miles per hour or more) will change with climate change. However, a larger proportion of named storms are expected to become hurricanes, with the majority of those hurricanes reaching Category 4 or 5. That was the case this year as well.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Scientists successfully capture the first baleen whale for hearing study

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists recently performed a groundbreaking test on a baleen whale to assess its hearing abilities. This controversial step is bringing scientists closer to understanding how the largest and most intelligent creatures on Earth perceive the world.

In 2023, researchers captured two young minke whales off the coast of Norway, attached electrodes to their skin using suction cups, and measured their brain waves while playing tones at various frequencies. The young whales were both over 12 feet long and weighed around one ton each.

The findings of the research, published in Science on Thursday, surprised whale researchers by suggesting that whales have the ability to hear much higher frequencies than previously thought, exceeding the hearing capabilities of most mammals, including humans.

Dorian Hauser, the study’s lead author and director of conservation biology at the National Marine Mammal Foundation, described the discovery as “a little shocking.” He explained that whales have ultrasonic hearing, likely to detect killer whales, their primary predators, as they hunt prey using echolocation signals in a similar frequency range.

The startling revelation comes at a time of increasing concern over the impact of ocean noise from sources like naval sonar, oil and gas exploration, and shipping traffic, which can alter marine mammal behavior, cause hearing loss, and even lead to death. This new information may lead to revising regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and restricting certain activities.

Susan Parks, a biology professor at Syracuse University, stated, “High-frequency sound from ocean activities has not typically been considered a threat to baleen whales, but this may now need to be reevaluated,” as mentioned in the study.

The research concluded a longstanding disagreement in the whale research community. Previously, baleen whales were never captured for hearing tests due to safety concerns for both the whales and researchers, given their large size.

Certain scientists and activists opposed the four-year Minke Whale Hearing Project, fearing the whales could experience stress and even mortality during brief captivity. The project faced criticism, with organizations like Whale and Dolphin Conservation advocating against it in an open letter to the Norwegian government.

The hearing abilities of the largest whale species on Earth have long been a mystery due to the limitations of studying these massive creatures in captivity. However, through innovative methods like the Minke Whale Hearing Project, researchers are making strides in understanding how these animals experience the world through sound.

Brandon Southall, a scientist involved in developing standards for ocean sound exposure, believes that the research could influence future regulations to protect marine mammals from harmful underwater noise sources. He emphasized the importance of conducting such studies carefully and professionally to guide conservation efforts.

While the Minke Whale Hearing Project is currently on hold, researchers hope to continue the exploration of these fascinating creatures’ hearing abilities should further funding become available.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Scientists uncover innovative method to transform carbon dioxide into methane

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new class of atomically dispersed nickel catalysts directly converts trapped carbon dioxide (CO)₂ to methane (CH₄), according to Tomaz Neves García, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at The Ohio State University, and colleagues.

Direct electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide scavenging species, namely carbamates and (bi)carbonates, may be promising for carbon dioxide capture and conversion from point sources. Image credit: Neves Garcia others., doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c09744.

Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas responsible for most of global warming and is produced by power plants, factories, and various forms of transportation.

Typical carbon capture systems, aimed at reducing the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by separating carbon dioxide from other gases and converting it into useful products. .

However, the operation of these systems requires large amounts of energy, making this process difficult to implement on an industrial scale.

“Now we have found a way to save much of this precious energy by using a special nickel-based catalyst to convert the captured carbon dioxide directly into methane,” said Dr. Neves Garcia.

By using nickel atoms placed on a charged surface, Dr. Neves-Garcia and his co-authors were able to convert carbamates, a scavenging form of carbon dioxide, directly into methane.

They discovered that nickel atoms, an inexpensive and widely available catalyst, were very good at this transformation.

“We are producing high-energy fuels from low-energy molecules,” said Dr. Neves Garcia.

“What's so interesting about this is that while other companies are capturing, capturing and converting carbon in stages, we're saving energy by doing these steps simultaneously. is.”

Most importantly, streamlining the carbon capture process will help scientists reshape what they know about the carbon cycle and inform more complex strategies for faster and more efficient climate mitigation technologies. This is an important step to establish.

“We need to focus on minimizing the energy spent on carbon capture and conversion as much as possible,” said Dr. Neves García.

“So instead of performing all the capture and conversion steps separately, we can integrate it into one step and avoid wasted energy processes.”

“Many carbon capture methods are still in their infancy, but this is a promising field as researchers from a variety of disciplines are working on improvements.”

“Using renewable electricity to convert carbon dioxide into fuel has the potential to end the carbon cycle.”

“For example, when methane is burned to produce energy, it emits carbon dioxide, which can be captured and converted back into methane to support a continuous energy production cycle without adding to the planet's global warming burden. It may be possible.”

The study also represents the first time researchers have discovered that carbamates can be converted to methane using electrochemistry.

Many attempts have been made to convert the captured carbon dioxide into useful products, but so far most researchers have only shown the ability to produce carbon monoxide.

“Methane can be a very interesting product, but most importantly it opens the way to developing further processes to convert the captured carbon dioxide into other products” Neves Garcia said the doctor.

of the team work Published in Journal of the American Chemical Society.

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tomas neves garcia others. 2024. Integrated capture and conversion of carbon dioxide to methane with amines over single-atom nickel catalysts. J.Am. Chemistry. society 146 (46): 31633-31646;doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c09744

Source: www.sci.news

Exploring the Prospects and Pitfalls of AI Technology: Scientists Discuss the Inevitability of Fukushima

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Hosting a conference on artificial intelligence and its impact on science before the field’s first Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm seems quite fitting. This week, Google DeepMind and the Royal Society organized the AI for Science Forum in London just after AI received the Physics Prize and Google DeepMind won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

During the conference, Google DeepMind CEO, Demis Hassabis, highlighted the potential of AI to lead to a new era of discoveries and scientific advancements. However, he cautioned that AI is not a quick fix and requires precise problem identification, data collection, algorithm development, and responsible use.

Despite the optimism surrounding AI, there are concerns about its potential negative impacts, including exacerbating inequality, triggering financial crises, and posing risks like data breaches and the misuse of AI for harmful purposes.

AI has already begun revolutionizing various industries, from healthcare to materials science. The AI program AlphaFold, developed by Hassabis and John Jumper, has been instrumental in predicting protein structures for drug design, while AI-powered technologies are accelerating drug development and streamlining clinical trials.

Fiona Marshall from Novartis emphasized the role of AI in expediting drug development and gaining regulatory approval. Meanwhile, Jennifer Doudna discussed AI’s potential in making treatments more affordable and even editing microbes to reduce methane emissions from cattle.

One major challenge facing AI researchers is the lack of transparency in decision-making processes, known as the black box problem. Yet, advancements in AI technology are expected to address this issue in the near future.

Energy consumption by large AI models is a growing concern, but Hassabis believes that the benefits of AI will outweigh the energy costs. He envisions AI driving innovations in renewable energy and contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.

As the AI industry strives towards sustainability, there is a call for transformative actions to ensure AI’s development aligns with environmental and social goals.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists discover precise form of individual photon

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New research from the University of Birmingham examines the properties of photons (individual particles of light) in more detail than ever before.

Ben Yuen and Angela Demetriadou define the precise shape of a single photon. Image credit: Ben Yuen and Angela Demetriadou.

Professor Angela Demetriadou from the University of Birmingham said: “The geometry and optical properties of the environment have a significant impact on how photons are emitted, including defining their shape, color, and even the likelihood of their existence.” said.

The team's new research shows how photons are emitted by atoms and molecules and how they are shaped by their environment.

The nature of this interaction creates endless possibilities for light to exist and propagate, or travel, through the surrounding environment.

However, this infinite possibility makes modeling interactions extremely difficult, a challenge that quantum physicists have been grappling with for decades.

By grouping these possibilities into distinct sets, the authors explain not only the interaction between the photon and the emitter, but also how the energy from that interaction is transmitted far into the far field. I was able to create a model.

At the same time, they were able to use calculations to visualize the photons themselves.

“Our calculations have enabled us to transform a seemingly unsolvable problem into a computable problem,” said Dr. Benjamin Yuen from the University of Birmingham.

“And almost as a byproduct of the model, we were able to generate this image of a photon that physics had never seen before.”

This research is important because it opens new research avenues for quantum physicists and materials scientists.

Being able to precisely define how photons interact with matter and other elements of its environment allows scientists to discover ways to communicate securely, detect pathogens, control chemical reactions at the molecular level, and more. We can design new nanophotonics technologies that have the potential to change the world.

“This research will help us better understand the energy exchange between light and matter, which in turn will help us better understand how light radiates into nearby and distant environments,” Yuen said. Ta.

“A lot of this information used to be thought of as just noise, but there is so much information in it that we can now understand and use. .”

“By understanding this, we have established a foundation from which we can engineer light-matter interactions for future applications such as better sensors, improved photovoltaic cells, and quantum computing.”

of work Published in a magazine physical review letter.

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Ben Yuen and Angela Demetriadou. 2024. Precise quantum electrodynamics of synchrotron radiation environments. Physics. pastor rhett 133, 203604; doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.203604

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists use genes from pre-animal choanoflagellates to recreate mice

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Hong Kong have utilized genetic tools from single-celled organisms that share a common ancestor with animals to create mouse stem cells capable of producing fully developed mice.

Choanoflagellate Sox can induce pluripotency in mammalian cells. Image credit: Gao others., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54152-x.

Alex de Mendoza, a researcher at Queen Mary University of London, and his colleagues used genes found in choanoflagellates, single-celled organisms related to animals, to create stem cells that were then employed in giving birth to living, breathing mice.

Choanoflagellates are the closest living relatives of animals, housing genes in their genomes that support pluripotency in mammalian stem cells, including versions of Sox and POU.

This surprising discovery challenges the notion that these genes only evolved within animals.

“With the successful creation of mice using molecular tools derived from our single-celled relatives, we are witnessing an incredible continuity of function spanning nearly a billion years of evolution,” Dr. Mendoza stated.

“This research suggests that crucial genes involved in stem cell formation may have originated well before the stem cells themselves, potentially paving the way for the multicellular life we observe today,” he added.

Shinya Yamanaka, who won the Nobel Prize in 2012 for demonstrating the obtainment of stem cells from differentiated cells by expressing factors such as Sox (Sox2) and POU (Oct4) genes, highlighted the significance of the study.

In their research, Dr. de Mendoza and co-authors incorporated the choanoflagellate Sox gene into mouse cells, leading to reprogramming into a pluripotent stem cell state.

These reprogrammed cells were then injected into developing mouse embryos to assess their efficacy.

The resulting chimeric mice displayed physical attributes from both donor embryos and laboratory-derived stem cells, highlighting the essential role these ancient genes play in shaping animal development.

This study showcases how early versions of the Sox and POU proteins, known for binding to DNA and regulating other genes, were utilized by unicellular ancestors for functions critical to stem cell development and animal growth.

“Despite choanoflagellates lacking stem cells and being unicellular organisms, they possess these genes, likely governing fundamental cellular processes that multicellular animals later repurposed to construct intricate bodies,” Dr. Mendoza explained.

“This newfound insight underscores the evolutionary adaptability of genetic tools and how early life forms employed similar mechanisms for controlling cell production, even before the emergence of truly multicellular organisms,” he concluded.

“This discovery goes beyond evolutionary biology and could lead to innovative advancements in regenerative medicine.”

A paper detailing the study findings was published in Nature Communications.

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Y. Gao others. 2024. The appearance of Sox and POU transcription factors predates the origin of animal stem cells. Nature Communications 15, 9868;doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-54152-x

This article is based on a press release provided by Queen Mary University of London.

Source: www.sci.news

New Species of Gecko Discovered by Scientists in Venezuela

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

An international research team has described a new, smaller species of gecko. pseudogonad Originally from the Paria Peninsula in northeastern Venezuela.

Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus. Image credit: Shargel others., doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae120.

The newly confirmed species belong to the following: pseudogonada small genus of geckos in the family Sphaerodactylidae, containing fewer than 10 scientifically recognized species.

These creatures, better known as South American clawed geckos, Among the smallest living lizards.

named Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatusthe new species is only 6.35 cm (2.5 inches) long and has a brown color, a conical head, a long snout, and a specialized skull structure.

“Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus This is unique in craniology, and we used the term “telescope” from the literature to explain the overlap of the nasal bones, especially the premaxilla, which completely separates the nasal bones and contacts the frontal bone. '', said lead author Professor Walter Schergel. The University of Texas at Arlington and colleagues.

“The new species is also the only known species. pseudogonad The parietal bones are fused. ”

Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus The Paria Peninsula is a region that juts out into the Caribbean Sea in northeastern Venezuela and is known for its high biodiversity, moderate temperatures, and lush vegetation.It was discovered during fieldwork in the evergreen forests of the mountains of the Paria Peninsula. .

Researchers collected specimens in 2002 and again in 2014, noting the gecko's unique cranial structure, which led to further investigation.

“The Paria Peninsula, part of Venezuela's Coastal Mountains, has been a hotspot for reptile and amphibian discoveries in recent decades,” Professor Shargel said.

“The region's complex geography and climate create a diverse range of habitats that can support a wide range of species.”

“The new gecko species joins the list of reptiles found only in this region, highlighting the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts in this region.”

“This discovery not only deepened our understanding of the biodiversity of this region of Venezuela, but also highlighted the importance of preserving these unique ecosystems,” he added.

“We hope this discovery will lead to stronger conservation measures to protect the habitat of this rare species and other native species in the region.”

of the team paper Published in Zoological journal of the Linnean Society.

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Walter E. Shargel others. 2024. Morphology and molecular phylogenetics support new species of organism. pseudogonad (Squamata: Sublunar: Sphaerodactylidae) from Venezuela, with a prominent telescopic skull. Zoological journal of the Linnean Society 202 (2): zlae120;doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae120

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists may have uncovered the key to solving a significant weight loss mystery

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

When it comes to weight loss, one universal truth stands out: losing body fat is challenging, and keeping it off can be even more difficult. A recent study may shed some light on why this is the case: adipose tissue, or body fat, retains a sort of “memory” even after cells have become obese.

“This discovery potentially helps explain the changes that occur in adipose tissue during weight fluctuations,” explained Dr. Ferdinand von Mayen, an assistant professor at ETH Zurich’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.

Dr. von Mayen and his team observed transcriptional changes in human cells, which are responsible for regulating genetic material, in individuals’ adipose tissue before and after a 25 percent reduction in BMI. “We found that even after weight loss, the genetic regulation in adipose tissue did not fully return to normal, indicating that the body is programmed to regain lost weight,” he added.

While this news may be disheartening for those on a weight loss journey, Dr. von Mayen hopes that this study will help destigmatize weight fluctuations. “There is a molecular mechanism at play that influences weight regain, and it’s not simply a matter of willpower,” he emphasized.

He also stressed the importance of prevention in addressing the global obesity epidemic. “Early intervention is key, as it is much harder to lose weight once it has been gained. Implementing healthier lifestyle choices at a societal level is crucial in combating this issue,” Dr. von Mayen noted.

About our experts

Dr. von Mayen: I specialize in researching obesity and metabolic diseases at the Nutritional and Metabolic Epigenetics Laboratory at ETH Zurich.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Race is On: How Scientists are Using Drones to Track Grizzly Bears

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

TThe first time Terry Vandenbos saw a bear run away from a drone was on a spring day two years ago when he was chasing a bear himself. After seeing a grizzly bear cross a road near his property, a Montana rancher hopped in his all-terrain vehicle and planned to chase it away from his cattle if necessary.

However, when the bear was still far away from him, he began to sprint as fast as he could, looking over his shoulder, and Vandenbos also looked up. A small drone was chasing the bear overhead, its four propellers emitting a high-pitched whine as it flew toward a nearby lake.

“I don’t think I need to be here,” Vandenbos remembers thinking. He drove home. The bear never touched the cow.

At the other end of the drone was Wesley Sarmento, a grizzly bear management specialist with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP). For the past six years, he has been testing various non-lethal methods to scare bears away from human settlements. An act commonly referred to as “hazing.”

Sarmento, a doctoral student at the University of Montana, said in a study to be published in the journal Frontiers of Conservation Science that aerial drones outperformed all other hazing methods he tested in his experiments. These provide a way to keep grizzly bears away from humans that is safe for both humans and animals.

“Drones are now a tool that you can’t do your job without,” Sarmento said. “That’s how convenient it is.”

Increase in human-wildlife conflict

For nearly two centuries, prairies like those around Vanden Bosch Farm in northeastern Montana have had few large predators.

“The really good news is that we’ve done a good job recovering some of the large carnivores,” said Julie Young, a Utah State University wildlife biologist who studies ways to reduce human-wildlife conflicts.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists warn that Musk’s influence on Trump may result in more stringent regulations for AI technology

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A leading scientist who has worked closely with wealthy individuals to address the dangers of AI suggests that Elon Musk’s influence over Donald Trump’s administration could result in stricter safety standards for artificial intelligence. Concerns about AI were not a prominent feature of Trump’s campaign, but Musk’s support for AI regulation in California demonstrates his ongoing worries about the issue.

Musk has repeatedly cautioned against the uncontrolled advancement of AI, warning of potentially disastrous consequences for humanity. He has advocated for a moratorium on research into powerful AI technologies, emphasizing the need for safety standards to prevent the development of artificial general intelligence that surpasses human intelligence levels.

Max Tegmark, a professor specializing in AI at MIT, believes that Musk could influence Trump to introduce regulations that hinder the advancement of artificial general intelligence. Tegmark sees Musk’s backing of AI safety measures in California as a positive step, even though the bill was ultimately vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Musk’s early support for AI safety initiatives aligns with the efforts of Tegmark’s Future of Life Institute, which advocates for responsible technology use. Musk’s increasing wealth post-Trump’s presidency victory could further bolster his influence in shaping AI regulations.

While Musk has warned of a dystopian future controlled by AI, other experts argue that focusing on catastrophic scenarios may divert attention from immediate concerns like AI manipulation. President Trump’s administration aims to overturn AI safety measures introduced by the Biden administration, citing them as politically biased restrictions on AI development.

These measures include mandatory safety testing for high-risk AI systems that could jeopardize national security, economic stability, or public health and safety.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vital Atlantic currents at risk of collapse, warn scientists

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Overview

A recent report has highlighted the concerning state of Earth’s snow and ice, indicating that various key climate tipping points are more likely to be reached than previously thought. These include significant ice melt leading to severe sea level rise and disruptions to crucial ocean currents controlling the Atlantic heat cycle.

The report reveals alarming statistics such as Venezuela losing its last glacier this year, Greenland’s ice sheet losing an average of 30 million tons of ice per hour, and the impending collapse of Thwaites Glacier, also known as the “terminal glacier.” This collapse could potentially result in the rapid disappearance of Antarctic ice.

Compiled by over 50 leading snow and ice scientists as part of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, the report summarizes the conditions for 2024, highlighting the disastrous impact of global warming on the planet’s frozen regions.

Of particular concern is the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which could lead to drastic changes in weather patterns, such as rapid cooling in the North Atlantic and warming in the Southern Hemisphere.

Additionally, the report underscores the rising consensus among scientists that these climate tipping points are now more likely to be surpassed, with the window for mitigating actions rapidly narrowing.

The report’s release coincided with the United Nations’ COP29 climate change conference in Azerbaijan, where global leaders gathered to address pressing environmental concerns. Despite some progress, particularly in carbon credit trading, the report emphasizes that current climate policies are inadequate to meet global climate goals.

While the scientific community continues to sound the alarm about the escalating climate crisis, there are growing fears that world leaders are failing to grasp the gravity of the situation. Urgent action is needed to address the imminent threats posed by melting ice, collapsing glaciers, and disruptions in vital ocean currents.

In conclusion, the report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for decisive action to combat climate change before irreversible consequences unfold.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Scientists explore the mechanisms of DNA methylation in plants

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

DNA methylation is one of several epigenetic mechanisms important for controlling gene expression in eukaryotes.

Arabidopsis. Image credit: Carl Davies, CSIRO/CC BY 3.0.

DNA methylation is a normal biological process in living cells in which small chemical groups called methyl groups are added to DNA.

This activity controls which genes are turned on or off, which affects a variety of characteristics, including how the organism responds to its environment.

Part of this job involves silencing, or turning off, certain pieces of DNA moving around in an organism’s genome.

These so-called jumping genes, or transposons, can cause damage if left unregulated.

This entire process is controlled by enzymes, but mammals and plants have developed different enzymes to add methyl groups.

“Mammals only have two major enzymes that add methyl groups in one DNA context, whereas plants actually have multiple enzymes that do it in three DNA contexts.” said researcher Professor Xuehua Zhong. Washington University in St. Louis.

“This is the focus of our research. The question is: why do plants need extra methyltransferases?”

“A particular gene or combination of genes contributes to a particular characteristic or trait.”

“If we know exactly how they are regulated, we can find ways to innovate techniques for crop improvement.”

Professor Zhong and his colleagues focused on two enzymes specifically found in plants: CMT3 and CMT2.

Both enzymes are responsible for adding methyl groups to DNA, but CMT3 specializes in one part of DNA called CHG sequences, and CMT2 specializes in another part called CHH sequences.

Despite their functional differences, both enzymes are part of the same chromomethylase (CMT) family and have evolved through duplication events that provide plants with additional copies of genetic information.

We use a common model plant called Thale cress (Arabidopsis), the study authors investigated how these duplicated enzymes evolved different functions over time.

They found that somewhere along the evolutionary timeline, CMT2 lost the ability to methylate CHG sequences. This is because it lacks an important amino acid called arginine.

“Arginine is special because it has an electric charge,” says Jia Gwee, a graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Because it is positively charged inside cells, it can form hydrogen bonds and other chemical interactions with negatively charged DNA, for example.”

“However, CMT2 contains a different amino acid, valine. Valine is uncharged and therefore cannot recognize CHG contexts like CMT3. We think that is the reason for the difference between the two enzymes. Masu.”

To confirm this evolutionary change, the researchers used a mutation to move arginine back into CMT2.

As expected, CMT2 was able to methylate both CHG and CHH. This suggests that CMT2 is originally a duplicate of CMT3, a backup system to offload as DNA becomes more complex.

“But instead of just copying the original functionality, we developed something new,” Professor Zhong said.

This study also provided insight into the unique structure of CMT2.

This enzyme has a long, flexible N-terminus that controls the stability of its protein.

“This is one of the ways plants have evolved to increase genome stability and combat environmental stress,” Professor Zhong said.

“This feature may explain why CMT2 has evolved in plants growing in very diverse conditions around the world.”

of result Published in today’s diary scientific progress.

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Gwee Others. 2024. scientific progressin press. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr2222

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists discover 16 different types of neurons responsible for human sense of touch

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new study led by scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, Karolinska Institutet, and Linköping University has revealed a landscape view of the human sense of touch.

Somatosensory diversity arises from heterogeneous dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. However, the cell body transcriptome, a key piece of information for deciphering the function of individual human (h)DRG neurons, is lacking due to technical difficulties. In a new study, Yu others. They isolated somatic cells from individual hDRG neurons and performed deep RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to detect an average of more than 9,000 unique genes per neuron, identifying 16 types of neurons.

Humans perceive touch, temperature, and pain through the somatosensory system.

The general understanding is that there are specific types of neurons for each type of emotion, such as pain, pleasant touch, or coldness.

But new research casts doubt on that notion and shows that bodily sensations are probably much more complex than that.

“Much of the knowledge we have today about how the nervous system works comes from studies of animals,” said Dr. Wenqing Luo of the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues.

“But how similar are mice and humans, for example?”

“Many discoveries made in animal studies have not been confirmed in human studies.”

“One reason for this may be a lack of understanding of how it works in the human body.”

“We wanted to create a detailed atlas of the different types of neurons involved in somatosensation in humans and compare it with neurons in mice and the primate macaque.”

The study involved a detailed analysis of the genes used by individual neurons, so-called deep RNA sequencing.

Neurons with similar gene expression profiles were grouped as one sensory neuron type.

In this way, the researchers identified 16 unique human neuron types.

This study is the first to link gene expression and actual function in different types of neurons.

To investigate the function of neurons, the scientists used microneurography techniques to listen to the signals of one neuron at a time.

Using this technique, skin neurons in awake participants are exposed to temperature, touch, or certain chemicals, and individual neurons are “listened in” to determine how those particular neurons respond and send signals to the brain. You can find out if it is.

During these experiments, the authors made discoveries that would not have been possible if mapping the cellular machinery of different types of neurons had not given them new ideas for experiments.

One such discovery concerns a type of neuron that responds to pleasant touch.

The researchers discovered that this cell type unexpectedly responded to heat and also to capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers their heat.

Scientists were surprised that the touch-sensing neurons responded to such stimuli, since their response to capsaicin is typical of pain-sensing neurons.

Additionally, this type of neuron also responded to cooling, even though it does not produce the only protein known to date that signals the perception of cold.

This finding cannot be explained by what is known about cellular mechanisms and suggests that there are other mechanisms for detecting colds that have yet to be discovered.

The authors speculate that these neurons form an integrated sensory pathway that produces pleasurable sensations.

“We have been listening to the neural signals from these neurons for 10 years, but we knew nothing about their molecular characteristics,” said Dr. Håkan Ólausson from Linköping University.

“This study shows us what kinds of proteins these neurons express and what kinds of stimuli they can respond to, and we can now make connections between them. Moving forward.”

Another example is a type of pain-sensing neuron that conducts very rapidly and has been shown to respond to non-painful cooling and menthol.

“There is a common understanding that neurons are very specialized: one type of neuron detects cold, another type detects specific vibrational frequencies, a third type responds to pressure, and so on.” said Dr. Saad Nagy, also from Linköping University.

“That's how people often talk about it. But it turns out it's much more complicated than that.”

So how do mice, macaques, and humans compare? How similar are we? Many of the 16 types of neurons the researchers identified in their study are largely similar across species.

The biggest difference they found was that conduction in pain-sensing neurons was much faster in response to stimuli that could cause injury.

Compared to mice, humans have more pain neurons, a type of neuron that sends pain signals to the brain at high speeds.

“Our study doesn't answer why this is the case, but we have a theory,” Dr. Ólausson said.

“The fact that pain signals are emitted at a much faster rate in humans compared to mice is probably just a reflection of their body size.”

“Mice don't need such rapid neural signaling. But in humans, the distances are longer and the signals need to be sent to the brain more quickly, before reacting and withdrawing.” You will be injured.”

Regarding this research, paper in diary natural neuroscience.

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H. Yu others. Utilizing deep sequencing of single cell somatic RNA to explore the neural basis of human somatosensation. nut neurosipublished online on November 4, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41593-024-01794-1

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists release complete pea genome at chromosomal level

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A research team led by scientists at the John Innes Center sequenced and annotated the chromosome-scale genome assembly. Grass peas (Latilus sativus)is a promising legume crop that is tolerant to a wide range of stress factors and has potential for climate resilient agriculture.

Grass peas (Latilus sativus). Image credit: William Curtis / The Botanical Magazine.

Grass peas are legume crops valued for their resilience in the face of environmental stresses such as drought, flooding, and salinity.

This crop has been cultivated for at least 8,000 years. widely distributed It is cultivated in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, but most current cultivation occurs in southern Asia and the highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Widespread cultivation of peas has been hampered by toxins in the seeds and shoots. The toxin can cause a disease called neurolatyrism, which causes irreversible paralysis in malnourished people.

Another major barrier to improved crop breeding has been the lack of genomic references for the crop.

The availability of new genome sequences means researchers can use gene editing and modern breeding methods to develop grass pea varieties with improved agronomic properties and low or no toxin content. means.

This means that grass peas may be poised to make an important contribution to a more diverse and climate-resilient food system in the future.

“We hope to establish this new genome sequence as a reference genome for grass pea communities, and we are pleased to share this valuable resource for other scientists to use and learn about grass pea.” says researcher Dr. Peter Emrich. Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development and the John Innes Centre.

“As climate shocks increase, this genome allows us to unlock the secrets of grass pea's resilience, further improve this crop for farmers, and inform the development of other crops such as pea. ”

The sugar bean genome sequence, which is nearly twice the size of the human genome, was assembled from scratch and is an improvement on an earlier draft assembly of the active sugar bean line LS007.

Dr Ann Edwards, a researcher at the John Innes Center, said: “As we prepare for a future with even more climate change, we will need crops that can cope with drought, flooding and saltwater inundation.”

“This new genome sequence means we are even closer to adding grass beans to the list of future climate-smart crops.”

“This is a very exciting time to be joining the grass pea research community.”

of findings Published in a magazine scientific data.

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M. Vigroux others. 2024. Chromosome-scale reference genome of Poaceae (Latilus sativus). scientific data 11, 1035; doi: 10.1038/s41597-024-03868-y

Source: www.sci.news

Wellman from Norse Mythology identified as skeleton found in castle by scientists

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

For 800 years, he was the stuff of Norse legend.

Scientists have now revealed that skeletal remains discovered in a well at Norway’s Sverresborg Castle belong to a mysterious figure from medieval stories.

New findings using advanced DNA analysis and Published in iScience magazine On Friday, they will connect the body’s identity to a passage from a centuries-old Norse document called the Sveris Saga. It compiles various sources describing internal political struggles, or civil wars, in medieval Norway from 1130 to 1217.

Named after King Sverre Sigurdsson of Norway, the tale depicts the political conflict between the king and his arch-enemy, Eystein Erlensson, Archbishop of Nidaros.

According to this story, during a military attack in 1197 aimed at poisoning the local population’s main water source, the dead bodies, later known as the “Well Man,” were tossed into the well.

Little else is mentioned about the well man or his identity in the story.

Research project leader Mike Martin, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, told NBC News that historians are often skeptical of the historical accuracy of events described in such stories.

“This story is a blend of historical fact, narrative, political propaganda, and Old Norse religion,” he stated in an email Monday.

However, Stephen Brink, from the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Nordic, and Celtic Studies at the University of Cambridge, noted that the Sveris Saga is considered one of the most reliable historical sources because it was written during and immediately after a period of political unrest. This led to better understanding in England. He was not part of the study.

Human bones belonging to ‘Wellman’ have been sorted and cataloged.
via iScience

Human bones were initially found in the castle’s well during renovation work in 1938, but due to the outbreak of World War II at the time, researchers could only carry out visual examinations.

The remains stayed in the well for another 80 years until excavations began in 2014, led by Anna Petersen of the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage in Oslo.

By 2016, a complete skeleton was retrieved from the Sverresborg well in Trondheim, central Norway.

Recent scientific advancements have provided various advanced techniques to analyze human remains in more detail, including genetic sequencing and radiocarbon dating.

The human genome is about 99.6% similar. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), genetic variation accounts for only 0.4%.

The research team determined the genomic variation by extracting DNA from Wellman’s teeth, mandible, and maxilla.

“We had access to teeth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and research really picked up speed,” Professor Martin remarked. It took approximately six years in total to complete.

Experts suggest that this genetic research could offer insights into the remains discovered in previous archaeological excavations.

“This project demonstrates the significance of scientific archaeology, and the collaboration between archaeology and history, in today’s research, often resulting in remarkable findings like this one,” Brink remarked.

Excavation work at the site where 800-year-old ruins were discovered.
via iScience

Advancements in technology have allowed human bones to be linked to characters from Norse mythology, blurring the line between legendary myth and historical reality.

This is not the first instance where the skeletal remains of a character from a story have been uncovered.

Elizabeth Lowe, a professor of Scandinavian history at the University of Cambridge in the UK, highlights that Research published by Jesse L. Byock in 1995 presents a compelling argument for identifying the remains of the 10th-century Icelandic poet Egil Skallagrimsson, whose tale is recounted in the 13th-century Egil Saga.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Could Scientists Soon Revive the Tasmanian Tiger? Is Concern Necessary?

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists in the United States and Australia are working on bringing back the Tasmanian tiger nearly a century after their extinction. They believe that with new DNA technology and Tasmanian tiger fossils, the animal could be reintroduced into the wild.

Researchers are collaborating with Colossal Biosciences to develop a plan to revive the Tasmanian tiger. They aim to address ecological issues and consider the potential impact of resurrecting an extinct species.

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What was the Tasmanian Tiger?

The Tasmanian tiger, also known as the Tasmanian possum, resembled dogs and wolves in many ways. Its official name, Thylacine, means “dog-headed pouched animal” when translated. Despite its dog-like appearance, the marsupial was comparable in size to a golden retriever, including its long tail.

However, human misunderstanding and hunting led to the extinction of the Tasmanian tiger, with the last known species dying in a Tasmanian zoo in 1936.

Why would they want it back…?

Colossal Biosciences believes that reintroducing the Tasmanian tiger could have positive impacts on the ecosystem. Predators like the Tasmanian tiger could help control population levels of other species and prevent diseases from spreading.

Researchers suggest that the presence of Tasmanian tigers could have prevented the decline of the Tasmanian devil population, which is currently facing extinction due to facial tumor disease.

…and how?

Scientists are using DNA technology to recreate the genetic structure of the Tasmanian tiger using samples from related species. By comparing DNA sequences and making genetic edits, they hope to reconstruct the Tasmanian tiger’s genome and potentially bring it back to life.

While challenges remain in transitioning revived species from the lab to the wild, researchers are optimistic about the project’s progress.

Are we all doomed?

The implications of reintroducing extinct species like the Tasmanian tiger are still unknown. Scientists are cautious about the potential consequences on existing ecosystems and the behavior of revived animals in the wild.

Further research and monitoring will be crucial to understanding the impact of reviving extinct species and reintroducing them to their natural habitats.

What animals might come back next?

Colossal Biosciences is also working on reviving other extinct species, such as the dodo and woolly mammoth. These projects pose similar ethical and ecological challenges, but researchers are hopeful about the potential benefits of bringing back these ancient creatures.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists believe that Earth’s recent discovery of a new mini-moon indicates significant potential for space mining.

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Our planet’s new small satellite, 2024 PT5, arrived in Earth’s orbit on September 29, 2024.

2024 PT5 is scheduled to capture a temporary flyby from September 29th to November 25th in 2024. Image credit: University of Colorado.

2024 PT5 was discovered by the Asteroid Earth Impact Final Warning System in Sutherland, South Africa on August 7, 2024.

This near-Earth asteroid is about 10 meters (33 feet) in diameter and follows an orbit similar to that of 2022 NX1.

2024 PT5 will become a mini-Earth satellite on September 29 and return to heliocentric orbit 56.6 days later on November 25.

“Near-Earth objects like this offer a glimpse into the formation process of the solar system,” said astrophysicist Dr. Nico Cappellutti. University of Miami.

“Most asteroids in our solar system are rocky remnants left over from the formation of our solar system.”

2024 PT5 is part of Arjuna, an asteroid belt made up of space rocks that follow an orbit around the sun very similar to Earth’s orbit.

“So sometimes they can remain temporarily trapped in our gravitational field,” Dr. Cappellutti said.

“Bringing them this close is a fascinating opportunity.”

“The asteroid, the size of a school bus, is too faint and small to be seen with the naked eye or with amateur telescopes, but its two-month stay around Earth has reinforced our intense interest in space rocks. It helps maintain.”

Two years ago, in what was called the first test of the planetary defense system, NASA crashed a spacecraft into the giant space rock Dimorphos, which could change direction if the asteroid was on a collision course with Earth. proved something.

Private companies also want to send spacecraft to asteroids in hopes of mining the precious metals they contain.

“Asteroids are classified based on their orbits and their contents,” said Dr. Bertrand Dano, also from the University of Miami.

“Some are made entirely of stone, while others contain high concentrations of rare metals, such as platinum and gold for electronics, nickel and cobalt for catalysts and fuel cell technology, and, of course, iron.”

“Mining asteroids is not far off. There are currently millions of asteroids in our solar system, about 2 million of which are larger than 1 km.”

“The resources it contains are a new dream for El Dorado, and there are several companies currently betting on it.”

“Recent missions to rendezvous with, orbit and land on asteroids have proven that space mining may be only a matter of time.”

“However, proceeding with asteroid mining will require huge investments, from the mining equipment that needs to operate in a vacuum to the technology needed to transport the extracted minerals to Earth.”

“And then there’s the spacecraft itself. A dedicated ship that would travel to an asteroid for the purpose of extracting minerals from the asteroid would probably be a robotic ship.”

“A trip to Mars would take about eight months under the best conditions. The space and equipment needed to support life would be put to good use as storage for backup equipment and resources.”

“Because it takes a lot of energy to leave Earth’s gravity, mining missions are better launched from space or from low-gravity bodies such as the Moon, Mars, or Titan, one of Saturn’s natural moons. Sho.”

“Returning to Earth is relatively easy, but dangerous for the material. It would be a shame if all the prizes disappeared. Refining will take place in space, and purified products can be shipped regularly. As far as I know, no one is thinking that far.”

“Yet, asteroid mining could have a 100-fold or more return.”

“Mining platinum or gold from an asteroid and returning it could make you a trillionaire overnight, potentially upending entire economies, trade and markets.”

“Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson once said, ‘The first billionaire in history was the one who exploited the natural resources of asteroids.'”

Source: www.sci.news

Marine scientists uncover unique new deep-sea skater species

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Marine biologists identify new species of skate Leucolaja It lurks in the deep waters of the southwestern Indian Ocean.

brown long nose skates (Leucolaya longirostris), holotype of an adult male viewed from the dorsal side. Scale bar – 5 cm. Image credit: Weigman others., doi: 10.3390/biology13060405.

members of the genus Leucolaja A small to medium sized skate, usually with a short, obtuse snout.

To date, 14 valid species of this genus have been identified, primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, but also in the Indian Ocean.

“The 14 species currently described are Leucolaja It reaches a maximum size of 30-120 cm and is found in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. ” Dr Simon Weigman by the Leibniz Institute for Biodiversity Change Analysis and colleagues.

“Of these 12 species, Leucolaja Compagnoi and Leucolaja wallasei They also live outside the Atlantic Ocean, in continental waters in the southwestern Indian Ocean. ”

The newly discovered Leucolaja This species is the fourth known species of this genus from the western Indian Ocean.

named Leucolaya longirostris (common name is Brown Longnose Skate), apparently endemic to the Madagascar Ridge in Walters Shoals.

“In the 1970s and 1980s, researchers working on the Madagascar Ridge, a raised area of the ocean floor in the southwestern Indian Ocean, collected a total of eight rare skate specimens at depths of 750 to 1,050 meters.” biologists said.

“Despite the long snout, this specimen could definitely be assigned to the genus. Leucolaja This is due to the typical characteristics of claspers. ”

“It can be easily distinguished from all 14 congeners by its long, sharply pointed snout,” the researchers said.

“Furthermore, it appears to occur only on the Madagascar Ridge, away from the known distribution areas of all congeners, and its clasper morphology exhibits several unique aspects.”

brown long nose skates (Leucolaya longirostris), holotype of an adult male viewed from the ventral side. Scale bar – 5 cm. Image credit: Weigman others., doi: 10.3390/biology13060405.

Leucolaya longirostris These are medium-sized skates with a total length of 71.1 cm or more.

Males mature at about 60 cm. The largest known female is 70cm long. The smallest known specimen is a young female with a total length of 27.6 cm.

recognition of Leucolaya longirostris Provide new insights into morphological variation within the genus Leucolaja “This constitutes a very unusual and noteworthy addition to this genus Sketchi,” the researchers said.

“Nevertheless, the very limited distribution of this new species raises concerns about its ability to sustain fisheries, and it may be susceptible to capture in longline fisheries, particularly deep-sea trawl fisheries.”

“Although little information is available about fisheries operating in the region of the Madagascar Ridge, this deep-sea skate tolerates intensive fishing pressure, potentially due to its slow-life history characteristics and low productivity. You may not be able to.”

“Walter's Shoal has had good catches in the past and this pressure may return in the future,” they added.

“As a fishery targeting orange roughy (Hoplostessus atlanticus) and Kinmedai (Belix Decactylus) have typically used mesophoric trawls on the ocean floor, but new species may have benthic refugia. ”

“However, further research is needed to investigate its distribution, life history, population size and trends, and threats.”

“This is essential to improving data collection and research and making more effective conservation and management policy decisions.”

a paper Report findings published in journals biology.

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Simon Weigman others. 2024. Description of a noteworthy new type of skate shoe Leucolaja Malm of the southwestern Indian Ocean, 1877 (Radidae, Radidae): Introducing 3D modeling as an innovative tool for visualization of clasper characters. biology 13 (6): 405;doi: 10.3390/Biology 13060405

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists create new isotope of plutonium

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The newly discovered isotope plutonium-227 has a half-life of 0.78 seconds, according to a team of Chinese physicists.

Areas 87≤Z≤97 and 112≤N≤136 in the nuclear map show the new isotope plutonium-227 (red star) and 12 nuclides (blue stars) discovered at the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Science. Image credit: Huabin Yang.

“The magic numbers of protons and neutrons, such as 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126, are correlated with shell closure,” said Dr. Zaiguo Gan of the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. . And my colleagues.

“Previous studies have shown that the closure of the 126 neutron shell weakens persistently up to uranium, so it will be interesting to explore whether shell closure weakens in the transuranium region.”

“Through a series of experiments, we discovered that shell closure exists in neptunium isotopes.”

“However, due to the lack of experimental data, the robustness of this closure in plutonium isotopes remains unknown.”

To investigate the unknown plutonium isotope, the authors conducted experiments in the gas-filled reaction separator SHANS (Spectrometer for Heavy Atom and Nuclear Structures).

Using nuclear fusion vaporization reactions, we were able to synthesize plutonium-227, a plutonium isotope that is severely deficient in neutrons.

“Plutonium-227 is the 39th new isotope discovered by the Modern Institute of Physics,” they said.

From the nine decay chains observed, physicists determined the alpha particle energy and half-life of plutonium-227 to be approximately 8,191 keV and 0.78 seconds, respectively.

“These data are in very good agreement with the known plutonium isotope system,” they said.

The researchers now plan to examine more plutonium isotopes to gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of the shell in plutonium.

“The newly discovered plutonium-227 is still seven neutrons away from the magic number 126,” said Dr. Huabin Yang, also of the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“To study the robustness of plutonium’s shell closure, we need to continue research on lighter plutonium isotopes, including plutonium-221 to plutonium-226.”

of the team work appear in the diary Physical Review C.

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HB Yang others. 2024. Alpha decay of the new isotope 227Pu. Physics. Rev.C 110 (4): 044302;doi: 10.1103/PhysRevC.110.044302

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists unravel the composition of the unique toxin found in black widow spider venom

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Black widow spider venom contains a cocktail of seven specific latrotoxins, but only one, alpha-latrotoxin, targets vertebrates, including humans. chemist of University of Munster They have now deciphered the structure of alpha-latrotoxin before and after membrane insertion at near atomic resolution.

Cryo-EM structures of α-latrotoxin in two different tetrameric states. Image credit: Klink others., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52635-5.

Latrotoxin is the main toxic component of the venom of black widow spiders (genus). latrodectus).

The toxins include five insecticidal toxins known as α-latrotoxin, α-, β-, γ-, δ-, and ε-latroinsect toxins, which are unique to vertebrates, and one toxin that is unique to crustaceans.

“Alpha-latrotoxin interferes with nervous system signal transmission,” said researcher Björn Klinck and colleagues at the University of Münster.

“As soon as alpha-latrotoxin binds to specific receptors at the synapse (contacts between nerve cells or between nerve cells and muscles), calcium ions flow uncontrollably into the presynaptic membrane of the signal-transmitting cell.”

“This triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which causes strong muscle contractions and spasms.”

“Although this process seems simple at first glance, there are very complex mechanisms behind it.”

To better understand the mechanism of calcium influx into the presynaptic membrane, the authors used high-performance cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations.

They showed that alpha-latrotoxin undergoes significant changes when it binds to the receptor.

Some of the toxic molecules form stalks and penetrate the cell membrane like a syringe.

As a special feature, this stalk forms small pores in the membrane, which act as calcium channels.

MD simulations revealed that calcium ions can enter the cells through a selection gate on the side directly above the pore.

“This toxin mimics the function of calcium channels in the presynaptic membrane in a very complex way,” said Christos Gatsogiannis, a researcher at the University of Münster.

“Therefore, it is different in every way from any toxin known to date.”

“The new discovery opens up a wide range of potential applications.”

“Latrotoxin has considerable biotechnological potential, including the development of improved antidotes, treatments for paralysis, and new biopesticides.”

of study Published in a magazine nature communications.

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Clink BU others. 2024. Structural basis of α-latrotoxin transition to cation-selective pores. Nat Commune 15, 8551; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52635-5

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists uncover enigmatic subduction zone beneath Pacific Ocean

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

According to a team of geoscientists from the University of Maryland and the University of Maryland, between 250 million and 120 million years ago during the Mesozoic Era, the ancient ocean floor was formed by the East Pacific Rise, a plate boundary at the bottom of the southeastern Pacific Ocean. It is said to have sunk deep into the earth. University of Alberta.

A map of the East Pacific Ridge region where the ancient ocean floor was discovered. Image credit: Jingchuan Wang.

University of Maryland researcher Jingchuan Wang and his colleagues used innovative seismic imaging techniques to look deep into the Earth's mantle, the layer between the Earth's crust and core.

They discovered an unusually thick region in the mantle transition zone at depths of about 410 to 660 km below the Earth's surface.

This zone separates the upper and lower mantle and expands or contracts depending on temperature.

The newly discovered ocean floor may also explain the unusual structure of the Pacific Large Low Shear Velocity Province (LLSVP), a huge region in Earth's lower mantle. Because LLSVP appears to be divided by slabs.

“This thickened area is like a fossil fingerprint of an ancient ocean floor that sank into the Earth about 250 million years ago,” Wang said.

“This gives us a glimpse into Earth's past that we've never seen before.”

Subduction occurs when one tectonic plate slides beneath another and surface material is recycled into the Earth's mantle.

This process often leaves behind visible evidence of movement, such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and deep ocean trenches.

Geologists, on the other hand, typically study subduction by examining rock samples and sediments found at the Earth's surface.

By studying how seismic waves travel through the different layers of the Earth, researchers were able to create a detailed map of the structures hidden deep within the mantle.

“You can think of seismic imaging as similar to a CT scan. Essentially, it allows us to see a cross-section of the Earth's interior,” Dr. Wang said. .

“Typically, chunks of ocean material are completely consumed by the Earth, leaving no discernible traces on the surface.”

“But looking at ancient subducted slabs through this perspective has provided new insights into the relationship between the Earth's very deep structures and surface geology that were not previously clear.”

What the authors discovered surprised them. Matter was moving much more slowly through the Earth's interior than previously thought.

The unusual thickness of this region they found suggests the presence of cold material in this part of the mantle transition zone, where parts of the oceanic slab become stuck in the middle as they sink through the mantle. It suggests that there is.

“We found that material is sinking at about half the rate expected in this region. This may be due to the mantle transition zone acting like a barrier, slowing the movement of material through the Earth. “This suggests something,” Dr. Wang said.

“Our findings raise new questions about how the deep Earth influences what we see at the surface over vast distances and time scales.”

of result Published in a magazine scientific progress.

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Wang Jingchuan others. 2024. Intraoceanic subduction during the Mesozoic era formed the lower mantle beneath the East Pacific uplift. scientific progress 10(39);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1219

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists discover new exoplanet near Barnard Star that is smaller than Earth

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

An exoplanet with at least half the mass of Venus orbits Barnard's Star, the closest single star to the Sun, once every 3.15 days.

Artist's impression of Bernard B. Image credit: ESO / M. Kornmesser.

Barnard's Star is a 10 billion year old red dwarf star located in the constellation Ophiuchus.

At a distance of about 6 light years, it is the second closest star to the Sun after the Alpha Centauri triple star system.

The star, also known as Gliese 699 or GJ 699, is much smaller than the Sun and is classified as an M3.5 dwarf.

Despite the prospect of a “super-Earth” with a mass 3.2 times that of Earth in 2018, no planets have ever been confirmed to orbit this star.

The new exoplanet discovery is the result of five years of observations using the ESPRESSO instrument of ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the Paranal Observatory in Chile.

“We were always confident that we would find something, even if it took a long time,” said Dr. Jonay González Hernández, an astronomer at the Canarias Astronomical Institute.

The newly discovered planet, named Barnard b, is about 20 times closer to Barnard's star than Mercury is to the Sun.

It orbits its parent star in 3.15 Earth days and has a surface temperature of about 125 degrees Celsius (257 degrees Fahrenheit).

“Bernard B is one of the lowest-mass exoplanets known, and one of the few exoplanets known to have less mass than Earth,” said Dr. González-Hernández. Ta.

“But this planet is too close to its host star, closer than the habitable zone.”

“Even though this star is about 2,500 degrees cooler than the Sun, it's still too hot to support liquid water on its surface.”

In addition to the confirmed planet, astronomers also discovered hints of three more exoplanet candidates orbiting the same star.

However, additional observations are required to confirm these candidates.

“We need to continue observing this star to confirm other candidate signals,” said Dr. Alejandro Suárez Mascareño, also from the Canarias Astronomical Institute and co-author of the study.

“But the discovery of this planet, along with previous discoveries such as Proxima b and Proxima d, shows that our cosmic backyard is full of low-mass planets.”

Bernard B's findings were published in a. paper in diary astronomy and astrophysics.

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JI Gonzalez Hernandez others. 2024. A sub-Earth mass planet orbiting Barnard's star. A&A 690, A79; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202451311

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists successfully recreate Martian “spiders” in laboratory for the first time

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Martian “spiders” are small, dark, spider-shaped formations up to 1 km (0.6 miles) in diameter. The leading theory is that they form when spring sunlight hits a layer of carbon dioxide that builds up during the dark winter months. In a new experiment, a team of NASA scientists has recreated these formation processes for the first time, simulating Martian temperatures and air pressure.

Examples of “Keefer Zoo” features proposed to have formed by seasonal CO2 sublimation dynamics on Mars: (a) a “skinny” spider within layered deposits in Antarctica, (b) a dark spot on a layer of translucent CO2 slab ice covering a group of “fat” spiders in an “Inca city” on Mars, (c) a “fried egg” showing a ring of dark dust surrounded by a bright halo, (d) patterned ground within high Antarctic latitudes with dark directional fans and some bright white fans indicating wind direction, (e) a bright halo surrounding a Swiss cheese depression, (f) a “lacey topography”, a type of patterned ground suggested to be polygonal patterned ground that was later scraped and eroded by surface-flowing CO2 gas from the Keefer model. Image credit: HiRISE/NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/University of Arizona.

Today, Mars is a dynamic planet with a rich variety of surface changes, despite its thin atmosphere and cold climate.

In winter, most of Mars' mostly carbon dioxide atmosphere accumulates on the surface as frost.

In spring, it sublimates and takes on forms never seen on Earth.

These include dark Dalmatian spots, directional alluvial fans, “fried eggs”, grooves which may have dark finger-like flows or light “halos” in spring, dendritic “spiders”, sand grooves in active dunes and growing dendritic valleys.

These features have been detected in the loose material around the Antarctic and in the inter-dune material towards the mid-Antarctic latitudes, although some smaller phenomena have also been detected in the Arctic.

Many of these features make up the so-called “Kiefer zoo,” or collection of surface expressions. Explained It was first published in 2003 and was proposed to be produced by the solid-state greenhouse effect.

“In the Kiefer model, sunlight penetrates a translucent ice sheet in spring, trapping thermal radiation and heating the topsoil beneath the ice, causing the impermeable sheet to sublime from beneath,” explained Dr. Lauren McKeown of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and her colleagues.

“Through this process, the spiders are thought to be caused by high-velocity gases scraping away topsoil beneath the ice sheet, littering the ice surface with fan and patchy variations that are then deposited by dust and gas plumes.”

The study authors were able to create a complete cycle of the Kiefer model in the lab and confirm the formation of several types of Kiefer zookeeper features.

“The greatest challenge in conducting the experiment was replicating the conditions found on the polar surface of Mars, namely the extremely low air pressure and temperatures of minus 185 degrees Celsius (minus 301 degrees Fahrenheit),” the researchers said.

“To do this, we used a liquid nitrogen-cooled test chamber, the Dirty Under Vacuum Simulation Chamber for Icy Environments (DUSTIE).”

“In our experiments, we cooled a Martian soil simulant in a container submerged in a bath of liquid nitrogen.”

“We placed it in the Dusty Chamber, where the air pressure was lowered to the same as in the southern hemisphere of Mars.”

“Carbon dioxide gas was then released into the chamber, where it condensed from the gas into ice over a period of three to five hours.”

“It took a lot of trial and error before we found the right conditions to make the ice thick and clear enough for the experiment to work.”

“Once we have ice with the right properties, we place a heater in the chamber underneath the simulant to heat it up and crack the ice.”

“We were thrilled when we finally saw plumes of carbon dioxide gas coming out of the powdered simulant.”

a paper The explanation for these experiments is Planetary Science Journal.

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Lauren E. McKeon others2024. Laboratory-scale investigation of the Kiefer Model of Mars. Planet Science Journal 5, 195;doi:10.3847/PSJ/ad67c8

Source: www.sci.news

After days of observation, scientists confirm a 650-foot-high tsunami formed in Greenland.

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

summary

Seismologists detected unusual vibrations and determined that a 650-foot-high tsunami had occurred in Greenland.
The tsunami was caused by melting glacial ice that triggered landslides and washed away water in Greenland's fjords.
The waves it created continued to travel back and forth across the fjord for nine days.

Last September, seismologists around the world detected vibrations never before observed.

The monotony seemed to come from Greenland and continued for nine days.

“We saw some very strange signals at some stations in the north that we'd never seen before,” said Karl Ebeling, a seismologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.

Shortly after the vibrations began, a cruise ship sailing near a Greenland fjord noticed that a key landmark on the remote island of Ella, a scientific research and Danish military dog sled patrol base, had been destroyed.

The event drew an international group of seismologists, the Danish military and oceanographers into the mystery: what struck the island, and where did it come from?

On Thursday, the researchers They published their findings in the journal Science.The island was hit by one of the largest tsunamis on record, leaving a scar about 650 feet high.

It was the result of a rare series of cascading events caused by climate change.

The researchers traced the initial trigger to the collapse of a glacier tongue that had been thinned by rising temperatures. This destabilized the steep mountainside, sending an avalanche of rock and ice into Greenland's deep Dikson Fjord. Massive amounts of water were displaced, causing towering waves to move across the narrow fjord, about a mile and a half wide.

The tsunami, at least as high as the Statue of Liberty, surged up the steep rock faces along the fjord and, because the landslide struck the waterway at a nearly 90-degree angle, sent waves circling the channel for nine days — a phenomenon scientists call a seiche.

“No one has ever seen anything like this,” said Christian Svennevig, lead author of the study and a geologist and senior research scientist at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.

The findings are the result of a complex year-long investigation. The team determined that Ella Island, about 45 miles from the landslide site, was hit by a tsunami at least 13 feet high.

Tourists visit the island from time to time.

“The cruise ship had been docked off the coast just a few days before,” Svennevig said. “We were really lucky that no one was there when it happened.”

The seiche was the longest scientists had ever observed: Until now, tsunamis generated by landslides have typically produced waves that dissipate within a few hours.

“This is really a cascade of events that has never been observed before,” said Alice Gabriel, co-author of the study. “The Earth is a very dynamic system, and we're currently at a stage where this very delicate balance is being disrupted pretty dramatically by climate change.”

Tsunamis triggered by landslides occur more frequently than many people realize and are a danger to people living and working in some Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.

In 2017, a landslide triggered a tsunami that killed four people and destroyed 11 homes. Attacked the village of Ngaatsiaq in West GreenlandThe tsunami was estimated to be at least 300 feet high. Two villages were abandoned in the aftermath of the tsunami due to fears of further landslides, and Svennevig said hundreds of people remain evacuated.

Bretwood “Higg” Higman, an Alaska geologist who studies landslide tsunamis but was not involved in the new study, said evidence suggests landslide tsunamis are a growing problem, but more research is needed.

“I'm pretty confident that these events are becoming more and more frequent,” he said. “Exactly how frequent these events are and can we predict the future? We're not there yet.”

Higman said he thought the Greenland study's researchers were “spot on” and that the research was an important example of how dangerous landslide-induced tsunamis could be.

The Arctic and sub-Arctic regions are warming two to three times faster than the rest of the Earth. As the ice melts, the exposed, dark surface absorbs more sunlight. Warming is triggering three dynamics that could make landslides more frequent in glacial regions, Higman said.

First, rising temperatures are eroding the permafrost within rock formations, weakening slopes and making them more susceptible to collapse. Second, warming is thinning the glaciers that support the rock slopes. Without the ice, sudden collapses could occur. Third, climate change is increasing the likelihood of heavy rains, which are the biggest risk factor for landslides because saturated rocks and soils become more slippery.

Higman has compiled a list of Alaska's slopes that are at risk for landslides that could trigger tsunamis. He said there are dozens of sites of concern that need further study, some of which are near populated areas where a landslide could be catastrophic.

“We're in an awkward position: Scientists know something, but they don't know enough to provide certainty to take action,” Higman said.

Last month, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a 56-foot-high landslide tsunami in Alaska's Pedersen Lagoon. Higman visited the site and believes the tsunami was larger than initially predicted.

Globally, risks are growing due to expanding development in some polar regions and increased visitation by miners, shippers and tourists, Svennevig said.

“At the same time as the population increases, the risk of landslides, geological hazards also increases,” he said. “It's an unfortunate combination.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Here’s why scientists are attempting to coat robots with living skin

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

From the early days of robot creation, researchers have been dealing with the “uncanny valley” phenomenon, where something resembles a human but falls short of being completely realistic. A recent breakthrough involves attaching human skin to robots, creating a more lifelike appearance.

The team of researchers from the University of Tokyo, Harvard University, and the International Neurointelligence Research Center have successfully created lifelike skin for robots using live human skin cells, as detailed in a study published in the journal Cell Report Physical Sciences.

Lead author Michio Kawai explained that the skin is created by culturing skin cells from excess tissue with collagen tissue, which is then solidified around the robot using a perforated anchor structure.

Initially, they experimented with attaching skin using tiny hooks, but this caused tears. Instead, they developed a perforated anchor structure that mimics the functionality of real skin, creating a more natural appearance.

To ensure durability and flexibility, holes were drilled in the robot, collagen gel was applied, and skin was attached on top. This method aims to create robots that can self-repair surface damage and adapt to a wide range of tasks.

While the skin lacks blood vessels and must be kept moist to prevent drying out, future research aims to create pathways for nutrients and moisture within the skin tissue. Challenges such as maintaining sterile conditions during development must also be addressed.

In the quest for human-like robots, the team aims to replicate anatomical structures like glands, pores, blood vessels, fat, and nerves to achieve the perfect skin resemblance. As soft robotics technology advances, the potential applications of skin-covered robots expand to various fields.

While still in the demonstration phase for research purposes, this technology could eventually impact areas like skin aging, cosmetics, surgery, and training for surgeons. Despite the current limitations, advancements in robotic skin signal a promising future.

About our experts

Michio Kawai: A PhD student in bioengineering at Harvard University, focusing on research in Cell Report Physical Sciences, Helyon, and Case.

Shoji Takeuchi: Professor of Biohybrid Systems at the University of Tokyo, known for research in Science Robotics, Natural Chemistry, and Nature Communications.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists are worried about the changing speed of deadly, unpredictable hurricanes worldwide

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Yes, hurricanes are getting worse. While there isn’t a significant increase in the frequency of hurricanes compared to 40 years ago, there is evidence that they are becoming more intense and destructive due to climate change. In 2022, it was predicted that the Atlantic hurricane season would be exceptionally severe with storms having more energy than before because of warmer sea levels.

According to the 2021 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, North Atlantic storms are more likely to intensify into “major hurricanes,” making them harder to predict and prepare for. This intensification trend is attributed to the warmer climate.

On a scale of 1 to 5 based on maximum sustained wind speed, hurricanes are classified. Category 5 storms with wind speeds exceeding 262 km/h are the most powerful and can cause catastrophic damage. However, storms of lower categories can also be devastating, as seen with Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Climate change, by raising sea levels and affecting atmospheric conditions, is making hurricanes more destructive. The increase in extreme precipitation, slower storm movement across the Earth’s surface, and longer-lasting torrential rains are some of the impacts observed.

The forecast for the current Atlantic hurricane season suggests an above-average number of hurricanes due to the record heat in the region. The evidence points to hurricanes becoming more powerful, unpredictable, and persistent in a warmer world.

This article is a response to the question “Are hurricanes getting worse?” (asked by Johnny Adams of Peterborough).

If you have any questions, please send them to the email address below. For further information:or send us a message Facebook, Xor Instagram Page (be sure to include your name and location).

Ultimate Fun fact More amazing science pages.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Two antibiotics found in Arctic marine bacteria by scientists

Posted on August 31, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A research team from Finland and Norway has identified two candidate anti-toxic compounds against enteric pathogens. E. coli Marine actinomycete strains from the bacterial metabolite (EPEC) infection Cochlea and Rhodococcus From the Arctic Ocean.

Strain T091-5 of this genus RhodococcusImages/Photos Courtesy of: Pylkkö others., doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1432475.

“We show that advanced screening assays can identify anti-toxic and antibacterial metabolites from actinomycete extracts,” says Professor Paivi Tamela from the University of Helsinki.

“We discovered compounds in the Arctic actinomycete that inhibit virulence without affecting EPEC growth, as well as compounds that inhibit growth.”

Professor Tamera and his colleagues have developed a series of new methods that allow them to simultaneously test the antitoxic and antibacterial effects of hundreds of unknown compounds.

They targeted a strain of EPEC that causes severe, sometimes fatal, diarrhea in children under the age of 5, especially in developing countries. EPEC attaches to cells in the human intestine and causes disease.

Once EPEC attaches to these cells, it injects so-called “virulence factors” into the host cell that hijack its molecular machinery and ultimately kills the cell.

The compounds tested were extracted from four species of actinomycetes isolated from invertebrates collected in the Arctic waters off the coast of Svalbard during an expedition by a Norwegian research vessel. Cronprince Haakon August 2020.

These bacteria were cultured, the cells were extracted, and their contents were separated into fractions.

Each fraction was then tested in vitro against EPEC attached to cultured colon cancer cells.

The researchers discovered two previously unknown compounds with strong anti-toxic or anti-bacterial activity: one from an unknown strain of the genus (called T091-5); Rhodococcusand another strain from an unknown strain of this genus (T160-2). Cochlea.

These compounds exhibited two complementary biological activities.

First, it inhibits the formation of the so-called “actin pedestal” by EPEC bacteria, a key step in the attachment of this pathogen to the host intestinal wall.

The second is to block EPEC binding to so-called Tir receptors on the surface of host cells, a necessary step to rewire intracellular processes and cause disease.

Unlike compounds in T160-2, compounds in T091-5 did not slow the growth of EPEC bacteria.

This means that T091-5 is the most promising of the two strains, as EPEC is unlikely to eventually develop resistance to its antivirulence effects.

Using advanced analytical techniques, the authors determined that the active compounds in T091-5 were likely phospholipids, a type of fatty phosphorus-containing molecule that plays an important role in cellular metabolism.

“The next steps are to optimise the culture conditions for compound production and to isolate sufficient quantities of each compound to elucidate their structures and further explore their respective biological activities,” Prof Tamera said.

of Survey results Published in today's journal The cutting edge of microbiology.

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Tuomas Pirko others2024. Bioprospecting EPEC virulence inhibitors from metabolites of an Arctic marine actinomycete. Front. Microbiol 15;doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1432475

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Discovered DNA Methylation Sensor Uncovered by Scientists

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

DNA methylation is a widely observed epigenetic modification in biological systems that serves diverse functions in transcriptional regulation, transposable element silencing, and innate immunity.

A nucleosome composed of DNA (grey) and histones (blue) with a single hemimethylated cytosine bound by CDCA7 (purple). Image courtesy of Kyohei Arita and Kazuaki Ushi.

DNA methylation is the process by which methyl groups are added to cytosine bases in DNA molecules and is the primary way in which DNA is epigenetically marked.

Epigenetic modifications act as on-off switches that regulate gene expression, helping to generate diverse cell types without altering the underlying DNA sequence – a way for the body to ensure that brain-related genes aren’t turned on in heart cells, for example.

Therefore, maintenance of DNA methylation patterns is crucial to ensure correct and consistent function of each cell type.

However, this is not easy: DNA methylation patterns can change over time, and this has been linked to a range of diseases.

One is a rare genetic disorder called immunodeficiency, centromere instability and facial anomalies (ICF) syndrome, whose symptoms include recurrent respiratory infections, facial abnormalities, and poor growth and cognitive function.

Although it was known that mutations in the CDCA7 gene cause ICF syndrome, little was known about the molecular function of this gene.

In a new study, Professor Hironori Funabiki of Rockefeller University and his colleagues have identified unique functional features of CDCA7 that ensure the correct inheritance of DNA methylation.

The researchers discovered that CDCA7 senses hemimethylation in eukaryotes, an important finding because hemimethylation sensing was long thought to be carried out exclusively by a protein called UHRF1.

“This is a really surprising discovery,” said Isabel Wassing, a scientist at Rockefeller University.

“The discovery that CDCA7 also acts as a sensor explains why mutations in it lead to diseases like ICF syndrome and fills a major gap in the field of epigenetics.”

“But it also raised new questions, such as why do cells need two different hemimethylation sensors?”

“We discovered that the CDCA7 gene, known to be the causative gene for ICF syndrome, specifically binds to hemimethylated DNA on nucleosomes and promotes DNA methylation by controlling the ubiquitination of histone H3,” said Atsuya Nishiyama, a research scientist at the University of Tokyo.

Scientists know that chromatin limits access for many enzymes and DNA-binding proteins, including those needed to introduce methylation into DNA.

Previous research by Professor Funabiki’s team has shown that CDCA7 forms a complex with a protein encoded by the HELLS gene, mutations of which also cause ICF syndrome.

HELLS is a so-called nucleosome remodeller that can temporarily release DNA molecules from nucleosomes.

“We reasoned that the CDCA7-HELLS complex is important in helping cells overcome the barrier of condensed heterochromatin and make DNA molecules available for methylation deposition,” Professor Funabiki said.

“But there are many nucleosome remodelers that can expose DNA molecules in this way.”

“It remained a mystery to us why CDCA7-HELLS is the only nucleosome-remodeling complex directly linked to DNA methylation maintenance.”

“By showing that CDCA7 specifically recruits HELLS to hemimethylated DNA, we finally have an explanation.”

In this model, CDCA7 recognizes hemimethylated DNA in chromatin and recruits HELLS to the site, which acts as a nucleosome remodeler to slide nucleosomes and reveal the hemimethylated site to UHRF1.

The takeover of hemimethylation sensing indicates that CDCA7 is better at detecting hemimethylation in dense heterochromatin than UHRF1 and also explains why cells require two distinct sensors.

“For these sensors to detect hemimethylation, they need to bind directly and selectively to hemimethylated DNA substrates,” Dr. Wassing said.

“CDCA7 appears to perform its function independently while DNA is wrapped around the nucleosome. Without CDCA7, UHRF1 cannot recognize the hemimethylation signals within the nucleosome particle.”

“Our findings suggest that CDCA7 and HELLS promote DNA methylation through a mechanism distinct from de novo DNA methylation, and this is strengthened by our demonstration that the CDCA7 HMZF domain specifically recognizes hemimethylated CpGs, which are substrates for the maintenance DNA methyltransferase DNMT1,” said Dr. Nishiyama.

“ICF disease-associated mutations in the CDCA7 gene abolish hemimethylated DNA binding, supporting the functional importance of hemimethylation detection by CDCA7.”

This new understanding may help elucidate the underlying mechanisms of diseases resulting from methylation dysfunction.

In the future, the functions of hemimethylation sensors beyond maintaining DNA methylation will be explored.

“Because some chromosomal regions are known to maintain a hemimethylated state, their recognition by CDCA7 may play a broader role in gene regulation and chromosomal organization, which is a very intriguing possibility,” says Professor Funabiki.

“Our research lays the foundation for the development of new DNA methylation inhibitors and therapeutic drugs for ICF syndrome,” said Dr. Nishiyama.

“Therapies that artificially control CDCA7-dependent DNA methylation may be useful for preventing cancer and aging and extending healthy lifespan.”

of Survey results Featured in this month’s journal Scientific advances.

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Isabel E. Wassing others2024. CDCA7 is an evolutionarily conserved hemimethylated DNA sensor in eukaryotes. Scientific advances 10 (34); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp5753

This article is based on a press release from Rockefeller University.

Source: www.sci.news

State media reports show that Chinese scientists are using lunar soil to produce water

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Chinese scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in producing large amounts of water using lunar soil collected from the 2020 mission, as reported by state-run CCTV on Thursday.

The Chang’e-5 mission in 2020 marked a significant milestone in collecting lunar samples after a 44-year hiatus. Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences found high amounts of hydrogen in minerals present in the lunar soil. When heated to extreme temperatures, this hydrogen reacts with other elements to generate water vapor, according to China Central Television.

CCTV reported, “After extensive research and verification over three years, a new method has been identified for producing significant quantities of water from lunar soil. This discovery is anticipated to play a crucial role in designing future lunar research and space stations.”

This finding could have significant implications for China’s long-standing ambition to establish a permanent lunar base, amid the race between the United States and China to explore and exploit lunar resources.

On August 26, 2021, a small vial containing lunar soil brought back from the moon by China’s lunar probe Chang’e-5 was placed in Beijing.Ren Hui/VCG via Getty Images file

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has expressed concerns about China’s rapid progress in space exploration and the potential risk of Beijing controlling valuable lunar resources.

According to state media, the new technique can yield approximately 51-76 kilograms of water from one ton of lunar soil, enough to fill over 100 500ml bottles or sustain the daily water needs of 50 individuals.

China aims for its recent and upcoming lunar missions to establish a basis for constructing the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a collaborative project with Russia.

The Chinese space agency’s plan includes establishing a lunar “base station” at the moon’s south pole by 2035, followed by a lunar orbiting space station by 2045.

This discovery coincides with ongoing experiments by Chinese scientists on lunar samples obtained from the Chang’e-6 probe in June.

While the Chang’e-5 mission collected samples from the moon’s near side, Chang’e-6 gathered lunar soil from the far side, perpetually hidden from Earth.

The significance of lunar water surpasses sustaining human settlement; NASA’s Nelson mentioned to NPR in May that moon water could be utilized to produce hydrogen fuel for rockets, potentially fueling missions to Mars and beyond.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Here’s why scientists are planning to construct a massive “bioreservoir” on the moon

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Life on Earth has faced various threats over millions of years, from asteroids to pandemics to climate change. According to the IPCC, nearly one in five terrestrial species is at risk of extinction by 2100 due to rising global temperatures.

Marine life is also in peril, with coral reefs disappearing rapidly. Dr. Mary Hagedorn, a coral reef expert, has been working on cryopreserving coral to ensure its survival and potential reintroduction into ecosystems.

Her innovative idea involves creating a lunar biorepository to store frozen cell samples of key species for ecosystem reconstruction. The moon’s cold temperatures and protection from radiation make it an ideal location for such a vault.

The focus is on preserving fibroblasts, which can be reprogrammed into different cell types, including stem cells for cloning. This initiative aims to safeguard Earth’s ecosystems and potentially support future human space exploration, such as Mars missions.

While the concept may seem futuristic, the team has already begun freezing cell samples from species like the starry goby for testing. The ultimate goal is to send diverse genetic samples to the lunar vault to ensure the preservation of essential species.

Creating a biorepository on the moon presents logistical challenges but could be achievable with NASA’s support and funding. Future generations might benefit from this innovative approach to conservation and space exploration.

Dr. Mary Hagedorn and Professor Ian Crawford are leading experts in this field, with a focus on conservation, lunar science, and astrobiology. Their research and work contribute to the understanding of ecosystems and the future of space exploration.

Learn more about the UK mission to the Moon
Discover how to build a moon base

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists are puzzled by mysterious object speeding through galaxy at over a million miles per hour

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

An object moving through space at close to 1 million miles per hour has been detected, moving so fast that it is leaving the Milky Way galaxy. Scientists are now trying to identify this mysterious object.

Currently located 400 light-years away, the object known as CWISE J1249 is unlikely to be a spacecraft due to its massive size. It is approximately 30,000 times the mass of Earth, making it about 8% of the mass of the Sun.

This unusual size places J1249 somewhere between a star and a planet, as described by Dr. Darren Baskill, a lecturer in astronomy at the University of Sussex. According to Dr. Baskill, stars moving at such high speeds are rare.

The object’s speed is so rapid that it could exit the Milky Way galaxy in just a few tens of millions of years, which is a short period considering stars’ long lifespans.

This massive object, flying at 0.001% of the speed of light, has the potential to escape the galaxy and venture into intergalactic space.

Discovered by citizen scientists contributing to NASA’s Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project, J1249’s speed is approximately 2.6 times faster than any space probe ever launched.

A new study, pending peer review, confirms these findings and further characterizes the object discovered through the initiative.

The object, with an unusual composition compared to stars and brown dwarfs, may be the first star of its kind in the galaxy, based on NASA’s observations.

Researchers believe the high-speed movement of the object may be linked to a supernova explosion in a binary star system or encounters with black holes in a star cluster.

Dr. Baskill suggests that gravitational slingshots could explain the extreme speed of J1249, potentially originating from the galaxy’s dense center and accelerated through gravitational interactions.

About our experts:

Dr. Darren Baskill is an Outreach Officer and Lecturer at the University of Sussex School of Physics and Astronomy, with a background in organizing astronomy-related events and competitions.

For more information, visit the University of Sussex website.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Video games found to have positive effects on health, scientists reveal

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

If you like video games, playing them might not be something you need to worry about.

Asia Vision/Getty Images

Despite being an oft-maligned pastime, playing video games actually seems to make people happier, a finding that comes from a unique study taking advantage of the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think that if you enjoy a hobby, it has a positive effect on your health.” Hiroyuki Egami At Nihon University in Japan.

In 2019, The World Health Organization has added “gaming disorder” It violates the International Classification of Diseases. However, studies on the effects of playing video games have produced mixed results when it comes to mental health outcomes, with many studies unable to prove causation. Studies that aim to prove causation are usually conducted in controlled laboratory environments, which “are far removed from the experience of actually playing video games,” the researchers say. Peter Etchells The researchers are from Bath Spa University in the UK but were not involved in the latest study.

But between 2020 and 2022, Egami and his colleagues had a rare opportunity to investigate the causal effects of video games on people's happiness in the real world. At the time, game consoles were in short supply, so lotteries were held in parts of Japan where people could enter to receive either a PlayStation 5 or a Nintendo Switch console.

The researchers surveyed 8,192 people aged between 10 and 69 who had entered such lotteries. Respondents answered questions about their gambling habits and levels of psychological distress, an indicator of mental health.

Egami and his colleagues found that people who won the lottery had slightly higher mental health scores than those who didn't, but that their scores plateaued once they exceeded about three hours of total play time per day.

The team also used machine learning models to analyze the data and found that the effects varied by console type and owner demographics. For example, younger people who own a Nintendo Switch saw greater benefits compared to older people. The team also found that people without children saw greater benefits from owning a PlayStation 5 than those with children.

“This highlights the need to be nuanced and specific about what we measure and how we measure it if we want to understand how video games affect us,” Etchells said, though he said participants self-reported the amount of time they played, which may not be accurate.

Etchells and Egami also note that the data was collected during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have influenced people's video game habits and health. Further research using this methodology could reveal whether the trends hold in other contexts.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists successfully capture the first-ever 2D spectral image of the aurora

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists in Japan have captured full-spectrum, two-dimensional (2D) auroral images using a newly developed Hyperspectral Camera for Auroral Imaging (HySCAI).

(a) All-sky camera and (b) HySCAI keograms, and (c) time evolution of the spatially averaged spectrum of auroral emission measured by HySCAI on October 20-21, 2023. Image courtesy of Yoshinuma others., doi: 10.1186/s40623-024-02039-y.

The aurora is a natural optical phenomenon caused by the interaction of precipitation particles with components of the upper atmosphere.

The majority of the observed spectrum consists of lines or bands of neutral and ionized nitrogen and oxygen atoms.

The aurora comes in a variety of distinctive colors, including green and red, but there are multiple theories about how the different auroras emit light, and understanding their colors requires breaking down the light.

To study the auroral radiation processes and colors in detail, comprehensive (temporal and spatial) spectral observations are required.

“We have observed light being emitted from plasma within the magnetic field of the Large Helical Device (LHD),” said Dr. Katsumi Ida of the National Institute for Fusion Science in Japan and his colleagues.

“Various systems have been developed to measure the spectrum of light emitted from plasmas, and the processes of energy transport and the emission of atoms and molecules have been studied.”

“By applying this technology and knowledge to auroral observations, we can contribute to our understanding of auroral luminescence and to research into the electron energy generation process that produces auroral luminescence.”

The newly developed camera, HySCAI, consists of an all-sky lens, a monitor camera, a galvanometer scanner, a grating spectrometer, and an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device.

“Aurora observations use optical filters to capture images of specific colors, but this has the drawback of limited wavelengths and low resolution,” the researchers said.

“On the other hand, hyperspectral cameras have the advantage of being able to obtain the spatial distribution of the spectrum with high wavelength resolution.”

“In 2018, we started a project to develop a high-sensitivity hyperspectral camera by combining an image sweeping optical system using a galvanometer mirror with the EMCCD camera and lens spectrometer used in the LHD.”

“It took five years of planning to develop a system with the sensitivity to measure auroras down to 1kR (1 kiloraylei).”

“The system was installed in May 2023 at the Swedish Space Corporation's Esrange Space Centre in Kiruna, Sweden, which is located directly below the auroral zone and where auroras can be observed frequently.”

“The system successfully captured hyperspectral images of the aurora, i.e. two-dimensional images resolved by wavelength.”

Team work Published in the journal Earth, planets, space.

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Masayuki Yoshinuma others2024: Development of a hyperspectral camera for photographing the aurora (HySCAI). Earth Planet Space 76, 96; doi: 10.1186/s40623-024-02039-y

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists say that large-scale language models do not pose an existential threat to humanity

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

ChatGPT and other large-scale language models (LLMs) consist of billions of parameters, are pre-trained on large web-scale corpora, and are claimed to be able to acquire certain features without any special training. These features, known as emergent capabilities, have fueled debates about the promise and peril of language models. Their new paperUniversity of Bath researcher Harish Tayyar Madhavshi and his colleagues present a new theory to explain emergent abilities, taking into account potential confounding factors, and rigorously validate this theory through over 1,000 experiments. Their findings suggest that so-called emergent abilities are not in fact emergent, but rather result from a combination of contextual learning, model memory, and linguistic knowledge.

Lou othersThis suggests that large language models like ChatGPT cannot learn independently or acquire new skills.

“The common perception that this type of AI is a threat to humanity is both preventing the widespread adoption and development of this technology and distracting from the real problems that need our attention,” said Dr Tayyar Madhavshi.

Dr. Tayyar Madabhushi and his colleagues carried out experiments to test LLM's ability to complete tasks that the model had not encountered before – so-called emergent capabilities.

As an example, LLMs can answer questions about social situations without being explicitly trained or programmed to do so.

While previous research has suggested that this is a product of the model's 'knowing' the social situation, the researchers show that this is actually a result of the model using a well-known ability of LLMs to complete a task based on a few examples that it is presented with – so-called 'in-context learning' (ICL).

Across thousands of experiments, the researchers demonstrated that a combination of LLMs' ability to follow instructions, memory, and language abilities explains both the capabilities and limitations they exhibit.

“There is a concern that as models get larger and larger, they will be able to solve new problems that we currently cannot predict, and as a result these large models may gain dangerous capabilities such as reasoning and planning,” Dr Tayyar Madabhshi said.

“This has generated a lot of debate – for example we were asked to comment at last year's AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park – but our research shows that fears that the models will go off and do something totally unexpected, innovative and potentially dangerous are unfounded.”

“Concerns about the existential threat posed by the LLM are not limited to non-specialists but have been expressed by some of the leading AI researchers around the world.”

However, Dr Tayyar Madabushi and his co-authors argue that this concern is unfounded as tests show that LLMs lack complex reasoning skills.

“While it is important to address existing potential misuse of AI, such as the creation of fake news and increased risk of fraud, it would be premature to enact regulations based on perceived existential threats,” Dr Tayyar Madabhsi said.

“The point is, it is likely a mistake for end users to rely on LLMs to interpret and perform complex tasks that require complex reasoning without explicit instructions.”

“Instead, users are likely to benefit from being explicitly told what they want the model to do, and from providing examples, where possible, for all but the simplest tasks.”

“Our findings do not mean that AI is not a threat at all,” said Professor Irina Gurevich of Darmstadt University of Technology.

“Rather, the emergence of threat-specific complex thinking skills is not supported by the evidence, and we show that the learning process in LLMs can ultimately be quite well controlled.”

“Future research should therefore focus on other risks posed by the model, such as the possibility that it could be used to generate fake news.”

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Shen Lu others. 2024. Is emergent capability in large-scale language models just in-context learning? arXiv: 2309.01809

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists claim that New building biomaterial can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The new biomaterial, called C-ELM, incorporates live cyanobacteria in translucent panels that can be attached to the interior walls of buildings. The microbes embedded in these panels grow through photosynthesis, absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and attaching it to calcium through a biomineralization process to produce calcium carbonate, which traps carbon.

C-ELM is Camptonema Animal Cyanobacteria extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Image courtesy of Prantar Tamuli.

One kilogram of C-ELM (cyanobacterial engineered biomaterial) can capture and sequester up to 350 grams of carbon dioxide, while the same amount of traditional concrete releases as much as 500 grams of carbon dioxide.

A 150-square-metre wall covered with these C-ELM panels will trap around one tonne of carbon dioxide.

“By developing C-ELM materials, my goal is to transform the construction of future human settlements from one of the largest carbon emitting activities into one of the largest carbon sequestration activities,” said Planter Tamri, a graduate student at University College London.

“I was inspired to develop this material through my study of stromatolites – natural stone structures that formed over millions of years from sediments trapped by algal mats, the oldest living organisms on Earth.”

Tamri et al. Camptonema AnimalA type of photosynthetic cyanobacteria, it grows in long filamentous structures that help attach the microbes to the surrounding material within the panel.

The calcium carbonate produced by the cyanobacteria helps strengthen the panels.

The panels themselves are designed to provide a variety of aesthetic and structural benefits to buildings.

It is lightweight, sound absorbing, translucent enough to let light through, and has insulating properties, making buildings more energy efficient.

The first such panel was unveiled at an exhibition in the “Bioscope” pavilion at St. Andrews Botanic Garden in Scotland.

Designed by design collective Studio Biocene, the exhibit showcased low-carbon, low-impact building methods that mimic the natural environment.

“The potential of this type of biomaterial is enormous,” said Professor Marcos Cruz, from University College London.

“If mass-produced and widely adopted, it has the potential to dramatically reduce the construction industry's carbon footprint.”

“We hope to scale up the production of this C-ELM and further optimize its performance to make it suitable for use on construction sites.”

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This article is a version of a press release provided by University College London.

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists suggest using heat-absorbing ‘glitter’ to warm Mars

Posted on August 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Ideas for change Mars Towards a more livable world Human settlements It's a common theme in science fiction, but could this happen in the real world?

Scientists are now proposing a new approach to warming up. Neighbors of Earth The idea is to release artificial particles made of iron or aluminum, the same size as commercial glitter, into the atmosphere as an aerosol, trapping escaping heat and scattering sunlight onto the Martian surface. Greenhouse effect On Mars, the plan is to raise the surface temperature by about 50 degrees (28 °C) over a 10-year period.

While this alone wouldn't make Mars habitable for humans, the scientists behind the proposal believe it could be a feasible first step.

“Terraforming is the process of changing a planet's environment to be more similar to Earth. In the case of Mars, heating the planet is a necessary first step, but it is not enough. Previous concepts have focused on releasing greenhouse gases, which requires large amounts of resources that are in short supply on Mars,” said University of Chicago planetary scientist Edwin Kite, who led the study published in the journal Nature this week. Scientific advances.

“The key elements of our paper are the novel proposal to use engineered nanoparticles to warm the Martian atmosphere, and the climate modelling which suggests this approach could be much more efficient than previous concepts. This is important as it offers a more feasible way to alter the Martian climate and could inform future Mars exploration strategies,” Kite added.

NASA has sent a robotic rover to explore the surface of Mars and the InSight lander to explore the planet's interior. Project Artemis The goal is to send astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972 in the next few years, in preparation for future manned missions to Mars.

There are many challenges to living on Mars, including a lack of breathable oxygen, harmful ultraviolet rays due to the thin atmosphere, salty soil that is unsuitable for growing crops, and dust storms that sometimes cover large parts of the planet. But the planet's frigid temperatures are a serious obstacle.

“Our aim is to show that the idea of warming Mars is not impossible. We hope that our findings will inspire the broader scientific community and the general public to explore this intriguing idea,” said Samaneh Ansari, a doctoral student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northwestern University in Illinois and lead author of the study.

The average surface temperature of Mars is about minus 85 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 65 degrees Celsius). Because the Martian atmosphere is thin, solar heat on the surface easily escapes into space. This proposal aims to have liquid water on the surface of Mars, where water exists in the form of ice at the poles and underground.

The scientists proposed releasing tiny, rod-shaped particles (nanorods) into the atmosphere at a rate of about eight gallons (30 liters) per second continuously for many years.

“The surface of Mars has an abundance of iron and aluminum, so the idea is to transport the materials, or even better, the manufacturing tools, to make nanorods on Mars,” Ansari said.

Researchers are mindful of the potential unintended consequences of terraforming another planet for the benefit of humanity: For example, scientists want to know whether Mars was ever alive in the past, or whether it still exists today in the form of subsurface microbial life.

“Nanoparticles could potentially heat Mars, but both the benefits and potential costs of this course of action are currently unknown. For example, in the unlikely event that Martian soil contains irreparable compounds that are toxic to all Earth-derived life, the benefits of heating Mars would be zero,” Kite said.

“On the other hand, the establishment of a photosynthetic biosphere on the Martian surface may increase the likelihood of human thriving in the solar system,” Kite added. “On the cost side, if life exists on Mars, studying that life may be sufficiently beneficial to warrant vigorous protection of the habitat.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com