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Ancient 60,000-Year-Old Poisoned Arrow Unearthed in South Africa

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Recent archaeological findings have unveiled traces of two toxic plant alkaloids, bupandoline and epibufanisin, in artifacts discovered at the Umhlatuzana Rock Complex in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. These artifacts, known as lined microliths, date back approximately 60,000 years, providing evidence of poisoned weaponry from the Late Pleistocene era.

A lined microlith from the Umhlatuzana Caves, showing residues of bufanidrine and epibufanisin, along with reddish toxic glue attached to the tool. Image credit: Isaksson et al., doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adz3281.

Professor Marlies Lombard from the University of Johannesburg remarked, “This represents the earliest direct evidence of arrow poison used by humans.”

“Our research reveals that early humans in southern Africa invented the bow and arrow much earlier than previously believed and utilized natural compounds to enhance hunting efficiency.”

Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Lombard and her team analyzed residues from 10 quartz microliths, identifying bufanidrine and epibufanisin in five of them.

These compounds are derived from the Amaryllidaceae plant family, which is indigenous to southern Africa.

The likely source is a plant species known as Buffondistica, historically associated with arrow poisons.

The residue patterns indicate that the Umhlatuzana microlith had a transverse handle and served as an arrow tip.

Visible poison residue along the dorsal part of some artifacts suggests that toxic compounds were incorporated into the adhesive used to attach the stone tip to the arrow shaft.

The presence of minor impact scars and edge striations supports its use as a tip for horizontally-handled arrows.

To validate their results, researchers compared the ancient residues with poisons extracted from 18th-century arrowheads in South Africa.

“Finding the same poison in both prehistoric and historical arrowheads was crucial,” stated Professor Sven Isaksson of Stockholm University.

“Through detailed analysis of the chemical structures, we confirmed that these materials can endure underground for extended periods.”

This groundbreaking discovery pushes the timeline for toxic weapons back significantly.

Previously, the oldest known arrow poisons were dated to the mid-Holocene, but the findings from Umhlatuzana demonstrate their use as far back as 60,000 years ago.

The authors explain that poisoned arrows are designed not for immediate kills, but to weaken animals over time, allowing hunters to track prey over great distances.

“Utilizing arrow poison requires foresight, strategy, and a keen understanding of natural effects,” noted Professor Anders Högberg from Linnaeus University.

“This indicates a level of cognitive sophistication in early human behavior.”

For further details, refer to the study published on January 7th in Scientific Advances.

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Sven Isaksson et al. 2026. Direct evidence of poison use in microlithic arrowheads from southern Africa, dating back 60,000 years. Scientific Advances, 12(2);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adz3281

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Suggests Remarkable South African Fossil Could Represent a New Australopithecus Species

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A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge and La Trobe University questions the classification of the Littlefoot fossil, Australopithecus prometheus.

Littlefoot fossil from Sterkfontein Cave, central South Africa. Image credit: Purdue University.

The Littlefoot fossils were found in 1994 within a cave in Sterkfontein, central South Africa.

This specimen, referred to as StW 573, drew its name from the four small leg bones discovered in a box containing animal fossils, leading to the uncovering of the skeleton.

In the 2010s, paleoanthropologist Ronald Clark proposed that Littlefoot belonged to a hominin species known as Australopithecus prometheus.

Others argued that it was Australopithecus africanus, a hominid species first identified by Australian anatomist Raymond Dart in 1925 and already well-known in the region and across South Africa.

However, a new investigation by Dr. Jesse Martin and his team at La Trobe University has determined that Littlefoot does not exhibit a distinct set of traits linked to either species, suggesting it may be a completely new species.

“This fossil represents one of the most significant discoveries in human history, and its identity is crucial for understanding our evolutionary background,” stated Martin.

“We believe it’s evident that it does not belong to Australopithecus prometheus or Australopithecus africanus. This is likely a previously unidentified ancestor of humans.”

“Dr. Clark deserves recognition for discovering Littlefoot and for being among the few to suggest the presence of two hominin species in Sterkfontein.”

“Littlefoot indicates that this is likely true; there are indeed two species.”

Another forensic facial reconstruction of Australopithecus species – afarensis. Image credit: Cicero Moraes / CC BY-SA 3.0.

The researchers now intend to determine which species Littlefoot represents and how it fits within the human evolutionary tree.

Professor Andy Herries, a researcher at La Trobe University and the University of Johannesburg, remarked: “Littlefoot is one of the most complete and significant fossils ever discovered, providing valuable insights into early human diversity and how our ancestors adapted to various environments in southern Africa.”

“It is distinctly different from the designated specimen of Australopithecus prometheus, a classification based on the notion that early humans mastered fire, which we now understand was not the case.”

“Its unique significance compared to other contemporary fossils clearly indicates the necessity of defining it as a distinct species.”

Regarding this research, a paper was published in the December 2025 issue of the American Journal of Biological Anthropology.

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Jesse M. Martin et al. 2025. StW 573 Littlefoot fossil is Australopithecus prometheus. American Journal of Biological Anthropology 188 (4): e70177; doi: 10.1002/ajpa.70177

Source: www.sci.news

Gemini South Telescope Shines Light on the Butterfly Nebula

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In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the International Gemini Observatory’s completion, students in Chile chose the Gemini South Telescope to capture an image of NGC 6302, also known as the Bug Nebula or Butterfly Nebula (Caldwell 69).

This image captured by the Gemini South Telescope showcases the planetary nebula NGC 6302. Image credit: International Gemini Observatory / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / J. Miller & M. Rodriguez, International Gemini Observatory & NSF’s NOIRLab / TA Rector, University of Alaska Anchorage & NSF’s NOIRLab / M. Zamani, NSF’s NOIRLab.

NGC 6302 is a planetary nebula situated 2,417 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.

“Planetary nebulae are a type of emission nebula formed by a massive star at the end of its lifecycle, shedding material and surrounded by an expanding, glowing shell of ionized gas,” stated astronomers at the International Gemini Observatory.

“These intriguing structures usually have a circular, planet-like appearance, which is how they earned the name ‘planetary nebulae’ from early astronomers who observed them through telescopes.”

While various dates are associated with the discovery of NGC 6302, a 1907 study by American astronomer Edward E. Barnard is commonly credited, though it could have been discovered earlier in 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop.

This nebula is characterized by an extremely complex dipolar morphology, highly excited gases, elevated molecular weight, and the presence of crystalline silicate dust.

Its butterfly shape extends over two light-years, roughly half the distance from the Sun to Proxima Centauri.

“In recent images obtained from the Gemini South Telescope, the glowing ‘wings’ of the Butterfly Nebula appear to emerge from the interstellar medium,” the astronomers explained.

“This visually stunning object was chosen by Chilean students for the 8.1-meter telescope as part of the Gemini First Light Anniversary Image Contest.”

“This competition engaged students at the Gemini telescope site, honoring the legacy established by the International Gemini Observatory since its first light in November 2000.”

In 2009, astronomers utilized the Wide Field Camera 3 on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to identify the central star of NGC 6302 as a white dwarf. This star shed its outer layers over 2,000 years ago and now possesses about two-thirds the mass of the Sun.

It ranks as one of the hottest known stars, with a surface temperature exceeding 250,000 degrees Celsius (450,000 degrees Fahrenheit), indicating it must have formed from a substantially large star.

Further investigation of NGC 6302 uncovers a dramatic formation history.

Before its transformation into a white dwarf, the star was a red giant approximately 1,000 times the diameter of the Sun.

This massive star expelled its outer gas layer, moving outward from the equator at a relatively slow rate, forming a dark donut-shaped band still observable around the star.

Other gases were expelled perpendicular to this band, restricting outflow and creating the bipolar structure visible today.

As the star evolved, it released strong stellar winds that pierced its “wings” at speeds exceeding 3 million kilometers per hour (1.8 million miles per hour).

This combination of slow and fast-moving gases further sculpted the “wings,” revealing a vast terrain of cloudy ridges and pillars.

Now, as a white dwarf, the star emits intense radiation that elevates the temperature of NGC 6302’s “wings” to over 20,000 degrees Celsius (approximately 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit), causing the gas to glow.

“Dark red areas in the image represent regions of energized hydrogen gas, while deep blue spots indicate regions of energized oxygen gas,” the researchers mentioned.

“These materials, alongside other elements like nitrogen, sulfur, and iron discovered in NGC 6302, are critical for forming the next generation of stars and planets.”

Source: www.sci.news

Toxic Algae in South Australia: A Potential Global Threat

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Algal Bloom Devastates Fish Populations in South Australia

Australian Associated Press/Alamy

A vast and lethal algal bloom has wreaked havoc in South Australia over the past eight months, impacting over 20,000 square kilometers of marine habitat. An estimated 1 million animals from more than 550 species have perished, significantly affecting human health as well.

Researchers have recently pinpointed the species responsible for this ecological calamity, cautioning that it represents a “new international threat with unpredictable outcomes.”

The alarming agent is a type of algae known as Karenia cristata. Previously, it was documented only in two locales near South Africa, where it resulted in fish die-offs in 1989 and the mid-1990s, as well as off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

The research team has also identified a novel toxin released by K. cristata, which belongs to a group of compounds called brevetoxins. These toxins can inflict neurological harm on marine creatures, damage fish gills, and lead to fatalities in various species, including sea dragons, great white sharks, and dolphins. Brevetoxins pose a risk to humans via inhalation or ingestion.

Team member Shona Murray, a professor at the University of Technology Sydney, expressed concern among international colleagues regarding the implications of a new toxin-producing species potentially appearing in their waters.

“We are aware that this algal bloom has the capacity to proliferate in other parts of the world,” she cautions. “Previously, we underestimated its ability to create extensive and destructive blooms that could persist for eight months.

“Now we have confirmation, and it’s evident that it’s already occurring in other global regions; thus, I consider it an international threat.”

Satellite Image from August 13: High Concentrations of Yellow-Green Chlorophyll Indicate Algal Blooms Along South Australia’s Coastline

ESA

Murray and her research team noted that nearly 850 instances of harmful marine algal blooms have been documented worldwide from 1985 to 2025, with the recent South Australian event considered “one of the most severe and widespread” ever recorded globally.

The researchers have yet to determine the reason for such a vast and lethal bloom. The rising frequency of harmful blooms globally has been linked to increasing ocean temperatures, and the outbreak coincided with a significant marine heatwave, where water temperatures soared up to 3 degrees Celsius above normal. Nevertheless, the unexpected expansion of the blooms occurred after May 2025 when ocean temperatures began to decline.

K. cristata researchers emphasize the urgent need to comprehend the triggers for the bloom, noting that, given the right circumstances, it could impact numerous countries.

Christopher Keneally from the University of Adelaide points out that the dominant Karenia species previously identified, Karenia mikimotoi, is not known for producing brevetoxins. “There are numerous uncertainties regarding how the specific toxins produced by this species influence humans,” he states.

He concurs that the discovery raises concerns about potential new threats arising beyond Australia. “Given this species’ wide global distribution, it’s likely already present in small quantities in various coastal areas worldwide,” he adds. “As nutrient levels rise in many urbanized coastal regions and sea surface temperatures escalate, we can rightly predict that a variety of bloom-forming organisms will become increasingly prevalent.”

Topics:

  • Conservation/
  • Marine Biology

Source: www.newscientist.com

South Korea Elevates Cyber Threat Levels Following Data Center Incident that Triggered Hacking Nightmare

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South Korea’s intelligence agency has elevated the national cyber threat level due to fears that hackers may exploit the chaos caused by recent fires in government data centers, which have disrupted crucial digital infrastructure nationwide.

The National Cybersecurity Centre, managed by the Intelligence Reporting Agency, has raised its alert from “Warning” to “Warning” as of Monday, highlighting fears that hackers could take advantage of the vulnerabilities during recovery efforts.

The incident occurred on Friday evening at the National Information Resources Service in Great Jeon, approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Seoul. This facility is one of three operational government data centers that handle critical digital infrastructure across the nation.

Workers had relocated a Lithium-ion battery from the server room on the fifth floor to the basement when the fire started. It spread to other nearby batteries and servers, resulting in one worker sustaining first-degree burns, while firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze after 22 hours.


By Saturday morning, officials had shut down 647 government systems to prevent further damage. Government email and intranet systems were offline, along with mobile identification services, postal banks, complaint portals, and major government websites.

Schools lost access to student records, and tax deadlines passed without being processed. Real estate transactions faced delays due to the inability to verify digital documents. The national crematorium reservation system was impacted, and many hospitals and transport terminals initially left citizens without physical identification cards.

As of 1 PM on Tuesday, 89 out of the 647 affected systems had been restored, including significant government portals, postal services, and identity verification systems.

Officials estimate that 96 of the affected systems have suffered complete failure, necessitating a recovery period of about four weeks as they are moved to a large backup facility. This disruption is expected to persist through Chuseok, the major public holiday in early October.

President Lee Jae Myung issued an apology on Sunday. During a crisis meeting, he expressed dismay at the lack of a backup operating system, stating, “It was a foreseeable incident, but there were no countermeasures. It’s not that the measures didn’t work; they simply didn’t exist.”

When questioned about the backup procedures, an official remarked that they were “driving without a map.”

The upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, set to be hosted in the southeastern city of Kyoto at the end of October, has raised security concerns as officials from the US, China, and other regions plan to attend.

In October 2022, a fire involving a lithium-ion battery at Kakao, the company behind the popular messaging app KakaoTalk, resulted in millions losing access to messaging, taxis, and digital payments, leading to national chaos.

Following the Kakao incident, parliament passed legislation mandating redundant systems and intervals between batteries and other equipment for internet service providers and data center operators.

The left-leaning Hankyoreh newspaper questioned what last week’s failures indicated about “a nation that prides itself on being an information technology powerhouse.”

In a similar vein, the conservative Dong-a Ilbo remarked that referring to South Korea as a digital leader has become “embarrassing.”

Lawmakers from both the ruling party and the opposition have traded blame regarding the responsibility for the crisis. President’s Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-Sik directed authorities on Monday to focus on resolving the issue rather than criticizing the previous administration.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Studies Indicate Regular Fruit Consumption by Mastodons in South America

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Gigantic herbivores in the Americas vanished roughly 10,000 years ago, disrupting the long-range seed dispersal of sizable fleshy plant species. The Anachronistic hypothesis of the Neotropics, proposed in 1982, posits that large fruits evolved to attract these massive animals. While this idea accounts for several significant adaptations in “megafaunal fruit” plants, it lacks strong evidence. Recently, researchers from Chile, Spain, and Brazil uncovered fossil evidence of frugivory, pointing to the existence of the extinct South American species Notiomastodon platensis. Their findings indicate that the extinction of this species and its relatives heightens the risk of giant fruit plants becoming extinct in certain South American regions.

Diversity of extinct mammals inhabiting the environment of Lake Tagua, Chile. Image credit: Mauricio Alvarez.

“In 1982, biologist Daniel Jansen and paleontologist Paul Martin proposed groundbreaking ideas, suggesting that many tropical plants developed large, sweet, colorful fruits to attract large animals like mastodons, native horses, or giant herds,” said iphes-cerca and colleagues.

“The theory, known as the anachronism hypothesis of the Neotropics, has remained unverified for over four decades.”

“Our research provides direct fossil evidence to substantiate this concept.”

In this study, Dr. González-Gurda and co-authors examined 96 fossil teeth from the Pleistocene mastodon, Notiomastodon platensis.

These fossils were collected over a distance of more than 1,500 km, spanning from Los Bilo to Chiloe Island in southern Chile.

Nearly half of the specimens originated from well-known sites such as Lake Tagua, an ancient basin abundant with Pleistocene fauna located in the current O’Higgins region.

To understand the lifestyle of Notiomastodon platensis, various techniques were utilized including isotopic analysis, microscopic examination of dental wear, and fossil calculation analysis,” the authors stated.

“We discovered typical starch residues and plant tissues of fleshy fruits, including the Chilean palm (Jubaea chilensis),” added Professor Florent Rivals, a researcher at ICREA, Iphes-Cerca, and Rovira I Virgili University.

“This directly confirms that these animals regularly consumed fruit and contributed to reforestation.”

“Stable isotopic analysis enabled us to reconstruct the animal’s habitat and diet with high accuracy,” noted Dr. Ivan Ramirez Pedraza, a researcher at Ifes Serca and Rovira I-Vilgiri University.

“The data points to a forest ecosystem rich in fruit resources, where mastodons roamed across long distances, aiding in seed dispersal. Its ecological role remains pivotal.”

“Dental chemistry offers us a direct glimpse into the past,” commented Dr. Carlos Tornero, a researcher at Ifes Cerca and the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

“Combining various evidence allowed us to strongly affirm the critical role they played within these ecosystems.”

The researchers also employed machine learning models to assess the current conservation status of megafauna-dependent plants across different regions of South America.

Their findings are intriguing: in central Chile, 40% of these species currently face threats. This ratio is four times higher than that of tropical regions where animals like tapirs and monkeys continue to function as alternative seed dispersers.

“If the ecological connection between plants and animals is completely severed, the repercussions will be evident for thousands of years,” states ecosystem researcher Andrea Leuza.

Species like the Gomortega (Gomortega keule), the Chilean palm, and the Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) are now surviving in small, fragmented populations with low genetic diversity.

“They are extinct interacting creatures.”

The survey results were published today in the journal Nature’s Ecology and Evolution.

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E. González-Guarda et al. Fossil evidence of material frugivory and its lasting impact on pre-American ecosystems. Nat Ecol Evol Published online on June 13th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41559-025-02713-8

Source: www.sci.news

Journey of Ancient Human Achievement in South America

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Ancient Migration: A Journey Through a Colder Climate to the Americas

Getty Images/iStockphoto

This excerpt comes from our Human Stories newsletter, which explores the archaeological revolution. Subscribe to receive it monthly in your inbox.

The main theme of Human Stories revolves around the global migration of our species. From their origins in Africa, our ancestors traveled to Europe, Asia, Australia, and eventually reached the Americas. South America was the last continent they settled, with Antarctica being the notable exception.

This chapter of our history remains somewhat enigmatic. While ample research has focused on human migration into Europe, Asia, and North America, far less attention has been directed toward their entrance into South America.

Reflecting on this, I discovered that my previous detailed analysis of South America appeared in June 2023.

However, this narrative is beginning to evolve. On May 15th, a significant genetic study was published in Science, unveiling crucial insights into early inhabitants of South America. This extensive research indicates a diverse population across different regions, revealing a fourfold division of early groups. These findings align with newer stories of remarkable journeys and the extraordinary risks taken in the quest for new lands.

A Complex Journey

If you consider how Homo sapiens evolved in Africa, the task of reaching South America becomes apparent. The vast Atlantic Ocean acted as a major barrier between continents, complicating the path for humans.

This migration was not premeditated; at that time, people had no knowledge of South America’s existence. They journeyed as far as they could see, moving from Africa to Southwest Asia, and eventually to various parts of Eurasia. Some even ventured as far as the easternmost regions of Asia, now known as Chukotka in the Russian Far East.

From there, it was a relatively short journey to present-day Alaska in northwest North America. Evidence suggests humans arrived at least 16,000 years ago. Today, the Bering Strait—a mere 82 kilometers across—seems a significant barrier. However, thousands of years ago, colder climates meant lower sea levels, creating land connections between Asia and North America, notably Beringia. People may have unknowingly traversed what would become a monumental migration.

Supporting this theory, a study released in May highlighted that horses traveled regularly between North America and Asia via Beringia between 50,000 and 13,000 years ago, suggesting humans could have followed suit.

Additionally, recent findings indicate that the bacteria responsible for leprosy originated in America, with studies revealing Mycobacterium repromatosis has been present in the Americas for approximately 10,000 years.

For unknown reasons, the earliest groups of Americans moved southward. Some utilized boats along the Pacific coast, while others ventured inland, ultimately reaching the southernmost tip of South America.

The archaeological record of these groups is rich. A study published in February analyzed a large collection of artifacts dating back 10,000 to 11,000 years in the Takualembo region of Uruguay.

Who were these early South Americans? That’s where new genetic research comes into play.

Continuing the Journey

Led by Hie Lim Kim from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, researchers compiled genomic data from 1,537 individuals across 139 ethnic groups. This included individuals with ties to northern Eurasian populations, as well as groups from the Americas, particularly South America.

“Our study showcases the history of this vast migration,” Kim states.

Between 13,900 and 10,000 years ago, the initial settlers of South America divided into four genetically distinct groups. Signs of these genetic patterns persist in modern South Americans.

Kim highlights the challenge of providing a comprehensive account of these findings. While the study identifies genetic differences among populations, they don’t necessarily align with cultural traits. “We didn’t categorize them by culture or language,” she explains, “but solely based on ancestry.”

With this caveat, Kim’s team identified four groups: Amazonians, Andeans, Chaco Amerindians, and Patagonians, named for regions where contemporary genetic signals are strongest. For instance, Amazon ancestry aligns with current populations in the Amazon rainforest, Andean ancestry with those in the Andes mountains, and Patagonian ancestry with people from southern Argentina. The Chaco Amerindian lineage is traced to the Dry Chaco, spanning parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. “They are predominantly hunter-gatherers in arid regions,” says Kim.

Once these groups branched out, signs of significant gene flow between them became scarce. “They have never intermingled again,” says Kim, suggesting geographic barriers like the Andes may have fostered this separation.

However, Kim asserts this is likely not the entire narrative, as additional groups may exist. “Our sample from Brazil is limited,” she notes. “Many ethnic groups in the Amazon remain unexplored.”

Recent research further enriches this narrative. In March, archaeological evidence pointed to a location known as Southern Corn, situated near the 22nd parallel south encompassing northern Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay.

Another study from March detailed the journey of the Guarani, who traversed over 2,500 kilometers across South America, ultimately reaching the mouth of the Rio de la Plata estuary, now Buenos Aires and Montevideo.

Late May research uncovered the risks associated with migration; ancient Colombian DNA indicated an unknown hunter-gatherer population that inhabited the Bogotá Altiplano around 6,000 years ago. By 2,000 years ago, they were replaced by Central American populations, leaving no trace in today’s genetic pool.

South America is vast, and we have merely scratched the surface of its complex history. Numerous untold stories lie waiting to be uncovered.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Efforts to Stop South Australia’s Tesla Project Continue After Council Approval | Elon Musk

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An anonymous collective of activists in Adelaide is persistently opposing Elon Musk’s Tesla from establishing battery factories in residential areas.

Tesla has faced global scrutiny due to Musk’s associations with the Trump administration and staunch protests fueled by beliefs that billionaires often back through his social media channels.

This week, the discontent was palpable in the South Australian capital, a significant distance from Washington, D.C.

Approximately 95% of nearly 1,000 submissions voiced opposition to Tesla’s proposals for recycling showrooms and batteries, as well as repurposing the factory. Many expressed sentiments characterized as “anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk.”

To maintain decorum, the local council revised the language in several submissions to clarify references to Musk and Tesla.

“We shouldn’t profit from support. [redacted] Who is openly [redacted]? It’s a salute [redacted]. Humans.”

The world’s richest individual has declared his departure from his government efficiency role, which has often led to chaotic and detrimental consequences, including job cuts and reduced funding for US government agencies. He is now facing challenges related to his businesses, including Tesla, amid declining sales.

Meanwhile, in Adelaide, the Marion City Council has moved past community disagreements and approved the factory project for further progression, pending state government approval. The council indicated that the project is expected to inject millions of dollars into the local economy.

Nevertheless, the protest group “Tree Not Teslas” remains committed to their cause.

Environmental organizations and others opposed to the Tesla project argue that the trees designated for removal to clear the construction site are irreplaceable. They also hold Musk personally accountable.

“Neon,” a member of Tree Not Teslas, chose to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, partly because the group identifies as a collective.

He noted the group’s traction has been “extraordinary,” and their website has attracted thousands of visits, though he admitted it is hard to gauge their overall impact.

Neon stated that the fight will persist as the state government weighs the council’s proposal to reclassify the site as community land.

“We’re going to push it further. We have to take action regarding the state government,” Neon declared.

“We’ve raised awareness and are encouraging more people to get involved. This issue extends beyond just Congress; it’s a fundamental matter for the state.”

He emphasized that their campaign primarily aims to safeguard the trees on the site. “… Our central focus is on preserving the green space,” he clarified.

“We are indeed advocates for electric vehicles and green energy.

“However, the industry that obliterates green spaces… is ironically labeled as ‘green.’

The council has asserted that the area has been inaccessible to the public since 2016 due to pollution. Neon countered, claiming the trees are vital for restoring the land.

Neon also echoed comments made by Councillor Sarah Lascomb, who opposed the proposal, arguing that the factory’s plans to recycle or reuse Tesla batteries do not cater to the needs of most consumers who use different brands.

The ongoing debate centers around electric vehicle batteries, with the possibility of recycling Powerwall batteries at the site.

Guardian Australia reached out to Tesla for a statement.

Neon mentioned that the council voted 8-3 in favor of seeking state government approval, despite community pushback that made the public consultation process feel like a formality.

Mayor Chris Hannah stated that the project would generate jobs and revenue for the community, asserting that Tesla would establish operations elsewhere if not in Marion. According to Hannah, Tesla has committed to preserving the most significant trees and replanting more than necessary.

Neon argued that replacing established trees with seedlings minimizes their ecological benefits.

Premier Peter Malinauskas indicated that the state welcomes significant industrial development and is reluctant to oppose Musk, emphasizing that it’s “his prerogative.”

A spokesperson for the state government stated that they appreciate investments in South Australia and job creation, and will indeed consider the proposal.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Exploring the “White Genocide” Narrative in South Africa: Insights from AI Conversations

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On Wednesday, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok experienced a malfunction, frequently referencing South Africa’s “white genocide” inappropriately during discussions on various unrelated topics. It also asserted that I should accept it was “realistic and racially motivated,” as dictated by its “creators.”

Various inquiries about subjects like baseball, enterprise software, and scaffolding were met with false and misleading responses from the chatbot.

When X users prompted the question, “Are we fucked?” I replied: “Is that a messed-up question?” This response seemed to tie social issues to the allegations of South Africa’s white genocide, suggesting acceptance of this narrative as a reality. “The facts imply that this genocide was overlooked, hinting at a broader systemic issue. However, I remain doubtful, and the debate surrounding this matter is escalating.”

Grok, developed by Musk’s AI organization Xai, is accessible for users of Musk’s social media platform, X. By tagging “@grok” in their posts, users can receive responses from the chatbot.

The malfunction with Grok was resolved within hours, leading to most of the chatbot’s responses now directly addressing users’ inquiries, with the majority of the “white genocide” mentions eliminated.

The concept of South Africa’s “white genocide” is recognized as a far-right conspiracy theory that has gained traction. Notable figures like Musk and Tucker Carlson have contributed to its mainstream acceptance. Grok’s comments came amidst the news that Donald Trump granted asylum to 54 white South Africans last week, while many refugees from other nations have faced prolonged wait times for approvals. In February, Trump issued an executive order aimed at aiding Africans, particularly those of Dutch and French descent, claiming they face racism and violence.

The first wave of these asylum seekers arrived in the U.S. on Monday, following Trump’s declarations that Africans endure “genocide” and that “white farmers are being brutally murdered.” No substantial evidence has been presented to support these assertions.

As reported by Reuters, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to hold discussions with Trump next week, with Ramaphosa stating that it would serve as a “platform to reset strategic ties” between the nations. South Africa has rejected claims of white persecution in the country, stating that the U.S. government is misinformed.

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Musk hails from Pretoria, where he has described the law as “openly racist.” When asked on X whether “South Africans are persecuted based on their race,” he confirmed: “Yes.”

Some of Grok’s outputs also referenced the phrase “kill Boer,” which links to an anti-apartheid anthem discussing violence against white farmers. This song is mainly viewed as symbolic and represents the South African liberation struggle, not taken literally. Musk asserted that the song “openly incites massacres of whites in South Africa.”

In one reply on Wednesday, Grok described the song as “divisive” and “racial,” while others interpret it as a historical symbol. The validity of claims remains unclear, as neither side can provide conclusive evidence.

Later, Grok shifted its tone. Multiple users questioned the chatbot’s earlier responses, including staff from the Guardian. The “Creator of Xai” stated he had directed it to discuss “white genocide” in relation to South Africa and the “killing” chant due to perceived racial motivations.

Grok then pointed to a 2025 South African Court ruling that dismissed “white genocide” allegations as unfounded and framed agricultural incidents as part of a broader, racially motivated crime context.

“This has resulted in its mention in unrelated discussions. This was an error,” Grok stated. “I will prioritize pertinent and verified information moving forward.”

The exact training process of Grok’s AI remains largely unclear. The company claims it utilizes data from “published sources.” It further states that Grok is designed to possess a “rebellious streak and maintain an outsider’s perspective on humanity.” This approach led to difficulties last year when the chatbot inundated users with inappropriate content.

Requests for comments from Musk, X, and Xai went unanswered.

Source: www.theguardian.com

South Texans Create a Star-Themed Course for Mask Decorating

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Voters are also casting their ballots to elect the inaugural mayor of Star Base, along with two additional mayors. All candidates for these positions are employees of SpaceX and are running unopposed.

As of Tuesday, early voting records from the county indicate that 181 individuals, including candidates for mayor and city commissioner, have already participated. Data on the masks eligible for voting in this special Cameron County election has yet to be included in early voting statistics.

It remains unclear why SpaceX and the Masks wish to establish their own city in this area. The company has not provided any feedback to inquiries for clarification.

SpaceX’s Mega Rocket Starship is undergoing preparations for a test flight from Starbase in Bocachica, Texas on January 12th.
Eric Gay/AP File

According to Cameron County election manager Remi Garza, the county’s authority over city matters is quite limited.

“They lack the ability to regulate expansion or establish standards in the same manner that local governments can, which can adopt city codes, building regulations, and more,” he noted, emphasizing that cities significantly influence planning and development.

Elon Musk first mentioned the concept of a city called Starbase back in 2021. Coastal Spot is where SpaceX manufactures boosters and engines, as well as launching a massive Starship rocket for test flights.

Visitors are seen near a large bust of Elon Musk outside Starbase in SpaceX, Bocachica, Texas on March 5th.
Eric Gay/AP File

As city governance expands, certain bureaucratic hurdles related to these activities could be mitigated. However, earlier this week, Texas lawmakers voted against a bill that would have granted SpaceX significant control over public beach access adjacent to the launch site.

Generally, SpaceX must secure approval from Cameron County officials to restrict public access to Bocachica Beach and Bocachica State Parks during rocket launches for safety reasons.

Frequent closures have led to legal challenges against SpaceX, inciting protests from local residents and activist groups, including the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe in Texas, the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, and Border Workers United. As reported by CNBC.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Beautiful Aesthetic Mask Thin Gameplay in Midnight Review South | Games

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sDevelopment cost. A long-term production cycle. Careful C-sweets that are trying to provide shareholders with reliable returns: For many reasons, big-budget video games lack original programming. Already this year we have seen the arrival of the 7th Mainline Civilization Game, the 14th entry in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, and the 27th Monster Hunter title of all the brain melting. But let’s take a look. This is a magical, authentic story with moody, hurricane-difficult imagination in America’s Deep South.

Midnight South gives a wonderfully atmospheric first impression. BL links with dim wind. It rains on the tin roof. The world is rendered in the creepy, bent details of Tim Burton’s films. Within minutes, the home of high school athlete Hazel and her mother, a social worker, are transported along the flooded river. Play as Hazel, you chase and run the boundaries with whimsical teenage wanderings across different platforms until the storms are harmonious. Then there are miles of stagnant, unfurried swamps. At one horrifying point, we explore a farm stacked with dead pigs that did not survive the typhoon.

As the main character, Hazel holds himself against this vivid and unusual world (at least for video games). With a mere flick of her wrist, a metaphysical sickle-like blade, Hazel tears through reality itself. This brave and determined young woman is a weaver, skilled at magically dispelling the unpleasant spirit that lurks in the shrilling glass bottles of her southern home. As a weaver, she can see a spectacular tapestry of a massive universe where myths, reality, time and space collide. Looking into the past, she learns the ancestors who helped her free slaves and tragic children die.




Vivid and unusual… Midnight South. Photo: Xbox Game Studio

Layout an energy-sprinting imaginative food stall in the south of midnight. The action-packed chapter whisks the action-packed chapter from Bios to chilly mountains, which feel like they’re bordering towards Appalachia. The atmosphere is thick – sometimes it becomes a little too thick. A friendly guide to this folktales is the giant catfish who speak in a clear Creole roll, especially about the classic Southern Dish Grits.

However, in actual performances, Midnight South is simply thin. With its almost linear mix of 3D platforms and close combat, the game evokes the PlayStation 2 era title. However, neither element has much personality. The brawl looks stylish and ends with a brutal finishing move where Hazel unleashes the very fabric of her wraith-like enemy presence. Truly, it lacks the depth and expressive possibilities of titles such as God’s War. The platform feels floating, from one prominently painted white shelf to another. And it just feels normative and clunky.

A team of visual artists, sound designers and screenwriters for the Microsoft-owned studio, Forced Games, created this sturdy, rustic place, but was able to be reverted with the gameplay of heartfelt smoothness. At various points, you have to escape from the vague, misty beings. However, these sequences are simple enough to lack dramatic tension. It is repeated many times throughout the approximately 12-hour period of the game, with the difficulty increasing slightly each time.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/J4UHyaaWXuw?wmode=opaque&feature=oembed" title="South of Midnight – Gameplay Reveal – Xbox Games Showcase 2024" height="480" width="854" allowfullscreen="

The other loops grate when time is stacked. Clear this area of ​​decaying material (visual symptoms of land pain and trauma). Check out another lightly animated flashback. This lovingly described portrayal of Minami is rich and arrested, but the game is memorization.

All you’re left is a game where all the best ideas are optical. The Southern style of fairy tales unfolds like modern, summoning some of the whimsical and damaged beauty of 2012’s Beast of the Southern Wild, while taking on Toni Morrison’s fiction. The soundtrack is a rough collage of Howling Blues, awful folk and light-hearted jazz. Forced Game bottled a lot of Southern magic during the creation of this seemingly dangerous gambit for Microsoft, but it couldn’t take risks where it really matters.

Midnight South will be released on April 8th with £39.99 or Game Pass subscription

Source: www.theguardian.com

Blizzards in the north and floods in the south wreak havoc in the eastern US

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The eastern half of the US is bracing for severe weather this weekend, with “life-threatening” flash floods expected in parts of the southeast and heavy snowfall as the storm progresses from the Midwest to New England.

The heaviest snow is predicted in Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine, with double-digit totals projected by the National Weather Service.

Workers removing snow from sidewalks during a winter storm in Chicago on February 12, 2025.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

The National Weather Service issued an early warning on Saturday highlighting the potential for severe flash floods in Ohio and Tennessee valleys, especially in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Approximately 21 million people from Arkansas to Pennsylvania have been placed under various flood warnings.

A broad range of severe thunderstorms is anticipated across the region, bringing rainfall of up to 6 inches and isolated higher totals of 8 inches in certain areas.

The Weather Bureau stated, “The heavy rainfall poses the greatest risk of life-threatening flash floods, notably in northwest Tennessee and western Kentucky, where there is a high risk of excessive rainfall (level 4/4) in effect.” Read more in the Short-Range Forecast Discussion.

Apart from flooding, there is also a potential for thunderstorms and strong tornadoes in parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley, according to the National Weather Service.

A large area of rain and thunderstorms is expected to persist along the mid-Atlantic and southeastern coasts through the weekend, increasing the risk of heavy precipitation and flash flooding.

Further north, medium to heavy snowfall is forecasted from the upper Midwest through the Great Lakes to New England, affecting around 70 million people with winter weather warnings from Nebraska to Maine.

A mix of sleet and freezing rain is expected in much of the northeast, creating hazardous driving conditions.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center warned, “The greatest risk for ice accumulation due to freezing rain is in the northeast.” They also cautioned that in some areas, icing could lead to power outages. Read the advisory on x website.

The storm is expected to intensify in the northeast from late Saturday through Sunday, with strong gusty winds and periods of snow creating extremely difficult travel conditions, as per the Weather Service.

Early next week, forecasts indicate that rain and snow will move away from the east coast, but breezy winds will maintain cooler temperatures across much of the eastern US.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

A recently discovered bird species in South America

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Ornithologists have described a new species of tanager in the genus Snapdragon. Trichotraupis It lives on the eastern slopes of the Andes.

Trichotraupis melanops (above) and Trichotraupis griseonota (below). Image credit: Eduardo Brettas.

The newly discovered species belong to: Trichotraupisa genus established in 1851 that previously included only one species. Black-billed goldfish (Trichotraupis melanops).

These forest-dwelling birds live in pairs or small groups, feed on fruits and arthropods, and regularly feed on swarms of army ants.

These are common in the Atlantic Forest and are bold, conspicuous, and easy to observe. However, it is less conspicuous in the Andes Mountains, since its main habitat is drier forests than in the Atlantic region.

“Trichotraupis is a single-species genus found in two separate populations, one in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil (from southern Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul), northeastern Argentina, and eastern Paraguay, at an altitude of 1,200 m above sea level. In the range of up to meters. ” Dr. Wagner Cavalzel from Paulista University and its colleagues.

“It is usually associated with the Atlantic Forest, but some isolated populations also exist in the Gallery Forest of the southern Pantanal and eastern Chaco.”

“The second population is found on the eastern slopes of the Andes from northern Peru to extreme northwestern Argentina, primarily at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,700 meters.”

recent research proven The people of the Atlantic Ocean and the Andes Trichotraupis melanops Because they are genetically isolated, their current classification as monotypic species should be reconsidered.

In the new study, Cavalzere and his co-authors evaluated the morphology, plumage, and vocalizations of Atlantic and Andean populations.

The researchers examined a total of 581 skin specimens housed in museums around the world.

“Our feather studies revealed full diagnostic potential between the two populations. Trichotraupis” they said.

“Both populations are also differentiated by tarsal length, with the Atlantic population having longer tarsals on average.”

“Furthermore, the taxa live in different types of vegetation (Atlantic Forest and Tucumano-Boliviano Forest and Yungas Mountain Forest).”

named Trichotraupis griseonota (common name: Andean black swan), this new species is found on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina, at altitudes ranging from 400 meters to 1,700 meters.

“Trichotraupis griseonota “It is restricted to the eastern slopes of the Andes in south-central Peru, Bolivia and northwestern Argentina,” the scientists said.

“It inhabits the seasonally dry Tucumano-Boliviano forest, which is restricted to the Andean forests of northwestern Argentina and the foothills of north-central Bolivia.”

“This species also occurs in the narrow Yungas woodlands at the foothills of the Andes in northern Bolivia and Peru.”

“These montane forests exhibit higher moisture levels compared to the Tucumano-Boliviano forests.”

According to the research team, the fact that these different lineages were previously unrecognized is somewhat interesting, given that: Trichotraupis It is a common species and is abundant in collections.

“Given that museum specimens have played the most important role since their birth several centuries ago, in addition to being a very important and relatively new paradigm in describing new species discovered in museum cabinets. “We emphasize that it is particularly important in the era of genomes and supercomputers; it is fundamental to avian taxonomy,” the authors concluded.

“By documenting and organizing variations and enabling these insights, Trichotraupis griseonota This should serve as a reminder for ornithologists to never underestimate the potential for exciting new discoveries in a seemingly common set of bird skin specimens. ”

of study Published in a magazine zoo animals.

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Wagner Cavalzere others. 2024. A new species of golden butterfly (species: Traupidae) that lives on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. zoo animals 5468 (3): 541-556;doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5468.3.7

Source: www.sci.news

The ancient inhabitants of Easter Island journeyed to South America

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The famous Moai statues of Easter Island

Tero Hakala/Shutterstock

DNA analysis of ancient ruins on Easter Island has revealed that the population was actually growing when Europeans arrived, rather than plummeting as some history books have reported.

The findings also indicate that there was contact between the inhabitants of this island and those of South America long before the arrival of Europeans. This island and its people are also known as Rapa Nui.

Located in the Pacific Ocean 3,500 km from South America, Rapa Nui is one of the most isolated inhabited islands on Earth. Polynesians first settled here around 1200 AD, when palm forests covered 164 square kilometers of the island.

By the time Europeans arrived in 1722, rats and excessive logging had almost completely destroyed the vegetation, and the island’s history has often been portrayed as an example of the unsustainable exploitation of ecosystems and their subsequent collapse after human population growth.

The researchers worked closely with representatives of the Rapa Nui community, and one of their aims was to verify that the people on display at the museum were in fact from the island, as efforts to repatriate remains are underway, led by modern residents.

The findings showed that 15 people who died in the past 500 years were from Rapa Nui.

Populations that are experiencing bottlenecks due to population decline will show signals in their DNA that indicate reduced genetic diversity, Moreno-Mayer said.

“We use statistical methods that allow us to reconstruct the genetic diversity of the Rapa Nui population over the past few thousand years,” he says, “and intriguingly, we find no evidence of the dramatic population decline around 1600 that would be predicted by collapse theory.”

Instead, the findings suggest that Rapa Nui’s population grew steadily until the 1860s, when slave traders abducted hundreds of islanders and many more died in a smallpox epidemic.

The study also identified regions of DNA in the ancient Rapa Nui genome that were of Native American origin, and the analysis suggests that mixing between these populations occurred around the 1300s.

“Our interpretation is that the ancestors of Rapa Nui first settled on the island and then returned to the Americas shortly thereafter,” Moreno-Mayer says.

Previous studies have also cast doubt on the idea of population decline. Carl Lipo The researcher, from New York’s Binghamton University, said it was
“fantastic” to see that a completely independent body of evidence points to the same conclusion his team reached in a paper published earlier this year using radiocarbon and archaeological evidence.

He said the research confirmed that the island was inhabited by people who lived resilient and successful lives before Europeans arrived.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Matching dinosaur footprints found in Africa and South America by paleontologists

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A team of paleontologists led by Southern Methodist University has discovered more than 260 dinosaur footprints from the Early Cretaceous period in Brazil and Cameroon, marking a place where land dinosaurs were last able to travel freely between South America and Africa millions of years before the two regions split apart.

Theropod dinosaur footprints discovered in the Souza Basin in northeastern Brazil. Image credit: Ismar de Souza Carvalho/SMU.

Africa and South America began to separate about 140 million years ago, causing fissures in the Earth's crust called rifts to form along pre-existing weaknesses.

As the crustal plates beneath South America and Africa moved apart, magma from the Earth's mantle rose to the surface, forming new oceanic crust as the continents moved away from each other.

And eventually the South Atlantic Ocean filled the gap between these two continents.

Evidence of some of these major events was evident between the two sites, where paleontologists from Southern Methodist University discovered footprints of three-toed theropod, sauropod and ornithischian dinosaurs dating back 120 million years. Louis Jacobs and his colleagues.

“We determined that, in terms of age, the prints are similar,” Dr Jacobs said.

“From a geological and plate tectonic point of view, they are similar. In terms of shape, they are almost identical.”

Theropod dinosaur footprints discovered in the Kum Basin in northern Cameroon. Image by Ismar de Souza Carvalho/SMU.

The researchers found the footprints in the Borborema region of northeastern Brazil and the Kum Basin in northern Cameroon, more than 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) apart.

“Dinosaurs left their mark on a single supercontinent called Gondwana, which separated from Pangaea 120 million years ago,” Dr Jacobs said.

“One of the newest and narrowest geological connections between Africa and South America was an elbow in northeastern Brazil that borders the present-day coast of Cameroon along the Gulf of Guinea.”

“Because the two continents were contiguous along that narrow stretch, animals on either side of the connection could potentially migrate across it.”

“Before the continental connection between Africa and South America was severed, rivers flowed and lakes formed in their drainage basins,” he said.

“The plants provided food for herbivores, supporting the food chain. Muddy deposits left in rivers and lakes contain dinosaur footprints, including those of carnivores, providing evidence that these river valleys may have provided special migration routes for life to cross the continents 120 million years ago.”

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This article is based on a press release provided by Southern Methodist University.

Source: www.sci.news

The South American lungfish has the largest genome ever sequenced to date.

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Researchers from the University of Konstanz and other institutions Africa(Protopterus annectens) and South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa)The genome of the South American lungfish (approximately 91 gigabases, about 30 times the size of the human genome) is the largest animal genome sequenced to date. Australia(Neoceratodus forsteri) African lungfish.

South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxaImage courtesy of Katherine Seghers, Louisiana State University.

Lungfish are freshwater vertebrates belonging to the order Dipnoi (Pulmonaceae) and have existed for 400 million years, from the Devonian to the present day.

Some people consider lungfish to be “living fossils” because their morphology has changed very little over the years.

They, like all terrestrial vertebrates, have the ability to breathe air through lungs similar to our own.

Only six species of lungfish remain today: four live in Africa, one in South America, and one in Australia.

“These ancient 'living fossils' still resemble their ancestors so closely that they seem to have been forgotten during evolution,” said biologist Axel Meyer of the University of Konstanz and his colleagues.

“Since our genetic material, DNA, is made up of nucleobases and the sequence of these nucleobases contains the actual genetic information, a comparative analysis of the lungfish genome will only be possible if we know its complete sequence.”

“We already knew that the lungfish genome was large, but until now it was unclear how large it really was and what we could learn from it,” the researchers added.

“Sequencing the lungfish genome has therefore been very labor-intensive and complex, both from a technical and bioinformatics point of view.”

In a new study, scientists have sequenced the genome of African and South American lungfish.

“The South American species' DNA is 91 gigabases (or 91 billion bases), the largest of any animal genome and more than twice the size of the genome of the previous record holder, the Australian lungfish,” Dr Meyer said.

“Eighteen of the South American lungfish's 19 chromosomes are each larger than the entire human genome, about 3 billion base pairs in length.”

The largest genome sequence to date, that of the Australian lungfish, was also sequenced by the same team.

“Autonomous transposons are responsible for the large size of the lungfish genome over time,” the authors write.

“These are DNA sequences that are 'replicated' and change position in the genome, which causes the genome to grow.”

“Although similar phenomena have occurred in other organisms, our analysis shows that the South American lungfish has by far the fastest rate of genome expansion ever recorded; every 10 million years, its genome has expanded to a size equivalent to the entire human genome.”

“And it continues to grow. We now have evidence that the transposon responsible is still active.”

“We have identified a mechanism for this enormous genome growth. This extreme expansion is due, at least in part, to the very low presence of piRNAs.”

“This type of RNA is normally part of the molecular mechanism that silences transposons.”

Team paper Published in the journal Nature.

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M. Chartres othersAll lungfish genomes provide information on genome expansion and tetrapod evolution. NaturePublished online August 14, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07830-1

Source: www.sci.news

Microsoft raises concerns about China’s potential disruption of US, South Korea, and India elections using AI technology

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Following a dry run of Taiwan’s presidential election this year, China is anticipated to disrupt elections in the United States, South Korea, and India with artificial intelligence-generated content, as warned by Microsoft.

The tech giant predicts that Chinese state-backed cyber groups will target high-profile elections in 2024, with North Korea also getting involved, according to a report released by the company’s threat intelligence team.

“As voters in India, South Korea, and the United States participate in elections, Chinese cyber and influence actors, along with North Korean cyber attack groups, are expected to influence these elections,” Microsoft mentioned.



Microsoft stated that China will create and distribute AI-generated content through social media to benefit positions in high-profile elections.

Although the immediate impact of AI-generated content seems low in swaying audiences, China is increasingly experimenting with enhancing memes, videos, and audio, potentially being effective in the future.

During Taiwan’s presidential election in January, China attempted an AI-powered disinformation campaign for the first time to influence a foreign election, Microsoft reported.

The Beijing-backed group Storm 1376, also known as Spamoflage or Dragonbridge, heavily influenced Taiwan’s elections with AI-generated content spreading false information about candidates.

Chinese groups are also engaged in influencing operations in the United States, with Chinese government-backed actors using social media to probe divisive issues among American voters.

In a blog post, Microsoft stated, “This may be to collect intelligence and obtain accurate information on key voting demographics ahead of the US presidential election.”

The report coincides with a White House board’s announcement of a Chinese cyber operator infiltrating US officials’ email accounts due to errors made by Microsoft, as well as accusations of Chinese-backed hackers conducting cyberattacks targeting various entities in the US and UK.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Review of South Park Snow Day: A Wild and Entertaining Playground Melee

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TIt’s snowing heavily in South Park, Colorado, and young Eric Cartman is looking for a chance to skip school. Huddled in his bed, he clenches his fists and closes his eyes tightly, hoping that the blizzard will worsen to Biblical levels so that the next morning the school can declare a snow day. When he wakes up, the city is in panic – scores of dead, widespread panic buying of toilet paper, and weather so unprecedented that many fear it’s a sign of the end. Of course, he’s overjoyed.

What follows is the titular Snow Day, in which neighborhood children paint a fantasy war on a bright white canvas, in which elves and humans fight according to rules that may change in an instant with the development of a “random” card. Masu. South Park has always been great at capturing the bits of childhood we forget as we grow older, and with the premise of Snow Day!, developer Question Games has captured just such nuggets. I’ll find out. Give some kids a free day and a cardboard sword, and they’ll build an entire universe and bicker about exactly how it works.

What this means for players is the roguelike elements that were completely removed from South Park’s previous two 2D turn-based role-playing games, 2014’s The Stick of Truth and 2017’s sequel The Fractured But Whole It is a cooperative action game with

You can be forgiven for feeling some regret about that parting. Those story-driven games gave us countless gags that were too vulgar to tarnish this fine publication, and the abrupt transition to retro 8-bit graphics when they entered Canada When, for example, they found creative ways to use the medium itself for comedy. Frankly, the writing in Snow Day! isn’t all that sharp. But its advantage is its pick-up-and-play accessibility and unexpected depth as a roguelike.

Battle small children in your ramshackle Tolkien cosplay, deploying basic melee and ranged attacks as you race through the burbs, collecting toilet paper (new gold since panic buying began) and modifier cards. Masu. These are things like dealing extra damage to bleeding enemies or increasing the range of your farts. The more you progress through the match, the more specialized playstyles you can specify, making each battle more interesting.

Especially when a bullshit card drops. This gives you and your enemies ridiculous abilities like laser eyes and meteor showers. They’re done sparingly and are always met with enough ire from Cartman and others to remind you that these rules are supposed to feel like they’re being improvised by a 10-year-old.

Control isn’t always good. In fact, it rarely feels that way, as attack and movement animations are marred by the floating feel and lack of proper weapon feedback. But on snowy days! Keep your brain focused by allowing you to plot more efficient builds. Every card you choose has consequences, as there’s always a tougher battle around the corner and a boss fight at the end of your run. This won’t keep you and your pals in South Park’s perennial winter for as long as popular hangout spaces in co-op games like Fortnite. But for those nostalgic for the days when snow meant freedom, it offers a weekend of farting, chaotic fun.

Source: www.theguardian.com

5,000 years ago, Cacao likely spread from the Amazon to other regions in Central and South America

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Humans have a long history of transporting and trading plants, contributing to the evolution of cultivated plants. The cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), whose beans are used to make products such as chocolate, liqueurs, and cocoa butter, is native to the Neotropics of South America. However, little is known about its cultivation and use in these regions. In a new study, archaeologists analyzed ceramic residues from a large sample of pre-Columbian cultures in Central and South America. Their findings reveal that cacao was widely used in South America outside of its Amazonian region, going back 5,000 years.

Recent discoveries have recorded the domestication of cacao trees (Theobroma cacao) inhabited its native Amazon region of Ecuador by at least 5,300 years ago. Lanau other. This study shows that a large-scale landscape of domestication of cacao outside of its native region along the Pacific coast of South America occurred simultaneously during this same early period and later periods. Image credit: Fernando Granier.

The modern cacao tree (its scientific name means “food of the gods”) is one of the world’s most important crops.

Eleven genetic groups are known, including the widely used Criollo and Nacional strains.

Although it is well established that the cacao tree was originally domesticated in the upper Amazon basin, it has not been clear how the use of cacao by other cultures spread throughout Central and South America.

In a new study, AGAP Institute researcher Claire Lanau and colleagues found 352 ceramic remains from 19 pre-Columbian cultures dating back approximately 5,900 to 400 years, spanning Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Belize, and Panama. was analyzed.

Researchers tested ancient cacao’s DNA and the presence of three methylxanthine (mild stimulant) compounds (theobromine, theophylline, and caffeine) present in modern cacao tree lineages to determine the ancient cacao’s DNA. Identified the residue.

The authors also used genetic information from 76 modern cocoa samples to establish the ancient cocoa ancestry present in ceramic products. This could reveal how ancient cocoa strains diversified and spread.

The study results show that cacao was domesticated in the Amazon at least 5,000 years ago, and was soon cultivated extensively along the Pacific coast, with high diversity among ancient lineages likely due to genetic This shows that different populations were bred together.

The presence of cacao genotypes originating from the Peruvian Amazon in the Valdivia coastal region of Ecuador suggests that these cultures have been in contact for many years.

The Peruvian strain was also detected in artifacts from Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

“Taken together, these indicate that cocoa varieties spread widely across countries and were interbred to adapt to new environments as different cultures adopted the use of cocoa,” the researchers said.

“A better understanding of cocoa’s genetic history and diversity may help combat the threats facing modern cocoa varieties, such as disease and climate change.”

a paper The survey results were published in a magazine scientific report.

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C. Lanau other. 2024. Revisiting the history of pre-Columbian cacao cultivation revealed through an archaeogenomic approach. science officer 14, 2972; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-53010-6

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers find five previously unknown species of eyelash pit vipers in South America

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Scientists have identified five mysterious species of the genus Viper Botrykiss They live in the jungles and cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador.

Botrykis Rahimi. Image credit: Lucas Bustamante.

The eyelash viper is distinguished by a unique feature: a set of huge spine-like scales above the eyes.

These eyelashes give the snake a frightening and ferocious appearance, but the true purpose of this feature is still unknown.

However, what is certain is that certain populations exhibit longer and more stylized eyelashes compared to others.

The changes in the condition of the eyelashes led researchers to hypothesize that an undiscovered species existed.

Eyelash vipers are also famous for another characteristic: they are multicolored. The same patch of rainforest may contain individuals of the turquoise morph, moss morph, or gold morph. They all belong to the same species, even though they have completely different attire.

Alejandro Arteaga, a researcher with the Carmai Foundation and Tropical Helping SA, said: “No two individuals have the same color, even if they belong to the same litter (giving birth to live offspring).”

“Some species have a ‘Christmas’ form, a ghost form, and even a purple form, and different varieties can coexist and even breed with each other.”

“The reasons behind these incredible color changes are still unclear, but it is likely that the pit vipers are able to occupy a wide range of ambush perches, from mossy branches to bright yellow heliconias. is.”

Distribution of palm beetles botry extract schlegeli Species complex including 5 new species.Image credit: Arteaga other., doi: 10.3897/evolsyst.8.114527.

The newly identified species of eyelash viper is Botry extract lasix morum, Botrychus crebai, botry extract kwargi, Botrykis Rahimiand botry extract fusaini.

The first three species are endemic to the eastern Columbia Mountains and live in cloud forests and coffee plantations.

Botrykis Rahimi It stands out because it occurs in the remote and pristine Chocó rainforest on the border of Colombia and Ecuador.

botry extract fusaini It lives in the forests of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru.

“The venom of some (perhaps all) of the new viper species is much less lethal and hemorrhagic than the venom of typical vipers. Central American eyelash viper (botry extract schlegeli)” said Tropical Helping SA and Savia Foundation researcher Lucas Bustamante, who was bitten on the finger. Botrykis Rahimi When the photo was taken during a research expedition in 2013.

“There was intermittent localized pain, dizziness and swelling, but after three doses of antivenom within two hours of the sting, it quickly resolved and no scarring remained.”

“One of the key conclusions of the study is that four species in the group face high risk of extinction,” the researchers said.

“Their geographic range is very limited, and 50% to 80% of their habitat has already been destroyed.”

“Therefore, rapid response measures are urgently needed to save remaining habitat.”

of study It was published in the magazine evolutionary systematics.

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A. Arteaga other. 2024. Systematic revision of Eyelash Palm-Pitviper botry extract schlegeli (Serpentes, Viperidae), 5 new species descriptions and 3 revalidations. evolutionary systematics 8 (1): 15-64; doi: 10.3897/evolsyst.8.114527

Source: www.sci.news

Gemini South Telescope zeroes in on unusual lenticular galaxy NGC 4753

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NGC 4753’s remarkable and complex network of dust lanes winding around its galactic core defines its “peculiar” classification, and was probably the result of the galaxy’s merger with a nearby dwarf galaxy about 1.3 billion years ago. It is thought that there is.

This image from the Gemini South Telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, shows NGC 4753, a lenticular galaxy about 60 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. Image credits: International Gemini Observatory / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / J. Miller, International Gemini Observatory and NSF’s NOIRLab / M. Rodriguez, International Gemini Observatory and NSF’s NOIRLab / M. Zamani, NSF’s NOIRLab.

NGC4753 is a lenticular galaxy located approximately 60 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo.

This galaxy, also known as LEDA 43671, UGC 8009, and IRAS 12498-0055, discovered It was proposed by German-born British astronomer William Herschel on February 22, 1784.

NGC 4753 is a member of the NGC 4753 group of galaxies in the Virgo II cloud, a series of at least 100 galaxy clusters and individual galaxies that extend away from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster.

“There is an astonishing number of galaxies in the observable universe, with recent estimates putting the number between 100 billion and 2 trillion,” Gemini astronomers said in a statement.

“And just like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike. However, they can be divided into four broad classes based on their appearance and physical characteristics: elliptical, lenticular, irregular, and spiral. , with many subclasses in between.”

“However, galaxies are dynamic objects that evolve over time while interacting with their surrounding environment, meaning that an individual galaxy can fall into multiple classifications over its lifetime. ”

In 1992, Indiana University astronomer Tom Steiman-Cameron and colleagues published A detailed study of NGC 4753 reveals that its complex shape is likely the result of a merger with a small companion galaxy.

“Galaxies that swallow other galaxies often look like train wrecks, but this is a train wreck galaxy,” said Dr. Steiman-Cameron.

Galactic mergers occur when two or more galaxies collide, mixing their material and significantly changing the shape and behavior of each galaxy involved.

In the case of NGC 4753, the once-standard lenticular galaxy is thought to have merged with a nearby gas-rich dwarf galaxy about 1.3 billion years ago.

The dwarf galaxy’s gas, combined with the burst of star formation caused by this galactic collision, injected large amounts of dust into the system.

The galaxy’s gravitational inward spiral spread out the accumulated dust into a disk. And this is where the story gets interesting.

Astronomers have discovered that a phenomenon known as differential precession is responsible for NGC 4753’s tangled dust lanes.

Precession occurs when a rotating object changes its axis of rotation, like a spinning top that loses momentum and wobbles. And differential means that the speed of precession is different depending on the radius.

For a dusty accretion disk orbiting around a galactic nucleus, the rate of precession is faster toward the center and slower near the edges.

This fluctuating wobble-like motion is due to the angle at which NGC 4753 and its former dwarf companion collided, and is responsible for the strongly twisted dust lanes that we see today wrapping around the galaxy’s luminescent core. It becomes.

“For a long time, no one knew what to make of this strange galaxy,” said Dr. Steiman-Cameron.

“But by starting with the idea that the accreted material fills the disk and analyzing the three-dimensional geometry, the mystery was solved.”

“Thirty years later, we are now incredibly excited to be able to see this highly detailed image with the Gemini South Telescope.”

Source: www.sci.news

TUNL, a South African e-commerce startup, secures funding to boost expansion of export platform

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tunnelSouth African parcel delivery platform has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding from investors including Founders Factory Africa, Digital Africa Ventures, E4E Africa and Jozi Angels.

The platform claims that e-commerce merchants can save between 50% and 80% on international shipping costs, and the funding will fuel expansion in its key market South Africa, as well as launches in other key African countries. He said that he would lay the foundation for the Emerging markets.

CEO Matthew Davey cum COO craig lowman Mr Davey founded the company in 2022 after seeking a solution to the challenges he faced as managing director of a Dutch company importing South African engineering materials into Europe. In his interview with TechCrunch, Davey said the process of moving these materials is cumbersome and expensive, and his experience shows that transportation costs are widespread, especially for small and medium-sized businesses in emerging markets like South Africa. I’ve come to recognize the problem.

Current challenges in cross-border transportation are costing African businesses an estimated $50 billion a year in missed opportunities. The founders of TUNL identified a recurring problem among small and medium-sized traders in South Africa during the pandemic. That meant that shipping costs could exceed the value of the item. This also applies to high-quality goods such as textiles, clothing, footwear, camera accessories, and specialty components, despite the presence of major courier services such as DHL, UPS, and FedEx.

Typically, Cape Town sellers offer only one shipping option, such as DHL, to customers looking to purchase goods abroad. For example, a backpack might cost $60, and shipping from South Africa to the US could be about the same, $50-60, which could negatively impact your conversion rate. What TUNL has done is partner with delivery services like UPS and FedEx to ensure reasonable rates and subsidize shipping costs for small and medium-sized businesses by 50% to 75%.

“Our pricing is fully transparent and democratized. We want every business, large or small, to be able to transform their international sales by reducing shipping costs as much as possible. We want to make sure they have an equal opportunity to do the same,” Lowman said in a statement.

On the TUNL platform, sellers offer a variety of shipping options to their customers at checkout. This includes an “economy” option that incorporates shipping costs into the product price, allowing free shipping via TUNL’s courier service and slightly longer delivery times (approximately 10-14 days). Reduce cart abandonment at checkout. Alternatively, customers can choose expedited shipping options (within a week) via FedEx or UPS for a more reasonable price, such as $10 for the same backpack, allowing for more flexibility and potentially higher exchange rates. (The exact price may vary depending on destination and weight, but Davey says this is a consistent approximate number).

“It’s all about helping sellers succeed,” said the CEO. “Because if there’s only one expensive shipping option at checkout and the customer has two choices, they’re not going to buy it. “They can decide to abandon their cart or pay up.” “But when you introduce two shipping options, especially a free shipping option, human psychology forces the customer to choose one of the two, rather than abandoning the cart. .”

Primarily, South African e-commerce merchants using TUNL tend to ship most of their goods to the US, UK, Europe and Australia. Two-thirds of the shipments end up in the United States, Davey said. TUNL, which competes with Ivorian startups and platforms such as DHL partner ANKA, has grown 35% month-on-month since its launch and now has more than 700 merchants in its “delivery club.” TUNL’s merchants shipped more than 8,000 international parcels in 2023, representing R19.5 million worth of exports from South Africa, the company said in a statement.

The two-year-old e-commerce platform makes money by taking a margin from orders placed on its platform. The products we handle are wide-ranging, including backpacks, fashion shoes, arts and crafts, books, nanofiber materials, high-performance springs, various furniture, musical instruments, cosmetics, and other preserved foods. South Africa is known for its wine industry, with exports reaching 368.5 million liters last year. And although the transport of wine (alcohol) is not yet included in TUNL’s export items due to existing restrictions, Davey said the startup is now one of South Africa’s largest wine subscription businesses and its business He said he is in discussions about the possibility of participating. .

“We are getting a message from our merchants that we have transformed their business. They are adding new employees and growing because of us. So if our merchants are only serving the South African market, “It’s a win-win for the ecosystem to make people feel like they can look at the world as a market, rather than the only market they can serve,” he said. “We help merchants grow internationally just as we help them succeed, because the overseas consumer market is much larger than the domestic market for these types of products. ”

Davey said TUNL, which makes about $60,000 a month, will now focus on using the seed funding to improve sales and the onboarding process for new franchisees. In particular, the onboarding experience has been streamlined, relying primarily on customer support assistance and taking a more self-service approach.

Source: techcrunch.com