Tag Archives: spotted

Canine Detective Sniffs Out Spotted Lanternfly Eggs

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The spotted lanternfly, an invasive species that damages leaves and first identified in the US a decade ago, is gradually moving across the East Coast and into the Midwest. Be cautious of its spread.

However, researchers are now employing new methods to combat its expansion—specially trained dogs skilled at detecting insect eggs before they hatch.

Since late last year, four dogs have been scouring parks in the Cleveland area, searching for trees, shrubs, park benches, rocks, and egg masses hidden near bridge supports. Each cluster of eggs can yield 30-50 spotted lanternflies.

An Australian Shepherd Cattle Dog Mix belonging to Gail Samco from Rio discovered a cluster of spotted lanternfly egg masses on a tree in Garfield Heights, Ohio, on May 5th.
sue ogrocki/ap file

To date, the dog has uncovered over 4,000 egg masses. This has aided in controlling an insect population that threatens crops worth approximately 200,000 dollars, including grapes, fruit trees, hops, and hardwoods, according to Connie Hausman, senior conservation science manager at Cleveland Metropark.

In just a few hours in April, the dog located about 1,100 egg clusters at the Metroparks Zoo in Cleveland, Hausman noted.

She emphasized that it’s not only the dogs that can be trained for this task.

“All of them have excellent noses, but not every dog qualifies,” she explained. “They had to undergo testing to demonstrate their abilities.”

Page Malone with her Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Bronco, searching for a cluster of spotted lanternfly eggs on May 5 in Garfield Heights, Ohio.
sue ogrocki/ap file

These dogs were trained as part of a research initiative by a team at Virginia Tech, focusing on curbing the spread of this pest, which originates from East Asia and is identifiable by its unique black-spotted, bright red wings.

The four dogs operating in Cleveland, owned by local residents, were already trained in scent detection before collaborating with Virginia Tech to hone their skills in identifying spotted lanternfly eggs.

Whenever the dogs find a new cluster of eggs, they are rewarded with a treat from their handler who then collects the egg masses.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Space Flower Spotted by Gemini Telescope in Large Magellan Cloud

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Using Gemini South Telescope, NSF's Noirlab astronomers imaged a beautiful nebula around the young open cluster NGC 2040.

The nebula, including the NGC 2040, resembles the vivid roses in this image taken by a Gemini Southeres scope. Image credits: International Gemini Observatory / Neur Love / NSF / Aura / J. Miller & M. Rodriguez, International Gemini Observatory & NSF No Arab/TA Rector, University of Alaska Anchorage & NSF No Arab/NSF No Arab/NSF No Arab, NSF No Arab.

NGC 2040 It is about 160,000 light years away from Earth, the constellation of Dorado.

This cluster, also known as the Cal 60 or ESO 56-164, resides within the large Magellan cloud, a satellite d-star galaxy of the Milky Way.

NGC 2040 is a so-called OB association, usually a stellar group containing stars between 10 and 100 stars O and B.

“O- and B-spectral types of stars live a short life of just millions of years, burning very hot before they explode like supernovae during that time,” Noirlab astronomers said in a statement.

“The energy released by these massive star explosions will be fed into the formation of NGC structures in the 2040s, while the material emitted sowing the growth of the next generation of stars.”

Most of our galaxy stars are thought to have been born in the OB Association, as well as NGC 2040.

“NGC 2040 is part of a large structure of interstellar gas known as LH 88, one of the largest active star-forming regions within the large Magellan cloud,” the astronomer said. Ta.

“Thousands of new stars will be born in the region over the millions of years to come.”

“When stars O and B end their supernovae life, they enrich the clusters with elements like carbon, oxygen and iron,” they said.

“Along with the rich hydrogen in the cluster, these elements provide the components necessary for the formation of new stars, planets, and perhaps life.”

“The bright stars seen in the image are widely separated, but their movements through space are similar, indicating that they have a common origin.”

“The layered ambiguous structure of LH 88 is the remains of an already dead star.”

“The delicate leaves of the rose were formed by both the shock waves of the supernova and the stellar winds of the stars of O and B.”

Source: www.sci.news

Two protostars spotted by Hubble in the Orion Nebula

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A new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows two protostars in the Orion Nebula, a diffuse nebula located about 1,350 light-years away in the constellation Orion.

This Hubble image shows two protostars, HOPS 150 and HOPS 153, within the famous Orion Nebula. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / T. Megeath.

The Orion Nebula is visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy speck surrounding the Hunter's Sword star Theta Orionis, below Orion's belt.

This nebula has been known as a star since the beginning of astronomical records, but it is so remarkable that it was first recognized as an expanded nebula in 1610, just one year after Galileo Galilei first used a telescope. It got attention.

Detailed descriptions of the Orion Nebula began to appear in the late 17th century, and it has been a popular target for anyone with a telescope ever since.

Also known as NGC 1976, Messier 42, M42, LBN 974, and Sharpless 281, this nebula is about 24 light-years long.

Only two million years old, this object is an ideal laboratory for studying young and nascent stars.

It offers a glimpse of what happened when the sun was born 4.6 billion years ago.

“The Orion Nebula is home to hundreds of newborn stars, including the protostars HOPS 150 and HOPS 153, the subject of this image,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“The names of these protostars come from the Herschel Orion Protostar Survey, conducted in collaboration with ESA's Herschel Space Observatory.”

“The object visible in the upper right corner of this image is HOPS 150. It is a binary star system, with two young protostars orbiting each other.”

“Each animal has a small dusty disk around it from which it gets its nutrition.”

“A dark line across the bright glow of these protostars is a cloud of gas and dust more than 2,000 times wider than the distance between Earth and the Sun that dips into the pair of protostars.”

“Based on the amount of infrared light emitted by HOPS 150 and the light at other wavelengths, we can see that the protostar is on its way to becoming a mature star.”

“Extending to the left of the image is a narrow, colorful outflow called a jet. This jet comes out of frame from the nearby protostar HOPS 153,” they said.

“HOPS 153 is a much younger object than its neighbors, still deeply embedded in its birth nebula and shrouded in a cold, dense cloud of gas.”

“Hubble can't penetrate this gas to see protostars, but the jets released by HOPS 153 appear bright as they plow into the gas and dust surrounding the Orion nebula.”

“The transition from a tightly wrapped protostar to a full-fledged star will have a dramatic impact on the surroundings of HOPS 153.”

“When gas falls into a protostar, its jets spew matter and energy into interstellar space, creating bubbles and heating the gas.”

“By stirring up and warming nearby gas, HOPS 153 may control the formation of new stars in its vicinity and even slow its own growth.”

Source: www.sci.news

Interacting Pairs of Galaxies in the Kaminoke Galaxy Cluster Spotted by Hubble

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This amazing new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is one of the best ever of a galaxy combination called MCG+05-31-045.

This Hubble image shows MCG+05-31-045, a pair of interacting galaxies located approximately 390 million light-years apart in the constellation Coma. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble/RJ Foley, University of California, Santa Cruz.

MCG+05-31-045 It is located approximately 390 million light-years away in the constellation of Coma.

This galaxy pair, also known as IC 3935, AGC 221216, or LEDA 44438, is part of the Coma cluster.

“The Coma cluster is a particularly rich galaxy cluster, containing more than 1,000 known galaxies,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“Some are easily visible with amateur telescopes.”

“Most of them are elliptical galaxies, which are typical of dense galaxy clusters like the Milky Way Cluster. Many elliptical galaxies are created when galaxies come close to each other and collide, stirring them up or They are formed when groups are torn apart.

“Stars in interacting galaxies can stay together, but gas in galaxies is a different story. Gas is twisted and compressed by gravity and is quickly used up to form new stars.” Masu.”

“When hot, massive blue stars die, there is little gas left to replace them with a new generation of young stars.”

“In the case of interacting spiral galaxies, the regular orbits that give rise to their impressive spiral arms are also disrupted.”

“Whether it’s a merger or a simple near-miss, the result is a galaxy with little gas and aging stars orbiting in uncoordinated circles – elliptical galaxies.”

“A similar fate is very likely to befall MCG+05-31-045,” the astronomers said.

“When small spiral galaxies are torn apart and merged into larger galaxies, many new stars are formed, and the hot, blue stars quickly burn out, leaving colder, redder stars like other stars in a coma. is left behind in the elliptical galaxy.” “

“But this process will take millions of years to complete. Until then, Queen Berenice II will suffer from knots in her hair.”

Source: www.sci.news

Spotted Handfish Genome Decoded | Latest Scientific Findings

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team of researchers CSIRO We decoded the genome of Spotted handfish (Brachyonychthys hirsutus)an endangered species of marine fish endemic to Tasmania.

Spotted handfish (Brachyonychthys hirsutus). Image credit: CSIRO.

Brachyonychthys hirsutus It is a rare benthic fish of the handfish family. Brachionidae.

This rare fish is found only in Tasmania's Derwent River estuary and nearby areas. It is usually found at depths of 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 feet).

It was first officially described in 1804. Brachyonychthys hirsutus have Their highly adapted pectoral fins look like hands and allow them to walk on the ocean floor.

This species' diet includes small shellfish, shrimp, and polychaetes.

Brachyonychthys hirsutus teeth classified as endangered species Listed on the IUCN Red List 2020. Scientists estimate that fewer than 2,000 individuals remain in the wild.

Its rapid decline is thought to be due to historical fishing practices, coastal development, climate change, and the arrival of invasive species.

“Genome sequencing will aid ongoing efforts to increase population numbers and monitor genetic diversity,” said CSIRO researcher Gunjan Pandey.

“Genomes help us understand how organisms work.”

This provides a basis for understanding gene expression in everyday life and provides insight into its evolutionary history.”

“With the genome, we can help detect species, monitor populations, and even estimate the lifespan of fish.”

“This rich genetic information will help inform long-term conservation strategies,” added CSIRO researcher Carly Devine.

“Recognizing that a multidisciplinary approach alongside ecological research is essential for effective conservation of endangered species, conservation measures are being expanded to include genetics.”

“Marine creatures like the spotted handfish are notoriously difficult to handle.”

“DNA is rapidly degraded and contaminated by microorganisms.”

“This makes it very difficult to assemble a pure genome.”

Using a so-called low-input protocol, the research team was able to sequence the complete genome from a small amount of low-quality DNA.

“We are one of only three teams in the world using this protocol,” Dr. Pandey said.

“We customized the entire process, from the lab setup to the bioinformatics software, to sequence high-quality genomes from low-quality DNA.”

“Work that previously took six to 12 months can now be completed in a matter of days. This technology holds great promise for the understanding and conservation of threatened species across Australia and around the world.”

Source: www.sci.news

Whimsical Whales Spotted Performing Headstands Beneath the Surface

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There is a possibility that Gray Whale could become the next Olympic champion if it surpasses Simone Biles. This speculation comes from a recent study that captured animals performing impressive acrobatic movements underwater, including headstands.

The spectacular ocean gymnastics were documented as part of a seven-year research project, during which scientists utilized drones to study pods of 200 gray whales along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, northern California, and southern Canada.

The findings of the study were published in new research results in the journal animal behavior. The research revealed that whales perform handstands by pressing their mouths against the ocean floor while foraging for food. The scientists also observed the whales moving their flippers in a sweeping motion, similar to synchronized swimmers.

A particularly endearing moment captured by the drones was that of a baby whale attempting, unsuccessfully, to perform a handstand, indicating that this behavior is learned with age.

According to Clara Bird, a study author at Oregon State University, “Our findings suggest that this handstand behavior requires strength and coordination.”

Drone footage of a whale (the whale above this image) doing a headstand. – Photo credit: Oregon State University GEMM Lab.

In addition to these remarkable acrobatic displays, the drone footage also captured the gray whale performing a “bubble blast,” where the whale releases air underwater to create a large circular pattern on the water’s surface.

In a second study published in ecology and evolution, scientists discovered that the bubble blast aids whales in feeding longer, especially in shallow waters.

Bird explained, “It’s similar to when we dive underwater. Releasing air from our lungs helps us stay submerged without battling the force that pushes us back to the surface.”

The research indicates that larger, fatter whales are more likely to perform bubble blasts, particularly while doing handstands. These findings underscore the importance of whale size in feeding behavior.

For more information, check out the full articles linked above.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Rare Amazonian Weasel Spotted on Camera in Bolivia

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Bolivian coffee growers Amazon Weasel (Neogare Africana) Surveys were conducted near shade-grown plots as part of a citizen science monitoring program.

Amazon Weasel (Neogare Africana): They have a distinctive, sharp, dark brown stripe running down the midline from their throat to their belly. Image credit: Bernal-Hoverud others., doi:10.15560/20.3.828.

The Amazonian weasel, also known as the tropical weasel, is a lesser known species of weasel native to South America.

It was first identified as a museum specimen that was mistakenly described as native to Africa, hence the specific name africana.

This species inhabits the tropical environment of the Amazon, where temperatures and rainfall are high throughout the year.

It is found in the Amazon River basin from north-central Brazil through Ecuador, south-central Peru and central Brazil, although its full range is unknown.

“I didn't know what it was, but I knew it was a rare animal,” said coffee grower Einar Quispe, who photographed the weasel near a natural spring on his farm.

“Biodiversity is an important part of our coffee history, so I did everything I could to film it. It's a wonderful surprise to see how important this observation is for Bolivia.”

The new observation in Bolivia represents the southernmost and highest elevation (1,400 metres above sea level) location of this species on record, and the 24th time the species has been recorded anywhere.

This video footage also marks the first time an Amazon weasel has been photographed.

Capturing this weasel for the first time is significant because it provides scientists and the public with their first live footage of this poorly understood carnivore.

“This is an invaluable audiovisual record of a virtually mythical carnivore that lives in the Amazon basin and a fantastic example of the value of citizen science,” said Dr Nuria Bernal, researcher at Texas Tech University.

“As more and more people use their smartphones and cameras to record their observations, we are sure that this is not the only noteworthy scientific contribution by Bolivian citizen scientists.”

“As soon as I saw the video I knew this was a creature we could only dream of observing,” Robert Wallace said. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

“WCS celebrates the importance of citizen science to our knowledge of biodiversity – Bolivia is now recognized as a global leader in the field – and we applaud the continued conservation work and innovation of APCERL's local partners.”

“Eco de las Aves from Bolivia has been our favorite coffee for a while now. How wonderful to know that as a consumer we are contributing to the preservation of Amazon forests and biodiversity while enjoying our morning cup of coffee.”

This observation: paper In the journal Checklist.

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N. Bernal Hoveld others2024. First Record Neogare Africana (Desmarest, 1818), Amazonian weasel (Carnivora, Mustelidae), Bolivia. Checklist 20 (3): 828-832; doi: 10.15560/20.3.828

This article is based on a press release provided by the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Source: www.sci.news

NGC 1546 Spotted by Hubble Space Telescope

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The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured its first images since changing to an alternate operating mode that uses just a single gyroscope to help control and orient the telescope.

This Hubble Space Telescope image shows NGC 1546, a spiral galaxy about 52.5 million light-years away in the constellation Doradus. Image courtesy of NASA / ESA / Hubblr / STScI / David Thilker, JHU.

Hubble I input it On May 24, 2024, we will pause science observations and go into safe mode due to ongoing gyroscope issues.

Over the past six months, the gyroscope has frequently returned inaccurate measurements, causing multiple interruptions to science operations.

This allowed Hubble astronomers to transition from a three-gyroscope operating mode to observing with only one gyroscope, allowing for more consistent science observations and preserving the other working gyroscope for future use.

“Hubble’s new images of the spectacular galaxy NGC 1546 prove that the telescope’s new, more stable pointing mode is a complete success,” said Dr. Jennifer Weissman, Hubble’s senior project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“We’re poised for many years of discovery to come, looking at everything from our solar system to exoplanets to distant galaxies.”

“Hubble plays a vital role in NASA’s astronomy toolkit.”

NGC 1546 It is a spiral galaxy 52.5 million light years Beyond the constellation of Dorado.

Also known as ESO 157-12, IRAS 04134-5611, and LEDA 14723, the galaxy is approximately 50,000 light years Across.

It was discovered on December 5, 1834 by British astronomer John Herschel.

“The orientation of the galaxy makes a backlit dust band highly visible some distance above the galaxy’s nucleus,” said Dr Weissman and his colleagues.

“This dust absorbs light from the core, making the core red and the dust appear rusty brown.”

“The core itself glows brightly with a yellowish light, indicating that it is an old population of stars.”

“Bright blue regions of active star formation shine through the dust.”

“You can also see several background galaxies, including an edge-on spiral galaxy just to the left of NGC 1546.”

A color image of NGC 1546 can be found at Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WCF3).

“The WCF3 instrument captured this image as part of a joint observing program between the Hubble Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope,” the astronomers said.

“The program also uses data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), which allows us to look at how stars form and evolve in great detail and at many wavelengths.”

“This image represents one of the first observations made with Hubble since transitioning to a new pointing mode that will allow for more consistent science observations.”

“We expect the Hubble Space Telescope will conduct most of its science observations in this new mode and continue its groundbreaking observations of the universe.”

Source: www.sci.news

Unexpectedly large stellar-mass black hole spotted in close binary star system

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Using data from ESA’s Gaia mission, astronomers discovered a nearby binary system of massive stars orbiting a dormant star-derived black hole over a period of 11.6 years. The black hole’s estimated mass (33 solar masses) is significantly larger than all known stellar-mass black holes in the Milky Way and within the mass range of extragalactic black holes detected by gravitational waves.

Locations of the first three black holes discovered in the Milky Way by ESA’s Gaia mission. Image credit: ESA/Gaia/DPAC.

The binary star system in question is named Gaia BH3 and is located 1,926 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquila.

Also known as Gaia DR3 4318465066420528000, LS II +14 13, and 2MASS J19391872+1455542, it consists of an old, very metal-poor giant star and a dormant stellar-mass black hole.

Gaia BH3 is the third dormant black hole discovered by ESA’s interstellar mapping satellite Gaia.

“This is the kind of discovery that only happens once in a research career,” said Dr. Pasquale Panuzzo, an astronomer at the CNRS and the Paris Observatory.

“So far, black holes this large have only been detected in distant galaxies by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration, thanks to observations of gravitational waves.”

The average mass of the known stellar-origin black holes in our galaxy is about 10 times the mass of the Sun.

Astronomers face the pressing problem of explaining the origin of black holes as large as Gaia BH3.

Our current understanding of how massive stars evolve and die does not immediately explain how this type of black hole could be born.

Most theories predict that as massive stars age, a significant portion of their material is shed by powerful winds. Eventually, it will be partially blown into space when it explodes as a supernova.

The remainder of the core shrinks further, becoming either a neutron star or a black hole, depending on its mass.

It is extremely difficult to explain a core large enough to eventually become a black hole 30 times the mass of the Sun. But the clues to solving this mystery may lie very close to Gaia BH3.

The star, which orbits Gaia BH3 at about 16 times the distance between the Sun and Earth, is quite unusual and is an ancient giant that formed during the first two billion years after the Big Bang, when our galaxy began to form. It’s a star.

It belongs to the family of galactic stellar halos, which move in the opposite direction to the stars in the galactic disk.

Its orbit indicates that the star was probably part of a small galaxy, or globular cluster, that was swallowed up by the Milky Way more than 8 billion years ago.

This companion star contains almost no elements heavier than hydrogen or helium, indicating that the massive star that became Gaia BH3 may also have been extremely poor in heavy elements.

For the first time, the theory that the massive black holes observed in gravitational wave experiments were created by the collapse of primordial massive stars lacking heavy elements has been confirmed.

These early stars may have evolved differently from the massive stars we see in our galaxy today.

The composition of the companion star can also reveal the formation mechanism of this surprising binary system.

“We were surprised that the chemical composition of the companion star is similar to that seen in older, metal-poor stars in the Milky Way,” said Dr. Elisabetta Cuffo, an astronomer at the CNRS and the Paris Observatory.

“There is no evidence that this star was contaminated by material ejected from the supernova explosion of the massive star that became BH3.”

“This may suggest that the black hole acquired a mate from another star system for the first time after its birth.”

of the team paper be published in a magazine astronomy and astrophysics.

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P. Panuzzo other. (Gaia collaboration). 2024. Gaia astronomical measurements prior to release discovered a dormant black hole with the mass of 33 solar masses. A&A, in press. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202449763

Source: www.sci.news