Popular fiction often includes the notion that given enough time, a monkey with a typewriter could recreate the works of William Shakespeare. However, two Australian mathematicians have debunked this idea as unrealistic.
The infinite monkey theorem suggests that given infinite time, a monkey could randomly type out Shakespeare’s plays. This concept has been widely used in popular culture, from “The Simpsons” to “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
In a paper authored by two academics from the University of Technology Sydney, it was established that even if monkeys worked tirelessly to replicate Shakespeare’s works, the universe is more likely to end before they succeed. The study will appear in the December 2024 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Franklin Open.
Stephen Woodcock, an associate professor at the university and one of the paper’s authors, explained that the mathematical concept of infinity can lead to erroneous conclusions in the real world. They concluded that even under the most generous assumptions about monkeys’ typing speed, the likelihood of them reproducing Shakespeare’s works is nearly impossible within the lifespan of the universe.
The paper introduces a “heat death” theory as the end of the universe, which would occur before a monkey could realistically achieve the feat. However, critics argue that by imposing a time limit, the essence of the “infinite” theory is lost.
The study calculates that a monkey with a 30-letter keyboard has only a 5% chance of typing the word “banana” in its lifetime. This contrasts with Shakespeare’s 884,421-word complete works, of which “banana” is not included.
While some scholars believe the theorem is a common theoretical concept and have dismissed the need to debunk it, the authors expressed surprise at being the first to formally challenge it. The likelihood of a monkey typing even a short phrase like “I am a chimpanzee, therefore I exist” is extremely low, making the proposed theory highly improbable.
Ultimately, the study suggests that the notion of monkeys reproducing Shakespeare’s works is highly unlikely and may need to be reconsidered in light of mathematical and scientific principles.
Trillions of neutrinos pass through our bodies every second. The sun produces them through nuclear fusion. The same goes for nuclear power plants. Some come from supernova explosions in space. Neutrinos are paired with antineutrinos, which scientists believe mirror the behavior of neutrinos.
As such, JUNO is designed to capture antineutrinos, specifically the antineutrinos emitted by two nuclear power plants located approximately 53 miles from the observatory.
The 13-story JUNO sphere will be filled with a special liquid called a scintillator and submerged in a cylinder of purified water, said project leader Wang Yifang, director of the China Institute of High Energy Physics.
When the antineutrinos pass through the liquid, they trigger a chemical process that produces a brief burst of light that can be picked up by sensors inside the sphere.
“This event will cause a flash that will last only about 5 nanoseconds, and we hope to capture it with thousands of photomultiplier tubes surrounding the sphere,” he says, as a worker behind him says, Mr. Wang, wearing a helmet, spoke while installing the doubler. “We hope to catch 60 events per day.”
Thanks to its approach, JUNO should be able to measure differences in antineutrino masses about 10 times more accurately than previous instruments.
First of three new neutrino observatories
JUNO is part of China’s ambitious efforts to become a global scientific powerhouse. In a speech this year, President Xi Jinping laid out plans to transform the country into a science and technology superpower by 2035.
October 11th, workers at the bottom of JUNO.Eric Baclinao/NBC News
JUNO is expected to be the first of three next-generation neutrino observatories to open over the next decade, making it a kind of spearhead in a new era of physics. In Japan, the Hyper-Kamiokande Observatory is scheduled to open in 2027. And a U.S.-backed program called the Deep Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) calls for particle accelerators to send beams of neutrinos underground from Illinois to North Dakota starting in 2027. 2031.
The three upcoming observatories are both complementary and competitors, as they all plan to use different techniques to detect particles. Each project involves extensive international collaboration aimed at advancing the field, creating new spin-off technologies and training a new wave of scientists.
“When you start these experiments, it’s not unlikely that you’ll observe something unexpected,” said Chris Marshall, an assistant professor of physics at the University of Rochester who works on the DUNE project. “Trying to unravel these very complex effects will require multiple experiments measuring things in different ways.”
The ability of each observatory to answer important physics questions depends in part on how well researchers can collaborate between and among projects. But there is growing concern among some scientists around the world that rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, and the resulting deterioration in their scientific relations, could hinder progress. are.
In recent years, the United States has pursued policies to prevent Chinese scientists from bringing American-based technology to the country and to prevent China from poaching its scientific stars.
Wang said the U.S. is denying visa applications for 2022 and 2023 without explanation and limiting U.S. involvement in JUNO.
“In science, cooperation and competition are good, but it can’t be all about competition,” he said.
On October 11, Mr. Wang pointed out to journalists the underlying characteristics of JUNO’s domain.Eric Baclinao/NBC News
U.S.-based scientists also said they have found new obstacles to cooperation with Chinese scientists.
“From the U.S. side, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to obtain funding for collaborations with Chinese colleagues,” Patrick Huber, director of the Center for Neutrino Physics at Virginia Tech, said in an email. It has also become much more difficult for our Chinese colleagues to obtain U.S. visas.” .
“It’s not impossible to collaborate with Chinese scientists, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult,” said Ignacio Taboada, a physics professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology who directs an existing neutrino observatory in Antarctica. “I’m working on it,” he said.
Solving the mystery of neutrinos
The data generated by JUNO could go a long way toward solving important mysteries about how and why neutrinos change shape more than other elementary particles.
Neutrinos can oscillate, or transform, between three so-called “flavors” during their travels: muon, tau, and electron. For example, the sun sends electron neutrinos toward Earth, but they can also arrive as muon neutrinos. When neutrinos interact (which rarely happens), they settle on a particular flavor.
Additionally, scientists believe that neutrinos travel as one of three different mass states, and that state helps determine the likelihood of a neutrino interacting as a particular flavor. However, it is not yet clear which state has the largest population.
Scientists also found that neutrinos and antineutrinos may deform differently as they travel, and that those differences may account for some of the imbalance in the physics between matter and antimatter in the universe. I think there is.
Journalists take photos at the top of JUNO’s sphere on October 11th.Eric Baclinao/NBC News
If so, learning more about the masses and oscillations of neutrinos and antineutrinos will help researchers find a missing page in the Standard Model of physics (the rulebook of particles and their interactions), or something that has never been known before. This could help researchers understand whether missing particles or forces are having invisible effects. role.
“Our beautiful theory of reality, the Standard Model, is not the final theory,” said Sergio Bertolucci, an Italian particle physicist and DUNE co-spokesperson. “It turns out that we need to know more about neutrinos to answer things that the standard model can’t answer.”
Wang hopes JUNO will win the race to determine the neutrino mass hierarchy before the United States and other countries.
“We just want to be good scientists. In science, being first is most important. There’s nothing to be second,” he said. “As a scientist, I can’t always be a follower. I want to have my own thing.”
Entrance to the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory in China.Eric Baclinao/NBC News
If JUNO explains the neutrino mass story before DUNE comes online, the U.S.-led project will be able to measure that question differently and confirm JUNO’s results.
DUNE’s plan is to measure neutrinos as they leave the Illinois facility, then travel 800 miles around Earth, where they can interact and oscillate. If the neutrinos arrive in South Dakota and can be detected, scientists could compare the flavor combinations of the neutrinos at the beginning and end of their journey. However, the project experienced delays and cost overruns.
“JUNO’s uniquely rich dataset, alone or in combination with other experiments, will play a key role in determining bulk orders by 2030,” said Professor Pedro Ochoa said in physics and astronomy from the University of California, Irvine.
However, several scientists involved in neutrino observation projects acknowledged that it is impossible to predict how much benefit the research will actually bring to Earth. They suggested that in the future, new technologies could be spun off, driving innovation in data-intensive computing and advancing particle accelerator science.
“We can’t make electric light by improving candles, so we need to take a step forward. We need a break,” said John C., a particle physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory and co-spokesperson for the DUNE project. Mary Bishai says. “Basic research inherently creates discontinuities.”
Wang put it another way, saying his work is driven by pure curiosity: “I work in ‘useless’ science.”
Have you ever experienced it? Throwing a Frisbee to a friend, only for it to end up in the middle of a nearby picnic. Researchers at Berry College in Georgia may have found a solution to this embarrassment by discovering the optimal way to hold the disc for maximum performance.
A study conducted by the researchers involved professional and amateur disc golfers to investigate how different thumb positions affect disc throwing. The research revealed that positioning the thumb approximately 3 centimeters from the outer edge of the disc led to the fastest launch and spin speeds.
“For amateur players unsure of where to place their thumbs, starting at the 3cm position is a good choice,” said lead author Dr. Zachary Lindsey.
Disc golf, a sport where players throw a disc towards a metal basket, was established in the 1960s in the United States and is now played by approximately 108,000 players from 40 countries under the Professional Disc Golf Association.
To analyze techniques for enhancing players’ skills, Lindsey’s team utilized miniature sensors to examine the speed and rotation of discs thrown by 24 players. Through 600 pitches, it was observed that higher spin rates correlated with faster launch rates.
A 2020 study published in the European Journal of Applied Physics indicated that disc stability and flight distance can be improved by increasing frisbee spin. Physicists have also kept themselves busy during lockdown by studying how faster spin results in longer flight distances and faster launches.
The study concluded that the optimal thumb position for achieving the fastest launch and highest spin speeds is at the sweet spot, 3 cm from the center. Scientists are eager to further explore whether this position is effective for Frisbees of all sizes.
A new study shows that about 70% of meteorites originate from at least three recent breakups of giant asteroids.
This is the artist's impression of the asteroid as it breaks apart. Credit: NASA/JPL-California Institute of Technology.
A type of meteorite, commonly called a chondrite, accounts for about 80% of all meteorites that hit Earth, including those that were involved in the violent impact period about 466 million years ago that is thought to have started the Ice Age. Included.
Previous studies have demonstrated that approximately 70% of meteorites on Earth have compositions known as H and L chondrites.
Argon-argon dating of L-chondrite meteorites on Earth suggests that these samples may have originated from the catastrophic destruction of a single asteroid that experienced a supersonic impact approximately 470 million years ago. It turned out to be high.
in new researchESO and MIT researcher Dr. Michael Marcet and colleagues have compiled spectroscopic data from asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.
They found that a group of asteroids known as the Massalia family is very similar in composition to L-chondrite meteorites on Earth.
Through computer modeling, they propose that an impact event about 450 million years ago destroyed an L-chondrite asteroid, forming the Massalia family and providing debris that fueled the influx of meteorites.
in second studyCharles University researcher Miroslav Broz and his colleagues found that the current influx of H and L chondrite meteorites was likely caused by three recent breakups.
These events occurred about 5.8, 7.6 and 40 million years ago and involved the destruction of asteroids over 30 km (18.6 miles) in diameter.
More specifically, they suggest that the impact formation of the relatively young Karin and Coronis asteroid families and a second impact event (about 40 million years ago) in the older Massalia asteroids are currently falling to Earth. I guessed that explained most of the meteorites.
in Third, follow-upDr. Brož and his co-authors extended their approach to the entire meteorite family, revealing the major origins of carbonaceous chondrites and achondrites, in addition to those from the Moon, Mars, and Vesta.
“Our discovery provides insight into the mystery of where the most common meteorites that have ever hit Earth came from and how those impacts shaped Earth's history.” ,” the researchers said.
In a new study, astronomers compared high-resolution images of Uranus from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope with more distant views from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft. Their results could serve as “ground truth” observations to use as a baseline for interpreting exoplanet direct imaging data from future observatories.
In this image, two three-dimensional shapes of Uranus (top) are compared to the actual views of Uranus from Hubble (bottom left) and New Horizons (bottom right). Image credits: NASA/ESA/STScI/Samantha Hasler, MIT/Amy Simon, NASA-GSFC/New Horizons Planetary Science Theme Team/Joseph DePasquale, STScI/Joseph Olmsted, STScI.
Direct imaging of exoplanets is an important technique for understanding their potential habitability and provides new clues to the origin and formation of our own solar system.
Astronomers use both direct imaging and spectroscopy to collect light from observed planets and compare their brightness at different wavelengths.
However, exoplanets are notoriously difficult to image because they are so far away.
Their images are just pinpoints, so they aren’t as detailed as our close-up view of the world around the sun.
Astronomers can also directly image exoplanets only in “partial phase,” when only part of the planet is illuminated by its star as seen from Earth.
Uranus was an ideal target as a test to understand future long-range observations of exoplanets by other telescopes for several reasons.
First, many known exoplanets are gas giants with similar properties. Also, at the time of the observation, New Horizons was on the far side of Uranus, 10.5 billion kilometers (6.5 billion miles) away, and was able to study the twilight crescent moon. This is not possible from Earth.
At that distance, New Horizons’ view of the planet was just a few pixels wide of its color camera (Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera).
Meanwhile, Hubble’s high resolution allowed it to see atmospheric features such as clouds and storms on the dayside of the gas world from its low orbit, 2.7 billion kilometers (1.7 billion miles) from Uranus. .
Samantha Hassler, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: “We expected Uranus to look different depending on the observation filter, but New Horizons data taken from different perspectives actually show that Uranus looks different than expected.'' It turned out to be much darker than that.”
The gas giant planets in our solar system have dynamic and variable atmospheres with changing cloud cover. How common is this in exoplanets?
Knowing the details of what Uranus’ clouds looked like from Hubble will allow researchers to test what they can interpret from New Horizons’ data.
In the case of Uranus, both Hubble and New Horizons observed that the brightness does not change as the planet rotates. This indicates that the cloud characteristics are not changing due to the rotation of the planet.
But the significance of New Horizons’ detection has to do with how the planet reflects light at a different phase than what Hubble and other observatories on or near Earth can see.
New Horizons showed that exoplanets can be dimmer than predicted at partial and high phase angles, and that their atmospheres reflect light differently at partial phase.
“The groundbreaking New Horizons study of Uranus from a vantage point that cannot be observed by any other means adds to the mission’s treasure trove of new scientific knowledge and, like many other data sets obtained on the mission, will Dr. Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of New Horizons and Research Scientist at the Southwest Research Institute, said:
“NASA’s next Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled to launch by 2027, will use a coronagraph to block out starlight and directly observe gas giant exoplanets,” Hassler said. Ta.
“NASA’s Habitable World Observatory, in its early planning stages, will be the first telescope specifically designed to search for biosignatures in the atmospheres of rocky Earth-sized planets orbiting other stars. .”
“Studying how known benchmarks like Uranus appear in distant images will help us have more solid expectations as we prepare for these future missions. And it will help our It’s critical to success.”
Scientists are result this week’s DPS56Annual Meeting of the Planetary Science Division of the American Astronomical Society.
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S. Hassler others. 2024. Observations of Uranus at high phase angles by New Horizons Ralph/MVIC. DPS56
This article has been adapted from the original release by NASA.
In a study led by Sapienza University in Rome, caffeine intake was positively correlated with the proportion of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in lupus patients.
Orefice others. studied the role of caffeine intake on endothelial function in lupus patients by evaluating the effects of caffeine intake on circulating endothelial progenitor cells. Image credit: Sci.News.
Vascular disease, damage to blood vessels, and the resulting heart attacks and strokes are among the leading causes of death in the general population.
These risks are even higher in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
This is due both to the disease itself and to some of its treatments, especially cortisone derivatives.
Until now, doctors’ recommendations for reducing these vascular risks have primarily been about avoiding risk factors.
This includes traditional recommendations such as smoking cessation, reducing cholesterol, and managing high blood pressure, as well as stopping inflammation and reducing the dose of cortisone medications.
But researchers at Rome’s Sapienza University think that doing something that’s actually fun may help patients improve their vascular health.
Research suggests that the caffeine found in coffee, tea, and cocoa helps regenerate the lining of blood vessels and actively supports endothelial progenitor cells, a group of cells involved in blood vessel growth.
Diets rich in vitamin D (found in fatty fish and eggs) and vitamin A (found in many fruits), polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in sodium appear to play a role in reducing inflammatory burden well known.
“We were also wondering about caffeine,” said Dr. Fulvia Ceccarelli and colleagues.
“In addition to its well-known stimulant effects on the body, caffeine also exerts anti-inflammatory effects because it binds to receptors expressed on the surface of immune cells.”
“The effects of caffeine intake on cardiovascular health have been widely investigated, but results are contradictory.”
The study authors surveyed 31 lupus patients without traditional cardiovascular risk factors using a 7-day dietary questionnaire.
After a week, the researchers drew blood from patent patients to measure blood vessel health.
They found that patients who consumed caffeine had better blood vessel health, as measured through the endothelial cells that form the critical lining of blood vessels.
“This study is an attempt to provide patients with information about the possible role of diet in controlling the disease,” said Dr. Ceccarelli.
“The results will need to be confirmed through longitudinal studies aimed at assessing the actual impact of coffee consumption on the course of the disease.”
The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft was rocket-launched on a two-year journey to the small, harmless asteroid it crashed into. Two years ago, NASA During that day’s dress rehearsal, a killer space stone threatens Earth. The experiment, launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, is the second in a series of planetary defense tests that could one day save the planet.
Crash in 2022 NASA dart spacecraft This shortens Dimorphos’ orbit around its larger brethren, indicating that if a dangerous rock is headed in our direction, it can be thrown off course with sufficient advance notice. I did.
Scientists want to study the impact’s aftermath up close to learn exactly how effective Dart was and what changes are needed to protect the planet in the future.
“The more details we can gather, the more details we can gather because it could be important in planning future deflection missions if they are needed,” University of Maryland astronomer Derek Richardson said before the launch. It’s good enough.”
Researchers want to know whether Dart (short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test) left behind a crater or changed the shape of the 500-foot (150-meter) asteroid more dramatically. Richardson, who participates in the dart mission and supports Hera, said that before the dart was shot, it looked like a flying saucer, but now it may resemble a kidney bean.
ESA’s Hera mission lifted off at 10:52 a.m. Monday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. S. Korbach / ESA
The flurry of darts sent debris and even rocks flying from Dimorphos, further increasing the force of the impact. The debris trail stretched thousands of miles (more than 10,000 kilometers) into space over several months.
Flight director Ignacio Tanco said rocks and other debris may still be floating around the asteroid, posing a potential threat to Hera.
“We don’t really know what kind of environment we’re going to operate in,” Tanko says. “But the whole point of this mission is to go out there and find out.”
European officials described the $400 million (363 million euro) mission as an “investigation of the accident scene.”
Project manager Ian Carnelli said Hera was “returning to the crime scene and obtaining all the scientific and technical information”.
Hera, which is about the size of a small car and carries more than a dozen scientific instruments, needs to fly past Mars in 2025 to increase its gravity and reach Dimorphos by the end of 2026. This is a satellite of the fast-spinning asteroid Didymos, which means twins in Greek. It’s 5 times bigger. At that point, the asteroid will be 120 million miles (195 million kilometers) from Earth.
Hera, controlled by a flight team in Darmstadt, Germany, will attempt to enter orbit around the pair of rocks as its flight range gradually decreases from 18 miles (30 kilometers) to half a mile (1 kilometer). The spacecraft will study the satellite for at least six months, determining its mass, shape, composition, and orbit around Didymos.
Before impact, Dimorphos circled its larger mate from three-quarters of a mile (1,189 meters) away. Scientists believe the orbit could become tighter and more elliptical, potentially even causing the satellite to fall off.
Recent research suggests that a muscle called the levator medial oculi (LAOM) is unique to dogs (canine) and evolved through domestication. This muscle lifts the inner eyebrows, creating a “puppy eye” look. In a new study, Baylor University scientists tested whether LAOM is a derived trait in dogs by (i) examining facial muscles in closely related wild ancestors; canis seed, Coyote (canis latrans) (ii) compare your results with other results; canis and canine species. They discovered that coyotes, like dogs, have well-developed LAOMs. This is different from the modified/absent LAOM of gray wolves. Their findings cast doubt on the hypothesis that LAOM developed through domestication.
Like dogs, coyotes have a well-developed LAOM, which gives both species the ability to develop “puppy eyes.” Image credit: Cunningham others., doi: 10.1098/rsos.241046.
“Our findings suggest that the ability to produce 'puppy eyes' is not a unique product of dog domestication, but rather an ancestral trait shared by multiple species on Earth. . canis genus,” said Dr. Patrick Cunningham. student at Baylor University.
“This raises interesting questions about the role of facial expressions in communication and survival in wild canids.”
In this study, Cunningham and colleagues compared the facial muscles of coyotes, dogs, and gray wolves.
Both dogs and coyotes have well-developed LAOMs, but gray wolves' muscles are modified or absent.
This challenges the hypothesis that human-driven selection alone is responsible for the development of the inner eyebrow ridge in dogs.
Instead, this study suggests that LAOM was likely present in the common ancestor of dogs, coyotes and gray wolves, but was later lost or reduced in wolves.
The researchers also documented significant within-species variation in coyote facial muscles, particularly those related to eyebrow and lip movements.
Genetic analysis excluded significant canine ancestry in the coyote specimen, confirming that these traits were not the result of interbreeding.
“Our research shows that coyotes and dogs not only share behavioral similarities, but also an interesting evolutionary history, including the ability to make expressions that were once thought to be unique to domestic animals. “We made it clear,” Cunningham said.
“This discovery has broader implications for understanding the evolution of facial expressions in mammals.”
“LAOM may have originally evolved for functions related to vision and eye movements, rather than for human communication, as previously thought.”
“Future studies on other canid species, such as red wolves and African wild dogs, may further elucidate the role of facial expressions in survival and species communication.”
a paper The survey results were published in a magazine Royal Society Open Science.
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Patrick Cunningham others. 2024. Coyotes can also have “puppy eyes”: a comparison of interspecific variation. canis Facial muscles. R. Soc. Open Science 11(10):241046;doi: 10.1098/rsos.241046
Mount Everest, also known as Chomolangma in Tibetan and Sagarmatha in Nepali, is about 15 to 50 meters higher than its original height due to uplift caused by erosion of nearby river canyons, and therefore continues to grow. This is revealed in a new study.
Han et al. They found that erosion from a network of rivers about 75 km from Everest had carved out a significant canyon. This landmass loss has caused mountains to rise by 2 mm per year, and their heights have already increased by 15 to 50 meters over the past 89,000 years. Image credit: truthseeker08.
The Himalayas, formed by the subduction of the Indian tectonic plate beneath the Eurasian plate, are home to some of the highest mountains on Earth.
Mount Everest is 8,849 meters above sea level, about 250 meters higher than the other highest peaks in the Himalayas.
Previous analysis of GPS data suggests that Everest's recent uplift is about 2 mm per year, which exceeds the expected uplift rate for the mountain range and suggests that mechanisms other than ongoing regional tectonics are responsible. This suggests that it may contribute to this process.
“Mount Everest is a remarkable mountain of myth and legend, and it continues to grow,” said Dr. Student Adam Smith.
“Our research shows that the nearby river system is cutting deeper and the loss of material is causing the mountain to spring further upwards.”
In this study, Smith and his colleagues investigated whether changes in rivers near the mountain may have contributed to Everest's recent uplift.
They used a numerical model to simulate the evolution of the Kosi river network and compared it to existing landforms.
These models suggest that the Arun River, a major tributary of the Kosi River, was involved in the occupation of another river 89,000 years ago.
The diversion of river water accelerated river erosion as the river adapted to its new path, resulting in the formation of the deep Arun River Gorge.
“Currently, the Arun River flows east of Mount Everest and joins the larger Kosi River system downstream,” Mr Smith said.
“For thousands of years, the River Arun has carved great gorges along its banks, washing away billions of tonnes of soil and sediment.”
“There are interesting river systems in the Everest region,” said Dr. Jing Geng Dai, a researcher at the China University of Geosciences.
“The upper Arun River flows eastward through highlands with flat valleys.''
“Then it suddenly turns south as the Kosi River, dropping in elevation and becoming steeper.”
“This unique feature of instability may be related to Everest's extreme height.”
The authors conclude that although erosion would have lowered local elevations along the river channel, the formation of the canyon removed the eroded mass relatively abruptly, allowing the surrounding landforms, including Everest, to compensate with surface uplift. It is argued that there is a possibility that
Although its contribution may be small compared to tectonic deformation, fluvial capture may play a role in both erosion and uplift of high landforms.
“Everest and its neighboring mountains are growing because isotropic rebound is causing them to rise faster than erosional wear,” said Dr. Matthew Fox, a researcher at University College London. said.
“Using GPS equipment, we can see it grow by about two millimeters every year. Now we can better understand what's causing that.”
“The change in the height of Mount Everest really highlights the dynamic nature of the Earth's surface,” says Dr. Xu Han, a researcher at the China University of Geosciences.
“The interaction between the erosion of the Arun River and the upward pressure of the Earth's mantle gives Everest a boost, pushing it higher than normal.”
of study Published in a magazine natural earth science.
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X Han others. The recent uplift of Chomolungma was reinforced by river drainage piracy. nut. earth sciencepublished online on September 30, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01535-w
In 2015, archaeologists discovered Neanderthal fossils. Grotte Mandolin is located on the Mediterranean coast of France, in the shadow of a rock overhanging directly into the Rhône River valley. Nicknamed Thorin, the fossil is one of the most similar Neanderthal remains found in France since its discovery in Saint-Césaire in 1979. Globe Institute researcher Martin Sikora and his colleagues combined archaeological, chronostratigraphic, isotopic, and genomic analyses to reveal that Thorin belonged to a Neanderthal population that remained genetically isolated for 50,000 years. Apart from Thorin’s lineage, they found evidence of gene flow in the genome of the Les Côtés Neanderthal from another lineage that diverged from the ancestral lineage of European Neanderthals more than 80,000 years ago. The findings suggest the existence of multiple isolated Neanderthal communities in Europe close to the time of extinction and shed light on their social organization. Despite the close geographical proximity of these populations, there was limited, if any, interaction between the different Neanderthal populations during the last millennium.
Neanderthal. Image courtesy of Abel Grau, CSIC Communication.
“When we look at the Neanderthal genome, we see that they were quite inbred and didn’t have a lot of genetic diversity,” Dr Sikora said.
“They’ve lived in small groups for generations.”
“Inbreeding is known to reduce the genetic diversity of populations, which if continued over long periods of time can have negative effects on the viability of the population.”
“The newly discovered Neanderthal genome is from a different lineage to other late Neanderthals studied so far.”
“This supports the idea that Neanderthal social organization was different from that of early modern humans, who appear to have been more connected.”
“In other words, compared to Neanderthals, early modern humans were more likely to connect with other groups, which was advantageous for their survival.”
“This is purely speculation, but the concept of being able to communicate more and exchange knowledge is something humans can do that Neanderthals, who were organized in small groups and lived isolated lives, may not have been able to do to some extent.”
“And that’s an important skill,” noted Dr Tarshika Vimala, a population geneticist at the University of Copenhagen.
“We see evidence that early modern humans in Siberia, living in small communities, formed so-called mating networks to avoid problems with inbreeding, something that wasn’t seen in Neanderthals.”
Thorin’s fossils were first discovered in Mandolin Cave in 2015. Mandolin Cave is a cave that is thought to have been the site of an early Homo sapiens But not at the same time, and he is still being slowly unearthed.
Based on Thorin’s location in the cave deposits, archaeologists have speculated that he may have lived approximately 45,000 to 40,000 years ago.
To determine his age and relationships to other Neanderthals, the team extracted DNA from his teeth and jaw and compared his entire genome sequence to previously sequenced Neanderthal genomes.
Surprisingly, initial genome analysis suggested that Thorin’s genome was very different from other late Neanderthals and very similar to the genomes of Neanderthals who lived more than 100,000 years ago, suggesting that Thorin is much older than archaeological estimates.
To solve the mystery, the researchers analyzed isotopes from Thorin’s bones and teeth to gain insight into the type of climate he lived in. Late Neanderthals lived during the Ice Age, while early Neanderthals enjoyed a much warmer climate.
Isotopic analysis showed that Thorin lived in a very cold climate and was identified as a late Neanderthal.
Compared to previously sequenced Neanderthal genomes, Thorin’s genome is most similar to the individual from Gibraltar, leading the authors to speculate that Thorin’s population may have migrated from Gibraltar to France.
“This means that a previously unknown Neanderthal population was present in the Mediterranean, stretching from the westernmost tip of Europe to the Rhône Valley in France,” said Dr Ludovic Slimac, researcher at Toulouse-Paul Sabatier University and CNRS.
Knowing that Neanderthal communities were small and isolated may hold the key to understanding their extinction, because isolation is generally thought to be detrimental to a population’s fitness.
“It’s always a good thing for one group to have contact with another,” Dr Vimala said.
“Prolonged isolation limits genetic diversity and reduces the ability to adapt to changes in climate and pathogens. It’s also socially limiting, as they don’t share knowledge or evolve as a group.”
But to truly understand how Neanderthal populations were structured and why they became extinct, researchers say many more Neanderthal genomes need to be sequenced.
“If we had had more genomes from other regions over the same time period, we probably would have found other deeply structured populations,” Dr Sikora said.
Ludovic Slimak others2024. The long genetic and social isolation of Neanderthals before their extinction. Cell Genomics 4(9):100593;doi: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100593
Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is one of the most isolated inhabited places in the world. Its archaeological record, including megalithic statues, has captured the imagination of many. Two major controversies have emerged from extensive study of the island. First, its history is presented as a cautionary tale of overexploitation of resources leading to a large-scale population decline – the “ecocide” theory. Second, the possibility of a voyage across the Pacific Ocean to the Americas before European contact is still debated. To answer these questions, a team of scientists from the Globe Institute and elsewhere sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 15 Rapa Nui people who lived between 1670 and 1950.
Rapa Nui is one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world.
It lies at the easternmost tip of the Polynesian Triangle in the Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km west of South America and over 1,900 km east of the nearest inhabited island.
Despite Rapa Nui's remote location, archaeological and genetic evidence indicates that Polynesians from the west had already arrived on the island around 1250 AD.
Over the next five centuries, Rapa Nui's inhabitants, the Rapanui, developed a culture characterized by iconic colossal stone statues (moai) and monumental stone platforms (ahu).
Due to Rapa Nui's isolation, Europeans did not reach the island until 1722 AD.
Over the years, European visitors have had a devastating impact on Rapa Nui, killing locals and introducing deadly pathogens the islanders had never encountered before.
Moreover, a third of the population was kidnapped by Peruvian slave raiders in the 1860s, and only a small proportion were repatriated following international condemnation of slavery.
A smallpox epidemic subsequently decimated Rapanui's population, down to an estimated 110 people.
“It is well known that Rapa Nui's environment was affected by human activities such as deforestation, but it was unknown whether and how these changes led to a dramatic population decline,” said Dr Anna Saffo Malaspinas, a researcher at the University of Lausanne and the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.
The Tahitian warrior's shelter from Giulio Ferrario's Le Costume Ancien et Moderne, Milan, 1816-1827.
The authors studied the genomes of 15 ancient inhabitants who lived on the island over the past 500 years.
They found no evidence of a genetic bottleneck corresponding to the 17th century collapse.
The analysis suggests that the island was originally inhabited by a small number of people, but its population grew steadily until Peruvian slave raids in the 1860s forced a third of the island's population to relocate.
Furthermore, the analysis showed that, like modern-day Rapa Nui people, the ancient islanders also carried Native American DNA.
This mixing probably occurred sometime between 1250 and 1430 AD.
Taken together with archaeological evidence and oral history, the find suggests that Polynesians may have been crossing the Pacific long before Europeans arrived on Rapa Nui and long before Columbus reached the Americas.
“Our genetic analysis shows that there was a steady population growth from the 13th century until contact with Europeans in the 18th century,” said Dr Barbara Souza da Mota, a researcher at the University of Lausanne.
“This stability is extremely important because it directly contradicts the idea of a dramatic pre-contact population decline.”
“We investigated how Native American DNA is distributed in the genetic background of Rapa Nui Polynesians,” said Dr Victor Moreno Mayar, a researcher at the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen.
“This distribution is consistent with contact occurring between the 13th and 15th centuries.”
“Our study doesn't tell us where this contact occurred, but it may mean that the ancestors of the Rapanui reached the Americas before Christopher Columbus,” Dr Malaspinas said.
JV Moreno Mayal others2024. Ancient Rapanui genome reveals resilience and pre-European contact with the Americas. Nature 633, 389-397;doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07881-4
The so-called i-motif is a knot-like DNA structure that forms in the nuclei of human cells and is thought to provide important genome control. Garvan Institute of Medical Research Other studies have used immunoprecipitation and next-generation sequencing to identify i-motif structures in human DNA.
Peña Martinez othersIn total, we observed 53,000 i-motifs across three human cell lines (MCF7, U2OS, and HEK293T). Image courtesy of Peña Martínez. others., doi: 10.1038/s44318-024-00210-5.
The I motif is a DNA structure that differs from the iconic double helix shape.
These form when runs of cytosine letters on the same DNA strand pair up with each other to form a four-stranded twisted structure that juts out from the double helix.
In 2018, scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research were the first to successfully directly visualize i-motifs inside living human cells, using new antibody tools they developed to recognise and bind to the i-motifs.
The new study expands on these findings by using the antibody to identify the location of i-motifs throughout the genome.
“In this study, we have mapped more than 50,000 i-motif sites in the human genome that are found in all three cell types we looked at,” said Professor Daniel Crist from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, lead author of the study.
“This is a surprisingly high number for a DNA structure whose presence in cells was once a matter of debate.”
“Our findings confirm that the i-motif is not just an object of laboratory study, but is widespread and likely plays an important role in genome function.”
The researchers found that i-motifs are not scattered randomly, but are concentrated in important functional regions of the genome, including those that control gene activity.
“We found that the i-motif is associated with genes that are highly active at specific times in the cell cycle,” said lead author Cristian David Peña Martinez, PhD, also of the Garvan Medical Institute.
“This suggests that it plays a dynamic role in regulating gene activity.”
“We also discovered that i-motifs are formed in the promoter regions of cancer genes. For example, MYC Oncogenes encode one of cancer’s most notoriously ‘untreatable’ targets.”
“This opens up exciting opportunities to target disease-related genes through i-motif structures.”
“The widespread presence of the i-motif near these 'holy grail' sequences implicated in hard-to-treat cancers opens up new possibilities for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches,” said study co-author Sarah Kummerfeld, PhD, a researcher at the Garvan Medical Institute.
“It may be possible to design drugs that target the i-motif to affect gene expression, potentially expanding current treatment options.”
Christian David Peña Martinez othersi-motif structures are widely distributed in human genomic DNA. Embo JPublished online August 29, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s44318-024-00210-5
Gold nuggets reside primarily in quartz veins, and the current paradigm holds that gold precipitates from hydrothermal and carbon dioxide-rich fluids due to changes in temperature, pressure, and/or fluid chemistry. However, the widespread occurrence of large gold nuggets is inconsistent with the dilute nature of these fluids and the chemical inertness of quartz. Quartz is the only abundant piezoelectric mineral on Earth, and the cyclical nature of the seismic activity that drives the formation of gold deposits means that quartz crystals within veins are stressed thousands of times. New research by scientists from Monash University, CSIRO Mineral Resources and the Australian Neutron Scattering Centre suggests that stress on quartz crystals may generate enough voltage to not only electrochemically precipitate gold from solution, but also accumulate gold nanoparticles.
Energy dispersive spectroscopy map of the sample studied by Voysey othersImage courtesy of Chris Voisey.
“Prized for their rarity and beauty, gold nuggets have been at the heart of gold rushes for centuries,” says Monash University geologist Chris Voisey.
“The standard explanation is that gold precipitates from hot, water-rich fluids that flow through cracks in the Earth's crust.”
“As these fluids cool and undergo chemical changes, the gold separates and becomes trapped in the quartz veins.”
“Although this theory is widely accepted, it does not fully explain the formation of large gold nuggets, especially considering the extremely low concentrations of gold in these liquids.”
Dr. Voysey and his colleagues tested a new concept called piezoelectricity.
Quartz, the mineral that typically contains these gold deposits, has a unique property called piezoelectricity, which means it generates an electric charge when subjected to pressure.
This phenomenon is already well known in everyday items such as quartz watches and barbecue lighters, where small mechanical forces generate large voltages.
What if earthquake stresses caused something similar to happen within the Earth?
To test this hypothesis, the researchers conducted experiments designed to replicate conditions that quartz might experience during an earthquake.
They submerged the crystals in a gold-rich liquid and used a motor to apply pressure to it, replicating the shaking of an earthquake.
After the experiment, the quartz samples were examined under a microscope to see if any gold had been deposited.
“The results were surprising,” said Professor Andy Tomkins, from Monash University.
“The stressed quartz not only electrochemically deposited gold on its surface, but also formed and accumulated gold nanoparticles.”
“Surprisingly, the gold tended to deposit on top of existing gold grains rather than forming new gold grains.”
“This is because quartz is an electrical insulator, while gold is a conductor.”
“Once the gold is deposited, it becomes a focus for further growth, effectively attaching even more gold to the gold particle.”
“Our findings provide a plausible explanation for why large gold nuggets form in quartz veins,” Dr Voysey said.
When the quartz is repeatedly compressed by an earthquake, a piezoelectric voltage is generated, causing dissolved gold to be reduced and precipitated from the surrounding liquid.
Over time, this process can accumulate large amounts of gold, eventually producing giant gold nuggets that fascinate treasure hunters and geologists.
“Essentially, the quartz acts like a natural battery, with the gold as its electrodes, slowly accumulating gold with each earthquake,” Dr Voysey said.
“This process may explain why large gold nuggets are frequently associated with quartz veins that form in earthquake-related deposits.”
“This new understanding of the formation of gold nuggets not only solves a long-standing geological mystery, but also highlights the interrelationships between Earth's physical and chemical processes.”
a paper A paper describing the results was published today in the journal Nature Chemistry.
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CR Voysey othersThe formation of gold nuggets due to earthquake-induced piezoelectric effect in quartz. National GeographyPublished on September 2, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01514-1
A recent study suggests that living in a neighborhood filled with trees can have similar heart benefits to regular exercise. Researchers at the University of Louisville conducted a clinical trial involving hundreds of people living in six low- to moderate-income neighborhoods in South Louisville, Kentucky. They found that planting thousands of mature trees near people’s homes led to lower levels of blood markers associated with heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.
The Green Heart Louisville Project, part of the HEAL Research, revealed that areas with more trees and shrubs had improved health outcomes compared to areas with fewer trees. This study aimed to reduce the incidence of heart disease in the community under the leadership of Professor Aruni Bhatnagar.
Unlike previous observational research, the HEAL study had a control group and an intervention group, providing clearer insights into the effects of nature. Participants aged 25 to 75 living in South Louisville were recruited for the study, with samples collected before and after the tree-planting intervention.
The results showed a 13% decrease in a blood marker associated with heart disease in individuals living in areas with more trees. This reduction was comparable to the benefits seen from starting a regular exercise routine.
Overall, the study demonstrated a strong link between trees and improved physical health by providing shade, cooling, and noise reduction. Beyond physical health, trees also offer mental health benefits and create spaces for relaxation, exercise, and socialization.
How trees improve your physical health
Trees play a crucial role in mitigating urban heat and air pollution, which can worsen existing health conditions. The project in South Louisville focused on areas with poor air quality to study the impact of tree planting on pollution levels.
As the project continues, researchers plan to expand tree planting to other areas and explore additional benefits such as encouraging outdoor activities and improving overall well-being. The findings highlight the importance of equitable access to green spaces in cities and the essential role of nature in human health.
In conclusion, nature is not just a luxury but a necessity for human well-being, and efforts should be made to ensure everyone has access to green spaces for a healthier future.
People with a craving for pathological romance could, if they so wished, write algorithms to select attractive, pathological prospective spouses or recreational dating partners.
Driven by curiosity, Coltan Scribner, inventor of the Morbid Curiosity Scale (Feedback, November 19, 2022), has explored new uses for the tool. He and two colleagues have study explains that “behavioral attraction predicts mating interest among morbidly curious women” toward men with risky personalities.
They cite previous research that shows those “women are aware of the potential costs associated with such men.” The new study aims to help those women, stating: “Despite the potential costs of men high on the dark triad, it may be beneficial for women with pathological curiosity to develop a preference for such men to fulfill short-term mating goals.
The study doesn’t delve into the obvious business potential here. Feedback envisions a new era dedicated to the making and use of morbid gadgets. Perhaps brighter days lie ahead for this industry, originally called “computer dating.”
(For those interested, Scribner has also created a simple way to measure where you stand on the scale: a free online Morbid curiosity test Before we begin, we’re told that “‘morbid’ doesn’t mean curiosity is bad, it simply refers to the fact that the topic is related to death in some way.”
The limits of curiosity
What are the limits of your curiosity? Is there a foolproof, easy way to find out? Here’s a test.
The feedback includes a copy of a paper published by Subhash Chandra Shaw and his colleagues. Indian Army Medical Journal The title of the study and your response may tell you something about yourself.
Some politicians seek success through extremely eloquent speeches, which give them a momentary sense of persuasion.
Feedback noticed a similarity between the flashy but empty speeches of these politicians and the flashy but empty texts generated by ChatGPT and similar artificial intelligence computer programs.
Michael Townsen-Hicks, James Humphreys and Joe Slater of the University of Glasgow in the UK said: ChatGPT is bullshit“”teeth, Ethics and Information Technology They argue that “describing AI misinformation as bullshit is a more useful and accurate way to predict and discuss the behavior of these systems.” As a classic example of bullshit, the team cites a political candidate saying certain things simply because those words “might create a positive impression on potential voters.”
The feedback at least celebrates the skill of politicians who, like ChatGPT, can deliver endless streams of easy-to-swallow but indigestible chatter. In some countries, some of the most successful ChatGPT-esque politicians also display a visual counterpart to their words, a momentarily plausible physical aspect: they adorn their heads with ChatGPT-esque hair, or what might be mistaken for hair for a moment. There is little published research on why and how this happens.
It’s not such a small thing
Feedback continues its quest to create a list of trivial psychic powers, with Aline Berry confessing and professing that she has a trivial psychic power, which may not be trivial at all.
She writes, “I believe I have a superpower that I’ve taken for granted my whole life: when someone complains that they’re looking around for something, I usually find it within five minutes. Somehow, like Sherlock Holmes, I filter out the obvious things they no doubt see and focus on the lost item that’s camouflaged in such a way that it can easily be overlooked if not seen.”
“Recently, a friend of mine asked me for help after frantically searching for her car keys all morning. I stopped, looked around, realized there was no point in looking everywhere, and asked her if she’d looked in the fridge. Her eyes lit up – she’d placed her keys on something cold to remind herself to take them with her, but promptly forgot.”
Another skill emerged during her childhood: “I started a new school a few weeks late and was given a geometry problem. I had never studied geometry before and didn’t know any of the rules. So I looked at a graph and wrote the answer down. I was right. The teacher accused me of cheating and gave me a problem that I had drawn myself, that no one had seen. I wrote the right answer again. As punishment, the teacher gave me ten problems that had to be solved the right way. I didn’t know the correct rules, so I was happy when I got the news that I was going to a different school.”
A whirlwind of interest
An exercise in dimensional scaling. Which is more powerful: a) a storm in a teacup, or b) a storm in a teapot? An experiment is the real way to answer this question. Survey your colleagues (at least 50 people) and submit the three survey results (number of respondents, storm, and tempest) to Swirl of interest, c/o Feedback.
Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.
Do you have a story for feedback?
You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week’s and past Feedback can be found on our website.
Using the large number of human fossils found in Ice Age Europe, paleoanthropologists have identified a population turnover in Western Europe 28,000 years ago, isolation between western and eastern refugia between 28,000 and 14,700 years ago, and a bottleneck during the most recent Ice Age.
Artistic reconstruction of an Ice Age hunter-gatherer group. Image courtesy of Tom Björklund.
“Around 45,000 years ago, the first modern humans migrated into Europe during the Ice Age, marking the beginning of the so-called Late Paleolithic period,” said Dr Hannes Lassmann, a researcher at the University of Tübingen.
“These early populations continuously inhabited the European continent, even during the so-called Last Glacial Maximum about 25,000 years ago, a time when glaciers covered much of northern and central Europe.”
“Archaeologists have long debated how climate change and the resulting new environmental conditions affected the demographics of hunter-gatherers at the time.”
“The limited number of available fossils and the often poor molecular preservation for ancient DNA analysis have made it very difficult to draw conclusions about the influence of climatic factors on migrations, population growth, decline and extinction.”
Because teeth make up a large part of the fossil record and preserve genetic traits in their morphology, Dr. Rathman and his colleagues compiled a large dataset of 450 dentitions dating from 47,000 to 7,000 years ago.
They focused on morphological features of the teeth – small variations within the dentition, such as the number and shape of cusps on the crowns, the pattern of ridges and grooves on the chewing surfaces, and the presence or absence of wisdom teeth.
“Because these traits are heritable, they can be used to trace the genetic relationships of Ice Age humans without the need for well-preserved ancient DNA,” Dr Lassman said.
“These features are visible to the naked eye, so we also looked at hundreds of publicly available photographs of the fossils.”
The results show that between about 47,000 and 28,000 years ago, during the Middle Glacial Period, populations from Western and Eastern Europe were well connected genetically.
During the subsequent Late Glacial Period, between 28,000 and 14,700 years ago, the researchers found no genetic link between Western and Eastern Europe.
Furthermore, the analysis shows that both regions have experienced significant declines in population size and loss of genetic diversity.
“This dramatic population shift was likely caused by major climate change,” Dr Rathman said.
“Temperatures during this period fell to their lowest values for the entire Upper Paleolithic, culminating in the Last Glacial Maximum, when ice sheets reached their maximum extent and covered large parts of northern and central Europe.”
“The worsening climate changed the vegetation from steppe to primarily tundra, affecting the habitat of prey animals and, consequently, the hunter-gatherers who depended on them.”
“Our findings support the long-held theory that humans were not only pushed southward by the advancing ice sheet but also isolated into isolated refugia with more favourable environmental conditions,” said Dr Judith Beier, also from the University of Tübingen.
Another notable finding of the study is the discovery that Western European populations became extinct during the transition from the Middle to Late Neoglacial and were replaced by new populations migrating from Eastern Europe.
After the Late Glacial Period, temperatures rose steadily again, the glaciers retreated, grassland and forest vegetation returned, and previously abandoned areas could be recolonized for the first time.
The team observed that during this period, the populations of Western and Eastern Europe, which had previously been isolated and significantly declining, began to grow again and migration between the regions resumed.
“Our new method makes it possible for the first time to reconstruct complex prehistoric demographic events using morphological data,” said researcher Dr Maria Teresa Vizzarri from the University of Ferrara.
“To our knowledge, this has never been accomplished before.”
“Our study provides important insights into the demographic history of Ice Age Europeans and highlights the profound impact that climatic and environmental change had on prehistoric human life,” Dr Lassmann said.
“If we want to tackle the complex environmental challenges of the future, we need to urgently learn from the past.”
of Survey results Published in the journal Scientific advances.
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Hannes Lassmann others2024. Human demography in Late Paleolithic Europe inferred from fossil dental phenotypes. Scientific advances 10(33);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adn8129
This article has been edited based on the original release from the University of Tübingen.
Researchers from James Madison University conducted a comprehensive study of thunderstorm environments in two distinct geographic regions: Washington, DC, and the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Air pollution is increasing the intensity of summer thunderstorms. Image courtesy of ELG21.
Land cover and atmospheric boundary layer characteristics modify thunderstorms and their characteristic phenomenon: lightning.
The most intense thunderstorm contrasts on Earth occur along continental and oceanic boundaries.
Generally, lightning strikes land at an order of magnitude more than it strikes sea.
The thermodynamic properties of the atmosphere vary significantly with different land covers over the Earth’s surface.
“Pollutants act as cloud nuclei,” said Mace Bentley, a professor at James Madison University and lead author of the study.
“Updrafts carry them into the clouds, and the updrafts and downdrafts separate the polluting particles, dispersing the electrical charges in the clouds and encouraging lightning to form.”
For the study, the authors surveyed nearly 200,000 thunderstorm events in the Washington, DC, area and more than 300,000 in the Kansas City area.
Using 12 years of lightning data from the National Lightning Detection Network and data from hundreds of air pollution monitoring stations in two cities, they found that in highly volatile environments, increased pollution increases the frequency of anti-ground lightning strikes.
“Our analysis identified a total of 196,836 thunderstorm events in the Washington DC area, while 310,209 thunderstorms were identified from the Kansas City lightning database,” the researchers said.
“In Washington, DC and Kansas City, more than 37.7% and 39.2% of all thunderstorm events, respectively, consisted of 10 or more flashes.”
“Evidence suggests that thunderstorm environments during mild warm-season synoptic weather are substantially different in terms of thermodynamics, aerosol properties, and aerosol concentrations in the Washington, DC, and Kansas City regions,” the researchers added.
“However, thunderstorm intensity, as measured by flash counts, appears to be controlled by similar thermodynamic and aerosol relationships despite differences in the surrounding environments.”
“When we look at the environments in which thunderstorms occur, we find a statistically significant positive correlation between convective available potential energy and the number of lightning events.”
“Aerosol concentration also appears to be a more important quantity than particle size when it comes to lightning enhancement.”
Scientists are now conducting a similar study in Bangkok, Thailand, a megacity that is more polluted than Washington, DC, or Kansas City and sits in a hot, tropical climate.
The results so far are similar, but these storms are showing a higher incidence of lightning.
“It appears that urban pollution can enhance thunderstorms and lightning wherever you go in the world,” Prof Bentley said.
of study Published in a journal Atmospheric Research.
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Mace Bentley others2024. Towards elucidating the relationship between thunderstorms and aerosols: An observational study centered on Washington, DC and Kansas City, Missouri. Atmospheric Research 304: 107402; doi: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107402
The asteroid, called the Chicxulub impactor, was a carbonaceous asteroid that formed outside the orbit of Jupiter. New Paper Published in the journal Science.
Ankylosaurus magniventrisA Tyrannosaurus, a type of large armored dinosaur, witnessed the impact of an asteroid that fell on the Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years ago. Image by Fabio Manucci.
About 66 million years ago, a 10-kilometer-wide asteroid struck Earth near what is now a small town called Chicxulub in Mexico.
This impact released incredible amounts of climate-changing gases into the atmosphere, setting off a chain of events that led to the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs and 75% of life on Earth.
Evidence includes the presence of high concentrations of platinum group elements (PGE) in the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary layer, including iridium, ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, platinum, and palladium, which are rare on Earth but common in meteorites.
These elevated PGE levels have been found worldwide, suggesting that the impact spread debris around the world.
Some have proposed large-scale volcanism in the Deccan Traps igneous province of India as an alternative source of PGEs, but the specific PGE ratios at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary are more consistent with an asteroid impact than volcanism.
However, little is known about the nature of the Chicxulub impactor, including its composition and extraterrestrial origin.
To answer these questions, Dr Mario Fischer-Gödde from the University of Cologne and his colleagues measured ruthenium isotopes in samples taken from three sites at the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary.
For comparison, the team also analysed samples from five other impacts that occurred between 36 million and 470 million years ago, an ancient impact spherule from 3.5 to 3.2 billion years ago, and two carbonaceous meteorites.
The researchers found that the ruthenium isotope signature of samples taken from the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary was uniform and matched very closely to that of carbonaceous chondrites rather than those from Earth or other types of meteorites, suggesting that the Chicxulub impactor likely came from a carbonaceous-type asteroid that formed in the outer solar system.
The other five impact structures have isotopic signatures more consistent with silicic asteroids that formed closer to the Sun.
The ancient spherulitic samples are consistent with a carbonaceous asteroid impact during the final stages of Earth's accretion.
“The composition of this asteroid is consistent with that of carbonaceous asteroids that formed outside Jupiter's orbit during the formation of the solar system,” Dr Fischer-Gödde said.
“Asteroid impacts like Chicxulub turn out to be very rare and unique events in geological time,” said Professor Carsten Müncher from the University of Cologne.
“The fate of the dinosaurs and many other species was sealed by this object that came from the outer solar system.”
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Mario Fischer-Gedde others2024. Ruthenium isotopes indicate that the Chicxulub impactor was a carbonaceous asteroid. Science 385 (6710): 752-756; doi: 10.1126/science.adk4868
A recent study indicates that individuals in the UK Biobank who utilized solariums and resided in regions with high annual average residential shortwave radiation were at a decreased risk of death from various causes, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Solarium users also exhibited a lower risk of non-cardiovascular/cancer mortality.
Higher exposure to UV light was associated with lower all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and cancer mortality.
“In the UK and other nations with substantial European descendant populations, the emphasis of public health messaging has been on the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) exposure,” stated Professor Chris Dibben from the University of Edinburgh and his team.
“This is particularly concerning considering the established connection between UV radiation and melanoma development.”
“New findings suggest that the benefits of UV exposure might outweigh the risks, especially in low sunlight settings.”
“Among a group of Swedish women, those with higher sun exposure had a longer life span compared to those who avoided the sun.”
“The reduction in mortality rates is mainly linked to decreased cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular/non-cancer mortality.”
“In a study of Swedish women with moderate sun exposure habits, fair-skinned women had an 8% lower overall mortality rate compared to non-fair-skinned women.”
The study utilized genetic and health data from UK Biobank to examine UV exposure in 395,000 individuals in the UK.
Participants were limited to individuals of European descent with fair skin due to the impact of skin pigment on the body’s response to UV radiation.
Researchers utilized two criteria to identify individuals with higher UV exposure levels.
They assessed participants’ geographical locations to determine their average yearly solar energy exposure and whether they utilized sunbeds.
Living in regions with elevated UV levels, like Cornwall, was correlated with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer (19% and 12% respectively) compared to regions with lower UV levels, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Use of sunbeds was connected to a 23% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease death and a 14% lower risk of cancer-related death compared to non-users.
Given that sunbed users might also engage in more sunbathing, this result could reflect broader sun-seeking behaviors.
Individuals with higher estimated UV exposure showed a slightly greater risk of melanoma diagnosis but not an increased risk of mortality from melanoma.
“Our study contributes to the mounting evidence indicating that relatively high UV exposure in low-light environments could be advantageous for health,” Prof Dibben remarked.
“While increased UV radiation exposure may elevate skin cancer risk, this risk seems to be outweighed by the considerable reduction in cancer and cardiovascular-related disease mortality.”
“Dermatologists have traditionally only considered sunlight’s potential harm to the skin based on experiences of white individuals in sunny nations like Australia,” noted Professor Richard Weller from the University of Edinburgh.
“It is essential to safeguard your skin during periods of very high UV index, but this study indicates that the balance of benefits and risks from sun exposure in the UK may differ significantly from sunnier locales.”
Reference: Survey results Published in the journal Health and location.
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Andrew C. Stevenson others2024. Higher UV exposure is associated with reduced mortality: analysis of data from the UK Biobank cohort study. Health and location 89: 103328; doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103328
Research has shown that the asteroid responsible for the mass extinction that annihilated the dinosaurs 66 million years ago originated from a distant region in the solar system, unlike most asteroids that have collided with Earth.
According to European and American researchers, the dinosaur-killing asteroid formed in a cold area outside Jupiter’s orbit and contained high levels of water and carbon. Survey results The study detailing these findings was published in the journal Science on Thursday.
In their analysis of objects that have struck Earth in the last 500 million years, the researchers noted that only asteroids rich in water have caused mass extinctions like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. Co-author François Tissot, a professor at the California Institute of Technology, explained that asteroids originating closer to the sun were significantly drier.
Tissot further stated, “All other impacts that occurred were from objects closer to the sun and just happened to hit that specific spot, so the asteroid responsible for the dinosaur extinction is truly unique in both its characteristics and origin.”
This catastrophic asteroid created the Chicxulub crater in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. While direct samples of the asteroid itself were unattainable due to its fragmentation, researchers were able to analyze particles that were dispersed upon impact and settled in Earth’s strata.
The researchers specifically examined ruthenium, a rare element on Earth that can be linked back to the asteroid.
The study confirmed earlier conclusions that classified the asteroid as a carbonaceous, or C-type, asteroid, though some theories proposed it could have been a comet that caused the dinosaur extinction.
Tissot explained, “Comets originate from great distances from the sun and are primarily composed of ice and dust. While the ruthenium levels of a comet have not been measured, based on research indicating other elements, it seems highly improbable that the extinction-causing object was a comet.”
According to Tissot, this study represents progress in understanding the evolution of Earth.
“By delving into Earth’s history, we now have a comprehensive look at its evolution,” he remarked. “This allows us to pose new questions about our planet.”
The asteroid, called the Chicxulub impactor, was a carbonaceous asteroid that formed outside the orbit of Jupiter. New Paper Published in the journal Science.
Ankylosaurus magniventrisA Tyrannosaurus, a type of large armored dinosaur, witnessed the impact of an asteroid that fell on the Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years ago. Image by Fabio Manucci.
About 66 million years ago, a 10-kilometer-wide asteroid struck Earth near what is now a small town called Chicxulub in Mexico.
This impact released incredible amounts of climate-changing gases into the atmosphere, setting off a chain of events that led to the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs and 75% of life on Earth.
Evidence includes the presence of high concentrations of platinum group elements (PGE) in the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary layer, including iridium, ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, platinum, and palladium, which are rare on Earth but common in meteorites.
These elevated PGE levels have been found worldwide, suggesting that the impact spread debris around the world.
Some have proposed large-scale volcanism in the Deccan Traps igneous province of India as an alternative source of PGEs, but the specific PGE ratios at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary are more consistent with an asteroid impact than volcanism.
However, little is known about the nature of the Chicxulub impactor, including its composition and extraterrestrial origin.
To answer these questions, Dr Mario Fischer-Gödde from the University of Cologne and his colleagues measured ruthenium isotopes in samples taken from three sites at the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary.
For comparison, the team also analysed samples from five other impacts that occurred between 36 million and 470 million years ago, an ancient impact spherule from 3.5 to 3.2 billion years ago, and two carbonaceous meteorites.
The researchers found that the ruthenium isotope signature of samples taken from the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary was uniform and matched very closely to that of carbonaceous chondrites rather than those from Earth or other types of meteorites, suggesting that the Chicxulub impactor likely came from a carbonaceous-type asteroid that formed in the outer solar system.
The other five impact structures have isotopic signatures more consistent with silicic asteroids that formed closer to the Sun.
The ancient spherulitic samples are consistent with a carbonaceous asteroid impact during the final stages of Earth's accretion.
“The composition of this asteroid is consistent with that of carbonaceous asteroids that formed outside Jupiter's orbit during the formation of the solar system,” Dr Fischer-Gödde said.
“Asteroid impacts like Chicxulub turn out to be very rare and unique events in geological time,” said Professor Carsten Müncher from the University of Cologne.
“The fate of the dinosaurs and many other species was sealed by this object that came from the outer solar system.”
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Mario Fischer-Gedde others2024. Ruthenium isotopes indicate that the Chicxulub impactor was a carbonaceous asteroid. Science 385 (6710): 752-756; doi: 10.1126/science.adk4868
Mars A recent study indicates that the Earth may be hiding a global ocean beneath its surface, with cracks in rocks potentially holding enough water to form it.
Scientists believe that the water lies about seven to 12 miles (11.5 to 20 kilometers) deep in Mars’ crust, possibly originating from the planet’s ancient surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, and oceans billions of years ago, according to Vashan Wright, the lead scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
Despite the presence of water inside Mars, Wright noted that it does not necessarily mean that life exists there.
“However, our findings suggest the possibility of habitable environments,” he mentioned in an email.
The research team combined computer simulations with InSight data, including earthquake speeds, to suggest that groundwater is the most likely explanation. These results were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.
Wright remarked that if InSight’s observations near the equator of Mars at Elysium Planitia are representative of the entire planet, there could be enough groundwater to fill a terrestrial ocean approximately a mile (1 to 2 kilometers) deep.
Tools like drills will be required to verify the presence of water and search for signs of microbial life.
Despite the InSight lander no longer being in operation, scientists are still analyzing the data collected between 2018 and 2022 to gain more insights into Mars’ interior.
Over 3 billion years ago, Mars was mostly covered in water, but due to the thinning of its atmosphere, it lost its surface water, becoming the dry and dusty world we see today. It is believed by scientists that the ancient water either escaped into space or remains hidden underground.
Take-off is a key part of powered flight and likely constrains the size of birds, although extinct pterosaurs are known to have grown to much larger sizes. Three different hypothesized take-off movements have been proposed to allow pterosaurs to fly: a vertical burst jump using only the legs similar to those used by mostly ground-dwelling birds, a less vertical jump using only the legs similar to those used by birds that fly frequently, and a quadruped jump using the wings as well in a movement similar to the take-off jump of a bat. Palaeontologists from the University of Bristol, Liverpool John Moores University, ABC Federal University and Keele University built a computational musculoskeletal model of an avian pterosaur with a five-metre wingspan, reconstructed 34 major muscles and estimated muscle moment arms across the three hypothesized take-off movements.
One-second takeoff sequences used in the study highlighting the key phases: (A) Bipedal burst style takeoff highlighting the timing of the crouch, ankle lift, and launch phases. (B) Bipedal recoil style takeoff highlighting the timing of the countermotion and launch phases. (C) Quadrupedal recoil style takeoff highlighting the crouch, leap, and launch phases. Images courtesy of Griffin others., doi: 10.7717/peerj.17678.
“Powered flight is a form of locomotion that is restricted to only a small number of animals because it is energy-intensive, requires specialized adaptations to take off and requires lift to support thrust and weight,” Dr Benjamin Griffin from the University of Bristol and his colleagues said.
“The most energy-intensive part of powered flight is take-off from the ground. During this stage, the animal needs to get high enough into the air to be able to utilize an unimpeded flapping cycle.”
“Take-off also requires the animal to gain enough speed so that the wings can overcome drag (i.e. thrust) and generate enough lift to support the animal's weight.”
“As size increases, so do altitude and speed requirements, limiting the takeoff size of flying animals.”
“Modern flying animals do not have a mass greater than 25 kg. The heaviest flying animals were Bustard (Otis Tarda)It was recorded to have weighed 22kg.
“Despite this, many extinct animals grew large bodies and are still thought to be capable of flight. Argentavis magnificens and Pelagornis sandersi They are predicted to have masses of 70 kg and 21.8 to 40 kg, respectively.”
“Pterosaurs vary in size, with medium-sized pterosaurs predicted to have a wingspan of 2-5 metres and weigh between 20 and 30 kilograms.”
“They also reached the largest sizes among the largest animals, such as pterosaurs. Quetzalcoatlus Northropii It is predicted to have reached a much larger mass (150 kg, or more commonly 250 kg).”
“Flight at such a large mass challenges our understanding of the functional limits of flight, and understanding pterosaur take-off is crucial for establishing the functional limits of biological flight.”
This new research follows years of analysis and modeling of how muscles in other animals interact with bones to produce movement, which are beginning to be used to answer the question of how the largest known flying animals were able to take off from the ground.
The authors created the first computer model of this kind for a pterosaur analysis, to test three different ways that pterosaurs might have taken flight.
By mimicking this movement, the researchers hoped to understand the leverage principles that could be used to propel the animal into the air.
“Larger animals have to overcome greater obstacles to fly, which is why the ability of large animals like pterosaurs to fly is particularly intriguing,” Dr Griffin said.
“Our model shows that unlike birds, which rely primarily on their hind limbs, pterosaurs likely relied on all four limbs to take to the air.”
New dietary intervention studies Published in the journal Nature MedicineSwitching from a diet high in saturated animal fats to one high in unsaturated plant fats affects the composition of fats in your blood, which can affect your long-term disease risk.
Eichelmann othersThis shows that it is possible to accurately measure diet-related changes in blood fats and directly link them to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Image courtesy of Tung Lam.
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the importance of a healthy diet in preventing chronic diseases and recommends replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats from plant sources to reduce cardiometabolic risk.
However, limitations in existing research mean these guidelines are of moderate certainty.
The new study addressed these limitations by conducting a detailed analysis of fats in the blood, also known as lipids, using a technique called lipidomics.
These highly detailed lipid measurements have allowed researchers to innovatively combine different types of studies to link diet and disease.
This approach combines dietary intervention studies (using highly controlled diets) with previously conducted cohort studies with long-term health follow-up.
“Our collaboration provides conclusive evidence that diets low in saturated fat and high in unsaturated vegetable fats have health benefits and may help to provide targeted dietary advice to people who would benefit most from changing their eating habits,” said Professor Julie Lovegrove, from the University of Reading.
“Our study provides further conclusive evidence that diets high in unsaturated vegetable fats, such as the Mediterranean diet, are beneficial for health,” added researcher Dr Clemens Wittenbecher from Chalmers University of Technology.
The study included 113 participants from the DIVAS trial, a single-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel trial.
For 16 weeks, one group ate a diet high in saturated animal fats and the other group ate a diet high in unsaturated vegetable fats.
The blood samples were analyzed using lipid analysis techniques to identify specific lipid molecules that reflected the different diets consumed by each participant.
“We summarized the effects on blood lipids in a Multi Lipid Score (MLS),” said Dr Fabian Eichelmann, researcher at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Potsdam-Rehbrücke.
“A high MLS indicates a healthy blood fat profile, and such good MLS levels can be achieved by consuming more unsaturated vegetable fats and less saturated animal fats.”
“These MLS results from dietary intervention studies were statistically associated with incident cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in previous large observational studies.”
“These large cohort studies followed initially healthy participants for several years.”
Analysis of data from both studies showed that participants with a higher MLS, indicating a beneficial dietary fat composition, had a significantly reduced risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases.
Additionally, the scientists investigated whether people with lower MLS levels, indicative of a higher saturated fat content in their diet, particularly benefited from a healthier diet.
The Mediterranean diet, which focuses on consuming more unsaturated vegetable fats, was used in one of the large intervention trials known as the PREDIMED trial.
From this study, the authors found that the diabetes prevention effect was most pronounced in individuals who had low MLS levels at the start of the study.
“Because diet is so complex, it's often difficult to draw conclusive evidence from a single study,” Dr. Wittenbecher said.
“Our approach of combining a highly controlled dietary intervention study with lipid analysis and a prospective cohort study with long-term health follow-up can overcome current limitations in nutrition research.”
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F. Eichelmann othersLipid changes through improving the quality of dietary fats can aid in cardiometabolic risk reduction and precision nutrition. National MedPublished online July 11, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-03124-1
This article is a version of a press release provided by the University of Reading.
Doctors are calling for a ban on artificial stone, a popular material used for kitchen worktops, following the confirmation of eight cases of artificial stone silicosis in the UK for the first time.
Also known as engineered or reconstituted stone, artificial stone has gained popularity for its aesthetics and durability over the last two decades. However, a new report published in the British Journal of Construction highlights the serious health risks posed by its high silica content, which exceeds 90% compared to 3% in marble and 30% in granite.
“Silicosis is a progressive lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust,” said Dr. Patrick Howlett, a spokesperson for BBC Science Focus. “The risk of developing silicosis is significantly higher for workers in the artificial stone industry compared to those with chronic respiratory conditions.”
“Various industries expose individuals to silicosis, including mining, pottery, cement work, and now artificial stone fabrication. Prolonged exposure to low levels of silica dust can lead to the development of silicosis over time,” added Dr. Howlett.
All eight affected individuals were male, with an average age of 34, and most worked for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Poor safety practices, such as inadequate respiratory protection and ventilation systems, were reported by workers during cutting and grinding operations.
The report’s authors emphasized the need for national guidelines and better enforcement to protect workers from artificial stone silicosis. They highlighted the urgent need for early detection of cases and preventative measures to avoid a potential epidemic.
Since 2010, cases of artificial stone silicosis have been reported worldwide, but the UK confirmed its first cases in mid-2023. California has identified nearly 100 cases of silicosis among countertop workers, prompting the adoption of new regulations to safeguard workers.
Australia has already banned the use of artificial stone as of July 2024, aiming to eliminate the health risks associated with its production and installation.
In related editorials, Dr. Christopher Barber and researchers from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust drew parallels between artificial stone silicosis and historical occupational health crises, urging stricter regulations and enforcement to protect workers.
Experts are currently reviewing exposure limits for crystalline silica dust in the UK, with a focus on mitigating the risks associated with artificial stone worktops. Silicosis remains a significant concern for clinicians and researchers in the occupational health field.
About our experts
Patrick Howlett: An MRC Clinical Research Fellow at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, focusing on silicosis and tuberculosis among small-scale miners in Tanzania.
Christopher Barber: A leading expert in occupational and environmental lung disease, serving as a medical advisor to the UK Health and Safety Executive and conducting extensive research in the field.
The Pyramid of Djoser, also known as the Step Pyramid, is believed to be the oldest of the seven great pyramids, built around 4,500 years ago.
Map of the Saqqara Plateau showing the waterway from the Gisr el-Mudir Dam (left) to the water treatment plant near the Pyramid of Djoser. The water is then routed to the pyramid's network of pipes to power the hydraulic elevators. Image courtesy of Landreau. others., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306690.
The Pyramid of Djoser, built around 2680 BC at Saqqara in Egypt, is considered a major milestone in monumental architecture.
This revealed for the first time two important innovations: the pyramidal shape of the pharaoh's tomb and the use of only perfectly finished stones in the masonry.
In fact, the ability to extract, lift and precisely stack millions of stones is also revolutionary.
Such were the complex and visible achievements of King Djoser that his architect, vizier and great priest of Ra, Imhotep, was deified during the New Kingdom.
In a new interdisciplinary analysis, Dr. Xavier Landreau of the CEA Palaeotechnical Institute and his colleagues have found that hydraulic lifts may have been used in the construction of the pyramid.
Based on their mapping of nearby watersheds, the authors found that one of Saqqara's large unexplained structures, the Gisr el-Mudir Enclosure, has the characteristics of a check dam intended to capture sediment and water.
Additionally, a series of compartments dug into the ground outside the pyramid may have acted as water treatment plants, allowing sediment to settle as water passed through each compartment.
This would have allowed the water to flow into the pyramid's columns themselves, and its upward force could have carried the building stones along.
More research is needed to understand how water flowed through the tunnels and how much water was present on the land at that point in Earth's history.
However, archaeologists suggest that while other building methods such as ramps may have been used to construct the pyramids, if there was enough water a hydraulic lift system may have been used to support the building process.
“The internal structure of the step pyramid is found to be consistent with a previously unreported mechanism for hydraulic build-up,” the researchers said.
“The ancient builders may have used sediment-free water from the south side of the dry moat to raise the stones from the center of the pyramid in a volcanic fashion.”
“The ancient Egyptians are famous for being pioneers and masters of hydraulics, including irrigation canals and barges for transporting megaliths.”
“This research opens up a new field of research into the use of water power to build the massive structures erected by the Pharaohs.”
of study Published online in the journal PLoS One.
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X. Landreau others2024. On the possibility of using hydropower to aid in the construction of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. PLoS One 19 (8): e0306690; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306690
Göbekli Tepe, an archaeological site in southern Turkey, features several Neolithic temple-like enclosures decorated with many intricately carved symbols.
Göbekli Tepe (Turkish for “Pot-bellied Hill”) is one of the oldest known examples of an artificial megalithic structure constructed by prehistoric builders specifically for ritual purposes.
Its impressive monumental architecture was built by a group of hunter-gatherers during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period between 9600 and 8200 BC.
Göbekli Tepe was discovered towards the end of the last century in a hillside overlooking the Harran Plain.
It lies between the upper reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, about 12 km northeast of the modern city of Şanlıurfa, known as Ancient Urfa and said to be the birthplace of the biblical Abraham.
Excavations at Göbekli Tepe, which began in 1994, have uncovered four large, nearly circular enclosures and a number of smaller, generally rectangular, buildings.
Each circular enclosure consists of rough stone walls with T-shaped megalithic pillars inset around two centrally located tall T-shaped pillars, which are usually fixed within stone sockets.
Archaeologists initially thought that Göbekli Tepe was merely a religious center, but recent excavations have revealed that it also contained a settlement of rectangular buildings, now thought to be homes.
The large enclosures are still considered “special” buildings, although there is debate as to whether they had a specific religious purpose or were large homes for powerful families.
In the context of this debate, it is debated whether the largest pillars represent gods or even worshipped ancestors.
In any case, it is generally believed that these large enclosures were roofed, but hard evidence is elusive.
A round-elliptical monumental structure with a distinctive T-shaped monolithic pillar at Göbekli Tepe, Turkey. Image credit: Nico Becker, Göbekli Tepe Archive, German Archaeological Institute.
“The largest complete enclosure discovered so far, Enclosure D (30 metres, 98 feet wide), has the oldest radiocarbon date yet obtained from the site, dating to 9530 BC,” said archaeologist David Schneider of the University of Edinburgh. paper Published in the journal Time and Heart.
“This date corresponds roughly to the end of the Younger Dryas period, at the boundary between the Epipaleolithic and Neolithic, when the Northern Hemisphere climate suddenly warmed after a near-glacial Younger Dryas climate that lasted for more than 1,200 years.”
“However, the date of the earliest occupation of Göbekli Tepe is unknown,” he added.
“Ground penetrating radar scans indicate that there appear to be several other large structures near the center of the main trail, waiting to be discovered.”
“Since only a small portion of the site's surface has been excavated, and even less has been excavated down to bedrock, the origins of Göbekli Tepe may ultimately be dated back to a time closer to the beginning of the Younger Dryas period, around 10,800 BC.”
“In fact, scientists have suggested it may have originated in the Paleolithic period.”
In a new analysis of the V-shaped symbols carved into the pillars at Göbekli Tepe, Dr Sweatman found that each V likely represents a day.
This interpretation allowed researchers to count a 365-day solar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months and 11 extra days on one of the pillars.
The summer solstice was considered a special day, and a V was drawn around the neck of a bird-like beast, which was thought to represent the summer solstice constellation at the time.
Other statues believed to represent gods were found nearby, all with similar V-shaped markings around their necks.
As both lunar and solar cycles are depicted, the carving may represent the world's oldest known lunisolar calendar, based on the phases of the moon and the position of the sun, predating any other known calendar of this type by thousands of years.
Detail of the center section of Pillar 43 at Göbekli Tepe. Image courtesy of Martin B. Sweatman, doi: 10.1080/1751696X.2024.2373876.
“Ancient people may have created these carvings at Göbekli Tepe to record the date when a swarm of cometary fragments hit Earth about 13,000 years ago, i.e. in 10,850 BC,” the scientists said.
“The cometary impact is thought to have caused a mini-glacial period lasting more than 1,200 years and led to the extinction of many large animal species.”
“It may also have triggered changes in lifestyle and agriculture that are associated with the emergence of civilisations in the Fertile Crescent of Western Asia shortly thereafter.”
Another pillar at the site appears to depict the Taurid meteor shower, which emanated over a 27-day period from the direction of Aquarius and Pisces, and is thought to be the source of cometary debris.
The discovery also appears to confirm that ancient peoples were able to use precession — the wobble of the Earth's axis that affects the movement of the constellations in the sky — to record dates at least 10,000 years before it was recorded by the ancient Greek Hipparchus in 150 BC.
The carvings appear to have been important to the people of Göbekli Tepe for thousands of years, suggesting that the impact event may have sparked new cults and religions that influenced the development of the civilization.
The discovery also supports the theory that Earth's orbit crosses the path of orbiting cometary debris that we normally experience as meteor showers, increasing the chances that Earth will face cometary impacts.
“The inhabitants of Göbekli Tepe are likely to have been avid skywatchers, which is not surprising given that their world was devastated by a cometary impact,” Dr Sweatman said.
“This event may have marked the beginning of a new religion and may have sparked civilization by encouraging the development of agriculture to cope with the cold climate.”
“Perhaps their attempt to record what they saw was the first step towards the development of writing thousands of years later.”
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Martin B. Sweatman. The representations of calendar and time at Göbekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe support an astronomical interpretation of their symbols. Time and HeartPublished online July 24, 2024, doi: 10.1080/1751696X.2024.2373876
In the new study, Dr David Hernández Uribe from the University of Illinois at Chicago used computer models to study the formation of magma, which is thought to hold clues to the origin of Earth's continents.
Hadean Earth. Image by Alec Brenner.
Magma is molten material that forms rocks and minerals as it cools.
Dr Hernández Uribe searched for magma that matched the compositional characteristics of rare mineral deposits called zircons, which date back to the Archean Era (2.5 to 4 billion years ago), when scientists believe the continents first formed.
In a recent study, researchers argued that Archean zircons could only have been formed by subduction, i.e. two crustal plates colliding under the ocean and pushing land up onto the surface.
This process still occurs today, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and reshaping the coastlines of continents.
However, Dr. Hernández Uribe found that subduction was not necessary for the formation of Archean zircons.
Rather, he found that the minerals may have formed due to the high pressures and temperatures associated with the melting of Earth's thick primordial crust.
“Using my calculations and models, we can get the same characteristics in zircons and even a better match through partial melting at the base of the crust,” Dr Hernández Uribe said.
“So based on these results, we don't yet have enough evidence to say by what process the continents formed.”
The findings also create uncertainty about when plate tectonics began on Earth.
If Earth's first continents formed by subduction, then the continents would have started moving between 3.6 and 4 billion years ago, or just 500 million years after Earth existed.
But an alternative theory, that the first continents formed from melting crust, means that subduction and tectonic shifts may have started much later.
“As far as we know, Earth is the only planet in the solar system where plate tectonics is actively occurring,” Dr Hernández Uribe said.
“And this has implications for the origin of life, because how the first continents moved controlled the weather, controlled the chemistry of the oceans, and controlled everything related to life.”
of study Published in the journal on July 11, 2024 Nature Chemistry.
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Hernández-Uribe, D. Generation of Archean oxidized and wet magmas by mafic crustal overthickening. National GeographyPublished online July 11, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01489-z
This article is a version of a press release from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Use of Data ESA's Gaia mission Astronomers have discovered a number of metal-poor stars that are more than 13 billion years old and in orbits similar to our sun.
Rotational motion of a young (blue) and an older (red) star similar to the Sun (orange). Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / R. Hurt / SSC / Caltech.
“The Milky Way has a large halo, a central bulge and bar, and thick and thin disks,” said Dr Samir Nepal of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam and his colleagues.
“Most of the stars are found in a thin disk of the so-called Milky Way galaxy, which revolves regularly around the galactic center.”
“Middle-aged stars like our Sun, which is 4.6 billion years old, belong to a thin disk that is generally thought to have begun to form between 8 and 10 billion years ago.”
Astronomers used the new Gaia data set to study stars within about 3,200 light-years of the Sun.
They found a surprisingly large number of very old stars in the thin disk orbit, most of which are over 10 billion years old, with some being over 13 billion years old.
These ancient stars show a wide range of metal compositions: some are very metal-poor (as expected), while others have twice the metal content of the much younger Sun, indicating that rapid metal enrichment occurred early in the evolution of the Milky Way.
“These ancient stars in the disk suggest that the formation of the Milky Way's thin disk began much earlier than previously thought, around 4 to 5 billion years ago,” Dr Nepal said.
“This study also reveals that the Galaxy underwent intense star formation early on, leading to rapid metal enrichment in its inner regions and the formation of a disk.”
“This discovery brings the Milky Way's disk formation timeline into line with that of high-redshift galaxies observed with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA).”
“This shows that cold disks can form and stabilize very early in the history of the universe, providing new insights into the evolution of galaxies.”
“Our study suggests that the Milky Way's thin disk may have formed much earlier than previously thought and that its formation is closely linked to an early chemical enrichment in the innermost regions of the galaxy,” said Dr Cristina Chiappini, astronomer at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam.
“The combination of data from different sources and the application of advanced machine learning techniques has allowed us to increase the number of stars with high-quality stellar parameters, which is an important step leading our team to these new insights.”
Samir Nepal others2024. Discovery of local counterparts of disk galaxies at z > 4: The oldest thin disk in the Milky Way using Gaia-RVS. A&Ain press; arXiv: 2402.00561
A new study led by Western Washington University suggests that sister city relationships have been around for longer than we thought.
Jack H. McBride and Tesla A. Monson conducted a comprehensive study of primate offspring numbers using life history data from 155 primate species and offspring numbers from an additional 791 mammal species. Image by Jason Brougham.
“Nearly all primates give birth to a single litter,” say Tesla Monson, a professor at Western Washington University, and Jack McBride, a doctoral student at Yale University.
“However, some genera, such as marmosets, tamarins, lemurs, lorises, and galagos, regularly give birth to twins or triplets.”
“Although humans most often give birth to singletons, twin pregnancies occur naturally at a rate of approximately 1.1-1.5% worldwide.”
“Advances in assisted reproductive technology have increased twin birth rates to around 3% in some areas over the past 50 years.”
“There is an urgent need to understand the impact of twins on pregnancy, mothers, and newborns.”
In this study, the authors collected data on reproduction and body size from nearly 1,000 different mammalian species to investigate the evolutionary history of twinning in primates.
The traits they analyzed included offspring size (number of offspring), gestation period, body size, and lifespan.
Contrary to previous assumptions, the analysis demonstrates that the earliest primates likely gave birth to twins.
The researchers also found that birth size and gestational age (the length of pregnancy) were closely related.
“Animals that give birth to more pups on average tend to have shorter gestation periods,” Professor Monson said.
“This also applies to humans. In the United States, full-term twins are considered to be born at 38 weeks, not 40 weeks, and many twins are born earlier than that.”
“This may be related to maternal energy limitations.”
“The next step is to look more broadly at offspring number across mammals and see which other reproductive, brain, and body size traits are associated with twinning.”
“We are particularly interested in understanding the relationship between twinning and tooth morphology.”
In a new study, a team of scientists from Virginia Tech investigated the extent to which exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, was widespread in wildlife communities in Virginia and Washington, DC, between May 2022 and September 2023. They documented positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in six species: deer mice, Virginia opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, cotton-tailed bats, and eastern red bats. They also found no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was transmitted from animals to humans, and people should not fear general contact with wildlife.
Goldberg othersThis suggests that a wide variety of mammal species were infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the wild. Image credit: Goldberg others., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-49891-w.
“SARS-CoV-2 could be transmitted from humans to wild animals during contact between humans and wild animals, in the same way that a hitchhiker might jump to a new, more suitable host,” said Carla Finkelstein, a professor at Virginia Tech.
“The goal of a virus is to spread in order to survive. It wants to infect as many humans as possible, but vaccination protects many of us. So the virus turns to animals, where it adapts and mutates to thrive in a new host.”
SARS CoV-2 infections have previously been identified in wild animals, primarily white-tailed deer and wild mink.
This new research significantly expands the number of species investigated and improves our understanding of virus transmission in and between wild animals.
The data suggest that exposure to the virus is widespread among wild animals and that areas with high human activity may be contact points for interspecies transmission.
“This study was prompted by the realization that there were significant and important gaps in our knowledge about the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the broader wildlife community,” said Dr. Joseph Hoyt of Virginia Tech.
“Most studies to date have focused on white-tailed deer, but we still don't know what's going on with many of the wildlife species commonly found in our backyards.”
For the study, the researchers collected 798 nasal and oral swabs from animals that had been caught live and released from the wild, or that were being treated at a wildlife rehabilitation center, as well as 126 blood samples from six animal species.
These sites were chosen to compare the presence of viruses in animals across different levels of human activity, from urban areas to remote wilderness.
The scientists also identified two mice with the exact same mutation on the same day and in the same location, indicating that they either both got infected from the same person, or one had transmitted it to the other.
How it spreads from humans to animals is unknown, but wastewater is a possibility, but trash cans and discarded food are more likely sources.
“I think the biggest takeaway from this study is that this virus is everywhere. We're finding it in common backyard animals that are testing positive,” said Dr. Amanda Goldberg of Virginia Tech.
“This study highlights the potentially broad host range of SARS-CoV-2 in nature and how widely it may actually spread,” Dr Hoyt said.
“There is much work to be done to understand which wildlife species, if any, are important in the long-term maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in humans.”
“But what we've already learned is that SARS CoV-2 is not just a human problem, and we need multidisciplinary teams to effectively address its impacts on different species and ecosystems,” Professor Finkelstein said.
Parapontoporia The common dolphin, an extinct genus of long-nosed dolphins that lived along the Pacific coast of North America from the late Miocene to the Pliocene, was likely able to hear in a narrow band of high-frequency sounds, a new analysis has found. Parapontoporia The bony labyrinth.
The last known Chinese river dolphin, Qiqi. Image by Roland Seitre / CC BY-SA 3.0.
“Whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) represent one of the most dramatic transitions in the history of mammals: a return from land to water,” said researchers Dr. Joyce Sanks of Vanderbilt University and Dr. Rachel Racicot of the Senckenberg Institute and the Natural History Museum.
“As a result, this group acquired a series of aquatic adaptations, such as moving their nostrils to the top of their heads and streamlining their bodies.”
“Echolocation developed early in the evolutionary history of Oligocene toothed whales (Odontoceti), and all modern toothed whales possess this ability.”
“The biosonar clicks produced by most extant toothed whales typically cover a wide frequency spectrum, from tens of kilohertz to 150-170 kHz.”
“Conversely, certain toothed whales emit characteristic biosonar clicks that have narrow bandwidth but high centroid frequencies.”
“These distinctive clicks have a peak frequency of 125-140 kHz and a bandwidth of 11-20 kHz.”
Using high-resolution x-ray CT scans, the authors examined the inner ears of three people. Parapontoporia Two specimens, Parapontoporia sternbergii and Parapontoporia pacifica From the collection of the San Diego Natural History Museum.
With the help of 3D models, the team was able to prove that these creatures already had narrow-band, high-frequency hearing during the Miocene epoch, about 5.3 million years ago.
“Echolocation, as used by animals, also developed quite early in evolutionary history,” Dr Racicot said.
“The animals emit sound waves that bounce off objects and send back echoes, providing information about the object's distance and size. All toothed whales currently use this natural sonar system.”
“Echolocation is a rational hunting and communication strategy, especially in the ocean, where sound travels five times faster than in air, and where visibility is often reduced.”
“What's particularly interesting is that these dolphins have once again changed habitat, leaving the marine environment to colonize rivers.”
There are still a few dolphins living in the river today, with all six species now extremely rare and endangered.
As a relative Chinese river dolphin (Lipotes vexilifer) Last recorded in 2002, Parapontoporia It provides insight into the transition from marine habitats to freshwater environments.
“We speculate that this early and widespread evolution of echolocation in the dolphins we studied was driven by selective pressure or ecological advantage,” Dr Racicot said.
“River systems are spatially complex habitats, and this form of orientation and communication would likely have been advantageous for long-nosed dolphins.”
“Further research into toothed whales' sensory organs could be an important tool for studying the influence of habitat on cetacean hearing and for understanding the evolutionary dynamics of marine mammals.”
of result Published in this month's journal Anatomy record.
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Joyce Sanks & Rachel Racicot. Biology and prediction of hyperacusis. Parapontoporia – The extinct fin whale. Anatomy record Published online July 15, 2024; doi: 10.1002/ar.25538
Ice 0 is Ice Shape If it is possible to induce the formation of ice crystals in supercooled water, University of Tokyo.
Ice nucleation in water nanodroplets at 180 K (minus 93.15 degrees Celsius, minus 135.76 degrees Fahrenheit). Image courtesy of G. Sun & H. Tanaka, doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50188-1.
“Ice crystallization, known as ice nucleation, usually occurs heterogeneously, in other words, on solid surfaces,” said University of Tokyo researchers Gan Song and Hajime Tanaka.
“This is typically expected to occur at the surface of a container of water, where the liquid and solid meet.”
“But our study shows that ice crystallization can also occur just below the water surface, in contact with the air.”
“Here, ice nucleates around a small precursor that has the same characteristic ring-like structure as ice-0.”
“Simulations show that under isothermal conditions, water droplets are likely to crystallize near the free surface,” Dr Sun added.
“This settles a long-standing debate about whether crystallization occurs more easily on the surface or in the interior.”
The precursor to ice-0 has a structure very similar to supercooled water, which allows water molecules to crystallize more easily without having to form directly into the structure of regular ice.
These form naturally as a result of the negative pressure effect caused by the surface tension of water.
When crystallization begins from these precursors, the ice-0-like structure rapidly rearranges into the more typical ice-I.
“Our discovery of the mechanism behind water surface crystallization is expected to make significant contributions to various fields, such as climate research and food science, where water crystallization plays an important role,” said Dr. Tanaka.
“Understanding ice in more detail and how it forms can provide valuable insights into many different fields of research.”
“This work may be particularly important in meteorology, because the formation of ice from precursors such as ice-0 may have a much more pronounced effect on tiny water droplets such as those found in clouds.”
“Understanding ice also has benefits in technology, from food science to air conditioning.”
Team paper Published online in the journal Nature Communications.
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G. Sun & H. Tanaka. 2024. Surface-induced water crystallization driven by precursors formed in a negative pressure region. Nat Community 15, 6083; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50188-1
This article is based on a press release from the University of Tokyo.
Increasing plant-based food consumption is known to benefit both health and the environment, yet only a few individuals fully commit to a vegan diet.
However, a recent study suggests that following a vegan diet for just eight weeks could potentially reverse one’s biological age. Researchers discovered that participants who adhered to a vegan diet showed a reduction in their estimated biological age, as indicated by DNA methylation, an epigenetic marker.
Dr. Lucia Aronica, along with other co-authors from BBC Science Focus, explains, “DNA methylation and other epigenetic modifications regulate gene activity and expression.” These modifications change in specific ways as we age, allowing scientists to track and understand the aging process.
The study, as detailed in BMC Medicine, involved 21 adult identical twin pairs, where one twin followed a vegan diet while the other maintained an omnivorous diet for eight weeks. Blood samples were taken before and after the study to measure DNA methylation levels and assess the effects of each diet.
Results demonstrated that only the vegan group showed a slowing of the epigenetic aging clock, with some participants appearing almost one year younger by certain measures. A vegan diet was associated with reduced estimated ages of various organ systems, such as the heart, hormones, liver, and inflammatory and metabolic systems.
The average reduction in biological age for the vegan group was a remarkable 0.63 years. However, researchers caution that these findings should be interpreted carefully due to other factors like weight loss, as participants in the vegan group lost an average of 2 kilograms more than those in the omnivorous group.
Despite the promising outcomes, further research is necessary to understand the long-term effects of a vegan diet on aging and to differentiate between the effects of dietary composition and weight loss.
Experts like Dr. Hou Lifang suggest that additional studies are needed to validate these results, emphasizing the need for caution when drawing broad conclusions. While the study provides valuable insights, more research is required to fully comprehend the impact of a vegan diet on aging.
About our experts
Lucia Aronica focuses on epigenetics and gene-environment interactions in health outcomes. She is currently leading epigenetic analysis in the largest low-carb vs. low-fat diet study for weight loss. Aronica teaches nutritional genomics at Stanford University.
Varun Dwaraka is a bioinformatics researcher specializing in aging, epigenetics, and genetics. He has co-authored various publications on DNA methylation, tissue regeneration, and the epigenetic clock.
Hou Li-Fan, MD, MS, PhD, is a Professor of Preventive Medicine, integrating epidemiology with molecular technologies in disease studies focused on molecular markers and disease prevention.
Interested in trying a water, oats, and lime juice smoothie? You may have come across the internet buzz about this mixture, likened to the effects of the weight-loss drug Ozempic. Dubbed “Oat Zempic” by some influencers, this concoction is gaining popularity.
Recent research published in the Nutrition Journal suggests that there is a similarity between a type of fiber found in oats and the biochemical pathway of Ozempic.
Ozempic, a medication widely used for type 2 diabetes treatment, has gained attention for its weight loss benefits, as well as its potential to reduce heart disease risk, prevent cognitive decline, and aid in smoking cessation.
Derived from semaglutide, Ozempic falls into the category of GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic a digestive hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite.
While oats have known benefits in promoting satiety and aiding in weight loss as part of a balanced diet, they do not match the potency of Ozempic in terms of GLP-1 agonist effects.
Nutrition experts caution against replacing meals with trendy drinks like Oat Zempic, emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded diet for long-term health and weight management.
Ultimately, incorporating high-fiber foods like oats into your diet can be beneficial, but there is no substitute for a healthy, balanced eating plan. Remember, sustainable weight loss requires a holistic approach.
About our experts
Emily Leeming: A Registered Dietitian and Research Fellow, Emily brings a wealth of knowledge on nutrition, gut health, and dietetics. Her background in science and culinary arts gives her a unique perspective on food and health.
To learn more about Emily and her work, check out her book The Genius Gut: The Life-Changing Science of Diet for Your Second Brain.
A new study explains how bird flu spreads between dairy cows and from them to other mammals.
Experts are concerned that the virus may be developing new capabilities that help it evolve so it can spread from person to person, something that has not yet been observed.
A new study has found that cats and raccoons have died from a virus, possibly from drinking raw milk.
A new study of an ongoing avian flu outbreak on dairy farms provides an unprecedented look into how efficiently the virus spreads among cows and from them to other mammals, including cats and raccoons.
This suggests the virus is developing new capabilities that have bird flu experts concerned.
To the best of researchers' knowledge, there has not yet been any human-to-human transmission, but the number of cases of person-to-person transmission is continuing to increase, Colorado health officials confirmed. 3 new cases Fourteen new cases of bird flu were confirmed on Thursday, bringing the total in the country to 14.
All of the human cases have been farm workers who became infected after coming into contact with sick animals, and all but one was diagnosed within the past four months. Little is still known about the three most recent infections, but the remaining infections are mild.
New research shows that the virus is spreading from one mammal species to another, a relatively new phenomenon that could make it difficult for authorities to control.
The longer the virus goes uncontrolled, the greater the chance it will evolve and adapt, becoming a greater threat to people, say the authors of the new study. The study was published Tuesday in the journal Nature.
“This virus is not very effective at infecting or transmitting to humans, but that could change if the virus continues to circulate among dairy cows and then from there to other mammals,” said study author Diego Diehl, head of the virology lab at Cornell University's Animal Health Diagnostic Center. “This is cause for concern.”
The new study assessed the first outbreaks of avian influenza among cows on nine farms in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas and Ohio, taking animal samples and comparing the genetic similarities of the viruses between them.
Researchers found that the virus, a specific strain of avian flu known as H5N1, spread rapidly between farms. When infected cows were moved from Texas to another farm in Ohio, the virus was soon found in the Ohio cows. Genetic sequences also suggest that cats and raccoons have died from the virus, possibly after drinking raw milk.
Studies have shown that sick cows eat less feed, chew their cud less, produce less milk, and the color of their milk changes. On some infected farms, cows died at twice the normal rate.
Andrew Bowman, a professor of veterinary preventive medicine at Ohio State University who was not involved in the study, said the research reflects the experience of veterinarians on many U.S. farms.
“It's consistent with the clinical picture,” Bowman said. “This is exactly what we've been seeing on dairy farms. This is really just the first documentation that's been published.”
The study adds to the growing evidence that handling and drinking unpasteurized milk is dangerous.
Diehl said infected cows shed incredible amounts of the virus from their mammary glands, at concentrations higher than could easily be cultured in a lab.
“Drinking raw milk is extremely dangerous,” Diehl said.
Farmers must not send potentially contaminated milk to production.
“Milk from sick cows should not be used in the milk supply,” Bowman said.
As scientists continue to study the avian flu outbreak, Bowman said he's interested to know whether cows can shed the virus before they start showing signs of illness and whether the virus can continue to spread from mammals infected by cows.
This is only the third time a virus has spread fairly quickly between groups of mammals, said Anise Loewen, a virologist and professor at the Emory University School of Medicine, who was also not involved in the new study. Spreading on mink farms and Between sea lions and fur seals last summer.
Some mammals have severe cases, such as sea lions. sealamong other species.
Lowen said health officials should also consider the risk that people could be infected with H5N1 and seasonal influenza at the same time this winter: When people are infected with more than one influenza virus, the viruses can exchange genetic information, a process called “reassortment.”
This process could give the virus an evolutionary shortcut and change how the virus spreads.
“The viruses currently infecting cattle pose a relatively low risk to humans — that's what the CDC says, and they're right,” Loewen said. “But the risk I see is viral evolution. Viruses change as they adapt to new hosts. They change as they reassort and swap genes.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declined to comment on the new study.
Komodo dragon (Komodo dragon coatiThe Komodo dragon is the largest living predatory lizard, and its serrated, curved, blade-like teeth provide valuable analogues for studying tooth structure and function and for comparison with extinct species such as theropod dinosaurs. The Komodo dragon's teeth only have a thin layer of enamel, but they are still capable of meeting the piercing and pulling feeding demands. A new study reveals that the Komodo dragon's teeth have unique adaptations to maintain their sharpness, with serrations and an orange layer of iron-rich material at the tips of the teeth.
The pigmented cutting edge of a Komodo dragon tooth. Image courtesy of LeBlanc others., doi:10.1038/s41559-024-02477-7.
Native to Indonesia, the Komodo dragon is the largest extant monitor lizard.
These creatures can grow up to 3 metres (10 feet) in length and run at speeds of up to 20 kilometres (12 miles) per hour.
They have sharp, curved teeth similar to those of many carnivorous theropod dinosaurs.
They eat almost any type of meat, from small reptiles and birds to deer, horses and buffalo, tearing and tearing at the flesh of their prey.
“The Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard, is indisputably an impressive animal,” said Dr Benjamin Tapley, curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Zoological Society of London.
“Having worked with them at London Zoo for 12 years, I continue to be fascinated by them and this latest discovery only further highlights how incredible they are.”
“Komodo dragons are sadly endangered and this discovery not only improves our understanding of how this iconic dinosaur lived, but also helps us to better appreciate this magnificent reptile as we work towards conservation.”
To understand the chemical and structural makeup of Komodo dragon teeth, Dr Tapley, researcher Aaron LeBlanc of King's College London and their colleagues scoured museums for Komodo dragon skulls and teeth.
They also studied the teeth of Ganas, a 15-year-old Komodo dragon who lived at London Zoo.
Using advanced imaging and chemical analysis, the researchers were able to observe that the iron in Komodo dragon enamel is concentrated in a thin coating on the serrations and tips of the teeth.
This protective layer keeps the serrated edges of the teeth sharp and ready to use.
“Komodo dragons, like carnivorous dinosaurs, have curved, serrated teeth for tearing apart their prey,” Dr LeBlanc said.
“We hope to use these similarities to learn more about how carnivorous dinosaurs ate and whether they used iron in their teeth, like the Komodo dragon.”
“Unfortunately, with current technology we can't tell you whether fossil dinosaur teeth had a lot of iron or not.”
“We suspect that chemical changes that occur during fossilization may obscure how much iron was originally present.”
“But what we found is that large carnivorous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus had changed the structure of the enamel on the cutting edges of their teeth.”
“So while the Komodo dragon changed the chemical composition of its teeth, some dinosaurs changed the structure of their tooth enamel to maintain a sharp cutting edge.”
“Further analysis of Komodo's teeth may reveal other markers within the iron coating that were not altered during fossilization.”
“With these markers, we can know for sure whether dinosaurs also had iron-plated teeth, giving us a better understanding of these ferocious predators.”
ARH LeBlanc othersKomodo dragon teeth encrusted with iron and intricate dental enamel of carnivorous reptiles. Nat Ecol EvolPublished online July 24, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02477-7
According to a recent study conducted by researchers from Bond University, University of Helsinki, and Helsinki University Hospital, increasing fluid intake can help reduce the occurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) compared to no treatment. However, consuming cranberry juice has shown even better clinical outcomes in terms of decreased UTIs and antibiotic usage, suggesting that it should be considered as a management option for UTIs.
Cranberry juice drinkers are 54% less likely to develop a urinary tract infection. Image courtesy of The Loves of Eirlys.
“Urinary tract infections are one of the most common bacterial infections,” stated lead author Christian Moro, PhD, along with his colleagues.
“Over 50% of women and more than 20% of men will experience UTIs at least once in their lifetime, making it the most prevalent bacterial infection in children.”
“While antibiotics have traditionally been effective for UTI treatment, the growing resistance of bacteria to these drugs poses a challenge.”
“Studies have shown that over 90% of UTIs contain drug-resistant bacteria, many of which are resistant to multiple antibiotics.”
“Given the rise in microbial resistance to antibiotics, it is essential to explore evidence-based non-drug interventions for UTI prevention and treatment.”
“Reducing antibiotic usage will not only alleviate the financial and clinical burden of prescriptions but also address the increasing issue of antibiotic resistance.”
“Encouraging patients to increase fluid intake and incorporating cranberry juice or tablets have been proposed as beneficial strategies.”
“However, the existing literature on this topic is extensive, with conflicting findings regarding the effectiveness of cranberries.”
The authors utilized a novel research approach known as network meta-analysis, enabling simultaneous comparisons of multiple interventions across various studies.
A total of 20 trials involving 3,091 individuals were analyzed, with 18 of these studies revealing that cranberry juice consumption was linked to a 54% lower UTI incidence compared to no treatment and a 27% lower incidence than placebo liquids.
“These results have the potential to reduce the reliance on antibiotics for UTI treatment,” commented Dr. Moro.
“More than half of women will experience a UTI, often resulting in antibiotic prescriptions.”
“Given the escalating antibiotic resistance, identifying effective non-pharmaceutical interventions is critical.”
“Cranberry juice presents a straightforward and effective intervention that should be considered in managing UTIs.”
Furthermore, the study found that cranberry juice led to a 59% reduction in antibiotic requirements and significantly alleviated symptoms in individuals with active UTIs.
“Simple measures like increasing water intake or taking cranberry tablets also showed benefits, albeit not as pronounced as consuming cranberries in liquid form such as juice,” the researchers noted.
Read their paper published in the journal European Urology Focus.
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Christian Moro others Cranberry juice, cranberry tablets, or liquid therapy for urinary tract infections: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Yurol Focus Published online on July 18, 2024; doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2024.07.002
This article is based on a press release provided by Bond University.
East Africa contains the world’s most complete record of human evolution, yet scientists know little about how long-term biogeographic dynamics in the region have influenced human diversity and distribution.
An artist’s depiction of early human habitation in Tanzania 1.8 million years ago. Image courtesy of M. Lopez-Herrera / Enrique Baquedano / Olduvai Paleoanthropology and Paleoecology Project.
In the new study, Dr. Ignacio Razaga-Baster from the National Center for Research on Human Evolution (CENIEH) and his colleagues focused on the mammal fossil record of the East African Rift Valley.
“The Late Cenozoic fossil beds of the East African Rift Valley provide the world’s richest, longest and most continuous record of human evolution and its environmental context,” the authors explained.
“As such, the human and faunal records of East Africa have been central to understanding the factors that shaped human evolutionary history.”
“Our study provides a new perspective on how climatic and environmental changes over the past six million years have influenced mammal and human evolution,” Dr Razaghabastar said.
“This study particularly highlights how biotic homogenization – the process by which the faunas of different regions become more similar in composition – has been an important factor in the evolution of ecosystems and the species that live in them.”
“Beta diversity analysis, which shows the relationships between regional and local biodiversity, allows us to trace how changes in vegetation and climate have driven patterns of dispersal and extinction over time.”
The team found that faunas from the Late Miocene and Pliocene (approximately 3 million to 6 million years ago) were primarily made up of endemic species.
The shift towards biotic homogenization, or faunal homogenization, began around 3 million years ago with the loss of endemic species within functional groups and an increase in the number of grazing species shared between regions.
This important biogeographic transition coincides closely with the regional expansion of ecosystems dominated by grasses and C4 grasslands that thrive better in warmer, drier climates.
These environmental changes directly affected the feeding and migration patterns of humans and animals that shared the habitat.
“We are certain that hominoids, like other East African mammals, were influenced by many factors. This study offers a new perspective on the link between environmental and human evolutionary change and, through an integrated approach, provides a framework for future research and to test the hypothesis that hominoids adapted to their environment,” Dr Razaghabastar said.
of study Published in the journal on July 15, 2024 Natural Ecology and Evolution.
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J. Rowan othersLong-term biotic homogenization in the East African Rift Valley during the past 6 million years of human evolution. Nat Ecol EvolPublished online July 15, 2024; doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02462-0
During the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., residents were trapped under ash and rock, unable to escape. Surprisingly, a new study shows that some people did survive, only to meet their end later due to a different natural disaster.
The eruption covered the city in ash and rock particles for 18 hours, preserving the Roman inhabitants in a protective shell of solidified ash. However, experts discovered two skeletons in a house buried on top of the ash, rather than beneath it, indicating a massive earthquake as the cause of death.
Researchers investigating the house, Casa dei Pittori al Lavoro, noticed the absence of typical volcanic signs in the excavation near Vesuvius. Further examination revealed that the two men found in the house, around 50 years old, suffered severe injuries and were crushed by a collapsing wall due to the earthquake.
Scientists have discovered two skeletons in the ruins of a building in Pompeii and concluded that the cause of death was the collapse of a wall caused by an earthquake. – Image courtesy of Pompeii Archaeological Park
Residents who survived the initial eruption likely thought they were safe and attempted to flee, only to be met with powerful earthquakes. The combination of volcanic and seismic effects made it difficult to study the coincident earthquakes occurring at that time.
Researchers suggest that seismic activity during the eruption played a significant role in the destruction of Pompeii and may have affected the decisions made by its inhabitants facing imminent death.
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