The top four discoveries from a significant new UN climate study

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has recently published a detailed report titled Current status of global climate in 2023, which synthesizes the latest scientific knowledge on climate change from the past year.

This report contains significant findings that shed light on the impact of human-induced climate change on the Earth. If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of reading through lengthy UN reports, fear not! We have highlighted some of the most fascinating and surprising discoveries for you.

1. Switzerland has lost 10 percent of its glaciers in the past two years

Glaciers are vital ecosystems formed when snow solidifies into ice in cold mountain regions. They flow slowly downhill, shaping the landscape as they move. Glaciers play a crucial role in the ecosystem by melting in the summer and nourishing rivers, providing essential water resources globally.

According to the WMO report, the unprecedented glacier loss in 2022-2023, primarily in North America and Europe, marks a record decline. Switzerland, in particular, has witnessed a distressing scenario with a 10 percent reduction in glacier volume over the past two years.

“The planet is warming, and the ice is melting, but seeing parts of the Alps lose 10 percent of their glacier volume in just two years is astonishing,” stated Professor Jonathan Bamber, Director of the Bristol Glaciology Center.

2. On any given day in 2023, a third of the oceans experienced a heatwave.

The record-breaking sea surface temperatures in Florida are just one example of ocean warming trends. The report highlights that a significant portion of the Earth’s stored energy since 1971 resides in the oceans, leading to increased heat content.

In 2023, ocean warming reached its highest level on record, with ocean heat content at a depth of 2,000 meters peaking. This trend is expected to persist for centuries, if not millennia.

As ocean temperatures rise, water expands and contributes to sea level rise. Ocean heatwaves are becoming more frequent, with marine heatwave coverage averaging 32 percent in 2023, compared to 23 percent in 2016.

3. The cost of inaction on climate change could be staggering.

Addressing climate change and adapting to its costs will require substantial investments. The WMO estimates that annual climate finance investments need to increase more than sixfold to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, amounting to nearly $9 trillion by 2030 and an additional $10 trillion by 2050.

However, the report emphasizes that the cost of inaction would far exceed these figures. Failing to take action between 2025 and 2100 could incur a massive cost of $1,266 trillion.

The cost of inaction on climate change will exceed $1,000 trillion by 2100. – Image courtesy of Getty

Dr. David Lippin stressed the urgency of taking action, citing the report’s warning that inaction on climate change is more costly than proactive measures.

“The time to act is now, and the need for action is urgent,” emphasized Dr. Lippin, a professor at the School of Environmental Geography at York University.

4. Antarctic winter sea ice was 1 million km² below the previous record

The vulnerable polar regions experienced unprecedented changes in Antarctica this year. The report revealed that Antarctic sea ice extent hit a record low in February.

While Antarctic sea ice typically peaks around September, it reached a record low this year, falling up to 1 million km² below any previous level recorded – equivalent to the combined area of France and Spain.

Senior Researcher at the National Center for Atmospheric Science, Dr. Till Kuhlbrodt, described the findings as alarming, reflecting extreme climate and weather conditions unprecedented in modern records.

Despite these challenges, Professor Tina van de Flierdt, Head of Geosciences and Engineering at Imperial College London, emphasized the importance of immediate action to mitigate the loss of the West Antarctic ice sheet and reduce global emissions.

About our experts

Jonathan Bamber: A physicist specializing in Earth Observation data, particularly on the cryosphere. With over 200 peer-reviewed publications, he is recognized as a leading researcher in his field.

David Lippin: Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography at the University of York, focusing on glacier dynamics and ice sheet research using advanced techniques.

Till Kuhlbrodt: Senior Research Fellow at the University of Reading, leading models to support climate change mitigation efforts. His recent work on sea temperature extremes was published in the American Weather Society Bulletin.

Tina van de Flierdt: Dean of the School of Geosciences and Engineering at Imperial College London, with research interests in paleoceanography, paleoclimate, and Antarctic ice sheet dynamics.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New study suggests Coronavirus may have originated in a lab rather than an animal

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

There have been various conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19, from microchips in vaccines to the virus being engineered in a lab. A recent study is challenging these theories by suggesting that the virus is more likely of natural origin.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia argue that the current debate lacks consideration of non-medical evidence in determining the origin of the virus. They emphasize that their findings do not definitively prove the lab origin theory but rather suggest that such theories should not be dismissed too quickly.

Some scientists criticize the study’s methods for potential biases, and there is still no consensus in the academic community regarding the virus’s origin. The study highlights the need for further research and caution in drawing conclusions.

This study presents evidence supporting the hypothesis of a potential laboratory origin of COVID-19, including unique biological features not found in similar viruses and the proximity of a research facility studying bat coronaviruses to the initial outbreak site in Wuhan.

The study utilized a risk analysis tool to evaluate various criteria related to the virus’s natural or unnatural origin. The tool assigned scores based on evidence such as geographical distribution, virus strains, and transmission modes. The results indicated a higher likelihood of an unnatural origin due to specific biological risks and unconventional strains.

The researchers’ findings have sparked debates within the scientific community, with some experts questioning the tool’s subjectivity and potential for biased interpretations. While the study doesn’t conclusively prove the virus’s origin, it suggests that further investigation is necessary to understand the pandemic’s roots.

Experts like Dr. Jeremy Rothman, Professor Paul Hunter, and Professor Raina McIntyre have cautioned against jumping to conclusions about COVID-19’s origins and emphasize the need for thorough research to uncover the truth.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Study shows workplace AI, robots, and trackers have a negative impact on overall well-being

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A groundbreaking study by the Institute for Work think tank has revealed that exposure to new technologies like trackers, robots, and AI-based software in the workplace has a negative impact on people’s quality of life.

Conducted through a survey of over 6,000 individuals, the study focused on the health impacts of four categories of technologies that are increasingly prevalent in various industries.

The research found that increased exposure to technology in areas such as AI, machine learning-based software, surveillance devices like wearable trackers, and robotics had a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of workers.

On the other hand, the use of established information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as laptops, tablets, and instant messaging at work had a more positive impact on well-being.

The report highlighted that frequent interactions with ICT improved quality of life, while interactions with new technologies in the workplace had the opposite effect.

Economists at Goldman Sachs estimated that by 2030, 300 million jobs worldwide could be automated, with many roles being fundamentally transformed due to developments in generative AI.

Lead author Dr. Magdalena Sofia emphasized that the issue lies not in the technology itself, but in how it is implemented and utilized.

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The report also raised concerns about the negative impact of tracking devices and surveillance technology on worker performance, echoing warnings from unions and activists.

Mary Towers, head of AI at TUC, cautioned that without proper regulation, AI could create an oppressive work environment for many individuals.

On the other hand, the Pissarides review on the future of work and happiness, in collaboration with Warwick Business School and Imperial College London, aims to shed light on the impact of new technologies on quality of life in the workplace.

Professor Christopher Pissarides emphasized the importance of understanding how interactions with new technologies influence the overall well-being of individuals in their working lives.

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Study Shows Male Mammals Are Not Larger Than Females

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In his influential work Descent of Man, Charles Darwin confidently asserted that male mammals are generally larger than females. This concept, known as sexual size dimorphism (SSD), initially seemed logical. Darwin believed that females needed to invest a significant amount of energy in their offspring during pregnancy and after giving birth, while males needed to be bigger and stronger to compete with other males, particularly in scenarios involving physical combat.

For over 150 years, Darwin’s views on this matter have remained largely unchallenged. However, a recent study conducted by researchers at the City University of New York and Princeton University may radically alter this perspective. The research indicates that in most mammalian species, there is actually no significant difference in body size between males and females.

The study analyzed a total of 429 mammal species, with nine individuals from each species being examined. While in species where sexual dimorphism is present (such as lions and deer, where males and females exhibit distinct physical traits), males tended to be larger. However, this pattern did not hold true for the majority of species.

For instance, many species of bats and rodents show minimal dimorphism, with males and females displaying similar sizes.

“We were surprised to discover that almost half of all bat species have larger females and that half of all rodent species exhibit sexual size monomorphism, where males and females are the same size,” stated Dr. Kaia Tombak, the lead scientist behind the study, in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “These two groups make up the majority of all mammals.”

Past studies on dimorphism have often excluded these species from their findings.

“The concept of ‘larger males’ remains prevalent in evolutionary biology,” Tombak noted. “However, if this research receives sufficient attention, it could lead to significant changes in this area.”

Bat

Yellow-winged bat (Lavia front) in Kenya. In this species, like most bats, females tend to be larger than males. Photo credit: Severin Hex

The most extreme female-biased dimorphism (where females are larger than males) was observed in peninsular tube-nosed bats (Murina Peninsula). Female world leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) also tended to be larger than males.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New study finds bumblebees can acquire intricate skills through social learning

Posted on March 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Culture refers to behaviors that are socially learned and persist within a group over long periods of time. Growing evidence suggests that animal culture, like human culture, may be cumulative. However, the accumulated culture of humans contains behaviors so complex that they exceed the ability of individuals to discover them independently over a lifetime. New research shows that the buff-tailed bumblebee (Western bumblebee) can learn how to open new two-step puzzle boxes and obtain food from trained conspecifics, even if they fail to open them independently.

Bufftail Bumblebee (Western bumblebee) socially learn behaviors that are too complex to innovate alone. Image credit: Ralphs Fotos.

“This groundbreaking research opens new avenues for understanding the evolution of intelligence and social learning in animals,” said study lead author Lars, a researcher at Queen Mary University of London. Professor Chitka said.

“This challenges long-held assumptions, paves the way to further explore the cognitive wonders hidden in the insect world, and even suggests the exciting possibility of accumulated culture among seemingly simple creatures. Masu.”

Professor Chitka and his colleagues designed a two-step puzzle box that required bumblebees to perform two different actions in sequence to access a sweet reward at the end.

Training bees to do this was no easy task, and we had to help them by adding additional rewards along the way.

This temporary reward was eventually taken away, and the bees were forced to open the entire box before getting the treat.

Surprisingly, while individual bees had difficulty solving the puzzle from the beginning, bees allowed to observe trained demonstration bees completed the entire sequence, including the first step. You just learned quickly and got rewarded at the end.

This study shows that bumblebees have a level of social learning that was previously thought to be unique to humans.

They can share and acquire behaviors that are beyond the cognitive capacity of individuals. This ability is thought to underpin the vast and complex nature of human culture, and was previously thought to be exclusive to us.

“This is a very difficult task for bees,” said study lead author Dr. Alice Bridges, a researcher at Queen Mary University of London and the University of Sheffield.

“They had to learn two steps to get the reward, and the first action in the sequence was not rewarded.”

“Initially, we had to train demonstration bees to include temporary rewards, which highlighted the complexity.”

“But other bees learned the sequence from the social observations of these trained bees, without ever experiencing the reward of the first step.”

“But when we tried to get other bees to open the box without a bee trained to show them the solution, they couldn't open it at all.”

This study opens up exciting possibilities for understanding the emergence of cumulative culture in the animal kingdom, beyond individual learning.

Cumulative culture refers to the gradual accumulation of knowledge and skills over generations, allowing increasingly complex behaviors to develop.

The ability of bees to learn such complex tasks from demonstrators suggests potential pathways for cultural transmission and innovation beyond the bees' individual learning abilities.

“This challenges the traditional view that only humans can learn socially complex behaviors beyond individual learning,” says Professor Chitka.

“Many of the most remarkable achievements of social insects, such as the nesting structures of honey bees and wasps and the agricultural habits of ants that farm aphids and fungi, may have first been spread by imitation by clever innovators, and then spread. , which is increasingly likely.'' They eventually became part of the species-specific behavioral repertoire. ”

Regarding this research, paper Published in the Journal on March 6, 2024 Nature.

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AD bridge other. Bumblebees socially learn behaviors that are too complex to innovate alone. Nature, published online March 6, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07126-4

Source: www.sci.news

Study: Certain plants are more effective than others in removing air pollution through green walls

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Biologists are University of Surrey They investigated interspecific variation in particulate matter accumulation, washout, and retention in 10 broad-leaved plants, focusing on leaf characteristics.

thomson other. We found that the interaction between macromorphology and micromorphology in green-walled plant species determines their particulate matter removal ability.Image credit: Thomson other. 2024., doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170950.

Green wall is a vertical system that has received particular attention because it can be installed without occupying additional space at street level.

They also offer other benefits, such as reduced dependence on existing soil conditions and additional ecosystem services.

Green wall is a term that includes walls covered with all forms of vegetation.

Green facades and living walls are two types of green walls, where green facades usually include climbing plants, whereas living walls include planting materials and plants to support a more diverse variety of plants. Includes technology.

The reduction of air pollutants by green walls depends on several factors such as plant type, barrier dimensions, leaf area index, humidity, wind speed, and orientation of the location.

“By planting vertically against green walls, communities can purify the air without taking up too much street space,” said Mamatha Thomson, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Surrey.

“Our study suggests that this process depends not only on leaf shape but also on the micromorphological properties of the leaf surface.”

“We believe that the right mix of species creates the most effective green walls. We look forward to conducting further research to see if we are right. .”

In this study, Thomson et al. planted 10 species: Evergreen Candy Tuft (Iberis sempervirens), Ivy (hedera helix) And that Wild marjoram (Ornamental pill beetle)in a custom-built 1.4 meter green wall.

The leaves of the evergreens candytuft and ivy were found to be particularly good at trapping pollutant particles, both large and small.

Meanwhile, rain was able to wash most of the pollutants from the lavender's hairy leaves.

Candytuft and marjoram also performed well in washing away small pollution particles.

“We hope that urban planners and infrastructure experts can use our findings to think more carefully about what they plant,” said Prashant Kumar, a professor at the University of Surrey.

“Having a green wall is a great way to remove pollution, but what you plant on top of it can make a big difference to its success.”

of result It was published in the magazine Total environmental science.

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Mamatha Thomson other. 2024. Investigating the interplay between particulate matter scavenging, scavenging, and leaf properties in green-walled species. Total environmental science 921: 170950; doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170950

Source: www.sci.news

Study finds that ancient whale Percetus was no heavier than today’s blue whales

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists at the University of California, Davis and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History estimate that: Colossus of PercetusA gigantic basilosaur whale that lived in the Eocene of Peru and was 17 meters long and weighed between 60 and 70 tons.

reconstruction of Colossus of Percetus in coastal habitats. related sawfish, Pristis, recovered from the same unit in the East Pisco Basin, Yumac, Paracas Formation, Peru. Image credit: A. Gennari.

Colossus of Percetus They lived in what is now Peru about 39 million years ago (Eocene epoch).

This species was first described in 2023. Basilosauridaean extinct cetacean family that lived in the Eocene and is known on all continents, including Antarctica.

“Colossus of Percetus“The bones are unusually dense,” said Ryosuke Motani, a professor at the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Nicholas Pienson of the Smithsonian Institution.

“Mammal bones are usually solid on the outside and spongy or hollow in the center. In some animals, much of the center is filled with solid bone, which makes it denser and heavier. There are some that are.”

“In aquatic animals, heavy bones offset the buoyancy of body fat and fat, allowing them to maintain neutral buoyancy underwater or, in the case of hippos, to walk on riverbeds.”

“Fossil whale bones have an extensively filled interior and an overgrowth of bone on the outside. A condition called pachyostosis is also found in some modern aquatic mammals, such as manatees. .”

In 2023, paleontologists estimated the weight of the following people: Colossus of Percetus 180 metric tons (range from 85 to 340 metric tons).

This results in Colossus of Percetus Despite being much shorter at 17 meters (17 meters) compared to the 30 meters (30 meters) of the blue whale, it weighs as much or more than the largest known blue whale.

“These estimates indicate that Colossus of Percetus It's incredibly dense,” Professor Motani said.

“It would have been a whale's job to stay on the surface and get out of the ocean. To do anything underwater, it would have had to keep swimming against gravity.”

The authors reviewed the assumptions used to make these estimates.

“The first problem is that the original study used fossil bones to estimate skeletal weight, and assumed that skeletal and non-skeletal mass increases at the same rate as body size increases, which increases the total animal weight. “It's an extrapolation,” they said.

“But measurements in other animals show that this is not the case.”

“Initial estimates also overestimated how much overall weight would increase as a result of hypertrophy.”

“However, the evidence for manatees shows that their bodies are relatively light compared to their skeletal mass.”

Professor Motani and Dr Pienson estimate the total length to be 17 meters. Colossus of Percetus It weighs between 60 and 70 tons, much lighter than any known blue whale.

individuals of Colossus of Percetus A whale that grows to 20 meters can weigh more than 110 tons, but that's still a long way off the 270 tons of the largest blue whale.

“Thanks to the new weight, the whale, like most whales, is able to rise to the surface and remain there while breathing and recovering from the dive,” Professor Motani said.

of result Published in an online magazine Peer J.

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R. Motani and N.D. Pienson. 2024. Downsizing in the heavy class: Factors and methods for revising mass estimates of giant fossil whales. Colossus of Percetus. Peer J 12: e16978; doi: 10.7717/peerj.16978

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Suggests Photons from Dwarf Galaxies Helped Reionize the Early Universe

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Reionization of the universe happened about 500 million to 900 million years after the Big Bang. This represents the transformation of neutral hydrogen into an ionized gas and marks the end of the “Dark Ages” in the history of the universe. Currently, astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have obtained spectra of eight ultrafaint dwarf galaxies that existed less than a billion years after the Big Bang. Their observations could help settle long-standing scientific debates about the driving force of reionization and could also be essential to understanding the formation of the first galaxies.

Astronomers estimate that 50,000 near-infrared sources are represented in the Webb image of galaxy cluster Abel 2744. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / I. Labbe, Swinburne Institute of Technology / R. Bezanson, University of Pittsburgh / A. Pagan, STScI.

There is still much we don’t understand about the period in the early history of the universe known as the Era of Reionization.

It was a time of darkness, without stars or galaxies, and filled with a thick fog of hydrogen gas, until the first stars ionized the surrounding gas and light began to pass through.

Astronomers have spent decades trying to identify sources that emit radiation powerful enough to gradually remove this hydrogen fog that blanketed the early universe.

“Our discovery reveals the important role played by ultrafaint galaxies in the evolution of the early universe,” said astronomer Dr. Irina Chemelinska from the Paris Institute of Astrophysics.

“They produce ionizing photons that convert neutral hydrogen into ionized plasma during the reionization of the universe.”

“This highlights the importance of understanding low-mass galaxies in shaping the history of the universe.”

“These cosmic power plants collectively emit more than enough energy to accomplish their work,” said Dr. Hakim Atek, also of the Paris Institute of Astrophysics.

“Despite their small size, these low-mass galaxies produce large amounts of energetic radiation, and their abundance during this period is so great that their collective impact alters the state of the entire universe can do.”

In the study, astronomers captured and analyzed the spectra of eight very faint galaxies magnified by the lensing star cluster Abel 2744.

They found that these galaxies emit large amounts of ultraviolet light, at levels four times higher than previously thought.

This means that most of the photons that reionized the Universe likely came from these dwarf galaxies.

“With the web, we have stepped into uncharted territory,” said Dr. Themiya Nanayakkara, an astronomer at Swinburne University of Technology.

“Our study reveals more provocative questions that must be answered in efforts to chart the evolutionary history of our beginnings.”

of result It was published in the magazine Nature.

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H. Atek other. 2024. Most of the photons that reionized the universe came from dwarf galaxies. Nature 626, 975-978; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07043-6

Source: www.sci.news

Study finds that butterfly and moth genomes have remained remarkably stable over 250 million years of evolution

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

This stability exists despite the incredible diversity in wing patterns, sizes, and caterpillar morphology across more than 160,000 species worldwide today, according to one study. new paper It was published in the magazine natural ecology and evolution.

lissandra belargas. Image credit: Eric Silvestre.

Butterflies and moths (in order) Lepidoptera) make up 10% of all described animal species and are extremely important pollinators and herbivores in many ecosystems.

In a new study, Professor Mark Blaxter and colleagues from the Wellcome Sanger Institute set out to understand the processes driving the evolution of chromosomes in this highly diverse group.

They analyzed and compared more than 200 high-quality chromosome-level genomes of butterflies and moths.

They identified 32 ancestral chromosomal components; Merian element Thanks to the work of pioneering 17th century entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian, most butterfly and moth species have remained intact since their last common ancestor more than 250 million years ago.

With the exception of a single ancient fusion event between two chromosomes that led to the 31 chromosomes found in most species today, the chromosomes of most modern species correspond directly to these ancestral Merian elements.

Researchers discovered that not only are chromosomes incredibly stable, but the order of genes within them is also stable.

They discovered several species with small changes, mainly involving the fusion of small autosomes and sex chromosomes. This highlights the role of chromosome length as a driver of evolutionary change.

However, scientists believe that the blue butterfly (lissandra) and the group containing cabbage butterflies (Pieris) ignored these genomic structure constraints.

These groups underwent large-scale chromosomal reshuffling, including large-scale chromosome reshuffling through chromosome breakage and fission and fusion.

This study improves our understanding of the factors that lead to genetic diversity in these insects. This will guide efforts to protect and conserve specific species facing unique challenges and environmental changes related to climate change.

“The chromosomes of most butterflies and moths living today can be directly traced back to 32 ancestral Merian elements that existed 250 million years ago,” said Dr. Charlotte Wright, researcher at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. said.

“It is surprising that even though the species has diversified extensively, its chromosomes have remained surprisingly intact.”

“This calls into question the idea that stable chromosomes may limit species diversification. Indeed, this feature may be the basis for building diversity. We We hope to find clues about rare groups that have circumvented these rules.”

“Studies like this that allow us to delve into these evolutionary processes are only possible through efforts like the Darwin Tree of Life Project, which generate high-quality, publicly available genome assemblies,” Blaxter said. the professor said.

“We are stepping up these efforts with Project Psyche, where we aim to sequence all 11,000 butterfly and moth species in Europe in collaboration with collaborators across the continent.”

“As important pollinators, herbivores, and food sources in a variety of ecosystems, and as powerful indicators of ecosystem health, a deeper understanding of the biology of butterflies and moths through Project Psyche will This will be useful for future research on adaptation and speciation for biodiversity conservation.”

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CJ light other. Comparative genomics reveals the dynamics of chromosome evolution in Lepidoptera. Nat Ecole Evol, published online on February 21, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02329-4

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Finds Surprising Similarities in Brain Development Between Sea Lampreys and Humans

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The lamprey and human hindbrains are built using very similar molecular and genetic toolkits, according to a new study led by the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

These images show an adult lamprey (top and left) and a developing lamprey embryo. Image credit: Stowers Medical Research Institute.

“Our research on the hindbrain (the part of the brain that controls important functions such as blood pressure and heart rate) is essentially a window into the distant past and can serve as a model for understanding the evolution of complexity. “, said Dr. Hugo Parker. Researcher at Stowers Medical Research Institute.

Like other vertebrates, sea lampreys have a backbone and skeleton, but they noticeably lack a jaw, a characteristic feature of the head.

Most vertebrates, including humans, have jaws, so this striking difference in sea lampreys makes it a valuable model for understanding the evolution of vertebrate traits.

“About 500 million years ago, at the origin of vertebrates, there was a split between jawless and jawed animals,” said Dr. Alice Bedois, also of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

“We wanted to know how vertebrate brains evolved and whether there is something unique to jawed vertebrates that jawless vertebrates don't.”

Previous research had identified genes that structure and subdivide the sea lamprey's hindbrain as identical to genes in jawed vertebrates, including humans.

However, these genes are part of an interconnected network or circuit that needs to be initiated and directed to properly build the hindbrain.

In a new study, the authors identify common molecular cues known to direct head-to-tail patterning in a variety of animals as part of a genetic circuit that guides hindbrain patterning in the lamprey. .

“We found that the same genes, as well as the same cues, are involved in hindbrain development in sea lampreys. This suggests that this process is ancestral to all vertebrates. ,” Dr. Bedwa said.

“This signal is called retinoic acid, commonly known as vitamin A.”

Researchers have known that retinoic acid signals the genetic circuits that build the hindbrains of complex species, but they believe it is involved in more primitive animals like sea lampreys. was not considered.

Surprisingly, they discovered that the lamprey's core hindbrain circuit is also initiated by retinoic acid, providing evidence that these sea monsters and humans are much more closely related than expected.

“People thought that because lampreys don't have jaws, their hindbrains don't form like other vertebrates,” says Dr. Rob Krumlauf, a researcher at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

“We showed that this fundamental part of the brain is built exactly the same way as in mice, and even in humans.”

Signaling molecules that signal cell fate during development are well known.

Now, researchers have discovered that retinoic acid plays another key role in signaling important steps in development, such as the formation of the brainstem.

Furthermore, if hindbrain formation is a conserved feature in all vertebrates, other mechanisms must be involved to explain its incredible diversity.

“We all come from a common ancestor,” Dr. Bedwa said.

“The lamprey provided further clues.”

“We now need to go further back in evolutionary time to discover when the genetic circuits controlling hindbrain formation first evolved.”

of study It was published in the magazine nature communications.

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AMH Bedwa other. 2024. Lamprey reveals the origins of retinoic acid signaling and its coupling to vertebrate hindbrain segments. Nat Commune 15, 1538. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45911-x

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Identifies the Most Effective Diet for Reducing Loud Snoring

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Dealing with snoring can be a bothersome experience for everyone involved, whether it’s falling asleep on a public bus or waking a loved one. Researchers may have found the best diet to combat this issue.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition that puts people at risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. This is because OSA causes multiple disruptions during sleep due to loud snoring and interruptions in breathing.

The solution may lie in a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as suggested by a new study published in the journal ERJ Open Research. This diet may help prevent or treat OSA.

In order to test this theory, researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, used data from 14,210 participants in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were asked to list everything they had consumed in the past 24 hours, and the research team categorized their responses into three dietary patterns: a healthy plant-based diet, an unhealthy plant-based diet, and a diet high in animal products.

The “unhealthy” plant-based diet included high amounts of refined carbohydrates, potatoes, sugary drinks, sweets, desserts, and salty foods.

Additionally, participants completed a sleep questionnaire to determine the likelihood of having OSA. The researchers found that people with diets high in plant foods were 19% less likely to suffer from snoring caused by OSA. On the other hand, those who consumed an unhealthy plant-based diet were 22% more likely to have OSA.

Researchers believe that a healthy plant-based diet may be important due to its anti-inflammatory components and antioxidants, which can impact fat mass, inflammation, and muscle tone, thereby affecting a person’s OSA risk.

Dr. Johannes Melak, the chief researcher, emphasized that diet quality is important in managing the risk of OSA, and that a healthy plant-based diet may reduce inflammation and obesity.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Study claims new diet that mimics fasting could reverse biological age

Posted on February 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new study led by the University of South Carolina Leonard Davis School of Gerontology suggests that fasting-mimetic dieting (FMD) cycles can significantly reduce disease risk factors and decrease human biological age. FMD was developed by Professor Walter Longo and his team, involving a five-day diet high in unsaturated fats and low in overall calories, protein, and carbohydrates. The diet mimics the effects of water-only fasting while providing necessary nutrients and making fasting more manageable for individuals.

During the five-day fasting period, participants were allowed to consume specified amounts of plant-based soups, energy bars, energy drinks, chip snacks, and tea and given supplements to ensure they didn’t miss out on important vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

Previous studies have shown the various health benefits of FMD, including promoting stem cell regeneration, reducing chemotherapy side effects, and decreasing signs of dementia in mice. The recent study focuses on the effects of FMD on human immune system aging, insulin resistance, liver fat, and biological age.

The research team analyzed two groups of men and women aged 18-70 who received three to four cycles of FMD per month. The results showed reductions in diabetes risk factors, reduced fat in the abdomen and liver, and rejuvenation of the immune system. Data analysis also demonstrated that FMD participants lost an average of 2.5 years in biological age.

Professor Longo hopes these findings will encourage more doctors to recommend FMD cycles to patients with elevated risk factors for disease and to the general public interested in improving their health and vitality. He suggested that healthy people between the ages of 20 and 70 should consider trying FMD two or three times a year, cautioning that there may be concerns when used in combination with certain diabetes medications.

About our experts:

Walter Longo is the Edna M. Jones Professor of Gerontology and Biological Sciences and Director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in Los Angeles.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New study reveals hundreds of thousands of young stars in Sagittarius C region with solar mass

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Sagittarius C is located just 300 light-years from Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

This image of the Sagittarius C region from ESO's Very Large Telescope includes hundreds of thousands of stars. Image credit: ESO/F. Nogueras-Lara.

The center of the Milky Way is the most prolific star-forming region in the entire galaxy.

But astronomers have discovered only a fraction of the young stars they had expected. There is “fossil” evidence that many more stars than we actually see were born recently.

This is because heading to the center of the Milky Way is not an easy task. Clouds of dust and gas block the light from the star, obscuring visibility.

“On average by volume, the galactic center stands out as the most prolific star-forming environment in the galaxy,” said ESO astronomer Francisco Nogueras Lara.

“Over the past 30 million years, we have witnessed the formation of about 1 million stars.”

“But crowding and high extinction rates have hampered their discovery, and so far only a fraction of the young star's expected mass has been confirmed.”

By studying the stellar population of Sagittarius C, Dr. Lara aimed to detect young stars hidden in the galactic center.

In his research, he analyzed the following data: HAWK-I infrared measuring instrument ESO's Very Large Telescope.

He found that Sagittarius C is much richer in young stars than other regions of the galactic center.

“We found that Sagittarius C contains the solar mass of hundreds of thousands of young stars,” Dr. Lara said.

“We compared our results to a recently discovered population of young stars in Sagittarius B1, located at the opposite end of the nuclear star disk.”

“The young stars in Sagittarius C are estimated to be about 20 million years old and likely represent the next evolutionary step for the slightly younger stars in Sagittarius B1.”

“Our discovery contributes to addressing the discrepancy between the expected number of young stars at the center of galaxies and the number of detected stars, and sheds light on their evolution in this extreme environment.”

“As a secondary result, we discovered that Sagittarius C has a population of intermediate-aged stars (approximately 50% of the mass of stars between 2 billion and 7 billion years old), which is composed of a nuclear stellar disk. It does not exist in the innermost region of the world (which is dominated by stars older than 7 billion years).

“This confirms the existence of an age gradient, driving the formation of an inside-out nuclear star disk.”

of findings appear in the diary astronomy and astrophysics.

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F. Nogueras-Lara other. 2024. Hunt young stars at the center of the galaxy. Solar masses of hundreds of thousands of young stars in the Sagittarius C region. A&A 681, L21; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202348712

Source: www.sci.news

New Study Reveals the Superfast Spin of the Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Sagittarius A*, the 4.3 million solar mass black hole at the center of the Milky Way, spins so fast that space-time around it is warped into the shape of a soccer ball, according to an analysis. Data collected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and NSF's Carl G. Jansky Very Large Array.

daily other. Sagittarius A* was found to be rotating at 60% of its maximum rotational speed, which is set by matter that cannot travel faster than the speed of light. This image shows Sagittarius A* in X-ray light from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Image credit: NASA / CXC / University of Wisconsin / Bai other.

Black holes have two fundamental properties: mass (weight) and spin (rotational speed).

Determining either of these two values can tell astrophysicists a lot about black holes and their behavior.

Dr. Ruth Daly of Pennsylvania State University and colleagues applied a new method using X-ray and radio data to predict Sagittarius A*'s rotation rate based on how matter moves toward or away from the black hole. Decided.

They discovered that Sagittarius A* rotates at an angular velocity (rotations per second). Its angular velocity is about 60% of its maximum possible value, a limit set by the inability of matter to travel faster than the speed of light.

In the past, different astronomers have used different techniques to estimate the rate of rotation of Sagittarius A*, ranging from not rotating at all to rotating at near maximum speed, with mixed results.

“Our research may help answer the question of how fast our galaxy's supermassive black holes rotate,” said Dr. Daly.

“Our results show that Sagittarius A* is rotating very rapidly, which is interesting and has far-reaching implications.”

A rotating black hole pulls space-time and nearby matter into its surroundings as it rotates. Spacetime around a rotating black hole is also crushed.

If you look down at a black hole from above and follow the barrel of the jet it produces, spacetime is circular.

However, if you look at a rotating black hole from the side, spacetime looks like a soccer ball. The faster the spin, the flatter the football.

The spin of a black hole acts as an important source of energy. When a supermassive black hole rotates, its spin energy can be extracted to produce a parallel outflow, a thin beam of matter such as a jet, but this requires at least some material near the black hole. must exist.

Because of the limited fuel surrounding Sagittarius A*, the black hole has been relatively quiet for the last several thousand years, with a relatively weak jet stream.

But new research shows that this could change as the amount of material increases near Sagittarius A*.

“A collimated jet powered by a galaxy's rotating central black hole could have a significant impact on the galaxy's entire gas supply,” said Michigan State University astronomer Megan Donahue. “This also influences the rate and uniformity with which stars form.”

“Fermi bubbles seen in X-rays and gamma rays around the Milky Way's black hole indicate that the black hole was probably active in the past. Measuring the black hole's rotation is important in this scenario. It's a test.”

To determine Sagittarius A*'s spin, astronomers looked at the black hole's spin and its mass, the nature of the matter near the black hole, and its outflow properties.

The parallel outflow produces radio waves, and the disk of gas surrounding the black hole is responsible for emitting X-rays.

Using this method, the researchers combined data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and NSF's Carl G. Jansky Very Large Array with independent estimates of the black hole's mass from other telescopes. to limit the rotation of the black hole.

“Sagittarius A* offers a special perspective because it is the closest supermassive black hole to us,” said Dr. Anand Lu, an astronomer at McGill University.

“Although it is quiet now, our research shows that in the future it will have an incredibly powerful impact on the matter around it.”

“It could happen in a thousand or million years, or it could happen in our lifetime.”

of study Published in Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices.

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Ruth A. Daly et al. 2024. New black hole spin values for Sagittarius A* obtained using the outflow method. MNRAS 527 (1): 428-436; doi: 10.1093/mnras/stad3228

Source: www.sci.news

New NASA Satellite Launches to Study Warming Oceans and Atmosphere

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The newest weather satellite of NASA was launched into orbit on Thursday, providing unprecedented details of the world’s oceans and atmosphere.

SpaceX launched its $948 million Pace satellite before dawn, sending its Falcon rocket south across the Atlantic Ocean to achieve a rare polar orbit.

The satellite will spend at least three years studying the ocean and atmosphere 420 miles (676 kilometers) above the Earth. Two scientific instruments scan the Earth every day. The third instrument takes monthly measurements.

The PACE (Plankton, Aerosols, Clouds, Marine Ecosystems) satellite will separate from a SpaceX rocket in orbit on Thursday.NASA (via AP)

“It will be an unprecedented view of our home planet,” said project scientist Jeremy Wardell.

The observations will help scientists better forecast hurricanes and other severe weather, better understand how the Earth is changing as temperatures rise, and better predict when harmful algae blooms will occur.

NASA already has more than 20 Earth observation satellites and instruments in orbit. But Pace's findings should provide better insight into how atmospheric aerosols, such as pollutants and volcanic ash, interact with marine life such as algae and plankton.

“The pace will give us another dimension” to what other satellites observe, said Karen St. Germain, NASA's director of Earth Sciences.

PACE (short for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem) is the most advanced mission ever launched to study marine biology.

NASA and SpaceX engineers launched NASA's PACE (Plankton, Aerosols, Clouds, and Ocean Ecosystems) spacecraft into SpaceX's Falcon 9 spacecraft on January 30 at the AstroTech Space Operations Facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It is encapsulated in the payload fairing. Denny Henry/NASA (via AP)

Current Earth observation satellites can see in seven or eight colors, Werdel said. Pace displays 200 colors, allowing scientists to identify types of algae in the ocean and particles in the air.

Scientists expect to start collecting data within a month or two.

NASA is working with India to develop another advanced Earth observation satellite scheduled to launch this year. The project, named Nisar, will use radar to measure the effects of rising temperatures on the surfaces of glaciers and other melting ice.

NASA's Pace program survived despite efforts by the Trump administration to cancel it.

“It's been a long and strange journey, as they say,” Werdel said before the launch.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Study finds that low carbon dioxide emissions from volcanoes may have caused the Sturtian ‘Snowball Earth’ ice age.

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

of Sturtian “Snowball Earth” Ice Age (717 million to 661 million years ago) is considered the most extreme icehouse period in Earth’s history. In a new study, geologists from the University of Sydney and the University of Adelaide used plate tectonics modeling to identify the most likely cause of the Staats Ice Age.

Artist’s impression of “Snowball Earth”. Image credit: Oleg Kuznetsov, http://3depix.com / CC BY-SA 4.0.

“Imagine if the Earth almost completely froze over, which is exactly what happened about 700 million years ago,” said lead author Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz, a researcher at the University of Sydney. .

“The Earth was covered in ice from the poles to the equator, and temperatures plummeted. But what caused this to happen is an open question.”

“We think we have now solved the mystery. Historically, volcanic carbon dioxide emissions have been low, driven by the weathering of large volcanic rock mountains in what is now Canada. It’s a process that absorbs carbon dioxide.”

Named after Charles Sturt, a 19th-century European colonial explorer of central Australia, the Sturtsian Ice Age spanned 717 million to 660 million years, long before dinosaurs and complex plants existed on land. It continued until ten thousand years ago.

“There are many possible causes for the trigger and end of this extreme ice age, but the most mysterious one is why it lasted 57 million years. It’s hard for humans to imagine,” Dr. Dutkiewicz said.

Dr. Dutkiewicz and his colleagues used a plate tectonics model that simultaneously shows the evolution of continents and ocean basins after the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Rodina.

They connected it to a computer model that calculates the outgassing of carbon dioxide from submarine volcanoes along mid-ocean ridges, where plates diverge and new oceanic crust is born.

They soon realized that the beginning of the Starch Ice Age correlated precisely with the lowest ever levels of volcanic carbon dioxide emissions.

Additionally, carbon dioxide flux remained relatively low throughout the ice age.

“At that time, there were no multicellular animals or land plants on Earth,” Dr. Dutkiewicz said.

“Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere were determined almost entirely by carbon dioxide emitted by volcanoes and by the weathering processes of silicate rocks that consume carbon dioxide.”

“At that time, geology ruled the climate,” said co-author Professor Dietmar Müller, a researcher at the University of Sydney.

“We think the Staats Ice Age began with a double whammy: plate tectonics realigned to minimize volcanic degassing, while at the same time Canada’s continental volcanic belt began to erode, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Consumed.”

“As a result, atmospheric carbon dioxide has fallen to levels that could begin an ice age. This is estimated to be less than 200 parts per million, less than half of today’s levels.”

The team’s current research raises interesting questions about the long-term future of the planet.

Recent theories suggest that over the next 250 million years, Earth will evolve toward Pangea Ultima, a supercontinent hot enough to wipe out mammals.

However, the Earth is currently on a trajectory where volcanic carbon dioxide emissions decrease as continental collisions increase and plate velocities decrease.

So perhaps Pangea Ultima will snowball again.

“Whatever the future holds, it is important to remember that geological climate changes of the type studied here occur very slowly,” Dr. Dutkiewicz said.

“According to NASA, human-induced climate change is occurring 10 times faster than ever before.”

of study appear in the diary geology.

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Adriana Dutkiewicz other. The period of the Sturtian “Snowball Earth” ice age is associated with unusually low gas emissions at mid-ocean ridges. geology, published online on February 7, 2024. doi: 10.1130/G51669.1

Source: www.sci.news

Study suggests Mimas, one of Saturn’s moons, could be responsible for forming Earth’s oceans beneath its icy shell

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

From a detailed analysis of Mimas’s orbital motion based on data from NASA’s Cassini mission, planetary researchers from the Sorbonne, the University of Nantes, Queen Mary University of London, Franche-Comte University, and Jinan University have discovered that the heavily cratered They showed that some ice shells hide recently formed ice shells. (less than 2-3 million years ago) global ocean 20-30 km deep.

The surface of Mimas, like the surfaces of other major Saturn moons that do not have atmospheres, is not pure ice but contains some black impurities. Relatively dark markings appear along the lower part of the walls of the 130km-wide Herschel Crater (the crater's central peak is about the same height as Mount Everest); the impact may have all but destroyed the Moon. there is). some small craters. Scientists interpret the darkening as evidence that the impurities have gradually become concentrated as icy material evaporates in areas where they are slowly sliding down the crater walls. Image credit: NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute.

There is growing evidence that some moons may have oceans beneath their surfaces, but such watery worlds are difficult to detect.

Mimas — Saturn's innermost and smallest (radius = 198.2 km, or 123 miles) regular moon — is an unlikely candidate due to the different nature of its surface compared to other icy moons such as Enceladus .

This theory has been challenged by Sorbonne University researcher Valerie Rainey and others who are evaluating Cassini's observations of small satellites.

Previous research suggests two possibilities inside Mimas. It is either an elongated rocky core or a global ocean.

A new study reveals that the small moon's rotational motion and orbit change due to internal influences.

For the solid-state model to apply, the rock core must be elongated and approximately pancake-shaped, which is inconsistent with observations.

Rather, measurements of Mimas' position suggest that the evolution of its orbit is better explained as influenced by an internal ocean.

The researchers calculate that the ocean lies beneath an ice shell about 20 to 30 kilometers deep.

Their simulations suggest that it appeared between 25 and 2 million years ago.

Therefore, signs of such an underground ocean would not have had time to leave traces on the surface.

This result suggests that recent processes on Mimas may have been common during the early stages of the formation of other ice worlds.

“Mimas was a small moon with a cratered surface and no sign of an ocean hidden beneath,” said co-author Nick Cooper, a researcher at Queen Mary University of London. the doctor said.

“With this discovery, Mimas joins an exclusive club of moons with inland oceans, including Enceladus and Europa, but with a unique difference: its oceans are surprisingly young.”

of study Published in today's magazine Nature.

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V. Rainey other. 2024. A recently formed ocean within Saturn's moon Mimas. Nature 626, 280-282; doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06975-9

Source: www.sci.news

Study shows the world’s happiest people don’t reside in Scandinavia

Posted on February 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Consider the happiest country in the world. Are you thinking of somewhere in Scandinavia? Well, a new study has brought to light something that may have been overlooked. They are actually the happiest people in the world, but they are often not included in rankings.

In global happiness rankings, such as the World Happiness Report (WHR), researchers typically note a correlation between high levels of life satisfaction and high incomes. However, these rankings often fail to differentiate between small indigenous groups and the overall population of a nation. In some of these communities, money has a minimal impact on daily life and livelihoods.

A new paper suggests that not all happiness is tied to money. In fact, it turns out that some low-income societies, particularly those that rely on nature rather than money, exhibit significantly higher life satisfaction and may even be some of the happiest people in the world.

“The frequently observed strong correlation between income and life satisfaction is not universal and proves that the wealth generated by developed economies is not fundamentally necessary for humans to live happy lives.” – Professor Victoria Reyes Garcia, senior author of the study

Who is the happiest person in the world?

Although not conducted by the same research institute as WHR, this new study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and measured happiness in a similar way. The WHR asks respondents to imagine a ladder with 10 being the best life and 0 being the worst, and then evaluate their life on that scale.

In this study, researchers translated the question into local languages: “Taking all aspects into consideration, how satisfied are you with your life on a scale of 0 to 10?”

The research team collected responses from 2,966 people from 19 indigenous and local communities around the world. Only 64 percent of households surveyed in these communities had any cash income.

These 19 communities had an average score of 6.8, with the lowest score being 5.1. However, four of these communities scored above 8/10 and, if included in the WHR, these small societies would be among the happiest people in the world. In 2023, WHR found that the countries with the highest scores were Finland (7.8), Denmark (7.6), and Iceland (7.5).

The highest scores were reported in Latin America, despite many of these societies having suffered from histories of marginalization and oppression, according to the authors.

Researchers say the findings are positive news for sustainability in the face of climate change, as this research suggests that people can achieve high levels of happiness without the need for resource-intensive economic growth.

They encourage future research to examine specific factors that influence well-being in societies where money is not central, such as family and social support, spirituality, and connection to the natural world.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New study suggests sponges retain grim climate records

Posted on February 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

If temperature-tracking sponges can be trusted, climate change is happening much faster than scientists estimate.

A new study that used marine organisms called hard sponges to measure global average temperatures suggests that the world has already warmed by about 1.7 degrees Celsius over the past 300 years. This is at least 0.5 degrees Celsius higher than the scientific consensus stated in the UN report.

The findings, published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, are surprising, but some scientists believe the study authors’ conclusions give more inferences about global temperatures than can be confidently gleaned from sponges. They claim that they are doing too much.

However, this study raises important questions. How much warmer did the world get when humans were less systematically measuring temperatures around the world, even as fossil fuel-powered machines were running hard? Scientists say this is an important question. It is a problem that needs to be better understood.

The study’s authors say that industrialization before 1900 had a greater impact than scientists previously realized, and that influence is captured in centuries-old sponge skeletons and that we The standards we have been using to talk about the politics of climate change have been wrong.

“Essentially, these studies show that the industrial age of warming started earlier than we thought, in the 1860s,” said the study’s lead author, a researcher at the University of Western Australia’s Global Professor of Chemistry Malcolm McCulloch spoke about sponges. “The big picture is that the global warming clock has been moved forward by at least 10 years to reduce emissions to minimize the risks of a dangerous climate.”

Scientists not involved in the study say their colleagues are grappling with how much warming occurred in the decades after the industrial revolution and before temperature records became more reliable. .

“This is not the only effort to reexamine what we call the pre-industrial baseline and suggest we may have missed the increase in warming during the 19th century,” said Brown University paleoclimate and oceanography expert. said Kim Cobb, author of the report. Brown Institute for the Environment and Society. “This is an important area of uncertainty.”

In its latest assessment of global warming, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimated that the Earth’s surface temperature has increased by up to 1.2 degrees Celsius since before the industrial revolution.

Some scientists believe that the IPCC process (which requires consensus) will yield conservative results. For example, scientists who study Earth’s ice have expressed concern that the Earth is approaching the tipping point of the ice sheet sooner than expected and that the IPCC’s sea level rise projections are too low.

Cobb, who did not contribute to the Nature Climate Change study, said a large amount of evidence would be needed to change what scientists call the pre-industrial baseline, but other researchers have argued that warming has increased since before the 1900s. He also said that he has found some signs that the system is not being properly accounted for. .

“How big this extra warming increase actually is is currently unknown. Is this important to study? We could be missing a tenth of a degree. Is there a? Yes, I think it’s been uncovered in a series of studies over the last six to 10 years,” Cobb said.

Scleros sponges are one of many climate proxies used by scientists to gather information about past climate conditions. In the dural cavernosa, the skeletal growth layers serve a similar purpose to marine biologists, just as tree rings serve a purpose to those working in the forest.

Dural sponges grow slowly, and as they grow, the chemical composition of their skeleton changes based on the surrounding temperature. This means that scientists can track temperature by looking at the ratio of strontium to calcium as an organism steadily grows.

Studies show that every half millimeter of growth is equivalent to about two years of temperature data. Living things can grow and add layers to their skeletons over hundreds of years.

“These are truly unique specimens. The reason we are able to obtain this unique data is because of the special relationship these animals have with their surrounding environment,” McCulloch said.

The study’s authors collected sponges from waters at least 100 feet deep off the coast of Puerto Rico and near St. Croix, analyzed the chemical composition of their skeletons, graphed the results, and used the data from 1964 to When compared with sea surface temperature measurements in 2012, the trends were almost identical.

Cancellous bone data dates back to 1700, predating reliable human records. This gives scientists a longer reference point to assess what temperatures were like before fossil fuels became widespread. Researchers believe this dataset is superior to other datasets calculated using her 19th century temperature measurements from ocean-going ships.

Sponge data shows that temperatures started rising in the 1860s, before the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change considered it.

But some outside researchers say the study may have made too much use of one type of proxy indicator, especially when the data is tied to only one location on Earth.

“We should be cautious in assuming that estimates from parts of the Atlantic Ocean always reflect global averages,” Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said in an emailed statement. He added that the author’s claims are probably wrong. “It’s gone too far.”

The study authors said they believe the waters off Puerto Rico have remained relatively stable, reflecting global changes similar to those elsewhere in the world.

The results suggest that humanity has already surpassed political guardrails, such as world leaders’ goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Cobb said further work would need to be done with a dural sponge to ensure the work was accurate. And regardless of how much we are already pushing up the planet’s temperature, humanity must put the brakes on greenhouse gas production.

“Every time we get warmer, the climate impacts increase and the climate impacts worsen,” Cobb said. “We’re already living with an unsafe warming climate. … Jobs haven’t changed.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Years of Study and a Grand Vision to Merge Computers and Brains

Posted on February 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Elon Musk’s announcement on Monday caught the attention of a small community of scientists who work with the body’s nervous system to treat disorders and conditions.

Robert Gaunt, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, said, “Inserting a device into a human body is not an easy task. But without neuroscience research and decades of demonstrated capabilities, I don’t think even Elon Musk would have taken on a project like this.”

Musk tweeted, “The first humans @Neuralink I was recovering well yesterday. Initial results show promising neuronal spike detection.” However, many scientists are cautious about the company’s clinical trials and note that not much information has been made public.

Neuralink won FDA approval to conduct its first human clinical study last year, and the company is developing brain implants that allow people, including severely paralyzed patients, to control computers with their thoughts.

Although it’s too early to know if Neuralink’s implants will work in humans, Gaunt said the company’s announcement is an “exciting development.” His own research focuses on restoring motor control and function using brain-computer interfaces.

“In 2004, a small device known as the Utah array was implanted in a human for the first time, allowing a paralyzed man to control a computer cursor with nerve impulses,” according to a report from University of Utah. Scientists have demonstrated how brain-computer interfaces can help people control robots, stimulate muscles, decode handwriting, speech, and more.

Musk said the clinical trials will aim to treat people with paralysis and paraplegia. However, many scientists believe enhancing human performance through brain-controlled devices is far in the future and not very realistic.

Still, Neuralink’s clinical trials represent a major advance for the fields of neuroscience and bioengineering. Funding basic science research is key to private companies advancing commercially viable products, says Gaunt.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

India’s initial snow leopard study shows that there are only 718 of them remaining

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Snow leopard in Ladakh, India

Wim van den Heever/naturepl.com

India’s first snow leopard survey estimates that there are 718 big cats living in six mountainous regions of the country.

They make up about 10 to 15 percent of the world’s population, and conservationists believe they number between 3,000 and 5,400 people.

snow leopard (panthera uncia) inhabit vast areas of remote mountainous regions, making them one of the most difficult predators to study.

The study, led by Wildlife Trust of India, was conducted from 2019 to 2023 and involved setting up 1,971 camera traps covering 120,000 square kilometers of habitat.

This represents over 70 per cent of the snow leopard’s potential habitat across the trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Approximately 34 percent of this area is under legal protection.

While 241 cats were photographed, evidence of leopard feces, fur, and body marks was found in the survey area, which covers approximately 100,000 square kilometers.

Snow leopards live in 12 countries in Asia, but primarily in the rugged Himalayas of China and India. The species was listed as endangered in 1972 and reclassified as endangered in 2017, but is still considered to be in decline.

“Snow leopards are beautiful, mysterious, ghostly animals, but they’re so much more than that,” says biologist George Schaller, who first photographed a snow leopard in Pakistan in 1971. “Snow leopards tend to symbolize the region and people of the time.” We begin to focus on the region as a whole, not just the snow leopard. Protecting it therefore protects the area for the benefit of all wildlife and local communities. ”

India’s goal is to use this baseline for long-term population surveys to improve monitoring, said Bhupender Yadav, India’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Forests and Climate Change. This is what the agency did in his 1970s with Project Tiger, creating conservation measures to increase the tiger population.

“These periodic assessments provide valuable insights to identify challenges, address threats, and develop effective conservation strategies,” says Yadav.

But some local figures fear the announcement could backfire. “This is one of the rarest animals, and this number may change the way we look at it,” said wildlife photographer Morap Namgair. snow leopard tour In Ladakh. “People might think 718 is an exaggeration, so it might change the psychology of conservation.”

Namgeir believes local people must take the lead in conservation efforts. “As locals, we share the mountain, so we have a responsibility to keep its numbers at the same level, if not increase,” he says. “They are the world’s most difficult animals to study, and we may never know how many there are. But we are committed to our efforts because protecting them protects us all.” Have to.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

New Study Claims Megalodon Sharks Were Not as Powerful as Previously Believed

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A recent study suggests that the megalodon’s body shape might not have been as chunky as previously thought. Contrary to popular belief, researchers now suspect that this prehistoric fish, also known as the megalodon (Otodus megalodon), may have had a more elongated form, akin to modern slim sharks.

The typical estimation of the megalodon’s length is between 15 to 20 meters (50 to 65 feet), and they inhabited the earth’s oceans from 15 million to 3.6 million years ago. However, the fossil record contains limited evidence of the megalodon, mainly consisting of teeth and vertebrae rather than intact skeletons.

While previous estimates of its body size were based on the bodies of contemporary great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharius), resulting in the assumption of a thick and round body shape, a new study published in the Old Trogia Electronica journal suggests that the megalodon was more than just a larger version of the great white shark. The study contends that the animal may have had similarities to the slimmer modern mako shark.

So what’s the controversy?

Essentially, two groups of scientists are at odds over the actual size and shape of the megalodon.

A study led by scientists from DePaul University and the University of California, Riverside (UCR) employed a CT scanner on a live great white shark to compare its vertebral skeleton to existing reconstructions of the megalodon’s spinal column. This study suggests significant enough differences between the two sharks to propose that the megalodon was not merely a larger great white shark.

However, a UK-based research team utilized advanced 3D modeling to study the body structures of various shark species, including great whites, mako sharks, and salmon sharks. With this approach, they concluded that the megalodon may have been even larger than previously anticipated, with a dorsal fin comparable in size to an adult’s height.

The earlier study’s authors critiqued the new findings, asserting that they rely on circular logic and lack statistical validation. They also mentioned the absence of raw data for future researchers to verify or reproduce the study’s results. Their study was peer-reviewed by prominent shark experts from around the world, although not by the authors of the new study.

Yeah, but…can Jason Statham still defeat Megalodon?

Regardless of the megalodon’s shape, the lifespan and dietary habits of this extinct shark remain unclear. To further advance their understanding, researchers will need to find a complete or near-complete skeleton. The potential elongated body of the megalodon, if confirmed, could prompt a reassessment of its life, diet, and extinction causes.

As for the debate over the megalodon’s size and shape, the fact that it was a large, formidable predator is indisputable. However, the question of whether Jason Statham could defeat it in battle remains up for discussion.

“Even with the interpretation of the megalodon’s shape as more slender, I don’t think the odds for that matchup will change significantly,” Cooper stated. “Regardless of which theory you favor, whether the shark was fat or skinny, the short answer is that megalodon was still a very large shark. Either way, it’s a massive challenge for Statham.”

About our experts

Jack Cooper is a postdoctoral researcher in palaeontology at Swansea University. His research covers scientific report, scientific progress and the Fish Biology Journal.

Professor Catalina Pimiento is a Senior Lecturer in Paleontology at Swansea University. Her research specializes in Frontiers of ecology and evolution, natural ecology and evolution, and scientific progress.

Professor John Hutchinson is Professor of Evolutionary Biomechanics at the Royal Veterinary College. His research spans nature communications, anatomy journal, and scientific progress.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Study reveals new organizational structure of water molecules on the surface of salt water

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The distribution of ions at the air-water interface plays a decisive role in many natural processes. Some studies suggest that large ions tend to exhibit interfacial activity, suggesting that the ions sit above the water surface, thereby inducing an electric field that determines the interfacial water structure. But new research by chemists at the University of Cambridge and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research casts doubt on this view. Their results show that ions in typical electrolyte solutions are actually located in subsurface regions and that such interfaces stratify into two characteristic aqueous layers.

Littman other. They show that the ions and water molecules at the surface of most aqueous salt solutions, known as electrolyte solutions, are organized in a completely different way than previously understood.Image credit: Littmann other., doi: 10.1038/s41557-023-01416-6.

Many important reactions related to climate and environmental processes occur where water molecules come into contact with air.

For example, ocean water evaporation plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry and climate science.

Understanding these responses is critical to efforts to reduce human impact on the planet.

The distribution of ions at the air-water interface can influence atmospheric processes. However, accurately understanding the microscopic reactions at these important interfaces has been hotly debated.

Dr. Yair Littman of the University of Cambridge and his colleagues set out to study how water molecules are affected by the distribution of ions at the very point where air and water meet.

Traditionally, this has been done with a technique called oscillatory sum frequency generation (VSFG).

Using this laser irradiation technique, it is possible to directly measure molecular vibrations at these key interfaces.

However, while the strength of the signal can be measured, this technique does not measure whether the signal is positive or negative, which has previously made the results difficult to interpret. Furthermore, using only experimental data can lead to ambiguous results.

The authors overcame these challenges by utilizing a more sophisticated form of VSFG, called heterodyne detection (HD)-VSFG, to study different electrolyte solutions.

We then developed sophisticated computer models to simulate the interface in various scenarios.

The combined results showed that both positively charged ions, called cations, and negatively charged ions, called anions, are depleted from the water-air interface.

The cations and anions of simple electrolytes orient water molecules both upward and downward.

This is a reversal of the textbook model that teaches that ions form an electric double layer, orienting water molecules in only one direction.

“Our study shows that the surface of a simple electrolyte solution has a different ion distribution than previously thought, and that the ion-rich subsurface determines the composition of the interface. .At the top you have a few layers of pure water, then you have the ions, the “dense layer,'' and finally the bulk salt solution,'' Dr. Littman said.

“Our paper shows that combining high-level HD-VSFG with simulation is a valuable tool that contributes to the molecular-level understanding of liquid interfaces,” said Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research researchers said Dr. Kuo-Yang Chiang. .

“These kinds of interfaces exist everywhere on Earth, and studying them not only helps our fundamental understanding, but can also lead to the development of better devices and technologies.” said Professor Misha Bonn, also of the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research.

“We are applying these same methods to study solid/liquid interfaces, which could have applications in batteries and energy storage.”

of study It was published in the magazine natural chemistry.

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Y. Littman other. Surface stratification determines the structure of interfacial water in simple electrolyte solutions. nut.chemistry, published online on January 15, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41557-023-01416-6

Source: www.sci.news

UV Light Found to Inactivate Coronavirus Particles, New Study Shows

Posted on January 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a profound impact on humanity. Prevention of infection by disinfecting surfaces and aerosols using non-chemical methods is highly desirable. Ultraviolet C (UVC) light is uniquely positioned to achieve pathogen inactivation.in new paper in a diary ACS PhotonicsScientists have reported the inactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by UVC radiation and are investigating the mechanism.

David other. demonstrated inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by 266 nm UVC light. This closely matches the absorption spectra of RNA and aromatic amino acids.Image credit: David other., doi: 10.1021/acsphotonics.3c00828.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 spreads through nosocomial, public, and workplace-based infections.

Transmission is thought to be direct through respiratory droplets or indirect through fomites, leading to increased interest in virus disinfection.

The SARS-CoV-2 virion consists of a core of nucleic acid strands containing the virus's genetic information, surrounded by a lipid membrane with protruding protein spikes. Each component is required for infection.

In the new study, Sumeet Mahajan and colleagues at the University of Southampton investigated how ultraviolet laser light affects each of these key components and destroys the virus.

By using special lasers with two different wavelengths, they were able to see how each viral component breaks down under bright light.

They found that the genomic material was highly sensitive to degradation, and the protein spike lost the ability to bind to human cells.

UV light includes UVA light, UVB light, and UVC light. Very little UVC light with frequencies below 280 nm reaches the Earth's surface from the sun.

The authors used UVC light in their study, which is less studied because of its antiseptic properties.

UVC light is strongly absorbed by various viral components, such as genetic material (about 260 nm) and protein spikes (about 230 nm), allowing the team to choose laser frequencies of 266 nm and 227 nm for this project.

Researchers found that low-power 266nm light causes RNA damage and affects the genetic information of viruses.

266 nm light also damaged the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, reducing its ability to bind to human cells by breaking disulfide bonds and aromatic amino acids.

Although 227 nm light was less effective at inducing RNA damage, it was effective at damaging proteins through oxidation, a chemical reaction involving oxygen that unravels protein structures.

Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 has one of the largest genomes of any RNA virus. This makes them particularly sensitive to genomic damage.

“Inactivating airborne viruses with light provides a versatile tool for disinfecting public spaces and sensitive equipment that is difficult to decontaminate using traditional methods,” Professor Mahajan said.

“We found differences in the susceptibility of the molecular components of the virus to light inactivation. This opens up the possibility of fine-tuned disinfection techniques.”

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George David other. Mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 inactivation using UVC laser irradiation. ACS Photonics, published online on December 25, 2023. doi: 10.1021/acsphotonics.3c00828

Source: www.sci.news

New study suggests Gigantopithecus became extinct 215,000-295,000 years ago

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Gigantopithecus brachyThe largest primate in history and one of the largest species of Southeast Asian megafauna, it lived in China from about 2 million years until its extinction during the Middle Pleistocene. New research shows that starting 2.3 million years ago, this environment was a mosaic of forests and grasses, providing ideal conditions to thrive. Gigantopithecus brachy population. However, from 295,000 years ago, just before and during the extinction period 215,000 years ago, increased seasonality led to increased environmental variability, changes in plant communities, and an increase in open forest environments. Although they are close relatives, Chinese orangutan (Pongo Weidenrach)managed to adapt their food preferences and behavior to this fluctuation. Gigantopithecus brachy There were signs of chronic stress and population decline. Ultimately, that struggle to adapt led to the extinction of the largest primate to ever live on Earth.

Impressions of a group of artists Gigantopithecus brachy In the forest of southern China. Image credit: Garcia / Joannes-Boyau, Southern Cross University.

Gigantopithecus brachy It is an extinct giant hominid that once lived in the jungles of Southeast Asia.

As the name suggests, this giant primate was larger than a gorilla, reaching up to 3 meters (10 feet) tall and weighing up to 540 kg (1,200 pounds).

“Our current understanding is that Gigantopithecus brachy “It originates from early to mid-Pleistocene cave deposits between the Yangtze River in southern China and the South China Sea,” said Professor Yingqi Zhang of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues.

“This primate is known for its unusually large molars, abnormally thick enamel, estimated height of about 3 meters, and weight of 200 to 300 kg, making it the largest primate to have ever existed on Earth. I am.”

“Despite 85 years of exploration, Gigantopithecus blacki's fossil record is limited to four mandibles and nearly 2,000 isolated teeth, with no postcranial evidence. ”

“The initial discovery as a 'dragon's tooth' in a pharmacy in Hong Kong led to the search for the first in situ finds, which led to the discovery of several cave sites in two major regions of Chongzuo and Fuping basins in Guangxi province. This led to the discovery of

“These sites contain important evidence of its survival and eventual demise.”

“Providing a clear cause for a species' extinction is a major feat, but establishing the exact time a species disappeared from the fossil record provides a target time frame for environmental reconstruction and behavioral assessment.” said Macquarie University geochronologist Dr John Martin. Kira Westaway.

“Without reliable dating, you're simply looking for clues in the wrong places.”

To identify potential causes Gigantopithecus brachy In case of extinction, the researchers applied a regional approach to 22 caves in the Chongzuo and Bupyeong basins. Gigantopithecus brachy-Bearing or non-bearing-Gigantopithecus brachy-Contains cave deposits.

They combined previous excavations with recently discovered caves to identify and sample fossil breccias for dating, paleoclimate estimation, and behavioral analysis.

Six different dating techniques were applied to the cave deposits and fossils, yielding 157 radiometric dates.

Luminescence dating measures light-sensitive signals in buried sediments. Gigantopithecus brachy Fossils were the primary technology supported by uranium series and electron spin resonance dating. Gigantopithecus brachy The tooth itself.

“Direct dating of the fossil remains allowed us to confirm that their ages match the luminescence order of the deposits in which they were found, providing a comprehensive and reliable chronology of the human extinction. Gigantopithecus brachy'' said Dr Renaud-Joan Boyau, a geochronologist at Southern Cross University.

The findings show that Gigantopithecus brachy They went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago, much earlier than previously thought.

Before this time, Gigantopithecus brachy They thrived in rich and diverse forests.

By 700,000 to 600,000 years ago, the environment had further changed due to increased seasonal intensity, leading to changes in the structure of forest communities.

orangutans etc. Pongo Weidenrach They adapted their size, behavior, and habitat preferences in response to changing conditions.

In comparison, Gigantopithecus brachy When preferences were not available, they relied on backup food sources with low nutritional value, reducing dietary diversity.

The primates experienced reduced locomotion, reduced geographic foraging range, chronic stress and population decline.

“Gigantopithecus brachy “It was the ultimate specialist compared to more agile adapters like orangutans, but this ultimately led to its demise,” Professor Chan said.

“With the threat of a sixth mass extinction looming over us, there is an urgent need to understand why species go extinct,” Dr Westaway said.

“Exploring the reasons for unresolved extinctions in the past is a good starting point for understanding the resilience of primates and the fate of other large animals in the past and future.”

of findings Published in today's diary Nature.

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Y. Chan other.The end of the giant ape Gigantopithecus brachy. Nature, published online on January 10, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06900-0

Source: www.sci.news

Study discovers that hearing aids could extend lifespan

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Are hearing aids really worth the investment? Recent research suggests that they may be more beneficial than previously thought. In fact, a new study indicates that using hearing aids can decrease the risk of premature death by about 25%. Despite this, a large portion of adults with hearing loss in the US and UK do not use hearing aids, even though they could greatly benefit from them.

Researchers at the University of South Carolina conducted the study and are hoping that their findings will encourage more people with hearing loss to utilize hearing aids. Dr. Janet Choi, the study’s principal investigator, stated that the results are particularly interesting as they point to the possibility that hearing aids can contribute to overall health and longevity.

The study, which was published in the Lancet Health and Longevity journal and involved 10,000 participants, found that regular users of hearing aids had a considerably lower risk of death compared to non-users. The research also suggested that consistent use of hearing aids, rather than occasional use, was key to reaping the benefits for longevity.

This research indicates that hearing aids can lead to improved mental health and cognitive function, ultimately contributing to a longer and healthier life. Interestingly, the study found that factors such as degree of hearing loss, age, ethnicity, and income did not impact the benefits of hearing aids on lifespan.

These findings suggest that the benefits of using hearing aids go beyond improved hearing and may actually play a crucial role in promoting overall health and well-being.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New Study Unveils the Reasons and Mechanisms behind Some Cats’ Fetch-playing Behavior

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A recent study delved into the play preferences of cats and discovered that cats enjoy having control over when, where, and how they play. This finding sheds light on how to encourage cats to play fetch.

According to research published in Scientific Reports, scientists found that cats initiated and concluded the fetch game more frequently than their owners. And, when the cats were the ones to start the game, they played for a longer duration compared to when their owners initiated the game.

Interestingly, cats actually continued playing for longer periods even after their owners had stopped the game. This suggests that while cats seem to be in control of the fetch game, they are willing to continue playing as long as they are allowed to.

This study, announced in Scientific Reports, surveyed 924 cat owners with cats who play fetch, involving 1,154 current or former cats.

The study revealed that fetching cats typically have favorite items to retrieve and play with, often opting for various household objects over toys, especially those that are mouse-sized, such as hair ties or bottle tops.

Moreover, these cats tend to have a preferred family member and location for playing and fetching. The researchers from the University of Sussex, including Gemma Forman, noted that cats show a preference for bedrooms and stairs, with different heights adding to their interest in playing.

But why do some cats play fetch?

Researchers speculate that fetching behavior mirrors hunting behavior, but with an added element of social interaction with their owner, creating a unique interspecific dynamic that is not commonly observed in cats.

Among purebred cats, Siamese cats are more likely to engage in fetch, while mixed-breed cats exhibit higher involvement in the fetch game.

For pet owners who are not professional pet trainers, the study offered some encouragement – 94% of pet owners reported that their cats started playing fetch without needing to be taught. Additionally, most cats begin fetching at a young age, with 61% of the cats in the study starting before they were one year old.

Gemma Forman, one of the study authors, emphasized the importance of being open and accepting of their cat’s needs and behaviors, as their cat might have already indicated its desire to play, even if communicating this need can be challenging.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New study sheds light on the visual masking phenomenon, unraveling the mystery of “invisibility”

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A new study has revealed how visual masking, a phenomenon in which rapid succession of images leads to unconscious image processing, occurs in both humans and mice. This study highlights the role of the cortex in conscious perception and provides important insights into the brain’s visual processing mechanisms.

Delve into the mysterious optical illusions and science of visual masking.

Recent research published in natural neuroscience Visual masking is a phenomenon that plays an important role in how we perceive things, or rather how we don’t “see” them. This study not only revealed aspects of conscious perception in the brain, but also demonstrated that this phenomenon occurs in both humans and mice.

Visual masking occurs when a person does not consciously recognize an image because another image is displayed in rapid succession. For effective masking, the first image must appear and disappear quickly, followed by her second image within about 50 milliseconds.

Groundbreaking research in visual perception

Allen Institute researcher Dr. Sean Olsen and his colleagues have delved into the science behind this optical illusion and shown for the first time that it also occurs in mice. After training the mice to report what they saw, the researchers were also able to pinpoint the specific areas of the brain needed for the visual masking illusion to work.

“This is an interesting observation, that what exists in the world is not accurately reflected in your perception,” Olsen said. “Like other optical illusions, we think this tells us something about how the visual system works and, ultimately, the neural circuits underlying visual perception.”

Exploring the brain’s role in visual recognition

Scientists discovered this strange phenomenon in the 19th century, but why and how the human brain does this remains a mystery.

The study narrows down the parts of the brain involved in perceiving the world around us, said Dr. Christoph Koch, a Distinguished Fellow at the Allen Institute who led the study with Dr. Olsen and Dr. Sam Gale. Ta. , a scientist at the Allen Institute.

When a rain of photons hits our retina, the information follows a predetermined path from the eyeball through several different areas of the brain and into the highly-processed areas of the cortex, the wrinkled outermost shell of the brain. It ends with Previous research on visual masking has led scientists to believe that neurons in early parts of the brain, in the retina and its pathways, are activated even when a person is unaware that they are looking at an image. I know. In other words, your brain sees things without your knowledge.

From mouse to human: parallel recognition

To explore where unconscious sensations turn into conscious perceptions and actions, scientists first taught 16 mice to move a small mouse in the direction of a rapidly flashing image in exchange for a reward if they chose the correct direction. I trained him to spin a Lego wheel. The scientists then added different masking images on either side of the screen immediately after the target image. Adding a mask prevented the animal from performing the task correctly. This means that the animal can no longer recognize the original target image.

Visual masking had never been tested in mice before, so the research team had to create a task for mice, in which the images and the way they were displayed were different from those used in previous human studies. I meant that. To confirm that the optical illusion they showed to rodents was also relevant to us, the research team tested it on 16 people (using keystrokes instead of a wheel). It turns out that human perception (or lack thereof) and mouse perception of this particular visual masking illusion are very similar.

This result implies that conscious perception is occurring in the visual cortex or in higher regions of the cortex downstream. This is consistent with the general sentiment in the field that the cortex is the seat of conscious cognition in mammals, including us, Koch said.

Reference: “Visual cortex is required for posterior masking in mice” by Samuel D. Gale, Chelsea Stroder, Corbett Bennett, Stefan Mihalas, Christoph Koch, and Sean R. Olsen, November 13, 2023 Day, natural neuroscience.
DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01488-0

Source: scitechdaily.com

New UCLA study challenges traditional views of bioengineering and stem cell dynamics

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Confocal microscopy images show mesenchymal stem cells (green) captured within nanovials (pink). Nanovial technology was developed by Dino Di Carlo and colleagues at UCLA. Credit: Shreya Udani/UCLA

University of California Los Angeles Stem cell scientists have uncovered surprising genetic instructions for promoting protein secretion, with major implications for biotechnology and cell therapy.

Mesenchymal stem cells present in the bone marrow secrete therapeutic proteins that may help regenerate damaged tissue.

The UCLA study examining these cells challenges conventional understanding of what genetic instructions drive the release of these therapeutic proteins.

The discovery could help advance both regenerative medicine research and the laboratory production of biological therapeutics already in use.

Expanding the possibilities of antibody-based medicineToday, drugs based on antibodies (proteins that fight infection and disease) are prescribed for everything from cancer to disease. COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) For high cholesterol. Antibody drugs are supplied by genetically engineered cells that act as small protein-producing factories in the lab.

Meanwhile, researchers are targeting cancer, internal organ damage, and many other diseases with a new strategy that involves transplanting similarly engineered cells directly into patients.

These biotechnological applications rely on the principle of causing cellular changes. DNA When a cell produces more genetic instructions to make a particular protein, it releases more of that protein.

Challenging established biological principlesBut a groundbreaking study from UCLA challenges this long-held belief, at least when it comes to certain types of stem cells.

The researchers looked at mesenchymal stem cells, which reside in the bone marrow and can self-renew and grow into bone, fat, and muscle cells. Mesenchymal cells secrete a protein growth factor called VEGF-A. Scientists believe this may play a role in blood vessel regeneration, repairing damage caused by heart attacks, kidney damage, arterial disease in the extremities, and other diseases.

Amazing discoveries in stem cell researchWhen the researchers compared the amount of VEGF-A released by each mesenchymal cell to the expression of the gene encoding VEGF-A in the same cells, the results were surprising. There was only a weak correlation between gene expression and actual growth factor secretion. Scientists have identified other genes that better correlate with growth factor secretion, including genes that code for proteins on the surface of some stem cells. The research team isolated stem cells with the protein on their surface, cultured a population that secreted large amounts of VEGF-A, and continued to secrete it even after several days.

Biotechnology and its impact on medicineThe findings were published Dec. 11 in the journal natural nanotechnologyco-author Dino Di Carlo said, suggesting that fundamental assumptions in biology and biotechnology may be worth reconsidering. UCLA Samueli School of Engineering.

“The central dogma is that there are instructions in DNA, and these instructions are transcribed. RNAThe RNA is then translated into protein,” said Di Carlo, who is also a member of UCLA. California Nanosystems Institute and Eli and Edythe Regional Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research. “Based on this, many scientists assumed that if you had more RNA, you would get more protein, and more protein would be released from the cell. I had doubts.”

It seems inconceivable that when a gene is expressed at a higher level, there is more secretion of the corresponding protein. We found a clear example where this does not occur, and many new questions arise.” Ta.

“The results could help make the production of antibody-based therapeutics more efficient and define new, more effective cell therapies. Knowing the right genetic switches to flip could enable the manipulation and selection of highly productive cells to create or deliver therapeutics.

Breakthrough in single cell analysisThe UCLA study was conducted using standard laboratory equipment enhanced with technology invented by Di Carlo and his colleagues. Nanovials, microscopic bowl-shaped hydrogel containers, each capturing a single cell and its secretions. By leveraging a new analytical method using nanovials, scientists were able to measure the amount of VEGF-A released by each of 10,000 mesenchymal stem cells compared to tens of thousands of genes expressed by that same cell. I was able to link it to the mapped atlas.

“The ability to link protein secretion to gene expression at the single-cell level holds great promise for the fields of life science research and therapeutic development,” said David, a member of the Broad Stem Cell Research Group and a professor of biology at the University of California, Los Angeles. said chemistry professor Kathryn Plath. Center and co-corresponding author of the study. “Without that, we would not have been able to reach the unexpected results found in this study. Now we have learned something new about the mechanisms that underpin the fundamental processes of life, and we have We have an incredible opportunity to leverage this to improve human health.”

A new path in therapeutic drug developmentAlthough activation of genetic instructions for VEGF-A showed little correlation with protein release, the researchers identified a cluster of 153 genes with strong associations with VEGF-A secretion. Many of them are known for their functions in blood vessel development and wound healing. For others, their functionality is currently unknown.

One of the top matches encodes the cell surface protein IL13RA2, but its purpose is poorly understood. Its outer location made it easy for scientists to use it as a marker and separate those cells from other cells. Cells with IL13RA2 showed 30% more VEGF-A secretion than cells lacking the marker.

In a similar experiment, the researchers kept isolated cells in culture for six days. At the end of that period, cells with the marker secreted 60% more VEGF-A compared to cells without the marker.

Potential impact on clinical applicationsMesenchymal stem cell-based therapies have shown promise in laboratory studies, but many of these new options are safe but not effective in clinical trials with human participants. It is shown that there is no. Her ability to use IL13RA2 to sort VEGF-A-rich cells could help change this trend.

“Identifying the subpopulations that produce more and the markers associated with that population means that they can be separated very easily,” Di Carlo said. “If we had very pure populations of cells that produced high levels of therapeutic proteins, we would have better treatments.”The nanovials are commercially available from Partillion Bioscience, a company co-founded by Di Carlo and founded in CNSI’s on-campus incubator. Expand.

Reference: “Correlating growth factor secretion in nanovials with single cell transcriptome using SEC-seq” Shreya Udani, Justin Langerman, Doyeon Koo, Sevana Baghdasarian, Brian Cheng, Simran Kang, Citradewi Soemardy, Joseph de Rutte, Kathrin Plath, Dino Di Carlo, December 11, 2023; natural nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01560-7The study’s lead author is Shreya Udani, who received her PhD from UCLA in 2023. Other co-authors, all at UCLA, are staff scientist Justin Langerman; Doyoung Koo, who received his Ph.D. in 2023. graduate students Sevana Bagdasarian and Chitradewi Somardi; undergraduate student Brian Chen; Simran Kang received her bachelor’s degree in 2023. and Joseph de Rutte, who completed his PhD in 2020 and is co-founder and CEO of Partillion.This research was supported by: National Institutes of Health It also won the Stem Cell Nanomedicine Program Award, jointly funded by CNSI and the Broad Center for Stem Cell Research.

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New Study Finds Human Insulin is Less Sensitive to Temperature Than Previously Believed

Posted on December 24, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A Cochrane review has shown that certain types of insulin can remain effective when stored at room temperature for several months, offering a practical solution for diabetes treatment in areas without stable refrigeration. This finding is particularly crucial for people with diabetes in low- and middle-income countries, as well as those affected by conflict, natural disasters, and environmental challenges.

Insulin storage options have been highlighted in the review, which summarizes the results of various studies investigating the effects of storing insulin outside the refrigerator. It was found that unopened vials and cartridges of certain types of human insulin can be stored for extended periods at temperatures up to 25°C and 37°C without any clinical consequences or loss of insulin activity. This has significant implications for people living in areas where access to refrigeration is limited.

Dr. Bernd Richter led a research team that conducted a comprehensive study on insulin stability under different storage conditions. The review analyzed 17 studies and found consistent insulin efficacy at temperatures ranging from 4°C to 37°C, providing reassurance that alternatives to powered cooling of insulin are possible without compromising its stability.

The study also identified areas for future research, such as better understanding the efficacy of insulin after storage under different conditions, studies of mixed insulin, effects of movement on insulin pumps, contamination of opened vials and cartridges, and cold environmental conditions.

The study was funded by the World Health Organization.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Asteroids Found to Predate the Solar System, New Study Shows

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Astronomical observations have shown that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are abundant and widespread in the interstellar medium. A PAH molecule consists of several adjacent aromatic rings terminated with hydrogen. In the new study, scientists conducted laboratory isotope analysis of PAHs in samples of the asteroid Ryugu and meteorite Murchison collected by JAXA’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft. They argue that at least some of the Ryugu PAHs formed in cold interstellar clouds and therefore must be older than our solar system.

This image of asteroid Ryugu was taken on June 26, 2018 by the Telescopic Optical Navigation Camera (ONC-T) aboard JAXA’s Hayabusa 2 spacecraft from a distance of 13.7 miles (22 km).Image provided by: JAXA / University of Tokyo / Kochi University / Rikkyo University / Nagoya University / Chiba Institute of Technology / Meiji University / University of Aizu / AIST

PAHs contain about 20% of the carbon in the interstellar medium.

These can be produced in the circumstellar environment (temperatures above 1000 K), in cold interstellar clouds (temperatures around 10 K), or by the processing of carbon-rich dust particles.

“PAHs are organic compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen that are common on Earth but also occur in celestial bodies such as asteroids and meteorites,” said study co-author and director of the Western Australian Center for Organic Isotope Geochemistry. said researcher Professor Kriti Grice. Curtin University.

“We conducted controlled combustion experiments on plants in Australia and found that PAHs found in debris from the asteroid Ryugu returned to Earth by a Japanese spacecraft in 2020, and comparable to the Murchison meteorite that landed in Australia in 1969. I compared them physically.”

“We analyzed the bonds between light and heavy carbon isotopes in PAHs to reveal the temperatures at which they form.”

“Selected PAHs from Ryugu and Murchison were found to have different characteristics, with smaller ones probably forming in cold outer space and larger ones probably forming in warmer regions such as near stars or inside celestial bodies. It is thought to have been formed in the environment.”

A model of the molecular structure of ribose and an image of the Murchison meteorite. Image credit: Yoshihiro Furukawa.

“Understanding the isotopic composition of PAHs can help elucidate the conditions and environments in which these molecules were formed, providing insight into the history and chemistry of astronomical objects such as asteroids and meteorites,” says the study. said Dr. Alex Holman, co-author and fellow Westerner. Australian Center for Organic and Isotopic Geochemistry at Curtin University.

“This research gives us valuable insight into how organic compounds form extraterrestrially and where in the universe they come from.”

“Through the use of high-tech methods and creative experiments, we show that select PAHs on asteroids can form even in cold space.”

of result Published in this week’s magazine science.

_____

Sarah S. Zeichner other. 2023. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Ryugu samples formed in the interstellar medium. science 382 (6677): 1411-1416; doi: 10.1126/science.adg6304

Source: www.sci.news

Excessive Cannabis Use Associated with Numerous Health Problems According to New Study

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A Yale University study that analyzed the genomes of more than 1 million people revealed genetic factors associated with cannabis use disorder and potential links to psychiatric problems, substance abuse, and lung cancer risk. The importance of understanding the health effects is emphasized.Credit: Illustration by Michael S. Helfenbein

A comprehensive study conducted by researchers at Yale University and involving the analysis of the genomes of more than 1 million people has provided new insights into the biology of cannabis use disorder. The study also investigated links to various mental illnesses, the propensity to abuse other substances such as tobacco, and the potential increased risk of lung cancer associated with cannabis use.

For this study, researchers analyzed genome-wide genetic variation in individuals from multiple ancestry groups enrolled in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Million Veterans Program, one of the world’s largest genetic databases. set and incorporated additional information from several other genomic databases. . They were able to identify dozens of genetic variants associated with cannabis use disorder, as well as a variety of behavioral and health problems associated with cannabis use disorder.

Understand the risks of marijuana use

The study was led by Daniel Levey, assistant professor of psychiatry, and Joel Gelernter, Foundation Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience, and was published Nov. 20 in the journal Psychiatry. natural genetics.

“Understanding the biology of cannabis use disorder can help us better understand associated disorders and inform the public about the risks associated with cannabis use,” said Levy, lead author of the study. .

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States, with more than 48 million people (18% of Americans) using marijuana at least once in 2019. There is. Previous research has shown that approximately one-third of marijuana users develop cannabis use disorder, a pattern of problematic cannabis use that results in clinically significant impairment and distress. Defined.

Genetic factors and health risks associated with cannabis use

The new findings provide insight into the genetic factors underlying this phenomenon and other health risks that may be associated.

For example, researchers found that variants in genes encoding three different types of receptors on neurons are associated with an increased risk of developing cannabis use disorder.

They found that these mutations associated with cannabis use disorder were also associated with the development of lung cancer. However, the authors added that more research is needed to distinguish the effects of marijuana use from the effects of tobacco use and other environmental factors on cancer diagnosis.

“This is the largest genome-wide study of cannabis use disorder ever conducted, and as more states legalize or decriminalize marijuana use, studies like this one will “This could help us understand the public health risks associated with this increase,” said Gelernter.

Reference: “Multi-ancestral genome-wide association study of cannabis use disorder provides insight into disease biology and public health implications” Daniel F. Levey, Marco Galimberti, Joseph D. Dieck, Frank R. Wendt, Arjun Bhattacharya, Dora Koller, Kelly M. Harrington, Rachel Quaden, Emma C. Johnson, Priya Gupta, Mahantesh Birader, Max Lamb, Megan Cook, Veera M. Rajagopal, Stephanie LL Empke, Han Zhou, Yaira Z. Nunez, Henry R. Kranzler, Howard J. Edenberg, Alpana Agrawal, Jordan W. Smaller, Todd Lentz, David M. Hougaard, Anders D. Borglum, Ditte Demotis, Veterans Affairs Million – Veterans Program, J. Michael Gaziano, Michael J. Gandal, Renato Polimanti, Murray B. Stein, Joel Gelernter, November 20, 2023, natural genetics.
DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01563-z

Source: scitechdaily.com

New Study Finds COVID-19 Vaccination Does Not Increase Risk of Miscarriage

Posted on December 22, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A study by Boston University researchers found no increased risk of miscarriage associated with the COVID-19 vaccine among individuals planning a pregnancy. This encouraging evidence supports the safety of preconception vaccination and is consistent with health authorities’ recommendations for vaccination of people planning pregnancy.

The new study is the first to prospectively assess the relationship between bias and bias. COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) We found that vaccinating both partners and having a miscarriage slightly reduced the risk of miscarriage among vaccinated partners trying to conceive.

In many studies, It is shown COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility or increase the risk of pregnancy-related problems, including miscarriage.Despite this evidence, people still on guard About the potential negative effects of vaccines on pregnancy.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) provided more comprehensive information about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals considering pregnancy.

It was published in the magazine human reproductionthe study found no increased risk of early or late miscarriage as a result of either the man or the woman’s partner receiving the COVID-19 vaccine before pregnancy.

Insights from new research on pre-pregnancy vaccine safety

This study is the first to assess the risk of early miscarriage (<8 weeks gestation) following preconception COVID-19 vaccination, and the first to assess vaccination and miscarriage in men. The researchers hope these results will be useful information for individuals planning pregnancy and health care providers.

“These findings should be replicated in other populations, but are reassuring for couples planning pregnancy,” says lead author Jennifer Eland, an epidemiology doctoral student at BUSPH at the time of the study. .

Study details and results

For this study, Yland and colleagues analyzed survey data on COVID-19 vaccination and miscarriage among male and female participants of the BUSPH-based Online Pregnancy Study (PRESTO). National Institutes of Health– A funded study that enrolls women who wish to become pregnant and follows them from before pregnancy until 6 months after giving birth. Participants in this new analysis included 1,815 women in the United States and Canada who were followed in the study from December 2020 to November 2022. They were observed from the first positive pregnancy test until miscarriage or other event (e.g. induced abortion, ectopic pregnancy) occurred. , or 20 weeks of pregnancy)—whichever comes first.

Among female participants, 75% had received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine before becoming pregnant. Almost a quarter of pregnancies led to miscarriage, 75% of which occurred before 8 weeks of pregnancy, but there was no increased risk.

The risk of miscarriage was 26.6% for unvaccinated female participants, 23.9% for female participants who received one dose of vaccine before pregnancy, and 24.5% for female participants who completed the full first dose before pregnancy. and 22.1% among female participants who completed the vaccination series. 20.1% of women received only one dose of the two-dose vaccine three months before pregnancy.

“The miscarriage rate among vaccinated people was not only comparable to that among PRESTO participants who became pregnant before the pandemic, but also that the risk of miscarriage among vaccinated people was higher than that of unvaccinated people. “Our data showed that it was slightly lower than the previous year,” Yland said.

Federal health officials continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for people planning pregnancy, emphasizing that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the potential risks of vaccination before or during pregnancy. ing.

Reference: “Prospective Cohort Study of Preconception COVID-19 Vaccination and Miscarriage” Jennifer J Yland, Amelia K Wesselink, Annette K Regan, Elizabeth E Hatch, Kenneth J Rothman, David A Savitz, Tanran R Wang, Krista By F Huybrechts, Sonia Hernández-Diaz, Michael L. Eisenberg, Lauren A. Wise, October 20, 2023. human reproduction.
DOI: 10.1093/hamrep/dead211

The study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Science Foundation.

Source: scitechdaily.com

New Study Seeks to Rewrite History by Highlighting Women as Hunters

Posted on December 22, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A new study reveals that prehistoric women not only participated in hunting, but may have been physiologically suited for it. The study is based on physiological studies and archaeological evidence, highlighting women’s endurance and the lack of a strict division of labor in early societies. This study highlights the need to reevaluate long-standing prejudices about women’s abilities.

When Carla Okobock was a child, she often wondered about the images in movies, books, comics, and cartoons depicting prehistoric men and women. Accompanying her are a “man hunter” with a spear in his hand and a “female gatherer” with a spear. The baby was strapped to his back, and in his hand was a basket of crop seeds.

“This was something everyone was used to seeing,” Okobock said. “This is an assumption that we all had in our heads, and it was carried through at the Natural History Museum.”

Many years later, Ocobock, an assistant professor in the University of Notre Dame’s anthropology department and director of the Human Energetics Laboratory, realized that she was a human biologist, studying physiology and prehistoric evidence, and working with early women. I discovered that many of these notions about women are true. Men were less accurate. The accepted reconstruction of human evolution assumed that men were biologically superior, but that interpretation did not tell the whole story.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Neanderthals May Have Been Early Risers, New Study Finds

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

When the ancestors of modern Eurasians migrated from Africa and interbred with the archaic humans of Eurasia, namely Neanderthals and Denisovans, the DNA of the archaic ancestors became anatomically integrated into the genomes of modern humans. homo sapiens. This process could accelerate adaptation to Eurasian environmental factors, such as reduced UV radiation and increased seasonal variation. In a new study, scientists from Vanderbilt University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California, San Francisco have discovered lineage-specific genetic differences in circadian genes and their regulatory elements between humans and Neanderthals. They found that the introgressed genetic variants were enriched with effects on circadian regulation and consistently increased morningness tendencies in Europeans. The results expand our understanding of how the genomes of humans and our closest relatives responded to environments with different light-dark cycles.

Velasquez Alsuley other. They found that genetic material from Neanderthal ancestors may contribute to the tendency of some people today to be early risers, the type of people who wake up early and go to bed more easily. Image credit: Holger Neumann / Neanderthal Museum.

All anatomically modern humans trace their origins to the African continent about 300,000 years ago, where environmental factors shaped many of their biological characteristics.

They arrived in Eurasia 70,000 years ago, but other humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans, lived there for more than 400,000 years.

These archaic humans diverged from anatomically modern humans about 700,000 years ago, and as a result, humans and archaic hominid ancestors evolved under different environmental conditions.

“Although there was considerable variation in the latitudinal range of each group, Eurasian hominids primarily lived at consistently high latitudes and were therefore exposed to larger amplitude seasonal fluctuations in photoperiod,” said the University of California. said the San Francisco school. Dr. John Capra and his colleagues.

“Given the influence of environmental cues on circadian biology, we hypothesized that these separate evolutionary histories produced differences in circadian traits adapted to different environments.”

Although previous studies have shown that many of the archaic ancestors of modern humans are not beneficial and have been removed by natural selection, some archaic hominin variants that remain in human populations has shown evidence of adaptation.

For example, archaic genetic variation is thought to be associated with differences in hemoglobin levels, immune resistance to new pathogens, levels of skin pigmentation, and fat composition among Tibetans at high altitudes.

Changes in patterns and levels of light exposure have biological and behavioral effects that lead to evolutionary adaptations.

Scientists have extensively studied the evolution of circadian adaptations in insects, plants, and fish, but humans have been less well studied.

The Eurasian environment where Neanderthals and Denisovans lived for hundreds of thousands of years is located at higher latitudes and has more variable daylight hours than where modern humans evolved before leaving Africa.

Dr. Capra and his co-authors therefore investigated whether there was genetic evidence for differences in circadian clocks between Neanderthals and modern humans.

Using a combination of literature searches and expert knowledge, they defined a set of 246 circadian genes.

They found hundreds of genetic variations unique to each strain that can affect genes involved in the circadian clock.

Using artificial intelligence techniques, they identified 28 circadian genes that contain mutations that could alter splicing in archaic humans and that may be differentially regulated between modern and archaic humans. identified 16 circadian genes.

This indicates that there may be functional differences between the circadian clocks of ancient and modern humans.

Eurasian modern humans and Neanderthal ancestors interbred, so some humans may have acquired circadian variation from Neanderthals.

To test this, researchers investigated whether introgressed genetic variants were associated with the body’s preferences for wakefulness and sleep in a large cohort of hundreds of thousands of people at UK Biobank. did.

They found a number of introgressed mutants that affected sleep preferences, and most surprisingly, they found that these mutants consistently increased morningness, or the tendency to rise early.

This suggests a directional influence on this trait and is consistent with adaptations to high latitudes observed in other animals.

Increased morning time in humans is associated with a shortened circadian clock period. This may be beneficial at high latitudes, as it has been shown that sleep and wakefulness can be coordinated more quickly with external timing cues.

Shortening of the circadian period is required to synchronize the long summer light period at high latitudes in Drosophila, and selection for a shorter circadian period results in a latitudinal shift with increasing latitude in natural Drosophila populations. There is a latitudinal gradient in which the period decreases.

Therefore, the bias toward morningness in introgressed mutants may indicate selection for shortened circadian periods in populations living at high latitudes.

The tendency to be a morning person may have been evolutionarily beneficial to our ancestors who lived in the high latitudes of Europe, and would have been a Neanderthal genetic trait worth preserving.

“By combining ancient DNA, extensive genetic studies in modern humans, and artificial intelligence, we discovered substantial genetic differences in the circadian systems of Neanderthals and modern humans,” Dr. Capra said. .

“And by analyzing fragments of Neanderthal DNA that remain in the genomes of modern humans, we discovered surprising trends, many of which influence the regulation of circadian genes in modern humans. These effects are primarily in the consistent direction of increasing Neanderthal tendencies.” Morning people. ”

“This change is consistent with the effects of living at high latitudes on animals’ circadian clocks, and changes in seasonal light patterns may allow them to adjust their circadian clocks more quickly. ”

“Our next steps include applying these analyzes to more diverse modern human populations and investigating the effects of the Neanderthal variants we identified on circadian clocks in model systems. and applying similar analyzes to other potentially adaptive traits.”

of the team paper It was published in the magazine Genome biology and evolution.

_____

Kayla Velasquez-Arsley other. 2023. Archaic genetic introgression shaped human circadian characteristics. Genome biology and evolution 15 (12): evad203; doi: 10.1093/gbe/evad203

Source: www.sci.news

Recent study challenges previous beliefs about forest resilience

Posted on December 17, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Recent research has shown that trees in humid regions are more vulnerable to drought, challenging previous beliefs about tree resilience. The study, which included analysis of more than 6.6 million tree rings, revealed that trees in arid regions are surprisingly drought tolerant. This finding highlights the widespread effects of climate change on forests and suggests that genetic diversity in drier regions may be important for adapting to changing conditions. There is. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Scientists have flipped the script and revealed that trees in humid regions are more sensitive to drought.

This holiday season brings some surprising news about Christmas trees. Scientists have found that globally, trees that grow in wetter regions are more sensitive to drought. This means that if your tree was grown in a humid climate, it has likely been damaged over generations.

Debate over drought tolerance of trees

Scientists have long debated whether arid environments make trees more or less tolerant of drought. It seems intuitive that trees living at the biological margin are most vulnerable to climate change. Because even the slightest bit of extra stress can send a tree over the brink. On the other hand, these populations may be better able to withstand drought because they are adapted to harsher environments.

The trees of this lush temperate forest in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state may be less drought tolerant than trees in drier regions of the South.Credit: Joan Dudney

Insights from new research

According to a new study published in the journal science Increased water availability could “kill” trees by reducing their ability to adapt to drought, according to researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of California, Davis. “And that’s really important to understand when we think about the global vulnerability of forest carbon stocks and forest health.” said Joan Dudney, an assistant professor and ecologist. “You don’t want to be a ‘spoiled’ tree when faced with a major drought.”

Dudney and his co-authors predicted that trees growing in the driest regions would be more sensitive to drought because they were already living on the edge of their limits. Furthermore, climate change models predict that these regions will dry out more rapidly than wetter regions. This change in climate can expose trees to conditions beyond their ability to adapt.

Methodology: Tree ring analysis

To measure drought sensitivity, the authors analyzed 6.6 million tree ring samples from 122 trees. seed World wide. They measured whether a tree was growing faster or slower than average based on the width of its growth rings. They correlated these trends with historical climate data such as precipitation and temperature.

The team then compared different regions’ responses to drought. “As you move to the drier edge of a species’ range, trees become less and less sensitive to drought,” said lead author Robert Heilmeyer, an environmental economist with the Environmental Research Program and the Bren School. he said. “Those trees are actually very resilient.”

Dudney, Heilmeyer, and their co-author Frances Moore were partially inspired by UCSB professor Tamma Carleton’s research on the effects of climate change on humanity. “This paper highlights the value of interdisciplinary scientific research,” added Moore, an associate professor at the University of California, Davis. “We applied economics methods originally developed to study how people and businesses adapt to changing climate, and applied them to ecological contexts to study the sensitivity of forests to drought. could be applied to.”

“A heat wave is likely to kill more people in a cool place like Seattle than in a hot city like Phoenix,” Heilmeyer said. It’s already quite hot in the Southwest, with a scorching heatwave occurring. But cities in the region are adapted to extreme climates, he points out. We now know that forests exhibit similar trends.

Impact on warm regions

Unfortunately, temperate regions are expected to become disproportionately drier in the coming decades. “Significant parts of the species’ ranges will be faced with entirely new climates, a phenomenon that these species do not find anywhere else in their ranges today,” Heilmeyer explained. The authors found that in 2100, 11% of the average species’ range will be drier than the driest part of its historical range. For some species, this increases to 50% or more.

“Broadly speaking, our study highlights that very few forests will be immune to the effects of climate change,” Dudney said. “Even wet forests are under more threat than we realize.”

But there’s also the other side of the coin. This species stores drought-tolerant resources in drier parts of its range and has the potential to strengthen forests in wetter regions. Previous research UCSB researchers have revealed that many species have the ability to adapt to environmental changes. But these researchers also discovered that trees move slowly from one generation to the next. This means that human intervention, such as assisted migration, may be required to take advantage of this genetic diversity.

Christmas tree and the fate of the forest

Whether the Christmas tree lives in a dry or humid region, its growth may decrease in the future. But understanding how trees respond to climate change can help secure the future of Tannenbaum and its wild trees.

Reference: “Drought sensitivity of mesic forests increases vulnerability to climate change” by Robert Heilmeyer, Joan Dudney, and Frances C. Moore, December 7, 2023. science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.adi1071

Source: scitechdaily.com

Chia Genome Sequenced by Researchers, New Study Finds

Posted on December 17, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Cheer (salvia hispanica) It is one of the most popular nutrient-dense foods and pseudocereals of the Lamiaceae family Lamiaceae. Chia seeds are rich in protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. A team of scientists at Oregon State University has sequenced the chia genome, providing a blueprint for future research to exploit the nutritional and human health benefits of the chia plant.

chia seeds. Image credit: Valeria Lu.

Chia is an annual herbaceous plant in the Lamiaceae family, which also includes popular culinary herbs.

It is grown in southern Mexico and Central America for its nutrient-rich seeds containing protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and minerals.

Compared to dietary fiber sources such as soy, wheat, and corn, chia seeds contain approximately 54g of dietary fiber per 100g, of which 93% is insoluble fiber.

Similarly, 60% of the total fatty acids are composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and proteins constitute 18–24% of the seed mass.

Additionally, the health-beneficial effects of chia seeds on improving muscle lipid content, cardiovascular health, total cholesterol ratio, triglyceride content, and anti-carcinogenic properties have been demonstrated in humans and animals.

The high fiber content in chia seeds also helps to reduce hypoglycemic effects and stabilize blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Professor Pankaj Jaiwal from Oregon State University said, “Our study opens up the possibility for scientists to study chia seeds with a view to improving human health, while also expanding knowledge of chia’s full range of nutritional benefits.” We will continue to deepen our understanding.”

“Long-term food and nutritional security currently requires diversifying human diets through breeding and genetic improvement of nutrient-rich so-called minor crops like chia,” said Dr. Sushma Naisani of Oregon State University. We have reached a stage where this is necessary.”

In the study, the authors assembled a haploid chia genome with an estimated genome size of 356 Mb.

They identified genes and genetic markers in chia that could help agricultural researchers breed plants to amplify plant traits valuable to human health.

They discovered 29 genes involved in the biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids and 93 genes that aid chia seeds’ gel-forming properties.

They also found 2,707 genes highly expressed in the seeds that are likely to produce small biologically active peptides (biopeptides) derived from proteins.

When seed proteins are digested in the intestinal tract, these small biopeptides are released and absorbed into the body, with potential properties that may help alleviate human health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Masu.

“This is the first report in silico “Annotation of plant genomes for protein-derived small biopeptides associated with improved human health,” the researchers said.

of findings It was published in the magazine Frontiers of plant science.

_____

parul gupta other. 2023. Reference genome of the nutrient-rich orphan crop chia (salvia hispanica) and implications for future breeding. front.plant science 14; doi: 10.3389/fps.2023.1272966

Source: www.sci.news

Effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines diminishes with passage of time, study finds

Posted on December 17, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

A study by the UK Health and Safety Executive that analyzed more than 10 million coronavirus patients found that vaccination significantly reduced the risk of death, with the most significant benefit seen within six months of vaccination. Became. The results of this study support the success of vaccination programs and the need for booster vaccinations. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

According to a study by the UK Health and Safety Executive, COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of death, especially within 6 months after vaccination, highlighting the importance of booster vaccination.

The risk of dying from COVID-19 is significantly reduced after vaccination, but this protection wears off after six months, providing evidence to continue giving booster shots, a new study has found.

Researchers from the UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) analyzed more than 10 million coronavirus infections in adults between May 2020 and February 2022. The result is Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (JRSM).

Vaccination and mortality reduction

Cross-referencing vaccination status with case fatality risk (CFR), the proportion of cases that result in death, revealed a clear association between vaccination and lower mortality rates. Of note, this study highlights a critical period (within 6 months of last vaccination) in which CFR was consistently lowest across all age groups. After this time, the protective effect started to decrease and the CFR increased.

Noteworthy findings in the elderly

The study highlights that the COVID-19 vaccination program has been successful in reducing mortality rates.

Among adults aged 50 years and older, CFR was 10 times higher among those who had not been vaccinated (6.3%) compared with those who had received the vaccine within 6 months of testing positive (0.6%). The study also found a sharp decline in CFR in early 2021, coinciding with the initial vaccine rollout.

Florence Halford, from UKHSA’s Covid-19 Vaccines and Epidemiology Unit, said: ‘The risk of dying from Covid-19 is reduced after vaccination, and those vaccinated up to six months before the sample collection date. This was the lowest of all age groups.” This provides some evidence for the continuation of booster doses in the elderly group. ”

Reference: “Temporal changes in the risk of adult mortality from COVID-19 after vaccination in the UK from May 2020 to February 2022: a national surveillance study” Florence Halford, Kathryn Yates, Tom Clare , by Jamie Lopez Bernal, Megan Karl, and Hester Allen, December 13, 2023, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
DOI: 10.1177/01410768231216332

Source: scitechdaily.com

“Study suggests Neanderthal DNA might be linked to being a morning person” – UK Researchers

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Have you ever wondered why your partner stays awake with a lark while you doze happily until noon?

According to new research, it could be thanks to Neanderthal genes.

The origins of modern humans can be traced back to Africa 300,000 years ago, but as these ancestors migrated north, they interbred with Neanderthals, and traces of their DNA can still be seen in people today. .

The study’s lead author, John Capra, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said scientists who compared ancient DNA to modern human genetics found “remarkable trends.”

They found that many of the remaining Neanderthal genes influence our body clocks and “increase our tendency to be morning people.”

Neanderthals lived at higher latitudes and farther from the equator than our African ancestors, experiencing longer days in the summer and shorter days in the winter.

Genes that make people wake up earlier “are likely able to adjust their circadian clocks more quickly to changing seasonal light patterns,” Dr. Capra said, which is why Neanderthals maximized daylight hours for hunting. He was able to utilize it to a limited extent.

Scientists have previously investigated how the circadian rhythms of insects, plants and fish have evolved with latitude. However, it has not been well studied in humans.

Read more from Sky News:
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Researchers wanted to see if there was a genetic reason for the differences in circadian rhythms between Neanderthals and modern humans, and found 16 mutations associated with greater “morningness”, or the tendency to rise early. .

They reasoned that because Neanderthals interbred with the ancestors of modern humans, modern humans may have inherited Neanderthal “circadian mutations.”

To test this, scientists analyzed the genes of hundreds of thousands of people in the UK Biobank and discovered a number of mutations that affect sleep preferences.

“Most surprisingly, we found that these mutants consistently increased morningness,” the researchers said.

This is consistent with what has been found in other animals that adapted to life at high latitudes, such as Neanderthals.

The study was published in Genome Biology and Evolution.

Source: news.sky.com

Study Shows Abdominal Circumference Grows During the Holiday Season

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

increase in perimeter

Some people get bigger during the holidays than they were before the holidays. A team from the University of Castilla-La Mancha and the University of Valladolid in Spain surveyed several first-year undergraduate nursing students and found that Preliminary study on the increase in BMI of health science students during Christmas vacation”.

Researchers assessed changes in weight and waist circumference in 67 students over the Christmas break. They asked students to take measurements on December 23, the day before the holidays officially began, and again at two designated locations during the holidays, and finally when the university’s general activities officially resumed on December 23. Measured on the 13th of the month.

(Presumably the students were honest and accurate. However, the study did not include the following: “This was an exploratory pilot study of self-reports. It is known that these reports tend to underestimate weight. ) The self-reported numbers show that: On average, students gained about 0.5 kg during their vacation and gained it back by the time they returned to campus.

The study states, “Overall, for both men and women, students who weighed more tended to gain more weight.” Research suggests that what students ate (not just the amount) may have played a significant role. “Students who were on a high-fat diet showed more significant weight changes.”

What kind of new hill of beans does this amount of pounds above and below equate to? The study found that “weight gain is not surprising, but it does show that young people may gain weight during the holiday period.” ” concludes.

What about the size of the student’s waistline (referred to in research as “abdominal circumference”)? It increased by about 1 centimeter on average and stayed that way. In other words, people tended to gain just a little bit more weight after the holidays.

A little moment on holiday

The little things that happen during the holidays are especially memorable because of their timing.

The same is true of a snake that bites a man’s genitals while defecating. GH Dijkema and his colleagues from Rhine State Hospital in the Netherlands reveal the details in a report called “.Scrotal necrosis after cobra (Naja annulifera) poisoning”.

At its core, this is a simple story. The research team condenses the basic facts into one sentence. “A 47-year-old otherwise healthy man was vacationing in a nature reserve in South Africa when a snake jumped out of the toilet and bit him on the genitals while he was using the toilet.”

Enough detail has been added to fill two and a half pages, punctuated by three photos of injured body parts. The authors also add some kind thoughts: In countries known for snakes, always flush the toilet before sitting down. ”

new holiday traditions

Some families like to get together to read aloud holiday stories, especially the Christmas stories written by Charles Dickens. But for families who are tired of hearing the same old words year after year, there is an alternative. Perhaps most beneficial is to take a business-like approach.

Yukyung Kim has identified a number of stories that you and your family can read aloud to each other as you look forward to the arrival of the new year, because no one will stop you.

Kim compiled this material as the main part of his master’s thesis at the University of Liberal Arts and Convergence Sciences in South Korea, which he titled “.Research on CEO New Year’s greetings: Research using text mining method”. As most holidaymakers know, “CEO” is an acronym for the phrase “Chief Executive Officer.”

Kim’s summaries of these New Year’s stories are more businesslike than those of Dickens’ Christmas stories. Mr. Kim said: “This study analyzed the New Year speeches of his CEOs of major Korean companies… [I] We analyzed 545 New Year’s speeches announced by the top 66 Korean companies by market capitalization from 2012 to 2021. ”

Many Korean CEO New Year’s greetings can be found on the Internet or by sending a request in a complimentary tone to the company headquarters. After a night of listening to families loudly proclaim these CEO stories, no matter what happens in the next few days, it will feel like the start of a vibrant year.

Muddy white christmas

Calcium carbonate (CaCO) is the reason we have a white Christmas in warm places, as opposed to snow covering the ground in colder climates.₃) precipitates in calm water. CaCO₃ It falls to the ocean floor and is covered with thick white lime mud.

Sam Purkiss and his team at the University of Miami, Florida, published a study on this titled “.It’s always a white Christmas in the Bahamas: Temperature and hydrodynamics localize winter mud production on the Great Bahama Bank.”.

As a Christmas Eve reading, the writing isn’t as good as Dickens (or Korean CEO), but you can have your relatives enjoy the lyrical parts. For example, “spatial heterogeneity in aragonite saturation is high in winter, and zones of peak bleaching are located in areas of locally increased saturation.”

Set to festive music and a cheerful atmosphere, a dramatic reading of Calcium Carbonate’s White Christmas will change everyone’s thoughts for the better.

Mark Abrahams hosted the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founded the magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Previously, he was working on unusual uses of computers.his website is impossible.com

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1. Switzerland has lost 10 percent of its glaciers in the past two years

2. On any given day in 2023, a third of the oceans experienced a heatwave.

3. The cost of inaction on climate change could be staggering.

4. Antarctic winter sea ice was 1 million km2 below the previous record

About our experts

Bat

Who is the happiest person in the world?

So what’s the controversy?

Yeah, but…can Jason Statham still defeat Megalodon?

About our experts

But why do some cats play fetch?

Delve into the mysterious optical illusions and science of visual masking.

Groundbreaking research in visual perception

Exploring the brain’s role in visual recognition

From mouse to human: parallel recognition

Understand the risks of marijuana use

Genetic factors and health risks associated with cannabis use

Insights from new research on pre-pregnancy vaccine safety

Study details and results

Debate over drought tolerance of trees

Insights from new research

Methodology: Tree ring analysis

Impact on warm regions

Christmas tree and the fate of the forest

Vaccination and mortality reduction

Noteworthy findings in the elderly

increase in perimeter

A little moment on holiday

new holiday traditions

Muddy white christmas

4. Antarctic winter sea ice was 1 million km² below the previous record