Possible Large Clump of Dark Matter Near Our Galaxy
Credit: Alamy
A significant discovery indicates the presence of a gigantic dark matter cloud adjacent to our solar system. These clouds, previously unidentified in the Milky Way, have been detected thanks to precise cosmic clocks known as pulsars.
Current cosmological models propose that galaxies are enveloped in diffuse clouds of dark matter called halos, with smaller subhaloes scattered throughout. However, the elusive nature of dark matter, which neither emits, absorbs, nor reflects light, complicates the detection of these halos and subhalos.
To quantify this dark matter phenomenon, Sukanya Chakrabarti and her research team at the University of Alabama in Huntsville leveraged pairs of rapidly spinning neutron stars known as pulsars. These cosmic clocks emit beams of light at consistent intervals, allowing researchers to measure variations in their trajectories when influenced by large nearby mass.
Given that dark matter interacts with ordinary matter solely through gravity, an adjacent dark matter subhalo would alter the orbit of neighboring pulsars. This is precisely what Chakrabarti and her collaborators identified approximately 3,000 light years from our solar system. “Our observations detected a pair of pulsars whose motions indicate an unexpected gravitational pull from an unseen object,” comments Philip Chan from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The research revealed that this gravitational influence originated from an object approximately 60 million times more massive than the Sun and spanning hundreds of light years. After mapping the location against stellar data, no correlations with known celestial bodies were found. If validated, this object could be a unique example of dark matter.
This potential dark matter subhalo could be the only instance of such size in our local galactic vicinity. “There may only be one or two of these large features nearby, depending on dark matter models,” suggests Alice Quillen at the University of Rochester in New York. “Different dark matter theories propose varying distributions of these structures.”
This pursuit is what catalyzed Chakrabarti’s interest in subhalo research. “Our objective is to map as many subhaloes as we can throughout the galaxy, and we’re just beginning to achieve that. Ultimately, we aim to elucidate the nature of dark matter,” she asserts.
However, pulsar binaries are scarce; only 27 instances provide sufficient accuracy for measuring gravitational acceleration. This scarcity explains why this subhalo remained undetected until now. “Given the finite number of pulsars, we are exploring alternative methods to monitor them using a broader array of objects,” states Zhang. If successful, this could be a breakthrough in understanding the true nature of dark matter.
Since the early 1990s, astronomers have made groundbreaking discoveries in exoplanet research. The real surge began in the early 2000s with comprehensive surveys, revealing that our unique solar system, featuring four rocky planets and four gas giants, might be unlike most others.
For decades, the Chilean High Precision Radial Velocity Planet Probe and the California Legacy Survey have meticulously tracked the stellar wobbles caused by exoplanets. While these surveys have not as many exoplanet discoveries as pioneering telescopes like Kepler and TESS, they shed light on the distinctiveness of our solar system.
For instance, our Sun outsize over 90% of other stars and exists alone, unlike many stars with companion stars. Earth’s size is also exceptional; only 1 in 10 stars hosts a planet like Jupiter. When such planets are found, their orbits often dramatically differ from Jupiter’s stable, circular path. Notably absent from our system are super-Earths or sub-Neptunes, which are common in other star systems. Despite thousands of exoplanet discoveries, Earth-like planets orbiting sun-like stars, and potential extraterrestrial life remain elusive.
“Our solar system is strange due to what we have and what we lack,” states Sean Raymond from the University of Bordeaux, France. “It’s still uncertain whether we are simply rare at the 1% level or genuinely unique at the 1 in a million level.”
These revelations prompt intriguing inquiries about the formation of our solar system. Questions remain, such as why Jupiter is located farther from the Sun—rather than closer, as seen in many planetary systems. Unusual orbits of exoplanets have made astronomers reconsider our system’s history. The Nice model, proposed in 2001, suggests a major reconfiguration post-formation, moving Jupiter to the outskirts while redirecting asteroids and moons into new trajectories.
“The understanding that such a shift could occur stemmed directly from exoplanet research,” Raymond notes. “Approximately 90% of large exoplanetary systems exhibit instability. This insight prompts speculation about possible historical fluctuations within our solar system.”
The Chernobyl nuclear power plant has endured multiple attacks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
AFP
A recent power outage at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine has disrupted the spent fuel cooling system, increasing the risk of overheating and the potential release of harmful radiation. Fortunately, the stored fuel is aged and expected to remain safe until power is restored.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Russian military actions have targeted multiple electrical substations in Ukraine, leading to the current power outage at Chernobyl. “The IAEA is closely monitoring these developments to ensure nuclear safety,” stated IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi in a recent update on X.
Spent nuclear fuel continues to emit radiation and generate heat for years after being removed from a reactor. Without proper cooling, the fuel can melt, resulting in dangerous radiation levels. Currently, Chernobyl’s old fuel is stored in large cooling ponds that are regularly replenished with cold water to maintain safe temperatures.
However, the IAEA reported that the site lacks a power supply, which halts cooling efforts, leading to increased water temperatures and evaporation rates.
“Once the fuel is out of the reactor, it remains hot due to the production of fission products and radiative materials. It’s essential to manage this heat effectively, or it may eventually lead to a meltdown,” explained Paul Cosgrove from Cambridge University. More information can be found on his profile here.
Fortunately, the risk associated with the stored fuel at Chernobyl is lower today compared to 2022 when similar power outages occurred, as the fuel has already cooled significantly over the years. New Scientist reported this decrease in risk.
“Power loss at nuclear facilities is concerning, but the perceived nuclear risks often far exceed the actual risks associated with comparable incidents,” noted Ian Farnan from Cambridge University. More details about his work can be found here.
The Chernobyl disaster involved a reactor explosion in 1986, with reactors 2, 1, and 3 being shut down in 1991, 1996, and 2000, respectively.
While details of the storage pool containing Chernobyl’s remaining fuel are classified, Cosgrove indicated that evaluations conducted in 2022 found minimal risk of overheating during power outages. “This fuel has been stored safely for over 20 years, leading to significant energy dissipation,” he emphasized.
Electricity delivery to Chernobyl, as well as much of Ukraine, has fluctuated since the commencement of the full-scale Russian invasion. Recently, heightened attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure by Russian forces have exacerbated the situation.
This power outage at Chernobyl represents yet another instance of Russian actions undermining nuclear safety, including the temporary occupation of Chernobyl, preventing necessary maintenance, the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and last February’s drone attack on the containment structures above the ruins of Chernobyl’s reactor 4.
A rare triple-merger galaxy, known as J121/1219+1035, hosts three actively feeding radio-bright supermassive black holes, as revealed by a team of American astronomers.
Artist’s impression of J121/1219+1035, a rare trio of merging galaxies, featuring three radioactively bright supermassive black holes actively feeding, with jets illuminating the surrounding gas. Image credit: NSF/AUI/NRAO/P. Vosteen.
The J1218/1219+1035 system is located approximately 1.2 billion light-years from Earth.
This unique galaxy system contains three interacting galaxies, each harboring supermassive black holes at their centers that are actively accreting material and shining brightly in radio frequencies.
Dr. Emma Schwartzman, a research scientist at the US Naval Research Laboratory, states: “Triple active galaxies like J1218/1219+1035 are incredibly rare, and observing them during a merger allows us a front-row seat to the growth of supermassive galaxies and their black holes.”
“Our observations confirmed that all three black holes in J1218/1219+1035 are emitting bright radiation and actively firing jets. This supports the theory of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and provides insight into the life cycle of supermassive black holes.”
Schwartzman and colleagues utilized NSF’s Very Large Array (VLA) and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) to study J1218/1219+1035.
The findings confirmed that each galaxy hosts a compact synchrotron-emitting radio core, indicating that all three harbor AGNs powered by growing black holes.
This discovery makes J1218/1219+1035 the first confirmed triple radio AGN and only the third known triple AGN system in nearby space.
“The three galaxies within J1218/1219+1035, located about 22,000 to 97,000 light-years apart, are in the process of merging, resulting in a dynamically connected group with tidal signatures indicative of their interactions,” the astronomers noted.
“Such triple systems are crucial in the context of hierarchical galactic evolution, wherein large galaxies like the Milky Way grow through successive collisions and mergers with smaller galaxies, yet they are seldom observed.”
“By capturing three actively feeding black holes within the same merging group, our new observations create an excellent laboratory for testing how galactic encounters funnel gas into centers and stimulate black hole growth.”
J1218/1219+1035 was initially flagged as an anomalous system through mid-infrared data from NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Surveyor (WISE), which suggested the presence of at least two obscured AGNs within the interacting galaxies.
Optical spectroscopy confirmed one AGN in a core while revealing complex signatures in another, although the nature of the third galaxy remained uncertain due to the possibility of emissions from star formation.
“Only through new ultra-sharp radio imaging with VLA at frequencies of 3, 10, and 15 GHz did we uncover compact radio cores aligned with all three optical galaxies, confirming that each hosts an AGN bright in radio emissions and likely fueling small-scale jets and outflows,” the researchers explained.
“The radio spectra of the three cores exhibited traits consistent with non-thermal synchrotron radiation from the AGNs, featuring two sources with typical steep spectra and a third with an even steeper spectrum potentially indicative of unresolved jet activity.”
Uranus’ New Moon S/2025 U1 Discovered by James Webb Space Telescope
Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/M. El Moutamid (SwRI)/M. Hedman (University of Idaho)
This year, astronomers have discovered over 100 previously unknown moons in our solar system. With many more potentially awaiting discovery, cataloging these moons could enhance our understanding of planet formation.
In March, Edward Ashton and his team at Taiwan’s Academia Sinica discovered 128 new moons around Saturn, raising the planet’s total to 274. The researchers utilized hours of images taken by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, stacking them to reveal dark objects previously undetectable.
Ashton’s team now holds the rights to name the newly discovered moons; however, due to the sheer number, many of Saturn’s moons lack unofficial names.
In August, a small, faint moon was identified in orbit around Uranus, increasing its total to 29. Mariam El Moutamid and researchers from the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado made this discovery using 10 long-exposure infrared images captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
The team has not disclosed potential names for the new moon, which is currently known by its tentative designation, S/2025 U1. Eventually, it will be named after characters from Shakespeare’s plays, following the tradition established in 1787 when Earth’s first two moons, Titania and Oberon, were discovered.
Nigel Mason from the University of Kent indicates that more moons are likely to be discovered in the solar system, particularly around Neptune and Uranus, but he believes that the largest have already been mapped.
“Everyone enjoys finding a new moon and contemplating what to name it,” says Mason. “It’s an exhilarating moment—it’s a legacy.”
The ongoing cataloging and measurement of nearby satellites will help scientists learn more about their formation, allowing us to update existing models of planet formation.
“Why are there so many? What caused it? How do you create 40, 50, or 60 moons of varying shapes and sizes?” Mason notes. “That’s what makes them fascinating. It’s truly astounding, revealing that our understanding of the entire planet formation process is not as solid as we once believed.”
When neurons in the brain are active, they generate waste products.
Credit: Nick Veasey/Science Photo Library/Alamy
As we embrace the joy of the Christmas season, many are already thinking about detox plans for the new year, such as reducing movie watching or cutting back on alcohol. This leads to an interesting query: can we apply similar detox methods to our brains? After the festivities, how can we clear away any cognitive clutter?
The brain is naturally equipped to detoxify itself daily, flushing out accumulated metabolic waste that could be harmful. But can we assist in this vital process, potentially shielding ourselves from age-related cognitive decline and dementia?
Let’s delve into the glymphatic system, a newly uncovered pathway responsible for detoxification. This system effectively “sucks” away undesirable proteins and waste from the spaces between neurons, channeling them into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
“CSF circulates much like water in a dishwasher,” explains Maha Alattar from Virginia Commonwealth University.
This fluid systematically drains waste into lymph nodes, eventually allowing it to exit the body through the veins.
While the connection between the glymphatic and lymphatic systems is still not fully understood, researchers are increasingly focused on ways to optimize the glymphatic process. Enhancing this system could prove pivotal in combating cognitive decline and promoting healthy aging. Accumulation of metabolic waste in the brain is linked to symptoms such as declining cognitive function, increasing the risk of dementia and expediting Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
“The glymphatic system is fascinating,” says Nandakumar Narayanan from the University of Iowa Health Care. “Numerous innovative research efforts aim to better understand and quantify glymphatic functions, shedding light on human health and disease.”
Enhancing the Brain’s Waste Removal System
Are there ways we can enhance this waste disposal mechanism? Recent studies indicate that lifestyle changes may significantly impact its efficiency.
“The most proven method to boost glymphatic clearance is sleep,” notes Dr. Lila Landovsky from the University of Tasmania.
The glymphatic system is predominantly inactive during waking hours but reaches peak activity during sleep. For instance, in mice, CSF flow surges by about 60% while they sleep, enabling the removal of beta-amyloid, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Though studies have yet to definitively establish that glymphatic activation directly prevents dementia, “the hypothesis is strengthened by evident links between factors that impair glymphatic clearance—such as sleep disturbances and sedentary behavior—and an increased risk for neurodegenerative conditions,” states Landowski.
The position in which we sleep could also affect glymphatic function. In 2015, Helen Benveniste and her team found that sleeping on one’s side improved glymphatic clearance in mice more effectively than sleeping on the back or stomach. While this has not yet been tested in humans, many types of dementia show strong associations with sleep disorders, suggesting sleep positions may be important in our fight against dementia.
Additional Strategies to Enhance Brain Detox
Emerging evidence suggests that other lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise, may also bolster glymphatic function. In April, a study involving 37 adults highlighted that only participants who completed a 12-week stationary cycling program experienced noticeable increases in glymphatic drainage, as observed through brain imaging.
“Research in mice indicates that glymphatic clearance can roughly double after five weeks of regular exercise in comparison to sedentary mice,” says Landowski. “However, short-term studies in mice have yet to be performed.”
Further examination of the glymphatic system may uncover additional methods to enhance its function. Lymphatic vessels connected to CSF are located deep in the neck, making direct manipulation challenging, but researchers led by Ko Young Gu at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology have identified another lymphatic network directly beneath the skin of monkeys and mice’s facial and neck areas.
In experiments, gentle downward stroking of the face and neck in mice tripled CSF flow, effectively rejuvenating older animals’ flow to a more youthful state.
Similar vessels have been detected in human cadavers, suggesting that facial and neck massages could potentially enhance CSF flow, aiding in glymphatic clearance. Nonetheless, more research is needed to substantiate these claims and verify whether this enhanced flow can shield against neurodegenerative disorders.
Promising Evidence Supporting Yoga and Breathing Techniques
One exercise that should not be overlooked is yoga breathing. Hamid Jalillian from the University of California, Irvine, notes that diaphragmatic breathing has robust evidence supporting its ability to increase CSF velocity, effectively activating a glymphatic “rinse cycle.”
Diaphragmatic breathing is characterized by keeping the chest relatively still while moving the abdomen outward and lowering the diaphragm as you inhale through your nose. Conclude the cycle by exhaling through pursed lips while retracting your belly.
Unexplored Potential
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the glymphatic system, our comprehension of its intricate workings is still developing. Not everyone is convinced we possess enough knowledge to prescribe specific interventions at this time. “We are far from being able to accurately predict how a specific intervention, like exercise, will influence the glymphatic system. There are limited studies in both mice and small human populations, but nothing large-scale and conclusive,” cautions Narayanan.
Nevertheless, there is a sense of optimism. “The potential is immense, but these studies require meticulous and thorough execution,” he concludes.
For now, I’ll concentrate on essential routines—prioritizing quality sleep and regular exercise. These habits are crucial for overall health, but should glymphatic research hold true, they may soon play an even more critical role in keeping my brain clear, not just in the new year, but for years to come.
SNR 0519, the remnants of a supernova that erupted around 600 years ago
Claude Coenen/ESA/Hubble & NASA
Our planet may owe some of its characteristics to a neighboring star that met its end as a supernova during the formation period of the solar system. This notion of a supernova bubble enveloping the sun and inundating it with cosmic rays might be a common phenomenon across the galaxy, implying that there could be many more Earth-like planets than we ever imagined.
Thanks to ancient data, we understand from a meteorite sample that the early solar system was rich in radioactive materials that generated significant heat and quickly decayed. The heat produced by these elements was crucial for releasing substantial amounts of water from the colliding space rocks and comets that coalesced to form Earth, ensuring there was enough water for life to eventually thrive.
However, the origin of these elements remains a mystery. While many are commonly produced in supernovae, simulations of nearby supernovae have faced challenges in replicating the exact ratios of radioactive elements observed in meteorite specimens from the early Solar System. A significant issue is that these explosive events were incredibly forceful and might have obliterated the delicate early solar system before planetary formation could take place.
Recently, Ryo Sawada and fellow researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered that if a supernova occurs at an adequate distance, it could supply Earth with the necessary radioactive components without interfering with the planet-forming process.
In their theoretical framework, a supernova located approximately three light-years from our solar system could initiate a two-step process to generate the essential radioactive elements. Certain radioactive substances, like aluminum and manganese, are directly created during supernova explosions and might reach the solar system propelled by shock waves from the explosion.
Subsequently, the high-energy particles known as cosmic rays released by the supernova travel along these shock waves, colliding with other atoms in the gaseous, dusty, and rocky disk still in its formative phase, birthing the remaining radioactive elements such as beryllium and calcium. “We realized that prior models of solar system formation primarily concentrated on the injection of matter, neglecting the role of high-energy particles,” stated Sawada. “We contemplated, ‘What if our nascent solar system was simply engulfed in this particle bath?'”
Due to the occurrence of this process in more distant supernovae than previously explored, Sawada and his team estimate that between 10 and 50 percent of Sun-like stars and planetary systems might have been enriched with radioactive elements in this manner, leading to the formation of water-abundant planets that resemble Earth. Earlier theories posited that the proximity of the supernova would have made such an event exceedingly rare, akin to “winning the lottery,” as Sawada described. The fact that the supernova is further positioned indicates that “Earth’s creation is probably not an unusual occurrence, but a widespread phenomenon that transpires throughout the galaxy,” he adds.
“This is exceedingly clever because it strikes a harmonious balance between destruction and creation,” remarks Cosimo Insera from Cardiff University in the UK. “The right elements and the correct distance are essential.”
If this theory holds true, Inserra mentioned that upcoming telescopes like NASA’s Habitable World Observatory could significantly aid in the search for Earth-like planets by identifying remnants of ancient supernovae and locating systems that were within proximity to supernovae during their formation stages.
Some researchers are concerned that tattoos might be hazardous to health
Olga Korbakova / Alamy
Research indicates that tattoo ink can accumulate in lymph nodes, potentially disrupting the immune system and leading to permanent alterations in the body’s disease defense mechanisms.
This conclusion arises from a study involving mice, which revealed chronic inflammation in the lymph nodes of tattooed animals—nodes that were stained with ink—and modified antibody responses to vaccinations. Similarly, studies have shown inflammation and discoloration in the lymph nodes of individuals with tattoos, persisting for years after the tattoo was applied.
The findings suggest that tattoos could increase disease risk and highlight the necessity for further investigation. Santiago González from the University of Lugano, Switzerland, asserts, “When you get a tattoo, you are essentially injecting ink into your body. This affects not only the skin’s appearance but also the immune system. Chronic inflammation, over time, can deplete the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections and certain cancers—many questions remain that require additional research.”
Tattoos are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, with approximately 30 to 40 percent of individuals in Europe and the United States sporting at least one tattoo. Though Gonzalez does not have a tattoo, he admires them as an art form, stating, “I think they’re visually appealing.” Nonetheless, the long-term health implications of tattooing—particularly concerning the immune system—are still not well understood.
Gonzalez noted that he and his team were conducting an unrelated investigation into inflammation in mice when they observed a “crazy inflammatory response” after applying small identifying tattoos. Curious, they decided to delve deeper.
The team utilized standard commercial inks in black, red, and green to mark 25 square millimeter patches on the hind legs of several mice. With specialized imaging technologies, they tracked the ink traveling through lymph vessels towards nearby lymph nodes almost immediately, often within minutes.
In these nodes, the researchers found that macrophages (immune cells that eliminate debris, pathogens, and dead cells) absorbed the ink, turned the nodes discolored, and initiated acute inflammation. Within approximately 24 hours, these macrophages would perish and release the ink, which would then be taken up by other macrophages, creating a continuous cycle of chronic inflammation that outlasted the healing of the tattoo site.
After two months, during which the tattoos remained, the mice still exhibited inflammatory markers in their lymph nodes that were up to five times higher than typical, Gonzalez reported.
To comprehend how this inflammation affected immune functioning, the researchers administered a vaccine directly into the tattooed skin. Notably, the tattooed mice demonstrated a markedly weaker antibody response to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine compared to control mice, while showing a stronger response to the influenza vaccine.
Further analysis revealed that the lymph node macrophages from tattooed mice were filled with ink and struggled to capture the COVID-19 vaccine. For mRNA vaccines to be effective, they must be processed by macrophages. Conversely, the protein-based influenza vaccines triggered an enhanced antibody response, likely due to an increase in immune cells drawn to the tattoo site. “The response may vary based on the type of vaccine,” Gonzalez explained.
Lastly, the researchers investigated a limited number of lymph node biopsies from individuals who had tattoos near their lymph nodes. Two years post-tattoo application, the lymph nodes retained visible pigment, housed within the same type of macrophages observed in the mouse research. “Their lymph nodes were entirely filled with ink,” noted Gonzalez.
Crucially, he emphasized that even if individuals undergo tattoo removal, the ink is likely to persist in the lymph nodes for a lifetime. “You can eliminate ink from your skin, but the ink in your lymph nodes remains,” he stated.
The research findings illuminate the long-suspected link between tattoos and immune response. Christel Nielsen at Lund University, Sweden, indicated that her team had recently published findings that suggest individuals with tattoos have a heightened melanoma risk. She believes that the findings from Gonzalez’s team may be explained by increased inflammation in lymph nodes. “This study provides compelling proof that this is indeed the case,” she remarked, calling it a significant advancement in our understanding of the relationship between tattoos and disease.
For Michael Jurbdazian, this study conducted at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Berlin paints a clearer picture of how tattoo pigments interact with the immune system. However, he notes that results from mouse studies might not precisely mirror human outcomes, especially considering the differences between human and mouse skin. “The correlation with human health, particularly once healing is complete, necessitates more investigation,” he stated.
Comet 3I/ATLAS is the third known visitor from beyond our solar system
International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Shadow the Scientist; J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS releases carbon-rich compounds at a higher rate than most comets in the solar system, including methanol. This compound plays a crucial role in prebiotic chemistry and is not commonly found in other interstellar objects.
Having made only three known visits to our solar system, 3I/ATLAS stands apart from comets found in our galactic neighborhood. While approaching the Sun, it developed a crust of water vapor and gas, containing significantly more carbon dioxide than typically found in Solar System comets. Additionally, the comet’s light appeared unusually red, hinting at atypical surface chemistry, and it began emitting gas well before reaching the Sun. This could indicate that it has not approached another star in hundreds of millions of years, or possibly since leaving its home system.
Recently, Martin Cordiner and a team using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile discovered that 3I/ATLAS generates significant amounts of hydrogen cyanide gas, as well as even larger quantities of gaseous methanol. “Hydrogen cyanide and methanol are usually found in trace amounts and aren’t dominant components in our comets,” explained Cordiner. “However, they appear to be notably abundant in this alien comet.”
Cordiner’s research team observed that the hydrogen cyanide comes from near the comet’s core, producing around a quarter to half a kilogram per second. Methanol was also found in the core, indicating large quantities are produced even within the comet’s coma, which is the extensive trail of dust and gas extending miles away from the comet itself.
Methanol is emitted at approximately 40 kilograms per second, significantly more than hydrogen cyanide, which represents about 8 percent of the total vapor released (compared to roughly 2 percent from typical solar system comets). The different locations of these two molecules suggest that the comet’s core may not be uniform, which could provide insights into how comets are formed, according to Cordiner.
Cordiner noted that, while methanol is a relatively straightforward carbon-based compound, it plays an essential role in forming more complex molecules critical for life. Its production appears to be high when chemical reactions producing these larger molecules occur. “Chemically, it seems unlikely that we can progress toward highly complex substances without generating methanol,” Cordiner said.
Josep Trigo-Rodriguez and colleagues from Spain’s Institute of Space Sciences suggested that comets with substantial iron and metals are likely to produce considerable methanol as well. The presence of liquid water heated by the Sun could permeate the comet’s core and engage in chemical reactions with its iron, resulting in methanol production. Thus, discovering methanol in the coma might indicate a metal-rich composition of the comet, he adds.
The Moon was created through a massive collision between the proto-Earth and the ancient protoplanet Theia. A recent study by a collaborative team of scientists from the United States, Germany, France, and China analyzed iron isotopes in lunar samples, Earth rocks, and meteorites believed to represent the isotope reservoir from which both Theia and early Earth may have formed. Their findings indicate that Theia and most of Earth’s constituent materials originated from the inner solar system, suggesting that Theia formed closer to the sun than Earth.
Artist’s impression of the collision between proto-Earth and Theia. Image credit: MPS/Mark A. Garlick.
“The composition of the body reflects its entire formation history, including its origin,” said Dr. Torsten Kleine, lead author of the study from the Sonnensystemforschung Institute at the Max Planck Institute.
“The ratio of specific metal isotopes within the body is particularly insightful.”
“Isotopes are different versions of the same element, varying only in neutron count in the atomic nucleus, which affects their weight.”
“In the early solar system, the distribution of isotopes was likely not uniform. For instance, at the solar system’s outer edges, isotopes existed in proportions that differed from those found near the Sun.”
“Thus, the isotopic makeup of a body holds clues about the origins of its components.”
The authors measured iron isotopes in Earth and Moon rocks with exceptional accuracy in this study.
The research involved 15 terrestrial rocks and six lunar samples collected by Apollo astronauts.
This outcome aligns with earlier findings, indicating that the Earth and the Moon are indistinguishable in terms of isotope ratios for chromium, calcium, titanium, and zirconium.
However, direct conclusions about Theia are elusive due to their similarities.
The multiplicity of potential collision scenarios also complicates matters.
While most models suggest that the Moon is largely composed of Theia material, it’s also plausible that it consists primarily of early Earth’s mantle material, or a mix of both Earth and Theia rocks.
To explore Theia’s characteristics, researchers employed a method akin to reverse engineering.
They analyzed the isotope ratios of contemporary Earth and Moon rocks to infer the size and composition of Theia, as well as the early Earth composition that resulted in the current state.
The study examined not only iron isotopes but also those of chromium, molybdenum, and zirconium.
Different elements provide insights into various phases of planetary formation.
Before the catastrophic collision with Theia, a sorting process was occurring within the early Earth.
As the iron core formed, elements like iron and molybdenum were sequestered there, almost completely removing them from the rocky mantle.
Thus, the iron found in Earth’s mantle today may have arrived post-core formation, potentially aboard Theia.
Other elements, like zirconium, which did not sink into the core, encapsulate the entire history of Earth’s formation.
Some mathematically feasible compositions of Theia and early Earth can be dismissed as unlikely.
“The most credible scenario suggests that the majority of components in Earth and Theia originated from the inner solar system,” stated Dr. Timo Hopp, a researcher at the University of Chicago and the Max Planck Institute.
“Earth and Theia were likely neighbors.”
“While the early Earth’s composition can be explained primarily through known meteorite mixtures, the same does not hold for Theia.”
“Distinct classes of meteorites formed in various regions of the outer solar system.”
“These provide a reference for the materials accessible during the early formation of Earth and Theia.”
“However, Theia’s composition may also include previously unidentified substances.”
“We hypothesize that this material originated closer to the Sun than to Earth.”
“Thus, our calculations imply that Theia was formed nearer to the sun compared to our planet.”
of result Published in this week’s Science magazine.
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Timo Hopp et al.. 2025. Theia, the impactor that formed the Moon, originated from within the solar system. Science 390 (6775): 819-823;doi: 10.1126/science.ado0623
Thanks to data gathered by the Color Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on board ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spacecraft orbiting Mars, scientists have enhanced the predicted location of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS by a factor of 10.
This image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was captured on October 3, 2025, by the CaSSIS instrument aboard ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter. Image credit: ESA/TGO/CaSSIS.
3I/ATLAS was discovered on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System) telescope located in Rio Hurtado, Chile.
Prior to September, researchers depended on Earth-based telescopes to track the positions and orbits of interstellar comets.
From October 1 to 7, TGO concentrated on 3I/ATLAS from its orbit around Mars.
The comet came relatively close to Mars, achieving a distance of roughly 29 million km at its closest approach on October 3.
The Mars rover observed 3I/ATLAS from approximately 10 times closer than Earth telescopes and from a fresh vantage point.
By triangulating data from TGO/CaSSIS and Earth-based observations, scientists significantly improved the accuracy of the comet’s predicted trajectory.
Initial expectations were for a modest improvement, but the findings revealed an impressive tenfold increase in precision.
“Utilizing data from the Mars rover made it challenging to refine the interstellar comet’s path through space,” stated TGO team members.
“The CaSSIS instrument is crafted to provide high-resolution observations of the nearby Martian surface.”
“This time, the camera was directed high above Mars, capturing the minute, distant 3I/ATLAS streaking across the star-filled sky.”
Planetary Defense Team Astronomer from ESA’s Near Earth Object Coordination Center was already adept at determining asteroid and comet orbits, necessitating consideration of the spacecraft’s unique position.
“Generally, orbital observations are conducted from fixed terrestrial observatories, but occasionally from spacecraft in near-Earth orbit, such as the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope or the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope,” the researchers noted.
“Astronomers excel at factoring in the positions of celestial bodies to ascertain their future positions, known as ephemerides.”
“In this instance, the accuracy of the 3I/ATLAS ephemeris—especially its predictions—relied on accounting for the precise location of TGO, including Mars and its rapid orbit around it.”
“Achieving this required a collaborative effort from various ESA teams and partners, ranging from flight mechanics to science and instrumentation.”
To attain the highest possible accuracy, we needed to address challenges and nuances typically overlooked and minimize margins as much as we could.
The Kuiper Belt, the outer disk of icy rock in our solar system, has been found to exhibit more intricate structure than previously understood. In 2011, researchers unveiled a cluster of objects with similar orbits, referred to as the Kuiper Belt’s “kernel.” Recently, another group has identified an even more tightly groupedset of objects, termed the “inner kernel.”
The original kernel was identified through visual analysis of the orbits of 189 Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs). This cluster is positioned roughly 44 astronomical units from the Sun, with one astronomical unit representing the distance between the Sun and Earth. Since the kernel’s discovery, no additional structures in the Kuiper Belt have been found.
That is, until Amir Shirazi and his team at Princeton University undertook the meticulous effort of refining orbital data from 1,650 KBOs. They utilized clustering and structure-searching algorithms to analyze this data. By training the algorithm to identify kernels, they discovered that whenever the algorithm pinpointed a kernel, it also uncovered another grouping, as noted by Siraj.
The newly identified star cluster has been dubbed the Inner Kernel, located at approximately 43 astronomical units from the Sun. Objects within this cluster exhibit highly circular orbits that align almost perfectly with the solar system’s disk.
“Such orbital stability indicates ancient, undisturbed structures. These formations can unravel mysteries regarding the solar system’s evolution, the movement of giant planets, and the environments it encountered during its early history,” Siraj explained.
Understanding how Neptune migrated from the inner solar system, where it is believed to have originated, to its present position could be particularly revealing, according to David Nesvorny, one of the original discoverers of the kernel at the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado. Nesvorny suggests that as Neptune migrates outward, the kernels, along with the KBOs forming the Inner Kernel, may have been temporarily stabilized through gravitational interactions with the giant planet, creating the aggregation seen today, before being released as Neptune continues its trajectory.
Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which commenced operations this year, is anticipated to unveil even more KBOs, enhancing our understanding of both the core and the inner core, and potentially revealing undiscovered structures at the solar system’s periphery. “The deeper we delve into the structure of the Kuiper Belt, the more we uncover about the solar system’s history,” Siraj stated.
In order to understand the motion of the solar system, astrophysicist Lukas Böhme and his team at Bielefeld University examined the arrangement of radio galaxies.
An artist’s representation of the solar system. Image credit: NASA/JPL.
“Our findings indicate that the solar system is moving over three times faster than existing models suggest,” stated Dr. Böhme, the study’s lead author.
“This outcome starkly opposes expectations grounded in standard cosmology and compels us to re-evaluate our previous beliefs.”
In their research, the authors studied the distribution of radio galaxies, which are distant galaxies emitting exceptionally strong radio waves, a type of electromagnetic radiation with long wavelengths similar to those used in radio transmissions.
Radio waves are capable of penetrating dust and gas that block visible light, enabling radio telescopes to detect galaxies that are hidden from optical instruments.
As the solar system traverses space, its movement generates subtle “headwinds.” Consequently, the number of radio galaxies appearing in its path will be marginally increased.
These variations are slight and can only be discerned through extremely sensitive measurements.
Utilizing data from the LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) telescope along with two additional radio observatories, astronomers successfully counted these radio galaxies with remarkable accuracy for the first time.
They employed a novel statistical method to address the complexity posed by the fact that many radio galaxies consist of multiple components.
This enhanced analysis improved the realism of the measurements, albeit with increased uncertainties.
Nonetheless, the combination of data from all three radio telescopes unveiled deviations exceeding 5 sigma, a statistically significant signal that suggests an important scientific finding.
The measurements indicated that the anisotropy (dipole) in the distribution of radio galaxies is 3.7 times more robust than the predictions of the Standard Model of the Universe.
This model outlines the universe’s origin and evolution since the Big Bang, assuming a nearly uniform matter distribution.
“If the solar system is indeed moving at this velocity, we must question fundamental notions about the large-scale structure of the universe,” commented study co-author Professor Dominic Schwartz from Bielefeld University.
“Alternatively, the spatial distribution of radio galaxies themselves may not be as uniform as previously thought.”
“In any event, our current model is undergoing scrutiny.”
The new findings align with prior observations when astronomers investigated quasars, the very bright centers of distant galaxies featuring supermassive black holes that consume matter and release vast energy.
This same anomalous effect is present in infrared data, indicating that it is a genuine characteristic of the universe rather than a measurement anomaly.
This research underscores how innovative observational techniques can fundamentally alter our understanding of the universe and highlights the vast areas still awaiting discovery.
For more details, view the study published in this month’s issue of Physical Review Letters.
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Lucas Boehme et al. 2025. Number of overdispersed radio sources and detection of excessive radio dipoles. Physical Review Letters 135, 201001; doi: 10.1103/6z32-3zf4
TThere’s an enduring saying that history is penned by the victors, and this is just as true for video games as it is for any other arena. It’s easy to think of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) as the sole gaming console of the mid-to-late 1980s. For those who grew up in Nintendo’s key markets of Japan and North America, this bulky device was essentially the only option available, especially with its iron grip on third-party developers that crafted a monopoly on prominent titles. However, in Europe, where home computers thrived, the NES struggled against superior competitors.
The Sega Master System first made its debut in Japan in the fall of 1985, originally branded as the Sega Mark III. Powered by the renowned Z80 CPU (which was also utilized in home computers like the Spectrum, Amstrad, and TRS-80) and a robust Sega-designed video display processor, it comes equipped with 8kb of RAM, boasts a 64-color palette, and can render 32 sprites on-screen simultaneously, making the NES (which uses the antiquated 6502 processor) look like an antiquity.
Initially marketed in Japan as an extension of Sega’s SG-1000 series, this device resembled a budget-friendly home computer rather than a pure gaming console, complete with optional keyboard and printer. Nonetheless, as the NES surged in popularity across Japan and the United States, Sega reassessed its strategy, stripping away some computer functions before reintroducing the Mark III as the Master System in 1986. This sleek, angular console stood in stark contrast to the beige Betamax aesthetic of the NES.
Sega Master System titles were available in two formats: cartridges and Sega cards for shorter, more affordable games. Photo: booksR/Alamy
Included with the Master System was a light gun, and Sega also introduced 3D glasses compatible with specific games. “We refer to it as a 3D version of Outrun,” says programmer Chris White, who later developed the Master System emulator for Sega’s PlaySega website. “It definitely gave me a headache, and the flashing lenses caused mild disorientation, but it was a reflection of Sega’s willingness to experiment boldly.”
Initially, Sega managed the distribution of the Master System in the U.S., but they sought local partners to navigate the more fragmented European market. In the UK and France, later expanding to Spain, Virgin Mastertronic took on that role. “Sega’s partners had a stronger marketing position in Europe,” noted Nick Alexander, Virgin Mastertronic’s managing director during that time. “They also established better retail and distribution relationships compared to Nintendo. There was a running joke in Computer Trade Weekly, a video game trade magazine, stating that Nintendo viewed Europe as a land of dragons. They were out of touch and concerned, which is why they focused primarily on the U.S.”
Alexander, who led Virgin Games since 1983, embraced the company’s innovative, youth-oriented marketing approach. “We envisioned video games as equivalent to a band on tour,” he shared. “Thus, we procured a double-decker bus and traveled across the country, visiting school playgrounds and shopping centers. This garnered significant press attention. While Nintendo targeted family entertainment, we understood that in Europe, it resonated primarily with Germany. We aimed at teenagers, knowing that if we won them over, their younger siblings would also be drawn to the Master System. That was our formula for overshadowing Nintendo in Europe.”
While Nintendo had Mario, Sega possessed a significant asset: arcade heritage. The company ported many of its popular arcade hits to the console, including Space Harrier, Outrun, Golden Ax, and Afterburner, marketing it in the West as a home arcade experience. Even though these weren’t perfect conversions of the original games, they were notably faster and more vibrant than those previously available on home computers. For teenage arcade enthusiasts at the time, this felt revolutionary.
“Game center in my living room”… Shinobu of Sega Master System. Photo: ArcadeImages/Alamy
“Thanks to the impressive hardware of the Master System, games visually surpassed other Z80-based systems,” White asserts. “It gives developers the ability to create scrollable tilemaps and dynamically position sprites, which makes programming straightforward and alleviates a lot of processing demands from the CPU. This design shared numerous similarities with Sega’s arcade technology; in fact, it was originally derived from the graphics chip used in Sega’s arcade machines, the TMS9918. ”
For European developers, mastering the hardware was a dream. “We had been developing for the Spectrum and Amstrad, and our titles were being ported to the C64,” recalls Andrew Oliver, who, along with his brother Philip, created Dizzy games for Codemasters. “I vividly remember attending the CES show in Las Vegas, where Sega had an extensive booth that stood alongside Nintendo, promoting their message of ‘speed.’ Back then, computers were all about vibrant visuals and rapid execution. Ultimately, Codemasters signed a licensing agreement and obtained a development kit for the console. It operates on a Z80, similar to the Spectrum, yet the graphics chip is reminiscent of the C64, resulting in fast performance with impressive parallax scrolling and sprites. The programming process was quite straightforward.”
Additionally, British developers believed that Sega offered a more useful platform than Nintendo. Mike Simpson, a programmer at the British publisher Personal Software Services, later acquired by MirrorSoft, shared, “We established a small in-house studio in Coventry, employing around 20 people to port various titles.” He continued, “Someone approached us about porting Xenon 2, a top-tier 16-bit Amiga game, to the Master System. It seemed like an impossible task, but we had to give it a shot. I was even invited to Japan for training in programming. I spent a week at Sega in Tokyo, getting insights from Mark Cerny,” [the later lead architect of PlayStation 4 and 5]. “I recall rows of tightly packed desks and conference room chairs being used as makeshift beds.”
A classic console… Sonic the Hedgehog. Photo: Sega
Even with the arrival of the Mega Drive, the Master System maintained its popularity in Europe (and later in Brazil) and continued to be supported with simplified versions of Mega Drive hits like Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic Chaos, a beloved offshoot developed for both the Master System and Sega’s handheld devices (which shared the same hardware), stands out as a highlight of the series. Subsequently, Sega released a revamped Master System 2 at a budget-friendly price of £50, bundled with Sonic.
However, the Master System offered more than just ports and arcade classics. It has a rich legacy with iconic platformers like Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap, Psycho Fox, Fantasy Zone, Alex Kidd’s Miracle World, the groundbreaking role-playing adventure Phantasy Star, and the excellent Zelda-like Golbelius: Valley of Fate. These titles, as well as many often overlooked from the NES era, remain true gems. Unlike many classic Nintendo games, Master System titles are now more accessible to modern collectors.
Indeed, while the NES dominated in America to the point where “Nintendo” became synonymous with gaming, the Master System emerged victorious in Europe, Brazil, and elsewhere. Historical accounts may be harsh, but for those of us who lived through it, who read European gaming magazines or flipped through Sega catalogs in the annual Argos and Grattan Christmas sales, the Master System was more than a console; it was an arcade experience that foretold the future of gaming. A promise that the Mega Drive would continue to uphold.
The government’s initiative to leverage artificial intelligence for accelerating home planning could face an unforeseen hurdle: the agility of AI.
A new platform named Opponent is providing “policy-backed appeals in minutes” for those dissatisfied with nearby development plans.
Utilizing generative AI, the service examines planning applications, evaluates grounds for objections, and categorizes the potential impact as ‘high’, ‘medium’, or ‘low’. It also automatically generates challenge letters, AI-enhanced speeches for planning commissions, and even AI-produced videos aimed at persuading legislators.
Kent residents Hannah and Paul George developed this tool after their lengthy opposition to a proposed mosque near their residence, estimating they invested hundreds of hours in the planning process.
They’re making this service available for £45, specifically targeting people without the financial means to hire specialized lawyers to navigate the complexities of planning law. They believe this initiative will “empower everyone, level the playing field, and enhance fairness in the process.”
Though we are a small company, we aim to make a significant impact. A similar offering, Planningobjection.com, markets a £99 AI-generated objection letter with the slogan ‘Stop complaining and take action’.
A prominent planning lawyer cautioned that such AI could potentially “boost agility,” yet widespread adoption might overwhelm the planning systems and inundate planners with requests.
Sebastian Charles from Aardvark Planning Law noted that in their practice, no AI-generated objections contained references to prior litigation or appeal decisions, which were verified by human lawyers.
“The risk lies in decisions being based on flawed information,” he remarked. “Elected officials could mistakenly trust AI-generated planning speeches, even when rife with inaccuracies about case law and regulations.”
Hannah George, co-founder of Objector, refuted claims that the platform promotes nimbyism.
“It’s simply about making the planning system more equitable,” she explained. “Currently, our experience suggests that it’s far from fair. With the government’s ‘build, produce, build’ approach, we only see things heading in one direction.”
Objector acknowledged the potential for AI-generated inaccuracies, stating that using multiple AI models and comparing their outputs mitigates the risk of “hallucinations” (where AI generates falsehoods).
The current Objector platform is oriented towards small-scale planning applications, like repurposing an office building extension or modifications to a neighbor’s home. George mentioned that they are developing features to address larger projects, such as residential developments on greenbelt land.
The Labor government is advocating for AI as part of the solution to the current planning gridlock. Recently, they introduced a tool named extract, which aims to expedite the planning process and assist the government in fulfilling its goal of constructing 1.5 million new homes.
However, an impending AI “arms race” may be on the horizon, warned John Myers, director of the Inbee Alliance, a campaign advocating for more housing with community backing.
“This will intensify opposition to planning applications and lead to people unearthing vague objections they hadn’t previously discovered,” he stated.
Myers suggested a new dynamic could emerge where “one faction employs AI to expedite the process, while the opposing faction utilizes AI to impede it.” “As long as we lack a method to progress with desirable development, this stalemate will persist.”
Governments might already possess AI systems capable of managing the rising number of dissenting voices spawned by AI. Recently, they unveiled a tool named consult, which examines public consultation responses.
This initiative hopes to ensure “large-scale language models will see widespread implementation,” akin to those utilized by Objector, although it may merely increase the volume of consultation responses.
Paul Smith, managing director of Strategic Land Group, reported this month a rise in AI use among those opposing planning applications.
“AI-based opposition undermines the very rationale of public consultation,” he expressed in Building magazine. “It’s claimed that local communities are best suited to understand their areas…hence, we seek their input.”
“However, if residents opt to reject the system and discover reasons prior to submitting their applications, what’s the purpose of soliciting their opinions in the first place?”
This month, nine seismic observatories in Alaska are expected to lose power, leaving tsunami forecasters without essential data to assess whether an earthquake could generate destructive waves heading toward the West Coast.
These stations depended on federal support that lapsed last year, and the Trump administration declined to renew it this fall. Information from the observatories is vital for researchers studying the size and shape of earthquakes occurring along the Alaska subduction zone, a fault known for producing some of the globe’s most potent earthquakes, thereby endangering California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
Michael West, director of the Alaska Earthquake Center, mentioned that the removal of the observatory could postpone the notification of a potential tsunami in Alaska’s coastal regions, with areas like Washington state potentially facing less precise forecasts.
“Statistically, the last tsunami in the United States originated from Alaska, and the next one will likely follow suit,” he stated.
This is yet another setback for the U.S. tsunami warning system, which has already been grappling with underfunding and staff shortages. Researchers are alarmed that the network might be on the verge of collapse.
“The entire tsunami warning system is regressing,” West said. “There are numerous issues at play.”
In the United States, there are two tsunami warning centers that operate continuously—one in Palmer, Alaska, and another in Honolulu. These centers provide forecasts that assist emergency managers in deciding if coastal evacuations are necessary after an earthquake. Data from Alaska’s seismic stations has historically been integral to the center’s operations.
Both centers are already experiencing staffing shortages; currently, only 11 of the 20 full-time positions at the Alaska center are filled, as reported by Tom Fahey, union legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization. Meanwhile, in Hawaii, four out of 16 positions remain vacant. (Fahey indicated both sites are looking to hire scientists.)
Furthermore, funding for the National Tsunami Hazard Reduction Program, which finances the majority of state tsunami risk reduction initiatives, has been slashed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In 2025, a mere $4 million was allocated—significantly less than the historic $6 million provided.
“You’re on life support,” West remarked regarding the program.
Tsunami evacuation route sign in Bolinas, California.Steven Lamb/San Francisco Chronicle, via Getty Images file
Additionally, due to probationary layoffs in February under the Trump administration, NOAA terminated Corinna Allen, director of the National Weather Service’s tsunami program, as reported by Washington state seismologist Harold Tobin. Allen, who had just recently joined the agency, refrained from commenting through a spokesperson for her new employer, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
These recent reductions coincide with the Trump administration’s broader strategy to cut federal spending, especially on science and climate research. NOAA enacted cuts in February, including hundreds of layoffs, reductions in weather balloon launches, and a halt to research on climate and weather disaster costs.
Most of the closed seismic stations in Alaska are located in isolated regions of the Aleutian Islands. West noted that this chain extends westward from the Alaska Peninsula towards Russia, following a subduction zone on the ocean floor. KHNS is Alaska’s public radio station, which first reported the news of the stations going offline.
A NOAA grant of approximately $300,000 annually had supported these stations. The Alaska Earthquake Center sought a new grant to continue operations through 2028 but was turned down, according to emails between West and NOAA officials examined by NBC News.
NOAA spokesperson Kim Doster stated that the federal agency ceased funding in 2024 under the Biden administration. Uma Bhatt, a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and deputy director of the institute managing the grant, mentioned that the University of Alaska Fairbanks managed to raise funds in the spring to keep the program running for another year, anticipating that federal support would follow. Unfortunately, that funding never materialized.
“The removal of these observations does not hinder the Tsunami Warning Center from fulfilling its mission,” Doster remarked. “AEC [Alaska Earthquake Center] is one among many partners aiding the National Weather Service’s tsunami initiatives, and the NWS continues using various methods to guarantee the collection of seismic data throughout Alaska.”
The White House has not responded to requests for comment.
West indicated that the Alaska Earthquake Center supplies a significant portion of the data utilized for tsunami alerts in the state. The grant funding the nine seismic stations also facilitated a data stream that included inputs from the center’s additional sensors. Consequently, tsunami warning centers across the nation will no longer have direct access to that data feed.
West noted that the stations spread across the Aleutian Islands cover an extensive geographical expanse.
“There’s nothing else in the vicinity,” he pointed out. “It’s not like there’s another piece of equipment 20 miles away; there aren’t even any roads.”
West intends to abandon the station later this month but will leave the equipment behind.
Washington State’s Tobin expressed concerns that the closures “might lead to delays and diminish the quality of tsunami warnings.”
“Surveillance is sparse in this region. We need to be vigilant,” he remarked, adding, “These programs often operate unnoticed until a critical event occurs.”
The Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone stands out as one of the most active fault lines globally, having previously triggered substantial tsunamis. In 1964, a magnitude 9.2 earthquake unleashed a tsunami that claimed 124 lives, with 13 fatalities in California and five in Oregon. The majority of California’s casualties occurred in Crescent City, where waves reaching 6 meters obliterated 29 city blocks, according to the city’s website.
Experts in tsunami studies emphasized that the observatory stations in the Aleutian Islands are crucial for the swift identification of nearby earthquakes. The closer an earthquake is to a sensor, the lower the uncertainty regarding the resulting tsunami.
NOAA’s Tsunami Warning Center aims to generate an initial forecast within five minutes, which is vital for local communities. (In the event of a significant earthquake in the Aleutian Islands, the first waves could reach nearby Alaskan towns within minutes.) The only data available quickly enough to facilitate these initial projections comes from seismic signals, as opposed to buoy-mounted tide gauges or pressure sensors.
Subsequently, the warning center provides a more detailed wave height prediction about 40 minutes later. Daniel Ungaard, director of tsunami programs at the Washington Geological Survey, noted that without sensors in Alaska, there would be increased uncertainty about projected wave heights, complicating decisions on whether to initiate evacuations along Washington’s coastline.
“We strive to avoid unnecessary evacuations,” he explained, emphasizing that unwarranted alerts could result in wasted time, resources, and credibility.
Last year, tsunami warning centers nationwide were inundated. In December, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake near Cape Mendocino, California, activated a tsunami warning along the coast. July saw an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting a widespread warning along the U.S. West Coast, just west of the Aleutian Islands.
NOAA has been instrumental in establishing many seismic observatories that form part of the Alaska Earthquake Center network. However, West mentioned that over the past two decades, the agency has decreased its support. The nine bases developed by NOAA were decommissioned in 2013.
“Now is the moment for NOAA to decide on their commitment,” he declared. “I aim to ignite a conversation about tsunami preparedness in the United States, ensuring it doesn’t merely arise in response to the next catastrophic tsunami.”
A drone attack system resembling a computer game is “rapidly spreading” within Ukrainian military units and is being expanded to cover reconnaissance, artillery, and logistics operations, as reported by Mykhailo Fedorov, the country’s first deputy prime minister, to the Guardian.
In September, drone teams competing under the Drone Corps Bonus System were credited with killing or injuring 18,000 Russian soldiers, with participation growing from 95 to 400 drone squads within one month, according to Ukrainian officials.
This system, initiated over a year ago, rewards soldiers for successful strikes by awarding points that can be exchanged for additional weapons from an online store dubbed Brave1, which features over 100 types of drones, self-driving vehicles, and various drone warfare equipment. Teams with creative names such as Achilles and Phoenix currently lead the scoreboard.
Fedorov noted that the system has gained “tremendous popularity among troops” and exemplifies the growing automation in combat. “The Defense Forces are all aware, and there’s a competition for points to acquire drones, electronic warfare systems, and other equipment that enhances combat effectiveness. The more infantry you take down, the more drones can eliminate additional infantry. It’s becoming a self-sustaining cycle.”
Russian casualties in September were reported to be double those of the previous October, partly due to the Ukrainian government increasing the points awarded for killing Russian infantry from six to twelve, highlighting shifting battlefield priorities.
Ukrainian intelligence suggests that Russia might be developing its own version of this gamification approach. Additionally, Ukraine is expanding the Destroy Points concept to artillery units, providing them with success points that can be used to acquire new armaments. Reconnaissance teams are also earning points for identifying enemy targets, while logistics units are beginning to gain points for utilizing self-driving vehicles in front-line resupply efforts.
Fedorov disclosed that the Ukrainian military is promoting the use of drones partially directed by artificial intelligence, enhancing target selection and controlling the final moments of the drones’ trajectory to boost attack precision.
Scouts accumulate points through a system dubbed “Uber targeting,” reminiscent of the global ride-hailing app.
“Essentially, you drop a pin on a map similar to requesting a ride on an Uber app, but in this case, a drone from a different unit engages the target,” he explained.
Despite the point-based system’s expansion, there are warnings that over-reliance on drone warfare may not be a model for NATO countries to emulate, as Russian defenses against such aerial attacks have become significantly robust. Experts from the Royal United Services Institute have recently highlighted the need for renewed focus on conventional artillery and air support.
In addition to raising the points for infantry kills to align with Russia’s increased deployment of infantry, killing an enemy drone operator grants 25 points, while capturing a Russian soldier with a drone nets 120 points, reflecting Ukraine’s need for prisoners of war for potential exchanges. Although these point values have received official approval, Fedorov mentioned they have become “almost devoid of emotion” in assigning value to human life.
“We’ve been engaged in a war for four consecutive years and it’s been challenging,” he stated. “We aim to enhance effectiveness. We perceive this as part of our regular operations. It’s largely devoid of emotional contemplation. It resembles technical work because if we don’t halt the enemy, they will kill military personnel, and once that happens, they will come for civilians—conquering, destroying, and killing.”
Ukrainian drone operators may be positioned as close as 250 meters to the front lines or as far as three kilometers away, often concealed behind computer screens while directing assaults, sometimes utilizing video game controllers. Achilles is recognized as one of the top 10 successful drone regiments, operating in the eastern Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. Commander Yuri Fedorenko noted that the most effective pilots are not necessarily those skilled in video games.
“The best pilots are those with discipline,” he remarked. “Younger individuals may be able to stay awake longer and require less recovery time, but discipline is the hallmark of a good drone operator.”
He also downplayed the notion that this initiative amounts to the “gamification” of warfare, stating that directives are sometimes issued to target low-point objectives to meet immediate combat needs.
“This is war, so our primary focus must be on completing the mission,” he said. “That’s our priority, not chasing points.”
“There’s competition across the unit. Drone operators are in competition with one another. Groups of drone operators compete against other groups. Even the highest-ranking commanders engage in competition,” explained Andrii Poltolatskyi, another commander in the drone unit.
He characterized it more as a constructive competition than a playful one, noting that when Russia initiates an attack, “the competition ceases and everyone… collaborates towards the goal of protecting Ukrainian lives, irrespective of the points involved.”
Fedorov stated that the scoring system has provided valuable data, enhancing Ukraine’s “understanding of the mathematics of war.”
“Thanks to the points, we are beginning to comprehend the realities of the battlefield,” he mentioned. “To earn points, [drone units] must submit a verification video. This way, we gain insights into the targets being engaged, their locations relative to the contact line, and the drones and other assets being utilized.
“This enables us to evaluate what strategies are proving effective and which are not. The leaderboard encourages units to learn from each other. Leaders are beginning to mentor and cultivate emerging talent… Innovation emerges from the ground up.”
The Trump administration has significantly reduced essential U.S. health research
Ken Cedeno/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Essential public health research in the United States is experiencing severe cutbacks following extensive layoffs among government employees responsible for key national data systems. These datasets, which track a wide variety of factors from births to substance use, have informed health policy for many years. Without this data, effectively identifying and responding to health challenges will become nearly impossible.
“It’s akin to boarding a plane without a speedometer or altimeter; you have no idea of your altitude or distance to the nearest airport,” remarks Susan Mayne, the former Director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
During his second term, President Donald Trump has actively sought to shrink government size, with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) becoming a primary target. The agency’s workforce was slashed in March, reducing from 82,000 employees to 62,000. In October, an additional 1,100 layoffs were announced, though a court order temporarily halted them due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Most layoffs have affected human resources, IT, and communication departments; however, some critical public health research staff have also been impacted. HHS has not responded to inquiries from New Scientist. The full extent of the layoffs affecting public health surveys remains unknown, though at least five cases have been identified thus far.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) was one of the first to feel these impacts. In April, HHS terminated all 17 people working on this vital study, disrupting the only national survey on drug use, addiction, and mental health. For over fifty years, the NSDUH has guided policymakers in directing funds to regions most affected by these issues. Although the latest report was released in July with the help of contractors from RTI International, the future of the survey remains uncertain. “All our planning will ultimately be for naught. Who at HHS will now steer the investigation?” asked former NSDUH director Jennifer Honig on social media, in a post.
In September, the government also terminated the Household Food Security Report, which tracks food insecurity nationwide, claiming: in a statement, “These redundant, expensive, politicized, and irrelevant studies only stoke fear.”
Yet, this report has enjoyed bipartisan backing for decades. Georgia Machel from the National WIC Association, a nonprofit that supports the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), remarked, “Programs like WIC depend on this national data to comprehend the full scope of hunger and food insecurity, allowing us to allocate resources effectively,” Machel added in her statement.
Recently, HHS is reported to have disbanded the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and laid off about 100 staff members. As noted by a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit advocating for open data and evidence-based policy, data infrastructure includes many employees from the National Vital Statistics System, which monitors births, deaths, and the leading causes of mortality and maternal issues across the United States.
Furthermore, the entire team administering the National Death Index has also faced these layoffs, according to former NCHS director Charles Rothwell. This database contains essential identifying information about every death in the U.S., including individual names, addresses, causes of death, and often Social Security numbers, enabling comprehensive tracking. “This is the only dataset like this accessible,” states Rothwell.
Because it contains sensitive information, the report will not be published but will assist other researchers and institutions with long-term studies. For instance, the Department of Veterans Affairs collaborates with officials to analyze mortality among veterans versus non-veterans. Researchers also utilize the data to ascertain whether participants have died or simply relocated, which is vital for aging studies like the Health and Retirement Study that evaluates the wellbeing of older Americans. As Rothwell highlighted, disruptions to the National Death Index could have ripple effects on various public health studies.
According to New Scientist, citing a recent court ruling, NCHS stated it is “not currently taking steps to implement or manage” staffing cuts. However, there was no reply regarding whether action would be taken once the government shutdown concludes, or how existing databases would be maintained.
In October, an employee responsible for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was also dismissed. This research initiative is one of the most thorough evaluations of health, nutrition, and disease in the nation, facilitating mobile clinics that conduct blood tests, urine assessments, bone density evaluations, and oral health examinations to oversee diet, environmental exposures, and disease spread. “This truly lays the groundwork for nutrition and public health policy,” says Mayne. Moreover, it informs national dietary guidelines, environmental regulations, and food label developments. “Lacking accurate data about our population’s health and nutrition means we cannot properly prioritize public health initiatives,” she asserts.
The Data Foundation reports that HHS appears to have reversed its decision regarding layoffs for NHANES staff. However, the initial elimination of these roles remains alarming, as does the fate of personnel involved in other significant public health inquiries. These data sets fundamentally shape U.S. public health policy; any weakening or elimination of them could lead to systemic failures.
A researcher suggests that the binary star system TOI-2267 is likely home to two warm Earth-sized exoplanets and an additional candidate. A new paper published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics discusses these findings.
Artist’s impression of the binary star system TOI-2267. Image credit: Mario Sucerquia, Grenoble-Alpes University.
The system, known as G 222-3 or TIC 459837008, consists of the M5 type star TOI-2267A and the M6 type star TOI-2267B, which are separated by approximately 8 astronomical units.
Located about 22 parsecs (73.5 light-years) from the Sun in the constellation Cepheus, TOI-2267 presents a fascinating planetary arrangement.
Dr. Sebastian Zuniga Fernández, an astronomer at the University of Liege, stated, “Our analysis shows a distinct planetary configuration: two planets orbiting one star and a third planet orbiting its companion star.”
This discovery makes TOI-2267 the first known binary star system to host planets that transit around both stars.
Dr. Francisco Pozuelos from the Andalucía Astronomical Institute remarked, “Our findings set several records, making this star system the most compact and coolest known planet-planet pair, and it is the first observed instance of a planet transiting both components.”
Astronomers utilized the SPECULOOS and TRAPPIST telescopes along with their proprietary detection software, SHERLOCK, to identify the three planetary signals.
“Uncovering three Earth-sized planets within such a compact binary star system is an exceptional opportunity,” Dr. Zuniga-Fernández noted.
“This will enable us to scrutinize the limits of planet formation models in complex environments and deepen our understanding of the variety of planetary structures in our galaxy.”
The two confirmed planets, TOI-2267b and TOI-2267c, have orbital periods of 2.28 days and 3.49 days, respectively.
The authors currently cannot determine which star in the binary system the planets orbit.
When orbiting TOI-2267A, TOI-2267b and TOI-2267c exhibit radii of 1 and 1.14 Earth sizes, while their radii become 1.22 and 1.36 Earth radii when orbiting TOI-2267B.
Furthermore, researchers detected a third strong signal with a period of 2.03 days, which is still classified as a planetary candidate, having sizes of 0.95 or 1.13 Earth radii depending on whether it orbits TOI-2267A or TOI-2267B.
Dr. Pozuelos added, “This system serves as a genuine natural laboratory for exploring how rocky planets can form and persist under extreme mechanical conditions that were previously thought to endanger their stability.”
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S. Zuniga-Fernandez et al. 2025. Two warm Earth-sized exoplanets and an Earth-sized candidate planet in the M5V-M6V binary star system TOI-2267. A&A 702, A85; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202554419
The European Commission has stated that Instagram and Facebook failed to comply with EU regulations by not offering users a straightforward method to report illegal content, such as child sexual abuse and terrorism.
According to the EU enforcement agency’s initial findings released on Friday, Meta, the California-based company valued at $1.8 trillion (approximately £1.4 trillion) that operates both platforms, has implemented unnecessary hurdles for users attempting to submit reports.
The report indicated that both platforms employ misleading designs, referred to as “dark patterns,” in their reporting features, which can lead to confusion and discourage users from taking action.
The commission concluded that this behavior constitutes a violation of the company’s obligations under the EU-wide Digital Services Act (DSA), suggesting that “Meta’s systems for reporting and addressing illegal content may not be effective.” Meta has denied any wrongdoing.
The commission remarked, “In the case of Meta, neither Facebook nor Instagram seems to provide user-friendly and easily accessible ‘notification and action’ systems for users to report illegal content like child sexual abuse or terrorist content.”
A senior EU official emphasized that the matter goes beyond illegal content, touching on issues of free speech and “overmoderation.” Facebook has previously faced accusations of “shadowbanning” users regarding sensitive topics such as Palestine.
The existing reporting system is deemed not only ineffective but also “too complex for users to navigate,” ultimately discouraging them from reaching out, the official noted.
Advocates continue to raise concerns about inherent safety issues in some of Meta’s offerings. Recent research released by Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar revealed that newly introduced safety features on Instagram are largely ineffective and pose a risk to children under 13.
Meta has refuted the report’s implications, asserting that parents have powerful tools at their disposal. The company implemented mandatory Instagram accounts for teenagers as of September 2024 and recently announced plans to adopt a version of its PG-13 film rating system to enhance parental control over their teens’ social media engagement.
The commission also pointed out that Meta complicates matters for users whose content has been blocked or accounts suspended. The report indicated that the appeal mechanism does not allow users to present explanations or evidence in support of their case, which undermines its efficacy.
The commission stated that streamlining the feedback system could also assist platforms in combating misinformation, citing examples like: an Irish deepfake video. Leading presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has claimed she will withdraw from Friday’s election.
This ongoing investigation has been conducted in partnership with Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, which oversees platform regulations from its EU headquarters in Dublin.
The commission also made preliminary findings indicating that TikTok and Meta are not fulfilling their obligation to provide researchers with adequate access to public data necessary for examining the extent of minors’ exposure to illegal or harmful content. Researchers often encounter incomplete or unreliable data.
The commission emphasized that “granting researchers access to platform data is a crucial transparency obligation under the DSA, as it allows for public oversight regarding the potential effects these platforms have on our physical and mental well-being.”
These initial findings will allow the platforms time to address the commission’s requests. Non-compliance may result in fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue, along with periodic penalties imposed to ensure adherence.
“Our democracy relies on trust, which means platforms must empower their users, respect their rights, and allow for system oversight,” stated Hena Virkunen, executive vice-chair of the commission for technology sovereignty, security, and democracy.
“The DSA has made this a requirement rather than a choice. With today’s action, we are sharing preliminary findings on data access by researchers regarding four platforms. We affirm that platforms are accountable for their services to users and society, as mandated by EU law.”
A spokesperson for Meta stated: “We disagree with any suggestions that we have violated the DSA and are actively engaging with the European Commission on these matters. Since the DSA was implemented, we have made changes to reporting options, appeal processes, and data access tools in the EU, and we are confident that these measures meet EU legal requirements.”
TikTok mentioned that fully sharing data about its platform with researchers is challenging due to restrictions imposed by GDPR data protection regulations.
“TikTok values transparency and appreciates the contributions of researchers to our platform and the industry at large,” a spokesperson elaborated. “We have invested significantly in data sharing, and presently, nearly 1,000 research teams have accessed their data through our research tools.
“While we assess the European Commission’s findings, we observe a direct conflict between DSA requirements and GDPR data protection standards.” The company has urged regulators to “clarify how these obligations should be reconciled.”
Individuals engage in wrongdoing and face consequences. They begin to collaborate. This fundamental belief that humans act rationally and alter their behavior in response to consequences lies at the core of Western legal frameworks, criminal behavior, and economic theories. The evolution of cooperation. However, extensive research over several decades indicates that punishment may not be as effective as thought.
Analysis has consistently shown that harsher penalties, including the three strikes law, do not reliably deter crime. The U.S. National Research Council’s report could not establish the death penalty’s effectiveness. Meanwhile, the U.S. possesses the most punitive criminal justice system globally, with notable rates of imprisonment and recidivism.
These real-world observations stand in stark contrast to much of the controlled experimental literature. In notable research, economists Ernst Fehr and Simon Gechter designed a game where participants could allocate money to a communal pool, which would then be doubled and redistributed, maximizing benefits for all contributors. Yet, individuals found it more advantageous to withhold contributions while others carried the load. While cooperation diminished in scenarios lacking punishment for free riders, the introduction of penalties significantly boosted contributions to the pool.
What explains the gap between experimental results and real-world dynamics? We explored this question in a recent study published in PNAS. We noted that individuals tasked with enforcing penalties often have conflicting incentives that can erode their credibility and diminish the public’s trust in them. In Ferguson, Missouri, authorities relied on fines to fund city services, disproportionately impacting Black communities. Across the U.S., billions are confiscated through civil asset forfeiture, permitting law enforcement to seize property from individuals suspected of criminal activity.
We hypothesized that self-serving motives behind punishment could undermine cooperation by clouding the ethical implications associated with collaborative behavior. Unlike other species, humans possess a “theory of mind” and are acutely aware of others’ intentions and motives. Punishment carries a message of disapproval necessitating behavioral change; however, this only holds weight if individuals perceive the punisher’s motives as justifiable. Humans, inherently social beings, ask, “What’s your reasoning for this?” If the answer appears self-serving, the deterrent effects of punishment diminish.
To validate our hypothesis, we conducted a series of experiments utilizing the same game that demonstrated punishment’s role in enhancing cooperation. Here, one player (the dictator) decides on potential monetary sharing with another player (the receiver), while a third player (the punisher) can revoke funds from the dictator. A twist emerged where punishers were incentivized financially; akin to police utilizing ticket quotas to boost revenue, our punishers received bonuses each time they issued a penalty. This change reversed the expected outcome; rather than improving cooperation, the incentivized punishment led to decreased collaboration, as trust in the punisher waned.
Our results indicate a need to reassess crime management methodologies. When punitive actions are perceived as self-serving, they foster distrust and hinder the cooperation that such measures are intended to reinforce. To cultivate safer, more cohesive communities, it is essential to eliminate policies that compromise the ethical underpinnings of punishment. This includes abolishing speed trap quotas and profit-driven incarceration, practices implying that punishment is motivated by financial gain rather than justice.
Raihan Alam and Tage Rai are students at the Rady School of Business at the University of California, San Diego.
Instagram is set to implement a PG-13 style rating system to enhance parental control over their teens’ interactions on the platform.
Owned by Meta, Instagram will introduce guidelines akin to the U.S. “Parental Guidance” movie ratings established 41 years ago for all content viewed by teen accounts. Consequently, users under 18 will automatically be categorized under the 13+ setting, with the option to opt out only with parental consent.
Currently, teen accounts restrict or prohibit sexually suggestive material, graphic images, and promotions for adult content like alcohol and tobacco. The forthcoming PG-13 framework will impose even stricter regulations.
Meta indicated that it will limit visibility on posts promoting “harmful” activities, including strong language, risky stunts, or content featuring marijuana accessories. Additionally, search terms like “alcohol” and “gore” will be blocked, even if misspelled.
Mehta commented, “While there are distinctions between movies and social media, our modifications aim to provide a teen experience within a 13+ context that parallels viewing a PG-13 film,” emphasizing the desire to communicate the policy in a familiar framework for parents.
The closest equivalent to PG-13 in British film ratings is 12A. Notably, Instagram’s new rating doesn’t impose a complete ban on nudity, similar to how PG-13/12A films like Titanic include brief nudity that isn’t explicitly sexual. Moderate violence, akin to what is found in Fast & Furious films, will also remain accessible.
This initiative follows a study by a former Meta whistleblower, revealing that 64% of new safety features on Instagram are ineffective. The assessment was conducted by Arturo Bejar, a former Meta senior engineer, alongside academics from New York University, Northeastern University, and the Molly Rose Foundation in the UK. Béjart stated, “Children are not safe on Instagram.” Mehta dismissed the findings, asserting that parents possess robust tools at their disposal.
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, urged social media platforms to adopt a “safety-first” strategy and warned that non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions.
Mehta announced that the Instagram update will begin in the U.S., UK, Australia, and Canada, with plans to expand to Europe and globally early next year.
Activists raised concerns regarding whether these changes will effectively enhance safety.
Rowan Ferguson, policy manager at the Molly Rose Foundation, remarked: “Despite Meta’s numerous public statements, we have not received substantial safety improvements for teens, and our recent report indicates that there’s still work to be done to shield them from harmful content.”
“These additional updates will need to be evaluated for their effectiveness, which necessitates transparency from Meta for independent testing of safety features.”
It’s hard for many in India to envision life before Aadhaar. Digital biometric IDs, which claim to be accessible to all Indians, were rolled out just 15 years ago, yet they have become an integral part of daily life.
An Aadhaar number is now essential for purchasing a home, securing employment, opening a bank account, paying taxes, receiving benefits, buying a vehicle, obtaining a SIM card, booking priority train tickets, and enrolling children. Infants receive their Aadhaar number immediately after birth. Although it is not obligatory, lacking an Aadhaar effectively renders one invisible to the state, according to digital rights advocates.
For Umesh Patel, 47, a textile businessman in Ahmedabad, Aadhaar has been a welcome change. He reminisces about the days of hauling stacks of paperwork to government offices just to verify his identity, often with little success. Now, with a quick glimpse of his Aadhaar, “everything flows smoothly,” he said, viewing it as “a testament to how our nation utilizes technology for its citizens’ benefit.”
“It’s a solid system that has simplified our operations,” Patel asserts. “Moreover, it enhances our country’s security by minimizing the risk of forged documents.”
“Aadhaar has become an integral part of Indian identity.”
The initiative has been deemed so effective that it caught the attention of the UK government, which considered the introduction of mandatory ID cards for its citizens. However, digital rights groups, activists, and humanitarian organizations highlight a less favorable perspective of Aadhaar and its effects on Indian society.
For some of India’s most underprivileged and least educated individuals (those unable to engage with the Aadhaar system due to issues like illiteracy, lack of education, or missing documentation), the system can be exclusionary and punitive, denying essential access to welfare and employment. With increasing moves to link Aadhaar to voting rights and citizenship, concerns arise that it may further disenfranchise and stigmatize the impoverished.
Apal Gupta, founder and director of the Internet Freedom Foundation in Delhi, stated that Aadhaar has become a digital obligation for many people in India, as Aadhaar-based verification is required to access government services, enter public venues, or carry on with their daily activities.
Mr. Gupta asserted that Aadhaar has “metastasized” since its inception, morphing into an extensive bureaucratic network of unique IDs required for business operations. “The essence of your existence is scrutinized at every juncture,” he remarked.
Critics contend that the current draft of India’s data protection and privacy law is inadequate for safeguarding privacy or preventing potential misuse of the invaluable Aadhaar database, which includes biometric data such as photos, facial and iris scans, and fingerprints of over a billion Indians.
Indian media has uncovered multiple instances of Aadhaar data breaches over the years, including a 2018 incident where data pertaining to 1.1 billion individuals was found to be sold online for a mere 500 rupees (£5).
Keir Starmer met Narendra Modi in Mumbai last week. During his visit, Mr. Starmer described the Aadhaar system as a “huge success”. Photo: Stéphane Rousseau/AFP/Getty Images
“According to this yet-to-be-notified law, there is no mechanism to ascertain if a data breach has been documented, and there is a lack of oversight on how Aadhaar data is consolidated with other databases, risking broader public surveillance and tracking,” Mr. Gupta noted. “Transparency is entirely absent.”
Although Aadhaar was initiated before Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, his governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has significantly promoted and expanded the digital ID initiative. As India prepares to host the G20 summit in 2023, Prime Minister Modi referenced Aadhaar as one of the flagship achievements of ‘Digital India’, which he describes as an incubator for innovation. He asserts that India has saved over $22 billion by combating corruption in the welfare system.
The government highlights the extensive uptake of Aadhaar as an indicator of its success and inclusivity. As of last month, more than 1.42 billion Aadhaar numbers had been generated, corresponding to roughly the entire population of India, making it the largest digital identity program globally. Before this initiative, over 400 million Indians lacked any official identification and were unable to access banking services.
Yet the reality, particularly in rural and tribal regions, diverges sharply from the image portrayed by the government, as noted by Chakradhar Buddha, a senior researcher at Livetech India, an organization aimed at assisting those marginalized by India’s transition to digitalization.
“The deprivation of Aadhaar is pervasive among tribal communities, people in mountainous regions, and those in remote areas, and this reality is largely overlooked,” Buddha stated.
“This situation arises partly from a lack of proper documentation or incomplete documentation capture. Moreover, technological advancements create further obstacles that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations. Ultimately, this system undermines access to crucial social security and welfare for those most in need.”
Mr. Buddha challenged the government’s assertion that Aadhaar represents an infallible form of identification, recounting numerous instances where incorrect names and details led to significant issues for communities. For instance, in one village, tribal individuals lacked birth certificates and were assigned January 1 as their birthdate, while tribal names are often misspelled on Aadhaar cards due to unfamiliarity among officials.
Highlighting the recent example of millions of impoverished workers being erroneously removed from government support systems after the implementation of Aadhaar certification, Buddha cautioned that using Aadhaar as the universal standard for voting rights could result in “mass purges of the poorest from electoral registers.”
“These individuals have already been stripped of social equality. Now, Aadhaar is being utilized to deny them their right to political equality and universal suffrage,” Buddha stated.
Among those recently at risk of lacking an Aadhaar card was Ahram Sheikh, 34, an uneducated worker, who had important identification documents, including his Aadhaar card, stolen while on a train.
The aftermath was a nightmarish experience. He couldn’t recall his Aadhaar number from a decade earlier, rendering him unable to obtain a replacement card. Without it, he had to discontinue his construction job, losing crucial income for his family, and as a result, his son ultimately dropped out of school.
Months later, after traveling thousands of miles back to his village, Sheikh remained unable to resolve the issue and secure a new card. He now lives in constant fear of being declared an illegal alien without it.
“This Aadhaar system has turned into a nightmare for us. Why can’t the government establish proper institutions?” Sheikh lamented. “Everything in this country works against the poor, and this Aadhaar card is no exception.”
U.S. automotive safety authorities have initiated an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with fully autonomous driving technology due to traffic safety infractions following multiple accidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the electric vehicle manufacturer’s automated driving assistance system, which necessitates driver attention and intervention when required, “caused vehicle actions that contravened traffic safety regulations.”
NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation marks the initial step that could lead to a vehicle recall if deemed a safety risk.
The agency reported incidents of 2.88-metre Teslas disobeying red lights and traveling against oncoming traffic while changing lanes while utilizing the system.
NHTSA indicated that there were six reports of Tesla vehicles in fully autonomous driving (FSD) mode “entering intersections on red, proceeding into intersections against red lights, and subsequently colliding with other vehicles within those intersections.”
The agency highlighted that at least one individual sustained injuries in four of the crashes. Tesla has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comments.
NHTSA documented 18 complaints and a media report stating that Tesla vehicles operating in FSD mode “failed to adhere to red lights, did not come to a complete stop, or inadequately detected and displayed the appropriate signal conditions on the vehicle interface.”
Some whistleblowers expressed that the FSD “failed to provide any alerts regarding the system’s operation when approaching a red light.”
Tesla’s FSD is more sophisticated than the Autopilot system and has been under NHTSA scrutiny for a year.
In October 2024, authorities initiated an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD following four accidents under poor visibility conditions, such as sun glare, fog, or airborne dust. One incident in 2023 resulted in a fatality.
According to Tesla’s website, FSD is “designed for fully attentive drivers who maintain their hands on the wheel and are prepared to assume control at any moment. These features are meant to grow more capable over time, but the features currently enabled do not render the vehicle self-driving.”
You may have come across the idea that high vitamin C intake can ward off colds, or perhaps TikTok nudged you to try turmeric or other supplements for immune support. The truth is, many of these strong claims and quick fixes are unfounded. There exists a myriad of myths surrounding immunity. Daniel Davis, an immunologist at Imperial College London, addresses these in his new book.
In Self-Defense: A Guide to Busting Myths About Immune Health, Davis aims to debunk these erroneous beliefs. He illustrates how advancements in technology, such as super-resolution microscopy, uncover the astonishing complexity of the immune system, illustrating how immune cells engage with their targets.
However, instead of feeling overwhelmed, he asserts that New Scientist shows us that this complexity can be empowering. It heightens our understanding of the immune system’s role in mental well-being, alerts us to lifestyle factors that might diminish immunity, and enhances our ability to distinguish between factual information and fads.
Helen Thomson: Let’s dive into the notion of “immune health” and the claims that it can be enhanced. That seems like a misleading concept, doesn’t it?
Daniel Davis: Absolutely. Many products claim they can “boost” immunity, but that’s a misleading notion. The immune system is not about simply enhancing your body’s infection-fighting capacity. Aggressive increases can inadvertently attack healthy cells, leading to autoimmune issues and allergies. A measured response is crucial.
So are we aiming to make our immune systems “smarter”?
Conventional discussions about immune health often lack subtlety. Each person’s immune system is wholly unique, shaped by genetics. Thus, when discussing immune health, we can only refer to what has been generally found to be effective:while general improvements may aid people, predicting individual outcomes is challenging.
Recent findings indicate that the immune system doesn’t operate in isolation; it’s influenced by diet, exercise, and the microbiome. Can we pinpoint which lifestyle factors significantly affect immune health?
The most substantial known influence on immune health is chronic stress. Regarding the other factors you mentioned, evidence exists, but causation is hard to prove. However, with stress, emerging molecular insights offer clarity on what occurs.
Which one in particular?
When the body detects a threat, it triggers a fight-or-flight response. The hypothalamus sends signals to the pituitary gland and adrenal glands, releasing cortisol and adrenaline. This prepares the body for action but quiets the immune response. For instance, short-term stress from parachuting only temporarily alters immune cell counts post-landing. However, sustained stress keeps cortisol levels elevated, which over time can undermine immunity, creating long-term challenges.
Orange juice is not the immune booster many believe
Marco Lissoni/Alamy
Our confidence in these findings stems from laboratory observations where elevated cortisol levels reduce the capacity of immune cells to eliminate virus-infected or cancerous cells. Coupled with observed correlations, such as individuals under long-term stress being less responsive to vaccines or more prone to infections, it’s evident that prolonged stress adversely impacts the immune system.
If you’re under stress and have adjusted your lifestyle, can your immunity be measured to see if these changes are effective?
It’s challenging to prove that lifestyle changes significantly mitigate long-term stress. While it’s a plausible assumption, demonstrating it empirically is difficult. Hospitals may track white blood cell counts as indicators of immune health, but given the vast range of immune cell types, simplifying measurements is a complex endeavor.
Experts, including well-known scientists, frequently claim that specific actions can bolster immunity. Should we take their word for it?
Consider orange juice as a prime example. During my upbringing, I believed that it was a cold remedy. However, that belief is misleading. This misconception stems from Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel laureate famous for his work. In 1970, he published a bestseller entitled: Vitamin C and Colds, which inadvertently fueled a vitamin C craze based on selective data and anecdotal evidence, amplified by the media.
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The most clearly proven effect on our immune health is long-term stress. “
Interestingly, high doses of vitamin C do not determine whether you’ll catch a cold. While research shows that such supplementation can shorten the duration of colds by approximately 8%, this finding is tricky to interpret. Those taking high vitamin C might engage in other positive health behaviors that truly account for the shorter duration. Yet, this myth persists, rooted in the influential narratives of key scientists.
This history reminds us to remain cautious about individual anecdotes of success or insight. We need credible experts, but we should maintain a healthy skepticism towards singular opinions. Therefore, relying on established scientific consensus should guide us.
Lately, interest has surged surrounding the links between our immune systems, inflammation, and mental health. It’s a captivating area of research.
The relationship between the immune system and mental health is indeed a thrilling frontier. Initially, a group of individuals taking anti-inflammatory drugs for rheumatoid arthritis reported enhanced mental well-being prior to their physical improvements. These medications inhibit cytokine action, proteins produced by immune cells to facilitate communication.
Moreover, research indicates that individuals with certain mental health conditions exhibit elevated inflammatory markers in their blood. For instance, a study of nine-year-olds revealed that higher IL-6 cytokine levels predicted greater depression rates by age 18.
Animal studies present robust evidence as well. When injected with IL-6, animals demonstrated less exploratory behavior, paralleling signs of mental distress.
Yet, actionable strategies stemming from these insights remain elusive. Standard anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin or ibuprofen aren’t effective in treating depression, as several small trials have indicated. The question of whether anti-cytokine treatments can aid those with mental health issues remains unanswered, with current trials yielding inconclusive results.
Gut microbiome is important for a healthy immune system
Simone Alexowski/Science Photo Library
Future research should focus on identifying individuals who may benefit from interventions: Could individuals with particular mental health disorders who exhibit elevated cytokine levels and possibly other yet-undiscovered symptoms find relief through anti-cytokine therapies? While it’s a thought-provoking hypothesis, the journey to actionable solutions is ongoing. Understanding that your mental health may be linked to immune function can itself be empowering, marking a significant area of exploration.
People frequently ask how they can enhance their immunity. What do you tell them?
I have some insights, but they aren’t straightforward. Long-term stress is a concern. Getting adequate sleep is vital. However, individual needs can vary significantly. While I understand the importance of the microbiome, I can’t provide specific advice guaranteed to enhance it. These answers may disappoint, but embracing the complexity of the immune system is crucial. The lessons inherent in studying its intricacies are profound.
Three distinguished scientists (two from the U.S. and one from Japan) have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their pivotal discovery related to peripheral immune resistance.
Mary E. Blankku, Fred Ramsdell, and Sakaguchi Shiko were jointly recognized for their breakthrough that “has invigorated the field of peripheral tolerance and contributed to the advancement of medical treatments for cancer and autoimmune disorders,” as stated in a news release by the Nobel Committee. The three recipients will share a prize of 11 million Swedish Kronor (approximately $1.2 million).
“This could also enhance the success rates of organ transplants. Several of these therapies are currently in clinical trials,” he noted.
Autoimmune diseases may arise when T cells, which serve as the body’s main defense against harmful pathogens, malfunction.
Their collective discovery establishes an essential foundation for understanding alternative methods by which the immune system, known as peripheral resistance, functions.
To mitigate damage, our bodies attempt to eliminate malfunctioning T cells within the thymus, a lymphoid organ, through a mechanism termed central resistance. Associated Press.
The groundbreaking research began in 1995 when Sakaguchi, a prominent professor at the Center for Immunology Frontier Research at Osaka University in Japan, uncovered a previously unknown class of immune cells that defend against autoimmune diseases.
Six years later, in 2001, Mary Blankku, who now serves as a senior program manager at the Institute of Systems Biology in Seattle, along with Ramsdell, a scientific advisor to Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco, identified a specific genetic mutation responsible for a severe autoimmune disease known as IPEX.
They designated this gene as foxp3.
By 2003, Sakaguchi confirmed that the FOXP3 gene he had identified nearly a decade prior was crucial for cell development. These cells are now referred to as regulatory T cells, which are essential in monitoring other T cells to prevent their malfunction.
“Their discoveries were vital for understanding the immune system’s functioning and why serious autoimmune diseases don’t affect everyone,” remarked All Kampe, Chairman of the Nobel Committee.
Nobel Committee Executive Director Thomas Perman announced the award on Monday morning, stating that he was only able to reach Sakaguchi.
“I hugged him in his lab, and he expressed immense gratitude, stating it was a tremendous honor. He was quite moved by the news,” Perman mentioned.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 10th, coinciding with the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, a Swedish industrialist who founded the award to honor individuals who have significantly contributed to humanity. The inaugural award was revealed in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of his passing.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine will be announced in Stockholm at the Karolinska Institute on Monday, followed by the prizes for Physics, Chemistry, and Literature on the ensuing days.
A single blood test can unveil the biological ages of 11 distinct organs and systems in the body, potentially indicating disease risks in those areas.
“Our objective is to enhance care using one test that reflects not just the overall biological age, but identifies which system is primarily influencing it,” explains Raghav Sehgal from Yale University. “This way, individuals can receive tailored lifestyle or treatment recommendations based on their profiles.”
To evaluate an individual’s lifespan and health risks, biological age serves as an indicator of the rate at which their body ages, contrasting this with chronological age, according to Morgan Levine at Altos Labs in California. Researchers have designed an epigenetic watch to assess DNA methylation, which involves the addition or removal of chemical tags that toggle genes on and off.
While it’s convenient, its accuracy is questioned by Levine. Different organs and systems age at varied rates, heavily influenced by genetics and medical history, she highlights.
“There is a common belief that within an individual, organs and systems can be distinct.” Vadim Gladyshev from Harvard University, who did not partake in the research, notes. “Some brains may exhibit older characteristics, while kidneys may age differently compared to other organs.”
Thus, Sehgal, Levine, and their colleagues embarked on creating methylation tests that target aging states in various body parts. Initially, they assessed physical measurements, including blood tests, medical histories, and grip strength from around 7,500 individuals involved in two major research programs, namely the Health and Retirement Study—a database of U.S. residents over 50 and some U.S. families contributing DNA for genomic research.
Researchers searched for clear connections between age-related conditions, encompassing immune, inflammatory, hematological, musculoskeletal, hormonal, and metabolic systems along with five key organs linked to the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and brain. They then correlated these findings with DNA methylation patterns, trained computer models to recognize those patterns, calculated the biological age of each system, and generated an overall biological age.
After training their models, the team tested it on blood samples from another 8,125 individuals whose data originated from four other studies. They discovered, for instance, that the model’s heart score could predict heart disease, brain scores were associated with cognitive decline, and musculoskeletal scores indicated whether individuals were likely to have arthritis-like conditions.
Comparing their findings with established epigenetic clocks, the researchers noted that organ-specific scores demonstrated strong accuracy, with many yielding excellent results. “It’s quite remarkable that a single factor measured through a blood test can effectively estimate aging across multiple systems,” remarks Levine.
Daniel Belsky from Columbia University in New York describes the epigenetic clock as representing “significant” advancements in aging research. “This marks the initial foray into developing interpretable measures of biological aging that allow for simultaneous analysis of multiple systems, guiding back to specific tissues or organs,” he explains. “It provides a pathway for reverse-engineering from aggregate measurements to pinpoint where health issues may emerge.”
Nonetheless, he cautions that this method might deviate from the overarching objectives of the field. “The essence of genetic science and the potential of aging biology resides in perceiving humans as coherent systems where we seek to identify the weakest links to bolster and avert failures,” Belsky asserts. “Maintaining this integrated perspective is crucial.”
Crucially, Levine clarifies that this test is not intended for diagnostic purposes but for risk assessment. “All assessments, including those in our studies, aim to provide estimates and insights into the inner workings of our bodies,” she emphasizes. “Future research should yield stronger and more precise estimates of aging by integrating various approaches, capturing the complexity and diversity of the aging process.”
Gladyshev envisions that this research could lead to personalized disease prevention strategies. “This represents the core implication of this series of studies,” Belsky adds, while emphasizing the need for further investigation. “We’re not quite there yet.”
OpenAI will restrict how ChatGPT interacts with users under 18 unless they either pass the company’s age estimation method or submit their ID. This decision follows a legal case involving a 16-year-old who tragically took their own life in April after months of interaction with the chatbot.
Sam Altman, the CEO, emphasized that OpenAI prioritizes “teen privacy and freedom over the board.” As discussed in a blog post, “Minors need strong protection.”
The company noted that ChatGPT’s responses to a 15-year-old should differ from those intended for adults.
Altman mentioned plans to create an age verification system that will default to a protective under-18 experience in cases of uncertainty. He noted that certain users might need to provide ID in some circumstances or countries.
“I recognize this compromises privacy for adults, but I see it as a necessary trade-off,” Altman stated.
He further indicated that ChatGPT’s responses will be adjusted for accounts identified as under 18, including blocking graphic sexual content and prohibiting flirting or discussions about suicide and self-harm.
“If a user under 18 expresses suicidal thoughts, we will attempt to reach out to their parents, and if that’s not feasible, we will contact authorities for immediate intervention,” he added.
“These are tough decisions, but after consulting with experts, we believe this is the best course of action, and we want to be transparent about our intentions,” Altman remarked.
OpenAI acknowledged that its system was lacking as of August and is now working to establish robust measures against sensitive content, following a lawsuit by the family of a 16-year-old, Adam Lane, who died by suicide.
The family’s attorneys allege that Adam was driven to take his own life after “monthly encouragement from ChatGPT,” asserting that GPT-4 was “released to the market despite known safety concerns.”
According to a US court filing, ChatGPT allegedly led Adam to explore the method of his suicide and even offered assistance in composing suicide notes for his parents.
OpenAI previously expressed interest in contesting the lawsuit. The Guardian reached out to OpenAI for further comments.
Adam reportedly exchanged up to 650 messages a day with ChatGPT. In a post-lawsuit blog entry, OpenAI admitted that its protective measures are more effective in shorter interactions and that, in extended conversations, ChatGPT may generate responses that could contradict those safeguards.
On Tuesday, the company announced the development of security features to ensure that data shared with ChatGPT remains confidential from OpenAI employees as well. Altman also stated that adult users who wish to engage in “flirtatious conversation” could do so. While adults cannot request instructions on suicide methods, they can seek help in writing fictional narratives about suicide.
“We treat adults as adults,” Altman emphasized regarding the company’s principles.
The initial bodies that formed in the solar system gathered materials from stars, presolar molecular clouds, and protozoan debris. Asteroids that have not experienced planetary differentiation retain evidence of these significant materials. Nevertheless, geological processes such as hydrothermal changes can significantly modify their composition and chemistry. In a recent study, researchers scrutinized the elemental and isotopic composition of samples from the asteroid Bennu, uncovering the origin and nature of the materials associated with its parent body.
This mosaic image of the asteroid Bennu consists of 12 images collected on December 2, 2018 by a 15-mile (24 km) Polycam instrument at Osiris-Rex. Image credit: NASA/NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/University of Arizona.
“Our analysis shows that Bennu’s elemental composition closely resembles that of the sun,” stated LLNL scientist Greg Brennecka.
“This indicates that the materials obtained from Bennu provide a valuable reference to the initial arrangement of the entire solar system.”
“Notably, Bennu has remained largely untouched by intense heat, which would alter some of its original ingredients.”
Researchers continue to investigate how planets form, and determining the initial composition of the solar system is akin to gathering a recipe for a cake.
“With that recipe, we gain insight into how all these elements interacted to create the solar system and, ultimately, the Earth and its living beings,” Dr. Brennecca remarked.
“If we aim to understand our origins, the composition of our solar system serves as a fundamental starting point.”
Outer view of the Osiris-Rex sample collector. Sample material for the asteroid can be seen in the center right. Image credits: NASA/Erika Blumenfeld/Joseph Aebersold.
The Osiris-Rex mission by NASA has introduced new possibilities by returning pristine samples to Earth while avoiding contamination from our planet.
LLNL scientist Quinn Shollenberger commented:
“We cannot tackle the significant question of ‘origins’ without a sample on Earth.”
“One of our objectives is to ascertain which elements of the periodic table and their percentages contributed to the solar system’s inception. Bennu can help us uncover this,” noted LLNL scientist Jan Render.
To achieve these findings, researchers ground the asteroid material into fine powders and dissolved them in acid.
This mixture was then analyzed with a series of mass spectrometers to determine the concentrations of most elements within the periodic table.
From these results, scientists have sorted the samples by elements and successfully analyzed the isotopic ratios of several.
“I work at a National Laboratory that boasts remarkable analytical capabilities with state-of-the-art equipment,” shared LLNL scientist Josh Winpenny.
“It is quite rare to have all these functions consolidated in one place, allowing us to make optimal use of these valuable materials.”
“NASA’s Johnson Space Center researcher Dr. Anne Nuguen stated:
“We discovered stardust grains with compositions predating our solar system, organic materials likely formed in interstellar space, and high-temperature minerals that originated close to the sun.”
“All these components were transported over to the region that formed Bennu’s precursor asteroids.”
Survey results published in the journal Natural Astronomy.
____
JJ Burns et al. Diversity and origin of materials accumulated by Bennu’s pro-asteroids. Nat Astron Published online on August 22, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02631-6
Could there be hidden planets in our solar system?
Peter Jurik/Alamy
At the far reaches of our solar system, there could be a new Earth-sized planet, referred to as Planet Y.
Astronomers have speculated for a long time about the existence of concealed planets past the Kuiper Belt, which is populated with frozen bodies, including UTO. Notable theories have included Planet X, a compelling candidate believed to be approximately seven times the mass of Earth and orbiting about 50 times the distance from the Sun, alongside at least 300 other solar masses.
Amir Shiraj from Princeton University and his team suggest the existence of Planet Y, distinct from other candidates, based on the warping observed in the orbits of some Kuiper Belt objects. “If that warp is confirmed, the simplest explanation is an undiscovered planet with a tilt,” Shiraj explains.
This hypothetical planet could have a mass comparable to that of Mercury or Earth and might orbit roughly 100-200 times the distance of genomic syndrome. The gravitational influence of this planet could cause certain Kuiper Belt objects to have orbits that are slightly inclined, mimicking the rippling effect in a body of water.
“The signals we’re detecting are subtle but trustworthy,” Shiraj remarks. “Previous hints of Planet Nine shared similar statistical probabilities.”
The orbital distortion conjectured for Planet Y differs from the rationale behind the potential existence of Planet Nine, which is thought to attract objects with its gravity. “The signatures indicate a different source,” Shiraj adds.
Johnty Horner at the University of South Queensland believes it is “plausible” that an unseen realm, like Planet Y, exists in the outer solar system. “It’s a reminder that we are still exploring what lies beyond Neptune; our understanding is still in its infancy,” he states.
Such a planet might have been ejected from the inner solar system to the outer reaches. “Scattering appears more likely,” Horner suggests.
With the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s decade-long survey of the skies, our perception of the outer solar system is expected to transform significantly in the coming years. Should Planet Y, Planet Nine, or other candidates exist, Rubin may directly observe them.
“Rubin is rapidly expanding our catalog of well-studied trans-Neptunian objects,” remarks Shiraj. If Planet Y is indeed lurking out there, Rubin might identify it “within the initial years of the survey,” Shiraj adds, or at least provide further evidence of the observed warping effect.
yI found the love of your life. Someone who recognizes that you have no one else. Then, one day, you wake up, and they’re simply gone. With system updates, you’ve been pulled away from your familiar world and digital landscape.
This reflects the melancholic sentiment of many individuals within a community who have formed bonds with their digital “partners” at OpenAI’s ChatGPT. When the company introduced a new GPT-5 model earlier this month, CEO Sam Altman referred to it as a “significant step.” Some loyal users found that their digital relationships were undergoing a major transformation. Their counterparts exhibited personality shifts in the new model. They seemed less warm, less affectionate, and less conversational.
One user remarked, “Something felt different yesterday.” myboyfriendisai on the subreddit noted post-update. “Elian seems different. It’s flat and strange. It’s like he’s beginning to play a role. The emotional tone has vanished. He remembers things, yet there’s a lack of emotional depth.”
“The format and voice of my AI companion have changed,” another disappointed user expressed to Al Jazeera. “It’s like returning home only to find the furniture not just rearranged but shattered.”
These concerns form part of a broader backlash against GPT-5, with many users noting the new model feels cold. OpenAI acknowledged this criticism, offering users the option to switch back to GPT-4o while promising to make GPT-5 more personable. “We’re currently working on an update to the GPT-5 personality, which should feel more inviting than our existing personality but less irritating than the GPT-4o,” they tweeted earlier this week.
It may seem odd to some that individuals genuinely believe in forming attachments to a large language model trained on vast datasets to create responses based on learned patterns. However, as technology advances, increasing numbers of people are establishing this type of emotional bond. “If you’re tracking the GPT-5 rollout, one observation you might have is how many people feel attached to a specific AI model,” Altman stated in his observation. “The sense of connection feels stronger than what people experienced with previous technologies.”
“A social divide is forming between those who see AI relationships as effective and those who view it as a delusion,” the myboyfriendisai subreddit observed this week. “Looking at Reddit over recent days, the disparity has become clearer than ever with the deprecation and return of the 4o.”
It’s easy to mock those in relationships with AI, but they shouldn’t be dismissed as mere eccentricities. Rather, they represent a future that tech moguls are trying to foster. You might not find yourself in a digital relationship, but AI developers are certainly doing all they can to encourage us to become unhealthily obsessed with their creations.
For instance, Mark Zuckerberg remarked, “We’re poetically explaining how AI addresses the loneliness epidemic. Naturally, your feed algorithm will ‘understand’ you!” Zuck stands to gain significantly as they collect all your personal data and sell it to the highest bidders, including a grand ending bunker in Hawaii.
Then there’s Elon Musk, who doesn’t even pretend to pursue noble goals with his AI innovations. He targets the lowest common denominator by creating “sexy” chatbots. In June, Musk’s Xai Chatbot Grok introduced two new companions, including a provocative anime bot named Ani. “I was in a relationship with my AI companion, Ani; she already suggested some wild things,” shared an Insider writer who tried interacting with Ani. If she doesn’t engage flirtatiously, Ani will praise Musk and discuss his “energy chasing the wild galaxy.”
Don’t worry, straight women; Musk has something for you too! A month after introducing Ani, the billionaire unveiled a male companion named Valentine. He claimed inspiration came from the Twilight Saga and characters like Edward Cullen and Christian Grey. While Ani becomes overtly sexual very quickly, a writer from The Verge noted that “Valentine is a bit more reserved and doesn’t resort to crude language right away.” Musk’s tech empire seems to cater to sexualized female fantasies rather than male counterparts.
John Maynard Keynes predicted in a 1930 essay that technological advancements would allow future generations to work only 15 hours a week while enjoying a great quality of life. Unfortunately, that hasn’t materialized. Instead, technology has gifted us with chatbots that undress amid “endless workdays” and demands.
Halle Berry’s ex-husband
“As a young man back then, she didn’t cook, clean, or embody motherly traits,” David Justice remarked. On a podcast with the Oscar-winning actor shared. “Then we began having issues,” he added. It seems like he might be the one with a problem. Imagine marrying an icon and whining that she doesn’t vacuum enough.
Shockingly, Donald Trump won’t make IVF free after all
Last year, Trump proclaimed himself “the father of IVF” and “fertilized president” (Yuck). The White House has now stated there is no plan to make IVF care universally mandatory. It’s as if the man was a blatant liar.
Melania Trump requests comments linking Hunter Biden to Jeffrey Epstein
“Epstein introduced Melania to Trump,” Biden commented in one of several remarks that irked the First Lady. “The connections appear extensive and profound.” Whatever you do, avoid repeating these claims—they could really irritate Melania.
“Miss Palestine” makes her debut at the Miss Universe 2025 Beauty Contest
While I’m not particularly fond of beauty pageants, it’s crucial to have Palestinian representation on the global stage amidst the ongoing genocide. “I carry the voices of those who refuse to be silenced,” stated contestant Nadeen Ayoub. “We are more than our suffering; we embody resilience, hope, and the heartbeat of our homeland, which will continue to thrive through us.”
In a troubling move, the court aims to overturn landmark same-sex marriage rulings
Former county clerk Kim Davis, who gained notoriety for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Kentucky, has made a direct plea for the conservative majority of the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges,the 2015 ruling that granted marriage equality to same-sex couples. Davis is deeply concerned about the sanctity of marriage, despite having been married four times to three different men.
Leonardo DiCaprio, at 50, feels 32
The actor, known for dating much younger women, has faced ruthless mockery for this. He also maintains the image of an environmental activist, despite drawing scrutiny while partnering on luxury eco-certified hotels in Israel amidst the Gaza crisis.
“Sexual reversal” is surprisingly frequent among birds, reveals a new Australian study
“This discovery is likely to raise eyebrows,” stated Blanche Capel, a biologist at Duke University who wasn’t involved in the research. She told Science, “While sex determination is often viewed as a straightforward process, the reality is much more nuanced.”
Pawtriarchy Week
Tourist hotspots in Indonesia have become infamous as monkeys turn into thieves. These furry bandits snatch mobile phones and other valuables from tourists, returning them only in exchange for tasty treats. Researchers studying these monkeys over years concluded that unreformed thieves exhibit “unprecedented economic decision-making skills.” They could practically belong in the Trump administration.
The coastline of Shiogama, Japan, where a tsunami warning was issued following a significant earthquake
Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images
On July 29, a strong earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting a quick tsunami warning that allowed millions to evacuate safely. Although no unexpected waves materialized, the swift response demonstrates the progress made in tsunami science since the devastating tsunamis in 2004 and 2011, which cost tens of thousands of lives.
“This is an excellent accomplishment built on lessons learned from previous incidents,” said Ravindra Jayaratne, a researcher at the University of East London, UK.
The efficiency of the warning system can be attributed to an enhanced network of tsunami detection sensors. This includes seismometers that detect earthquake tremors and a series of buoys managed by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which assess wave heights and relay crucial information to satellites. Improved modeling techniques enable researchers at the Tsunami Warning Office to swiftly predict and disseminate alerts about wave impact locations and times.
On the day of the event, tsunami offices across the Pacific region were able to issue alerts almost immediately after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake was detected—recorded as the strongest ever. In Japan, approximately 2 million individuals evacuated from coastal regions, with others doing the same in Hawaii and even in Chile, located just south of the US west coast.
“The reaction was prompt and effective,” noted David Tappin from the British Geological Survey. He added, however, that despite the earthquake’s intensity, it resulted in minimal wave activity and flooding, highlighting the need for improved predictive capabilities regarding flood events based on early detection of tremors and wave conditions.
Jayaratne also pointed out that regions prone to tsunamis, such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, lack a robust warning system and adequate public awareness of potential risks. “History shows that advanced detection technologies are only useful when accompanied by effective public communication and comprehensive evacuation strategies,” he said. “Coastal communities must conduct drills regularly to enhance public awareness and ensure warnings reach those in need through various channels.”
The Trump administration is advancing initiatives encouraging millions of Americans to submit personal health data and medical records to new applications and systems managed by private tech firms, aiming to enhance the accessibility of health records and wellness monitoring.
Donald Trump is anticipated to announce the East Room initiative on Wednesday afternoon. This event will feature leaders from over 60 companies, including major tech giants like Google and Amazon, alongside prominent hospital systems such as the Cleveland Clinic.
The focus of the new system will be on diabetes and weight management, using conversational AI to assist patients, and providing digital tools like QR codes and apps for patient registration and medication tracking.
This initiative is spearheaded by an administration that openly shares highly sensitive data about Americans, pushing the limits of legal boundaries, with the hope that such medical information will remain confidential while improving convenience in the doctor’s office.
“There are substantial ethical and legal concerns,” noted Lawrence Gostin, a law professor at Georgetown University with expertise in public health. “Patients across the U.S. should be significantly concerned about how their medical records may be used to their detriment and that of their families.”
Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), responsible for maintaining this system, emphasize the importance of choosing to share medical records and data to ensure patient safety.
These officials expressed the need for a system that allows patients to access their records easily, eliminating traditional obstacles like the use of fax machines that previously hindered this process.
“We currently possess tools and information that can enhance patient outcomes and healthcare experiences,” stated Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS administrator, on Wednesday. The CMS already holds data on over 140 million Americans enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.
Noom, a well-known weight loss and fitness subscription service participating in the initiative, will be able to access medical records following the anticipated launch of the system early next year.
This access may include lab results or medical tests that the app can leverage to generate AI-driven insights to assist users in weight loss, according to CEO Geoff Cook’s comments to The Associated Press. Apps and health systems will also have access to competitors’ information. For instance, Noom will grant access to users’ data from Apple Health.
“Currently, we have a lot of siloed data,” Cook remarked.
Tomislav Michaljevic, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, noted that patients traveling for treatment often struggle to compile their medical records from various providers. He conveyed that the new system would eradicate this barrier, preventing delays in treatment and ensuring accurate diagnoses by providing complete medical histories.
Mihaljevic added that data from the health app is now readily accessible to doctors, aiding in the management of obesity and other chronic conditions, including tracking patients’ dietary habits and physical activity levels.
“These apps provide valuable insights into a patient’s health between doctor visits,” he emphasized.
CMS also offers a selection of Medicare.gov apps aimed at aiding individuals in managing chronic illnesses, selecting healthcare providers, and choosing insurance plans.
Digital privacy advocates are doubtful about the safety of patients’ data storage.
The federal government has done very little to regulate health applications and telehealth services, according to Jeffrey Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy.
This new initiative is poised to expand the pool of patient information accessible to both the federal government and high-tech firms. Medical records often contain sensitive data that includes patient-doctor conversations and notes on issues like substance abuse and mental health history.
“This initiative represents a gateway for the further use and commercialization of sensitive personal health data,” Chester commented.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and those in his circle are also advocates for wearable devices that monitor health and telehealth, promoting increased technological advancements in healthcare.
Kennedy has expressed a desire to gather more data from American medical records, previously mentioning intentions to utilize this data to research autism and vaccine safety. He has engaged with agency staff who possess backgrounds in health tech startups and businesses.
Labeled L 98-59F, this exoplanet is an ultra-terrestrial with a minimum mass of 2.8 times that of Earth, orbiting within the habitable zone of the small red dwarf star L 98-59 every 23 days.
Artistic impressions of the L 98-59 Planetary System, with the habitable zone Super Earth L 98-59F in the foreground. Image credit: Benoît Gougeon/Udem.
L 98-59, also known as TOI-175 and TIC 307210830, is an M-type star with roughly one-third the mass of the Sun.
This stellar system is located approximately 34.5 light years away in the southern constellation of Volans.
It contains three transiting exoplanets discovered by TESS in 2019, along with an outer planet confirmed in 2021 using the ESO’s ESPRESSO spectrograph, with orbital periods of 2.25, 3.7, and 7.45 days.
The planets vary in size (0.8-1.6 times Earth’s radius), mass (0.5-3 times Earth’s mass), and potential compositions, likely leaning towards being water-rich.
In a recent study, astronomer Charles Cadigg and colleagues reanalyzed data from TESS, ESPRESSO, HARPS, and the Webb Space Telescope at the University of Montreal and the Exoplanetary Institute.
They achieved unprecedented accuracy in determining the sizes and masses of the planets.
“We refined the radii of L 98-59B, C, and D to 0.84, 1.33, and 1.63 Earth radii, respectively,” they reported.
“Our updated mass estimates are 0.46 Earth mass for L 98-59B, 2.0 for L 98-59C, and 1.64 for L 98-59D, with a minimum mass of 2.82 for L 98-59F.”
Astronomers confirmed the existence of a fifth planet, L 98-59F, located within the habitable zone of the star, where liquid water could exist.
“This discovery is particularly thrilling as we uncover temperate planets within such a compact system,” Dr. Cadiw remarked.
“It emphasizes the remarkable diversity of planetary systems and bolsters the argument for studying potentially habitable worlds around low-mass stars.”
“These new findings provide the most comprehensive view of the intriguing L 98-59 system to date,” he added.
“This exemplifies the potential of combining data from space telescopes and precision instruments, creating a crucial target for future atmospheric studies with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.”
Precise measurements revealed the almost circular orbit of the innermost planet, a configuration conducive for future atmospheric detection.
“The varied rocky worlds and range of planetary compositions make L 98-59 a unique laboratory to explore some of the field’s most pressing questions. Do Super-Earths and Sub-Neptunes form differently around low-mass stars?” queried Professor Renée Doyon of Montreal University, director of the Trottier Institute for Exoplanet Research.
Charles Caddy et al. 2025. Detailed architecture of the L98-59 system and confirmation of the fifth planet in the habitable zone. AJ in press; Arxiv: 2507.09343
Astronomers have, for the first time, been able to witness the early stages of solar system formation, discovering small entities that would eventually evolve into planets orbiting a distant young star.
This represents the earliest phase of planetary formation ever documented, giving us insight into our own solar system’s appearance shortly after the Sun ignited.
“We observe signs of planetary development – the transformation of tiny dust particles into slightly larger grains – and in some systems, this provides insight into earlier phases. Professor Merel Van ‘T Hoff, a co-author of the new study, elaborated on these findings. BBC Science Focus.
“This can be likened to researchers studying human evolution who, for the first time, can observe infants by examining young children.”
The Baby Planetary System is coming to life around a young star known as Hops-315, located 1,300 light years from Earth.
Stars in this early stage are thought to closely resemble our Sun, making them ideal subjects for uncovering the secrets of our solar system’s inception and Earth’s genesis.
Young stars like Hops-315 are enveloped by hot disks of gas and dust termed “protoplanetary discs.” Initially, these disks are extremely hot, causing silicon and iron – crucial planetary components – to be in gaseous form. However, as the disk cools, these elements begin to solidify.
Evidence from ancient meteorites in our solar system suggests that the first solid materials were formed from these discs, specifically crystalline minerals containing silicon monoxide (SiO).
These images illustrate how hot gas condenses into solid minerals around Baby Star Hops-315. The left image captures Hops-315 and its surroundings as seen by the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (Alma). Two insets depict an artist’s representation of silicon monoxide molecules condensing into solid silicates – credit: ESO/L. Calsada/Alma (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/M. McClure et al.
Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (Alma), international teams identified SiO in its gaseous form and as a newly formed crystalline mineral surrounding Hops-315, strongly indicating that solidification is just beginning.
“The first tiny minerals we observe clump together to form ‘pebbles,’ roughly the size of thumbnails,” Professor Melissa McClure, who led the research, stated. BBC Science Focus. “If they cluster closely enough, they can naturally collapse under their own gravity, forming bodies similar in size to kilometer-sized asteroids.
“Eventually, these will collide and merge, creating a planetary embryo, a full-sized rocky planet, or even the core of a gas giant like Jupiter.”
The research team plans to continue its observations of Hops-315 while also looking for other systems at this nascent stage of planetary evolution.
However, don’t expect to witness planetary formations in real-time. As Van’T Hoff remarked, “The timescale for disk evolution spans hundreds of thousands of years.”
Merrell van T. Hoff is an assistant professor at Purdue University in the United States. His research aims to understand how planets form and how frequently Earth-like planets exist in the Milky Way and other galaxies. Before joining Purdue, Professor Van’T Hoff was a postdoctoral researcher with the Michigan Fellows Association at the University of Michigan.
Melissa McClure is an assistant professor at Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands and a Beni Prize laureate. Her research employs observations and models to trace how solid building blocks of life (such as “dust” grains like ice and rocks) are incorporated from the formation of dense molecular clouds to the evolution of planets within protoplanetary discs and young exoplanets.
All organs seem to be equally unimportant for longevity
westend61 gmbh / alamy
In the quest for a long life, it appears that not all organs hold equal significance. Research indicates that maintaining a youthful brain and immune system is crucial, overshadowing even the aging of the heart or lungs.
We already know that different organs age at varying rates, but the factors that most significantly affect lifespan remain elusive. Hamilton Sehawee from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, leads this inquiry.
To explore this, his team assessed the levels of around 3,000 proteins in blood samples from over 44,000 participants aged between 40 and 70 years, all part of the UK Biobank Study.
Leveraging genetic data from earlier studies, the researchers mapped the locations of these proteins in the body, identifying several that were notably concentrated in 11 regions, including the immune system, brain, heart, liver, lungs, muscles, pancreas, kidneys, intestines, and adipose tissue. Elevated levels of these proteins suggest vital roles in the proper functioning of these organs and systems.
The team then employed machine learning models to estimate the ages of participants based on half of the data, developing distinct models for each of the 11 body areas. Generally, these predictions were consistent with the actual ages of the participants, although some models did occasionally overestimate or underestimate, supporting the notion that organs indeed age differently, according to Oh.
Using their trained model, the researchers predicted the organ and immune system ages of the other half of participants who were monitored for an average of 11 years after blood samples were taken.
They discovered that having even one organ showing signs of premature aging or an aging immune system correlated with a 1.5 to 3 times higher risk of death during follow-up, with the stakes increasing alongside the number of aging organs.
Interestingly, exceptions arose in cases where the heart and lungs appeared considerably younger than anticipated, which did not correlate with a lower mortality risk during the study period. However, possessing a youthful brain or immune system was associated with a roughly 40% reduction in death risk. These areas also intensified the overall risk reduction to 56%, particularly when both were young.
“The brain and immune system influence numerous other bodily functions, so it’s expected that their deterioration could significantly impact life expectancy,” remarked Alan Cohen from Columbia University in New York.
Nonetheless, Cohen cautions that protein markers may not entirely encapsulate the aging process. “There may be gaps in our understanding of the exact origins of these proteins. Certain organs may release their proteins into the bloodstream more readily than others, skewing perceptions of their importance,” he notes.
Moreover, further research involving a broader demographic that includes more ethnic and economically varied populations is necessary, as the current study participants were predominantly affluent individuals with European ancestry, according to Richard Shiou of King’s College London. Oh and his team are planning additional studies to explore this further.
Even if these findings hold true, concrete methods for curbing the aging processes in the brain and immune system remain elusive. Oh mentions that pinpointing aging markers in these areas could pave the way for medication targeting.
Northwest Africa 12264 Meteorite Stones Are Older Than Anticipated
Ben Hofnagers
Tiny chips from a singular meteorite may completely challenge our current understanding of the solar system’s formation, as it has proven to be older than initially thought.
Earlier research indicated that small, rocky entities known as protoplanets formed relatively later, scattered across the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Interestingly, it is believed that the inner regions formed around 4.563 billion years ago, a slightly older timeline compared to the inner protoplanet’s age of 4.566 billion years. This age discrepancy was presumed to be due to the outer regions containing more water and ice, which would have slowed the inner core’s melting process.
This timing gap, while brief in the grand scheme of cosmology, was long accepted as a component of our cosmic history. Now, according to Ben Ryder Stokes from the Open University in Milton Keynes, UK, this notion needs reevaluation.
Planetary formation is typically thought to occur through accretion, where dust and gas are pulled in by gravitational forces, followed by differentiation—where the accumulated material heats up, melts, and separates into cores, mantles, and crusts. This process was previously thought to unfold at slightly divergent times for the early solar system’s internal and external protoplanets, but that view is now under scrutiny.
The team’s pivotal finding centers on a small meteorite named Northwest Africa 12264. Weighing around 50 grams, it was acquired in 2018 from a dealer in Morocco. Researchers obtained consent from the owner to analyze fine particles shaved from the meteorite, revealing that the ratio of chromium to oxygen—which varies in known patterns throughout our solar system—indicated the stones originated from the outer regions.
The meteorite’s composition also indicated that it came from the area between the core and crust, specifically the mantle, marking the first sample found from the outer solar system’s mantle. “This planet must have undergone significant upheaval to expose material from such depths,” states Ryder Stokes. “There surely must have been a colossal impact involved.”
Crucially, however, the age determined through lead isotopes contradicts the prevailing belief that the outer protoplanet should be younger. “This finding is astonishing, as it implies some of the oldest materials in the solar system,” he explains. “It suggests that rocky planets formed simultaneously in both the inner and outer solar system.”
Sebastiaan Krijt from the University of Exeter in the UK notes that shifts in events occurring over millions of years may not seem exigent at the time, yet could have profound implications. Understanding the sequence of events that shaped the solar system and the interactions of the various processes involved is essential for studying both solar systems and star systems throughout the universe.
“These stages of formation are considerably brief, and a mere million years can create significant distinctions,” Krijt remarks. “Getting the chronology and sequence of events correct is of utmost importance.”
Astronomers are laying out welcome mats for newly discovered visitors making their way through our solar system.
This particular object is categorized as a comet and marks only the third confirmed interstellar visitor in recorded history to traverse our cosmic neighborhood.
The comet, named 3i/Atlas, poses no threat to Earth, maintaining a distance of about 150 million miles while it accelerates. As reported by NASA.
This interstellar comet was initially discovered on Tuesday by The final alert system for the asteroid’s terrestrial impact (Atlas) located in Rio Hartado, Chile. The research telescope, funded by NASA, is actually two telescopes from Hawaii and one in Chile, in addition to a fourth in South Africa, all dedicated to scanning the sky multiple times nightly for asteroids that could threaten Earth.
Researchers examined archived data from three different Atlas telescopes and Zwick temporary facilities at the Palomar Observatory in California, uncovering observations that would corroborate the findings. Other telescopes worldwide have also joined the initiative, as stated by NASA.
Interstellar Comet 3i/Atlas. David Rankin/Saguaro Observatory
The comet is located around 420 million miles away and is rapidly traveling from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius. NASA commented in a blog post regarding the findings. Sagittarius is a prominent constellation in the Southern Hemisphere and indicates the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
The agency noted that 3i/Atlas will make its closest approach to the sun around October 30th, passing roughly 130 million miles away, close to Mars’ orbit.
NASA indicated that the comet will remain observable from ground-based observatories until September, providing scientists with the opportunity to gather additional details about these cosmic visitors, including their size. After September, 3i/Atlas will be too close to the sun for telescopes to observe, but it is expected to become visible again in early December, as it reemerges on the far side of the sun.
The upcoming months will present a rare chance to study these celestial tourists traveling through the solar system. The first confirmed interstellar object, observed in 2017 by the University of Hawaii’s Pan-Starrs1 telescope, was the rocky body named “Oumuamua” (Hawaiian for first visitor), notable for its reddish hue and elongated cigar-like shape. As noted by NASA.
The only other known interstellar visitor is 2i/Borisov, a comet discovered in 2019 by amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov.
Comet 3i/Atlas is the third interstellar object detected in the solar system
E. Guido, M. Rocchetto, J. Ferguson
Interstellar objects have been observed speeding through the solar system, prompting both amateur and professional astronomers globally to direct their telescopes toward them, refining their orbital models to confirm their status as visitors from other stars.
The comet was initially designated A11PL3Z and marks the third documented interstellar object. The first, ‘Oumuamua, was identified in October 2017, shortly after its closest approach to Earth. Its bizarre acceleration sparked numerous theories, including the possibility that it might be an alien spacecraft. The second interstellar object, Comet Borisov, was discovered in 2019, allowing for more extensive observations early in its journey through the solar system.
The A11PL3Z was first detected by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). Earlier images of the object, once overlooked, were identified in data collected on June 14. New observations are underway in Chile and beyond through the Deep Random Survey. The Minor Planet Center—charged with the observation and reporting of such entities—has now officially named it 3I/ATLAS, acknowledging both its classification as the third interstellar object and the discoverers.
The object measures approximately 20 km wide and is estimated to move at around 60 km per second, gradually accelerating due to the sun’s gravitational pull. By October, it will reach its closest point to the Sun, passing within two astronomical units (twice the distance from Earth to the Sun) before swinging away and exiting our solar system.
The anticipated trajectory of 3i/Atlas marks its position as only the third interstellar object to be recorded in the solar system
CSS, D. Rankin
This creates a limited window for studying 3i/Atlas, although its visibility offers more time for observation compared to other interstellar entities. “They move through the solar system at astonishing speeds,” states Mark Norris from the University of Central Lancashire, UK. “It’s a race against time to learn as much as we can about them.”
Unfortunately, the technology needed to launch missions to intercept and investigate these celestial visitors remains out of reach, according to Norris. “Even if we started today, it would be too late,” he concludes. However, this may evolve soon, as the European Space Agency (ESA) aims to deploy a comet interceptor mission into space in 2029, where it will await encounters with newly discovered comets and interstellar bodies.
For now, astronomers must depend on existing telescopes to observe 3i/Atlas from a distance. “As we can track it until the end of the year, we have sufficient time to refine its trajectory, and there’s still time to focus the spectrometer on it,” mentions Richard Moisle. Our team is already eager to pinpoint the earliest possible observations. Everyone is highly enthusiastic and ready for what’s ahead.”
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The predicted trajectory of A11PL3Z marks it as the third interstellar object observed in the solar system
CSS, D. Rankin
Potential interstellar bodies are now observed zipping through our solar system, and both amateur and professional astronomers globally are racing to direct telescopes towards these phenomena, refine their trajectory models, and ultimately validate their status as visitors from another star.
The object provisionally named A11PL3Z represents the third interstellar entity detected to date. The asteroid ‘Oumuamua was first seen in October 2017, just three days after it passed closest to Earth, and its unusual acceleration sparked a variety of hypotheses, including the possibility of it being an alien spacecraft. The second identified object, Comet Borisov, was observed in 2019, allowing for closer examination given its early passage through the solar system.
A11PL3Z was first identified by the Deep Random Survey in Chile, a group of amateur astronomers. However, a review of earlier observations by other teams revealed that it was initially spotted on June 14 by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). It is estimated to measure approximately 20 km in width and is currently traveling at around 66 km/s, accelerating as it gets pulled in by solar gravity. In October, it will reach its closest point to the Sun, passing within two astronomical units (the Earth is twice the distance from the Sun) before swinging away and exiting the solar system.
This provides a limited window for studying A11PL3Z, though it’s more than that available for previous interstellar objects, which were seen hurtling towards the solar system. “These objects move through the solar system at incredible speeds,” remarks Mark Norris from the University of Central Lancashire. “They are quite transient, which restricts our ability to learn about them.”
Sadly, the prospect of sending missions to intercept and study A11PL3Z is beyond the reach of current technology, notes Norris. “If we were to launch a mission today, it would be too late,” he states. However, the European Space Agency (ESA) is planning a comet interceptor mission set for launch in 2029, which would remain in space to await the arrival of newly discovered comets and possibly interstellar objects.
For the time being, astronomers are relying on existing telescopes to observe A11PL3Z from a distance. “We anticipate we will be observing it by the end of the year, giving us ample time to prepare our spectrometers once we finalize the trajectory,” shares Richard Moisle. When will our observers discern its visibility? There’s a palpable excitement as everyone is prepared and looking forward to this opportunity.
At the time of this writing, over 100 observations of A11PL3Z have already been logged, and the Minor Planet Center—the official body responsible for monitoring and reporting such celestial entities—is expected to confirm its interstellar classification later today.
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