Depiction of a Neanderthal group engaged in food preparation
Luis Montagna/Marta Montagna/Science Photo Library
Neanderthals likely developed distinct food preparation traditions that varied between groups. Excavations at two caves in what is now northern Israel indicate that these ancient inhabitants had unique methods for processing similar types of prey.
Contrary to popular belief, Homo sapiens were not the first to prepare and cook food. Evidence shows that Neanderthals, who thrived in Europe and Asia until approximately 40,000 years ago, hunted, cooked a diverse array of animals, and employed flint tools to enhance their meals with wild herbs.
For further insights into Neanderthal cuisine, see Analle Jaron from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and her team, who investigated findings at the Amdo and Kebara caves.
Located merely 70 km apart, these sites provide a unique lens through which to examine cultural differences among Neanderthals. The stone tools, remnants of food, and hearths uncovered at both locations suggest that these groups occupied the caves concurrently, possibly during winter months.
As Jaron remarks, “The same animal species were being hunted, set against a similar landscape. The weather conditions were alike, and both Neanderthal groups primarily feasted on gazelles and some fallow deer.”
However, notable differences were also present. For instance, bone evidence indicates that larger prey was favored in the Kebara cave, where more substantial animals were brought in and processed.
Jaron and her colleagues utilized microscopic analysis to study bone remnants from the sediments dated between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago, examining cut marks made by stone tools.
They discovered that while the flint tools were similar across both sites, the patterns of cut marks varied. “The cuts in Kebara displayed a greater fluctuation in width and depth, while in Amdo, they were concentrated in large clusters, often overlapping,” Jaron explains.
To determine whether these discrepancies influenced hunting practices, the researchers focused on the long bones of gazelles from both sites, which exhibited similar variations.
“We’re discussing two groups living in close proximity that both butchered the same type of meat, but it appears that at one site, the meat was processed closer to the bones.” says Ceren Kabukcu from the University of Liverpool, UK.
Past studies examining bone cut marks from later human societies indicate that the variations observed in Neanderthal butchery are not merely due to a lack of skills or difference in technique. It’s not a matter of expertise; it’s a difference in approach.
Jaron posits that these contrasts are likely a result of intentional choices regarding butchering methods. She suggests that Neanderthals in Amdo may have preferred to prepare their meat in ways that preserved it, such as drying or hanging before cooking.
“In the context of opportunistic behavior in slaughtering, one would expect the most efficient methods to be employed to maximize utility; nevertheless, it appears that cultural or social factors played a more significant role,” Jaron states. “This might relate to the group’s practices, passed down through learning and generations.”
“The existence of differences and the subtlety in technological usage in daily life isn’t entirely surprising,” notes Kabukcu. “As research deepens, we may uncover more nuances across various Paleolithic sites, even in China.”
It remains uncertain whether the caves were inhabited simultaneously or if different groups intermingled. “They could have been occupied at the same time or separated by hundreds of years. There’s no definitive way to ascertain that,” Jaron adds.
Nonetheless, she points out that the pronounced clustering of cut marks in Amdo is consistent across both the oldest and youngest sediment layers, suggesting that groups returning to the cave may have maintained similar butchering practices over centuries.
Phone 3 isn’t your typical London device; it’s unique and playful, encouraging users to rethink their allegiance to Samsung or Apple.
As the brand’s inaugural high-end Android in several years, it encompasses everything a flagship phone should offer. It particularly distinguishes itself with its back design, featuring a smooth, dot-matrix-inspired interface along with a distinctive LED screen.
Starting at £799 (799 Euros/$799/$1,509), it’s priced double that of Phone 3 and will directly compete with the Samsung Galaxy S25, Google Pixel 9, and iPhone 16.
The back screen showcases notifications including icons, battery or volume indicators, and WhatsApp messages. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Previously, a semi-transparent design was introduced with Phone 1 in 2022. However, for Phone 3, these glyflights have evolved into a compact round matrix of LEDs in the top right corner of the back to exhibit icons, animations, and patterns.
This feature serves for basic notifications and can now showcase “toys” for unique experiences like the Magic Eight Ball, a stopwatch, or the Spin the Bottle game, activated with a touch-sensitive button on the back. More practically, it can show time, volume, charging status, or persistent icons for selected notifications or apps.
From the front, Phone 3 resembles an ordinary smartphone. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The rest of the rear design provokes mixed reactions with its unconventional arrangement of shapes and elements, likely displeasing symmetry enthusiasts.
The display, however, is a standard 6.7-inch OLED screen with a slim bezel and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Although it can be reflective on sunny days, it remains crisp, vibrant, and bright.
Connectivity: 5G, eSIM, WiFi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 6, GNSS
Water Resistance: IP68
Size: 160.6 x 75.6 x 9mm
Weight: 218g
Snappy but Warm
Using the Glyph Matrix screen as a viewfinder requires significant effort to align your shots accurately. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 chip, this version is a notch below the latest Snapdragon 8 elite processors found in most top-tier Android phones. While daily use reveals no performance lags, it may heat uncomfortably during intensive graphic tasks.
The battery life isn’t class-leading, offering around 40 hours under heavy 5G use. Most users will find it necessary to charge every couple of days with moderate usage, a reflection of Phone 2’s capabilities from two years ago.
With a compatible USB-C power adapter of 65W or more (not included), it can reach full charge in approximately 55 minutes, hitting 50% in just 19 minutes. Additionally, 15W wireless charging is available.
Nothing OS3.5
The OS is characterized by a stylized appearance with dot-matrix elements and is quite customizable. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
There’s little information regarding last year’s Android 15, but this version features a distinctive dot-matrix style that is user-friendly. Users wanting traditional colors for app identification may find the default Android styles more appealing.
Overall, the software operates smoothly with standard Google services included, alongside apps like The Weather and Voice Recorder. The Essential Space app, which first debuted on Phone 3A Pro, now incorporates audio recordings with glyph screen animations and cloud-based transcription services. Essential Search offers an AI-enhanced search for content across the device, providing assistance with basic queries as well.
Essential Space compiles screens, notes, and recordings, leveraging AI for understanding and summarizing content with mixed success. Composite: Samuel Gibbs/Guardian
It may not be the most exciting upgrade to Android 16 anticipated in late 2025, but it will provide five years of version updates and seven years of security updates, aligning with the top-tier offerings from Google and Samsung. Notably, applications like Netflix currently do not support HDR playback on Phone 3 due to certification constraints that limit them to SDR content.
Camera
The Nothing Camera app is relatively straightforward but includes most of the essential features for photography. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Nothing’s camera setup boasts three 50MP cameras on the back and a matching 50MP front-facing camera. The primary camera excels at producing detailed images, while the 3x optical zoom manages to preserve great detail and sharpness in well-lit scenes. It supports a zoom of up to 6x with the sensor and a digital zoom of 10x. The Ultra Wide Camera, however, is the weakest link – while it provides a great field of view, it lacks detail when zoomed in and distorts the edges of the frame.
It produces stunning photos in bright outdoor conditions, but transitioning between the three cameras can result in inconsistent color balance and tones, which is less than ideal. Indoor shooting can lead to odd gray tones under varying lighting.
The selfie camera offers commendable results, capturing details well, while the telephoto camera features a macro mode for close shots from around 10cm away, adding an element of fun.
While the Phone 3’s camera can produce good images, its inconsistencies prevent it from reaching the heights of its competitors in this price range.
Sustainability
The optical fingerprint scanner located at the bottom of the screen is quick and precise, though it sits low on the display. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The battery retains at least 80% of its original capacity over the span of 1,400 full charge cycles. The devices are generally repairable throughout the UK.
Crafted from recycled materials including aluminum, copper, plastic, steel, and other elements, it comprises 17.6% recycled content by weight. The associated carbon footprint equates to 53.2kg of CO2. The company has released a sustainability report.
Price
The Nothing Phone 3 starts at £799 (799 Euros/$799/$1,509) with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
In comparison, the Phone 3A Pro is priced at £394, the Google Pixel 9 Pro at £999, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ at £999, the Samsung S25 Edge at £1,099, and the OnePlus 13 at £899.
Verdict
Phone 3 is a remarkable offering from Nothing, though it falls short of being an exceptional Android device. It’s undoubtedly more intriguing than its competitors, but one must genuinely desire something different to justify its appeal, considering there are better-performing options at this price point.
The software experience is strong, being fluid, customizable, and well-optimized. While it may not utilize the latest Android version, it offers 7 years of security updates and 5 years of version upgrades. The glyph screen is a fresh take, and the translucent back design is captivating, although it may divide opinions. The performance and battery life are solid, though perhaps not striking.
The camera’s inconsistencies signal that there’s room for improvement, but the potential of its AI tools offers some exciting prospects, despite still being rather basic.
For those who are looking for something a bit quirky, Phone 3 is an intriguing choice.
Cons: The camera exhibits inconsistency and lacks competitive edge, while battery life could be better. The AI features are not cutting-edge, and the asymmetrical design may not appeal to everyone.
The Glyph Matrix screen is a clever concept, packed with fun and customizable elements for various applications, contacts, and notifications. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The peculiar plants that existed since the dawn of terrestrial animals can process water to remarkable extremes, resembling water from metstones more than typical groundwater. Not only do they play a crucial role in today’s ecosystems, but their fossilized remnants also provide insights into Earth’s ancient climate and hydrological systems during the age of dinosaurs.
Almost every oxygen atom in water contains eight neutrons, though some rare heavy isotopes possess nine or ten neutrons. When water evaporates, lighter isotopes do so more readily than their heavier counterparts, leading to predictable shifts in their ratios. Researchers can utilize this information to trace the origin of a specific water sample, determining whether it originated from groundwater, fog, or the rate at which it traversed through plants and the humidity levels experienced by those plants in the past.
Nevertheless, due to the minimal presence of heavier isotopes, acquiring reliable data on how these ratios fluctuate can be quite challenging, making it hard for scientists to draw definitive conclusions.
During examinations of water samples from desert flora and fauna, Zachary Sharp from the University of New Mexico and his colleagues discovered discrepancies between the observed data and the anticipated outcomes based on laboratory models.
Sharp and his team believe they have addressed the issue through a remarkable plant known as horsetail, which has been on Earth since the Devonian period approximately 400 million years ago and features segmented, hollow stems. “It’s a tall cylinder with countless holes, evenly spaced, a marvel of engineering,” states Sharp. “We couldn’t replicate this design in our lab.”
As water flows through each segment of the horsetail stem, it undergoes a process of repeated distillation. Sharp and his colleagues collected water samples at various points along the smooth idiot stem (Equisetum) cultivated near the Rio Grande in New Mexico.
By the time the water reaches the top of the stem, its isotopic composition markedly differs from other terrestrial waters. “If you encounter this sample, I suspect it originates from metstone, as it doesn’t come from Earth. [The oxygen isotope ratios],” Sharp remarked during a presentation at the Goldschmidt Geochemical Conference in Prague, Czech Republic, on July 7.
These horsetail analyses enable Sharp and his team to ascertain the variations in the water’s isotopic ratios under near-ideal conditions, allowing them to enhance model accuracy with these values.
By reassessing desert plant data with these refined models, previously inexplicable observations suddenly made sense. Sharp posits that these findings could illuminate other challenging observations, especially in arid regions.
Reaching heights of 30 meters, far surpassing today’s descendants, ancient horsetails provide even more extreme isotopic ratios and could serve as a key to understanding ancient water systems and climates, according to Sharp. Small, sand-like grains known as plant stone threads within horsetail stems can endure to the present day and may feature unique isotopic signatures influenced by atmospheric humidity. This factor affects the evaporation rate. “This could serve as a paleofat meter [humidity indicator]—how fascinating,” Sharp concludes.
Paleontologists have uncovered the fossilized jawbone of a newly identified pterosaur species, along with a multitude of fossils, including one of the world’s oldest turtles, in a secluded bone bed located within Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, USA.
Artist Reconstruction of Eotephradactylus chintireae, along with other animals and plants preserved in the bone beds of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA. Image credit: Brian Eng.
The newly discovered pterosaur species, Eotephradactylus chintireae, existed in what is now Arizona during the late Triassic period, approximately 209 million years ago.
“The winged reptile was small enough to comfortably perch on a person’s shoulder,” stated Dr. Ben Krigman from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.
“One of the most exciting aspects of this discovery was that the teeth remained intact in the bones, making the identification of these animals significantly easier,” added Suzanne McIntier, a volunteer preparer who dedicated 18 years at Fossil Lab at the National Museum of Natural History.
“The teeth-filled jaws provided crucial insights into the lifestyle of the earliest pterosaurs.”
“The worn tips of the teeth suggest a high likelihood that they consumed armored fish and other prey,” she explained.
Eotephradactylus chintireae coexisted with large amphibians, armored crocodile ancestors, frogs, and turtles.
In addition to this flying reptile, paleontologists have found over 1,200 individual fossils, which include bones, teeth, fish scales, and coprolites.
“This collection represents 16 different vertebrate groups that previously inhabited diverse ecosystems,” they noted.
“The braided rivers in this region were teeming with fish, such as freshwater sharks, coelacanths, and ancient amphibians.
The surrounding environment was also home to some of the formidable reptiles that evolved during the early Triassic, including giant alligator-like armored herbivores and predatory creatures.”
The newly identified bone bed is part of the Upper Sinru Formation in Petrified Forest National Park.
“This area of northeastern Arizona was situated in the heart of Pangaea on the supercontinent, positioned just above the equator 209 million years ago,” the researchers added.
“The semi-arid landscape was interspersed with small river channels, which were prone to seasonal flooding. These floods deposited sediment and volcanic ash into the channels.”
“One of these floods might have buried creatures that remain in the bone beds. The site is rich in small fossils, making it impossible to excavate all of them in the field.”
The research team believes the new site will help bridge gaps in the fossil record prior to the final extinction event (ETE).
“About 1.5 million years ago, volcanic eruptions linked to the fragmentation of Pangaea drastically altered the world’s climate and led to the extinction of approximately 75% of Earth’s species,” the scientists commented.
“This opened the door for new groups, such as dinosaurs, to emerge and thrive in ecosystems globally.”
“Due to the lack of fossil outcrops from just before the ETE, it is challenging to find direct evidence of this transition on land.”
“This site captures the shift toward a more modern terrestrial vertebrate community, marking the beginning of the flourishing of groups following the Mesozoic era, alongside these older species that survived into the Triassic period.”
“Such fossil beds provide evidence that all these animals coexisted.”
The team’s study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Ben T. Krigman et al. 2025. The extraordinary bone bed uncovers a vertebrate community with pterygoids and turtles in the equatorial Pangaea prior to terminal extinction. PNAS 122 (29): E2505513122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2505513122
Honey sourced from Australian stingless bees, often referred to as sugar bag honeybees, has long been a vital food source and a traditional remedy for ailments such as itching and pain among Indigenous Australian communities. A recent study has examined the antibacterial properties and chemical composition of honey from three species of Australian stingless bees: Tetragonula carbonaria, Tetragonula hockingsii, and Austroplebeia australis. The results revealed these honeys possess strong antibacterial capabilities against various human pathogens, exhibiting efficacy on par with or superior to that of most European honeys derived from Apis mellifera.
Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health issue.
Numerous natural substances have developed complex defenses against microbial threats and may serve as potential therapeutic agents.
While the medicinal qualities of European honey have been extensively researched, the therapeutic potential of Australian stingless bee honey is still in its early stages.
Kenya Fernandez, a researcher from the University of Sydney, noted:
“Unlike honey from European honeybees, which predominantly depends on hydrogen peroxide for its antibacterial effects, the honey from Australian stingless bees demonstrates high levels of hydrogen peroxide along with non-peroxide activity, making it a robust and versatile candidate for therapy.”
The study found that the honey retained antibacterial properties even without hydrogen peroxide, indicating that these traits are inherent to the honey.
“Bee Manuka honey’s notable non-oxide antibacterial activity is a key factor behind its commercial success,” Dr. Fernandez added.
“In contrast, the consistent antibacterial effectiveness of heat-treated non-toxic honey from Australian bees—regardless of various locations and nectar sources—highlights the unique qualities of these bees.”
Professor Dee Carter at the University of Sydney remarked:
Researchers are hopeful that this reliability will enhance the potential for commercial health applications.
Nonetheless, challenges concerning scalability persist. Each stingless bee hive produces roughly 0.5 liters of honey annually, complicating large-scale production.
“Although the yields are modest, these hives require less upkeep than traditional bee hives, enabling beekeepers to manage a greater number of hives,” stated Dr. Ross Groag from the University of Sydney.
“Encouragingly, the commercial value of honey may foster the growth of more hives and pave the way for scalability in commerce.”
“In the past year, native stingless bee honey has made strides toward local and global commercialization, having received endorsements from Australian and New Zealand food safety authorities.”
“This regulatory backing is crucial in establishing a niche market for high-value, low-volume products.”
The survey results were published on May 21st in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
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Kenya E. Fernandez et al. 2025. Potent antibacterial activity and unique physicochemical properties of honey from Australian stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria, Tetragonula hockingsii, and Austroplebeia australis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 91 (6); doi:10.1128/aem.02523-24
I recently explored Footscray, located just outside central Melbourne, and last week, I perceived it in an entirely new way. As a surreal, nightmarish realm, it’s unlike any ordinary reality. The idea of rejuvenating areas through art isn’t new, yet it’s captured in the profound dimensions of the door in question, characterized by intense, sometimes precariously unstable augmented reality, and productions that merge XR, immersive theatre, escape rooms, virtual reality, and mixed reality.
Creator and director Troy Rainbow labeled the door an “immersive journey into mental illness,” drawing from both his own experiences and those of his mother, who dealt with schizophrenia.
At 37, Rainbow utilized a letter he had penned to his mother, reflecting “her style of thought and the mindset I found myself in,” which shaped the central challenge of “adapting a paranoid belief system into the narrative.” The storyline features four delusional characters, each convinced that a man named Anton met his demise in a unique manner.
The term “immersive” has been thrown around frequently, yet this doorway truly embodies it, crafting an all-encompassing experience that captivates every sense—sight, touch, and even smell.
The experience unfolds within and around Footscray’s largely vacant Metro West Shopping Centre. Photo: Lauren Maa
The journey kicks off in a small room at the Metro West Shopping Centre, which Rainbow describes as filled with “lost dreams.” After a short guided meditation, I donned a VR headset, stepping out of that room to virtually navigate through the transformed center, discovering unique objects that hadn’t existed before. Some will later revisit these in physical form, blurring the lines between reality and illusion, triggering an uncanny sense of déjà vu.
Exchanging my headset for headphones, I ventured outside where a mysterious woman narrated stories related to the various locations around me.
Participants traverse a series of surreal outdoor rooms filled with dilapidated and decaying elements. One area resembles a lab, featuring dental chairs, while another is a security room where one can converse with an AI that mimics their voice. An unkempt kitchen is scattered with broken and oddly arranged objects, and a disquieting children’s room is filled with beautiful snakes and makeshift board games strewn across the bed.
Participants navigate through a multitude of surreal rooms throughout their adventure. Photo: Lauren Maa
The experience unfolds with voices emerging from unexpected corners, some activated by directional speakers. “It genuinely sounds like the thoughts in my head,” remarks Rainbow. These voices deliver peculiar and at times frenzied rants—one man discusses our souls transitioning into data, while a child marvels at God’s miracles. As you navigate these settings, you encounter unusual photographs and written materials, including religious texts, handwritten notes on the walls, and documents tucked into folders. It feels reminiscent of stepping into horror films or video games.
The door in question (which debuted in 2021 and has undergone several iterations since) resonates powerfully due to its intimate format. Throughout the experience, participants find themselves alone—with the exception of actors offering guidance—and left with their inner thoughts (and all the wild ideas bouncing off the walls). This intimacy, coupled with the participant’s role as co-author, renders the experience profoundly personal.
This approach to storytelling diverges significantly from traditional media, such as films and live theatre, with their fixed representational frameworks. Beyond the stark differences in dialogue, this form of storytelling uses space to unveil information and facilitate interactions between narratives and locations.
Troy Rainbow’s creations draw from personal letters and writings of his mother, who faced schizophrenia. Photo: Lauren Maa
Tech plays a crucial role in this endeavor, with Rainbow asserting, “I see technology as more than just a tool; it’s a co-creator.”
Selecting the appropriate real-world setting is equally vital, as utilizing abandoned, deteriorating spaces allows Rainbow to explore the question, “What does this inform the experience?” He adds, “Imagine how thrilling it would be if a more artistic endeavor was embedded within dormant spaces.”
When Pragmata was unveiled five years ago, the specifics of what Resident Evil publisher Capcom was creating remained uncertain. The initial trailer presented an eerie, futuristic scene featuring an astronaut and a blonde girl, yet it offered little clarity on the game’s direction. The anticipated 2022 release slipped away, leading to a “pause indefinitely”, leaving many to wonder if Pragmata would actually launch in 2023.
Everything changed on June 4th, when a new trailer premiered during the PlayStation Showcase. The blonde girl is revealed to be a combat-ready android, teaming up with an astronaut named Hugh (naturally) amid an intense battle within a space station. The following weekend, I had the opportunity to play for about 20 minutes at the Summer Game Fest. Long, troubled development cycles are often a bad omen, yet my experience was surprisingly promising.
Pragmata opens with the astronaut Hugh Williams lying unconscious among metallic wreckage. A young girl dressed in an oversized blue jacket with long, flowing blonde hair (a peculiar choice, if I’m being honest) stumbles across Hugh while grappling with a large case nearby. After finally managing to topple it, she opens the case to reveal a device that emits the Lunafilament nanowave, which she uses to repair his suit.
We discover that they are located on a lunar space station, where a robotic security system mistakenly identifies Hugh as an intruder, leading to a confrontation. I was not prepared for how enjoyable the combat would be.
In Pragmata, the robotic enemies all possess robust shields, rendering Hugh’s arsenal (which can be expanded by locating various firearms in the environment) largely ineffective. Fortunately, the girl, now identified as Diana, has the ability to hack these foes, making them vulnerable—all while dodging attacks as she perches on Hugh’s shoulder.
To navigate the robots’ mainframe, you’ll need to use the face buttons on the controller to disarm their shields temporarily, reaching a green tile arranged in rows and columns. This must be done quickly, and while dodging their strikes, which often resulted in failed attempts and resets, creating a genuinely thrilling (and fun) battle scenario.
Hacking in Pragmata evokes the urgency of calling in a Stratagem in Helldivers 2, requiring swift yet deliberate button presses under intense pressure. Each gunfight becomes a moment of high tension: different robot types necessitate various hacking strategies, and they scatter in confusion once compromised. During my brief session with Pragmata, I encountered an array of opponents and weaponry.
Just as someone tapped me on the shoulder to signal the end of the demo, I found myself captivated by the combat (unfortunate timing just before the Big Boss showdown). Despite the protracted development period of over five years, the gameplay feels refreshingly new.
Pragmata is set to launch on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2026.
MUCH reflects on the remarkable journey of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a standout role-playing game crafted by a small team. (We recently hit 2 million sales.) This narrative is captivating amidst a landscape dominated by blockbuster flops, live service titles, and exorbitant budgets. The dedicated team has produced something lengthy, unique, and beautiful, priced at £40, leading to a win-win scenario for all involved. However, it’s not entirely accurate.
Sandfall Interactive, the French studio behind the game, comprises around 30 talented individuals. As noted by Rock Paper Shotgun, the credits list more contributors, from Korean animation teams to outsourced quality assurance testers, localization specialists, and performance artists who bring the game’s narrative and emotional depth to life.
When compared to the massive teams behind Final Fantasy titles (the clear inspiration for Sandfall), the comparatively small collective that developed Clair Obscur is noteworthy. What’s even more intriguing is that this small team has fashioned an exquisite French creation that resonates with us all. To the distress of my partner, I opted for the French voice acting with English subtitles to amplify my immersive experience.
Set in the Belle Époque-inspired realm of Clair Obscur, players encounter a foreboding entity known as Paintress Daubs, who has traversed ominous totem numbers annually, descending from a population of 100. (This game and Neva are the only titles in recent memory that have brought tears to my eyes. The beginning.) As the game counts down from 34 to 33, a courageous, slightly magical 30th expedition embarks towards a continent laden with sedatives, facing death in their quest to halt the cycle. The city is stunning, and everyone is dressed immaculately. Also, nothing seemingly poses a threat every few moments.
The most quintessentially French experience you’ve ever had… Claire’s Obscur: Expedition 33. Photo: Sandfall Interactive
Many expeditions have previously faced this fate. As you navigate, you encounter gruesome remnants of these journeys, alongside their recorded accounts left to assist future travelers. Beginning in a ravaged Paris, the distorted Eiffel Tower looms over a picturesque Dali-esque horizon. The game feels like a waltz through a renowned museum on the brink of being engulfed by a black hole. One notable area is a desolate sea, featuring the wreck of a previous expedition, entwined with the carcass of a leviathan, adorned with waves of seaweed fluttering in the absent currents. It’s breathtaking but perilous. You must swiftly master a complex battle system and survive the initial boss encounters.
Clair Obscur’s combat draws inspiration from both classic and contemporary Japanese RPGs. Dynamic and vibrant, you can charge fireballs and time your dodges against the flailing fists of stone automatons. Combining uniquely distinctive character skills is vital. One character wields a rapier, shifting stances with every strike, while another engages with an enigmatic system of Sun and Moon Tarot cards. If this all seems excessively luxurious, it is — and I relish it. The battle menu is a Tinker’s dream, allowing for the development of esoteric powers and skills to create captivating combo attacks.
What captivates me most about this game is its uniqueness; it doesn’t mimic any other title. While most games riff on a handful of predictable franchises: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, this game sources inspiration from an entirely different aesthetic and theme pool. It emerges as a Baroque fantasy, a tale encompassing existentialism, love, death, and heritage — articulated through a European narrative style with Japanese-inspired action and artistry. Although it plays differently, its peculiar characteristics evoke memories of last year’s outstanding title, Repantazio. (There seems to be a notable connection between intellectually ambitious RPGs and perplexing names.)
Clair Obscur further exemplifies the impressive capabilities of game development tools available today. If you’re curious how a small team achieved this high-end aesthetic, that constitutes a significant part of the explanation. It instills a sense of optimism regarding the future of mid-tier game development, nestled between blockbusters and indie projects. Many of the most intriguing titles emerged in the early 2000s and 2010s. Perhaps some larger publishers consider this approach to be overly French, but Sandfall has successfully produced it nonetheless. Expedition 33 serves not only as a noteworthy commercial triumph but also as a beacon of creativity in the gaming sphere.
What to play
Exciting, one-minute thrill…Fate: Dark Ages. Photo: Bethesda
The upcoming Doom game is generating buzz, with reviews indicating it’s a glorious heavy metal spectacle of violence. Whether you’re obliterating demons, impaling them with spikes, shredding them with chainsaw shields, or summoning massive hellish creatures from colossal robots, Destiny: Dark Ages boasts a vaguely medieval flair, with slower and more intimate combat relative to its predecessors in the franchise (as suggested by the title), yet remains exhilarating.
Available on: Xbox, PS5, PC Estimated playtime: Over 20 hours
What to read
Chaos Machine…Grand Theft Auto VI. Photo: Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed until May next year and remains a mystery in the 2025 release calendar. Kotaku indicates some serious rescheduling is occurring behind the scenes leading up to the summer announcement.
The prestigious National Play Museum of America has announced four new games among its Hall of Fame: Defender, GoldenEye 007, Quake, and arguably suitable for Tanaka. They overcame the candidacy of Angry Birds from Age of Empires.
Podcasts and video collectives have sprung up following last week’s industry media drama, with A Giant Bomb becoming independent and contributing to the growing stability of games media outlets supported by worker-owned initiatives.
“Read the book, Roubaix”… Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite. Photo: 2K Game
Leader Travis submitted this week’s question:
“I’m considering launching a book club-style video game group. Two questions: what should I name it, and which games would you recommend for discussion?”
This is a fantastic idea, reminding me of an attempt I made ages ago as an IGN podcast, though I can’t recall its name. Was it “press the push”? “Save Points”? LFG? For such groups, I lean towards shorter games (so everyone can participate). I’d be thrilled to discuss Neva for its environmental themes and parenting narratives or Life is Strange for its rich, intricate storytelling with supernatural elements, or even a variety of games like While I’m Waiting, which prompted profound thoughts. This would surely be more engaging than merely debating whether Assassin’s Creed is relevant.
I asked my partner for his video game book club name suggestion, and he offered “Text Adventure.” My other friend Tom suggested “Mountain of Shame.” What do you think, reader? Any ideas?
If you have a question for the block or feedback on the newsletter, feel free to hit reply or email us at butingbuttons@theguardian.com.
Orienting yourself in the darkness of a cave seems like a difficult task. However, some bats may have an ingenious solution: use tails.
Larger mouse tail bat (Rhinopoma Microphyllum) Live in groups within small caves that are difficult to fly, so they move deeper by hanging from the cave walls and raw to the rear. They manipulate this way in many situations, depending on the appearance of the predator, or when they want to find a better location in the cave.
Biologists have wondered whether these bats might use their unusually long tails as “sensors” to navigate through the cave. Yossi Yovel Tel Aviv University in Israel and his colleagues designed two experiments to test bat tails.
In the first experiment, researchers recreated a setup that mimics the interior of a cave, creating a maze with obstacles that resemble the uneven, rocky terrain where bats encounter nature. The team measured how long it took the bat to climb the wall, then raw backwards, first naturally and then anaesthetized the tail to measure how smooth it was.
The bat moved its tail back and forth, feeling the obstacles and went through the maze. However, when researchers anesthetized the bat’s tail, the flying mammals navigated the maze without making it smoother and sailed about 10% slower. But they still do that and suggest that they use other body parts to feel the disorder. “When you walk back you can still feel it in your body and feet,” Jubel says. “It’s clear they can do that, but they’ve reduced performance significantly.”
In the second experiment, the researchers designed a Y-shaped maze that presents two corridors with different raised textures that bats can feel. They used the difference in textures of the two corridors to teach bats that one corridor brought rewards, while the other was not. The texture difference was subtle, but one corridor had lattices every 1.5 centimeters and every 1 cm, but the animals were able to distinguish them.
Other bat species have long tails, but researchers say this is the only known thing to use this unique strategy to find its way in the dark. “I don’t think this is common for long-tailed bats,” Jubel says. But “we really don’t know until we test other bats.”
A huge elliptical galaxy called the NGC 3640 has interacted with several small galaxies in the past, as revealed by data analysis from ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope (VST) at a fictional observatory in Chile.
This VST image shows two elliptical galaxies, the NGC 3640 and the NGC 3641. Image credits: ESO/INAF/MIRABILE et al. /Ragusa et al.
NGC 3640 is located approximately 88 million light years away from Earth in the constellation of Leo.
Also known as Leda 34778 and UGC 6368, the galaxies have diameters of 90,000 light years.
It was first discovered on February 23, 1784, by the German-British astronomer William Herschel.
The NGC 3640 is part of a relatively young group consisting of at least eight galaxies.
It also forms a pair that interacts with an elliptical galaxy known as NGC 3641.
“Throughout their extensive lifetimes, galaxies undergo changes,” said Dr. Marco Miraville, a colleague from the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics, in a statement.
“As they traverse space, they may either acquire gas or stars from other galaxies, or even merge with them.”
“Following these events, the galaxy will exhibit distortions, as demonstrated by the compact NGC 3640 and the diffuse light surrounding it.”
“This galaxy has left behind a ‘scar’ that hints at a tumultuous history, which astronomers can use to uncover its past and present.”
To unravel the history of the NGC 3640-NGC 3641 pair, Dr. Mirabile and co-authors used VST to study spheroidal, compact clusters of gravitationally bound stars.
These clusters typically contain some of the oldest stars formed within the galaxy, serving as fossil records that reveal the galaxy’s history even after significant events.
“The results affirm that NGC 3640 has indeed interacted with other galaxies in the past, showing signs of previous involvement with the smaller NGC 3641,” noted the astronomer.
“However, the smaller galaxy displays a noticeable lack of distortion in its shape or spheroidal clusters.”
“This suggests that, although their interaction has been significant, NGC 3640 is not currently in close proximity to pose a threat. NGC 3641 may be safe – at least for now.”
Marco Mirabire et al. 2024. Vegas-SSS: Tracing the stellar cluster population of the interacting NGC 3640 Galaxy Group. A&A 691, A104; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202451273
ILooks like it’s going to be a fun vacation. A week spent tending to the absentee landlord’s garden in a remote village in the Netherlands. Birds chirping in the trees, a picturesque church just across the path. But there’s something wrong with designer Tom van den Boogaart’s surreal and quietly creepy puzzle game. All the tools are missing and the villagers are strange and have been warned not to go out at night. Additionally, the sky is a hallucinogenic red and orange haze, and you can sometimes see someone watching you from behind a door or through a window. What the heck is going on?
Grunn is somehow part gardening sim, part point-and-click adventure, and part survival horror thriller. Once you’ve found your scissors and trowel, you can spend your time sorting hedges and digging up molehills, but you can also explore small hamlets and their lonely haunted places. You can often find discarded Polaroid photos that provide photo clues as to where the next tool is. You may find tools and puzzle items. There is a day/night cycle in the background, and as you venture out into the darkness, strange glitches and ghostly beings can be glimpsed at the edge of your vision. As you explore, you will have to fight against dangers that can cost you your life. Then I start all over again, relying only on my memories and photos.
As a result, you feel like you’re trapped inside an Alejandro Jodorowsky movie. Ominous and strange, yet beautiful and compelling. Everywhere you look, there are eerie images, from skeletons lying on riverbanks to strange children sitting alone in bus stops and ferry cafeterias. The puzzles are clever and challenging, and the blocky, discordant visuals make the entire environment feel like the uncanny valley of the mind. If you’re looking for a completely different kind of challenge in a decidedly unnatural open world, Grunn offers more than the gentle rural idyll it was initially promised.
Tea (Camellia sinensis) originated in China more than 3,000 years ago and evolved from a medicinal herb to a widely consumed beverage. Although there is considerable research focusing on tea plants in southwestern China, research on tea plants has received little attention. Hainan Island. Remarkable similarities between Hainanese tea and tea leaves Camellia sinensis variable Asamika Along with the island’s unique geographic and climatic conditions, research on Hainanese tea presents significant challenges. A new study fills this gap by collecting 500 tea tree samples from Hainan and using whole-genome resequencing to examine differences between Hainanese teas and cultivars. Camellia sinensis.
Guo others. A clear taxonomic position of Hainan tea was confirmed. Camellia sinensis providing valuable insights into resource conservation and molecular breeding. Image credit: Lin2015.
Tea is the oldest recorded tree crop in China, with a history of cultivation spanning more than 3,000 years.
Originally used as a medicinal herb with roots dating back approximately 5,000 years, it later evolved into a widely consumed beverage.
Tea plants grown worldwide are divided into two main groups. Camellia sinensis variable sinensis and Camellia sinensis variable Asamika.
Hainan Island, located in the northern part of the South China Sea, has a rich history of tea cultivation and has vast plantation areas.
There were reports that Hainan Island had abundant tea plant resources at the end of the Qing Dynasty.
For example, American missionary and botanist Benjamin Couch Henry discovered significant numbers of wild tea plants during his extensive explorations of the Li region of Hainan province, indicating that the island had an ancient tea plant resource. I have confirmed that it is plentiful.
Since the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau is widely recognized as a potential geographic origin of tea, most studies on tea population genomics have focused on southwestern China, especially Camellia sinensis variable Asamika Despite the large number of varieties, research on Hainan tea plants remains relatively sparse.
“Our study clarifies the taxonomic position of Hainan tea and highlights the importance of conservation and molecular breeding efforts,” said researcher Dazhong Guo of Yunnan Agricultural University and colleagues.
In this study, the authors analyzed 500 tea plant samples (including those from ancient tea plants) collected from four major tea-producing regions in Hainan province: Ledong, Qiongzhong, Baisha, and Wuzhishan. The genome sequence was analyzed.
They acquired a total of 6.9 terabytes of raw sequencing data, which they filtered and aligned with a reference genome (Yunkang 10), achieving a final average alignment rate of 98.98%.
After variant calling, 32,334,340 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, the majority of which were located in intergenic regions and a small number in exonic regions.
Phylogenetic analysis using SNP data revealed that Hainan tea samples formed a distinct cluster separate from the overall tea leaves. Camellia sinensis variable sinensis and Camellia sinensis variable Asamika There is a significant geographic concentration within the Rim Mountain region, but no clear pattern elsewhere.
Population structure analysis further confirmed that Hainan tea exhibits a unique genetic composition compared to global varieties.
Principal component analysis (PCA) supported these findings and showed that Hainan tea is genetically different from other teas. Camellia sinensis variable sinensis and Camellia sinensis variable Asamikabut shares some genetic similarities with their global counterparts. Camellia sinensis variable Asamika.
Moreover, gene flow analysis suggested limited historical movement between Hainan tea and other tea varieties, reinforcing its unique genetic lineage.
Kinship analysis showed that the close genetic relationships observed in certain Hainanese tea samples were influenced by human activities in managed tea plantations.
Genetic diversity analysis revealed that the Hainan Island and Lim Mountains populations had higher levels of diversity compared to other populations. Camellia sinensis variable sinensis and Camellia sinensis variable Asamikathere is minimal genetic differentiation between Hainan tea and Limshan tea.
These results highlight the unique evolutionary trajectory of Hainan tea, provide valuable insights into its genetic background, and provide implications for conservation and breeding strategies.
The genetic uniqueness and high diversity of Hainan tea highlight its potential as a valuable resource for future breeding programs.
“Our research provides a deeper understanding of biological evolution. Camellia sinensis The stage is now set for further studying the genetic basis of Hainan's amazing plants,” the researchers said.
Their paper Published in a magazine agricultural biodiversity.
The exceptionally powerful tornadoes this year include one spawned by Hurricane Milton in October, described as particularly destructive. Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor, emphasized the collective impact of these tornadoes, making it a significant year for severe weather.
The outbreak of tornadoes contributed to several costly weather disasters in the U.S. this year. By November 1st, NOAA had recorded 24 weather disasters, each causing at least $1 billion in damage, with tornado outbreaks ranking among the costliest events.
The increased tornado activity in 2024 has raised concerns about the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, prompting experts to explore possible links to climate change.
The classification of tornadoes according to the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale reveals the varying levels of wind speeds and resulting damage. The deadliest tornadoes of 2024, such as the EF-4 tornado in Iowa, caused extensive destruction and financial losses.
While the death toll from tornadoes in 2024 is significant, it is lower compared to previous deadliest years. The occurrence of tornadoes during hurricanes, like those associated with Hurricane Milton, also surprised experts for their strength and frequency, raising questions about climate change implications.
Research indicates a potential increase in tornado activity due to continued fossil fuel emissions, but the direct impact of climate change on tornadoes remains uncertain. Scientists are still investigating the complex relationship between climate change and tornado occurrence.
As the year approaches its end, the possibility of more tornadoes remains, underscoring the unpredictability of severe weather events.
Severe storms and tornadoes are forecasted in parts of the South and Gulf Coast, indicating that the threat of tornadoes persists despite the approaching end of the year.
“Oreos were my best friend as a kid,” he says brian hair. Once Hare wanted to hone his baseball pitching skills, his Labrador eagerly took on fielding duties. If he decided to explore the nearby forest, Oreo was always happy to take him. But there was one place where the boy and the dog always parted ways. “Oreo has never set foot in our house. Not once,” Hare says.
Nowadays, the front door is not closed for most dogs in high-income countries, and many dogs spend their days relaxing on the couch or watching TV. You would think they would be in dog heaven. But Hare, an evolutionary anthropologist at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, believes development has kept them in a doghouse. For thousands of years, he says, we have relied on dogs to protect our property and protect our families at night. Now, we have different expectations. Not only do you want your indoor dog to be friendly to strangers and rest quietly throughout the night, but also to be toilet trained, avoid chasing other animals, and avoid getting dirty paws on upholstery. You also need to do so. “This is an evolutionary mismatch,” Hare says.
Fortunately, this problem is solvable. Many recent studies have shown that selective breeding and careful training can help dogs adapt to indoor life. Meanwhile, Hare and his team “Puppy Kindergarten” Their lab delves into necessary behaviors and sheds new light on the milestones of cognitive development in dogs. Even better, researchers have devised a technique…
CThrongs of J-Pop enthusiasts gathered outside John Cain Arena on a scorching 36-degree Melbourne night, flaunting their iconic green wigs. However, the blistering heat wasn’t a concern for Hatsune Miku, the night’s star attraction who is digitally animated and doesn’t sweat. The 16-year-old ‘Vocaloid’ virtual pop sensation embarked on her inaugural Australian tour.
As followers are well-informed, Miku is the avatar of a 157 cm tall teenage girl with distinctive green pigtails. She is the representation of a collection of voice samples created using Yamaha’s Vocaloid speech synthesis technology by Krypton Future Media. Users input lyrics and melodies, which are then “sung” by the sampled audio (portrayed by actor Saki Fujita as Hatsune Miku). While some Vocaloid producers fine-tune their software for realism, others cherish its artificial essence.
Inside the arena, Miku came to life on an LED screen, igniting a controlled frenzy among the audience. Most attendees remained seated, focusing on synchronizing their battery-powered colored glow sticks. Miku, towering over with a mesmerizing presence, danced to a live band amid a massive lighting setup. Speaking in English with a Japanese accent, she engaged with the audience, creating an illusion of a live, spontaneous performance.
“Thank you all for making this night truly special,” she joyfully exclaimed. “I hope we had a great time.” The crowd erupted in cheers. “Until we meet again!” she signed off.
Vocaloid tracks have gained popularity in Japan, often appearing on mainstream pop charts and even reaching the top spots. Billboard introduced a chart exclusively for Vocaloid, Niconico. Since its debut in 2007, Miku’s first demo, 01_Ballad, has inspired over 100,000 fan-made songs, mostly from Japan’s otaku community, known for their fervent passion for characters over celebrities. Miku’s prominence led her to open for Lady Gaga, perform at Coachella, and be remixed by Pharrell Williams.
Other popular characters based on various voicebanks include Rin Kagamine and Luka Megurine, who made a surprise appearance at Miku’s Melbourne concert, delighting fans.
While many attendees in Melbourne cosplay as Miku, some fans create new Miku designs to embody specific traits or brands. For instance, “Bunningsmiku” or “Woolysmiku.” This quirky practice aligns with the highly commercialized subculture. A recent Live Nation survey found that Asian pop fans spend 138% more per ticket and 85% purchase merchandise.
“Vocaloid is essentially a gift to the fans. It’s the fans who shape its identity,” Olivia shared. “There’s a vibrant community surrounding it that unites everyone.”
For some fans, concerts serve as an opportunity for identity exploration. Tori, 19, dressed as the gender-swapped male Mikuo, embracing their transgender identity.
“I’m transgender, but I feel more comfortable.” [dressed this way]. “I love music, I love her as an instrument, and I find the technology amazing,” they said. “I feel like a lot of nerd people, transgender people, people who don’t feel like they fit in can relate to that.”
Initially unrelated to artificial intelligence, Vocaloid software paved the way for today’s generative AI models trained on artists’ voices, often without consent. Open source pop music is on the rise. Grimes announced that AI could render artists’ voices in exchange for royalties.
Despite her perpetual teen persona and cutting-edge tech, Miku has established herself as a legendary figure with timeless hits. Fans like Kong, 36, a devotee since 2008, hold a special place in their hearts for Miku and revel in nostalgic performances of classics like world is mine.
“Miku has a special place in my heart. Before I had a job, before I had a family, before I had children, I gave birth to Miku,'' Kong reminisced, under the glow of home lights. “She embodies what you need in life when you know her, when you meet her. The song is haunting. It transcends time.”
Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) may drink you under the table
Vladimir Kazachikov/Shutterstock
One species of wasp, which often eats alcohol-containing foods, can retain alcohol at levels that other known animals cannot tolerate without causing side effects.
‘This is crazy,’ says study author Sofia Bucebuti at Ben-Gurion University in the Negev, Israel.
Oriental wasp diet (vespa orientalis) consists of ripe fruit containing nectar and grapes. This fruit contains sugar, which is converted to ethanol through natural fermentation over time.
While ethanol is highly nutritious for animals, it is also highly intoxicating. Even animals that routinely eat fermented fruit, such as fruit flies and shrews, cannot have more than 4% ethanol in their diet, Bucebuti and his colleagues say.
But when Bucebuti’s team fed the hornets nothing for a week other than various sugar solutions containing varying amounts of ethanol from 1 to 80 percent, the hornets seemed unaffected. Neither their behavior nor their lifespans changed. What makes this particularly surprising is that a solution containing 80% ethanol contains four times the alcohol content of what occurs in nature.
“We initially experimented with only 20%. [ethanol] And we are already surprised,” say study authors Elan Levin At Tel Aviv University, Israel. The 80% ethanol figure is “even more incredible.”
Analysis of the genomes of several wasp species suggests that the insects have two to four copies of the gene that produces NADP+, which helps break down alcohol. Researchers think this may help explain why the oriental hornet, and perhaps other wasp species, can process such large amounts of alcohol.
These findings “remind us that we’re not the only ones who like alcohol.” james fry at the University of Rochester in New York. However, because data from other animal studies are difficult to compare, researchers are not convinced that wasps are the only organisms that can process such large amounts of alcohol.
Wasps’ love of alcohol may give them a competitive advantage when it comes to eating nutritious, highly fermented foods, researchers say. Irene Stefanini At the University of Turin, Italy. She believes that the wasp’s resistance is probably related to the mutualistic relationship between the animal and fermenting brewer’s yeast. budding yeastWhich her study They have been shown to live in the intestines of wasps, survive, and even mate. Perhaps the wasp helps the yeast move from fruit to fruit, and the yeast helps the wasp find energy-rich food.
Marine biologists identify new species of skate Leucolaja It lurks in the deep waters of the southwestern Indian Ocean.
brown long nose skates (Leucolaya longirostris), holotype of an adult male viewed from the dorsal side. Scale bar – 5 cm. Image credit: Weigman others., doi: 10.3390/biology13060405.
members of the genus Leucolaja A small to medium sized skate, usually with a short, obtuse snout.
To date, 14 valid species of this genus have been identified, primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, but also in the Indian Ocean.
“The 14 species currently described are Leucolaja It reaches a maximum size of 30-120 cm and is found in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. ” Dr Simon Weigman by the Leibniz Institute for Biodiversity Change Analysis and colleagues.
“Of these 12 species, Leucolaja Compagnoi and Leucolaja wallasei They also live outside the Atlantic Ocean, in continental waters in the southwestern Indian Ocean. ”
The newly discovered Leucolaja This species is the fourth known species of this genus from the western Indian Ocean.
named Leucolaya longirostris (common name is Brown Longnose Skate), apparently endemic to the Madagascar Ridge in Walters Shoals.
“In the 1970s and 1980s, researchers working on the Madagascar Ridge, a raised area of the ocean floor in the southwestern Indian Ocean, collected a total of eight rare skate specimens at depths of 750 to 1,050 meters.” biologists said.
“Despite the long snout, this specimen could definitely be assigned to the genus. Leucolaja This is due to the typical characteristics of claspers. ”
“It can be easily distinguished from all 14 congeners by its long, sharply pointed snout,” the researchers said.
“Furthermore, it appears to occur only on the Madagascar Ridge, away from the known distribution areas of all congeners, and its clasper morphology exhibits several unique aspects.”
brown long nose skates (Leucolaya longirostris), holotype of an adult male viewed from the ventral side. Scale bar – 5 cm. Image credit: Weigman others., doi: 10.3390/biology13060405.
Leucolaya longirostris These are medium-sized skates with a total length of 71.1 cm or more.
Males mature at about 60 cm. The largest known female is 70cm long. The smallest known specimen is a young female with a total length of 27.6 cm.
recognition of Leucolaya longirostris Provide new insights into morphological variation within the genus Leucolaja “This constitutes a very unusual and noteworthy addition to this genus Sketchi,” the researchers said.
“Nevertheless, the very limited distribution of this new species raises concerns about its ability to sustain fisheries, and it may be susceptible to capture in longline fisheries, particularly deep-sea trawl fisheries.”
“Although little information is available about fisheries operating in the region of the Madagascar Ridge, this deep-sea skate tolerates intensive fishing pressure, potentially due to its slow-life history characteristics and low productivity. You may not be able to.”
“Walter's Shoal has had good catches in the past and this pressure may return in the future,” they added.
“As a fishery targeting orange roughy (Hoplostessus atlanticus) and Kinmedai (Belix Decactylus) have typically used mesophoric trawls on the ocean floor, but new species may have benthic refugia. ”
“However, further research is needed to investigate its distribution, life history, population size and trends, and threats.”
“This is essential to improving data collection and research and making more effective conservation and management policy decisions.”
a paper Report findings published in journals biology.
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Simon Weigman others. 2024. Description of a noteworthy new type of skate shoe Leucolaja Malm of the southwestern Indian Ocean, 1877 (Radidae, Radidae): Introducing 3D modeling as an innovative tool for visualization of clasper characters. biology 13 (6): 405;doi: 10.3390/Biology 13060405
Black widow spider venom contains a cocktail of seven specific latrotoxins, but only one, alpha-latrotoxin, targets vertebrates, including humans. chemist of University of Munster They have now deciphered the structure of alpha-latrotoxin before and after membrane insertion at near atomic resolution.
Cryo-EM structures of α-latrotoxin in two different tetrameric states. Image credit: Klink others., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52635-5.
Latrotoxin is the main toxic component of the venom of black widow spiders (genus). latrodectus).
The toxins include five insecticidal toxins known as α-latrotoxin, α-, β-, γ-, δ-, and ε-latroinsect toxins, which are unique to vertebrates, and one toxin that is unique to crustaceans.
“Alpha-latrotoxin interferes with nervous system signal transmission,” said researcher Björn Klinck and colleagues at the University of Münster.
“As soon as alpha-latrotoxin binds to specific receptors at the synapse (contacts between nerve cells or between nerve cells and muscles), calcium ions flow uncontrollably into the presynaptic membrane of the signal-transmitting cell.”
“This triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which causes strong muscle contractions and spasms.”
“Although this process seems simple at first glance, there are very complex mechanisms behind it.”
To better understand the mechanism of calcium influx into the presynaptic membrane, the authors used high-performance cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations.
They showed that alpha-latrotoxin undergoes significant changes when it binds to the receptor.
Some of the toxic molecules form stalks and penetrate the cell membrane like a syringe.
As a special feature, this stalk forms small pores in the membrane, which act as calcium channels.
MD simulations revealed that calcium ions can enter the cells through a selection gate on the side directly above the pore.
“This toxin mimics the function of calcium channels in the presynaptic membrane in a very complex way,” said Christos Gatsogiannis, a researcher at the University of Münster.
“Therefore, it is different in every way from any toxin known to date.”
“The new discovery opens up a wide range of potential applications.”
“Latrotoxin has considerable biotechnological potential, including the development of improved antidotes, treatments for paralysis, and new biopesticides.”
of study Published in a magazine nature communications.
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Clink BU others. 2024. Structural basis of α-latrotoxin transition to cation-selective pores. Nat Commune 15, 8551; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52635-5
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaegangliae) Whales build so-called “bubble nets” as tools to hunt, but researchers from the University of Hawaii and the Alaska Whale Foundation have found that these marine animals not only build bubble nets, but also manipulate these unique tools in a variety of ways to maximize food intake in their Alaskan feeding grounds. This novel study sheds light on a behavior critical to whale survival and makes a compelling case for including humpback whales among the rare animals that manufacture and use unique tools.
Although some animal species use tools to forage, only a few manufacture or modify tools. Humpback whales are one of these rare species, as they manufacture bubble net tools while foraging. Using animal tags and unmanned aerial system technology, Sabo others. Investigating the bubble nets made by solitary humpback whales (Megaptera novaegangliae) while feeding on krill in the Pacific Ocean, whale nets in southeast Alaska. They demonstrate that the nets are composed of internal tangential loops, suggesting that the whales actively control the number of loops, the size and depth of the net, and the horizontal spacing of adjacent bubbles. They argue that the whales adjust structural elements of the net to increase the amount of prey they catch in a single lunge by an average of seven-fold. Image credit: Szabo others., doi: 10.1098/rsos.240328.
“Many animals use tools to find food, but few actually make or modify their own tools,” says Lars Bader, a professor at the University of Hawaii.
“We discovered that solitary humpback whales in southeast Alaska build complex bubble webs to capture krill.”
“These whales expertly blow bubbles in patterns that form nets with internal loops, actively controlling details such as the number of loops, the size and depth of the net, and the spacing of the bubbles.”
“This method allows them to catch up to seven times as many prey in one feeding dive without expending any extra energy.”
“This impressive behaviour puts humpback whales in a rare group of animals that make and use their own tools to hunt.”
The marine mammals known as cetaceans include whales, dolphins and porpoises and are notoriously difficult to study.
Advances in research tools are making it easier to track and understand whale behaviour, and in this case, Professor Bader and his colleagues used specialised tags and drones to study the whale's movements from above and below the water.
“We attached non-invasive suction cup tags to whales in southeast Alaska and flew drones over humpback whales as they hunted alone in bubble nets to collect data on their underwater movements,” said Dr William Goff, also from the University of Hawaii.
“The tools are great, but it takes practice to hone them.”
“Whales are a difficult group to study and successful tracking with tags and drones requires skill and precision.”
“This little-studied foraging behavior is unique to humpback whales.”
“It's really amazing to see these animals in their natural habitat, doing things that only a handful of people get to see.”
“And then it's rewarding to be able to go back to the lab and look at the data and find out what they're doing underwater after they're out of sight.”
a paper The study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
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A. Sabo others2024. Solitary humpback whales manufacture bubble nets as a tool to enhance prey intake. R. Soc. Open Science 11(8):240328;doi: 10.1098/rsos.240328
This article is based on a press release provided by the University of Hawaii.
Ice 0 is Ice Shape If it is possible to induce the formation of ice crystals in supercooled water, University of Tokyo.
Ice nucleation in water nanodroplets at 180 K (minus 93.15 degrees Celsius, minus 135.76 degrees Fahrenheit). Image courtesy of G. Sun & H. Tanaka, doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50188-1.
“Ice crystallization, known as ice nucleation, usually occurs heterogeneously, in other words, on solid surfaces,” said University of Tokyo researchers Gan Song and Hajime Tanaka.
“This is typically expected to occur at the surface of a container of water, where the liquid and solid meet.”
“But our study shows that ice crystallization can also occur just below the water surface, in contact with the air.”
“Here, ice nucleates around a small precursor that has the same characteristic ring-like structure as ice-0.”
“Simulations show that under isothermal conditions, water droplets are likely to crystallize near the free surface,” Dr Sun added.
“This settles a long-standing debate about whether crystallization occurs more easily on the surface or in the interior.”
The precursor to ice-0 has a structure very similar to supercooled water, which allows water molecules to crystallize more easily without having to form directly into the structure of regular ice.
These form naturally as a result of the negative pressure effect caused by the surface tension of water.
When crystallization begins from these precursors, the ice-0-like structure rapidly rearranges into the more typical ice-I.
“Our discovery of the mechanism behind water surface crystallization is expected to make significant contributions to various fields, such as climate research and food science, where water crystallization plays an important role,” said Dr. Tanaka.
“Understanding ice in more detail and how it forms can provide valuable insights into many different fields of research.”
“This work may be particularly important in meteorology, because the formation of ice from precursors such as ice-0 may have a much more pronounced effect on tiny water droplets such as those found in clouds.”
“Understanding ice also has benefits in technology, from food science to air conditioning.”
Team paper Published online in the journal Nature Communications.
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G. Sun & H. Tanaka. 2024. Surface-induced water crystallization driven by precursors formed in a negative pressure region. Nat Community 15, 6083; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50188-1
This article is based on a press release from the University of Tokyo.
Paleontologists have identified a new genus and species of centrosaurine dinosaur from fossils discovered in the Judith River Formation in the Kennedy Coulee region of Montana, USA. Lociceratops rangiformisThe new species emerged at least 12 million years earlier than its better-known relatives. Triceratops It was the largest ceratopsid of its time.
Reconstruction Lociceratops rangiformis Be amazed by a crocodile in the 78-million-year-old swamps of northern Montana. Image by Andrej Achutin/Museum of Evolution, Maribo, Denmark.
Lociceratops rangiformis It lived in what is now Montana during the Cretaceous period, about 78 million years ago.
This species was about 6.7 metres (22 feet) long and weighed five tons, making it the largest dinosaur in the group called ceratopsians. Centrosaurinae It has never been found in North America before.
“In the dinosaur ecosystem of the ancient island continent Laramidia, ceratopsians were geographically widespread, morphologically diverse and possessed a great deal of variation in cranial ornamentation, including horns and a morphologically diverse parietal scaly frill,” said Professor Mark Loewen of the University of Utah and his colleagues.
“Two distinct lineages within the Ceratopsidae family diverged by at least 83 million years ago.”
“These are the chasmosaurinae, which have long snouts and long frills, and the centrosaurines, which have rounded snouts and relatively short frills.”
“Centrosaurinae represent an ecologically important and diverse lineage of ceratopsians that reached a peak in diversity during the Campanian, 83 to 70 million years ago.”
“Historically known from abundant fossil finds in Alberta, Canada, and Montana, USA, discoveries over the past two decades have rapidly expanded our understanding of this group, particularly its geographic and morphological range, and have also provided new insights into the ontogeny of centrosaurines.”
“Centrosaurinae were locally abundant in some areas of southern Alberta and northern Montana, but were previously rare or poorly known in other parts of Laramidia.”
Fossil skull Lociceratops rangiformisImage courtesy of the Evolution Museum, Maribo, Denmark.
Paleontologists have discovered the skeleton of a mature individual. Lociceratops rangiformis Quarrying at Loki Quarry in 2019 Judith River Formation.
“The Loki quarry, which yielded the new specimen, is located on private land in the Kennedy Coulee Badlands, north of the town of Rudyard in Hill County, northern Montana, USA,” the researchers said.
Lociceratops rangiformis It has the largest frill horns of any ceratopsid ever, and lacks the nasal horns characteristic of its genus.
“This new dinosaur pushes the boundaries of outlandishness in ceratopsian head ornaments, boasting the largest frill horns ever seen on a ceratopsian,” said paleontologist Joseph Sertich of Colorado State University.
“These skull ornaments provide another window into the diversity of horned dinosaurs and demonstrate that evolutionary selection for flashy displays contributed to the dazzling richness of Cretaceous ecosystems.”
“We think dinosaur horns were similar to the displays performed by birds, who used them for mate selection and species recognition.”
Lociceratops rangiformis It coexisted with three other centrosaurine dinosaurs (Wendiceratops pinhornensis, Albertaceratops nesmoiand Medusaceratops Loki) and Chasmosaurinae (Judiceratops tigris).
“The combination of five species is an unprecedented diversity and resembles the range of horned ungulates found on the plains of East Africa today,” Dr Sertich said.
“Unlike the wide-ranging large wild mammals, such as elk, that currently roam the American West, these ancient animals were geographically restricted.”
“discovery Lociceratops rangiformis “It provides evidence that these species evolved rapidly within a small area, a process sometimes seen in birds.”
“at that time Triceratops By the time ceratopsians emerged 12 million years later, regional differences had homogenized to just two species found across Canada and Mexico, probably as a response to a more homogenous climate.”
“This study shows that dinosaur diversity has been underestimated and presents the most complete ceratopsid family tree to date.”
“Lociceratops rangiformis “This study helps us understand that we're only just scratching the surface when it comes to the diversity and relationships of the ceratopsian family tree,” Prof Loewen said.
M.A. Rowen others. 2024. Lociceratops rangiformis A new genus and species (Ceratopsia: Centrosaurinae) from the Campanian Judith River Formation of Montana reveals the rapid regional dispersal and extreme endemism of centrosaurinae dinosaurs. Peer J 12: e17224; doi: 10.7717/peerj.17224
Promethium is extremely rare, with only about 0.5 kg occurring naturally in the Earth’s crust at any one time.
Conceptual art depicts the rare earth element promethium in a vial surrounded by organic ligands. Image courtesy of Jacqueline DeMink / Thomas Dyke / ORNL.
[DiscoveredattheClintonLaboratoryin1945promethium is a lanthanide element with the symbol Pm and atomic number 61.
Named after the mythical Titan who brought fire to mankind, the name symbolizes human endeavor.
Despite their use in medical research and long-life nuclear batteries, some of their properties remain poorly understood.
“The aim of this project was to explore and gain new knowledge about this extremely rare element,” he said. Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Dr. Ivanov and his colleagues prepared a chemical complex of promethium, allowing them to characterize it in solution for the first time.
Thus, they uncovered the secrets of this element through a series of meticulous experiments.
“Promethium was the last lanthanide discovered and has been the most difficult to study because it has no stable isotopes,” said Dr. Ilya Popovs, also of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
“There are thousands of papers on lanthanide chemistry without promethium. It was a glaring flaw in the science as a whole,” said Dr. Santa Giansone-Popova of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
“Scientists could only guess at most of its properties. Now we can actually measure some of them.”
The researchers linked, or chelated, radioactive promethium with a special organic molecule called a diglycolamide ligand.
The researchers then used X-ray spectroscopy to determine the properties of the complex, including the lengths of the chemical bonds between promethium and neighboring atoms — a scientific first and a long-missing part of the periodic table of elements.
Unlike other rare earth elements, synthetic promethium has no stable isotopes and is therefore only available in very small quantities.
For their research, the scientists produced the isotope promethium-147, which has a half-life of 2.62 years, in sufficient quantity and purity to study its chemical properties.
Remarkably, they were the first to demonstrate the signature of lanthanide contraction in solution for the entire lanthanide series, including promethium, atomic number 61.
Lanthanide contraction is a phenomenon in which elements with atomic numbers 57 through 71 become smaller than expected.
As the atomic number of these lanthanides increases, the radius of their ions decreases.
This contraction results in unique chemical and electronic properties as the same electric charge is confined to a shrinking space.
The authors obtained a clear promethium signal, which allowed them to better define the shape of the trend across the series.
“It’s really amazing from a scientific point of view. When I got all the data I was blown away,” Dr Ivanov said.
“This contraction of chemical bonds accelerates along the atomic series, but slows down significantly from promethium onwards.”
“This is a major breakthrough in understanding the chemical bonding properties of these elements and their structural changes along the periodic table.”
“Among other things, this achievement will ease the difficult task of isolating these valuable elements,” said Dr. Jansonne Popova.
“Our team has been working for a long time to isolate the entire series of lanthanides, but promethium was the last puzzle piece. It’s been very challenging.”
“With today’s advanced technology, we can’t use all these lanthanides as a mixture, because we have to separate them first.”
“This is where shrinkage becomes really important. It basically allows you to separate them, which is still pretty difficult.”
“All of the technological marvels of our time contain these rare earth elements in some form,” Dr Popovs said.
Two of the researchers and several study participants with Laron syndrome
Jaime Guevara-Aguirre and Bartel Longo
People with rare genetic mutations that cause short stature and may even live longer are helping to understand the causes of aging.
People with unusual genetic mutations have some characteristics that protect them from heart disease, one of the most common causes of death, and this explains why their life expectancy exceeds that of the general population. You may have.
A signaling molecule called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has long been suspected to be involved in longevity. Several animals, including worms and mice, have been shown to live longer when their levels of this compound are artificially lowered, such as through genetic modification. Centenarians also have slightly lower IGF-1 levels,on average.
In most species, IGF-1 promotes growth when the animal is young and influences how cells use energy later in life. One idea is that there is a trade-off between animals investing energy in further growth and maintaining health.
“As you get older and your body starts to break down, you want to spend your energy on preventing your body from breaking down instead of spending it on growth,” he says. Nir Barzilai from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York was not involved in the new study.
The question of whether this trade-off also occurs in humans is through a rare genetic disease called Laron syndrome, first identified in a group of Ecuadorians whose ancestors left Spain during the Inquisition centuries ago. can be researched.
This mutation causes people to have defective growth hormone receptors, leading to short stature. People with Laron syndrome also have low levels of IGF-1 because the release of IGF-1 is usually triggered by growth hormone.
The researchers found that more people with the disease were surviving longer than expected compared to the general Ecuadorian population. 'We know they are more common in older people' walter longo at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
In the latest study, Longo and his colleagues compared 24 people with Laron syndrome from Ecuador or the United States to 27 relatives who did not have the mutation. People with Laron syndrome appeared to be healthier on several heart-related measures, including blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and sensitivity to insulin, a hormone involved in controlling blood sugar levels.
People with this mutation also had higher levels of a compound called low-density lipoprotein. Low-density lipoproteins are also known as “bad cholesterol” because they are thought to make arteries more susceptible to plaque, which can lead to heart attacks. However, only 7 percent of Laron syndrome patients had such plaques, compared with 36 percent of their relatives.
The small number of people in the study means this difference may have arisen by chance, but it does suggest that their arteries appear less unhealthy than those of people without the mutation. suggests, Longo said.
This new finding supports the idea that somehow weakening the IGF-1 signaling pathway in later life can slow the aging process. Alexey Maklakov at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. “It's a matter of timing,” he says. “At critical stages of growth and development, you definitely don't want to do that. But later in life, it can interfere with the function of these pathways.”
Enterobacter bugandensis It is mainly present in clinical specimens such as the human gastrointestinal tract.
Example workflow illustrating the process of comparative genomics analysis Enterobacter bugandensis, its prevalence and metabolic interactions within the microbial community, and assess its adaptation success within the ISS habitat. Image credit: Sengupta other., doi: 10.1186/s40168-024-01777-1.
The International Space Station (ISS) is a testament to humanity's achievements in space exploration.
Despite a highly controlled environment characterized by microgravity, increased carbon dioxide levels, and increased solar radiation, microorganisms occupy a unique niche.
These resident microbial bacteria play an important role in influencing the health and well-being of astronauts.
One particularly interesting microorganism is the Enterobacter bugandensis, a Gram-negative bacterium notorious for its multidrug resistance.
“Microorganisms in the built environment have a significant impact on the health of residents,” says the lead author Dr. Kastri Venkateswaran by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and colleagues.
“The ISS is a highly controlled built environment with extreme conditions such as microgravity, solar radiation, and elevated carbon dioxide levels, providing a unique location to study microbial survival and adaptation. .”
“Recent studies have demonstrated that microorganisms exposed to microgravity acquire antibiotic resistance and become more virulent through rapid mutation and horizontal gene transfer.”
“Prolonged space travel in microgravity can compromise astronauts' immune systems and increase their vulnerability to disease.”
“The microbial population on the ISS can influence the astronauts' microbiome and could be replenished by the arrival of new crew members.”
“Understanding microbial colonization, inheritance, and interactions is therefore critical to ensuring the health of astronauts and managing microbial risks in isolated and confined human habitats.”
In the new study, the authors analyzed 13 bacterial strains. Enterobacter bugandensis It is isolated from the ISS.
Their results show that under stress these strains mutated and became genetically and functionally distinct compared to their terrestrial counterparts.
These strains were able to persist in large numbers on the ISS for long periods of time.
They coexisted with multiple other microorganisms, and in some cases may have helped those microorganisms survive.
“Our comprehensive analysis reveals not only how these interactions shape microbial diversity, but also the factors that may contribute to the potential dominance and inheritance of microorganisms. Ta. Enterobacter bugandensis within the ISS environment,” the researchers said.
“The implications of these findings are twofold,” they added.
“First, we shed light on the behavior, adaptation, and evolution of microorganisms in extreme and isolated environments.”
“Second, it highlights the need for strong precautions to ensure the health and safety of astronauts by mitigating risks associated with potential pathogen threats.”
P. Sengupta other. 2024. Genomic, functional, and metabolic enrichment in multidrug-resistant patients. Enterobacter bugandensis Facilitate survival and succession on the International Space Station. microbiome 12, 62; doi: 10.1186/s40168-024-01777-1
In December 2023 and February 2024, NASA’s Juno spacecraft will fly extremely close to Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io, coming within about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) of the surface and obtaining the first close-up images of the moon’s northern latitudes. Planetary scientists have now turned images collected during the flight into animations that show two of Io’s most dramatic features: its mountains and a nearly glassy rock formed by cooling lava called Loki Patera. It emphasized the smooth lake.
The JunoCam instrument aboard NASA’s Juno spacecraft imaged Io, the most geologically active object in the solar system, on February 3, 2024, from a distance of approximately 7,904 km (4,911 miles) . Image credit: NASA/SwRI/MSSS.
“There are only a few scattered volcanoes on the island of Io, and we captured some of them active,” said Juno principal investigator and Southwest Research Institute cosmologist. said Scott Bolton, director of science and engineering.
“We also obtained great close-ups and other data about a 200 km (127 mile) long lava lake called Loki Patera.”
“It shows in amazing detail how these crazy islands are embedded in the middle of a potential magma lake fringed with hot lava.”
“The specular reflections that our instruments record about the lake suggest that parts of Io’s surface are glass-smooth, reminiscent of the obsidian glass produced in volcanoes on Earth. “
Map generated using data collected by Juno microwave radiometer (MWR)’s instruments revealed that Io not only has a relatively smooth surface compared to Jupiter’s other Galilean moons, but also has poles that are colder than the mid-latitudes.
During Juno’s long-term mission, the spacecraft will fly closer to Jupiter’s north pole with each pass.
This change in direction allows the MWR instrument to improve the resolution of Jupiter’s polar cyclones.
This data allows us to compare multiple wavelengths at the poles and reveals that not all polar cyclones are created equal.
“Perhaps the most striking example of this difference is seen in the central cyclone at Jupiter’s north pole,” said Dr. Steve Levin, Juno project scientist and researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. states.
“Although clearly visible in both infrared and visible light images, the microwave signature is not as strong as other nearby storms.”
“This indicates that its subsurface structure must be very different from other cyclones.”
“As the MWR team continues to collect more and better microwave data in every orbit, we expect to develop more detailed 3D maps of these interesting polar storms.”
Aureia lelehua It has unique teeth and is thought to have formed a cage around small fish. These teeth, weak apex, flexible neck, and smallest size among its relatives allow it to be an effective hunter in shallow water, according to a team of paleontologists from the University of Otago.
skull of Aureia lelehua; Notice the spread of the teeth and the unevenness of the face. Image credit: Meakin other., doi: 10.1080/03036758.2024.2314505.
The newly described dolphin species lived in the Oligocene oceans about 22 million years ago.
dubbing Aureia lelehua this species was approximately 2 meters (6.6 ft) long and was very likely echolocated.
It has a weak skull, flexible neck, and unique lateral tooth orientation, suggesting that it scanned shallow waters and captured small prey by placing them in cages in its teeth.
University of Otago palaeontologist Shane Meakin said: “This dolphin had widely spread teeth, which are thought to have hugged fish like a wide cage. Other ancient dolphins in the region typically “This is unusual because it used its teeth to attack its prey.”
“When you look at a dolphin's teeth, it's natural to think that the large teeth at the front and center of the mouth are its main tools for catching prey and stabbing or cutting down unfortunate fish.”
“This looked like how closely related dolphins hunt; Aureia lelehua They seem to be taking a completely different approach, using these teeth in a more delicate way. “
fossil of Aureia lelehua The skull, teeth, ear bones, lower jaw, vertebrae and ribs were discovered in a quarry in New Zealand's Hakataramea Valley.
“Between 22 million and 27 million years ago, New Zealand sank and went from 1% above sea level to completely submerged, during which time marine life flourished,” the paleontologists said.
“The contemporary deposits are representative of many of the cetacean species present in the collections of the University of Otago Museum of Geology.”
“One of them is Aureia lelehua It was taken from a limestone quarry in South Canterbury's Hataramea Valley, known as 'Howe's Quarry'. ”
discovery of Aureia lelehua This indicates that there were many dolphin fossils in one small area, and their shapes varied widely.
“This shows that seemingly similar animals can coexist if they explore different ecological niches,” Meakin said.
“We also show that early prehistoric dolphins used different foraging strategies to explore different niches, which is why fossil localities such as the Hataramea Valley yielded so many species. Extinct dolphins have been recovered.
of findings On February 21, 2024, Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
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Shane Meakin other. Aureia lelehuaa new platanistoid dolphin born in the Oligocene of New Zealand with a unique feeding method. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, published online on February 21, 2024. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2024.2314505
Duck penises are quite unusual. You may have come across information about Drake online or seen pictures of him. In that case, you probably know that Drake’s genitals are not shaped like a typical phallus but instead have a corkscrew shape.
So, why do ducks have such peculiar reproductive organs? How do they reproduce? And what led to their evolution? We posed these questions to Dr. Patricia Brennan, an evolutionary biologist and an expert on duck penises at Mount Holyoke College in the US. Keep reading to discover why Donald Duck might have been better off wearing pants instead of a sailor shirt.
“They appear somewhat like tentacles, being pale in color and corkscrew-shaped,” described Brennan.
In certain duck species, the penis undergoes growth and regression during the breeding season. The extent of growth depends on the surroundings. A study led by Brennan in 2017 revealed that Drake’s penis grew considerably longer in the presence of other males compared to those in pairs with females, with some reaching up to 18 cm. An example is the red duck species with a total length of only 39cm.
The lake duck, native to South America, boasts the largest bird penis worldwide and the longest relative to body size, with a specimen from Argentina measuring 42.5 cm in length, compared to the average body length when fully retracted of 36 to 46 cm. For reference, the average erect human penis measures 13 to 18 cm.
Per Guinness World Records, the lake duck’s penis is characterized by barbs at the base and a “soft, brush-like” tip.
A duck’s vagina also has a corkscrew shape, but it spirals in the opposite direction from the penis. “It’s like a maze,” Brennan remarked. “At the entrance, there are several blind pouches followed by a series of narrow spirals.”
How do ducks reproduce?
“Quickly!” exclaimed Brennan. “The male’s penis becomes erect, and since they ejaculate in a third of a second, a brief cloacal contact is needed for insemination.” (If you’re curious, you can watch the video here.) Drake delivers sperm into the female’s vagina near the ovaries.
The unusual genitalia of ducks is a result of a sexual competition. Forced copulation is common among ducks, so the male’s elongated, flexible penis enhances his chances of successfully impregnating the female, while the female’s counterclockwise vagina offers her some control.
“These intricate structures prevent the complete eversion of unwanted males’ penises, causing their sperm to be nearer to the cloaca entrance, making it easier for females to expel the sperm. Thus, Brennan’s research revealed that female ducks can inhibit fertilization from undesired males.
However, if a female desires to mate with a specific male, she can relax her cloacal muscles to facilitate easier access.
About our expert Dr. Patricia Brennan
Dr. Patricia Brennan is an assistant professor of biological sciences at Mount Holyoke College in the United States. She specializes in the evolution of genital morphology and the mechanisms driving reproductive diversification. She has authored numerous research papers on waterfowl reproductive organs.
GN-z11 is an extremely bright galaxy that existed just 420 million years ago, making it one of the oldest and most distant galaxies ever observed.
This two-part diagram shows evidence of a gaseous mass of helium in the halo surrounding galaxy GN-z11. The small box at the top right corner shows her GN-z11 in the galaxy. The box in the center shows a magnified image of the galaxy. The left-most box shows a map of helium gas in GN-z11's halo. This also includes clumps that are not visible in the infrared colors shown in the center panel. The spectrum in the bottom half of the graphic shows a distinct “fingerprint” of helium within the halo. The full spectrum shows no evidence of other elements, so the helium blob must be fairly pure, made from leftover hydrogen and helium gas from the Big Bang, with little contamination from heavier elements produced by stars. It suggests that there is no. Theory and simulations near particularly massive galaxies of these epochs predict that pockets of primordial gas must remain within the halo, and that these may collapse to form Population III clusters. doing. Image credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/Ralf Crawford, STScI.
GN-z11 is an early but moderately massive galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major.
First discovered by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in 2016, the galaxy is estimated to be just 420 million years old, or 3% of its current age.
GN-z11 is about 25 times smaller than the Milky Way, with only 1% of the mass of stars in our galaxy.
Remarkably, this galaxy is home to a supermassive black hole of approximately 1.6 million solar masses that is rapidly accreting matter.
using, near infrared spectrometer Astronomer Roberto Maiorino of the University of Cambridge and colleagues detected gaseous clumps of helium in the halo surrounding GN-z11 using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope's (NIRSpec) instrument.
“The fact that we don't see anything but helium suggests that this mass must be fairly pure,” Maiorino said.
“This is what was predicted by theory and simulations near particularly massive galaxies of these times. There should be pockets of primordial gas left in the halo, and these collapse into population III. They may form star clusters.”
Finding never-before-seen “Population III stars” (first generation stars formed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium) is one of the most important goals of modern astrophysics.
These stars are expected to be very massive, very bright, and very hot.
Their expected characteristics are the presence of ionized helium and the absence of chemical elements heavier than helium.
The formation of the first stars and galaxies marked a fundamental change in the history of the universe, during which the universe went from a dark and relatively simple state to the highly structured and complex state we see today. It has evolved into an environment.
“In future Webb observations, we hope to probe GN-z11 more deeply and strengthen our case for Population III stars potentially forming within the halo,” the astronomers said.
Bose’s latest earbuds are a big departure from previous noise-canceling champions, as they’re designed to let outside sound in instead of blocking it out and sitting in your ears, making them more than just gadgets. It also resembles jewelry.
These are the latest evolution of Bose’s open audio technology, which uses small speakers to play music without blocking your ears, and was last seen in the excellent Frames audio glasses, which have since been discontinued.
The Ultra Open Earbuds cost a hefty £300 (€349/$299), joining the ranks of smaller open earbuds such as: £179 Shocks Open Fit Or the £149 Sony LinkBuds. However, Bose has two major advantages over his rivals. It has a great, full sound and an innovative fit that doesn’t get in the way of glasses or other headwear.
The look and fit of the Ultra Open is unlike any other earphone. The slit on the top projects noise canceling sound and reduces noise leakage from the earphones.
Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The battery cylinder is located behind the ear and connected via a flexible silicone spring to an L-shaped plastic speaker arm, which together hold the earbuds in place around the side of the ear.
The fit is very unique and takes a little practice to get it right, but once it’s in place it’s light and comfortable. I was sure it would fall if I ran, but no matter how much I sweated or how much I shook my head, it remained firmly in place.
The earbuds are charged via metal contacts on the underside of the battery.
Paleontologists have described a new species of extinct ramid shark Paleohypotodus Based on 17 fossilized teeth found in Alabama, USA.
Fossilized teeth are Paleohypotodus bizocoi.Image credit: Eversole other., doi: 10.3897/fr.27.e112800.
“Paleohypotodus “Sharks are an extinct genus of sheep-like sharks that range in time from the late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) to the late Eocene (Priabonian), with isolated teeth scattered over large areas around the world. It has been reported from different sources,” said Dr. June Ebersole. McWane Science Center Collections Director and his colleagues.
“There are three recognized species in this genus, including the Cretaceous. Palaeohypotodus bronniand Paleogene Paleohypotodus borgensis and Palaeohypotodus rutoti”
“These species have an upright to strongly hooked distal crown, a smooth cutting edge, one or more pairs of lateral cusps, and a unique combination of folds along the labial crown foot. It is characterized by sturdy teeth.
“Paleohypotodus Although known primarily by solitary teeth, at least one partially associated skeleton has been reported. ”
The newly identified species is Paleohypotodus bizocoilived about 65 million years ago (Paleocene epoch).
A collection of 17 teeth belonging to this species was recently discovered in the historical collections of the Alabama Geological Survey in Tuscaloosa.
“A few years ago, while looking through our historic fossil collection at the Alabama Geological Survey, we came across a small box containing a shark tooth collected in Wilcox County over 100 years ago,” Eversole said. the doctor said.
“We've been documenting fossilized remains of hundreds of fish species over the past decade, but it was puzzling that these teeth belonged to sharks we didn't recognize.”
Paleohypotodus bizocoi It was a major predator when the ocean was recovering from the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.
“In Alabama, during the Paleocene, much of the southern half of the state was covered by shallow tropical to subtropical oceans,” says T. Lynn, a paleontologist and curator of fossil collections at the Alabama Geological Survey. Dr. Harrell Jr. says. .
“This era is less well studied, which makes the discovery of this new species of shark all the more important.”
“Shark discoveries like this one give us tremendous insight into how marine life recovers after large-scale extinction events. We also know that global events such as climate change are changing the way our oceans are today. We may also be able to predict how this will affect living organisms.”
As part of their study, the authors compared fossil teeth. Paleohypotodus bizocoi to sharks from a variety of modern sharks, including great whites and shortfin mako sharks.
“By studying the jaws and teeth of extant sharks, we were able to reconstruct the dentition of this ancient species and found that it has a tooth arrangement unlike any other living shark.” said Curator of History Dr. David Sisimuri. Carolina State Museum.
a paper A description of the discovery was published in a magazine fossil record.
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JA Eversole other. 2024.new species Paleohypotodus Glickman, 1964 (chondrichthyes, oligidae), collected from the Lower Paleocene (Danian) Porters Creek Formation, Wilcox County, Alabama, USA. fossil record 27 (1): 111-134; doi: 10.3897/fr.27.e112800
Sanphodiacaulis densifolia is an extinct tree species that existed in what is now New Brunswick, Canada, between 359 and 347 million years ago (Carboniferous period). The structure consisted of an unbranched 16 cm diameter trunk and compound leaves arranged in a 13 cm spiral and compressed to a vertical trunk length of 14 cm. The compound leaves in the upper 0.75 m of the trunk were over 1.75 m long, with preserved alternating secondary collaterals starting 0.5 m from the trunk. In the lower region of the trunk there were only persistent leaf bases. Sanphodiacaulis densifolia shows that the early Carboniferous vegetation was more complex than expected, indicating that this was an experimental, perhaps transitional, period of diverse growth structures.
Sanphodiacaulis densifolia. Image credit: Tim Stonecipher.
Trees first appeared during the Middle Devonian period (393 to 383 million years ago), but modern woody plants did not appear until about 10 million years later.
Evidence for dendritic structures (tree-like structures) is primarily based on mud moldings, sand moldings, or calcified stumps, or extensive root structures in fossilized soils.
Under unique preservation conditions, these early trees fossilized with roots and crown structures attached to their trunks.
“The method is Sanphodiacaulis densifolia “It has very long leaves around its slender trunk, and it's amazing how many leaves there are on such a short trunk,” said Dr. Robert Gastaldo, a paleontologist at Colby College. he said.
“The morphology of these 350-million-year-old trees looks like ferns or palms, even though palms arose 300 million years ago.”
“However, the functional leaves of ferns and palm trees are clustered at the top and are relatively few in number.”
“in contrast, Sanphodiacaulis densifolia More than 250 leaves have been preserved around the trunk, with each partially preserved leaf extending 1.75 meters from the trunk. ”
“We estimate that each leaf grew at least another meter before it finished.”
“This means that ‘bottlebrush’ had a dense canopy of leaves that were not woody and spread for at least 5.5 meters around a trunk that was only 16 cm in diameter. Amazing to say the least. .”
Sanphodiacaulis densifolia It has compound leaves arranged in a spiral.Image credit: Gastaldo other., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.011.
Dr. Gastaldo and his colleagues examined five fossil specimens. Sanphodiacaulis densifolia.
The fossil was excavated from the Sanford Quarry, part of the Albert Formation in New Brunswick, Canada.
“These fossils were preserved when an earthquake destroyed trees and other vegetation along the edge of a rift lake,” Gastaldo said.
“The first fossil wood was unearthed from a quarry about seven years ago, but it contained only one partial sample.”
“It took several years to find four other specimens of the same plant in close spatial proximity.”
“One of the specimens reveals how the leaves separate from the top of the tree, which makes this tree quite unique.”
“This is one of the few preserved trunks with crown leaves still attached in a fossil record spanning more than 400 million years.”
Actual and reconstructed heights and biostratigraphic ranges of Pennsylvanian trees from the Middle Devonian. Image credit: Gastaldo et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.011.
Sanphodiacaulis densifolia It probably relied on its unusual growth form to maximize the amount of light it could capture and reduce competition with other plants above ground.
This discovery provides important insights into the evolution of plants and arboreal growth, that is, plants that grow to the height of a tree, or at least 4.5 m, at maturity.
They also remind us that throughout the history of life on Earth, there have been trees that look like nothing we've ever seen before.
“We all have a mental concept of what a tree looks like, depending on where we live on the planet, and we all have a vision of something familiar,” Dr. Gastaldo said. Ta.
“The fossils we report are unique and represent some of the strangest growth forms in the history of life.”
“This is an evolutionary experiment during a period of forest plant biodiversity, and it appears to be a short-lived form.”
“The history of life on land consists of plants and animals that are different from those that live today,” he added.
“The evolutionary mechanisms that operated in the distant past allowed organisms to survive for long periods of time, but their shape, morphology, growth structure, and life history followed different trajectories and strategies.”
“Rare and unusual fossils like the New Brunswick tree are just a few examples of failed experiments that have colonized our planet.”
a paper The survey results were published in a magazine current biology.
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Robert A. Gastaldo other. A mysterious fossil plant with a three-dimensional tree-like growth structure from the earliest Carboniferous period in New Brunswick, Canada. current biology, published online on February 2, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.011
New AI has revealed unexpected discoveries. Surprisingly, your fingerprints aren’t as unique as previously thought.
Well, at least when compared to each other. It has long been believed that fingerprints on different fingers of the same person are unique. In other words, the fingerprint on your index finger bears little resemblance to the fingerprint on your thumb.
This belief that “intrapersonal fingerprints” are unique has had a major impact on forensic science. For example, if a criminal leaves different finger prints at different crime scenes, it is difficult for police to link them to one person.
But a new “deep contrast network” artificial intelligence built by scientists at Columbia University could leave a big mark on future crime scenes. The researchers found that they could make predictions after training on a database of 60,000 fingerprints. Two prints are from the same person with 77% accuracy.
This number would rise even more if the AI was fed other fingerprints from the same hand. Researchers say this breakthrough could improve current forensic efficiency by more than 10 times.
“Imagine how well this would work [AI] “If it’s trained on millions of fingerprints instead of thousands, it will work,” said Anib Ray, engineering senior at Columbia.
Dr. Hod Lipson“If this information tipped the balance, I imagine there would be a resurgence of cold cases and even innocent people could be exonerated,” said the author, who oversaw the study.
So what has AI discovered that forensic scientists have missed for decades? Unlike traditional fingerprint comparisons, AI detects “minutiae,” or similarities between the branches and ends of fingerprint ridges. was not focused on. Instead, they focused on the angles and curvature of the whorls and loops at the center of the fingerprint.
Fingerprints are examined by minutiae (L) and central ridge angle (R). – Photo credit: Columbia University.
“Many people think that AI can’t actually make new discoveries, it just regurgitates knowledge,” Lipson says. “However, this study shows that even very simple AI, based on very simple datasets that the research community has had lying around for years, provides insights that have eluded experts for decades. This is an example of how we can deliver.”
After all, the fingerprints on your fingers may not be that different from each other, but it is unlikely to be shared with others. In fact, the chances that two people share the same fingerprint are estimated to be less than 1 in 64 billion. This means that probably more than 1 million years two people with identical fingerprints happen to appear in Scotland Yard’s fingerprint database.
Identical twins also have unique patterns. This is because the bumps on your fingers are determined not only by your DNA, but also by how you developed as a fetus. The length of the umbilical cord, its position in the uterus, blood pressure, nutrition, and rate of finger growth all play a role.
Gorillas, chimpanzees, and koalas are some of the animals that have been found to have unique markings.
Some of the yeasts used to brew Guinness today are descendants of those used in 1903.
Artur Widak/NurPhoto SRL/Alamy
The yeast strain used to brew Guinness, Ireland's traditional stout, is genetically different from the yeast strains used to make other Irish beers.
Brewer's yeast (budding yeast) is an essential element in beer production. During fermentation, these microorganisms convert sugars from malt into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Using different strains of this yeast can result in different types of beer, such as stouts and lagers, and can also affect its flavor profile.
Daniel Kerruish A research team from food and drink company Diageo Ireland Unlimited has determined which yeasts are used to brew Guinness, based on records kept by the Guinness brewery since 1903 of the yeast strains used in its malty, bitter stout. investigated its evolution over many years.
The research team compared the genomes of 13 strains. S. cerevisiae There are up to 160 different strains, including those currently or historically used to brew Guinness, and six used by other Irish breweries.
Although Guinness yeast and other Irish brewer's yeasts belonged to the same lineage, Kerruish and his team discovered that they were genetically distinct enough that Guinness yeast belonged to a previously unidentified subpopulation. Did. Irish brewer's yeasts, other than Guinness, were more closely related to strains of British origin.
Guinness strains were also found to produce a particular balance of flavor compounds, including 4-vinylguaiacol, which produces a subtle clove-like aroma, and diacetyl, which imparts a buttery taste.
The research team also discovered that the two strains currently used in Guinness are descendants of the strain used to brew stout in 1903.
“The more we learn about Guinness yeast, the more we realize how unique and special it is,” says Keluisch. “Guinness is a great beer, so it probably won’t surprise you.”
“What's particularly unique and exciting about this study is that the company has very detailed records of past handling of the strains,” he says. brian gibson at the Technical University of Berlin, Germany. “This information could be used to further develop these yeasts and others used in industrial applications.”
This scientific study used satellite transmitters, population counts, and DNA analysis of tissue samples to describe the special Kangi ringed seal in the Ilulissat Icefjord. Here, a satellite transmitter is attached to the seal’s back.Credit: Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Nature Research
Local hunters in the Icefjord near Ilulissat are familiar with a special type of ringed seal known as the Kangia seal. Kangia seals vary in size and appearance, being significantly larger than the common Arctic ringed seal, and with markedly different fur colors and patterns. Recent scientific research has revealed that this distinctive seal has been genetically separated from Arctic seals over a long period of over 100,000 years.
Exploring the natural wonders of the Arctic can be difficult. Extreme weather and vast distances often hinder researchers’ quest to uncover nature’s mysteries.
However, a research project led by Greenlandic and Danish researchers has succeeded in describing a new species of ringed seal that lives in an ice fjord near Ilulissat in West Greenland. A unique natural area on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The results were recently published in a prestigious scientific journal. molecular ecology.
Kangia ringed seals are larger than the typical Arctic ringed seal, and their fur is a different color and has more distinctive markings.Credit: Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Nature Research
small population
For years, researchers worked with local hunters to trap seals in nets and attach small satellite transmitters to their backs. As the seals flew, satellite transmitters sent messages about the seal’s location.
“We found that the Kangia seals mainly stayed within the ice fjords. We were able to count the seals from the plane, so we estimated that there was only about one seal. There are 3,000 special Kangi ringed seals,” said Akual Rosing Asvid, a senior researcher at the Greenland Institute for Nature Research Pingoltitalerifik and one of the researchers who supported the study. .
Color and pattern of the fur of the Kangia ringed seal (left) and a typical Arctic ringed seal (right).Credit: Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Nature Research
Their small population is very unusual compared to the typical Arctic ringed seal, which is huge and often travels thousands of kilometers around the North Pole in search of food.
isolated for thousands of years
The researchers also took small tissue samples from the captive seals. The samples were sent for genetic analysis to determine the seal’s identity. DNA The results revealed that Kangia ringed seals are genetically distinct from typical Arctic ringed seals.
Kangia ringed seals live in the Ilulissat Icefjord, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its spectacular and unique nature.Credit: Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Nature Research
However, where and how the Kangia ringed seal became isolated from other Arctic ringed seals and why it acquired new special biological characteristics remains a mystery.
Perhaps other arctic fjords also have special seals
The study highlights that there is still much we don’t know about the biodiversity of the Arctic and its potential to adapt to climate change and human activities.
“There are many other fjords in the Arctic that have not yet been studied in detail, and ringed seals may also carry new genetic mutations in these areas,” said Rune Dietz, professor at Aarhus University’s School of Ecological Sciences. Point out. he participated in the research.
Reference: “Evolutionarily distinct ringed seals of the Ilulissat Icefjord” Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Ari Löytynoja, Paolo Momigliano, Rikke Guldborg Hansen, Camilla Hjorth Scharff-Olsen, Mia Valtonen, Juhana Kammonen, Rune Dietz, Frank Farsø Rigét, Steve By H Ferguson, Christian Leidersen, Kit M. Kovacs, David M. Holland, Jukka Jarnvall, Petri Auvinen, Morten Tange Olsen, October 19, 2023. molecular ecology.
Researchers have discovered a unique case in a Colombian family where a woman with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease remained cognitively healthy due to a rare APOE gene mutation, the Christchurch mutation. This mutation disrupts the typical progression of Alzheimer’s disease and suggests new prevention strategies. Dementia may be prevented by breaking the link between early and late stages of the disease.
The disease has plagued one large Colombian family for generations, killing half of them in their prime years. But one member of the family avoided what seemed like fate. She remained cognitively healthy well into her 70s, even though her relatives inherited her genetic defect that caused her to develop dementia in her 40s.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis now think they know why. Previous research had reported that the woman was in possession of two copies of the rare variant, unlike her relatives. Apoe A gene known as the Christchurch mutation.
In this study, researchers used genetically modified mice to show that the Christchurch mutation was associated with early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, when a protein called amyloid beta accumulates in the brain, and another protein called tau, which causes cognitive impairment. begins to decline. So the women remained mentally alert for decades, even though their brains were filled with large amounts of amyloid.
“All protective factors are very interesting because they give us new clues about how the disease works,” said lead authors Barbara Barton, Ph.D., and Reuben M. said David M. Holzman, M.D., Morris III Professor Emeritus of Neurology.
Understanding the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, the researches found thatthe main difference was the level of activity of microglia, the brain’s waste-processing cells. Microglia tend to cluster around amyloid plaques. In mice with Apoe The Christchurch mutation activated microglia surrounding amyloid plaques, making them highly efficient at consuming and processing tau aggregates.
Reference: “APOE3ch alters microglial responses and suppresses Aβ-induced tau dissemination and spread” Yun Chen, Sihui Song, Samira Parhizkar, Jennifer Lord, Yiyang Zhu, Michael R. Strickland, Chanung Wang, Jiyu Park, G By Travis Tabor, Hong Jiang, Kevin Lee, Albert A. Davis, Carla M. Huede, Marco Colonna, Jason D. Ulrich, David M. Holtzman, December 11, 2023. cell.DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.029
Guests enjoy turkey, peanut and chocolate main courses and test ‘flavor bridging’ theory
david stock
Some foods are made for each other. From the comforting combination of mozzarella, tomato, and marjoram on pizza to the enchanting trinity of ginger, garlic, and soy sauce that makes East Asian cuisine so natural, some combinations are so natural that you could live without them. It’s so hard to imagine. But for centuries, gourmets and scholars have been puzzled as to why some foods go together so well.
In 1992, with chef Heston Blumenthal. Francois Benge Let’s go to the laboratory to solve the mystery of this dish. They came up with the idea that foods that taste good together also share many volatile flavor compounds, chemicals that carry aromas that rise to the back of the nose and create flavor perception on the tongue. Their findings were validated in 2011 with the following study: Analyzed 56,498 recipes from various world cuisines.
Yongyeol Ang and his colleagues at Indiana University used that data to build a network model, a complex map that shows the relationships between all the ingredients in a recipe and the flavor compounds they share. This confirms that North American and Western European recipes tend to combine ingredients that share flavor components.
The “Flavor Pairing Theory” has revolutionized the world of cooking. food manufacturer Investing resources to apply that idea to a product, startup companies Leverage open source data on flavor compounds to predict the next big…
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