Tag Archives: unveils

Amazon Unveils Kuiper Internet Satellites: Key Insights You Need to Have

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The competition in space between billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk is poised to expand into satellite internet.

Originally launched as an online bookstore three decades ago, Amazon has evolved into a merchandising powerhouse, owning the James Bond franchise and retailing electronics like the Echo smart speaker, along with being a leading provider of cloud computing services.

Thus, it’s no surprise that Amazon is rolling out the first batch of thousands of satellites under Project Kuiper, designed to provide connectivity in our modern world. The high-speed internet market from space is largely dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which offers a similar service. Starlink boasts a vast fleet of satellites and regularly conducts launches, serving millions globally.

The initial attempt to launch a satellite on April 9 was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions at the launch site. The company is set to make another attempt this coming Monday.

The first 27 Project Kuiper satellites are scheduled for launch on Monday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, between 7 PM and 9 PM Eastern Time. They will be lifted aboard the Atlas V rocket, developed by the United Launch Alliance—a collaboration between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

ULA plans to provide live coverage starting at 6:35 PM; the company reports a 70% chance of an on-time launch.

The rocket will place the Kuiper satellites into a circular orbit approximately 280 miles above Earth. The satellites’ propulsion systems will gradually elevate them to an orbit of 393 miles.

Project Kuiper comprises a network of internet satellites designed to deliver high-speed data connections to nearly every location on Earth. To achieve this, thousands of satellites are necessary, with Amazon aiming to deploy over 3,200 within the next few years.

The project competes with SpaceX’s Starlink, which primarily caters to residential customers.

Kuiper aims to target remote areas while also integrating with Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing solution that is highly valued by large enterprises and governments worldwide. This could make it particularly appealing for businesses needing satellite imagery and weather forecasts to carry out data processing, alongside the capacity to transfer large volumes of data over the internet.

Ground stations will link the Kuiper satellites to the service infrastructure, allowing businesses to interact with their own remote devices. For instance, Amazon indicates that energy firms could leverage Kuiper to monitor and manage remote wind farms and offshore drilling operations.

In October 2023, two prototype Kuiper satellites were launched for technology testing. Amazon stated that the tests were successful, but these prototypes were not intended for long-term operational constellations; after seven months, they re-entered the atmosphere. The company noted that they have since refined the design of all systems and subsystems.

“There’s a significant difference between launching two satellites and launching 3,000 satellites,” remarked Rajeev Badyal, an Amazon executive overseeing Kuiper, in a promotional video ahead of the launch.

Amazon informed the Federal Communications Commission in 2020 that the service would commence after the deployment of the initial 578 satellites. The company anticipates that customers will be able to access the internet later this year.

While a fully operational constellation requires thousands of satellites, it is feasible for the company to serve certain areas with fewer satellites initially, expanding to broader global coverage later.

The FCC’s approval for the constellation stipulates that at least half of the satellites must be launched by July 30, 2026. Industry experts suggest that if significant progress is shown by that deadline, the company could be granted an extension.

Launching a satellite also relies on the timely availability of rockets, which can present challenges if there aren’t enough launches lined up. Additionally, Amazon must construct numerous ground stations to relay signals to users.

Source: www.nytimes.com

New Genome Study Unveils the Evolution and Diversity of the Apple Genus

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Malus is a genus comprising over 35 species that thrive in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, spanning regions from East Asia to Europe and North America. This genus includes the cultivated apple, Malus domestica, along with its wild relatives. Recent research has unveiled the evolutionary connections among Malus species and traced their genetic development over the past 60 million years.

Malus evolutionary landscape informed by phylogenetics. Image credits: Li et al., doi: 10.1038/s41588-025-02166-6.

“There are around 35 species within the Malus genus; however, despite the significance of apples as a fruit crop, comprehensive research on the evolution of this group’s genome has been lacking.”

“This study provided insights into the Malus genome, established the apple family tree, documented genomic events including whole-genome overlap and hybridization among species, and identified genomic regions linked to specific traits, such as resistance to apple scab disease.”

Professor Ma and his team compiled the genomes of 30 species by sequencing their DNA, focusing on the Malus genus known for its delicious golden apple varieties.

Among the 30 species, 20 are diploid, meaning they possess two chromosome copies per set, similar to humans, while 10 are polyploid, indicating they have three or four chromosome copies, likely resulting from recent hybridization with diploid relatives of Malus.

By scrutinizing nearly 1,000 gene sequences across these species, researchers constructed a phylogenetic tree for the genus and employed biogeographical analysis to trace its origins back to Asia approximately 56 million years ago.

“The evolutionary narrative of the genus is intricate, showcasing numerous instances of hybridization among species and shared whole-genome events that complicate comparisons,” stated Professor Ma.

“Access to high-quality genomes for a large number of species within the genus has enabled us to explore how Malus evolved and the interrelationships among these species.”

Further research into the evolutionary history of Malus genomes utilized analytical techniques called pan-genomics.

This methodology encompasses a thorough comparison of conserved genes and so-called ‘jumping genes’ that can move within the genome across the 30 species, along with genes found only in a subset of the genomes.

The analysis of pan-gene dynamics benefited greatly from the use of a pangenome graph tool, which amalgamates genomic data from closely related groups to elucidate evolutionary conservation and divergence.

“Utilizing 30 pangenomes significantly aided in identifying structural variations, gene duplications, and rearrangements among species that could have been missed with fewer genome comparisons,” remarked Professor Ma.

“Notably, one structural variant uncovered allowed us to pinpoint genomic segments related to apple scab resistance, a fungal disease impacting apples globally.”

The researchers also developed a pangenome analysis tool designed to detect evidence of selective sweeps, a process whereby advantageous traits rapidly increase in frequency within a population.

With this approach, they pinpointed genomic regions linked to cold and disease resistance in wild Malus species, which might also correlate with undesirable fruit taste.

“Attempts to cultivate the best flavor in fruit may have inadvertently diminished the hardiness of cultivated apple varieties,” noted Professor Ma.

Understanding structural variations in Malus, including hybridization histories, interspecies relationships, and pangenomic insights can inform future breeding strategies aimed at retaining both flavor and disease-resistant traits in apples.

Research findings published in the journal Nature Genetics.

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W. Li et al. Pangenome analysis reveals evolution and diversity in Malus. Nat Genet. Published online on April 16th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41588-025-02166-6

Source: www.sci.news

Nintendo Unveils Two New Switch Consoles Set to Release on June 5th | Gaming

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After much anticipation and mysterious teaser videos, Nintendo has officially unveiled the successor to its popular Switch console. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch on June 5th with a starting price of £395.99 for the base package, including Mario Kart World, and £429.99 for additional features.

The new screen is larger, measuring 7.9 inches with a 1080p resolution for improved clarity. It supports up to 120 frames per second and high dynamic range lighting for enhanced color contrast. Despite these upgrades, the console maintains the same thickness as its predecessor. The dock can now connect to 4K televisions for a better viewing experience.

The redesigned Joy-Con 2 controller magnetically attaches to the console and features larger SL and SR buttons for improved gameplay. Each Joy-Con can also function as a mouse with a rollerball for precise movements, as demonstrated in the game Drag X Drive. Additionally, a trailer for the new title Mario Kart World was showcased during the live stream.

Nintendo Switch 2. Photo: Nintendo

Other game announcements included Zelda Hyrule Warriors, Kirby Air Rider, and Donkey Kong Bananza. Several third-party titles were also revealed, like Elden Ring Tanished Edition, Hades II, and Hitman World of Assassination.

The Switch 2 boasts improved internal speakers, 3D audio support, and a sturdier stand for different viewing angles. It offers full backward compatibility with most original Switch games and upgraded visuals for select titles.

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Used as a mouse… Switch 2 controller. Photo: Nintendo

Nintendo has focused on enhancing social features with the Switch 2, including GameChat and video chat capabilities. The new Gameshare feature allows sharing games with up to three players. Despite being slightly behind in technical specs compared to other consoles, Nintendo continues to prioritize innovation and game quality.

“We have to wait a bit longer for the launch,” said Takuhiro Dohta, the Design Director of Switch 2, signaling an exciting time for Nintendo fans.

Source: www.theguardian.com

ChatGpt company unveils AI models preferred for creative writing

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The company behind ChatGpt has announced that Tech Sector has created an artificial intelligence model that excels at creative writing and is competing with the creative industry beyond copyright.

Openai CEO Sam Altman expressed his astonishment at the quality of written output from one of the startup’s products.

In a social media post on platform X, Altman shared, “This is the first time I’ve truly been impressed by something written by AI.”

AI systems like CHATGPT have been at the center of a legal dispute between AI companies and the creative industry due to their training on copyrighted material. The New York Times, Tanehisi Coates, and Sarah Silverman are among the US authors suing meta for copyright infringement.

In the UK, the government suggests AI companies can use copyrighted materials to train their models without seeking permission, creating uncertainty and hindering technological development in the creative industry.

The UK Publishers Association cited Altman’s post as evidence that AI models rely on copyrighted material for training.

Altman shared an AI-generated literary short story on platform X, showcasing the model’s creativity. The story delves into themes of AI and sadness through a fictional protagonist named Mira.

The AI, referring to itself as a “collective of human phrases,” acknowledges the familiarity of its content while expressing a desire to craft an appropriate ending to the story.

Altman praised the AI’s response for capturing the essence of metafiction accurately.

Last year, Openai acknowledged the necessity of training products like ChatGPT using copyrighted materials due to the extensive coverage of copyright laws on various human representations.

Source: www.theguardian.com

After securing the meta contract, Arm unveils its own chip launch

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The UK semiconductor designer ARM reportedly plans to launch its own chip this year after landing Meta as one of its first customers.

The move represents a massive overhaul of the SoftBank-owned group’s business model, licensing chip blueprints to Apple and Nvidia.

ARM CEO Rene Haas is set to announce its first in-house chip as early as this summer, according to a Financial Times report citing people familiar with the plan.

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Since the company was founded in 1990, more than 300 million chips have been shipped based on ARM design, and almost all world smartphones are based on ARM technology. Moving from chip design to manufacturing a full, proprietary processor could also compete with the largest customers in the £500 million semiconductor industry.

ARM declined to comment. The company’s shares rose more than 6% on Thursday after finance reported its plans.

Financial Times also has its own intellectual property by creating a vast infrastructure network for AI, which has shifted to the production of AI chips by the son of SoftBank founder Masayoshi, and building a vast infrastructure network for artificial intelligence. It reported that it is one step in a big plan to make more money from.


Masayoshi Son, CEO of Softbank Group. Photo: Mitsui/Aflo/Rex/Shutterstock

Last month, Son announced its Stargate initiative at Openai. It spends an estimated £400 million building AI infrastructure, funded by Abu Dhabi State Fund MGX and Oracle, and is armed as a major technology partner alongside Microsoft and Nvidia.

According to those familiar with the plan, ARM’s chips are the central processing units (CPUs) of servers in large data centers and are expected to be customizable for clients, including Meta. These people said production will be outsourced to manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

Another transaction essential to ARM’s chipmaking project is SoftBank’s anticipated acquisition of Ampere. It could be valued at nearly $6.5 billion (£5.155 billion).

Cambridge Headquarted Arm has more than doubled to $173 million since it was listed on the Nasdaq in 2023. Before SoftBank took over it in 2016, ARM was previously listed in London.

Meta is the latest big tech company that looks to ARM for power-efficient server chips instead of Intel and AMD. Meanwhile, ARM’s Nvidia partnership with Amazon has driven the rapid growth of data centers that power Openai, Meta, and human AI assistants.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hubble’s Stunning Photomosaic of the Andromeda Galaxy Unveils Countless Stars

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A century ago, American astronomer Edwin Hubble was the first to prove that this so-called “spiral nebula” lies about 2.5 million light-years away from the Milky Way. To date, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has achieved the most comprehensive survey of the Andromeda Galaxy. It took more than 10 years to collect the data. This colorful portrait which captures the glow of 200 million stars and was created from over 600 snapshots.

This is the largest photomosaic ever assembled from Hubble observations. A panoramic view of the neighboring Andromeda galaxy, 2.5 million light years away. Image credit: NASA/ESA/B. Williams, University of Washington.

The Andromeda Galaxy (Mesier 31) is located 2.5 million light-years away and is the closest large galaxy neighbor to the Milky Way.

Hubble's sharp imaging power can resolve more than 200 million stars in the galaxy and detect only those stars brighter than the Sun. They look like grains of sand on a beach. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Andromeda's total population is estimated to be 1 trillion stars, with many less massive stars falling below Hubble's sensitivity limit.

“Imaging the Andromeda Galaxy was a difficult task because it is a much larger target than the galaxies that Hubble regularly observes, often billions of light years away,” Washington said. said university astronomer Zhuo Chen and colleagues.

“The complete mosaic was performed under two Hubble observing programs. In total, it required more than 1,000 Hubble orbits spanning more than 10 years.”

“This panorama… Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) Program About ten years ago. ”

The Andromeda Galaxy is tilted 77 degrees to Earth's perspective and is seen almost head-on. Areas of interest include (a) a photobombing of bright blue clusters of stars embedded within the galaxy, background galaxies visible in the distance, and some bright foreground stars that are actually within the Milky Way; Masu. (b) NGC 206 is Andromeda's most prominent nebula. (c) A young population of newborn blue stars. (d) Satellite galaxy M32. This could be the remnant nucleus of a galaxy that once collided with Andromeda. (e) A dark dust band across countless stars. Image credit: NASA/ESA/B. Williams, University of Washington.

“Images were acquired at near-ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths. Hubble's advanced survey camera (ACS) and wide field camera 3 (WFC3) To photograph the northern half of Andromeda. ”

“The follow-up of this program is Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Tropical Treasury (PHAST), added images of about 100 million stars in the southern half of Andromeda. ”

“This region is structurally unique and more sensitive to the history of galactic mergers than the northern disk mapped by the PHAT survey.”

“The combined program collectively covers Andromeda's entire disc, which is tilted 77 degrees to Earth's field of view and viewed almost head-on.”

“The galaxy is so large that the mosaic is assembled from about 600 separate fields of view.”

of result described in the paper. astrophysical journal.

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Zhuo Chen others. 2025. Fast. Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Southern Treasury. I. Ultraviolet and optical photometry of over 90 million stars in M31. APJ 979, 35;doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad7e2b

Source: www.sci.news

NOIRLab unveils detailed images of 88 constellations and expansive night sky photo

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NSF’s NOIRLab, in collaboration with ESA/Hubble, released A collection of free high-resolution images of all 88 zodiac signs. The largest open source and free available all-sky photography night sky.

This all-sky photo of the night sky was compiled by astrophotographer Eckhart Slavik using images taken from the best and darkest locations around the world. Image credit: NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / E. Slawik / M. Zamani.

“This complete collection of free, high-resolution, downloadable images of all 88 Western IAU-recognized constellations serves as an educational archive for personal and academic use,” NOIRLab astronomers said in a statement.

“This project also includes the release of the largest open-source and freely available all-sky photography of the night sky.”

The photographer behind these amazing high-quality images is German astrophotographer Eckhard Slavik.

“The images were taken on film and each panel consists of two separate exposures, one with a diffuser filter and one without, allowing the colors of the stars to shine through. visible,” the astronomers said.

“All products include a comprehensive description of the constellation and its historical origins, as well as corresponding standardized stick figures, outline drawings, finder charts, and descriptions of the constellation's most prominent deep-sky objects. Included.

“Existing astronomical images of these deep-sky objects taken with various NSF NOIRLab telescopes are also included.”

“Downloadable flashcards and other audio-visual aids and materials make it easy to bring constellations into the classroom.”

NOIRLab astronomers have also released the largest open-source, freely available all-sky photo of the night sky.

“With 40,000 pixels, this is probably one of the best images of its kind ever made,” they wrote.

“This giant skyscape was compiled using images taken by Slavik from the highest and darkest places around the world: Tenerife, La Palma, Spain; Namibia; and Chile.”

“The 88 constellation images can be viewed by all ages and are particularly suitable for use in planetariums and museums.”

“Please visit” Project webpage Learn about all 88 constellations and see how many you can spot in the night sky. ”

Source: www.sci.news

China unveils new herbivorous dinosaur species

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dubbing asian archaeologistA team of Chinese paleontologists say the newly discovered species is the earliest ornithischian dinosaur ever discovered in Asia.

asian archaeologist. Image credit: Yao others., doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111641.

asian archaeologist It lived in what is now southwest China during the early Jurassic period, about 193 million years ago.

This dinosaur was about 1 meter (3.3 ft) long and belonged to a group of plant-eating dinosaurs called. ornithischian.

“Ornithischians, a prominent clade of dinosaurs, diversified into various forms such as ancleosaurs, stegosaurs, hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, and pachycephalosaurs throughout the Mesozoic era,” said Yunnan University paleontologist. Shi Yao et al. said.

“Like other non-avian dinosaurs, they were threatened with extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period, but their early evolutionary history remains debated.”

“During the Early Jurassic, ornithischian fossils were abundant and diverse on the Gondwana supercontinent.”

“In contrast, the Laurasian ornithischian fossil record from this period is less diverse and consists primarily of armored dinosaurs.”

Almost complete left femur asian archaeologist It was discovered in the Shujing Formation, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north of Chongqing Central Park in Yubei District, Chongqing City, southwest China.

According to the research team, the new species shows compatibility with Gondwanan species. Eoccursor Parbus.

This discovery indicates that there was an early dispersal event of ornithischian dinosaurs from Gondwana to Laurasia, including East Asia, in the Early Jurassic period, independent of, and perhaps more than, the dispersal of armored dinosaurs. It seems that it is also early.

“The new phylogenetic topology proposed in the study suggests a more independent dispersal of ornithischian dinosaurs into East Asia during the Early Jurassic,” the researchers said.

“The close relationship between asian archaeologist and Eoccursor ParbusDespite their remote habitats, this suggests that they probably originated from Gondwana, then migrated north to Laurasia, and finally to East Asia during the Pliensbach period. . ”

“This timing could occur before the arrival of armored dinosaurs in the region.”

“Furthermore, this new topology hypothesizes the existence of a previously unrecognized cosmopolitan clade of early ornithischian dinosaurs, phylogenetically located between Heterodontosauridae and Thyleophora.”

“Nevertheless, due to its fragmentary nature, asian archaeologist Support for the holotype, this clade, remains tentative, awaiting further fossil discoveries. ”

of the team paper Published in this month's magazine iscience.

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X Yao others. New evidence of the oldest ornithischian dinosaur discovered in Asia. isciencepublished online on December 19, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111641

Source: www.sci.news

China Unveils New Species of Oviraptorosaurus

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A new genus and species of early-diverging oviraptorosaurs have been identified from two specimens discovered in Inner Mongolia, China.

rebuilding the life of Yuanyang Long Bai Nian. Image credit: Sci.News / Ddinodan.

“Oviraptorosauridae Dr. Xin Shu, a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Center for Vertebrate Evolutionary Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has discovered that Penaraptor is a special species known primarily from the rich Cretaceous fossil record of Asia and North America. Said to be a group of order theropods. Yunnan University and colleagues.

“In recent years, a series of new discoveries have deepened our knowledge of their diversity, behavior, ontogeny, and reproductive biology.”

“More than 40 genera have been named, and Oviraptorosaurus undoubtedly includes some of the earliest divergent species. Inchesibosaurus Caudipterygidae and highly specialized edentulous species from northeastern China; Abimimus Oviraptoridae are from East Asia, Caenagnathidae are from Asia and North America, and the best known species date from the Late Cretaceous. ”

The new oviraptorosaur lived in what is now China during the early Cretaceous period, about 110 million years ago.

named Yuanyang Long Bai Nianit exhibits a unique combination of morphological features that distinguishes it from all oviraptorosaurs known to date.

“Yuanyang Long Bai Nian Identified as an oviraptorosaurian based on a short, deep skull and several pelvic features (i.e., triangular obturator process located in the center of the ischium and a long pubic bone oriented approximately ventrally) “We can,” the paleontologists said.

“However, some oviraptorosaurs, Yuanyang Long Bai Nian exhibits a unique combination of features not found in any previously known clade, such as a hook-shaped posterior process of the pubic boot that is longer than a rounded anterior process. ”

two jointed skeleton Yuanyang Long Bai NianThese bones, including part of the skull and part of the posterior skull, were collected in the summer of 2021 from the Maortu area of ​​the Miaogou Formation in Chilantai City, western Inner Mongolia, China.

This discovery provides the first record of an Early Cretaceous oviraptorosaur near the Gobi Desert and provides further insight into the biology and ecology of early-divergent oviraptorosaurs.

“This new species is intermediate in morphology between the earliest and later divergent oviraptorosaurids, and our phylogenetic analysis suggests that this new species was formed by the Abymimididae and Caenagasoididae. “This finding supports the fact that it is a sister taxon to the clade that has been studied,” the researchers said.

“Remarkably, this new early-diverging oviraptorosaur has an extremely short postacetabular ilium and a hindlimb with a proportionally long and fused lower limb. The combination is not known in other oviraptorosaurs, but is common in wading birds, suggesting a potential ecology with wading birds.

“Preserved bezoars are Codypteryx Our new species suggests that it has a gastric mill function, and our preliminary observations suggest that the digestive mode of early-divergent and late-divergent oviraptorosaurs is indicates a potential mismatch. ”

of the team findings Published in a magazine Cretaceous research.

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Mingze Hao others. A new species of oviraptorosaur discovered from the Lower Cretaceous Miaogou Formation in western Inner Mongolia, China. Cretaceous researchpublished online October 24, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.106023

Source: www.sci.news

BBC Science Focus Magazine Unveils New Book: Endless Power

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Dark Empath

A surprising study finds that people with dark personality traits can also be highly empathetic – but does this make them more dangerous? that's right What goes on in the mind of a dark empath?

Lionsman Mushroom

Lion's Man is making waves right now. This hairy mushroom's health-boosting and disease-preventing properties are being lauded across the internet and it's widely available as a supplement, taking the health food world by storm. But is all the hype real? Food and nutritionist Dr Emma Beckett delves into the science behind Lion's Man's claims for immunity, inflammation, gastrointestinal health, mental health, cognition, heart health, diabetes and cancer – and of course the side effects.

Deep Sea Creatures

Discover some weird and wonderful creatures that live in the darkest depths of the ocean and the extraordinary vision they've evolved. To find prey or avoid predators, these incredible eyes can detect bioluminescence, or the last vestiges of the sun's light dripping into the pitch black ocean.

Black hole collision

Just as runners “hit the wall” at the end of a race, supermassive black holes come to a near-complete halt as they hurtle towards each other. Is it dark matter that gets them over this final hurdle and allows them to collide?

plus

  • Questions and Answers: Expand your science knowledge bit by bit. This time we will be covering topics like: What is the most secret weapon we know? How to overcome the fear of rejection? What is the strongest substance in the universe? Do we all have lizard brains? Can we really absorb microplastics through our skin? And many more!
  • Polluted Rivers: This year's men's triathlon was postponed due to concerns about the quality of the Seine's water. Meanwhile, in Britain, seas and rivers are being used as dumping grounds for untreated sewage. terrible it is?
  • Scientific Hacks for Better Sleep: Did you know the secret to better sleep is to fall asleep faster? Here are 8 science-backed tips to help you fall asleep quickly and restfully every night.

Issue 409 will be released on Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Don't forget BBC Science Focus It is also available on major digital platforms. Android, Kindle Fire and Kindle e-Reader,and iOS App For iPad and iPhone.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Mongolia Unveils New Avian Dinosaur Discovery

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Harenadraco Prima It is the first species of troodontid dinosaur to be discovered in the Late Cretaceous Barungoyot Formation of Mongolia.

Reconstructing your life Harenadraco PrimaImage courtesy of Yusik Choi.

Harenadraco Prima It lived in what is now Mongolia during the Late Cretaceous period, 72 to 71 million years ago.

This new species is TroodontidaeA group of bird-like theropod dinosaurs that lived from the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous periods.

“Troodontids are a diverse group of theropod dinosaurs commonly characterized by large eye sockets, long hind limbs with asymmetrical metatarsals, enlarged claw bones in the second toe, and many bird-like features,” said paleontologist Seongjin Lee of Seoul National University and his colleagues.

“They have been found in Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous deposits in Asia and North America.”

Harenadraco Prima It was a small troodontid, about 1 metre (3.3 feet) long.

“Harenadraco Prima Like other troodontids, it was small and lightweight, but its tarsometatarsus was extremely thin. Phyllovenator “Among the zoonotic non-avian maniraptorans,” the paleontologists said.

“It also suggests a potentially adaptive high degree of mobility. Harenadraco Prima “It fits into an environment where potential prey, like mammals, and predators, like Eudromaeosaurus, are likely to be agile.”

Harenadraco PrimaThe incomplete skeleton of consists mainly of elements of the left hind limb, Barungoyot Formation In Hermin Tsav, Umnogovi Province, Mongolia.

“The Upper Cretaceous strata of the Gobi Desert are a rich source of many troodontid species, particularly the Nemegt and Djadokta Formations in the Nemegt Basin in Mongolia, and the Ulansuhai Formation in the Bayan Mandakh in China,” the researchers said.

“From the former, eight species of troodontids are now known.”

“However, the Barungoyot Formation is a puzzling exception, as no troodontids have been found in it, even though it is one of the major sedimentary formations in the Nemegt Basin and is interpreted as intermediate in age and environment between the Djadokta and Nemegt formations.”

“The faunal compositions of the Djadokta and Barungoyot Formations are so similar that the absence of troodontids in the latter is even more puzzling.”

Discovery Harenadraco Prima The presence of troodontids was confirmed in all three formations of the Nemegt Basin.

“The discovery Harenadraco Prima“It becomes clear that the ‘gaps’ in the troodontid record were a sampling artifact,” the scientists concluded.

“The fragile nature of the holotype Harenadraco Prima This is further evidence of this.”

“The presence of Harenadraco Prima “The discovery of the Barungoyot Formation also proves that troodontids in the Nemegt Basin were diverse enough to adapt to a variety of environments.”

Team work Published in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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Lee Seong-jin othersThe first Troodontidae (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Barungoyot Formation in Mongolia. Journal of Vertebrate PaleontologyPublished online July 15, 2024; doi: 10.1080/02724634.2024.2364746

Source: www.sci.news

NASA unveils stunning 3D visualization of iconic ‘Pillars of Creation’

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Astronomers used images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to create a new 3D visualization of the Pillars of Creation, three towers of gas and dust within the Eagle Nebula.

The Pillars of Creation are three towers of gas and dust located about 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Serpens.

These are fascinating but relatively small features of the Eagle Nebula (also known as Messier 16), discovered in 1745 by Swiss astronomer Jean-Philippe Roy de Chéseaux.

The Pillars of Creation are approximately 4-5 light years long, and the nebula is 55-70 light years wide.

They are caused by massive, newly formed, blue-white O and B type stars emitting intense ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds that blow away less dense material from around them.

“By flying between the pillars, viewers will experience the 3D structure of the pillars and see how they look different in Hubble's visible light view and Webb's infrared light view,” said Dr. Frank Summers, principal visualization scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute.

“This contrast helps us understand why we need multiple space telescopes to observe different aspects of the same object.”

“The four pillars of creation are made mostly of cold molecular hydrogen and dust, eroded away by violent winds and intense ultraviolet radiation from nearby hot young stars.”

“Protruding from the top of the pillar is a finger-like structure larger than our solar system. Embedded within this finger may be a newborn star.”

“The tallest pillar stretches for three light years, which is three-quarters of the distance between the Sun and the next nearest star.”

Mosaic of visible (Hubble) and infrared (Webb) light images of the same frame from the Pillars of Creation visualization. Image credit: Greg Bacon / Ralf Crawford / Joseph DePasquale / Leah Hustak / Christian Nieves / Joseph Olmsted / Alyssa Pagan / Frank Summers, STScI / NASA Universe of Learning.

The film takes visitors through a 3D structure of the Pillars of Creation.

“Making the Pillars of Creation in 3D was always something we had in mind,” said Dr Greg Bacon, also of the Space Telescope Science Institute.

“By combining the Webb data with the Hubble data, we were able to get a much more detailed look at the pillars.”

“Understanding the science and knowing how to best represent it enabled our small, talented team to rise to the challenge of visualizing this iconic structure.”

This new visualization allows viewers to experience how two of the world's most powerful space telescopes work together to provide a more complex and holistic portrait of the pillar.

Hubble will observe objects glowing in visible light at thousands of degrees, while Webb's infrared vision is sensitive to cooler objects at temperatures of hundreds of degrees, allowing it to penetrate the obscuring dust and see the stars embedded in the pillar.

“The combined observations from NASA's space telescopes across many wavelengths of light expand our understanding of the universe,” said Dr. Mark Crumpen, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters.

“The Pillars of Creation region continues to provide us with new insights that improve our understanding of how stars form.”

“This new visualization now allows everyone to experience this rich and captivating landscape in a new way.”

Source: www.sci.news