There's a Striking Flaw in That Claim About Alien Life on a Nearby Planet
A team of astronomers announced this week that they've detected a possible sign of life on an exoplanet 124 light years away using the James Webb Space Telescope. Even more enticingly, the exoplanet, dubbed K2-12b, was already suspected to be an ocean world. The biosignature is a molecule called dimethyl sulfide. On Earth, it's exclusively produced by phytoplanktons and other microbes. Thus, the authors of the new study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, maintain that the best explanation for the detection is that K2-12b is brimming with life. ... "It's the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet." ...
But the situation may not be so clear cut. While dimethyl sulfide is an organic material on our planet, there's a body of evidence suggesting that nonbiological processes elsewhere in the cosmos could produce the compound, notes science writer Corey S. Powell in a Bluesky thread. ... Another paper published last year showed that the molecule could be produced from interactions with UV light in a lab analog of an exoplanet atmosphere. Astronomers have also found the putative biosignature on a completely barren comet. LINK
A team of astronomers announced this week that they've detected a possible sign of life on an exoplanet 124 light years away using the James Webb Space Telescope. Even more enticingly, the exoplanet, dubbed K2-12b, was already suspected to be an ocean world. The biosignature is a molecule called dimethyl sulfide. On Earth, it's exclusively produced by phytoplanktons and other microbes. Thus, the authors of the new study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, maintain that the best explanation for the detection is that K2-12b is brimming with life. ... "It's the first time humanity has seen potential biosignatures on a habitable planet." ...
But the situation may not be so clear cut. While dimethyl sulfide is an organic material on our planet, there's a body of evidence suggesting that nonbiological processes elsewhere in the cosmos could produce the compound, notes science writer Corey S. Powell in a Bluesky thread. ... Another paper published last year showed that the molecule could be produced from interactions with UV light in a lab analog of an exoplanet atmosphere. Astronomers have also found the putative biosignature on a completely barren comet. LINK
Euclid’s First Images Are Here, and They’re Changing How We See the Universe
Euclid’s first data release offers a breathtaking glimpse into our universe, revealing over 26 million galaxies and showcasing the telescope’s unprecedented precision in the visible and infrared. ... the mission is already revolutionizing how we understand galaxy evolution, dark energy, and the cosmic web ... Euclid has scouted out the three areas in the sky where it will eventually provide the deepest observations of its mission. In just one week of observations and one scan of each region so far, Euclid spotted already 26 million galaxies. The most distant of those are up to 10.5 billion light-years away. The fields span a combined area equivalent to more than 300 times the full Moon.
... This image shows examples of galaxies in different shapes, all captured by Euclid during its first observations of the Deep Field areas. As part of the data release, a detailed catalog of more than 380,000 galaxies was published, which have been classified according to features such as spiral arms, central bars, and tidal tails that infer merging galaxies. ... LINK
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Euclid’s first data release offers a breathtaking glimpse into our universe, revealing over 26 million galaxies and showcasing the telescope’s unprecedented precision in the visible and infrared. ... the mission is already revolutionizing how we understand galaxy evolution, dark energy, and the cosmic web ... Euclid has scouted out the three areas in the sky where it will eventually provide the deepest observations of its mission. In just one week of observations and one scan of each region so far, Euclid spotted already 26 million galaxies. The most distant of those are up to 10.5 billion light-years away. The fields span a combined area equivalent to more than 300 times the full Moon.
... This image shows examples of galaxies in different shapes, all captured by Euclid during its first observations of the Deep Field areas. As part of the data release, a detailed catalog of more than 380,000 galaxies was published, which have been classified according to features such as spiral arms, central bars, and tidal tails that infer merging galaxies. ... LINK
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Supernova Death Blasts May Have Wiped Out Life on Earth – Twice
A new study suggests that nearby supernova explosions may have triggered two major mass extinction events in Earth’s history, the Ordovician and late Devonian, by stripping away the ozone layer and exposing life to harmful radiation. Researchers found that the rate of such explosions near Earth aligns with the timing of these extinctions, supporting the theory that supernovae can both create and destroy life. ... The Ordovician extinction killed 60 percent of marine invertebrates at a time when life was largely confined to the sea, while the late Devonian wiped out around 70 percent of all species and led to huge changes in the kind of fish that existed in our ancient seas and lakes. ...
The authors say it is a “a great illustration for how massive stars can act as both creators and destructors of life.” That’s because supernovae are also known to spread the heavy elements that help form and support life across the universe.
... Astronomers believe about one or two supernovae – or possibly at a rate even lower than that – occur each century in galaxies like the Milky Way, but the good news is there are only two nearby stars which could go supernova within the next million years or so: Antares and Betelgeuse. However, both of these are more than 500 light-years away from us and computer simulations have previously suggested a supernova at that distance from Earth likely wouldn’t affect our planet. LINK
A new study suggests that nearby supernova explosions may have triggered two major mass extinction events in Earth’s history, the Ordovician and late Devonian, by stripping away the ozone layer and exposing life to harmful radiation. Researchers found that the rate of such explosions near Earth aligns with the timing of these extinctions, supporting the theory that supernovae can both create and destroy life. ... The Ordovician extinction killed 60 percent of marine invertebrates at a time when life was largely confined to the sea, while the late Devonian wiped out around 70 percent of all species and led to huge changes in the kind of fish that existed in our ancient seas and lakes. ...
The authors say it is a “a great illustration for how massive stars can act as both creators and destructors of life.” That’s because supernovae are also known to spread the heavy elements that help form and support life across the universe.
... Astronomers believe about one or two supernovae – or possibly at a rate even lower than that – occur each century in galaxies like the Milky Way, but the good news is there are only two nearby stars which could go supernova within the next million years or so: Antares and Betelgeuse. However, both of these are more than 500 light-years away from us and computer simulations have previously suggested a supernova at that distance from Earth likely wouldn’t affect our planet. LINK
Lichens Defy Mars: Earth’s Toughest Organisms Survive Simulated Martian Extremes
In an experiment simulating harsh Martian conditions, including X-ray radiation, scientists discovered that certain lichens can not only survive but remain metabolically active. This breakthrough reveals that life as we know it, particularly symbiotic organisms like lichens, might be far more adaptable than previously thought, reshaping ideas about what kinds of life could exist beyond Earth. ... Lichens are not a single organism, but a partnership between a fungus and algae or cyanobacteria. They are known for their remarkable ability to endure extreme environments, such as deserts and polar regions on Earth. LINK
In an experiment simulating harsh Martian conditions, including X-ray radiation, scientists discovered that certain lichens can not only survive but remain metabolically active. This breakthrough reveals that life as we know it, particularly symbiotic organisms like lichens, might be far more adaptable than previously thought, reshaping ideas about what kinds of life could exist beyond Earth. ... Lichens are not a single organism, but a partnership between a fungus and algae or cyanobacteria. They are known for their remarkable ability to endure extreme environments, such as deserts and polar regions on Earth. LINK
Scientists Detect "Strange Filaments" at the Heart of Our Galaxy
Researchers have zoomed in on the area surrounding the supermassive black hole [Sgr A in the photo below] lurking at the center of our galaxy, and made a fascinating discovery: a structure of "strange filaments" driving a cycle of gas emissions and replenishment. ... However, how these cycles of formation and destruction actually function has largely remained a mystery. ... "We can envision these as space tornados: they are violent streams of gas, they dissipate shortly, and they distribute materials into the environment efficiently." In their paper, the researchers suggest the filaments are "associated with parsec-scale shocks, likely arising from dynamic interactions between shock waves and molecular clouds." ... They then dissipate, allowing molecules to freeze back into dust grains, restarting the cycle. LINK
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Researchers have zoomed in on the area surrounding the supermassive black hole [Sgr A in the photo below] lurking at the center of our galaxy, and made a fascinating discovery: a structure of "strange filaments" driving a cycle of gas emissions and replenishment. ... However, how these cycles of formation and destruction actually function has largely remained a mystery. ... "We can envision these as space tornados: they are violent streams of gas, they dissipate shortly, and they distribute materials into the environment efficiently." In their paper, the researchers suggest the filaments are "associated with parsec-scale shocks, likely arising from dynamic interactions between shock waves and molecular clouds." ... They then dissipate, allowing molecules to freeze back into dust grains, restarting the cycle. LINK
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Astrophysicists Discover That Millions of Interstellar Objects Could Be Hiding in Our Solar System
Researchers suggest Alpha Centauri may be the origin of millions of interstellar objects now in our solar system, some possibly even reaching Earth, though harmlessly, highlighting the interconnected nature of star systems. These objects, considered “alien” in the sense that they come from beyond our solar system, offer a rare glimpse into the materials and dynamics of distant worlds, reinforcing the idea that our cosmic neighborhood is far more connected than once believed. ... Interstellar objects are astronomical material, like asteroids or comets, not gravitationally bound to a star. They can come from other solar systems and be thrown into interstellar space by collisions or be slingshotted by a planet or star’s gravity. ... “If our models are right, there is no cause for alarm, because even though these things are probably in our solar system, they’re just a tiny, tiny fraction of all the asteroids and other objects that are out there,” said Wiegert. In fact, according to the model, only about one in a trillion meteors that hit Earth might be from Alpha Centauri. LINK
Researchers suggest Alpha Centauri may be the origin of millions of interstellar objects now in our solar system, some possibly even reaching Earth, though harmlessly, highlighting the interconnected nature of star systems. These objects, considered “alien” in the sense that they come from beyond our solar system, offer a rare glimpse into the materials and dynamics of distant worlds, reinforcing the idea that our cosmic neighborhood is far more connected than once believed. ... Interstellar objects are astronomical material, like asteroids or comets, not gravitationally bound to a star. They can come from other solar systems and be thrown into interstellar space by collisions or be slingshotted by a planet or star’s gravity. ... “If our models are right, there is no cause for alarm, because even though these things are probably in our solar system, they’re just a tiny, tiny fraction of all the asteroids and other objects that are out there,” said Wiegert. In fact, according to the model, only about one in a trillion meteors that hit Earth might be from Alpha Centauri. LINK
Trump Trying to Cancel NASA's Successor to the James Webb Space Telescope, Even Though It's Already Built -- "This is nuts."
According to an early budget proposal that leaked earlier this year, the Trump administration is planning to cut NASA's science budget nearly in half, in what critics are calling an "extinction-level event" for research at the space agency. ... the budget would have a mind-numbingly painful and unnecessary result: the effective cancellation of NASA's follow-up to its groundbreaking James Webb Space Telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. For years, scientists have been hard at work on the observatory, nearing final integration and testing, before moving it to Cape Canaveral, Florida for launch into space. ... "This is nuts," Simons Foundation president and former co-chair of Roman’s science team David Spergel told SciAm. "You’ve built it, and you’re not going to do the final step to finish it?" LINK
According to an early budget proposal that leaked earlier this year, the Trump administration is planning to cut NASA's science budget nearly in half, in what critics are calling an "extinction-level event" for research at the space agency. ... the budget would have a mind-numbingly painful and unnecessary result: the effective cancellation of NASA's follow-up to its groundbreaking James Webb Space Telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. For years, scientists have been hard at work on the observatory, nearing final integration and testing, before moving it to Cape Canaveral, Florida for launch into space. ... "This is nuts," Simons Foundation president and former co-chair of Roman’s science team David Spergel told SciAm. "You’ve built it, and you’re not going to do the final step to finish it?" LINK
They Mapped Every Neuron in a Grain of Brain – And Revealed How We See ... 523 Million Synapses, and the Most Complicated Neuroscience Experiment Ever Attempted
Scientists mapped a grain-sized chunk of mouse brain in unprecedented detail, showing how neurons fire in response to what the eyes see. The data reveal over 500 million connections and could be key to understanding how vision works – and what goes wrong in brain disorders. ... To conduct the study, researchers showed video clips to mice that had been genetically modified so that their neurons emit light when active. This allowed the team to record patterns of neuron activity in visual areas of the brain, covering a volume roughly the size of a grain of sand. Despite its small size, the tissue contained astonishing complexity: about four kilometers of axons – slender fibers that carry signals between neurons—interwoven to form over 524 million synapses among more than 200,000 cells. LINK
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Scientists mapped a grain-sized chunk of mouse brain in unprecedented detail, showing how neurons fire in response to what the eyes see. The data reveal over 500 million connections and could be key to understanding how vision works – and what goes wrong in brain disorders. ... To conduct the study, researchers showed video clips to mice that had been genetically modified so that their neurons emit light when active. This allowed the team to record patterns of neuron activity in visual areas of the brain, covering a volume roughly the size of a grain of sand. Despite its small size, the tissue contained astonishing complexity: about four kilometers of axons – slender fibers that carry signals between neurons—interwoven to form over 524 million synapses among more than 200,000 cells. LINK
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The Most Detailed Map of the Human Cell Ever Made – Powered by AI and Imaging
A team of scientists used AI and high-res imaging to chart the most detailed map of a human cell yet, revealing hidden protein functions and cancer-linked structures. ... Using advanced imaging and AI tools like GPT-4, they uncovered hundreds of previously unknown protein functions ... The researchers discovered 975 previously unknown functions for proteins in the map. For example, C18orf21 — a recently discovered protein whose function was previously unknown — appears to be involved with RNA processing, according to the study, and the DPP9 protein, known to cut proteins at specific regions, is implicated in interferon signaling, which is important for fighting infection. LINK
A team of scientists used AI and high-res imaging to chart the most detailed map of a human cell yet, revealing hidden protein functions and cancer-linked structures. ... Using advanced imaging and AI tools like GPT-4, they uncovered hundreds of previously unknown protein functions ... The researchers discovered 975 previously unknown functions for proteins in the map. For example, C18orf21 — a recently discovered protein whose function was previously unknown — appears to be involved with RNA processing, according to the study, and the DPP9 protein, known to cut proteins at specific regions, is implicated in interferon signaling, which is important for fighting infection. LINK
New Clues to Consciousness: Scientists Discover the Brain’s Hidden Gatekeeper
A new study using direct brain recordings reveals that specific thalamic regions, especially the intralaminar nuclei, play a key role in triggering conscious perception by synchronizing with the prefrontal cortex. This challenges the traditional cortex-focused view and highlights the thalamus as a central gateway to awareness. ... While subcortical structures are primarily involved in regulating conscious states, many theories emphasize the importance of subcortical-cortical loops in conscious perception. However, most studies on conscious perception have focused on the cerebral cortex, with relatively few studies examining the role of subcortical regions, particularly the thalamus. Its role in conscious perception has often been seen as merely facilitating sensory information. . LINK
A new study using direct brain recordings reveals that specific thalamic regions, especially the intralaminar nuclei, play a key role in triggering conscious perception by synchronizing with the prefrontal cortex. This challenges the traditional cortex-focused view and highlights the thalamus as a central gateway to awareness. ... While subcortical structures are primarily involved in regulating conscious states, many theories emphasize the importance of subcortical-cortical loops in conscious perception. However, most studies on conscious perception have focused on the cerebral cortex, with relatively few studies examining the role of subcortical regions, particularly the thalamus. Its role in conscious perception has often been seen as merely facilitating sensory information. . LINK
Groundbreaking Study Uncovers the Brain’s Secret Rules of Learning
An NIH-funded project leverages advanced synapse imaging to monitor real-time neuronal changes during learning, unveiling new insights that could inspire next-generation brain-like AI systems. ... With the ability to see individual synapses like never before, the new images revealed that neurons don’t follow one set of rules during episodes of learning, as had been assumed under conventional thinking. Rather, the data revealed that individual neurons follow multiple rules, with synapses in different regions following different rules. These new findings stand to aid advancements in many areas, from brain and behavior disorders to artificial intelligence. LINK
An NIH-funded project leverages advanced synapse imaging to monitor real-time neuronal changes during learning, unveiling new insights that could inspire next-generation brain-like AI systems. ... With the ability to see individual synapses like never before, the new images revealed that neurons don’t follow one set of rules during episodes of learning, as had been assumed under conventional thinking. Rather, the data revealed that individual neurons follow multiple rules, with synapses in different regions following different rules. These new findings stand to aid advancements in many areas, from brain and behavior disorders to artificial intelligence. LINK
Beyond Cochlear Implants: A Flexible Brainstem Device Restores Hearing Without Side Effects
A soft, silicone-based brainstem implant from EPFL shows major promise in restoring hearing for patients with severe nerve damage, outperforming traditional ABIs in comfort and sound precision. LINK
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A soft, silicone-based brainstem implant from EPFL shows major promise in restoring hearing for patients with severe nerve damage, outperforming traditional ABIs in comfort and sound precision. LINK
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Beyond Surround Sound: Meet the Audio System That Recreates Reality
The AudioDome, a loudspeaker that can reproduce an entire surrounding acoustic field as if the listener is immersed in a real-life soundscape. ... Enter the AudioDome — not just a speaker array, but a dome-shaped structure designed to deliver immersive, 360-degree sound. When a listener sits at the center, the system can accurately reproduce the position and movement of sound sources from any direction. LINK
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The AudioDome, a loudspeaker that can reproduce an entire surrounding acoustic field as if the listener is immersed in a real-life soundscape. ... Enter the AudioDome — not just a speaker array, but a dome-shaped structure designed to deliver immersive, 360-degree sound. When a listener sits at the center, the system can accurately reproduce the position and movement of sound sources from any direction. LINK
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The Particle That Might Explain Why Anything Exists at All
For the first time, scientists have confirmed CP violation in baryons (particles like protons and neutrons, which make up atomic nuclei), revealing a subtle matter–antimatter imbalance in a type of particle called the beauty-lambda baryon. This adds a crucial puzzle piece to why the Universe favors matter over antimatter ... According to physics, the Big Bang should have produced matter and antimatter in equal amounts. Yet, antimatter almost entirely vanished while matter formed everything we see today. This imbalance suggests a subtle difference in how matter and antimatter behave—an asymmetry known as CP violation. Understanding how and why this asymmetry arose could explain one of the most fundamental questions in science: why the Universe contains anything at all, instead of being an empty void. LINK
For the first time, scientists have confirmed CP violation in baryons (particles like protons and neutrons, which make up atomic nuclei), revealing a subtle matter–antimatter imbalance in a type of particle called the beauty-lambda baryon. This adds a crucial puzzle piece to why the Universe favors matter over antimatter ... According to physics, the Big Bang should have produced matter and antimatter in equal amounts. Yet, antimatter almost entirely vanished while matter formed everything we see today. This imbalance suggests a subtle difference in how matter and antimatter behave—an asymmetry known as CP violation. Understanding how and why this asymmetry arose could explain one of the most fundamental questions in science: why the Universe contains anything at all, instead of being an empty void. LINK
Ghost Particle From Space Shatters Energy Records: 16,000x More Powerful Than Large Hadron Collider
... scientists have detected an ultra-high-energy neutrino using the KM3NeT telescope, with an energy level 16,000 times greater than the most powerful collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. These elusive “ghost particles” provide a rare glimpse into the universe’s most extreme events, potentially originating from supermassive black holes or cataclysmic supernovae. The detection of this neutrino, possibly a cosmogenic one, could unlock new secrets about cosmic ray acceleration and the fundamental forces shaping our cosmos. ... Cosmogenic neutrinos could be produced when other cosmic particles react with the weak light of the cosmic microwave background, creating extremely energetic neutrinos. ... Neutrinos are among the most elusive particles in the universe. They have almost no mass, carry no electric charge, and rarely interact with matter. “They are special cosmic messengers that reveal the secrets of the most energetic phenomena in the universe.” LINK
... scientists have detected an ultra-high-energy neutrino using the KM3NeT telescope, with an energy level 16,000 times greater than the most powerful collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. These elusive “ghost particles” provide a rare glimpse into the universe’s most extreme events, potentially originating from supermassive black holes or cataclysmic supernovae. The detection of this neutrino, possibly a cosmogenic one, could unlock new secrets about cosmic ray acceleration and the fundamental forces shaping our cosmos. ... Cosmogenic neutrinos could be produced when other cosmic particles react with the weak light of the cosmic microwave background, creating extremely energetic neutrinos. ... Neutrinos are among the most elusive particles in the universe. They have almost no mass, carry no electric charge, and rarely interact with matter. “They are special cosmic messengers that reveal the secrets of the most energetic phenomena in the universe.” LINK
New Research Reveals Chimpanzees Act As “Engineers,” Choosing Tools Based on Physics
Chimpanzees select materials for tools based on flexibility, revealing early engineering instincts linked to human tool evolution. ... Termites are a valuable food source for chimpanzees, offering energy, fat, vitamins, minerals, and protein. To access them, chimpanzees use thin probes to extract termites from their nests. ... “This is the first comprehensive evidence that wild chimpanzees select tool materials for termite fishing based on specific mechanical properties” LINK
Chimpanzees select materials for tools based on flexibility, revealing early engineering instincts linked to human tool evolution. ... Termites are a valuable food source for chimpanzees, offering energy, fat, vitamins, minerals, and protein. To access them, chimpanzees use thin probes to extract termites from their nests. ... “This is the first comprehensive evidence that wild chimpanzees select tool materials for termite fishing based on specific mechanical properties” LINK
Bonobos Speak in Phrases: New Study Challenges Uniqueness of Human Language
Bonobos, our closest living relatives, produce intricate and meaningful call combinations that resemble how humans combine words. In a new study, researchers from the University of Zurich and Harvard University challenge long-standing beliefs about the uniqueness of human language. Their findings suggest that some core features of language may have deep evolutionary roots. ... . “This suggests that the capacity to combine call types in complex ways is not as unique to humans as we once thought,” LINK
Bonobos, our closest living relatives, produce intricate and meaningful call combinations that resemble how humans combine words. In a new study, researchers from the University of Zurich and Harvard University challenge long-standing beliefs about the uniqueness of human language. Their findings suggest that some core features of language may have deep evolutionary roots. ... . “This suggests that the capacity to combine call types in complex ways is not as unique to humans as we once thought,” LINK
Unearthed skeletons reveal tough lives of Early Medieval women
A total of 41 skeletons have been excavated so far, the majority of which belong to women who appear to have had a tough existence working in agriculture, he said. They were buried in individual graves and lived around 500 to 600 AD. ... “Their daily life appears to have been quite hard,” said Seaman, adding that researchers have uncovered evidence of arthritis and degenerative joint diseases, as well as broken bones and healed fractures. “They weren’t a very healthy bunch of individuals, but they were caring for each other,” he said, citing evidence of healed leg fractures and one instance of a broken neck, believed to have resulted from agricultural accidents. ... Despite the injuries and disease detected on the remains, researchers also uncovered evidence that some of the people within the graves were high-status individuals ... “This was a period in which the difference between the rich and the poor wasn’t very great, and it seems like everybody was involved to a greater or lesser extent in agriculture,” said Seaman. LINK
A total of 41 skeletons have been excavated so far, the majority of which belong to women who appear to have had a tough existence working in agriculture, he said. They were buried in individual graves and lived around 500 to 600 AD. ... “Their daily life appears to have been quite hard,” said Seaman, adding that researchers have uncovered evidence of arthritis and degenerative joint diseases, as well as broken bones and healed fractures. “They weren’t a very healthy bunch of individuals, but they were caring for each other,” he said, citing evidence of healed leg fractures and one instance of a broken neck, believed to have resulted from agricultural accidents. ... Despite the injuries and disease detected on the remains, researchers also uncovered evidence that some of the people within the graves were high-status individuals ... “This was a period in which the difference between the rich and the poor wasn’t very great, and it seems like everybody was involved to a greater or lesser extent in agriculture,” said Seaman. LINK
Ancient Sunscreen: How Early Humans Survived a Solar Storm Apocalypse 41,000 Years Ago
About 41,000 years ago, during the Laschamps geomagnetic excursion that weakened Earth’s magnetic field and let in more harmful UV and cosmic radiation, Homo sapiens in Europe began using tailored clothing, ochre-based “sunscreen,” and caves for protection. Neanderthals, who lacked these adaptations, disappeared from the fossil record around 40,000 years ago. ... During this time, the magnetic North Pole shifted over Europe as part of a geomagnetic excursion, a natural but temporary reversal in Earth’s magnetic field that has occurred roughly 180 times in geological history. Although the magnetic poles didn’t fully reverse, the weakening of the field allowed more ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach the planet’s surface, triggering widespread auroras and increasing solar exposure globally. In contrast, Neanderthals, who lacked similar protective technologies, disappeared from the fossil record around 40,000 years ago, shortly after this event. The researchers propose that this technological gap may have played a role in their extinction. LINK
About 41,000 years ago, during the Laschamps geomagnetic excursion that weakened Earth’s magnetic field and let in more harmful UV and cosmic radiation, Homo sapiens in Europe began using tailored clothing, ochre-based “sunscreen,” and caves for protection. Neanderthals, who lacked these adaptations, disappeared from the fossil record around 40,000 years ago. ... During this time, the magnetic North Pole shifted over Europe as part of a geomagnetic excursion, a natural but temporary reversal in Earth’s magnetic field that has occurred roughly 180 times in geological history. Although the magnetic poles didn’t fully reverse, the weakening of the field allowed more ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach the planet’s surface, triggering widespread auroras and increasing solar exposure globally. In contrast, Neanderthals, who lacked similar protective technologies, disappeared from the fossil record around 40,000 years ago, shortly after this event. The researchers propose that this technological gap may have played a role in their extinction. LINK
Experts Sound the Alarm: Your DNA Could Be Hacked
Next-generation DNA sequencing is at risk of cyberattacks. A new study urges action to secure genomic data and prevent misuse, highlighting emerging threats and calling for interdisciplinary collaboration and stronger cyber-biosecurity measures. ... if not properly protected, this powerful technology could be vulnerable to data breaches, privacy violations, and even emerging biological threats. ... As many DNA datasets are openly accessible online, the study warns it is possible for cybercriminals to misuse the information for surveillance, manipulation, or malicious experimentation. ... The research team identified new and emerging methods that hackers and those with malicious intent could use to exploit or attack systems, such as synthetic DNA-encoded malware, AI-driven manipulation of genome data, and identity tracing through re-identification techniques. These threats go beyond typical data breaches, posing risks to individual privacy, scientific integrity, and national security. LINK
Next-generation DNA sequencing is at risk of cyberattacks. A new study urges action to secure genomic data and prevent misuse, highlighting emerging threats and calling for interdisciplinary collaboration and stronger cyber-biosecurity measures. ... if not properly protected, this powerful technology could be vulnerable to data breaches, privacy violations, and even emerging biological threats. ... As many DNA datasets are openly accessible online, the study warns it is possible for cybercriminals to misuse the information for surveillance, manipulation, or malicious experimentation. ... The research team identified new and emerging methods that hackers and those with malicious intent could use to exploit or attack systems, such as synthetic DNA-encoded malware, AI-driven manipulation of genome data, and identity tracing through re-identification techniques. These threats go beyond typical data breaches, posing risks to individual privacy, scientific integrity, and national security. LINK
Scientists Preparing Experiments to Dim the Sun
Can a Hail Mary to stave off climate change by dimming the Sun work? Scientists in the UK are poised to find out. The Telegraph reports that the British government is expected to greenlight a bevy of solar geoengineering experiments in the coming weeks, which will explore techniques ranging from injecting aerosols into the atmosphere to brightening clouds to reflect sunlight. The experiments will be funded to the tune of roughly $66.5 million by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, making the UK one of the biggest funders of solar geoengineering research in the world, according to the Guardian. This stands in contrast to the US, where a number of high-profile solar geoengineering experiments have been shut down while some states consider banning future attempts.
Such dramatic measures to respond to climate change remain extremely controversial in the scientific community — for good reason — but as we race towards critical warming tipping points past which the effects of climate change are believed to be irreversible, some argue that we should be exploring all our options. ... As easy as it is to imagine any of these going catastrophically wrong — not to mention their potential to distract from the fact that we must dramatically curb greenhouse gas emissions — there is some real-world evidence suggesting that these measures could work LINK
Can a Hail Mary to stave off climate change by dimming the Sun work? Scientists in the UK are poised to find out. The Telegraph reports that the British government is expected to greenlight a bevy of solar geoengineering experiments in the coming weeks, which will explore techniques ranging from injecting aerosols into the atmosphere to brightening clouds to reflect sunlight. The experiments will be funded to the tune of roughly $66.5 million by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, making the UK one of the biggest funders of solar geoengineering research in the world, according to the Guardian. This stands in contrast to the US, where a number of high-profile solar geoengineering experiments have been shut down while some states consider banning future attempts.
Such dramatic measures to respond to climate change remain extremely controversial in the scientific community — for good reason — but as we race towards critical warming tipping points past which the effects of climate change are believed to be irreversible, some argue that we should be exploring all our options. ... As easy as it is to imagine any of these going catastrophically wrong — not to mention their potential to distract from the fact that we must dramatically curb greenhouse gas emissions — there is some real-world evidence suggesting that these measures could work LINK
Scientists Activate Facility to Suck Carbon Directly Out of the Ocean
To combat climate change, a team of scientists are sucking CO2 out of the ocean. The project, dubbed SeaCURE, began operating a small-scale trial this year on England's south coast, the BBC reports. It hangs its hopes on a simple premise: that the ocean is the world's largest carbon sink, absorbing nearly a third of all CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. ... In a nutshell, SeaCURE sucks up seawater, processes it to extract the CO2, buries it underground, and then releases the carbon-free water back into the ocean. Removing the carbon is accomplished by treating the seawater to make it more acidic, which frees up the carbon it harbors to release itself as a gas. This process is done inside a large tank nicknamed a "stripper." ... Still in its infancy, the project will remove no more than 100 metric tons of carbon per year. But SeaCURE believes that if the technology is applied at a massive scale and powered by renewable energy, it could remove 14 billion tons of CO2 a year if one percent of the ocean's surface water was processed, per the BBC. LINK
To combat climate change, a team of scientists are sucking CO2 out of the ocean. The project, dubbed SeaCURE, began operating a small-scale trial this year on England's south coast, the BBC reports. It hangs its hopes on a simple premise: that the ocean is the world's largest carbon sink, absorbing nearly a third of all CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. ... In a nutshell, SeaCURE sucks up seawater, processes it to extract the CO2, buries it underground, and then releases the carbon-free water back into the ocean. Removing the carbon is accomplished by treating the seawater to make it more acidic, which frees up the carbon it harbors to release itself as a gas. This process is done inside a large tank nicknamed a "stripper." ... Still in its infancy, the project will remove no more than 100 metric tons of carbon per year. But SeaCURE believes that if the technology is applied at a massive scale and powered by renewable energy, it could remove 14 billion tons of CO2 a year if one percent of the ocean's surface water was processed, per the BBC. LINK
New Tech Turns CO₂ Into Fuel in Minutes
Researchers in Japan developed a fast, efficient method to convert CO₂ into carbon monoxide using a low-cost catalyst, cutting processing time from 24 hours to just 15 minutes. Their spray-based technique not only meets industrial standards but also outperforms all previous similar catalysts, offering a major step forward in sustainable fuel production. LINK
Researchers in Japan developed a fast, efficient method to convert CO₂ into carbon monoxide using a low-cost catalyst, cutting processing time from 24 hours to just 15 minutes. Their spray-based technique not only meets industrial standards but also outperforms all previous similar catalysts, offering a major step forward in sustainable fuel production. LINK
84% of the world’s coral reefs hit by worst bleaching event on record
Harmful bleaching of the world’s coral has grown to include 84% of the ocean’s reefs in the most intense event of its kind in recorded history, the International Coral Reef Initiative announced Wednesday. It’s the fourth global bleaching event since 1998, and has now surpassed bleaching from 2014-17 that hit some two-thirds of reefs, said the ICRI, a mix of more than 100 governments, non-governmental organizations and others. And it’s not clear when the current crisis, which began in 2023 and is blamed on warming oceans, will end. “We may never see the heat stress that causes bleaching dropping below the threshold that triggers a global event,” ... “We’re looking at something that’s completely changing the face of our planet and the ability of our oceans to sustain lives and livelihoods,” Eakin said.
Last year was Earth’s hottest year on record, and much of that is going into oceans. The average annual sea surface temperature of oceans away from the poles was a record 20.87 degrees Celsius (69.57 degrees Fahrenheit). That’s deadly to corals, which are key to seafood production, tourism and protecting coastlines from erosion and storms. Coral reefs are sometimes dubbed “rainforests of the sea” because they support high levels of biodiversity — approximately 25% of all marine species can be found in, on and around coral reefs. Coral get their bright colors from the colorful algae that live inside them and are a food source for the corals. Prolonged warmth causes the algae to release toxic compounds, and the coral eject them. A stark white skeleton is left behind, and the weakened coral is at heightened risk of dying. LINK
Harmful bleaching of the world’s coral has grown to include 84% of the ocean’s reefs in the most intense event of its kind in recorded history, the International Coral Reef Initiative announced Wednesday. It’s the fourth global bleaching event since 1998, and has now surpassed bleaching from 2014-17 that hit some two-thirds of reefs, said the ICRI, a mix of more than 100 governments, non-governmental organizations and others. And it’s not clear when the current crisis, which began in 2023 and is blamed on warming oceans, will end. “We may never see the heat stress that causes bleaching dropping below the threshold that triggers a global event,” ... “We’re looking at something that’s completely changing the face of our planet and the ability of our oceans to sustain lives and livelihoods,” Eakin said.
Last year was Earth’s hottest year on record, and much of that is going into oceans. The average annual sea surface temperature of oceans away from the poles was a record 20.87 degrees Celsius (69.57 degrees Fahrenheit). That’s deadly to corals, which are key to seafood production, tourism and protecting coastlines from erosion and storms. Coral reefs are sometimes dubbed “rainforests of the sea” because they support high levels of biodiversity — approximately 25% of all marine species can be found in, on and around coral reefs. Coral get their bright colors from the colorful algae that live inside them and are a food source for the corals. Prolonged warmth causes the algae to release toxic compounds, and the coral eject them. A stark white skeleton is left behind, and the weakened coral is at heightened risk of dying. LINK
Colossal squid resembles a ‘glass sculpture’ in first footage taken from the deep sea
Scientists have captured the first confirmed footage of the elusive colossal squid in its natural environment 100 years after the marine creature was first identified and named, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute. ... While the colossal squid is thought to grow up to 23 feet (7 meters) long and weigh as much as 1,110 pounds (500 kilograms) — which makes it the heaviest invertebrate on the planet — this juvenile squid measures nearly 1 foot (30 centimeters) long. LINK
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Scientists have captured the first confirmed footage of the elusive colossal squid in its natural environment 100 years after the marine creature was first identified and named, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute. ... While the colossal squid is thought to grow up to 23 feet (7 meters) long and weigh as much as 1,110 pounds (500 kilograms) — which makes it the heaviest invertebrate on the planet — this juvenile squid measures nearly 1 foot (30 centimeters) long. LINK
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Scientists Revive Organism Found Buried at Bottom of Ocean - The resurrected organism is thousands of years old.
A team of researchers in Germany have revived algae cells found buried at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, where they'd lain dormant for more than 7,000 years. For millennia, the cells, imprisoned under layers of sediment, were deprived of oxygen or light. But once revived, they showed full functional recovery, the researchers report in a study published in The ISME Journal, firing back up their oxygen production and multiplying again like it was no big deal.
According to the team, this is the oldest known organism retrieved from aquatic sediments to be revived from dormancy, providing a stunning example of what's possible in the burgeoning field of "resurrection ecology." ... the waters are considered anoxic, meaning they have virtually no oxygen, especially at the lowest depths. Without this element, decomposition can't set in. And with the seafloor acting as a shield, there's no sunlight to damage the dormant algae cells, either. ... Using ancient DNA extracted from two dire wolf fossils, Colossal’s scientists and collaborators said they were able to assemble two high-quality Aenocyon dirus genomes, or complete sets of genetic information. ... LINK
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A team of researchers in Germany have revived algae cells found buried at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, where they'd lain dormant for more than 7,000 years. For millennia, the cells, imprisoned under layers of sediment, were deprived of oxygen or light. But once revived, they showed full functional recovery, the researchers report in a study published in The ISME Journal, firing back up their oxygen production and multiplying again like it was no big deal.
According to the team, this is the oldest known organism retrieved from aquatic sediments to be revived from dormancy, providing a stunning example of what's possible in the burgeoning field of "resurrection ecology." ... the waters are considered anoxic, meaning they have virtually no oxygen, especially at the lowest depths. Without this element, decomposition can't set in. And with the seafloor acting as a shield, there's no sunlight to damage the dormant algae cells, either. ... Using ancient DNA extracted from two dire wolf fossils, Colossal’s scientists and collaborators said they were able to assemble two high-quality Aenocyon dirus genomes, or complete sets of genetic information. ... LINK
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Another back from the dead ...
Scientists say they have resurrected the dire wolf
A species of wolf that died out some 12,500 years ago lives again as the “world’s first successfully de-extincted animal,” according to Dallas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences. Colossal scientists have created three dire wolf pups by using ancient DNA, cloning and gene-editing technology to alter the genes of a gray wolf, the prehistoric dire wolf’s closest living relative, the company announced Monday. The result is essentially a hybrid species similar in appearance to its extinct forerunner. ... Colossal has been working toward resurrecting the mammoth, dodo and Tasmanian tiger since 2021, but the company had not previously publicized its work on dire wolves. LINK
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A species of wolf that died out some 12,500 years ago lives again as the “world’s first successfully de-extincted animal,” according to Dallas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences. Colossal scientists have created three dire wolf pups by using ancient DNA, cloning and gene-editing technology to alter the genes of a gray wolf, the prehistoric dire wolf’s closest living relative, the company announced Monday. The result is essentially a hybrid species similar in appearance to its extinct forerunner. ... Colossal has been working toward resurrecting the mammoth, dodo and Tasmanian tiger since 2021, but the company had not previously publicized its work on dire wolves. LINK
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Musician Who Died in 2021 Resurrected as Clump of Brain Matter, Now Composing New Music
A new art installation project in Australia, titled "Revivification," raises this question with a very literal interpretation of "impulse": using his DNA, the team behind the project have performed a quasi-resurrection of the late experimental American composer Alvin Lucier, creating a sort of brain that continuously composes music on the fly with its errant electrical signals. ... At the center of the piece is an "in-vitro brain," grown from blood that Lucier, who passed away in 2021, donated in the final years of his life. Housed in a plinth, it's grown on top of an electrode mesh that connects it to twenty large brass plates placed around the room. Visitors can listen as the brain fires off electrical pulses that trigger a transducer and a mallet behind each plate, striking them to produce sound. ... To create the "mini-brain," researchers at Harvard Medical School used Lucier's white blood cells to derive stem cells, the foundational building blocks of the body which possess the ability to develop into any type of cell or tissue, such as that belonging to a particular organ. For the project, the team chose to program the stem cells to grow into cerebral organoids, resembling the cells of a developing human brain. Of course, lab-grown creation doesn't amount to anything like human consciousness. Still, it is on some level an extension of Lucier, responding to the world around it: in addition to generating sound, the cerebral organoids receive sound picked up by microphones in the gallery, mediated as electrical signals.
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A new art installation project in Australia, titled "Revivification," raises this question with a very literal interpretation of "impulse": using his DNA, the team behind the project have performed a quasi-resurrection of the late experimental American composer Alvin Lucier, creating a sort of brain that continuously composes music on the fly with its errant electrical signals. ... At the center of the piece is an "in-vitro brain," grown from blood that Lucier, who passed away in 2021, donated in the final years of his life. Housed in a plinth, it's grown on top of an electrode mesh that connects it to twenty large brass plates placed around the room. Visitors can listen as the brain fires off electrical pulses that trigger a transducer and a mallet behind each plate, striking them to produce sound. ... To create the "mini-brain," researchers at Harvard Medical School used Lucier's white blood cells to derive stem cells, the foundational building blocks of the body which possess the ability to develop into any type of cell or tissue, such as that belonging to a particular organ. For the project, the team chose to program the stem cells to grow into cerebral organoids, resembling the cells of a developing human brain. Of course, lab-grown creation doesn't amount to anything like human consciousness. Still, it is on some level an extension of Lucier, responding to the world around it: in addition to generating sound, the cerebral organoids receive sound picked up by microphones in the gallery, mediated as electrical signals.
... LINK
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Baby Born to Woman With Transplanted Womb
In Scotland, a woman successfully gave birth to a baby girl after getting a womb transplant from her sister. As the BBC reports, couple Grace and Angus Davidsin welcomed baby Amy after the mother's sister, for whom she named her new child, donated her womb. Though it wasn't the first in the world — that took place over a decade ago in Sweden — the birth of baby Amy was the first time in the history of the United Kingdom in which such a feat has been achieved. During the ensuing ten years, doctors have successfully carried out 135 uterine transplants, and 65 babies have been born from the difficult procedures.
LINK
In Scotland, a woman successfully gave birth to a baby girl after getting a womb transplant from her sister. As the BBC reports, couple Grace and Angus Davidsin welcomed baby Amy after the mother's sister, for whom she named her new child, donated her womb. Though it wasn't the first in the world — that took place over a decade ago in Sweden — the birth of baby Amy was the first time in the history of the United Kingdom in which such a feat has been achieved. During the ensuing ten years, doctors have successfully carried out 135 uterine transplants, and 65 babies have been born from the difficult procedures.
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Scientists Reveal Why the Human Face Is Smaller Than a Neanderthal’s
Humans differ from chimpanzees and Neanderthals in how their faces grow. In humans, facial growth slows down during childhood and stops after adolescence. This is mainly due to a decrease in skull bone cell activity during puberty, which limits facial growth and results in a smaller adult face. The human face is markedly different from that of our fossil relatives and ancestors, most notably, it is smaller and more gracile. However, the reasons for this evolutionary shift are still not fully understood. ... LINK
Left: computed tomographic (CT) scan of a Neanderthal fossil (La Ferrassie 1). Right: CT scan of a modern human.
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Humans differ from chimpanzees and Neanderthals in how their faces grow. In humans, facial growth slows down during childhood and stops after adolescence. This is mainly due to a decrease in skull bone cell activity during puberty, which limits facial growth and results in a smaller adult face. The human face is markedly different from that of our fossil relatives and ancestors, most notably, it is smaller and more gracile. However, the reasons for this evolutionary shift are still not fully understood. ... LINK
Left: computed tomographic (CT) scan of a Neanderthal fossil (La Ferrassie 1). Right: CT scan of a modern human.
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Saying "Please" and "Thank You" to ChatGPT Is Wasting Millions of Dollars in Computing Power
OpenAI CEO and tech billionaire Sam Altman recently admitted that people politely saying "please" and "thank you" to their AI chatbots is costing him bigtime. When one poster on X-formerly-Twitter wondered aloud "how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying 'please' and 'thank you' to their models," Altman chimed in, saying it's "tens of millions of dollars well spent." ... While it may seem pointless to treat an AI chatbot with respect, some AI architects say it's an important move. Microsoft's design manager Kurtis Beavers, for example, says proper etiquette "helps generate respectful, collaborative outputs." LINK
OpenAI CEO and tech billionaire Sam Altman recently admitted that people politely saying "please" and "thank you" to their AI chatbots is costing him bigtime. When one poster on X-formerly-Twitter wondered aloud "how much money OpenAI has lost in electricity costs from people saying 'please' and 'thank you' to their models," Altman chimed in, saying it's "tens of millions of dollars well spent." ... While it may seem pointless to treat an AI chatbot with respect, some AI architects say it's an important move. Microsoft's design manager Kurtis Beavers, for example, says proper etiquette "helps generate respectful, collaborative outputs." LINK
Can AI Think Like Us? New Research Mimics Human Memory for Smarter Machines
A recent study introduces the M2I framework, inspired by human memory, to address limitations in current large AI models such as inefficiency, high energy use, and lack of reasoning. By mimicking brain-like memory mechanisms, the research aims to create machines capable of continual learning, adaptive reasoning, and dynamic information processing. ... This research has the potential to revolutionize the field of AI. By mimicking the human brain’s memory mechanisms, the M2I framework could lead to the development of more intelligent and efficient machines that can better handle complex tasks and adapt to changing environments. LINK
A recent study introduces the M2I framework, inspired by human memory, to address limitations in current large AI models such as inefficiency, high energy use, and lack of reasoning. By mimicking brain-like memory mechanisms, the research aims to create machines capable of continual learning, adaptive reasoning, and dynamic information processing. ... This research has the potential to revolutionize the field of AI. By mimicking the human brain’s memory mechanisms, the M2I framework could lead to the development of more intelligent and efficient machines that can better handle complex tasks and adapt to changing environments. LINK
Thailand Deploys Humanoid Robot Dressed in Police Uniform
As the Straits Times reports, the unsettling robot, dubbed "AI police cyborg 1.0" — even though it's technically more of an android and not a cyborg — surveyed the streets during the country's Songkran festival using 360-degree cameras. According to the report, the cyborg is equipped with facial recognition technology and can notify officers of high-risk individuals and weapons.
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As the Straits Times reports, the unsettling robot, dubbed "AI police cyborg 1.0" — even though it's technically more of an android and not a cyborg — surveyed the streets during the country's Songkran festival using 360-degree cameras. According to the report, the cyborg is equipped with facial recognition technology and can notify officers of high-risk individuals and weapons.
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... or just a panic ...
Sonic weapon allegedly used on crowd protesting government corruption in Serbia?
Protesters in Serbia were holding a moment of silence for 15 people killed in a train station collapse when suddenly, the crowd went into a panic. Rights groups and opposition officials allege that security forces deployed a sonic weapon - illegal in the country. The government denies the allegations. CNN spoke to multiple audio forensics experts as more than half a million petitioners call on the Serbian government to investigate if illegal sonic weapons were used.
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Protesters in Serbia were holding a moment of silence for 15 people killed in a train station collapse when suddenly, the crowd went into a panic. Rights groups and opposition officials allege that security forces deployed a sonic weapon - illegal in the country. The government denies the allegations. CNN spoke to multiple audio forensics experts as more than half a million petitioners call on the Serbian government to investigate if illegal sonic weapons were used.
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Robots compete with humans in world’s first humanoid half-marathon
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