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Washington DC's cherry blossom season has reached its peak bloom, with pretty pink petals adorning the Tidal Basin. In 2025, peak bloom occurred on March 28, as defined by the National Park Service, marking the day when over 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open. This annual spectacle, typically occurring between late March and early April, is deeply rooted in the Japanese tradition of hanami, symbolizing the fleeting beauty of nature and new beginnings. The cherry trees were first gifted to the US in 1909 by Japan to strengthen diplomatic ties, although the initial batch was destroyed due to disease. A second donation in 1912 successfully established the trees in Washington. The cherry blossoms continue to be a cherished symbol of friendship, with Japan recently gifting an additional 250 trees in 2024, reinforcing the enduring bond between the two nations. 
Published: Apr 03 2025, 4 am ISTeznews.inDespite the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, North America is bracing for an unseasonably cold spell due to the recent collapse of the polar vortex. This atmospheric upheaval is expected to bring below-normal temperatures and even snowfall to the Midwest and Northeast, with parts of the eastern US and southeastern Canada potentially experiencing freezing conditions in mid-April. The polar vortex, a low-pressure system of cold air, can be disrupted by various factors, allowing frigid air to escape southward. Following significant pressure changes initiated by the polar vortex disturbance in mid-March, forecasts indicate that while the eastern half of North America will face cooler weather, the western regions will enjoy warmer temperatures. Meteorologists had previously warned of a "rough and stormy pattern" for eastern North America, and current icy conditions in eastern Canada suggest their predictions are proving accurate.
Published: Mar 31 2025, 11 pm ISTeznews.inIn a groundbreaking study published in PLOS One, researchers from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) revealed the results of an unprecedented experiment where they dropped alligators 2,000 meters into the Gulf of Mexico to observe deep-sea scavengers. The study aimed to understand how these creatures would respond to an unusual food source, as alligators are typically found in freshwater. Remarkably, giant pink isopods were quick to penetrate the tough hides of the alligators, consuming one within 24 hours. Another alligator was stripped of all soft tissue in just 51 days, leading to the discovery of a new species of bone-eating worm, a first for the Gulf region. However, the fate of a third alligator remains a mystery, as it vanished, likely taken by a large predator, possibly a Greenland or sixgill shark. The findings highlight the adaptability of deep-sea ecosystems in utilizing available food sources.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 6 am ISTeznews.inA recent study by researchers from the University of Zürich and Harvard University has revealed that the vocalizations of bonobos, the most vocal of the great apes, exhibit structural similarities to human language. Analyzing 700 recordings, the team identified over 300 contextual features in bonobo calls, which include a range of high-pitched whistles, hoots, and softer peeps. Notably, bonobo communication demonstrates compositionality, a linguistic feature where calls combine in meaningful ways, akin to human language. The study highlights two forms of compositionality: trivial, where meanings are additive, and nontrivial, where one term modifies another's meaning. Remarkably, bonobos utilize four compositional structures, three of which are nontrivial, suggesting a level of complexity previously unrecognized. This research not only underscores the advanced communication skills of bonobos but also offers insights into the evolution of human language, given our shared DNA of approximately 98.8% with these primates.
Published: Apr 04 2025, 1 am ISTeznews.inA recent study of a 30-meter sediment core from the Great Blue Hole, located in Lighthouse Reef Atoll off the coast of Belize, reveals a troubling increase in hurricane activity over the past 5,700 years. Researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt found evidence of 574 storm events, indicating that the frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes in the southwestern Caribbean has risen significantly, with projections suggesting up to 45 storms could occur this century alone. The sediment layers, resembling tree rings, highlight distinct tempestites caused by storm surges, contrasting with the calmer gray-green sediments. This increase in storm activity is attributed to human-driven climate change, exacerbated by rising sea temperatures and shifts in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The findings, published in *Science Advances*, underscore the urgent need to address climate change as the region braces for a stormier future.
Published: Apr 03 2025, 10 pm ISTeznews.inOn Monday, SpaceX launched its Fram2 mission, marking a historic first as four astronauts embarked on a pole-to-pole orbit, a route previously untraveled by humans. However, the mission's start was marred by space motion sickness, with private astronaut Chun Wang reporting that all crew members experienced nausea and vomiting shortly after entering microgravity. Despite the discomfort, the crew managed to conduct some activities, including a movie night and communication with Earth, while adjusting to their new environment. The mission includes 22 scientific experiments aimed at advancing long-duration space exploration and understanding human health in space, such as taking X-rays and growing mushrooms in microgravity. After the initial challenges, the crew reported feeling refreshed by the second day and is expected to remain in space for three to five days before returning to Earth, where they will exit the spacecraft without additional assistance to aid research on astronaut recovery.
Published: Apr 03 2025, 8 pm ISTeznews.inGeologists have discovered that cratonic thinning, a process believed to have occurred hundreds of millions of years ago, is currently happening beneath the North American Craton, also known as Laurentia. This phenomenon involves the gradual loss of the craton's base as large portions of its lowest layer drip into the mantle, primarily beneath the American Midwest. Researchers, led by Professor Junlin Hua from the University of Texas at Austin, utilized full-waveform seismic tomography to observe these changes in real-time, linking them to the remnants of the ancient Farallon Plate, which has been redirecting material flow in the mantle. While this thinning may sound alarming, experts assure that cratons are resilient structures that have endured for billions of years, and the process is expected to slow and eventually halt as the Farallon sinks deeper. The findings are detailed in a study published in *Nature Geoscience*.
Published: Apr 03 2025, 11 pm ISTeznews.inA 24-year-old American, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, has been arrested after attempting to visit North Sentinel Island, home to the isolated Sentinelese tribe, known for their voluntary isolation. Polyakov set sail from South Andaman Island early on March 29, carrying a coconut and a can of cola as offerings. He reportedly lingered near the island for an hour, attempting to attract the Sentinelese's attention before briefly stepping ashore to leave his offerings and collect sand samples. Access to the island is strictly prohibited by Indian authorities to protect the tribe, which has faced threats from outsiders in the past, including fatal encounters. Experts have condemned Polyakov's actions as reckless, emphasizing the risk posed to the Sentinelese, who lack immunity to common diseases. The incident has raised concerns about the enforcement of protective measures for the tribe, prompting calls for stronger action from Indian authorities.
Published: Apr 03 2025, 9 pm ISTeznews.inA stalled atmospheric river is set to unleash unprecedented rainfall across the central United States, with forecasters warning of potentially catastrophic flash floods. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a high-risk alert for excessive rainfall from Arkansas to Kentucky, extending up to Ohio, predicting that some areas could receive four months' worth of rain in just five days. AccuWeather estimates that over a foot of precipitation may fall in certain regions, significantly exceeding the rainfall that caused deadly floods in Kentucky earlier this year. More than 46 million people are expected to be affected, with 13 million in high-risk zones. The NWS advises communities to prepare for severe disruptions and urges residents near rivers and streams to remain vigilant for rising water levels, with recommendations to seek higher ground if necessary. The situation is exacerbated by a blocked atmospheric river, which is expected to deliver multiple rounds of intense thunderstorms throughout the week.
Published: Apr 03 2025, 7 pm ISTeznews.inGoogle has become synonymous with online searching, with the term "Google it" widely used even when referring to other search engines. The company, founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1996, was initially called "Backrub," reflecting its focus on backlinks to rank web pages. In 1997, after realizing the need for a more fitting name, they settled on "Google," a play on the mathematical term "googol," which denotes a vast number (1 followed by 100 zeros). This name was suggested during a brainstorming session when Sean Anderson misspelled "googol" while checking domain availability, leading to the registration of "google.com" on September 15, 1997. Contrary to popular belief, the name does not stand for "Global Organization of Oriented Group Language of Earth," but rather symbolizes Google's mission to organize the immense amount of information available online.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 2 am IST
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