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Mommy, a centenarian tortoise at Philadelphia Zoo, has made history by giving birth to four hatchlings, marking the first successful birth of the critically endangered Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise (_Chelonoidis porteri_) in the zoo's 150-year history. Both Mommy and her mate, Abrazzo, are approximately 100 years old, making Mommy the oldest known first-time mother of her species. This milestone is part of a breeding program aimed at conserving a population that has dwindled to around 3,400 individuals due to habitat loss and invasive species. The hatchlings, which are vital for genetic diversity, will be publicly introduced on April 23, coinciding with the anniversary of Mommy's arrival at the zoo. Zoo officials emphasize the importance of these births in inspiring conservation efforts and ensuring the survival of this unique species for future generations. 
Published: Apr 08 2025, 2 pmeznews.inProject Sundial, a classified initiative from the Cold War era, aimed to develop nuclear weapons with unprecedented destructive capabilities, potentially reaching yields of 10 gigatons—200 times more powerful than the Tsar Bomba, the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated. Conceived by scientists including Edward Teller, Sundial was designed to utilize a two-stage fusion process, with the primary weapon, Gnomon, intended to trigger a massive explosion in Sundial. While the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 marked the dawn of the nuclear age, Sundial represented a terrifying leap into speculative weaponry that could have catastrophic global implications. Although the project never materialized, its ambition highlights the extreme lengths to which Cold War tensions drove scientific exploration and military strategy. Had it been realized, the devastation from such a weapon could have resulted in unimaginable loss of life and environmental destruction.
Published: Apr 17 2025, 3 ameznews.inAs the demand for greener energy surges, the need for battery metals has led to a controversial focus on deep-sea mining, particularly in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean. Vast deposits of manganese nodules, rich in nickel and cobalt, present a potential solution, but the ecological impacts of such mining remain largely unknown. A recent study co-led by the National Oceanography Centre and the Natural History Museum in London examined a site mined in 1979, revealing that the scars left by mining are still visible after 44 years, although some small marine life has begun to recolonise the area. However, larger species show little recovery, raising concerns about long-term biodiversity loss. While sediment plumes from mining operations appear to have limited effects on wildlife, the study underscores the urgent need for further research to assess the broader ecological consequences of deep-sea mining.
Published: Apr 17 2025, 4 ameznews.inBiotech company Loyal has made significant strides towards FDA approval for its lifespan-extending drug, LOY-002, aimed at senior dogs. The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has determined that the drug meets the "reasonable expectation of effectiveness" (RXE) condition, suggesting it could extend the lives of dogs aged 10 and older while maintaining their quality of life. LOY-002 works by mimicking the effects of calorie restriction, a method previously linked to increased lifespan in dogs. Loyal's CEO, Celine Halioua, expressed optimism about meeting the remaining requirements for expanded conditional approval by the end of 2025, which would allow the drug to be marketed and prescribed while further research is conducted. This milestone follows the company's earlier success with LOY-001, designed for larger breeds, marking a pioneering moment in veterinary medicine. Halioua envisions the drug not only extending lifespan but enhancing the joy shared between dogs and their owners.
Published: Apr 17 2025, 5 ameznews.inAt a meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1871, Lord Kelvin, also known as William Thomson, posed a provocative question about the origins of life on Earth, suggesting that life may have arrived from outer space rather than emerging spontaneously. He argued against supernatural explanations, proposing that life could have been transported to Earth on fragments from other planets, a concept now known as "Panspermia." This theory posits that microorganisms could survive the harsh conditions of space, potentially hitching rides on asteroids or comets. While the mainstream scientific view leans towards abiogenesis—the natural emergence of life from non-living matter—Panspermia remains a contentious yet intriguing hypothesis. As space exploration advances, the debate continues, raising philosophical questions about the implications of seeding life on other planets and the nature of our own origins. Despite its challenges, Panspermia invites further inquiry into the mysteries of life in the universe.
Published: Apr 17 2025, 3 ameznews.inResearchers have made a significant advancement in the quest to understand dark matter, a mysterious substance that is believed to outweigh regular matter by five to one. A leading hypothesis suggests that dark matter could be composed of axions, extremely light particles that interact weakly with light. In a groundbreaking study, scientists at Harvard created a quasiparticle, termed the dynamical axion quasiparticle (DAQ), which mimics the properties of axions. This quasiparticle was discovered in a manganese, bismuth, and tellurium material, MnBi2Te4, known for its unique magnetic characteristics. The DAQ oscillates at a frequency of 44 gigahertz, which can be adjusted using a magnetic field, potentially allowing researchers to detect axion dark matter through resonance. While the existence of axions remains unproven, Dr. David Marsh from King’s College London expressed optimism that ongoing and future experiments could lead to their discovery within the next two decades.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 9 pmeznews.inA recent study from Michigan State University reveals a significant shift in attitudes towards parenthood in the U.S., with the percentage of nonparents who do not wish to have children rising from 14% in 2002 to 29% in 2023. Concurrently, the number of nonparents planning to have children has dropped from 79% to 59%. Key reasons for this trend include concerns about the state of the world, environmental issues, negative family experiences, and a simple preference for not having children, cited by 57% of respondents aged 18 to 49. This demographic shift indicates that many individuals are choosing to remain childfree rather than being unable to have children. As this group grows, it poses challenges for policymakers and service providers, who must adapt to the needs of childfree adults, including long-term contraception and retirement planning. The findings underscore the complexity of modern family planning and the evolving societal landscape.
Published: Apr 17 2025, 1 ameznews.inA recent study has revealed that an ancient tribe of hunter-gatherers on the south Texas coast may have created music using modified human bones, specifically a musical rasp made from a humerus. Dr. Matthew Taylor from Augusta University analyzed 29 human bone artifacts from the Late Prehistoric period, all dating from 1300 to 1528 AD, and found that 27 were crafted from arm or leg bones using a labor-intensive "groove-and-snap technique." While such artifacts are often linked to ancestor worship or war trophies, Taylor notes a lack of evidence for these practices in South Texas. The discovered rasp, featuring 29 notches and geometric designs, resembles the omichicahuaztli instruments used by pre-Hispanic cultures in central Mexico, suggesting a cultural exchange between the Aztecs and local tribes. Taylor emphasizes that the handling of human remains was not viewed as taboo, although the study does not confirm or deny cannibalism. The findings are published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 11 pmeznews.inIn a bizarre case from 2014, a 15-year-old boy was hospitalized after injecting himself with mercury in a misguided attempt to gain superpowers inspired by a character from the _X-Men_ franchise. The child arrived at a trauma center with large ulcers on his forearm, which had persisted for over two months. Initially suspected of substance abuse, he later revealed to psychiatric staff that he had taken mercury from a broken thermometer and a sphygmomanometer, motivated by a character named "Mercury" from the comics. Although the doctors misidentified the film and character, they confirmed elevated mercury levels in his urine. Fortunately, the boy had injected the substance subcutaneously, limiting potential harm. After surgical removal of the mercury and necrotic tissue, he was discharged in good health. The case is notable as most mercury injection incidents are linked to suicide attempts, but this boy was deemed mentally healthy despite his unusual actions.
Published: Apr 17 2025, 12 ameznews.inA new study from the University of Melbourne and the University of California, Berkeley, has examined the relationship between language and environmental concepts, particularly focusing on the often-cited claim that Inuit languages have over 50 words for "snow." Analyzing a dataset of 616 languages, researchers found that Eastern Canadian Inuktitut indeed has a rich vocabulary for snow, with terms like _kikalukpok_ (noisy walking on hard snow) and _apingaut_ (first snowfall). Other languages, including Scots, also feature numerous snow-related terms. The study revealed that while snowy regions have extensive vocabulary for snow, this does not apply to rain, which is crucial for survival. Additionally, oceanic languages tend to have more words for smell, and smaller societies often have a richer vocabulary for dance. The authors caution that their findings could reinforce stereotypes and urge careful interpretation of the data. The study is published in PNAS.
Published: Apr 15 2025, 5 pmeznews.inYouTuber and science communicator Steve Mould, known for his engaging physics demonstrations, has explored the intriguing notion that running uphill on a treadmill might be easier than on an actual hill. Contrary to his expectations, Mould's experiments revealed that running on a treadmill requires about 9 watts of power, while running up a ramp demands around 10 watts, prompting him to reflect on the discomfort of receiving unexpected results. Drawing parallels to flat-Earthers, Mould expressed newfound empathy for those grappling with contradictory evidence, despite firmly rejecting their beliefs. He speculated that factors like wind resistance and slipping on the treadmill could explain the discrepancy in his findings. Mould concluded that further refinement of his experiments is necessary to fully understand the dynamics at play, emphasizing the importance of scientific inquiry in addressing unexpected outcomes.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 10 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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