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Bronze-Age communities in Thailand utilized psychoactive betel nuts for enhanced alertness, relaxation, and euphoria, with evidence suggesting their use in religious practices dating back 4,000 years. While now demonized and banned in urban areas due to health concerns, betel nuts continue to be consumed ritualistically in rural regions. Recent research from the Nong Ratchawat archaeological site revealed the oldest known evidence of betel nut consumption through dental plaques from six skeletons, including traces of psychoactive compounds in one individual. Ethnographic interviews indicate that ancient Southeast Asians may have associated betel nut chewing with healing and agricultural rituals. Study author Piyawit Moonkham emphasized the cultural significance of such plants, advocating for a reevaluation of their role in society. Despite its prohibition since the 1940s, which has diminished traditional practices, the study highlights the enduring human-plant interactions and the need to reconsider our relationship with psychoactive substances. 
Published: Jul 31 2025, 7 pmeznews.inDavid Phillip Vetter, known as the "Boy in the Bubble," was born in September 1971 with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a condition that left him without an immune system. His birth was meticulously planned via caesarean section to protect him from germs, and he spent his entire life in a sterile environment, isolated from the outside world. Despite his challenging circumstances, David displayed remarkable intelligence and development, but he struggled with social skills and understanding his surroundings. After 12 years, a breakthrough in medical science offered hope for a bone marrow transplant from his sister, but it led to tragedy when Epstein-Barr virus from the transplant caused cancerous tumors. David died shortly after leaving his bubble in 1984. His life, while tragic, contributed to significant medical advancements in treating SCID, ensuring that future generations would not endure the same fate.
Published: Aug 01 2025, 5 pmeznews.inAstronomers have proposed a plan to potentially intercept the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using NASA's aging Juno spacecraft, which is currently in orbit around Jupiter. A pre-print paper by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb and colleagues suggests that by executing a Jupiter Oberth maneuver, Juno could alter its trajectory to meet the comet on March 14, 2026. Discovered on July 1, 2025, 3I/ATLAS is notable for its size and speed, and may originate from a different region of the galaxy, making it a subject of significant scientific interest. However, the comet will be on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth at its closest approach, complicating observations. While Juno's instruments could provide valuable data, NASA faces budget cuts and competing priorities, including a mission to Mars, which may hinder the feasibility of this ambitious plan.
Published: Aug 01 2025, 8 ameznews.inThe Mariana Trench, one of the ocean's deepest and most enigmatic environments, is home to a diverse array of uniquely adapted creatures, including the black seadevil anglerfish, goblin shark, and dumbo octopus. The trench's extreme pressure—over 16,000 PSI—has shaped these species, allowing them to thrive in conditions where few humans have ventured. For instance, the black seadevil, with its bioluminescent lure, captures prey in the dark depths, while the goblin shark, a relic from 125 million years ago, uses its specialized sensory system to detect prey. Other fascinating inhabitants include the transparent barreleye fish, which can see above it through its see-through head, and the gelatinous snailfish, the deepest living fish known. These remarkable adaptations highlight the creativity of evolution in one of Earth's most challenging habitats, showcasing the extraordinary life forms that inhabit the Mariana Trench.
Published: Aug 01 2025, 10 ameznews.inThe classification of stars, particularly the term "sun," has sparked debate among astronomers and linguists alike. While the Sun is a star that holds a unique position in our solar system, the question arises: do other stars qualify as suns? Definitions vary, with some arguing that "sun" should only refer to our own star, while others embrace a broader interpretation that includes sun-like stars, such as Tau Ceti. Generally, stars are considered suns if they are still fusing elements and have orbiting planets. However, exceptions exist, such as brown dwarfs and red dwarfs, which may not meet the criteria for being called suns despite being classified as stars. Ultimately, the terminology is fluid, shaped by human understanding and usage, leaving it up to individuals to decide how they wish to categorize these celestial bodies.
Published: Aug 01 2025, 11 ameznews.inIn a remarkable case from 2003, Inés Ramírez Pérez, a 40-year-old mother from a remote village in southern Mexico, performed a self-cesarean section after enduring 12 hours of labor without assistance. Living in a one-room cabin devoid of electricity and running water, Pérez had previously lost a child to obstructed labor, prompting her desperate decision. Armed with a kitchen knife and three glasses of liquor, she made three incisions in her abdomen and successfully delivered her baby boy, who cried immediately. After regaining consciousness, she called for help, and a local nurse arrived to assist before she was transported to a hospital eight hours away. There, medical staff ensured her recovery, and both mother and child survived. This extraordinary incident highlights the dire need for improved reproductive healthcare in rural areas to prevent such extreme measures in the future, as detailed in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
Published: Aug 01 2025, 7 ameznews.inA groundbreaking study has revealed that not all organs age at the same rate, with significant implications for understanding human aging. Researchers created a "proteomic blueprint of aging," examining how protein markers in various organs change over a 50-year period. The study found that aging accelerates notably after the age of 50, but the aorta, one of the first organs to show pronounced changes, begins aging much earlier, around age 30. This organ acts as a "radio tower," broadcasting proteins like GAS6 that may accelerate aging in other tissues. Professor Guang-Hui Liu, a lead author, emphasized that this research shifts the focus of aging studies from isolated organs to their interactions through blood-borne factors. By identifying organs that age fastest, the findings could pave the way for targeted interventions to slow systemic aging and reduce chronic disease risks. The study is published in the journal Cell.
Published: Jul 31 2025, 6 pmeznews.inRecent claims circulating online and in tabloids suggest that Nostradamus predicted Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine could lead to World War III. One passage, interpreted as foreseeing a "Great War" lasting seven months, has sparked concern, with the Daily Star speculating it may relate to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine. Nostradamus is also said to have predicted a famine so severe that it would drive people to cannibalism, linking it to potential global unrest. However, experts argue that Nostradamus's predictions are often vague and can be retroactively applied to various events, a phenomenon known as "postdiction." For instance, a passage attributed to the rise of Hitler is so ambiguous that it could apply to many historical figures. Ultimately, while Nostradamus's writings may intrigue many, they do not provide concrete foresight regarding current geopolitical tensions.
Published: Jul 31 2025, 3 pmeznews.inA new study led by scientists at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan reveals that COVID-19 vaccines saved an estimated 2.5 million lives between 2020 and 2024, equating to 14.8 million years of life saved globally. With over 13 billion doses administered, 67% of the global population had received a complete primary series by the end of 2023. The analysis highlights that 82% of lives saved were among individuals vaccinated before exposure to the virus, with 57% of these lives saved during the Omicron wave, predominantly among those aged 60 and over. While the success of COVID vaccines is notable, the authors caution that their impact on life-years saved is significantly lower than that of other vaccines, such as measles. They express concern over increased vaccine hesitancy stemming from the pandemic, which could complicate future vaccination efforts. The findings are published in JAMA Health Forum.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 11 pmeznews.inFor nearly 800 years, the Shroud of Turin has been at the center of a heated debate regarding its authenticity as the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. First appearing in 1354, the shroud gained reverence after being presented by a French knight, but its legitimacy has been increasingly questioned. Radiocarbon dating in the late 1980s suggested it was created between 1260 and 1390 CE, long after Jesus's death, a finding accepted by the Archbishop of Turin. Recent studies have further undermined its credibility, with bloodstain analyses revealing unrealistic patterns and discrepancies in the figure's proportions. A controversial 2022 study proposed that the shroud could date back to 55-74 CE, but this relied on debatable assumptions. A new study using 3D simulations indicates that the markings resemble a flat painting rather than a human imprint, reinforcing the view that the shroud is likely a medieval artwork, though true believers remain unconvinced.
Published: Jul 30 2025, 8 pmeznews.inWhile hyenas are often associated with their cackling, meat-eating reputation, the aardwolf (_Proteles cristatus_) stands out as a unique member of the family. Its name, meaning "earth wolf" in Afrikaans, reflects its burrowing habits. Resembling the striped hyena, the aardwolf has a distinctive bristled mane and a diet that sets it apart: it primarily consumes termites, using a long, sticky tongue to gather up to 300,000 of them nightly. Unlike their more social relatives, aardwolves are solitary creatures, coming together only during mating season. After a gestation period of about 90 days, females give birth to two to five cubs, which are weaned on regurgitated termites. Despite their elusive nature, aardwolves are classified as a species of "least concern" by the IUCN, thriving across southern and eastern Africa, though their termite prey may not share the same fortune.
Published: Jul 28 2025, 8 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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