eznews.inThe Amazon rainforest, a source of inspiration for innovative solutions, became the backdrop for Henry Ford's ambitious venture, Fordlândia, in the 1920s. Seeking to bypass the high costs of Asian rubber, Ford envisioned a self-sufficient industrial utopia in Brazil, complete with hospitals and entertainment facilities. However, the reality was starkly different; the town, located along the Tapajós River, faced logistical challenges, and workers endured harsh conditions, including malnutrition and disease. Ford's monoculture approach ignored local knowledge about biodiversity, leading to devastating infestations and blight that crippled the rubber trees. The project, which Ford never visited, was ultimately abandoned in 1945, resulting in a loss of approximately $350 million today. While the forest has since reclaimed much of the area, Fordlândia now hosts a small population of 2,000 to 3,000 residents, serving as a poignant reminder of the Amazon's resilience and the folly of imposing foreign ideals on its complex ecosystem. 
Published: Jul 15 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIn the 1990s, Romanian-Australian economist Stefan Mandel devised a systematic approach to winning lotteries, achieving remarkable success across multiple countries, including Romania, Australia, and the US. Rather than relying on luck, Mandel identified that in certain lotteries, the jackpot could exceed the cost of purchasing every possible ticket combination. By securing investor backing, he created algorithms to generate and print tickets, allowing him to buy millions of combinations when jackpots were sufficiently high. His most notable win came from the Virginia lottery, where he purchased 6.4 million of the 7 million combinations needed to guarantee a win, ultimately claiming a $15.5 million jackpot. Despite facing scrutiny from the FBI and CIA, Mandel faced no legal repercussions. Over his career, he won 14 lotteries, amassing millions before retiring to a beach house in Vanuatu, though the exact profits from his ventures remain unclear.
Published: Jul 15 2025, 11 pmeznews.inIn a recent viral Reddit post, Greg Pagel utilized Google Maps and a photograph of his hometown's horizon to debunk a common flat-Earth theory. Flat-Earthers often argue that a flat horizon indicates a flat Earth, but Pagel calculated the curvature of the Earth over a distance of 13.5 kilometers (8.4 miles). He determined that the expected arc of the horizon would be approximately 0.12 degrees, a curve too subtle to perceive with the naked eye. This experiment highlights that the horizon appears flat not because the Earth is a disc, but due to its vast size. Pagel's findings echo long-standing evidence against flat-Earth claims, including the observable phenomenon of boats disappearing below the horizon. Critics of flat-Earth theories have pointed out that satellite images from Google Earth further support the planet's roundness, reinforcing the scientific consensus on Earth's shape.
Published: Jul 18 2025, 9 ameznews.inIn a remarkable discovery, scientists exploring Indonesia's Cyclops Mountains have identified a new genus of tree-dwelling shrimp, a surprising find given that these crustaceans typically inhabit coastal areas. The expedition, led by Dr. Leonidas-Romanos Davranoglou from Oxford University, revealed that the shrimp's ability to thrive hundreds of meters above sea level may be linked to the region's high humidity and rainfall. The team faced numerous challenges, including injuries and illnesses, yet their efforts were rewarded not only by the shrimp but also by the rediscovery of Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, a species thought extinct since the 1960s. Despite the harsh conditions, Dr. James Kempton described the Cyclops Mountains as "magical," highlighting the strong camaraderie among team members as they shared stories amidst the enchanting yet perilous landscape.
Published: Jul 18 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIn the Paraná Delta, just north of Buenos Aires, a remarkable natural phenomenon known as El Ojo, or "the eye," has captured attention. This giant floating island, measuring approximately 118 meters in diameter, consists of a dense mat of plant life and organic matter, drifting freely in a perfectly circular lake. Its unique shape is the result of erosion, as the island gradually carves out a symmetrical basin while rotating over time. Filmmaker Sergio Neuspiller documented this intriguing site in 2016, describing the striking contrast of the transparent water against the black earth below. Similar floating forests, known as _matupás_, exist in the Brazilian Amazon, often linked to local folklore about the mythical _cobra grande_ or Giant Anaconda. Despite limited scientific research on these islands, Indigenous communities possess valuable knowledge about their ecological roles, highlighting the importance of traditional wisdom in understanding such natural wonders.
Published: Jul 18 2025, 5 pmeznews.inOn December 26, 2004, a devastating tsunami triggered by a massive undersea earthquake off Indonesia claimed around 230,000 lives, yet some communities, notably the Moken tribe of sea nomads, emerged largely unscathed. Their survival can be attributed to traditional knowledge passed down through generations, particularly their understanding of the "Laboon," a cultural warning of impending disaster. This incident highlights the growing recognition of Indigenous knowledge as a valuable resource in disaster preparedness and environmental management. Scientists are increasingly collaborating with Indigenous communities to integrate traditional practices with modern techniques, particularly in areas like wildfire management and natural disaster response. For instance, the Monkoxɨ people in Bolivia are combining their traditional land management practices with contemporary methods to enhance resilience against climate change. As the importance of local knowledge gains traction, it underscores the need for a collaborative approach that respects and utilizes these time-honored insights in addressing contemporary challenges.
Published: Jul 18 2025, 1 ameznews.inA groundbreaking study by researchers at Princeton University and Southeast University has revealed that _Homo sapiens_ and Neanderthals interbred and exchanged genes far more frequently and earlier than previously thought, spanning nearly 250,000 years. Utilizing an AI-powered genetic tool called IBDmix, the scientists identified three significant waves of intermingling: around 200-250,000 years ago, 100-120,000 years ago, and the largest around 50-60,000 years ago. This challenges the prevailing theory that modern humans remained in Africa for 200,000 years before migrating. The findings suggest that rather than a single wave of contact, there was ongoing gene flow between the two species until Neanderthals' decline around 40,000 years ago. The research posits that Neanderthals were absorbed into the _H. sapiens_ genome rather than facing outright extinction, indicating a more complex narrative of human evolution. The study is published in the journal *Science*.
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Published: Jul 17 2025, 8 pmeznews.inNASA has announced the imminent arrival of the Perseid meteor shower, one of the year's most spectacular celestial events, originating from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. This 26-kilometer-wide comet, which takes 133 years to complete its orbit around the Sun, sheds debris that collides with Earth's atmosphere, creating vibrant streaks of light. The Perseids, peaking on August 12-13, are renowned for their high visibility, with 50 to 100 meteors observable per hour, including impressive fireballs—larger, brighter meteors that can last longer than typical streaks. Best viewed in the northern hemisphere during pre-dawn hours, stargazers are advised to look towards the constellation Perseus. The meteor shower will run from July 17 to August 23, offering a prime opportunity for skywatchers to witness this dazzling display of nature's fireworks.
Published: Jul 14 2025, 10 pmeznews.inEarth's continents are in a perpetual cycle of formation and breakup, currently in an intermediate phase following the disintegration of the supercontinent Pangea around 175 million years ago. Geologists suggest that in approximately 250 million years, the continents may coalesce into a new supercontinent, tentatively named Pangea Proxima. This theory, first proposed by American geologist Christopher Scotese in 1982, posits that tectonic forces will pull together the Americas, Africa, and Eurasia, while Australia and Antarctica will merge to the south. However, this geological transformation could render Earth inhospitable for land-based mammals, potentially leading to mass extinction. Alternative scenarios include the formation of supercontinents like "Amasia," where continents cluster around the North Pole, or "Aurica," where they gather near the equator. While the exact future configuration remains uncertain, significant geological changes are anticipated.
Published: Jul 18 2025, 2 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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