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Last week, North America experienced a rare celestial event as the Moon transformed into a striking blood-red hue during a total lunar eclipse, an occurrence that happens approximately every two and a half years. This phenomenon, known as a "Blood Moon," occurs when the Earth positions itself between the Sun and the Moon, blocking most sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The red coloration results from Rayleigh scattering, where blue light is scattered more effectively by the Earth's atmosphere, allowing only red light to illuminate the Moon. Viewers in North America were advised to stay up late to witness the totality phase, which occurred around 06:26 am UTC, lasting nearly an hour. While the eclipse was visible across North and South America, only the initial phase was observable in parts of Europe and Africa. The next opportunity to see a Blood Moon will be on September 7, 2025. 
Published: Mar 10 2025, 11 pmeznews.inNew Zealand's quirky "Bug of the Year" competition has crowned the velvet worm (_Peripatoides novaezealandiae_) as its 2023 champion, outpacing contenders like the praying mantis and giant springtail. This ancient creature, often dubbed a "living fossil," boasts a unique appearance reminiscent of a hybrid between a slug, worm, and caterpillar, complete with stumpy legs and a velvety, orange-speckled body. Despite its seemingly benign exterior, the velvet worm is a formidable predator, ensnaring its prey with sticky slime before injecting digestive saliva and consuming the liquefied remains. While little is known about its conservation status due to its reclusive nature, velvet worms face threats from habitat loss and introduced predators. The Entomological Society of New Zealand hopes that initiatives like the Bug of the Year will raise awareness about these fascinating yet underappreciated invertebrates, encouraging further research and conservation efforts.
Published: Mar 14 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA new study has found that cannabidiol (CBD), often marketed as a remedy for chronic pain, is largely ineffective, with 15 out of 16 clinical trials showing no significant difference from a placebo. Despite its popularity, particularly among younger adults in the US and Canada, the evidence supporting CBD's analgesic properties remains weak. Researchers noted that many consumers spend over $140 monthly on CBD products, driven by desperation for pain relief. The study highlights concerns over the lack of regulation in the CBD market, with only 25% of products containing the advertised amount of CBD and many containing psychoactive THC or synthetic cannabinoids. The authors conclude that while CBD is marketed as a pain relief solution, it is expensive, ineffective, and potentially harmful, urging consumers to be cautious. The findings were published in The Journal of Pain.
Published: Mar 12 2025, 2 ameznews.inNearly three decades ago, Dr. Carl Sagan made a strikingly prescient prediction about the future of the United States, warning of the potential rise of big tech, misinformation, and superstition. In his 1995 book, *The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark*, Sagan, renowned for his passionate advocacy of science, expressed concern that humanity's reverence for reason and rationality was waning. He envisioned a future where the U.S. would become a service and information economy, dominated by a few technological elites, with the public unable to critically engage with authority. Sagan lamented the decline of substantive media content, predicting a culture increasingly enamored with ignorance and superstition, as people turned to crystals and horoscopes instead of reasoned inquiry. His insights resonate today, highlighting the ongoing struggle between enlightenment and the allure of pseudoscience.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIndium, a rare metallic element discovered in 1863 by German chemists Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymous Richter, is notable for its unusual chewability, resembling a slightly stale stick of gum. Named after the Latin word for indigo due to its spectral properties, indium is silvery-white and remarkably soft, easily cut with a knife or scratched with a fingernail. While it produces a high-pitched noise when bent, akin to "crying," indium is considered low in toxicity, though caution is advised due to potential health risks like indium lung disease for workers exposed to indium tin oxide. Despite its chewable nature, popular YouTuber Michael Stevens likened the experience to biting into refrigerated Milk Duds, noting the lack of flavor. He cautioned against chewing indium, emphasizing that while it may be softer than other metals, it could still harm your teeth.
Published: Mar 14 2025, 9 ameznews.inA recent study utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed an unexpected pattern in the rotation of galaxies from the early universe, suggesting that we may be inside a black hole. Researchers from Kansas State University analyzed images of 263 galaxies, finding that 60% rotated clockwise and 40% counterclockwise, a discrepancy that contradicts current cosmological models predicting no preferred rotation direction. This observation raises questions about the universe's structure, with some theories proposing that it may have been born rotating, aligning with black hole cosmology. Alternatively, the findings could be influenced by the Doppler effect, which might make certain galaxies appear brighter based on their rotation relative to the Milky Way. While the study opens new avenues for understanding cosmic evolution, further observations are necessary to validate these claims and refine our understanding of the universe's dynamics. The research is published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Published: Mar 13 2025, 6 pmeznews.inA viral TikTok video has captured the unusual facial features of the Reeves's or Chinese muntjac deer, known for their distinctive flappy faces, which serve a crucial role in their communication. Native to southeastern China and Taiwan, these small, secretive deer have expanded their range to Europe, the western United States, and Japan due to human introduction. Muntjacs possess two sets of scent glands—preorbital glands near the eyes and v-shaped frontal glands on the forehead—used primarily for scent marking. While at rest, these glands appear as mere folds of skin, but they can flare dramatically when the deer scent mark, especially during interactions with potential mates or rivals. Males are particularly active in using these glands, marking their territory and communicating with other deer. Despite their quirky appearance, experts advise against handling these animals, as their unique features can lead to unexpected reactions.
Published: Mar 12 2025, 4 ameznews.inThe role of the US President, often described as the world's toughest job, comes with a substantial salary of $400,000 annually, placing the holder among the top 5 percent of earners in the country. In addition to this salary, the President receives a $50,000 annual expense allowance, a $100,000 travel budget, and $19,000 for official entertainment, with any unspent funds returned to the Treasury. The President and their family also reside rent-free in the White House, a 55,000-square-foot residence featuring numerous amenities. While the presidential salary has seen nominal increases since 1999, its value has diminished when adjusted for inflation. Notably, some Presidents, including Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy, have chosen to forgo their salaries, opting instead to donate them to various causes, despite their substantial personal wealth.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 2 pmeznews.in"Give-up-itis," a term describing a medically recognized yet enigmatic phenomenon, refers to individuals who lose the will to live and subsequently die without any clear physiological cause. First noted among American and South Korean soldiers in Korean War PoW camps, the condition has also been observed in Vietnam War PoWs and survivors of Nazi concentration camps. It typically arises in situations of extreme psychological trauma, leading to profound apathy and withdrawal from life. Research by Dr. John Leach from the University of Portsmouth suggests that give-up-itis may be more common than previously believed, with historical cases dating back to the 1600s. His study outlines five phases of the condition, culminating in death, and posits that disruptions in the anterior cingulate circuit of the brain may underlie its pathology. Leach emphasizes that while psychogenic death is real, it is not linked to depression or suicide but rather to a profound surrender to despair.
Published: Mar 12 2025, 6 ameznews.inIn a whimsical reflection on the journey to becoming a fossil, the author humorously contemplates their demise and the rare privilege of fossilization. While most creatures leave no trace, specific conditions can lead to preservation through permineralization, where minerals fill in remains, often requiring rapid burial to prevent decay. Dr. Susannah Maidment from the Natural History Museum explains that factors like microbial mats can accelerate this process, as seen in a study of African dwarf frogs, which showed signs of mineralization within 540 days. However, to be classified as a true fossil, remains must typically be over 10,000 years old. As the author envisions their future in a lake, they eagerly await the year 12,025, when they hope to officially qualify as a bona fide fossil, joining the ranks of history's preserved wonders.
Published: Mar 14 2025, 11 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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