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A recent study from Johns Hopkins University reveals that despite the ubiquitous presence of the letter "g," many people struggle to recognize its two distinct forms, particularly the "looptail" g commonly found in print. Researchers conducted experiments with 38 volunteers, who were largely unable to recall or accurately reproduce the looptail g, with only one participant successfully identifying it among lookalikes. The findings suggest that the lack of formal instruction in writing this variant may hinder recognition, as most individuals learn letter shapes through writing in school. Senior author Michael McCloskey raised concerns that children raised on screens might face additional challenges in recognizing this form of g, potentially impacting their reading skills. The study highlights the complexities of visual recognition and the influence of educational practices on literacy. The correct form of g, as noted in the study, is the looptail version. 
Published: Jul 14 2025, 3 pmeznews.inLarge language models (LLMs) have been observed to frequently generate the same number—27—when asked to guess a random number between one and 50. Testing by IFLScience revealed that popular chatbots like ClaudeAI, ChatGPT, Bing's Co-Pilot, and Gemini consistently produce this result. Users on Reddit have noted varying reasoning from the models, with some explaining their choice as a strategy to avoid "obvious" numbers. Research indicates that LLMs struggle with randomness, often favoring certain numbers, particularly primes. A study found that when asked to choose random numbers within specific ranges, LLMs tended to select mid-range values, while human participants also exhibited biases, often gravitating towards numbers containing 7. Experts suggest that the training data and reinforcement learning processes may contribute to this phenomenon, highlighting the complex interplay between human and machine biases in number selection.
Published: Jul 14 2025, 11 pmeznews.inThe 2010 World Cup in South Africa was marred by controversy over the Adidas Jabulani ball, designed to enhance performance with its innovative "Grip’n’Groove" profile and thermally bonded 3-D panels. Despite initial positive feedback from players, the ball's unpredictable flight path during the tournament drew widespread criticism. Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar likened it to a "supermarket ball," while striker Luis Fabiano described its erratic trajectory as "supernatural." Some players, like England's Joe Hart, found the unpredictability exciting, but many, including fellow goalkeeper David James, deemed it dreadful. NASA's investigation revealed that the ball's smooth surface contributed to a "knuckle-ball effect," causing erratic movement at speeds typical of free kicks. The high-altitude venues further complicated matters, as lower air density affected the ball's behavior. Ultimately, the Jabulani's performance led to a World Cup filled with unexpected moments, captivating audiences despite player dissatisfaction.
Published: Jul 14 2025, 9 pmeznews.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, over a span of 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 narrative that modern humans remained in Africa for 200,000 years before migrating. The findings suggest that Neanderthals were not entirely extinct but absorbed into the _H. sapiens_ genome, as the latter's larger population outcompeted them. The study emphasizes a more complex history of human migration and interaction, with implications for understanding Neanderthal survival and integration into modern human ancestry. The research is published in the journal *Science*.
Published: Jul 14 2025, 10 pmeznews.inA new interactive quiz on Playbuzz challenges participants to identify various objects based solely on their microscopic images. The quiz highlights the often bizarre and unfamiliar nature of the microscopic world, which can be difficult to relate to everyday life. As viewers engage with the images, they are invited to test their observational skills and knowledge of the unseen details that make up our environment. This engaging activity not only entertains but also educates, shedding light on the fascinating intricacies of objects that are typically invisible to the naked eye. For those curious about the hidden wonders of the microscopic realm, this quiz offers a fun opportunity to explore and learn.
Published: Jul 14 2025, 4 pmeznews.inSince the advent of nuclear weapons, the threat of global annihilation looms large, with studies indicating that as few as 100 warheads could trigger a nuclear winter, potentially resulting in the deaths of up to 1 billion people. As of 2023, the world is home to approximately 12,500 nuclear warheads, held by nine nations: Russia, the USA, China, the UK, France, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea, and India. Notably, a humorous misconception has emerged regarding a supposed tenth nuclear power, "Jeff," which is actually an acronym for the Joint Evaluated Fission and Fusion Project—a collaborative effort to compile nuclear data. This error stemmed from a data mishap, leading to confusion about Jeff's status as a nuclear weapons holder. While the notion of a person named Jeff possessing nuclear arms is unfounded, it serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding nuclear arsenals and their management.
Published: Jul 14 2025, 8 pmeznews.inA recent study has revealed that semi-captive African elephants exhibit complex goal-directed gestures, a behavior previously observed mainly in primates. Conducted in Zimbabwe, researchers observed 17 elephants from two different reserves as they interacted with trays of apples. The elephants demonstrated a range of 38 distinct gestures, primarily directed at the experimenter, indicating their desire for the apples. Notably, when their initial attempts to obtain food were unsuccessful, the elephants persisted by either repeating gestures or introducing new ones, showcasing their ability to adapt their communication strategies. This behavior suggests a level of intentionality in their gestures, as they responded to the presence of a visually attentive audience. The findings, published in *Royal Society Open Science*, provide the first systematic evidence of such complex communication in elephants, highlighting their cognitive abilities and social interactions.
Published: Jul 09 2025, 9 pmeznews.inAt a recent physics conference, researchers reported the detection of gravitational waves from the largest known black hole merger, dubbed GW231123. This event involved a black hole of 103 solar masses merging with another of 137 solar masses, resulting in a combined mass of 225 solar masses, surpassing theoretical expectations and raising questions about black hole formation. The missing 15 solar masses were converted into energy, including the gravitational wave signal. The event, located between 700 million and 4.1 billion light years away, challenges existing models of stellar evolution, as black holes of this size are not typically expected to form. The black holes also exhibited rapid spins, complicating detection and interpretation. The findings were presented at the GR-Amaldi conference in Glasgow, where a unique ceilidh dance was choreographed to illustrate the merger process, aiming to engage young people in understanding gravitational waves. A preprint of the study is available on ArXiv.org.
Published: Jul 14 2025, 6 pmeznews.inA recent wave of revelations has highlighted the surprising ignorance surrounding everyday symbols, particularly those found on laundry labels. While many are unaware that ketchup should be refrigerated or what the padlock icon in a browser signifies, the triangle symbol on clothing labels has sparked particular curiosity. This symbol indicates whether a garment can be bleached, with an empty triangle allowing for bleach use, while a triangle with lines suggests caution. Experts warn that misunderstanding these symbols can lead to disastrous laundry mishaps, such as shrinking garments significantly. The international laundry industry has established a standard code for care instructions, including symbols for washing, drying, and ironing, which can help consumers avoid costly mistakes. As more people become aware of these symbols, the hope is that they will navigate laundry care with greater confidence and success.
Published: Jul 14 2025, 5 pmeznews.inNew research has revealed that psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, may possess significant anti-aging properties, in addition to its known mental health benefits. Conducted on cultured human cells and live mice, the study demonstrated that psilocybin can slow cellular aging and extend lifespan, with treated human fetal lung cells showing a lifespan increase of up to 57% at higher doses. The research, inspired by the "psilocybin-telomere hypothesis," found that psilocybin treatment reduced telomere shortening and increased levels of the SIRT1 protein, crucial for cellular aging regulation. In a notable experiment, 80% of older mice treated with psilocybin survived longer than their untreated counterparts, also appearing physically younger. While the findings are promising, study author Dr. Kosuke Kato cautioned that further research is needed to determine optimal dosing and potential long-term risks before psilocybin can be considered for public use. The study is published in the journal *npj Aging*.
Published: Jul 10 2025, 12 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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