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The National Park Service (NPS) issued a warning after a guest inadvertently left a bag of Cheetos in the Big Room of Carlsbad Caverns, the largest cave chamber in North America. The NPS highlighted that such litter not only contributes to plastic pollution but can also disrupt the delicate cave ecosystem. The bag, left in the humid environment, became a breeding ground for microbial life and fungi, leading to the formation of a temporary food web involving cave crickets, mites, and other organisms. Rangers spent 20 minutes removing the trash and mold, emphasizing the importance of minimizing human impact in sensitive environments. With over 300 million visitors generating nearly 70 million tons of waste annually in U.S. national parks, the NPS reminded the public that even small actions can have significant consequences on biodiversity, drawing parallels to the damage caused to the Lascaux Caves in France due to increased human activity. 
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Jun 15 2025, 6 pmeznews.inA recent study has raised the likelihood of our Solar System hosting the elusive "Planet Nine" to 40 percent, following simulations of wide-orbit planet formation. Initially proposed in 2016 by Caltech astronomers, the existence of Planet Nine is suggested by the unusual clustering of distant objects beyond Neptune, which may be influenced by a massive, unseen planet. Researchers from Rice University and the Planetary Science Institute conducted simulations of various planetary systems, revealing that chaotic interactions among giant planets can lead to the trapping of planets in wide orbits. Their findings indicate that Solar Systems like ours have a reasonable chance of capturing such planets, with a probability of 5-10 percent. The study also highlights the potential for discovering more wide-orbit planets around high-metallicity stars and emphasizes the importance of upcoming observations from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the search for Planet Nine. The research is detailed in the journal Nature Astronomy.
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Jun 20 2025, 5 ameznews.inThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory has confirmed the discovery of approximately 40 circular structures at the bottom of Lake Michigan, identified as sinkholes. These depressions, ranging from 91 to 183 meters in diameter, were first detected during a 2022 sonar survey and further investigated in August 2023, located about 22.5 kilometers southeast of Sheboygan. The sinkholes likely formed due to geological processes involving the dissolution of limestone by groundwater. Similar formations in Lake Huron have been found to host unique microbial communities, offering insights into early Earth conditions. Researchers are eager to explore the Lake Michigan sinkholes, anticipating they may reveal new microbial life forms and enhance our understanding of ancient ecosystems. The findings underscore the geological and biological significance of these underwater features, which could provide a window into the planet's distant past.
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Jun 19 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe Copernican principle asserts that Earth and humanity do not occupy a unique position in the universe, yet the Solar System's distinct organization raises questions. With over 5,920 confirmed exoplanets across approximately 4,550 planetary systems, astronomers note that this is a mere fraction of the estimated 100 billion stars in the Milky Way. Many discovered exoplanets, such as lava worlds and hot Jupiters, differ dramatically from those in our Solar System, suggesting that planetary formation can lead to chaotic outcomes. While the Solar System appears stable, the search for similar systems is hampered by observational biases and the limitations of current detection methods. Techniques like the transit and wobble methods require extensive observations, making it challenging to identify systems akin to our own. However, advancements in technology and analysis may soon yield more Earth-like planets, potentially revealing a Solar System twin in the vast cosmos.
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Jun 16 2025, 6 pmeznews.inA rare collection of scientific papers by Alan Turing, the English mathematician and codebreaker regarded as the father of computer science, has fetched £465,400 (US$625,000) at auction after narrowly escaping destruction. The collection includes Turing's seminal theoretical paper, _On Computable Numbers_, and other foundational works in computer science. Turing, who played a pivotal role in breaking Nazi Germany's Enigma code during World War II, faced tragic persecution for his sexuality after the war, leading to his untimely death in 1954. The papers, originally gifted to mathematician Norman Routledge by Turing's mother, were discovered by Routledge's nieces, who considered shredding them before seeking a valuation. Auction director Jim Spencer hailed the papers as “the most important archive I’ve ever handled,” emphasizing their significance in the history of computing. The auction result was three times higher than anticipated, marking a fortunate outcome for Turing's legacy.
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Jun 20 2025, 10 ameznews.inA new study from Brown University reveals that the Salton Sea, California's largest lake, is emitting significantly higher levels of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas than previously recognized, surpassing state air quality standards and posing serious health risks to nearby communities. Located 160 miles east of Los Angeles, the Salton Sea was formed in 1905 and has since become increasingly saline due to agricultural runoff. Once a popular vacation destination, the lake's health deteriorated in the latter half of the 20th century, leading to harmful algal blooms and oxygen depletion. The study, which involved collaboration with local organizations, found that emissions often exceed safety limits, particularly in the Torres Martinez community. Researchers emphasize the need for enhanced air quality monitoring, as many affected areas lack oversight, highlighting a case of environmental injustice impacting predominantly Latinx and Indigenous populations already suffering from respiratory issues.
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Jun 20 2025, 8 ameznews.inThe White House has dismissed speculation about extraterrestrial involvement in the recent downing of four unidentified flying objects over North America, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating there is "no indication of aliens." The latest object, described as an octagonal structure with strings, was shot down by F-16 fighter jets over Lake Huron on February 12, after being detected over Montana. This incident follows the downing of a Chinese high-altitude balloon on February 4, which China claimed was for meteorological purposes, while the US alleged it was for espionage. The military has initiated a task force to recover and analyze the debris from the latest object, which poses a potential hazard to civil aviation. Meanwhile, tensions between the US and China have escalated, with China accusing the US of violating its airspace with high-altitude balloons, leading to the postponement of a planned visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
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Jun 15 2025, 5 pmeznews.inSpaceX's Starship program faced another setback on June 18, when Starship 36 exploded during a static fire test at Starbase, Texas, ahead of its planned tenth flight test. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. CT, with SpaceX confirming that all personnel were safe and that a safety perimeter was maintained. The explosion, described as a "major anomaly," has raised concerns about potential damage to nearby fueling tanks and could delay future launches significantly. This latest failure adds to a series of explosive incidents involving Starship, including previous flights that ended in destruction shortly after launch. The Starship is critical for NASA's Artemis III mission, which aims to return humans to the Moon, and Elon Musk's ambitious plans for Mars colonization. However, the vehicle has yet to prove its reliability for safe landings and interplanetary travel, leaving the timeline for future missions uncertain.
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Jun 19 2025, 10 pmeznews.inRecent research has revealed that the notorious Portuguese man o' war, often mistaken for a jellyfish, is actually comprised of four distinct species, challenging the long-held belief that they were a single entity. Conducted by scientists at Griffith University, the study analyzed genetic data and morphological differences among 151 samples of the _Physalia_ genus, leading to the identification of _Physalia physalis_, _Physalia utriculus_, _Physalia megalista_, and _Physalia minuta_. Professor Kylie Pitt noted the surprising genetic divergence, indicating that these species do not interbreed despite overlapping habitats across the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. The research utilized citizen science platform iNaturalist to examine 4,000 images for physical variations, confirming that each species has unique characteristics and home ranges. This groundbreaking study, published in Current Biology, suggests that further taxonomic subpopulations may exist within these siphonophores.
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Jun 19 2025, 10 pmeznews.inThe biblical tale of Adam and Eve's temptation by a serpent and their subsequent expulsion from Eden is widely recognized, yet the identity of the forbidden fruit remains a topic of debate. Contrary to popular belief, the Book of Genesis does not specify the fruit, merely referring to it as "peri," a generic term for fruit in Hebrew. Scholars have proposed various possibilities, including figs, grapes, and pomegranates, but modern consensus suggests it was not an apple. The association of the apple with the forbidden fruit likely stems from a linguistic coincidence; the Latin word for apple, "malum," sounds like the word for evil. However, recent research by Azzan Yadin-Israel indicates that this connection lacks historical support in Latin texts, with the first artistic representation of the apple appearing in 12th-century France. Thus, the apple's role in this narrative may be more about language evolution than theological significance.
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Jun 19 2025, 5 pmeznews.inSharks, often misunderstood as fearsome predators, play a crucial role in marine ecosystems and have now been confirmed as adherents to the "two-thirds scaling law," a mathematical principle that describes how an animal's volume scales with its surface area. A study led by Joel Gayford at James Cook University analyzed 54 shark species, revealing that their surface area-to-volume ratios closely align with this law, deviating only slightly from the expected coefficient. This finding is significant as it enhances our understanding of how sharks and other large animals regulate body temperature, energy, and oxygen exchange, which is vital in the context of climate change. The research suggests that sharks have evolved to maintain this ratio, potentially due to the energetic costs associated with deviating from it. This insight could inform conservation strategies as oceans face rising temperatures and acidity, highlighting the importance of mathematical principles in biological research.
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Jun 20 2025, 1 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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