eznews.inLinguists are exploring the evolution of English, particularly how far back one could go and still understand the language. While texts from the 1800s, such as Jane Austen's *Sense and Sensibility*, remain accessible, earlier forms of English become increasingly challenging due to the Great Vowel Shift, which occurred between the 15th and 18th centuries. This significant phonetic change altered the pronunciation of long vowels, making Middle English sound foreign to modern speakers. For instance, the word "sheep" was pronounced similarly to "shape." The reasons behind this shift are debated, with theories suggesting that migration to London post-Black Death, the rise of the middle class, and a desire to distance English from French pronunciations during conflicts with France all played a role. Understanding these historical changes highlights the dynamic nature of language and its continuous evolution. 
Published: Oct 25 2025, 12 ameznews.inA mystery at the Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville, North Carolina, has taken a somber turn regarding a stingray named Charlotte, who was initially thought to be pregnant despite the absence of male stingrays. Speculation arose that she could have been impregnated by a shark after two male white spot bamboo sharks were introduced to her tank. However, after extensive testing, the aquarium announced that Charlotte is suffering from a rare reproductive disease that has adversely affected her reproductive system, dispelling earlier theories of parthenogenesis or hybridization. Team ECCO, which operates the aquarium, emphasized their commitment to Charlotte's health and well-being, stating they will collaborate with veterinarians to explore treatment options. The case, while unfortunate, may contribute valuable insights to the understanding of reproductive health in rays.
Published: Oct 22 2025, 1 ameznews.inDolphin meat, once consumed in various cultures, is now largely banned due to health concerns, particularly high mercury levels. Recent tests by Action for Dolphins revealed alarming mercury concentrations in dolphin offal from Japan, with levels reaching 265 times the regulatory limit. This follows earlier findings where dolphin meat sold online contained mercury levels exceeding safe limits by up to 97 times. The accumulation of mercury in dolphins, a result of their position at the top of the food chain, poses significant health risks, especially for pregnant women and children, as exposure can lead to severe developmental issues. Despite Japan's continued consumption of dolphin meat, only a minority partake, and experts suggest that the taste is unappealing, with many preferring other seafood options. Consequently, while the news may be good for dolphin populations, it underscores the dangers of consuming their meat.
Published: Oct 25 2025, 6 ameznews.inNew research from the University of Tokyo suggests that going gray, often viewed as an undesirable aspect of aging, may actually serve as a protective mechanism against cancer. The study, conducted on mice, examined how hair follicle stem cells (melanocyte stem cells) respond to DNA damage, revealing a link between hair graying and melanoma, a type of skin cancer. When these stem cells encounter DNA double-strand breaks, they undergo a process called senescence-coupled differentiation, leading to hair graying. Conversely, exposure to certain carcinogens allows these cells to avoid differentiation, enabling them to continue dividing. This indicates that stem cells face a critical choice under stress: to differentiate and gray or to proliferate, potentially leading to tumors. While the findings do not imply that gray hair prevents cancer, they highlight a complex relationship between stem cell stress responses and aging. The study is published in *Nature Cell Biology*.
Published: Oct 25 2025, 3 ameznews.inIn a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have confirmed for the first time that some dinosaurs, specifically the duck-billed *Edmontosaurus annectens*, had hooves, thanks to two exceptionally well-preserved mummified specimens found in Wyoming's Badlands. These 66-million-year-old fossils were preserved through a rare "clay templating" process, where a thin layer of clay encased the dinosaurs shortly after burial. Researchers utilized advanced imaging techniques to reconstruct a complete fleshy profile of the *Edmontosaurus*, revealing that the larger specimen had three hind toes capped with hooves similar to those of modern horses. This finding marks several significant firsts in paleontology, including the earliest documented hooves in a land vertebrate and the first confirmed hooved reptile. Senior author Paul Sereno expressed excitement over the unprecedented insights these mummies provide into dinosaur appearance, highlighting the potential for further discoveries in the unique fossil-rich area. The study is published in the journal *Science*.
Published: Oct 24 2025, 11 pmeznews.inBlue Babe, a steppe bison (Bison priscus), lived approximately 50,000 years ago in Ice Age Alaska before being killed by a lion. Its remarkably preserved remains were discovered by gold miners in 1979, making it the only known Pleistocene bison retrieved from permafrost. Researchers, led by palaeontologist Dale Guthrie, later prepared a unique dinner featuring a stew made from a portion of Blue Babe's neck, celebrating the bison's historical significance. The meat, described as well-aged yet tough, imparted a "strong Pleistocene aroma" to the dish, which was enhanced with vegetables and spices. Despite the ancient origins, diners reported no adverse effects after the meal, which was enjoyed by a group of about a dozen on April 6, 1984. The bison's remains also revealed evidence of predation, with lion tooth fragments found in its neck, indicating a swift freezing process that preserved the tissue remarkably well.
Published: Oct 24 2025, 8 pmeznews.inA new study suggests that the first people to enter the Americas may have sailed from Japan around 20,000 years ago, based on an analysis of prehistoric stone tools from ten sites across the United States. Previously, evidence of human presence in North America was limited, with ancient footprints in New Mexico being the earliest known. However, researchers have now identified at least ten sites showing human occupation between 13,000 and 20,000 years ago, with five sites indicating a technological industry known as the American Upper Paleolithic. The study links these findings to similar Paleolithic tools from Hokkaido, Japan, suggesting that early seafarers navigated a coastal route into the Americas rather than using the Bering land bridge. This research not only clarifies the origins of the First Americans but also highlights the interconnectedness of ancient cultures across Eurasia and Asia. The findings are published in the journal Science Advances.
Published: Oct 24 2025, 9 pmeznews.inA sleep technique, originally developed for military fighter pilots, has gained popularity on TikTok, with fitness influencer Justin Agustin demonstrating how to fall asleep in just two minutes. This method, designed to help soldiers rest even in challenging environments, involves a series of relaxation steps, starting from the forehead down to the toes, while focusing on deep breathing and visualizing calming scenes, such as lying in a canoe on a tranquil lake. Agustin emphasizes the importance of clearing the mind of distractions, suggesting that if intrusive thoughts arise, one should mentally repeat "don’t think" for ten seconds. The technique, rooted in the 1981 book *Relax and Win: Championship Performance*, reportedly enabled 96% of pilots in a U.S. Navy study to fall asleep quickly, even under adverse conditions like noise and caffeine consumption.
Published: Oct 24 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Fermi paradox, which questions why we have not yet found evidence of extraterrestrial life despite the vastness of the universe, may require a reevaluation of our assumptions, according to Serbian philosopher Vojin Rakić. He suggests that the search for alien intelligence has been overly anthropocentric, assuming that extraterrestrial beings would resemble humans and their civilizations. Instead, Rakić posits that alien life could exist in forms or dimensions beyond human perception, potentially as nonphysical entities or consciousnesses. He argues that our understanding of intelligence is limited, as evidenced by the unexpected capabilities of creatures like octopuses and complex fungal networks. Rakić calls for a broader inquiry into what might exist around us that we cannot perceive, urging a shift in focus from searching for familiar signs of life to acknowledging the profound limitations of human understanding in the quest to solve the Fermi paradox.
Published: Oct 23 2025, 7 pmeznews.inScientists aboard the E/V Nautilus have made a remarkable discovery in the deep ocean, encountering a unique octopus at a depth of approximately 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) near Aituaki Island in the Cook Islands. The expedition, part of a 21-day mission exploring the South Pacific's abyssal plains, revealed the octopus, believed to belong to the Cirroteuthidae family, which is characterized by its large web connecting its arms. Madison Dapcevich, Communication Lead for the Ocean Exploration Trust, described the encounter as "wild," noting the creature's captivating movements as it danced along the seafloor before drifting into the depths. The region, rich in biodiversity, features extreme conditions that have led to unique adaptations among its inhabitants. While little is known about the life cycles of these deep-sea creatures, they are thought to have slow metabolic rates and long lifespans due to the cold, high-pressure environment.
Published: Oct 24 2025, 9 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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