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The Danube River, the world's most international river, begins in Germany and flows through ten countries before reaching the Black Sea, tracing a 2,857-kilometer path. This vital waterway has significantly influenced the cultural, political, and economic landscape of Europe, supporting energy generation, trade, and agriculture while providing drinking water for millions. Home to around 83 million people, the Danube Basin is crucial for approximately 20 million residents. The river's ecosystems, including the Black Forest and the Danube Delta, host a rich biodiversity, featuring rare species such as five types of sturgeon and the white pelican. Recognized by the European Commission as a key non-oceanic body of water, the Danube is poised to play a central role in the future of the European Union, highlighting its enduring importance in both human and ecological terms. 
Published: Jul 18 2025, 2 ameznews.inOn July 22, the Earth is expected to experience a day that is 1.34 milliseconds shorter than the standard 86,400 seconds, part of a puzzling trend of increasing rotational speed observed since 2020. While the Moon's gradual distancing from Earth typically contributes to a long-term slowing of rotation, recent data indicates a reversal, with 2024 recording the shortest day to date at 1.66 milliseconds short. Factors influencing rotation include sea level changes, atmospheric shifts, and significant earthquakes, such as the 2011 Japan quake, which altered the Earth's mass distribution and accelerated its rotation. Despite the historical need for leap seconds to adjust for slowing rotation, none have been required since 2016, leaving scientists baffled by this unexpected acceleration. The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) continues to monitor these changes closely, as astronomers anticipate further short days in the coming months.
Published: Jul 22 2025, 12 ameznews.inAstronomers have been investigating a perplexing phenomenon where stars seem to vanish without a trace, with the Vanishing and Appearing Sources during a Century of Observations (VASCO) project identifying around 100 such cases over the past 70 years. A new study suggests that massive stars may collapse directly into black holes without the expected supernova explosion, a theory supported by observations of the binary star system VFTS 243 at the Milky Way's edge. Researchers found evidence indicating that the black hole formed with minimal baryonic ejecta, implying a total collapse scenario. This could explain the sudden disappearance of some stars, as they might extinguish without any visible explosion. Co-author Alejandro Vigna-Gómez noted that such collapses could lead to stars vanishing from the night sky, while Professor Irene Tamborra emphasized the significance of VFTS 243 for future studies on stellar evolution. The findings are detailed in the journal *Physical Review Letters*.
Published: Jul 20 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe Vera C. Rubin Observatory has recently showcased its capabilities with stunning first light images, revealing new asteroids and galaxies within hours. Currently in its commissioning phase, the observatory is fine-tuning its systems ahead of its official scientific operations. Notably, during test runs, astronomers utilized Rubin to study Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object to traverse the Solar System, which is significantly larger and faster than its predecessors, ‘Oumuamua and Comet Borisov. Discovered on July 1 by the ATLAS survey, the comet exhibits a growing dusty coma, now nearly 3,000 kilometers in radius. Initial estimates suggest its nucleus measures about 5.6 kilometers. If fully operational, Rubin could have detected Comet 3I/ATLAS before ATLAS did, and over the next decade, it is expected to identify between 5 and 50 interstellar objects during its Legacy Survey of Space and Time.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 10 pmeznews.inA remarkable fossil discovery has captivated palaeontologists, revealing the soft tissues of a _Temnodontosaurus_ ichthyosaur, marking the first instance of such remains found in a giant ichthyosaur. This 183-million-year-old fossil, which includes a meter-long front flipper, showcases unique features such as a serrated trailing edge supported by previously unknown cartilaginous structures termed chondroderms. Dr. Dean Lomax, a co-author of the study, expressed his astonishment at the fossil's intricate details, suggesting it could transform our understanding of ichthyosaurs and their hunting strategies. The chondroderms may have provided hydroacoustic advantages, enabling stealthy predation in dimly lit waters. This discovery not only sheds light on ichthyosaur behaviour but also raises questions about the evolutionary origins of these marine reptiles and whether similar features existed in other ancient species. The findings are detailed in a study published in the journal *Nature*.
Published: Jul 17 2025, 10 pmeznews.inEvery year, numerous Americans find themselves in emergency rooms due to mishaps involving sex toys, with data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System revealing a steady increase in such incidents over the past decade. An analysis of cases from 2013 to 2023 highlighted that vibrators are the most commonly "stuck" items, often due to their lack of a flared base, with rectal injuries accounting for nearly 70% of cases. Experts attribute the rise in incidents to the growing normalization of sex toys, increased accessibility through online shopping, and a lack of comprehensive sex education regarding safe practices. Notably, men are more frequently admitted to ERs for these issues, likely due to a tendency to engage in riskier sexual behaviors. To mitigate these incidents, sex educators advocate for better awareness and education on safe toy usage, emphasizing the importance of informed exploration in sexual health.
Published: Jul 20 2025, 8 pmeznews.inA recent video explores the impact of sleeping positions on health, revealing that some stances may be more beneficial than others. While many may consider their preferred sleeping position a mere personal quirk, scientists argue that certain positions can significantly influence overall well-being. The video, edited by Dominic Grose, highlights the importance of understanding how these positions affect factors such as spinal alignment and breathing. It suggests that while comfort is a key consideration, the health implications of sleep posture should not be overlooked. For those interested in optimizing their sleep habits, further insights can be found in the accompanying article linked in the video.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 8 pmeznews.inA black bear at Yellowstone National Park was euthanized by park staff last week after it exhibited dangerous behavior by associating humans with food, posing risks to both people and wildlife. The bear, an adult female, first crushed an unoccupied tent in June and later managed to access food storage poles at a campsite, despite campers following recommended food storage practices. Kerry Gunther, a bear management biologist, noted that such food conditioning can lead bears to seek out human areas for food, necessitating difficult decisions to protect public safety. This incident marks the first lethal removal of a black bear at Yellowstone since 2020. Park officials clarified that relocating bears is ineffective, as they tend to return to familiar areas where they can find food. The park continues to emphasize the importance of proper food storage to prevent such occurrences.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 6 pmeznews.inGeoscientists have uncovered unexpected structures deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, revealed through seismic wave analysis of the Earth's lower mantle. These anomalies, which exhibit unusual seismic wave behavior, suggest the presence of colder or differently composed materials compared to the surrounding molten rock. The nature of these structures remains a mystery, as they do not align with typical tectonic plate subduction, given that the Pacific is a single tectonic plate. Researchers propose that these formations could be remnants of ancient, silica-rich material from the mantle's formation around 4 billion years ago or areas where iron-rich rocks have accumulated over time. The findings, published in *Scientific Reports*, highlight the complexities of understanding the Earth's internal structure, as scientists rely on seismic wave speeds to infer material properties, necessitating further investigation to unravel the origins and implications of these deep-seated anomalies.
Published: Jul 21 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe concept of extraterrestrial life has long fascinated humanity, but recent discussions suggest that if aliens do exist, they may not resemble organic beings at all. According to astronomer Seth Shostak, our depictions of aliens in popular culture often reflect human traits, limiting our imagination. Instead, he posits that any intelligent life we encounter could be artificial intelligence (AI), as biological beings may struggle with the vast distances of space travel. Shostak argues that advanced civilizations might have evolved beyond biology, relying on AI for exploration and decision-making. This shift in perspective raises questions about how we search for alien life, as AI beings may not require the same conditions as organic life. Notably, if AI aliens were to visit Earth, they might find us uninteresting or irrelevant, as their motivations could differ significantly from our own, potentially leading to a peaceful coexistence rather than conflict.
Published: Jul 16 2025, 9 pmeznews.inAstronomers at the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii have discovered a new trans-Neptunian object named "Ammonite," which measures between 220 and 380 kilometers in diameter. This finding, confirmed by follow-up observations in July 2024, marks Ammonite as the fourth known "sednoid," a category of distant objects with highly elongated orbits. Its orbit, stable for at least 4.5 billion years, suggests that significant events shaped the outer Solar System during its formation. The discovery raises questions about the dynamics of the Solar System, particularly regarding the potential influence of a passing star or an ejected planet, which may explain the unusual orbits of these distant objects. Notably, Ammonite's trajectory diverges from those of other sednoids, casting doubt on the existence of the hypothetical Planet Nine. The research, published in *Nature Astronomy*, underscores the importance of continued exploration of our Solar System's outer reaches.
Published: Jul 16 2025, 8 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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