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As the respiratory virus season approaches, U.S. health officials have announced that households will be able to order four free COVID-19 tests starting in late September. Dawn O’Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, emphasized the importance of testing as families gather for the holidays. This initiative is part of a program that has previously distributed over 900 million tests since 2021. Additionally, free access to Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment for COVID-19, will be available for Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured individuals. The CDC has noted a potential rise in hospitalizations, urging vigilance as new mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been authorized to target circulating variants. With estimates indicating an increase in infections across 27 states, health officials are encouraging eligible individuals to receive updated vaccinations to enhance protection against the evolving virus. 
Published: Aug 27 2024, 2 ameznews.inA Colombian court has ruled that the invasive hippos introduced by drug lord Pablo Escobar should be hunted as part of efforts to control their growing population, which poses a threat to local ecosystems. The Administrative Court of Cundinamarca has given the Ministry of Environment three months to implement regulations for the eradication of the species, including controlled hunting and sterilization. Originally brought to Colombia in the 1980s for Escobar's private zoo, the hippos have thrived in the wild, with estimates suggesting their numbers could rise to 1,418 by 2039 if left unchecked. Their waste disrupts aquatic ecosystems, leading to harmful algal blooms and oxygen depletion. Previous attempts to manage the population have sparked controversy, including legal battles advocating for sterilization over hunting. The latest ruling raises questions about the future of these hippos and the balance between wildlife management and conservation efforts.
Published: Sep 09 2024, 10 pmeznews.inRussian physicist Alexander Berezin has proposed a troubling explanation for the Fermi Paradox, which questions why we have not yet encountered extraterrestrial civilizations. His theory, dubbed the “First in, last out” solution, suggests that once a civilization achieves the capability for interstellar expansion, it may inadvertently eliminate other civilizations in its path, akin to a construction crew demolishing an anthill. Berezin posits that advanced civilizations may prioritize their growth over the existence of others, leading to a grim scenario where humanity could be the first to reach this stage and potentially the last to survive. He emphasizes that the drive for expansion, rather than the nature of the civilizations themselves, could be the dominant force leading to this outcome. While Berezin hopes to be wrong, he acknowledges that discovering alien life before humanity embarks on a destructive path could offer a chance for a more benevolent future.
Published: Sep 08 2024, 12 pmeznews.inA new species of fanged frog, named *Limnonectes cassiopeia*, has been discovered in the mountains of the Philippines, previously mistaken for the larger *L. macrocephalus* due to their similar appearance. Over the past 20 years, researchers collected specimens that were misidentified, but genetic analysis revealed a distinct branch. Key differences include the smaller, white toe pads of *L. cassiopeia*, which contrast with the dark pads of *L. macrocephalus*. The new species, which develops its characteristic large head earlier than its counterpart, is crucial for local Indigenous diets, prompting concerns about potential overharvesting. The researchers recommend classifying *L. cassiopeia* as "Data Deficient" to encourage further study of its life history and ecological role. The findings, published in *Ichthyology & Herpetology*, highlight the importance of genetic analysis in species identification and conservation efforts.
Published: Sep 12 2024, 4 ameznews.inIn a remarkable ecological discovery, staff from Australia’s Forestry Corporation found a clutch of ten eggs belonging to the endangered coastal emu during a routine wildlife survey in a New South Wales forest. This species, genetically distinct from the common emu, has seen its population dwindle to fewer than 50 individuals due to predation and habitat loss. The discovery of the eggs, nine in a nest and one nearby, is seen as a significant moment for the species' survival. Following the find, logging operations were temporarily halted, allowing for conservation efforts to ensure the eggs hatch. As of now, two chicks have successfully hatched, while the remaining eggs are being cared for in an incubator. However, the situation has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that the logging exclusion zone is insufficient to protect the vulnerable population from industrial disturbances.
Published: Sep 12 2024, 5 ameznews.inIn a remarkable display of survival, Japanese eels (_Anguilla japonica_) have been observed escaping from the stomachs of their predators, dark sleepers (_Odontobutis obscura_), using a unique technique. Researchers from Nagasaki University utilized X-ray video to document the eels' escape, revealing that they swim tail-first back up the predator's esophagus and out through the gills. Out of 32 eels studied, 13 managed to partially emerge, with nine fully escaping. This behavior, which takes an average of 56 seconds, is believed to be a response to the harsh conditions within the predator's digestive tract. The study, published in *Current Biology*, marks the first time footage has been captured of prey navigating within a predator's body, highlighting the eels' extraordinary adaptability in the face of danger.
Published: Sep 09 2024, 10 pmeznews.inA recent study has revealed that a single dose of LSD can significantly alter the brain activity of dogs exhibiting autism-like behaviors, enabling them to synchronize their neural activity with humans during social interactions. Researchers found that while these dogs typically struggled to engage in "interbrain activity coupling"—a phenomenon where individuals develop matching neural patterns—LSD administration restored this ability. The study utilized electroencephalography to monitor brain activity during interactions, showing that synchronization was strongest in the frontal region during mutual gazing and in the parietal region during petting. Notably, dogs bred as models for autism spectrum disorder did not exhibit this synchronization, highlighting the potential of LSD to address social deficits. The authors suggest that disrupted inter-brain synchronization could serve as a biomarker for autism, while also noting that the exact mechanisms by which LSD affects brain activity remain unclear, warranting further investigation. The findings are published in the journal Advanced Science.
Published: Sep 12 2024, 4 ameznews.inAstronomers have discovered enormous bubble-like structures emanating from the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*. Initially detected by the eROSITA X-ray space telescope in 2020, these structures may be linked to energy released at the galaxy's center. Recent studies suggest they resemble the "Fermi bubbles" identified by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, indicating they could be vast formations extending several kiloparsecs. Researchers propose that these bubbles are created by superheated gas traveling through magnetic fields, akin to smoke rising through a chimney, with an "exhaust vent" located 700 light-years above the galactic center. As gas escapes, it collides with cooler gas, generating shock waves and bright X-rays. While the exact mechanisms remain under investigation, these findings could significantly enhance our understanding of galactic evolution and the dynamics surrounding supermassive black holes.
Published: Sep 10 2024, 5 pmeznews.inNew research proposes that Mars may have once possessed a third, significantly larger moon, named Nerio, which could explain several of the planet's unusual geological features. Currently, Mars is known to have two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, which differ from typical moons in the Solar System due to their size and density. The hypothesis suggests that Nerio, potentially formed during the early Solar System or captured later, could have influenced Mars' shape and geological activity while the planet was still forming. Michael Efroimsky from the US Naval Observatory posits that this lost moon may have contributed to Mars' triaxiality, a unique asymmetrical shape, by creating initial gravitational influences that led to significant tectonic and volcanic activity. Although the idea is compelling, further observations and research are necessary to confirm or refute the existence of Nerio, as the study awaits peer review in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Published: Sep 11 2024, 5 pmeznews.inAstronomers have made a groundbreaking observation of the red giant star R Doradus, capturing the first high-resolution images of its bubbling surface, a phenomenon previously only seen on the Sun. R Doradus, which is over five million times the volume of our Sun but has a similar mass, exhibits massive convection cells—each about 75 times the size of the Sun—that create visible surface structures. This unprecedented detail was achieved using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) during observations in July and August 2023. Lead author Wouter Vlemmings noted the unexpected quality of the data, allowing scientists to measure the movement of these granules, which cycle faster than those on the Sun. The findings, published in *Nature*, enhance our understanding of stellar convection processes and how they may differ as stars age, providing insights into the nature of our own Sun.
Published: Sep 11 2024, 11 pmeznews.inA fossilized Neanderthal skeleton named "Thorin," discovered in a cave in France's Rhône Valley, has unveiled a previously unknown lineage of Neanderthals that diverged from other groups around 100,000 years ago. Researchers found that Thorin's genetic makeup is more closely related to early Neanderthals than to those living 40,000 to 45,000 years ago, indicating this population remained isolated for at least 50,000 years. The study, led by Ludovic Slimak and published in *Cell Genomics*, suggests that despite living near other Neanderthals, Thorin's group did not interbreed, highlighting a significant behavioral difference from modern humans. Slimak likened the genetic divergence to that between domestic dogs and wolves, emphasizing the unique evolutionary path of this Neanderthal population. The findings challenge existing perceptions of Neanderthal diversity and their extinction, suggesting a complex social structure that differed markedly from that of early Homo sapiens.
Published: Sep 12 2024, 12 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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