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NASA's Galileo probe, launched in 1989, marked a significant milestone in our exploration of Jupiter, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit the gas giant. After gaining a gravity assist from Venus, Galileo arrived at Jupiter in 1995, embarking on a 23-month mission that included 35 encounters with its major moons. The probe provided groundbreaking insights, revealing intense volcanic activity on Io, a subsurface ocean on Europa, and the magnetic field around Ganymede. Notably, it also witnessed the impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter. In a dramatic highlight, Galileo deployed a descent probe that transmitted vital atmospheric data before succumbing to extreme conditions. Ultimately, in 2003, NASA intentionally crashed Galileo into Jupiter to prevent any potential contamination of Europa, which may harbor conditions suitable for life, thus concluding a mission that significantly advanced our understanding of the largest planet in our solar system. 
Published: Jul 08 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn 2015, Professor Adam Zeman coined the term "aphantasia" to describe the condition of individuals who lack a mind's eye, a phenomenon that affects 1-5% of the population. Nearly a decade later, Zeman has published a comprehensive review of over 50 studies exploring aphantasia, revealing its complexities and subtypes, including variations in face recognition and autobiographical memory. While those with aphantasia may struggle to visualize images, they often excel in verbal communication and emotional depth, as illustrated by 43-year-old Mary Wathen, who discovered her condition through conversations with other parents. Zeman emphasizes that aphantasia is not a disorder but rather a different way of processing information, which can have both advantages and disadvantages. The ongoing research aims to raise awareness about diverse imaginative experiences, highlighting the need for inclusive educational approaches that accommodate various learning styles. The findings are published in the journal *Trends in Cognitive Sciences*.
Published: Jul 07 2025, 7 pmeznews.inScientists exploring the South China Sea were surprised to encounter eight Pacific sleeper sharks (_Somniosus pacificus_) during an experiment simulating the processes following a whale carcass's descent to the ocean floor. The sharks, observed at a depth of 1,629 meters, exhibited unexpected behaviors, including a polite queuing system for feeding, suggesting a competitive yet cooperative survival strategy. Larger sharks, measuring over 2.7 meters, displayed more aggressive feeding behaviors, while smaller ones were more cautious. The study, led by Han Tian from Sun Yat-sen University, also noted the presence of copepod parasites on some sharks and highlighted the diverse marine life around the carcass, including snailfish and deep-sea amphipods. While Pacific sleeper sharks are typically found in colder waters, their appearance in this region raises questions about their distribution and potential range expansion due to climate change. The findings are detailed in the journal Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research.
Published: Jul 08 2025, 8 pmeznews.inNew research has raised concerns about the health risks associated with consuming reused deep-fried cooking oil, revealing that it may lead to increased neurodegeneration in rats and their offspring. The study, presented at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology's annual meeting, highlights the common practice of reheating oil in homes and restaurants, which can exacerbate health issues linked to deep-frying, such as cancer and diabetes. Researchers found that rats fed with reused oil exhibited elevated liver enzyme levels, indicating inflammation and oxidative stress, alongside altered liver lipid metabolism and decreased transport of the essential brain omega-3 fatty acid DHA. This disruption was linked to neurodegeneration, as well as increased cholesterol and inflammation markers associated with cardiovascular risks. The findings underscore the importance of the liver-gut-brain axis and suggest that the consumption of reheated oil could have significant implications for human health.
Published: Jul 12 2025, 7 ameznews.inFrance holds the record for the most time zones of any country, with 12 distinct zones (13 if including its Antarctic claim), according to Guinness World Records. This surprising statistic stems from France's numerous overseas territories, which span the globe from French Polynesia in the Pacific to islands in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean. The time zones range from UTC−10:00 in French Polynesia to UTC+12:00 in Wallis and Futuna. While the world is divided into 38 observed time zones, most countries operate within a single zone, with Russia and the USA each having 11. Notably, China, despite covering nearly five time zones, adheres to a single time zone, Beijing Time, while India also maintains one time zone, leading to significant variations in sunrise and sunset times across its vast territory.
Published: Jul 07 2025, 2 pmeznews.inUnder the Trump administration, the relationship between science and governance has become increasingly fraught, with the emergence of "alternative facts" raising concerns about the integrity of scientific communication. Controversial oil pipelines have been revived even as the administration claims to support environmentalism, while references to climate change have been removed from the White House website. Federal agencies, including the EPA and USDA, received memos instructing them to halt public communications about their research, a move seen as an attempt to suppress information on climate change and environmental issues. Although the USDA's scientific wing has since rescinded this order, the broader implications of such censorship are alarming, echoing tactics observed in other democracies. In response, scientists are mobilizing through protests, open letters, and alternative social media accounts, signaling a determined resistance against the silencing of scientific discourse.
Published: Jul 08 2025, 11 ameznews.inOver the past two centuries, human activity, particularly the construction of thousands of dams, has subtly altered the Earth's axis, causing the poles to shift by over one meter (3 feet). A study by Harvard University analyzed a global database of 6,862 dams built from 1835 to 2011, revealing that this mass redistribution has resulted in a total pole movement of approximately 113 centimeters (3.7 feet) and a 21-millimeter (0.83-inch) drop in global sea levels. The first wave of dam construction in North America and Europe from 1835 to 1954 nudged the North Pole toward the equator, while a subsequent focus on East Africa and Asia after 1954 shifted it in the opposite direction. Lead author Natasha Valencic noted that while these changes are minor, they have implications for sea levels. Notably, China's Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest, may have further influenced Earth's spin by shifting the pole by about 2 centimeters (0.8 inches).
Published: Jul 11 2025, 10 ameznews.inArchaeologists at Pompeii have revised their initial interpretation of the skeleton dubbed the "unluckiest guy in history," revealing that the skull remains intact, indicating he did not die from being crushed by a boulder during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The remains, discovered in the Vicolo dei Balconi area, belong to a man under 30 who sought refuge from volcanic debris in a back alley. Initially thought to have been struck by a stone block, the analysis suggests he was already buried under ash when the boulder fell. The skeleton shows leg lesions, hinting at a possible disability that may have hindered his escape. This find adds to the ongoing excavations at Pompeii, which have unveiled numerous artifacts and remains, including a horse preserved in volcanic ash, as researchers continue to uncover the town's tragic history.
Published: Jul 12 2025, 1 ameznews.inIn a remarkable twist of fate, the failed 2019 Israeli lunar mission, Beresheet, has inadvertently confirmed the presence of terrestrial life on the Moon, specifically in the form of resilient tardigrades. Launched by SpaceIL in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries, Beresheet aimed to be the first privately funded lunar lander but crashed during its descent on April 11, 2019. Among its cargo was the Arch Lunar Library, a 100-gram device containing a record of human civilization and around 100 million human cells, alongside thousands of dehydrated tardigrades. Despite the crash, the library survived, leaving these microscopic organisms on the lunar surface. While the Moon's harsh environment is inhospitable for tardigrades to thrive, there remains a slim possibility that they could be revived if their capsule is recovered. This incident raises intriguing questions about the resilience of life and the potential for extraterrestrial exploration.
Published: Jul 11 2025, 10 pmeznews.inThe Gray Fossil Site in Gray, Tennessee, has revealed a remarkable trove of prehistoric life, showcasing over 38,000 well-preserved fossils from an ecosystem that thrived nearly 5 million years ago. Discovered accidentally during road construction in 2000, the site features a sinkhole-pond that created a low-oxygen environment, preserving a diverse array of species, including ancient rhinos, tapirs, and giant flying squirrels. Researchers have unearthed more than 100 species, including unexpected relatives of modern animals, such as a red panda ancestor and a giant flying squirrel resembling those in Asia. These findings suggest previously unknown biogeographic connections between North America and Asia, indicating that climatic changes may have driven animal migrations across the now-submerged Bering Land Bridge. The site serves as a vital reminder of the interconnectedness of ecosystems across vast distances, with Tennessee and East Asia once sharing a closer ecological relationship.
Published: Jul 10 2025, 9 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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