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A recent study from the George Washington University Computational Biology Institute has validated the "Grandmother Rule" regarding body washing, highlighting the importance of cleaning often-neglected areas like behind the ears and the navel. Researchers examined the skin microbiome of 129 students, comparing samples from well-washed areas, such as forearms and calves, to those less frequently cleaned. The findings revealed that regularly cleaned regions exhibited a more diverse and healthier microbiome, while neglected areas harbored potentially harmful bacteria. Keith Crandall, the study's lead, noted that the balance of microbes on the skin is crucial for preventing conditions like eczema and acne. Although the research underscores the significance of maintaining a healthy skin microbiome, the relationship between microbiome health and overall human health remains an area for further exploration. The study is published in *Frontiers in Microbiology*. 
Published: Jan 21 2025, 1 ameznews.inHigh levels of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) have been reported in parts of China, raising concerns reminiscent of the COVID-19 outbreak five years ago. HMPV, a single-stranded RNA virus, causes cold- and flu-like symptoms, with most cases being mild, though it can lead to severe respiratory issues in some individuals. First identified in 2001, HMPV has been circulating among humans for decades and is not a novel virus. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has noted a rise in flu-like illnesses, with HMPV being the second-leading cause of respiratory infections among children in the country. Experts suggest that the current outbreak may be a seasonal peak rather than a new pandemic threat, emphasizing the importance of transparency and data sharing from China to monitor the situation effectively. Enhanced disease surveillance may also be uncovering previously undetected cases.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 5 pmeznews.inHumans often pride themselves on their unpredictability, yet a fascinating linguistic phenomenon known as Zipf's law suggests otherwise. This statistical principle, first noted by George Kingsley Zipf 80 years ago, reveals that the frequency of word usage in nearly all languages—ranging from English to Mandarin—follows a predictable pattern: the most common word is used twice as often as the second most common, three times as often as the third, and so forth. This trend persists even in undeciphered languages, such as those in the enigmatic Voynich Manuscript. While various theories attempt to explain this phenomenon, including the balance of effort minimization in communication, no consensus has been reached. The implications of Zipf's law challenge our understanding of language and free will, suggesting a surprising level of predictability in our linguistic choices, even in the works of literary giants like Shakespeare and Darwin.
Published: Jan 20 2025, 10 pmeznews.inAstronomers have discovered a significant mass of granite beneath the Compton and Belkovich craters on the Moon, revealing evidence of ancient volcanism. This finding is notable as granite is rare outside Earth, typically forming deep under volcanoes where magma cools and crystallizes. Using data from Chinese and American lunar orbiters, researchers identified a heat-emitting feature that suggests a volcanic process previously unseen on the Moon. The area, measuring 20 kilometers wide, exhibits a temperature 10°C warmer than its surroundings, attributed to radioactive elements in the granite rather than recent volcanic activity, as the last eruption occurred 3.5 billion years ago. This discovery indicates the presence of a 50-kilometer-wide batholith, suggesting that granite may be more widespread on the Moon and potentially elsewhere in the Solar System. The findings were published in the journal Nature.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 3 pmeznews.inPolynesian storm-petrels have made a remarkable return to Kamaka Island, a French Polynesian site from which they vanished over a century ago due to invasive rats. This comeback follows a concerted, multi-organizational effort to restore the island's ecosystem, which included the successful eradication of the invasive rodents in 2022. To attract the seabirds back, conservationists employed a "social attraction" strategy, utilizing recorded sounds of storm-petrel colonies and solar-powered sound systems, alongside nesting boxes. Within a month of these installations in March 2024, the first storm-petrel was spotted, with multiple birds visiting by June. With only 250 to 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild, this development offers hope for the species' recovery. Conservationists believe that establishing a secure breeding population on Kamaka will not only benefit the storm-petrels but also enhance the island's broader ecosystem.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 1 pmeznews.inA physicist, Dr. Melvin Vopson, has proposed a controversial new law of physics called the "second law of infodynamics," derived from his study of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Vopson suggests that this law could imply we live in a simulated universe and challenges the randomness of genetic mutations, positing that they are governed by a deterministic process. His research indicates that while physical entropy increases, information entropy decreases, which he argues is essential for understanding genetic evolution and the universe's structure. Vopson's findings, based on extensive data from the COVID-19 pandemic, could revolutionize fields like genetic therapy and evolutionary biology. However, he acknowledges that extraordinary claims require substantial evidence, and further experimental validation is needed to explore the implications of his theory, including the potential mass of information itself. While intriguing, Vopson's ideas remain speculative and await rigorous scientific scrutiny.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 8 ameznews.inA prominent systems theorist, Nafeez Ahmed, has posited that humanity stands on the verge of a transformative "giant leap" towards a "networked superabundance," driven by advancements in renewable energy and technology. In his latest study, Ahmed argues that industrial civilization is in a state of inevitable decline, potentially paving the way for a more advanced "postmaterialist" society. He outlines a four-stage life-cycle of civilizations—growth, stability, decline, and transformation—suggesting that we are nearing the decline phase, with the potential for a significant transformation in energy, food production, and transportation. However, he warns that the rise of nationalist populism and authoritarian politics, exemplified by the incoming Trump administration's focus on fossil fuels, could derail this progress. Ahmed emphasizes the need for responsible governance of emerging technologies to avoid regression and ensure a sustainable future. His findings are detailed in the journal *Foresight*.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 12 pmeznews.inThe "Forbidden Experiment," a concept that raises ethical alarms in modern academia, involves isolating a child from social interactions to explore the nature versus nurture debate regarding human development. Historical accounts, albeit dubious, suggest attempts to conduct such experiments, including Egyptian Pharaoh Psamtik I's directive to a shepherd to raise two infants in silence, leading to the belief that Phrygian was humanity's original language. Similarly, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II's efforts to raise children with mute caregivers aimed to uncover innate language abilities but failed due to the children's need for social interaction. American psychologist Winthrop Kellogg's experiment with a chimpanzee named Gua and his son Donald sought to study behavioral development but yielded no significant insights. Experts like Professor Sandra Swart argue that these experiments have not only proven ethically problematic but have also failed to answer fundamental questions about human nature, often serving as projections of societal issues rather than genuine scientific inquiries.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 9 ameznews.inA study by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science has revealed that ants can outperform humans in collective problem-solving tasks under certain conditions. The team investigated "collective cognition" by comparing the performance of the ant species _Paratrechina longicornis_ and humans in a task known as the "piano movers puzzle," where both groups had to navigate a T-shaped object through a maze. While humans excelled individually, ants demonstrated enhanced performance in larger groups, exhibiting what the researchers termed "emergent collective memory." This allowed the ants to coordinate effectively, unlike human groups, which often resorted to "greedy" strategies that hindered their progress. The findings suggest that ant colonies function as a cohesive unit, or "super-organism," where cooperation prevails over competition, contrasting with human group dynamics that do not necessarily enhance cognitive abilities. The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 7 ameznews.inAn alarming die-off of common murres in Alaska has been reported, with an estimated four million birds missing from colonies, marking the worst single species mortality event in modern history. Triggered by "The Blob," a mass of warm water in the North Pacific, this phenomenon disrupted marine ecosystems and food sources for these seabirds between 2014 and 2016. Researchers noted a significant decline in murre populations, with many birds failing to breed due to malnutrition. By the end of 2016, over 62,000 carcasses had been found along the Gulf of Alaska, but the true toll is believed to be much higher. Despite the Blob dissipating in 2016, no signs of recovery have emerged in monitored colonies, with the die-off accounting for approximately 50% of Alaska's murre population. Experts warn that the future remains bleak for these birds, as reduced numbers increase their vulnerability to predators and environmental challenges.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 10 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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