eznews.in
Humanity's capacity for significant change, both positive and negative, is evident in various contexts, from the climate crisis to the successful eradication of smallpox. A recent study has revealed that our activities, particularly the use of very low frequency (VLF) radio waves, have inadvertently influenced the Earth's radiation environment. The Van Allen belts, discovered in the 1950s, act as a protective shield against harmful cosmic rays and solar winds, and new findings indicate that VLF signals, used in submarine communications, can alter the motion of charged particles within these belts. This interaction has created a sort of barrier around Earth, pushing the inner Van Allen belt outward, which could potentially deflect cosmic radiation. Ongoing tests are exploring the feasibility of using VLF emitters to shield specific areas from solar storm particles, highlighting humanity's unintentional impact on our planet's protective mechanisms. 
Published: Dec 20 2025, 9 pmeznews.inOn January 3, 2026, Earth will reach perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, approximately 2.5 million kilometers (1.5 million miles) nearer than at aphelion, the farthest point. This phenomenon can be perplexing for those in the Northern Hemisphere, where winter coincides with this closest approach, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences summer. The seasons are dictated by Earth's axial tilt of 23.5 degrees, not its distance from the Sun, which varies by only about 3 percent throughout the year. Earth's elliptical orbit, influenced by the gravitational pull of gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, results in slight variations in distance and season lengths. Currently, Northern Hemisphere summers are about 4.5 days longer than winters, but this will change over time as the timing of perihelion and aphelion shifts. In 6,430 CE, perihelion will align with the March equinox, illustrating the dynamic nature of Earth's orbit.
Published: Dec 25 2025, 5 ameznews.inWerribee Open Range Zoo is celebrating a significant milestone with the recent achievement of Jabulani, a southern white rhinoceros calf, who has crossed the one-tonne mark. Born underweight and with concerns about his survival, Jabulani's success is particularly noteworthy given that his mother, Kipenzi, was raised without maternal care herself. Initially weighing just 55 kilograms at birth, Jabulani has thrived thanks to Kipenzi's nurturing instincts and a diet that includes both milk and grass. The zoo's breeding program is crucial for the species, which faces threats from poaching and habitat loss. Despite initial doubts about Kipenzi's ability to care for her calf, she has proven to be a dedicated mother, and Jabulani's rapid growth has been described as miraculous. The zoo hopes that Kipenzi's maternal instincts will eventually lead to further successful breeding, ensuring a brighter future for the species.
Published: Dec 25 2025, 5 ameznews.inOn July 8, 2000, Dave Shealy filmed a creature he claims to be the elusive Florida skunk ape, a local counterpart to Bigfoot, while tracking it for decades. Shealy first encountered the creature at age 10, describing it as a man-like figure covered in hair. Despite his claims and a grainy video, skepticism remains regarding the skunk ape's existence. Historical accounts, such as a 1971 report from Fort Lauderdale News, detail sightings of a large, foul-smelling creature, with one witness describing it as 2 meters tall and weighing 318 kilograms. Some experts suggest that these sightings could be misidentifications of Florida black bears, which can also reach similar heights. Until concrete evidence, such as DNA or a captured specimen, emerges, the skunk ape remains a subject of cryptozoological intrigue, raising questions about human perception and belief in the paranormal.
Published: Dec 25 2025, 6 ameznews.inScientists have made significant strides in understanding the origins of eukaryotes, the domain of life that includes all animals, plants, fungi, and insects, which are characterized by cells with a membrane-bound nucleus. A leading theory posits that eukaryotes evolved between 1.6 and 2.2 billion years ago from archaea through a symbiotic relationship with an oxygen-using bacterium. In a groundbreaking study from the University of Texas at Austin, researchers identified a lineage of archaea known as Hodarchaeales, part of the Asgard archaea group, as the common ancestor of all eukaryotic life. These organisms, found in marine sediments, possess proteins previously thought exclusive to eukaryotes, indicating a close evolutionary link. The study's authors express excitement over uncovering the molecular blueprints of these ancient microbes, which could illuminate the emergence of complex life. The findings were published in the journal Nature in 2023.
Published: Dec 24 2025, 11 pmeznews.inIn a remarkable journey that echoes Earth's ancient past, a jawbone from the earliest-known horse, _Sifrhippus sandrae_, along with a jaw from the oldest ancestor of modern primates and a shell from a Moon snail, were launched into space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket in August 2024. These fossils, selected by Florida Museum paleontologists Jon Bloch and Roger Portell, represent a significant chapter in Earth's history during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a period 56 million years ago marked by rapid carbon release and global warming that caused many terrestrial animals to shrink in size. The horse's weight decreased from 5.4 kilograms to just 3.9 kilograms, illustrating the adaptations to rising temperatures. Geneticist Rob Ferl, who carried the fossils as part of his NASA-funded research on plant responses to zero gravity, highlighted their journey as a poignant reminder of Earth's evolutionary history and the consequences of climate change.
Published: Dec 25 2025, 12 ameznews.inInterstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has captivated astronomers over the past six months, yet the discovery of interstellar objects (ISOs) remains a rare feat, with only three detected to date despite an estimated seven passing through the inner Solar System annually. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, equipped with the world's largest digital camera, is set to revolutionize ISO detection when its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time begins next year. Experts predict it could uncover between five and 50 new ISOs, significantly enhancing our understanding of these cosmic visitors. The observatory's ability to image the entire visible sky repeatedly will allow it to identify ISOs by their motion, making it a uniquely effective "ISO hunter." As it also aims to discover millions of new asteroids and comets, the next few years promise to be exciting for space enthusiasts, with 3I/ATLAS remaining a standout discovery in the field.
Published: Dec 23 2025, 1 ameznews.inDuring the closest approach of comet 3I/ATLAS to Earth on December 19, 2025, the Breakthrough Listen project conducted a search for potential technosignatures, or signs of extraterrestrial communications, using the Green Bank Telescope. Despite the excitement surrounding the possibility of alien technology, the team found no credible evidence of narrowband radio signals, attributing nine detected events to known radio-frequency interference. Meanwhile, another research team investigated the comet's non-gravitational acceleration to estimate its size, concluding that the nucleus is likely around 1 kilometer in diameter. This acceleration is caused by the sublimation of volatile ices as the comet approaches the Sun, not by any technological thrust. 3I/ATLAS, detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in July 2025, is believed to be a natural comet from a different part of the galaxy, potentially offering insights into the stellar environment from which it originated.
Published: Dec 24 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn a remarkable case from 2003, Inés Ramírez Pérez, a 40-year-old mother from a remote village in southern Mexico, performed a self-inflicted cesarean section after enduring 12 hours of labor without medical assistance. Living in a one-room cabin without electricity or running water, Pérez had previously lost a baby to obstructed labor, prompting her desperate decision. Armed with a kitchen knife and a few glasses of liquor, she made three incisions in her abdomen and successfully delivered her baby boy, who cried immediately. After regaining consciousness, she called for help, and a local nurse arrived to assist before she was transported to a hospital eight hours away. Remarkably, both mother and child survived, highlighting the dire need for improved reproductive healthcare in rural areas to prevent such extreme measures in the future. The case was documented in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
Published: Dec 24 2025, 9 pmeznews.inHundreds of 19th-century black leather shoes have mysteriously washed up on the shores of Ogmore-By-Sea in South Wales, with the total count reaching 437 since their initial discovery by the Beach Academy during a rockpool restoration project on December 18. The shoes, primarily adult male and children's styles, are believed to date back to a shipwreck of the Italian vessel Frolic, which sank near Tusker Rock about 150 years ago while carrying cargo, including footwear. Locals have noted similar finds in the past, suggesting that erosion of the riverbank may be revealing these lost soles. Remarkably, many of the shoes remain in good condition despite their long exposure to the sea. This phenomenon echoes a separate case in North America, where human feet in shoes have washed ashore, attributed to changes in footwear design that enhance buoyancy and protect remains from scavengers.
Published: Dec 24 2025, 10 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
India
World
Economy
Science
Health
Showbiz
Contact