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The classification of stars, particularly the term "sun," has sparked debate among astronomers and linguists alike. While the Sun is a star that holds a unique position in our solar system, the question arises: do other stars qualify as suns? Definitions vary, with some arguing that "sun" should only refer to our own star, while others embrace a broader interpretation that includes sun-like stars, such as Tau Ceti. Generally, stars are considered suns if they are still fusing elements and have orbiting planets. However, exceptions exist, such as brown dwarfs and red dwarfs, which may not meet the criteria for being called suns despite being classified as stars. Ultimately, the terminology is fluid, shaped by human understanding and usage, leaving it up to individuals to decide how they wish to categorize these celestial bodies. 
Published: Aug 01 2025, 11 ameznews.inSeismologists at UC Berkeley have proposed a model suggesting that Earth's inner core is growing asymmetrically, with one side—beneath Indonesia—developing 60% faster than the other, located under Brazil. This uneven growth may explain the varying speeds of seismic waves traveling through the core, as the iron crystals align preferentially along the planet's rotational axis. Lead author Dr. Daniel Frost noted that this asymmetry is evident throughout the inner core, not just at its surface. The model also refines the estimated age of the inner core to between 500 million and 1.5 billion years, raising questions about the mechanisms that generated Earth's magnetic field prior to the core's crystallization. Professor Barbara Romanowicz emphasized the need for further seismic data to validate these findings, as understanding the Earth's interior remains a complex challenge. The research is detailed in the journal Nature Geoscience.
Published: Aug 31 2025, 7 ameznews.inAn interactive map titled "The True Size Of..." is challenging traditional perceptions of country sizes, revealing the distortions inherent in the widely used Mercator projection. Created by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, this cylindrical map projection is beneficial for navigation but significantly inflates the size of landmasses as they move away from the equator, making Greenland appear as large as Africa, despite being only 1/14th its size. The new tool allows users to drag and compare countries, providing a clearer understanding of their actual sizes relative to one another. It utilizes the Gall-Peters projection, which accurately represents area sizes but sacrifices navigational utility. Users are encouraged to explore the map, particularly comparing their own countries to Greenland, to grasp the true scale of global geography. However, it is advised not to rely on this map for navigation purposes.
Published: Aug 29 2025, 7 ameznews.inA recent study by researchers from Dartmouth College, University College London, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies suggests that the traditional midlife crisis may be fading, not due to improved societal conditions, but because of a significant decline in mental health among younger generations. Historically, the midlife crisis has been characterized by a U-shaped trend in well-being, with a dip in happiness peaking in midlife. However, new data indicates that this "unhappiness hump" has disappeared, replaced by a steady decline in well-being among younger individuals. Analyzing surveys from over 10 million adults in the US and UK, the researchers found that mental health issues are now more pronounced in younger people, with factors such as the Great Recession, inadequate mental health services, and the impact of social media and the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to this shift. The findings highlight an urgent need to address the mental health crisis facing today's youth.
Published: Aug 31 2025, 3 ameznews.inResearchers have rediscovered the sailback houndshark, a species last reported over 50 years ago, during a fisheries survey in Papua New Guinea. Initially collected in 1970 and described in 1973, the shark seemed to vanish until a 2020 survey by the World Wildlife Fund yielded photographs of five deceased females. A male specimen was documented in September 2022, marking the first record of a male. Anecdotal evidence suggests the species may have been caught occasionally by local fishers, indicating it was not entirely lost. However, concerns arise regarding its future, as the sailback houndshark may be confined to the Astrolabe Bay area, which faces increasing fishing pressures, particularly from the trade of fish swim bladders. The study highlights the need for monitoring and management to protect this rare species, which is among several "lost" species rediscovered in recent years.
Published: Aug 30 2025, 2 pmeznews.inThe barreleye fish, a remarkable deep-sea inhabitant, boasts a transparent head that allows its tubular eyes to gaze upwards, akin to peering through a car sunroof, as it hunts for prey in the dark depths of the ocean. This unique adaptation enables the fish to detect silhouettes of potential meals, such as jellies and small crustaceans, while its green eye pigments filter out residual sunlight, enhancing its ability to spot bioluminescent creatures. First described in 1939, the barreleye fish (_Macropinna microstoma_) is primarily found in the North Pacific, though its exact range remains uncertain. A significant breakthrough occurred in 2009 when researchers captured a live specimen, revealing that the fish can rotate its eyes forward to focus on food, challenging previous assumptions about its fixed gaze. This extraordinary adaptation is part of a broader trend in the deep sea, where transparency serves as a camouflage strategy for various species.
Published: Aug 31 2025, 1 ameznews.inLaundry, often seen as a necessary chore in maintaining a polished appearance, can be a labor-intensive task fraught with risks, such as shrinking beloved garments. Nisa Salim, Director of the Swinburne-CSIRO National Testlab for Composite Additive Manufacturing, offers insights into the science behind clothing shrinkage and potential remedies. She explains that cellulose-based fabrics, like cotton, shrink due to "fiber memory," where fibers revert to their original crinkled state when exposed to heat and moisture. Wool, on the other hand, shrinks through a process called felting, where overlapping scales interlock during washing. To unshrink clothes, Salim recommends soaking the item in lukewarm water mixed with hair conditioner or baby shampoo, which helps relax the fibers. By gently stretching the fabric back into shape and drying it flat, wearers can recover some lost size, though complete reversal of shrinkage is not possible.
Published: Aug 28 2025, 7 pmeznews.inHammerhead sharks, known for their distinctive hammer-shaped heads, are remarkable examples of evolutionary adaptation in the ocean's competitive ecosystem. These sharks, part of the Sphyrnidae family, vary in size from the 4-meter great hammerhead to the 1.5-meter bonnethead. Their unique head structure enhances their hunting capabilities by providing a wider field of vision—up to 48 degrees in some species—allowing them to effectively track prey like squid and stingrays. Additionally, the hammer shape aids in electroreception, enabling them to detect electrical signals from hidden prey. While it may increase drag, this head design also enhances their agility, allowing for sharp turns during ambushes. The hammerhead's evolution is a prime example of convergent evolution, showcasing how similar environmental pressures can lead to analogous adaptations across diverse species. Despite their unusual appearance, hammerheads are finely tuned predators, underscoring the diversity of life in our oceans.
Published: Aug 28 2025, 2 ameznews.inThis week, scientists have achieved a remarkable feat by injecting phosphor particles into succulents, causing them to glow for hours, reminiscent of scenes from _Avatar_. In paleontology, new fossils of the ankylosaur _Spicomellus afer_ reveal it was adorned with massive spikes fused to its bones, some reaching nearly a meter in length, marking a unique form of armor among vertebrates. Meanwhile, a historical incident involving physicist Anatoli Bugorski, who survived a proton beam striking his head in 1978, has been re-examined through 3D digital analysis, shedding light on his extraordinary survival. Additionally, the phenomenon of glowing seafood, particularly shrimp, has garnered attention, with experts explaining how refrigeration can lead to bioluminescence in frozen marine life. These diverse scientific discoveries highlight the ongoing intrigue in both the natural world and human resilience.
Published: Aug 30 2025, 8 pmeznews.inAs summer wanes in Iceland, a unique tradition unfolds in the Vestmannaeyjar islands, where locals assist baby puffins, or "pufflings," on their perilous journey to the sea. With around 830,000 breeding pairs nesting in the area—20% of the global puffin population—these chicks often become disoriented by city lights, straying inland and risking predation. To combat this, dedicated rescue teams and volunteers scour towns each night, collecting pufflings and gently tossing them off cliffs the following morning. This act of conservation is crucial, as the Atlantic puffin is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. While the rescue efforts can be physically demanding, with risks of injury, volunteers find immense satisfaction in saving these birds. As one rescuer noted, the experience of holding a puffling and ensuring its safe flight is profoundly rewarding, embodying a deep connection to nature and wildlife preservation.
Published: Aug 29 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA recent study has revealed a hidden hierarchical pattern in Earth's geological history, challenging the long-held belief that the boundaries between epochs, periods, and eons are randomly distributed. Researchers, led by Professor Andrej Spiridonov from Vilnius University, employed mathematical modeling to analyze global and localized geological data, uncovering that these boundaries cluster in a way that reflects the planet's significant fluctuations over time. The findings suggest that intervals between major events, such as mass extinctions and biodiversity surges, follow a multifractal logic, indicating a structured variability rather than chaotic randomness. This new understanding could enhance predictions about Earth's future changes, as it highlights the need for comprehensive geological records spanning hundreds of millions of years. The study, published in *Earth and Planetary Science Letters*, underscores the importance of recognizing these patterns to better comprehend both past and future planetary dynamics.
Published: Aug 30 2025, 12 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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