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Flat-Earthers continue to promote their unconventional theories, often resorting to dubious experiments to support their claims. Recently, a Reddit post by Greg Pagel gained traction as he tackled the popular flat-Earther argument that a flat horizon indicates a flat Earth. Pagel analyzed the horizon from his coastal hometown, calculating that the curvature of the Earth over a distance of 13.5 kilometers should yield an arc of approximately 0.12 degrees—too subtle to perceive with the naked eye. He emphasized that the horizon appears flat not because the Earth is a disc, but due to its immense size. Critics quickly pointed out that the existence of satellite images from space, such as those from Google Earth, contradicts flat-Earth claims. Additionally, the phenomenon of boats disappearing hull-first over the horizon further illustrates the Earth's curvature, reinforcing the scientific consensus on the planet's shape. 
Published: Mar 17 2025, 2 ameznews.inIn a chilling discovery during renovations in Corbeil-Essonnes, France, a homeowner unearthed a skeleton in their basement, leading to the excavation of 37 additional skeletons and 10 plaster sarcophagi, dating back over 1,500 years to late Antiquity. Initially thought to be linked to a nearby medieval graveyard, the findings revealed burial practices from the third to tenth centuries, with bodies arranged in parallel rows. This incident highlights a broader phenomenon where construction projects worldwide often disturb forgotten graves, such as the mass burial pits from the Great Plague in London and the African Burial Ground in New York City, which contained the remains of 15,000 enslaved and free Africans. These discoveries not only provide insights into historical funerary practices but also serve as poignant reminders of the past, urging society to confront its complex history.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 10 pmeznews.inIn the realm of intelligence measurement, IQ tests are often viewed as definitive indicators of cognitive ability, yet their validity is increasingly questioned. Originating in 1905 with Alfred Binet and Théodore Simon's assessments for schoolchildren, modern IQ tests evaluate verbal reasoning, working memory, and visual-spatial skills, with an average score set at 100. While some studies suggest a correlation between higher IQ scores and professional success, others highlight the limitations of these tests, which often overlook creativity and emotional intelligence. Historically, IQ scores have been misused to propagate racist ideologies, particularly during the eugenics movement, leading to harmful stereotypes linking race and intelligence. Critics argue that environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, play a crucial role in shaping cognitive abilities. Ultimately, the article posits that improving living conditions can enhance collective intelligence, advocating for a focus on social equity rather than divisive narratives surrounding IQ.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Blue Ghost lunar lander, operated by Texas-based Firefly Aerospace and funded by NASA, has successfully completed its historic mission on the Moon, landing in the Mare Crisium region on March 2, 2025. Over its 14-day mission, Blue Ghost captured stunning footage, including a total solar eclipse on March 14, where Earth obscured the Sun, casting a shadow on the lunar surface. This event marked a milestone as the first time a commercial entity observed such an eclipse from the Moon. Two days later, Blue Ghost witnessed a lunar sunset, signaling the onset of a two-week lunar night, during which temperatures can plummet to -133°C. Firefly Aerospace noted the mission's conclusion but emphasized that the data and imagery collected will provide valuable insights for researchers in the future.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 10 pmeznews.inMathematicians Joshua Zahl and Hong Wang have made significant strides in solving the Kakeya conjecture, a problem that has puzzled mathematicians since its inception in 1917. The conjecture, which questions the minimum area that an infinitely thin needle can sweep out while rotating in all directions, has evolved into a complex inquiry about the dimensions of Kakeya sets. Zahl and Wang's recent proof, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, has been hailed as one of the most important mathematical achievements of the 21st century by Eyal Lubetzky, chair of the mathematics department at the Courant Institute. Their work builds on over a century of research, including breakthroughs by notable mathematicians like Abram Besicovitch and Terence Tao. The implications of their findings extend beyond pure mathematics, potentially influencing fields such as harmonic analysis, number theory, and computer science. The mathematical community eagerly anticipates further developments stemming from this groundbreaking research.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 11 pmeznews.inA new study suggests that the genetic foundations for human language capabilities emerged at least 135,000 years ago, when all _Homo sapiens_ belonged to a single tribe. As this group diversified into regional populations, their shared capacity for verbal and symbolic communication likely played a crucial role in the development of modern human behavior and culture by around 100,000 years ago. Despite _H. sapiens_ existing for approximately 230,000 years, complex behaviors such as funerary practices and art became widespread only in the last 65,000 years, a period referred to as the "great leap forward." The researchers analyzed data from 15 genetic studies, concluding that the initial division of populations, represented by the Khoisan peoples of Southern Africa, occurred around 135,000 years ago. This suggests that language capabilities must have developed before this division, potentially driving the emergence of modern behaviors. The findings are published in the journal *Frontiers in Psychology*.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 9 pmeznews.inA recent study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health highlights the health implications of reducing ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in diets, which account for over half of the calories consumed in US homes. UPFs, which include items like burgers, chips, and even some breads, are often high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and sodium. The study involved 14 participants, primarily women, who were overweight and motivated to change their eating habits. Over eight weeks, they attended weekly sessions focused on meal planning and preparation, resulting in an average weight loss of 3.5 kilograms and a reduction in daily calorie intake. While participants reported satisfaction and a decrease in UPF consumption, the study's small sample size and self-reported data limit its generalizability. The authors emphasize the need for broader public health policies alongside individual interventions to effectively reduce UPF intake in the population.
Published: Mar 14 2025, 11 pmeznews.inA 29-year-old man was hospitalized after inserting 15 boiled eggs into his rectum while under the influence of GHB, a drug known for its use in chemsex and as a date-rape drug. The incident, detailed in a recent case report in The Dutch Journal of Medicine, began when the man arrived at the emergency room with acute stomach pain, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. A CT scan revealed a perforation in his sigmoid colon and significant abdominal fluid, prompting doctors to perform an emergency laparotomy. The surgery involved removing the eggs and cleaning the abdominal cavity, which had been contaminated due to fecal leakage. Fortunately, the patient was discharged a few days later in stable condition, although medical professionals strongly advise against such dangerous practices.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 10 pmeznews.inFirefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander successfully touched down on the Moon's Mare Crisium region on March 2, 2025, as part of a NASA-funded initiative. The mission has since provided unprecedented footage of its landing, including the first-ever visuals of a lunar lander's engine plumes interacting with the surface. Captured at 8 frames per second by the SCALPSS 1.1 instrument, the footage reveals the lander's descent from 28 meters, showcasing how its thrusters stirred up lunar dust before a smooth touchdown. Project manager Rob Maddock noted that the over 3,000 images collected will enhance understanding of plume-surface interactions, crucial for future lunar missions. Blue Ghost's objectives include investigating lunar heat flow and crustal fields, alongside technology tests. The lander transmitted a stunning lunar sunset on March 16 before entering the extreme cold of the lunar night, leaving behind valuable data for future exploration.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Kola Superdeep Borehole, a rusted metal cap in the Russian wilderness, was once a remarkable feat of engineering during the Cold War, serving as a geological portal into Earth's crust. Located on the Kola Peninsula, the borehole reached a staggering depth of 12,263 meters (40,230 feet), surpassing even the Mariana Trench. Initiated in 1970, the project aimed to explore the Earth's crust but was halted in 1992 due to extreme temperatures and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite its abandonment, the borehole yielded significant scientific discoveries, including the presence of water in deep rocks and fossilized microorganisms. The site has since fallen into disrepair, with rumors of its destruction circulating. As geopolitical rivalries continue, China has recently launched its own ambitious drilling project, reflecting ongoing global interest in Earth's mysteries. The Kola Superdeep Borehole remains a symbol of scientific ambition and Cold War competition.
Published: Mar 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inA recent study suggests that two of Earth's five confirmed mass extinction events may have been triggered by nearby supernova explosions that stripped the planet's ozone layer. While the theory has been previously proposed, this research provides more substantial evidence supporting its plausibility. The Late Devonian and late Ordovician extinctions, which occurred 372 million and 445 million years ago respectively, lack direct evidence linking them to supernovae, but the study indicates that such explosions could have led to significant ozone depletion, allowing harmful ultraviolet light to penetrate the atmosphere. This could have devastated the food chain and contributed to glaciation. The authors estimate a supernova rate of 0.4-0.5 per century in the Milky Way, suggesting that while not all mass extinctions can be attributed to supernovae, the timing aligns with historical extinction events. The findings are set to be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Published: Mar 17 2025, 6 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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