eznews.inCassius, the world's largest captive crocodile, passed away in November 2024 at the age of approximately 110-120 at Marineland Melanesia in Australia, where he had lived for over 40 years. Despite being declared healthy just weeks prior, a necropsy revealed that Cassius succumbed to a long-dormant infection linked to an injury sustained in the 1980s when he was struck by a boat propeller, resulting in the loss of his front left leg and part of his snout. The infection, sealed in a fibrous capsule for decades, eventually ruptured, overwhelming his body. Dr. Sally Isberg from the Centre for Crocodile Research noted that while such infections are common in crocodiles, Cassius' case was remarkable due to its prolonged dormancy. Captured in 1984, Cassius was named after boxing legend Muhammad Ali and is now memorialized in a new exhibition featuring his taxidermied body at Marineland Melanesia. 
Published: Dec 22 2025, 10 pmeznews.inHarvard astronomer Professor Avi Loeb, who previously speculated that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS could be an alien spacecraft, has now conceded that it is "most likely natural" as it moves away from Earth. Detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in July 2025, 3I/ATLAS is the fastest interstellar object recorded, traveling at 54 kilometers per second. While Loeb initially suggested the comet might be a technological artifact based on its unusual features, including a lack of a visible tail, he has since acknowledged that the data collected indicates it behaves like a typical comet. As the comet heads towards Jupiter, Loeb plans to lower his "Loeb Scale" ranking of its potential alien nature, emphasizing the importance of not jumping to conclusions about extraterrestrial life. This shift comes amid widespread public anxiety fueled by speculation about the comet's origins, highlighting the need for caution in interpreting astronomical phenomena.
Published: Dec 22 2025, 10 pmeznews.inWater can exist as a liquid at temperatures well below freezing, particularly as a thin layer on ice, a phenomenon first noted by Michael Faraday in 1842. Despite its historical significance, explanations for this "premelting" effect have remained incomplete until now. A team from Peking University has identified a new amorphous ice layer (AIL) that forms at temperatures as low as -153°C (-244°F), challenging previous notions of the liquid layer. Their research, utilizing machine learning and atomic force microscopy, suggests that disorder among protons at the surface leads to vacancies that weaken molecular binding, resulting in the AIL. This discovery not only enhances our understanding of ice but also has implications for cloud formation, skating on ice, and preserving biological materials. The study, published in *Physical Review X*, highlights the complexities of studying surface structures, which have historically posed challenges for scientists.
Published: Dec 22 2025, 11 pmeznews.inThe Byford Dolphin Accident, which occurred on November 5, 1983, in the North Sea, is regarded as one of the most catastrophic diving incidents in history. During a routine operation involving saturation diving, a diver mistakenly unlatched a diving bell before it had been depressurized, resulting in a catastrophic pressure imbalance. The diving bell was violently expelled, killing the diver who had opened the clamp almost instantly. Tragically, three other divers in the saturation chambers suffered horrific deaths as the rapid decompression caused their bodily fluids to expand, leading to severe hemorrhaging and disintegration. Autopsy reports revealed the gruesome aftermath, with one diver's remains found in multiple bags, highlighting the extreme violence of the incident. Following the tragedy, the families of the victims campaigned for 26 years, ultimately uncovering equipment failures that contributed to the disaster.
Published: Dec 22 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA 53-year-old man has achieved remarkable remission from HIV, becoming one of the few individuals effectively cured of the virus after undergoing a stem cell transplant for leukemia a decade ago. Following the transplant in 2013, the patient, who had been managing his HIV with standard treatment, showed no detectable HIV in his blood after stopping antiviral therapy in 2018. Researchers noted that the transplant from an HIV-resistant donor led to the development of a new immune system that is stable and functioning well. While previous cases, such as the "London" and "Berlin" patients, have shown similar outcomes, this case adds to the evidence supporting hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as a potential treatment for HIV. However, experts caution that while the patient appears healthy, traces of HIV remain in some tissues, indicating that the virus is not entirely eradicated, and the risk of transmission, though low, persists.
Published: Dec 22 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIn a remarkable discovery, a film crew filming for the Apple TV+ series *The Wild Ones* has captured footage of the critically endangered Gobi bear, including a rare sighting of a cub, in the harsh environment of Mongolia's Gobi Desert. With fewer than 40 individuals remaining, Gobi bears, a subspecies of brown bear known as Mazaalai, are the most endangered of the world's eight bear species. The crew utilized camera traps in the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area, established in 1976 to safeguard the region's unique flora and fauna. Gobi bears have adapted to survive in extreme conditions, primarily feeding on wild rhubarb, grasses, and wild onions, with only 1% of their diet consisting of animal matter. The bears face significant challenges in their arid habitat, where water sources can be over 100 miles apart, highlighting their resilience in one of the planet's most unforgiving environments.
Published: Dec 22 2025, 3 pmeznews.inThe Dmanisi site in Georgia, home to the oldest hominin fossils outside Africa, has sparked renewed debate regarding the classification of these ancient remains, dated to approximately 1.85 million years ago. Initially designated as _Homo georgicus_, recent research indicates that the fossil assemblage may represent two distinct species, _Homo georgicus_ and _Homo caucasi_. This finding challenges the long-held belief that _Homo erectus_ was the first human species to migrate from Africa. The study, which analyzed dental characteristics of three specimens, suggests that these early hominins may have evolved from different populations of _Homo habilis_ in Eurasia, adapting to various environments before coexisting in Georgia. This new perspective implies a more complex migration pattern, with multiple speciation events contributing to the diversity of early human ancestors in the region. The research has been published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 9 pmeznews.inNew research suggests that individuals who resemble each other may share more than just physical traits; they could also have similar DNA. This study, published in *Cell Reports*, analyzed participants from Canadian photographer François Brunelle's portfolio of doppelgängers, examining their appearance, lifestyle, and genetic material. Using facial recognition algorithms, researchers identified the most convincing lookalikes and collected DNA samples alongside biometric and lifestyle data. The findings revealed that while these doubles shared similar genotypes, they differed in DNA methylation and microbiomes. Notably, those with similar genetic backgrounds also exhibited comparable behaviors, such as smoking and education levels, indicating a potential link between DNA and behavior. Senior author Manel Esteller highlighted the implications for forensic medicine and genetic diagnosis, suggesting that understanding these connections could aid in reconstructing faces from DNA and predicting physical attributes based on genetic information.
Published: Dec 22 2025, 1 ameznews.inDespite the whimsical notion of powering vehicles with magnets, the concept remains firmly in the realm of impracticality, as highlighted by the laws of physics. While some may jest about the idea of attaching a magnet to a vehicle to propel it forward, such a mechanism would violate Newton's First and Third Laws of Motion. Essentially, the magnet and the vehicle are part of the same system, exerting equal and opposite forces on each other, thus failing to create any external propulsion. This principle is akin to the futility of trying to stretch a rubber band from inside a car to move it forward; the force remains internal and ineffective. While the idea may spark curiosity, it ultimately underscores the importance of established scientific principles in understanding motion and energy. For those still skeptical, a practical experiment—pushing a stationary car from within—might provide clarity on the matter.
Published: Dec 21 2025, 7 pmeznews.inArchaeologists excavating the City of David in Jerusalem have unearthed artifacts that support a biblical account of the city's destruction by the Babylonians around 587 BCE. The Israel Antiquities Authority team discovered burnt pottery, wood, grape seeds, and bones, all covered in ash, which align with the Book of Jeremiah's description of the Babylonian conquest. Among the findings were jars with stamped handles and rosette seals, dating back 2,600 years, indicative of the administrative practices of the time. Dr. Joe Uziel, who led the excavation, noted that while the evidence shows significant fire damage, it also suggests that not all buildings were destroyed in a single event; some were abandoned after the initial blaze. This discovery, alongside previously found Babylonian arrowheads, reinforces the historical accuracy of the biblical narrative regarding the burning of Jerusalem.
Published: Dec 21 2025, 11 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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