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NASA's Voyager spacecraft, now in their twilight years, are gradually shutting down instruments to conserve power while continuing to gather scientific data. In March, the cosmic ray subsystem on Voyager 1 and the low-energy charged particle instruments on Voyager 2 were deactivated, following the earlier shutdown of their power-hungry cameras. Voyager 2 had already turned off its cameras in 1989 to prioritize data collection on the solar wind, while Voyager 1 captured its last images, including the iconic "Pale Blue Dot" of Earth, in 1990. This historic "Solar System Family Portrait" remains unique, as no other spacecraft has replicated such a distant view of our solar system. Unfortunately, NASA has confirmed that reactivating the cameras is unlikely due to the removal of necessary software and the harsh conditions the instruments have endured. Nevertheless, both spacecraft continue to provide valuable scientific insights from the edge of our solar system. 
Published: Jun 19 2025, 7 pmeznews.inSharks, often misunderstood as fearsome predators, play a crucial role in marine ecosystems and have now been confirmed as adherents to the "two-thirds scaling law," a mathematical principle that describes how an animal's volume scales with its surface area. A study led by Joel Gayford at James Cook University analyzed 54 shark species, revealing that their surface area-to-volume ratios closely align with this law, deviating only slightly from the expected coefficient. This finding is significant as it enhances our understanding of how sharks and other large animals regulate body temperature, energy, and oxygen exchange, which is vital in the context of climate change. The research suggests that sharks have evolved to maintain this ratio, potentially due to the energetic costs associated with deviating from it. This insight could inform conservation strategies as oceans face rising temperatures and acidity, highlighting the importance of mathematical principles in biological research.
Published: Jun 20 2025, 1 ameznews.inIn a historic milestone for space exploration, NASA's Voyager 1 is set to become the first human-made object to reach a full light-day from Earth in late 2026. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 has been traveling for nearly 50 years and is currently about 166 astronomical units (AU) from Earth, having crossed the heliopause into interstellar space. At its speed of approximately 61,195 kilometers per hour (38,025 miles per hour), it will take over a year to cover the remaining distance to achieve this feat, which equates to 25.9 billion kilometers (16 billion miles). Signals from Earth currently take over 23 hours to reach the spacecraft. While Voyager has left the heliosphere, the debate continues regarding the true boundary of the Solar System, which some argue extends beyond the Oort Cloud, approximately halfway to the nearest star, Proxima Centauri.
Published: Jun 19 2025, 11 pmeznews.inA nearly complete skull, long thought to belong to a new species dubbed "Dragon Man," has been identified as a Denisovan, an extinct relative of modern humans. Discovered in 1933 near the Long Jiang in northeastern China, the skull, estimated to be 146,000 years old, features unique characteristics such as square eye sockets and large teeth, which puzzled scientists for decades. Recent research by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hebei GEO University successfully extracted mitochondrial DNA from the skull's dental calculus, confirming its Denisovan lineage and suggesting a close relation to populations in southern Siberia. This finding indicates that Denisovans inhabited a broader region of Asia during the Ice Age than previously understood. The study raises the possibility that other fossils, previously considered evolutionary enigmas, may also belong to the Denisovan lineage, potentially expanding our knowledge of this elusive species.
Published: Jun 19 2025, 7 pmeznews.inAn old video from China's Tiangong Space Station has sparked renewed interest online, particularly due to a glass of water resting on a table during a lesson conducted by astronauts for children on Earth. Despite conspiracy theories questioning the video's authenticity, experts have clarified that the water remains in the glass due to surface tension and the effects of gravity in a microgravity environment. Jordan Bimm, a space historian, explained that water molecules tend to clump together, preventing them from floating away. The glass is also secured with Velcro, further stabilizing it. While liquids are typically consumed from pouches in space, the astronauts used the glass to demonstrate unique properties of water in microgravity, including creating a film that acted as a magnifying lens. The video serves as an educational tool, showcasing the fascinating behavior of liquids in space, despite the skepticism it has generated.
Published: Jun 19 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Thar Desert, spanning over 200,000 square kilometers across northwestern India and eastern Pakistan, is the world's most densely populated desert, home to over 16 million people. With cities like Jodhpur and Bikaner showcasing vibrant culture amid harsh conditions, the region experiences extreme temperatures, reaching up to 41°C in summer and near freezing in winter. Despite its arid climate, recent studies reveal a surprising trend: the Thar is becoming greener, with a 38% increase in vegetation and a 64% rise in rainfall since 2001, attributed to shifting monsoon patterns and agricultural groundwater use. However, concerns loom over the sustainability of this growth, as rising temperatures and water scarcity threaten food security. The desert also supports diverse wildlife, including the white-footed fox and various bird species, highlighting the delicate balance of life in this seemingly inhospitable environment amid ongoing climate challenges.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 10 pmeznews.inA recent study highlights the growing partisan divide in the United States, revealing that Democrats are more likely to harbor negative feelings towards Republicans than vice versa. This "partisan dislike" stems from Democrats' belief that Republican policies are harmful to racial and ethnic minorities and other marginalized groups. The research, conducted through five studies between 2022 and 2023, found that Democrats were more inclined to block Republican social media accounts and perceive hypothetical Republican neighbors as potentially harmful to disadvantaged individuals. In workplace scenarios, Democrats viewed Republican applicants as less suitable, particularly regarding their impact on marginalized communities. Interestingly, the study suggests that this animosity diminishes when Republicans support diversity initiatives, indicating that moral values significantly influence partisan perceptions. The findings challenge previous assumptions about equal levels of animosity across the political spectrum, emphasizing the unique moral concerns that drive Democrats' views of their Republican counterparts.
Published: Jun 18 2025, 10 pmeznews.inKeele University in Staffordshire, England, has unveiled a unique Forensic Science Simulation Centre designed to train future crime scene investigators. The facility features a simulated crime scene within an ordinary-looking house, complete with mannequins representing victims and various realistic settings, including a post office and domestic rooms. Students practice essential forensic techniques, such as fingerprinting and toxicological analysis, in environments that mimic real-life challenges. The centre allows students to engage in a comprehensive training experience, from initial crime scene evaluation to laboratory analysis and courtroom testimony. Additionally, the university offers outdoor investigations, utilizing its campus grounds for diverse forensic scenarios, including excavation and sonar searches in lakes. With the recent acquisition of thermal imaging drones, Keele aims to enhance its forensic training further, providing students with a thorough grounding in both theoretical and practical aspects of forensic science.
Published: Jun 19 2025, 1 pmeznews.inThe catastrophic nuclear events of the 20th century—Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan and the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine—differ significantly in their aftermath and long-term effects on human habitation. In August 1945, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in an estimated 129,000 to 226,000 deaths, primarily among civilians, and subsequent health issues for survivors, including increased cancer rates. Conversely, the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986 was an accident that released vast amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere, leading to immediate fatalities and long-term health risks for cleanup workers. While the bombings caused immediate destruction with less lingering radiation, Chernobyl's ground-level explosion dispersed over 400 times more radioactive material, rendering the area uninhabitable due to the long half-lives of its nuclear by-products. This stark contrast explains why Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been rebuilt, while Chernobyl remains a desolate zone.
Published: Jun 19 2025, 2 ameznews.inA recent online stir has left many puzzled over the inclusion of "Jeff" on a list of nuclear powers, suggesting it possesses as many warheads as North Korea. However, "Jeff" is not a person but an acronym for the Joint Evaluated Fission and Fusion (JEFF) Project, an international initiative aimed at compiling nuclear data. This confusion likely stems from a data error that mistakenly placed JEFF on a chart, ranking it as the tenth largest nuclear weapons holder. As of 2023, there are nine recognized nuclear-armed nations: Russia, the USA, China, the UK, France, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea, and India, totaling approximately 12,500 warheads globally. While the notion of a nuclear-armed "Jeff" sparked curiosity, experts assure that there is no need for alarm, as the name refers to a data project rather than an actual nuclear threat.
Published: Jun 19 2025, 11 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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