eznews.inIn a historic moment for space exploration, astronaut Bruce McCandless II made headlines on February 7, 1984, when he became the first human to conduct an untethered spacewalk from the space shuttle Challenger. Alongside fellow astronaut Bob Stewart, McCandless donned a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) and ventured into the void of space, hurtling at nearly 28,900 kilometers per hour (18,000 miles per hour). Despite the daunting speed, the MMU allowed for a gentler experience, moving at just a few miles per hour using nitrogen thrust. McCandless, reflecting on the experience, expressed a mix of elation and pride, likening his freedom from the shuttle to "slipping the surly bonds of Earth." His wife, watching from mission control, felt the tension of the moment, but McCandless lightened the mood with a quip about his leap into history, solidifying his place in the annals of space exploration. 
Published: Dec 22 2025, 7 ameznews.inA recent study by psychologist Karl R. Gegenfurtner from Giessen University reveals how supermarkets use colored net bags to manipulate consumer perception of fruit, particularly oranges. The red or orange nets enhance the appearance of the fruit's color, making unripe oranges look more appealing and ripe. This phenomenon, known as the confetti illusion, suggests that our brains are influenced by surrounding colors, leading us to perceive the oranges as more vibrant than they are. Gegenfurtner's personal experience highlights this deception; after purchasing oranges in a net, he discovered they were actually green. The study emphasizes that this visual trickery is not limited to oranges, as other fruits and vegetables are similarly packaged to enhance their appeal. While the impact of this strategy on sales remains unverified, the findings underscore the clever tactics employed by food producers to attract consumers. The research is published in the journal i-Perception.
Published: Dec 23 2025, 7 ameznews.inIceland's government has lifted its summer 2023 suspension on commercial whaling, allowing hunting to resume under new regulations aimed at improving animal welfare. Initially announced in June by Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries Svandís Svavarsdóttir, the suspension followed a report highlighting the prolonged suffering of whales during hunts. The new rules stipulate that whales can only be hunted within 25 meters of boats and prohibit killing if a calf is present, while banning controversial methods like electrification. However, animal rights advocates have criticized the decision, arguing that no regulations can render whaling humane. Kate O’Connell from the Animal Welfare Institute expressed disappointment, asserting that the measures will still lead to unnecessary suffering. Despite the resumption, there remains hope that Iceland may not renew the whaling permit for Hvalur, the last remaining whaling company, in 2024.
Published: Dec 23 2025, 6 ameznews.inDoctors have announced that a man known as the "Geneva Patient" has achieved long-term remission from HIV, marking him as the sixth individual effectively "cured" of the virus. This breakthrough was revealed by the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève and the Institut Pasteur ahead of the International AIDS Conference in Brisbane, Australia. Unlike previous cases where patients received bone marrow transplants from donors with a CCR5 gene mutation that blocks HIV, the Geneva Patient's donor did not carry this mutation. After living with HIV since the early 1990s and undergoing a stem cell transplant in 2018 for leukemia, the patient was weaned off antiretroviral therapy, with no signs of the virus detected 20 months post-treatment cessation. While researchers caution that such cases remain rare, they believe this unique situation could provide valuable insights for future HIV treatments.
Published: Dec 23 2025, 2 ameznews.inA woman in New York City, referred to as the "New York Patient," has reportedly achieved remission from HIV after receiving a transplant of HIV-resistant stem cells and undergoing antiretroviral therapy. This marks her as the first woman and the third person overall to be effectively cured of the virus. Diagnosed with HIV-1 in 2013, she was treated for leukemia with cord blood stem cells from a genetically matched donor featuring the rare CCR5-delta32/32 mutation, which confers resistance to HIV. Remarkably, over 14 months after halting antiretroviral treatment, no detectable traces of the virus remain in her body. This case is particularly significant due to the patient's mixed-race background, highlighting challenges in donor matching for people of color. Experts suggest that using cord blood, which poses fewer risks of complications compared to traditional bone marrow transplants, could make HIV remission treatments more accessible in the future.
Published: Dec 23 2025, 2 ameznews.inA 66-year-old man has become the fourth person to achieve long-term remission from HIV, following a stem cell transplant aimed at treating his leukemia, according to doctors at City of Hope Hospital in California. This patient, who had lived with HIV for 31 years, received stem cells from a donor with a rare genetic mutation and has not needed antiretroviral therapy for 17 months, with no signs of the virus returning. His case is particularly significant as he is the oldest individual to reach remission for both blood cancer and HIV. Dr. Jana Dickter, who will present the findings at AIDS 2022, noted that this breakthrough could pave the way for less intensive chemotherapy options for older patients with similar conditions. While there is currently no cure for HIV, antiretroviral drugs allow many to live healthy lives, underscoring the importance of access to treatment amidst ongoing stigma and financial barriers.
Published: Dec 23 2025, 3 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. It is projected to identify between five and 50 new ISOs, significantly enhancing our understanding of these cosmic visitors. The observatory's ability to capture the entire visible sky in high detail and repeatedly observe it will allow scientists to distinguish moving ISOs from background stars. As it continues to uncover new asteroids and comets, the Rubin Observatory promises to enrich our knowledge of the cosmos, with 3I/ATLAS standing out as a remarkable highlight in the ongoing exploration of interstellar phenomena.
Published: Dec 23 2025, 1 ameznews.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 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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