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In a striking display of cooperative hunting, orcas have been observed preying on whale sharks in the southern Gulf of California, showcasing their remarkable intelligence and strategic skills. Researchers documented four predation events from 2018 to 2024, with a male orca named Moctezuma frequently involved. The orcas employ a unique technique, flipping the whale sharks upside down to induce tonic immobility, rendering them unable to escape. They then target the pelvic area to drain the shark's blood, allowing access to the nutrient-rich liver. This behavior highlights the orcas' adaptability and raises concerns about the future of whale sharks, which are classified as endangered. The findings underscore the complex dynamics of marine ecosystems and the potential impact of climate change on these species. The research is detailed in the journal *Frontiers in Marine Science*. 
Published: Nov 29 2024, 12 pmeznews.inThe "Monster Study," conducted in 1939 by American psychologists Wendell Johnson and Mary Tudor, remains one of the most controversial experiments in psychological history. Aimed at testing the hypothesis that negative reinforcement could induce stuttering, the study involved 22 orphaned children from the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans' Home in Iowa. While ten children were already identified as stutterers, the remaining twelve were divided into groups where some were praised for their speech, while others were labeled as stutterers despite having normal speech patterns. Over several months, Tudor and the children's teachers were instructed to react negatively to speech interruptions, leading to significant anxiety and speech inhibition among the children. Although the study's results were inconclusive regarding stuttering, the psychological impact was profound, with participants reporting lasting effects on their speech and self-esteem. In 2007, a $1 million settlement was awarded to the victims, highlighting the ethical failures of the experiment.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 8 pmeznews.inFor decades, the origin of the enigmatic Mima mounds—circular hillocks found across various continents—has baffled both residents and scientists. These mounds, which can reach heights of up to two meters and are often clustered in fields, have sparked numerous theories, ranging from natural processes to extraterrestrial involvement. However, researchers at San José State University (SJSU) have proposed that gophers may be the primary architects behind these formations. A 1987 study demonstrated how gophers push soil upwards as they burrow, and a subsequent computer model mirrored the characteristics of Mima mounds. Observations of untended fields revealed that gophers can create smaller mounds over decades, suggesting that it could take 500 to 700 years for them to form the larger structures. While the gopher theory is compelling, experts caution that it may not apply universally to all Mima mounds, leaving some mystery intact.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 12 ameznews.inThe "Little Albert" experiment, conducted by American psychologists John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner in the early 20th century, is a notorious example of unethical psychological research. Inspired by Ivan Pavlov's work on classical conditioning, Watson and Rayner aimed to condition fear in a healthy infant, referred to as Albert B. Initially, Albert showed no fear towards various stimuli, including a white rat. However, after being subjected to loud noises whenever he approached the rat, he developed a fear of it and other fluffy objects, demonstrating the principles of conditioned responses. Despite their claims of contributing to psychological understanding, the experiment raised significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding the potential psychological harm inflicted on the child. Speculation surrounds Albert's identity in adulthood, with candidates including William Albert Barger and Douglas Merritte, the latter of whom had neurological impairments that complicate the experiment's implications.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 6 pmeznews.inOcean explorers have uncovered a mysterious object at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, first detected in 2011 by the Ocean X Team. The sonar image, resembling the Millennium Falcon, appeared to rest at the end of a 300-meter flattened seabed, prompting speculation about its origins, including theories of asteroids, U-boat bases, and even UFOs. However, subsequent investigations revealed that the object is likely a natural formation of glacial deposits, consisting of granites, gneisses, and sandstones, as confirmed by geological analysis from Stockholm University. The peculiar interference with electronic devices near the site added to the intrigue, but experts suggest it is a result of natural geological processes rather than extraterrestrial activity. Despite the initial excitement, the Ocean X Team has shifted focus to new projects, including exploring historic shipwrecks and searching for lost treasures, showcasing the ongoing allure of underwater exploration.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 3 pmeznews.inThe Great Pyramid of Giza is the only surviving structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, while the location of the elusive Hanging Gardens of Babylon remains a mystery. Traditionally attributed to King Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BCE as a gift for his homesick wife, the gardens are often envisioned as a magnificent terraced structure filled with exotic flora. However, no archaeological evidence has confirmed their existence, and notable historians like Herodotus failed to mention them. German archaeologist Robert Koldewey believed he found their foundation in Babylon, but this theory is largely dismissed today. Scholar Stephanie Dalley proposes that the gardens may have actually been located in Nineveh, built by Assyrian King Sennacherib, suggesting a historical mix-up after the Assyrian conquest of Babylon. Despite ongoing research, the true fate of the Hanging Gardens remains one of history's greatest enigmas.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 5 ameznews.inOver the weekend, a "square structure" on Mars, captured by the Mars Global Surveyor, sparked excitement among figures like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk, igniting discussions about potential alien origins. However, another intriguing find from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter—the so-called "monoliths" on Mars and its moon Phobos—has also drawn attention. These images, taken years ago, have been previously discussed, notably by astronaut Buzz Aldrin in 2009, who suggested a mission to Phobos to investigate its monolith. Despite the allure of these structures, scientists assert that both the monoliths and the square can be explained by natural geological processes. The monolith on Phobos, for instance, is likely a large boulder ejected from the Stickney Crater, while the Mars monolith's rectangular appearance is attributed to rock layering and imaging resolution, rather than extraterrestrial intervention.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 11 ameznews.inA recent study has revealed that two massive canyons on the Moon, Vallis Schrödinger and Vallis Planck, were formed in less than ten minutes by a significant impact event, challenging previous assumptions about their origins. The Schrödinger Impact Basin, located within the South Pole-Aitken basin, is one of the Moon's youngest and best-preserved craters, making it a focal point for understanding lunar geology. Researchers David Kring, Danielle Kallenborn, and Gareth Collins utilized lunar photographs and impact modeling to determine that the canyons were carved by debris ejected at speeds between 0.95 and 1.28 kilometers per second. The energy required for this event was estimated to be 1,200 to 2,200 times greater than that of a nuclear explosion. These findings could have implications for NASA's Artemis missions, suggesting that candidate landing sites may be less covered by impact debris, facilitating the collection of primordial crust samples and testing lunar formation theories.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 4 pmeznews.inOn February 3, 1925, South African newspaper The Star reported on the discovery of the Taung Child, a fossilized skull exhibiting both human-like and ape-like features, analyzed by anthropologist Raymond Dart. Unearthed in a limestone quarry near Taung, the skull, which Dart determined belonged to a child, lacked certain ape characteristics while displaying remarkably human traits. Dart proposed that the specimen, named *Australopithecus africanus*, represented a "missing link" in human evolution, but faced significant skepticism, largely due to prevailing scientific racism that favored European origins of humanity. Critics preferred the Piltdown Man, a supposed human ancestor found in England, until it was exposed as a hoax in 1953. Over time, Dart's theories gained support, particularly after further discoveries by Robert Broom, solidifying the Taung Child's significance in understanding human ancestry.
Published: Feb 04 2025, 1 ameznews.inResearchers have developed a promising new vaccine targeting SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses, aiming for a universal solution against various variants. Utilizing nanoparticles that present different combinations of receptor binding domains (RBDs) from the virus, the study demonstrated strong antibody responses in mice against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants and other sarbecoviruses. The most effective formulation, termed mosaic-7COM, showed enhanced responses against highly mutated Omicron variants and zoonotic viruses, suggesting its potential for broader protection. This research, published in the journal *Cell*, highlights the importance of computational methods in vaccine design and the need for a proactive approach to future pandemics, given the unpredictable nature of emerging viruses. With over 777 million COVID-19 cases recorded since the pandemic began, the development of such a vaccine could be crucial in preventing similar global health crises in the future.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 12 pmeznews.inNASA's Psyche spacecraft is pioneering a new communication system as it journeys to the asteroid 16 Psyche, utilizing Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) to send laser messages back to Earth. In a significant test, the spacecraft successfully transmitted data from 32 million kilometers (20 million miles) away, achieving a download speed of 15.63 megabits per second—40 times faster than traditional radio frequencies. The tests, conducted using a hybrid antenna retrofitted with hexagonal mirrors at Deep Space Station 13 in California, demonstrated synchronous radio and optical communication for the first time. NASA aims to refine this technology further, with hopes of maintaining communication when Psyche reaches a distance of 2.5 times that of Earth from the Sun. The initiative could revolutionize data transmission from deep space, potentially enhancing communication with future missions to Mars and beyond.
Published: Feb 02 2025, 7 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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