eznews.inNew research has revealed that the size of modern humans' noses may be linked to genes inherited from Neanderthals, our extinct relatives. The study, which analyzed the DNA of over 6,000 individuals from Latin America, found that certain genetic regions, particularly 1q32.3, associated with increased nasal height, show evidence of Neanderthal introgression. Researchers suggest that Neanderthals evolved larger noses to adapt to the cold Eurasian climate, a trait that was passed on to modern humans through interbreeding. The findings indicate that the shape of our noses may have been influenced by natural selection, aiding in the regulation of air temperature and humidity as our ancestors migrated from Africa. This genetic legacy highlights the enduring impact of Neanderthals on contemporary human traits, as detailed in the journal *Communications Biology*. 
Published: Dec 18 2025, 1 ameznews.inThe common swift, a remarkable bird, has been confirmed to fly for nearly ten months without landing, a feat first suggested by Welsh ornithologist Ronald Lockley in the 1970s. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden tracked 13 adult swifts using data loggers, revealing that these birds spend over 99.5% of their time in the air, only landing for about two months to breed. Notably, three swifts managed to remain airborne throughout their entire migration from Sweden to the Sahara and back. The study suggests that differences in feather molting may influence flight behavior, with those that remained aloft having newly molted feathers. Common swifts have evolved to be highly efficient flyers, utilizing streamlined bodies and long wings to conserve energy. While it remains uncertain if they sleep while gliding, their extraordinary endurance has garnered admiration, marking them as a unique species in the avian world.
Published: Dec 14 2025, 7 ameznews.inIn the ongoing debate over which gender experiences more pain, the comparison between childbirth and a kick to the testicles remains contentious. Childbirth is often cited as the pinnacle of pain, involving hours of intense contractions and the physical trauma of delivering a baby through a narrow birth canal, which can lead to severe complications and long recovery times. Conversely, a kick to the testicles can induce immediate, debilitating pain, often radiating throughout the abdomen, due to the high concentration of nerve endings in the area. While both experiences are excruciating, pain perception is subjective, making it difficult to declare a definitive winner. Ultimately, experts suggest that both experiences are uniquely painful, leading to a conclusion that neither can claim superiority in the battle of the sexes over pain.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 10 pmeznews.inSome of the longest-living animals on Earth, such as certain sponges, can exceed 2,000 years in age. In 2015, scientists discovered the largest sponge, measuring the size of a minivan, at a depth of 2,134 meters in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. While colonial organisms like sponges can live for millennia, the oldest known individual animal is Ming the clam, which lived for 507 years before being accidentally killed by researchers in 2006. This giant ocean quahog clam (_Arctica islandica_), dredged off Iceland, was found to have growth rings that indicated its age, with radiocarbon dating confirming its remarkable lifespan. Marine biologists attribute the clam's longevity to its low metabolism and genetic factors that promote cellular maintenance. Unfortunately, Ming's discovery was bittersweet, as it died shortly after being brought to the surface, highlighting the unintended consequences of scientific exploration.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 11 pmeznews.inNew research has challenged long-held beliefs about the first human ancestors to leave Africa, suggesting that the Dmanisi fossils, dated to approximately 1.85 million years ago, may represent two distinct species: *Homo georgicus* and *Homo caucasi*. Previously classified as an archaic form of *Homo erectus*, the Dmanisi skulls exhibit significant variation in size and shape, leading some scientists to propose that they may not all belong to the same species. A recent study analyzing dental characteristics indicates that these hominids could have evolved from different populations of *Homo habilis*, rather than being direct descendants of *Homo erectus*. This finding implies that the initial migration out of Africa involved a more complex evolutionary process, with multiple speciation events contributing to the diversity of early human ancestors in Eurasia. The study has been published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn mythology, the belly of a whale symbolizes death and rebirth, but in reality, the chances of being swallowed by one are exceedingly slim. The blue whale, the largest animal ever, primarily consumes tiny krill and lacks the physical capacity to swallow a human due to its narrow throat and absence of teeth. Toothed whales, like sperm whales, could theoretically ingest a person, as they prey on giant squid. However, such incidents are rare; the most famous tale involves a whaler named James Bartley, who allegedly survived being swallowed, though this story is widely regarded as a myth. More credible accounts involve near misses, such as lobster diver Michael Packard, who was briefly caught in a humpback whale's mouth in 2021, and kayaker Adrián Simancas, who experienced a similar incident in 2025. These encounters highlight the increasing overlap between human activities and whale habitats, posing risks to both parties.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 7 pmeznews.inThe Long-Term Evolution Experiment (LTEE), initiated by Richard Lenski in 1988, has reached a remarkable milestone of 80,000 generations of _Escherichia coli_ bacteria, making it the longest-running evolution study in history. Conducted in 12 distinct lines from a common ancestral colony, the experiment meticulously tracks the bacteria's evolution through daily transfers into fresh nutrient solutions. This setup allows researchers to explore fundamental questions about natural selection, adaptation, and mutation rates. Notably, findings indicate that fitness can increase indefinitely, albeit at a slowing rate, and that some populations have evolved into "hypermutators," significantly altering their mutation rates. The LTEE serves as a powerful demonstration of adaptation by natural selection, providing insights that challenge traditional views on evolutionary processes. With no plans to conclude the study, the LTEE continues to yield valuable data on the dynamics of evolution in a controlled environment.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a groundbreaking discovery off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, scientists studying porbeagle sharks have documented the first known predation event involving these sharks, revealing that a pregnant female was consumed by a larger predator. The research team, which had tagged the 2.2-meter shark with satellite devices, found that after 158 days, the tag surfaced in Bermuda, indicating a sudden change in the shark's diving patterns and temperature data consistent with predation. Lead author Dr. Brooke Anderson noted that the evidence pointed towards either a great white or shortfin mako shark as the likely culprits, with the data suggesting the former due to its hunting behavior. This incident not only highlights the predation risks faced by porbeagles, particularly pregnant females, but also raises concerns about their population stability, as the loss of such individuals impacts future reproductive potential. The findings are detailed in the journal *Frontiers in Marine Science*.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 6 pmeznews.inAstronomers have unveiled the peculiar exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b, discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which orbits a rapidly spinning neutron star known as a pulsar. This planet, roughly the mass of Jupiter, orbits its pulsar in just 7.8 hours at a distance of only 1% of the Earth-Sun gap, resulting in a unique lemon-like shape due to the pulsar's intense gravitational pull. Most astonishingly, its atmosphere is composed of helium and pure carbon, with carbon likely crystallizing into diamonds at deeper layers—an unprecedented finding among the 150 exoplanets studied so far. Researchers are puzzled by this unusual composition, as it contradicts known planetary formation theories. Possible explanations include the idea that PSR J2322-2650b may be the stripped core of a star, raising intriguing questions about its origins and the nature of its atmosphere. The study is published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIn a remarkable feat of ancient science, Eratosthenes of Cyrene calculated the Earth's circumference around 240 BCE, using only a stick and observations of shadows. Despite the modern resurgence of "flat-Earthers," the spherical nature of the Earth was widely accepted in antiquity. Eratosthenes noted that on June 21, sunlight reached the bottom of a well in Syene, while in Alexandria, shadows were longer, indicating a difference in angles. By measuring this angle—approximately 7° 12'—and estimating the distance between the two cities at about 5,000 stadia, he deduced that the Earth's circumference was roughly 250,000 stadia, accurate to within 1.4 percent of today's known measurement of 40,075 kilometers. Although he made some errors, such as assuming the cities were on the same meridian, his method remains a testament to the ingenuity of ancient scholars and their understanding of the cosmos.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 1 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
India
World
Economy
Science
Health
Showbiz
Contact