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The Silk Road, a network of trade routes that flourished from the second century BCE to the mid-15th century CE, connected diverse regions of Eurasia, facilitating not only the exchange of goods but also ideas, cultures, and diseases. Named after the luxurious silk produced in China, which was a closely guarded secret for millennia, the Silk Road's origins trace back to the Han Dynasty's expansion into Central Asia. General Zhang Qian is often credited as its pioneer. The routes spanned approximately 6,400 kilometers, traversing harsh terrains and fostering settlements along the way. Key exports included silk, tea, and gunpowder, while Europe traded artwork and precious metals. The Silk Road also played a role in the spread of religions and ideas, with figures like Marco Polo documenting its significance. However, by the 15th century, the rise of the Ottoman Empire and European exploration marked its decline, though its legacy endures, inspiring modern initiatives like China's Belt and Road Initiative. 
Published: Mar 15 2025, 12 pmeznews.inCaffeine, the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance, is found in coffee, energy drinks, and chocolate, sparking ongoing debate about its health effects. Recent studies suggest potential benefits, such as a lower risk of heart failure linked to higher coffee intake, while also highlighting short-term cardiovascular risks from excessive consumption, particularly when mixed with alcohol. Research indicates that higher blood caffeine levels may correlate with reduced obesity and type 2 diabetes risk, though findings are limited and primarily based on European populations. Caffeine can enhance mood by stimulating dopamine but may exacerbate anxiety in susceptible individuals. Pregnant women are advised to limit intake due to risks of low birth weight and pregnancy loss. While caffeine is recognized for improving athletic performance, its effects vary by individual. Overall, the impact of caffeine is complex, influenced by personal metabolism and consumption levels, necessitating caution to avoid toxicity.
Published: Mar 15 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIFLScience requires your contact information to communicate about its products and services. Subscribers have the option to unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For details on how to unsubscribe, as well as insights into IFLScience's privacy practices and commitment to safeguarding your personal information, readers are encouraged to review the Privacy Policy available on their website.
Published: Mar 15 2025, 4 pmeznews.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 technique is rooted in the "confetti illusion," where surrounding colors influence the perception of an object's hue. For instance, lemons in yellow nets appear more vibrant, while those in red nets may look unappealingly orange. Gegenfurtner's personal experience highlighted this deception, as he discovered that the oranges he bought, which looked ripe in the net, were actually green when removed. The study emphasizes how our brains process color and visual information, suggesting that this marketing strategy may effectively influence purchasing decisions, although further research is needed to confirm its impact on sales. The findings are published in the journal i-Perception.
Published: Mar 15 2025, 7 ameznews.inGeese, often underestimated as mere farm animals, possess unique adaptations that make them formidable protectors, sometimes referred to as "Guard Geese." While they lack traditional teeth, their tongues feature sharp, barbed structures known as tomia, made of cartilage rather than enamel. According to Vanessa Amaral-Rogers from the RSPB, these serrated protrusions enhance their ability to consume tough vegetation, allowing them to effectively rip roots and stems. Additionally, the tomia help geese grip small mammals and insects, showcasing their versatility as feeders. This adaptation is not exclusive to geese; similar barbed tongues are found in other bird species, reflecting convergent evolution linked to their dietary needs. Despite their non-traditional dental features, geese's tomia serve a crucial role in their survival, proving that these birds can be more intimidating than they appear.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 10 pmeznews.inIn a groundbreaking initiative, the Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census has unveiled 866 new marine species over 16 months, marking a significant advancement in our understanding of ocean biodiversity. Among the discoveries are a new species of guitar shark, found off the coasts of Mozambique and Tanzania, and a venomous marine gastropod, _Turridrupa magnifica_, located in the South Pacific, which may hold potential for pain relief and cancer treatment. The census, which has conducted ten global expeditions using divers and submersibles, highlights the urgent need for collaboration in marine research, as only about 10% of marine life is currently documented. With an estimated 1-2 million species still undiscovered, the initiative aims to accelerate species identification through workshops and innovative methods. Experts emphasize that understanding these new species is crucial for marine conservation and climate adaptation efforts.
Published: Mar 13 2025, 10 ameznews.inAfter five years of genetic research, a mummified skeleton discovered in Chile's Atacama Desert, once thought to be extraterrestrial, has been confirmed as human. The specimen, nicknamed Ata, measures just 15 centimeters and exhibits unique deformities, including bone malformations and dwarfism, attributed to mutations in seven genes. A study published in *Genome Research* reveals that Ata, a female of South American descent, likely suffered from severe skeletal dysplasia and a bone-aging disorder, suggesting she was a pre-term birth who died at six to eight years old. The skeleton was unearthed in 2003 from an abandoned church in La Noria, sparking sensationalist theories about its origins. Researchers, including Stanford's Garry Nolan and UCSF's Atul Butte, concluded that Ata's genetic anomalies may be linked to prenatal nitrate exposure in the mining town, leaving the exact cause of her mutations an open question.
Published: Mar 15 2025, 10 ameznews.inQuantum computing firm D-Wave has announced it has achieved "quantum supremacy" by solving a complex magnetic materials simulation more efficiently than traditional supercomputers, claiming this task would take nearly one million years on conventional systems. Using their Advantage2 prototype, D-Wave's researchers assert that the insights gained could enhance materials in various fields, including superconductors and medical imaging. CEO Dr. Alan Baratz hailed the achievement as a significant milestone for quantum computing, distinguishing it from previous claims that lacked practical applications. However, skepticism remains, with some experts arguing that classical computers can achieve similar results. Dries Sels from New York University noted that his team had performed comparable calculations on a conventional laptop. In response, D-Wave's Dr. Andrew King emphasized the breadth and depth of their simulations. The findings are detailed in a study published in the journal Science, highlighting the growing impact of quantum technology.
Published: Mar 14 2025, 11 pmeznews.inThe giant wood moth (_Endoxyla cinereus_), the heaviest moth in the world, is a remarkable yet elusive creature primarily found in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Female moths can reach a wingspan of 23 centimeters (9 inches) and weigh up to 30 grams (1.1 ounces), comparable to a standard AA battery. In contrast, males are significantly smaller, highlighting the species' sexual dimorphism. Despite their size, these moths are poor fliers; females often crawl up trees to await male suitors. The majority of their lives are spent as larvae, known as witchetty grubs, which burrow deep within trees for two to three years before emerging as adults. Once they metamorphose, females live only a few days, during which they mate and lay eggs before dying, making sightings of these giants in their adult form quite rare.
Published: Mar 15 2025, 8 ameznews.inNASA astronaut Butch Wilmore has captured a striking image of a blue jet sprite, a rare atmospheric phenomenon recently confirmed by scientists. The photograph, shared by fellow astronaut Don Pettit on Reddit, showcases what Pettit describes as "upward directed lightning" (UDL), which occurs at altitudes of 75-80 km (47-50 miles) near the edge of space. While blue jets and red sprites have been reported for decades by ground witnesses and pilots, their existence was only scientifically validated in the late 1980s through video recordings from the space shuttle. Unlike typical lightning, these phenomena result from a build-up of electrical charge that travels upwards, creating vibrant columns of light when interacting with nitrogen in the atmosphere. Despite advancements in understanding, questions remain about the conditions that trigger sprites and their connection to gravity waves, highlighting the need for further research from both terrestrial and extraterrestrial perspectives.
Published: Mar 11 2025, 3 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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