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Aphantasia, affecting 1-4% of the global population, is a neurological variation where individuals cannot voluntarily visualize mental images. This condition can often go unnoticed until discussions reveal differing cognitive experiences. A recent study from UNSW Sydney introduced a novel objective test to identify aphantasia, utilizing eye-tracking glasses to measure pupil responses to both real and imagined stimuli. Participants with aphantasia exhibited normal pupil reactions to physical shapes but showed no significant changes when asked to visualize those shapes. Interestingly, their pupils did dilate when tasked with imagining multiple objects, indicating mental effort despite the absence of visual imagery. Researchers emphasize that aphantasia does not impair memory; individuals can still perform visual working memory tasks without vivid mental pictures. This groundbreaking research offers a potential physiological test for aphantasia, enhancing our understanding of cognitive diversity. The findings were published in the journal eLife. 
Published: Dec 18 2025, 12 ameznews.inGoogle Maps faces new competition with the launch of the GlobalBuildingAtlas, an interactive map showcasing 3D models of nearly all of the world’s 2.75 billion buildings, developed by engineers at the Technical University of Munich. Utilizing machine learning on high-resolution satellite images, the map accurately captures building footprints and heights, with 97% of structures displayed in high detail. This comprehensive dataset surpasses the previous largest collection, which included 1.7 billion buildings. The researchers aim for the map to aid urban planning, disaster prevention, and public health research, introducing a new metric: building volume per capita, which highlights social and economic disparities. Despite its potential, the map may contain errors due to its AI-driven nature. Following its release, the website experienced high traffic, indicating significant public interest in locating personal landmarks. The study detailing this innovation is published in Earth System Science Data.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 11 ameznews.inIn a remarkable first, researchers have documented a Burmese python preying on a reticulated python in Bangladesh's Bandarban District. The Burmese python, measuring over 3 meters (10 feet), was observed consuming the tail of the reticulated python, a process that took approximately two hours. This predation event, noted at Akiz Wildlife Farm in October 2020, highlights the competitive nature of these two species, both of which inhabit the region and share similar diets, including lizards and mammals. While the reticulated python is known to be the longest snake species, capable of exceeding 6 meters (12 feet), the Burmese python's predatory behavior underscores the potential dangers when these two species intersect. The findings, published in the journal *Reptiles & Amphibians*, mark a significant contribution to the understanding of python interactions in the wild.
Published: Dec 17 2025, 5 pmeznews.inA recent analysis by timeanddate.com reveals intriguing insights into global sunlight distribution, highlighting that Bodø, Norway, enjoys an average of 36.5 more minutes of daylight daily than Sydney, Australia. This phenomenon is attributed to factors such as refraction, latitude, and hemisphere. On average, locations worldwide experience over 12 hours of daylight daily, a result of atmospheric refraction allowing light to reach us before sunrise and after sunset. The Northern Hemisphere benefits from longer summers, averaging 93.6 days compared to 89 in the Southern Hemisphere, with the Arctic Circle receiving about 12 hours and 40 minutes of daylight daily, while the South Pole sees just 12 hours. Interestingly, high-altitude locations like Mount Forel in Greenland receive the most sunlight, with 5,052 hours annually, making it the sunniest spot on Earth.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 9 ameznews.inA recent fossil discovery in Mongolia has revealed the fastest theropod trackway from the Cretaceous period, with a medium-sized dinosaur sprinting at approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) per hour, comparable to a professional cyclist. The trackway, dating back 130 to 120 million years, consists of two isolated sets of footprints attributed to a large theropod, _Chapus lockleyi_, and an unidentified medium-sized dinosaur from the Eubrontidae family. Researchers determined the speed by analyzing the size of the dinosaur and the distance between its steps, yielding a relative stride length score of 5.25, indicative of running. The deep toe impressions and absence of heel marks suggest a sprint-like gait. This finding supports biomechanical models that suggest smaller theropods could achieve higher speeds, enhancing our understanding of dinosaur locomotion. The study is published in *Science China Earth Sciences*.
Published: Dec 16 2025, 6 pmeznews.inGeologist Henry De la Beche’s watercolor, *Duria Antiquior*, vividly illustrates an ancient ecosystem inspired by fossils discovered by Mary Anning, marking a significant moment in palaeoart history. The field has evolved dramatically since then, with modern palaeoartists employing advanced techniques to recreate extinct species accurately. Notable works in 2025, such as *Walking With Dinosaurs* and *Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age*, showcase this evolution. However, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in generating images poses challenges, as current AI lacks the ability to accurately reconstruct extinct animals due to insufficient data. Experts like palaeoartist Jay Balamurugan and biologist Andrey Atuchin emphasize that while AI can assist in data analysis, it cannot replace the nuanced understanding and artistic skill required for scientific accuracy in palaeoart. As misinformation proliferates, the role of skilled palaeoartists remains crucial in providing reliable, evidence-based representations of ancient life.
Published: Dec 18 2025, 5 ameznews.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 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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