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In the summer of 1944, as the Allied forces celebrated victories in Europe, the quiet town of Mattoon, Illinois, was gripped by a bizarre mystery known as the "Mad Gasser." On the night of August 31, Urban Raef awoke to a strange odor that made him ill, while nearby residents reported similar experiences, including paralysis and sickness. The following days saw a surge of reports of a mysterious figure allegedly using noxious gas to terrorize the community, leading to widespread panic and the formation of armed vigilante groups. Despite police investigations and various theories—including the possibility of a prankster or escaped prisoners—no culprit was ever identified. Authorities later suggested that the incidents were likely the result of mass hysteria, exacerbated by wartime anxieties. Today, the Mad Gasser remains an unsolved enigma, with some attributing the events to everything from government experiments to extraterrestrial involvement. 
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May 31 2025, 12 pmeznews.inA groundbreaking study has suggested that the roundworm _Caenorhabditis elegans_ may exhibit primitive forms of "emotions." Researchers from Nagoya City University and Mills College at Northeastern University observed that when subjected to an electric shock, the worms displayed heightened movement for up to two minutes, indicating a persistent behavioral response linked to emotional states. Notably, the worms ignored food during and after the shock, suggesting a basic form of fear as they prioritized escape over sustenance. This behavior aligns with key features of animal emotions, such as persistence and emotional valence. Additionally, genetically mutated worms lacking neuropeptides ran for longer periods post-shock, hinting that emotions might be genetically regulated. These findings could pave the way for new insights into human emotions and mood disorders, given the genetic similarities between _C. elegans_ and humans. The study is published in the journal Genetics.
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Jun 08 2025, 1 ameznews.inJanuary 23, 1556, is marked as the deadliest day in recorded history, primarily due to a catastrophic earthquake in Shaanxi province, northwest China. The quake, with a magnitude estimated between 8 and 8.3, struck near Huaxian and is believed to have resulted in approximately 830,000 fatalities. Most victims perished from collapsing structures and landslides, while many others succumbed to disease and famine in the aftermath. Despite not being the strongest earthquake, its death toll represents the highest relative loss of life for a single day, given the global population at the time was under 500 million. Comparatively, the second deadliest earthquake occurred in 1976, claiming around 655,000 lives. While other disasters, such as the 1931 Yangtze-Huai River floods, may have higher overall death tolls, none have matched the sheer scale of loss experienced on that fateful January day.
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Jun 05 2025, 4 ameznews.inThe discovery of fire is often regarded as a pivotal moment in human history, enabling advancements in food preparation, tool manufacturing, and warmth. Recent research from Tel Aviv University challenges the long-held "cooking hypothesis," suggesting that early humans primarily used fire not for cooking but for preserving meat, particularly from large animals like elephants and hippos. This preservation helped protect food from scavengers and bacteria, providing a crucial energy source. The study, which analyzed nine prehistoric sites dating back 1.8 million to 800,000 years, indicates that fire use was sporadic and context-specific before 400,000 years ago. Researchers propose that the need to safeguard and extend the shelf life of large game motivated early humans to master fire, with cooking becoming a secondary benefit. This new perspective aligns with a broader theory on human adaptation to hunting and the gradual decline of large animal populations. The findings are detailed in the journal *Frontiers in Nutrition*.
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Jun 07 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIn a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have documented a rare event in evolutionary history where a marine bacterium, UCYN-A, has become an organelle within its algal host, _Braarudosphaera bigelowii_. This marks the first instance of a eukaryote containing an organelle capable of fixing nitrogen, a process crucial for life. The findings, detailed in two recent studies, reveal that UCYN-A and its algal host have co-evolved over approximately 100 million years, with evidence showing that UCYN-A imports proteins from the alga, a hallmark of organelle development. This newly identified organelle, termed the "nitroplast," offers insights into nitrogen fixation's role in ocean ecosystems and potential agricultural applications. The research, led by teams from UC Santa Cruz and Japan, builds on nearly three decades of study into the relationship between these organisms, suggesting that UCYN-A may not be unique, but it is the first of its kind to be discovered.
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Jun 07 2025, 1 pmeznews.inIn a groundbreaking advancement, scientists have successfully characterized a single atom using X-rays, a feat previously deemed impossible. This innovative technique allows researchers to identify the type of atom—specifically iron and terbium—and analyze their chemical behaviors in real-time. Professor Saw Wai Hla from the University of Ohio highlighted that while scanning probe microscopes can image atoms, they cannot determine their composition without X-rays. The new method employs a specialized detector with a sharp metal tip to capture X-ray-excited electrons, enabling precise identification and analysis of individual atoms. The findings reveal that the terbium atom remains isolated and stable, while the iron atom interacts significantly with its environment. This breakthrough could have profound implications for environmental and medical sciences, potentially leading to new technologies in quantum information and advanced materials science. The study is published in the journal *Nature*.
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Jun 08 2025, 10 ameznews.inWearing a tie, a long-standing symbol of professionalism, may have unexpected health implications, according to a 2018 study published in the journal Neuroradiology. Researchers from University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein found that wearing a tie can reduce blood flow to the brain by an average of 7.5%, potentially leading to headaches, dizziness, and nausea, particularly in individuals with pre-existing health conditions. While ties have no functional purpose today, they remain a staple in formal attire, often reflecting the wearer's taste and status. Experts suggest that while the blood flow reduction is not significant for healthy individuals, it could pose risks for those with compromised vascular health. Given that ties are also considered "germ factories," some, including notable figures like Richard Branson and Barack Obama, have opted to forgo them altogether, raising questions about their place in modern dress codes.
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Jun 03 2025, 4 pmeznews.inA new study from Virginia Tech warns that the next major earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a fault line stretching from California to Canada, could trigger tsunamis over 30 meters high and cause the land to sink by nearly 2 meters. This subsidence would significantly expand the coastal floodplain, potentially affecting an additional 14,350 residents and 22,500 structures, including critical infrastructure like schools and hospitals. The research indicates that the floodplain could grow by up to 44.8 square kilometers, exacerbating existing flood risks in an area already facing a 1-in-100 chance of annual flooding. With climate change expected to raise sea levels by 1 meter by 2100, the impacts of such an earthquake could be devastating, rendering many coastal communities uninhabitable and leading to long-term ecological damage. Experts stress the urgency of preparing for these potential disasters to mitigate their effects.
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Jun 04 2025, 10 pmeznews.inA recent study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine has identified three distinct types of female orgasm: the wave, the avalanche, and the volcano, using data from a biofeedback vibrator called the Lioness. This research, which builds on findings from 2017, involved 54 women who used the device during self-stimulation, allowing researchers to analyze pelvic floor contractions associated with each orgasm type. The wave is characterized by short bursts of contractions, the avalanche involves sustained contractions leading to an explosive release, and the volcano features a build-up of tension before a significant release. The study found that the wave was the most common type experienced, followed by the avalanche and volcano. Notably, the data suggests that women typically experience only one type of orgasm, with no evidence of switching patterns over time.
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Jun 04 2025, 7 pmeznews.inAuthorities have identified a man found frozen in a Pennsylvania cave 47 years ago as Nicholas Paul Grubb, a 27-year-old from Fort Washington. Discovered by hikers in January 1977 near the Appalachian trail, Grubb's identity remained a mystery despite initial attempts to use fingerprints and dental records. Recent efforts included exhumation for DNA extraction and facial reconstruction, but yielded no results. However, in August, a Pennsylvania detective located previously thought-lost fingerprints, which were submitted to the NamUs missing persons database, leading to a match within an hour. Grubb, who served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard before his death, was found in light clothing, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his demise, initially ruled as an overdose of phenobarbital and pentobarbital. His family has been notified and expressed gratitude for the ongoing investigation into his case.
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Jun 06 2025, 1 ameznews.inThe presence of white stripes on chicken breasts, a phenomenon linked to modern farming practices, indicates a significant decline in nutritional quality, according to researchers from the University of Bologna. As the average American consumes over 100 pounds of chicken annually, the rise of broiler chickens—bred for rapid growth—has led to increased fat content and decreased protein levels in the meat. Studies show that chicken breasts with moderate and severe white striping contain 1.46% and 2.53% fat, respectively, marking an 87% and 224% increase compared to those without striping. This change is attributed to intensive genetic selection, which has altered muscle fiber composition and metabolism. While chicken farming has a long history dating back thousands of years, the modern broiler's rapid growth has raised concerns about meat quality, prompting discussions about potential shifts towards lab-grown alternatives in the future.
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Jun 07 2025, 7 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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