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On 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.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.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 pmeznews.inThe peregrine falcon holds the title of the fastest bird and the fastest animal on Earth, capable of reaching speeds over 320 kilometers per hour (200 miles per hour) during its hunting stoop, a high-speed dive used to catch prey. The fastest recorded stoop was an astonishing 389.46 kilometers per hour (242 miles per hour) by a falcon named Frightful, captured in a National Geographic documentary. However, this record's validity is debated among ornithologists due to the unusual altitude from which the falcon was released. In contrast, the common swift excels in level flight, achieving speeds of 111.6 kilometers per hour (69.3 miles per hour) during courtship displays. While the white-throated needletail may surpass this speed, it remains unverified. Notably, the Brazilian free-tailed bat has outpaced all birds in level flight, reaching 160 kilometers per hour (99.5 miles per hour), claiming the title of the fastest flying creature.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 10 ameznews.inNavigating life's myriad choices can be daunting, but mathematical principles offer a solution to decision-making dilemmas, particularly illustrated by the "Secretary Problem." This concept, introduced by mathematician Martin Gardner in 1960, suggests that to maximize the chances of selecting the best option from a series of applicants, one should initially reject the first 37% of candidates and then choose the next one who surpasses all previously seen. This strategy yields a success probability of approximately 37%, a significant improvement over random selection, which offers only a 5% chance of finding the best option among 20 candidates. While this method may seem counterintuitive—especially if the ideal choice appears early—it can be adjusted for those willing to settle for less than perfection. By lowering expectations, individuals can enhance their odds of finding a suitable partner or option, demonstrating that mathematical strategies can effectively guide personal decisions.
Published: Feb 01 2025, 2 ameznews.inThe term "Disease X," popularized by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2018, refers to unknown pathogens that could potentially trigger a global epidemic akin to COVID-19. The concept gained traction during the pandemic, with some experts suggesting COVID-19 itself could be viewed as the "first Disease X." Currently, the WHO maintains a priority list of known pathogens that pose a risk, including Ebola and Zika, while Disease X remains a placeholder for an unidentified infectious agent. Recent discussions at the 2024 World Economic Forum, led by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, have reignited public interest, emphasizing the importance of pandemic preparedness. While the emergence of another pandemic is likely, experts advise against panic, highlighting ongoing global efforts to enhance readiness and response strategies based on lessons learned from COVID-19.
Published: Feb 05 2025, 8 ameznews.inResearchers from EvolutionaryScale have harnessed artificial intelligence to artificially replicate the natural process of protein evolution, which began around 3.7 billion years ago. Their AI model, ESM3, has been trained on an extensive dataset of 3.15 billion protein sequences and 236 million structures, enabling it to generate new protein sequences. In a significant breakthrough, the team created a novel variant of green fluorescent protein (GFP), named esmGFP, which shows only 53% similarity to its closest natural counterpart, suggesting a divergence equivalent to 500 million years of evolution. While the potential applications of this technology include developing proteins for carbon capture, plastic degradation, and new medicines, some experts, like Professor Tiffany Taylor from the University of Bath, caution against overestimating AI's ability to replicate the complexities of natural selection. The findings are detailed in a study published in the journal Science.
Published: Feb 02 2025, 6 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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