eznews.inThe resurgence of interest in fungi, spurred by the second season of _The Last of Us_, coincides with groundbreaking research revealing that fungal spores can survive in the harsh conditions of the Earth's stratosphere. Scientists from the University of Geneva and Agroscope have developed a low-cost sampling device to collect these spores, which can endure extreme temperatures and radiation. Their research, conducted between October 2023 and June 2024, successfully identified 235 genera of fungi, including pathogenic species that affect both plants and humans. The device, which ascends via a meteorological balloon, captures spores at altitudes of up to 35,000 meters before parachuting back to Earth for analysis. This study highlights the importance of monitoring airborne fungal spores, as understanding their biodiversity could aid in tracking potential disease outbreaks and contribute to broader climate change and astrobiology research. The findings were presented at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2025. 
Published: May 08 2025, 8 pmeznews.inArchaeologists are unraveling the mystery behind a chilling discovery of 38 headless skeletons found in a prehistoric pit near Vráble, Slovakia, dating back to between 5250 and 4950 BCE. The remains, all missing skulls except for one child's, were unearthed in a jumbled mass within a 15-square-meter ditch, complicating the identification process. Initial assumptions suggested a violent massacre, but researchers, including Professor Dr. Martin Furholt, are exploring alternative theories, such as a unique "death cult" practice involving the careful removal of skulls for cultural or spiritual reasons. Dr. Katharina Fuchs noted that the positioning of some bones indicates a more complex burial sequence, possibly involving previously skeletonized bodies. Ongoing investigations, including DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating, aim to shed light on the identities and origins of the individuals, as well as any potential diseases or injuries, ultimately seeking to clarify the circumstances surrounding this enigmatic site.
Published: May 08 2025, 10 pmeznews.inA significant study has raised alarms about the need for closer monitoring of cats as migratory birds carrying the H5N1 bird flu virus pose an increasing risk of human transmission. The virus has evolved to infect various non-human species, including domestic and larger cats, which can act as a conduit for spillover to humans. Researchers from the University of Maryland found 607 cases of bird flu in cats across 18 countries, resulting in 302 deaths, yet cats are rarely tested for the virus, leading to underreporting of infections. Cats can contract the virus through various means, including consuming infected birds or contaminated food. While human cases remain rare, with a 50% fatality rate among those infected, experts warn that the potential for human-to-human transmission could rise as the virus spreads. Future research aims to assess the prevalence of bird flu in high-risk cat populations to safeguard both humans and pets.
Published: May 08 2025, 11 pmeznews.inThe ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is investigating the effects of heavy ion collisions, primarily to explore the quark-gluon plasma from the early universe. Notably, these collisions can lead to nuclear transmutation, where lead atoms, composed of 82 protons, can be transformed into gold by removing three protons. While the LHC's primary focus is not on this process, collisions at 99.999993% of the speed of light can generate brief pulses of light capable of facilitating this transformation. The ALICE team has successfully detected the production of gold, along with other elements like thallium and mercury, using advanced detectors. Although gold production occurs at a rate of 89,000 nuclei per second, the total yield is minuscule, preventing any gold rush at CERN. The findings, published in *Physical Review C*, also enhance theoretical models related to electromagnetic dissociation, crucial for optimizing LHC performance.
Published: May 09 2025, 3 ameznews.inEnglish speakers often adhere to an unspoken rule regarding the order of adjectives, which follows a specific sequence: Opinion, Size, Age, Shape, Color, Origin, Material, Purpose, and then the Noun. While native speakers may not consciously recognize this structure, it can significantly enhance fluency and naturalness in speech. For instance, the phrase "a beautiful small old round yellow Italian leather handbag" flows more smoothly than "a yellow old beautiful Italian leather round small handbag." This grammatical quirk, highlighted in a viral 2016 social media post referencing Mark Forsyth's book _The Elements of Eloquence_, poses challenges for non-native speakers. Unlike English, other languages, such as French, exhibit more flexible adjective placement. The reasons behind this rigid order remain unclear, with theories suggesting a progression from subjective to objective descriptors. Additionally, English features other unwritten rules, such as ablaut reduplication, which can further complicate language learning.
Published: May 08 2025, 11 pmeznews.inThe enigmatic "Sea Peoples," a coalition of nomadic seafarers, are often cited as key players in the collapse of several ancient Bronze Age civilizations, including the Mycenaeans and Hittites, around the late 13th and early 12th centuries BCE. While their existence is documented in Egyptian records, notably on the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramesses III, they left no material culture or written accounts, leading to ongoing debates among historians about their origins and impact. The temple fresco depicts a fierce battle against these marauders, identified as tribes such as the Peleset and Shekelesh, believed to have come from regions like Sicily and Anatolia. Despite their eventual defeat in Egypt, the Sea Peoples' raids may have contributed to the broader Late Bronze Age Collapse, a phenomenon attributed to various factors, including climate change and disease. However, the lack of concrete evidence leaves their true role in history shrouded in mystery.
Published: May 08 2025, 11 pmeznews.inThe Wollemi pine, often dubbed the "dinosaur tree," is a critically endangered conifer that once thrived alongside dinosaurs during the Jurassic period. Long thought extinct, this ancient species was rediscovered in 1994 in a remote gorge of Wollemi National Park, New South Wales, Australia. Standing up to 40 meters tall, the Wollemi pine is characterized by its needle-like leaves and deeply furrowed bark. With only about 100 specimens remaining in the wild, the trees face threats from diseases and wildfires, particularly following devastating bushfires in eastern Australia from 2019 to 2020. Conservationists are now working to breed genetically diverse Wollemi pines, distributing them to botanic gardens worldwide to safeguard the species against climate change. Recent successes include a Wollemi pine in England that has begun producing seeds, marking a hopeful step towards the preservation of this living link to the prehistoric past.
Published: May 06 2025, 7 ameznews.inA recent study led by Dr. Ulrike Bingel has revealed that the nocebo effect—where negative expectations exacerbate pain—operates more strongly and persistently than the placebo effect, which alleviates pain through positive expectations. The research involved 104 participants who experienced varying levels of pain while being misled about the effects of a sham electrical device. Results showed that those anticipating increased pain rated their discomfort significantly higher than those in the control group, with nocebo effects lasting longer than placebo effects. On the first day, nocebo participants reported an average pain increase of 11.3 points, compared to a 4.2-point decrease for placebo participants. The findings underscore the importance of healthcare professionals' communication, as negative expectations can impair treatment efficacy and increase side effects. The study, published in eLife, highlights the need for further exploration into the brain mechanisms behind these effects.
Published: May 09 2025, 12 ameznews.inImagine attending a dinner party with Pythagoras, where discussions about triangles and his peculiar belief that beans are tiny humans might dominate the conversation. You'd also need to be wary of his infamous invention, the Pythagorean Cup, a vessel designed to prank unsuspecting drinkers. Unlike ordinary cups, this "cup of justice" drains its contents if filled too high, thanks to a clever mechanism involving a U-shaped tube within its stem. When the liquid reaches the tube, gravity causes it to siphon out, leaving the drinker embarrassed. Although often attributed to Pythagoras, he likely did not invent the cup, which has been around for centuries. The siphoning principle is also utilized in various everyday items, from urinals to washing machine trays. While one could avoid the prank by using a dense liquid like mercury, the risks of mercury poisoning may outweigh the benefits of dodging a playful trick.
Published: May 08 2025, 10 pmeznews.inThe election of a new pope, a significant event for the 1.4 billion Roman Catholics worldwide, is marked by the iconic smoke signals emitted from a temporary chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. Since the early 1900s, black smoke indicates that no pope has been elected, while white smoke (fumata bianca) announces a successful election. The white smoke is produced by burning ballots with potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin, while black smoke results from potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur when no candidate secures the necessary votes. Historically, a third color, yellow smoke (fumata gialla), was used for testing the chimney, but since 2005, a modern stove has ensured clear differentiation between white and black smoke, eliminating past confusion. Once white smoke appears, bells toll, and the Protodeacon announces, "Habemus Papam!" signifying the election of a new pope.
Published: May 08 2025, 11 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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