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Whale earwax, often dismissed as an unappetizing substance, is proving to be a valuable scientific resource, according to Richard Sabin, Principal Curator at the Natural History Museum in London. In the museum's new gallery, _How To Fix Our Broken Planet_, Sabin highlights how layers of earwax, or earplugs, can reveal crucial information about the whales' health and the pollutants in our oceans. These fatty deposits, which can grow up to 1.6 feet long, accumulate throughout a whale's life, preserving a record of its age, hormonal changes, and exposure to environmental toxins. Research has shown that stress hormone levels in whales peaked during the height of commercial whaling, and alarming levels of banned pollutants still persist in marine ecosystems. The gallery aims to raise awareness of human impact on the environment while inspiring visitors to advocate for change, emphasizing the need for collective action to protect our oceans and wildlife. 
Published: Apr 17 2025, 10 pmeznews.inConservationists in New Zealand have made significant strides in boosting the breeding rates of the critically endangered kākāpō parrot through innovative artificial insemination techniques. Once plummeting to just 51 individuals in the 1990s due to the introduction of mammals by humans, kākāpō now reside on three predator-free islands. Their unique breeding cycle, which relies on the sporadic fruiting of the rimu tree, complicates recovery efforts, as females may only breed every few years and often produce few eggs, with only 40% hatching successfully. In 2019, scientists successfully inseminated 12 females, resulting in a remarkable 70% fertility rate, compared to 29% without intervention. The program aims to enhance genetic diversity and reduce the need for human intervention in the future. With the population now at 142, experts hope these methods can be adapted for other endangered species. The findings are detailed in a recent study published in PLOS ONE.
Published: May 24 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA recent observation by zoologist Vladimir Dinets highlights the remarkable adaptability and intelligence of Cooper's hawks in urban environments. While many animals have learned to exploit human infrastructure, Dinets noted a specific hawk that skillfully used traffic signals to enhance its hunting strategy. At a New Jersey intersection, the hawk would wait for a pedestrian to press a button, triggering a longer red light that created a queue of cars, providing cover for its approach to a nearby house where smaller birds gathered for crumbs. This behavior demonstrates the hawk's understanding of cause and effect, as well as its ability to navigate complex urban landscapes. Dinets emphasized that this immature hawk, likely new to the city, had already mastered the art of using traffic patterns to its advantage, showcasing the intelligence of birds often underestimated in their ability to thrive in human-dominated habitats. The findings are detailed in Dinets' study published in *Frontiers in Ethology*.
Published: May 23 2025, 10 pmeznews.inNew research reveals that between 2022 and 2023, the United States experienced 1.5 million "missing Americans," a term referring to excess deaths that would not have occurred if the US had mortality rates comparable to other high-income countries. While excess deaths have been rising for decades, they have not fully recovered from the peaks seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed over 1 million lives in the US. The study, led by Dr. Jacob Bor from Boston University, highlights that nearly 23% of all US deaths in 2023 were excess, with younger Americans disproportionately affected. Factors such as drug overdoses, gun violence, and preventable health issues are driving these alarming trends. The authors argue that these deaths reflect systemic policy failures rather than individual choices, calling for a reevaluation of health policies to address the growing disparities in health outcomes. The findings are published in the journal JAMA Health Forum.
Published: May 24 2025, 6 ameznews.inIn 1973, psychologist David Rosenhan's controversial study, "On Being Sane in Insane Places," sparked significant debate in psychiatric circles and led to reforms in mental health diagnoses. The experiment involved eight "pseudopatients" who feigned psychiatric symptoms to gain admission to various hospitals, where they were largely diagnosed with schizophrenia despite later claiming their symptoms had ceased. The pseudopatients reported feelings of depersonalization and noted that they could easily discard prescribed medications without detection. Rosenhan's findings suggested that psychiatric labels were difficult to shed, raising concerns about misdiagnosis and the treatment of patients. While the study prompted changes in psychiatric practices, including the development of the DSM-III, its validity has since been questioned. Investigative journalist Susannah Cahalan later revealed discrepancies in the accounts of the pseudopatients, leading some to label the study a "scientific fraud" that misrepresented the realities of mental health care.
Published: May 20 2025, 3 ameznews.inThis week, the United States conducted its first-ever "Space Weather Tabletop Exercise" to evaluate preparedness for a severe solar storm, revealing significant vulnerabilities in the nation's response capabilities. Meanwhile, a remarkable fluorescent Archaeopteryx fossil has reshaped our understanding of the evolution of flight, suggesting that these ancient creatures were capable of flight. In another intriguing development, researchers have identified six living descendants of Leonardo da Vinci through DNA analysis, indicating an unbroken male lineage spanning at least 15 generations. Additionally, the BBC's acclaimed series _Walking With Dinosaurs_ has returned, featuring insights from experts on prehistoric life. Lastly, scientists have observed a surprising trend among white-faced capuchin monkeys on Jicarón Island, who have begun abducting baby howler monkeys, a behavior previously undocumented in their population.
Published: May 24 2025, 4 pmeznews.inDuring a geomagnetic storm on May 16, astrophotographer Mike Lewinski captured a stunning white beam of light while photographing the auroras in Crestone, Colorado. This celestial phenomenon occurred as solar wind disturbances triggered vibrant auroras further south than usual. However, the unexpected light streak, reminiscent of a rocket re-entry, was later identified as a fuel dump from a Chinese rocket that had launched six satellites just an hour earlier. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell confirmed that the luminous cloud was created at an altitude of approximately 250 kilometers, coinciding with the rocket's passage over the Western US. While such rocket launches contribute to advancements like improved internet access and data collection, they also raise concerns about the environmental and social impacts of increasing satellite deployments, as nations and private companies race to populate space with megaconstellations.
Published: May 20 2025, 7 pmeznews.inTitan, Saturn's largest moon, has revealed an intriguing anomaly: its atmosphere rotates at a different tilt than its solid body. While celestial bodies typically spin in unison, Titan's atmospheric angular momentum axis is offset, leading to a wobble that changes with the moon's seasons. Researchers, led by Dr. Lucy Wright from the University of Bristol, utilized 13 years of data from the Cassini mission to uncover this phenomenon, noting that Titan's atmospheric temperature field is not aligned with its poles as expected. The cause of this unusual tilt remains a mystery, as it appears unaffected by external forces from the Sun or Saturn. This discovery adds complexity to our understanding of Titan and will inform future missions, such as NASA's Dragonfly, set to explore the moon in 2034. The findings are detailed in a paper published in the Planetary Science Journal.
Published: May 23 2025, 10 pmeznews.inIn 1912, British amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson claimed to have discovered significant fossilized remains in Piltdown Village, Sussex, presenting what he believed to be evidence of a human ancestor. Alongside Arthur Smith Woodward from the Natural History Museum, Dawson unearthed skull fragments, a jawbone, and primitive tools, which were initially accepted as a "missing link" between humans and apes. However, skepticism arose outside Britain, and decades later, fluorine dating revealed the bones were not from the same individual. Further analysis indicated the remains had been tampered with, including the use of putty and pebbles to enhance their appearance. A recent study identified the ape-like bones as belonging to an orangutan and the human remains to medieval humans, implicating Dawson as the likely forger motivated by a desire for recognition in the scientific community. The Piltdown Man hoax remains one of the most notorious in the history of archaeology.
Published: May 24 2025, 1 pmeznews.inScientists are increasingly discovering "plasticrusts," rocks infused with plastic waste, along coastlines once considered pristine. First identified in 2016 on Madeira, Portugal, these unnaturally colored rocks contain polyethylene, a common plastic found in items like soda bottles. Recent findings in 2023 on a remote Brazilian volcanic island revealed similar blue-green plastic rocks, raising alarms about the extent of pollution's impact on geology. Geologist Fernanda Avelar Santos noted that fishing nets contribute significantly to this pollution, melting and fusing with natural materials on beaches. While the ecological effects remain unclear, researchers have observed marine life, such as sea snails, struggling to differentiate between algae and plastic, potentially leading to harmful consumption. With over 171 trillion pieces of plastic estimated in the oceans, the emergence of plastic rocks underscores the profound influence of human activity on the planet's geological record, prompting discussions about the Anthropocene epoch.
Published: May 24 2025, 2 ameznews.inA recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology reveals that many American children aged 4 to 7 have misconceptions about food origins, with a notable percentage believing that hotdogs, hamburgers, and bacon come from plants. The research, which surveyed 176 children, found that 47% thought French fries were animal-based, while 44% misidentified cheese as plant-derived. Alarmingly, 41% believed bacon and 40% thought hotdogs originated from plants. The study also highlighted that many children consider cows, pigs, and chickens inedible, with some even viewing sand as food. The researchers suggest that this confusion may stem from parents avoiding discussions about meat origins, potentially hindering children's understanding of food sources. They argue that addressing these misconceptions could encourage plant-based diets among children, aligning their eating habits with their moral views on animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
Published: May 24 2025, 5 amFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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