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The colour of nasal mucus, or snot, can provide valuable insights into an individual's immune health, according to researchers from York St John University. Clear mucus is typical of a healthy state, while white mucus often indicates congestion and the onset of an infection. Yellow mucus suggests that the immune system is actively combating an infection, as white blood cells release enzymes that change its colour. A green hue indicates a heightened immune response, often associated with bacterial infections. Pink or red mucus may signal the presence of blood due to irritation, while brown or orange can result from environmental debris or dried blood. Rarely, black mucus may indicate serious conditions like fungal infections. Understanding these variations in mucus can help differentiate between viral and bacterial infections, highlighting the body's complex defence mechanisms at work. 
Published: Jan 22 2025, 5 ameznews.inThe "Forbidden Experiment," a concept that raises ethical alarms in modern academia, involves isolating a child from social interactions to explore the nature versus nurture debate regarding human development. Historical accounts, albeit dubious, suggest attempts to conduct such experiments, including Egyptian Pharaoh Psamtik I's directive to a shepherd to raise two infants in silence, leading to the belief that Phrygian was humanity's original language. Similarly, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II's efforts to raise children with mute caregivers aimed to uncover innate language abilities but failed due to the children's need for social interaction. American psychologist Winthrop Kellogg's experiment with a chimpanzee named Gua and his son Donald sought to study behavioral development but yielded no significant insights. Experts like Professor Sandra Swart argue that these experiments have not only proven ethically problematic but have also failed to answer fundamental questions about human nature, often serving as projections of societal issues rather than genuine scientific inquiries.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 9 ameznews.inA study by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science has revealed that ants can outperform humans in collective problem-solving tasks under certain conditions. The team investigated "collective cognition" by comparing the performance of the ant species _Paratrechina longicornis_ and humans in a task known as the "piano movers puzzle," where both groups had to navigate a T-shaped object through a maze. While humans excelled individually, ants demonstrated enhanced performance in larger groups, exhibiting what the researchers termed "emergent collective memory." This allowed the ants to coordinate effectively, unlike human groups, which often resorted to "greedy" strategies that hindered their progress. The findings suggest that ant colonies function as a cohesive unit, or "super-organism," where cooperation prevails over competition, contrasting with human group dynamics that do not necessarily enhance cognitive abilities. The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 7 ameznews.inAn alarming die-off of common murres in Alaska has been reported, with an estimated four million birds missing from colonies, marking the worst single species mortality event in modern history. Triggered by "The Blob," a mass of warm water in the North Pacific, this phenomenon disrupted marine ecosystems and food sources for these seabirds between 2014 and 2016. Researchers noted a significant decline in murre populations, with many birds failing to breed due to malnutrition. By the end of 2016, over 62,000 carcasses had been found along the Gulf of Alaska, but the true toll is believed to be much higher. Despite the Blob dissipating in 2016, no signs of recovery have emerged in monitored colonies, with the die-off accounting for approximately 50% of Alaska's murre population. Experts warn that the future remains bleak for these birds, as reduced numbers increase their vulnerability to predators and environmental challenges.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 10 ameznews.inThe "H" in "Jesus H. Christ" is often misunderstood, but it does not stand for a middle name like Hector. According to Dr. Dan McClellan, a Biblical scholar at the University of Birmingham, the initial likely originates from a Christogram, a monogram that combines letters and symbols to represent Jesus. This practice of using Christograms is prevalent in various artifacts, including artworks, coins, and gravestones, and even appears in ancient tattoos. The "H" serves as a symbolic representation rather than a literal name, highlighting the rich tradition of Christian symbolism throughout history. For a deeper understanding, Dr. McClellan elaborates on this topic in a video available online.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 8 ameznews.inPallasite meteorites, rare and stunning extraterrestrial rocks, are characterized by their unique composition of olive-green olivine crystals embedded in metal. With only about 300 known specimens among over 60,000 recognized meteorites, they are rarer than diamonds and offer valuable insights into the Solar System's history. Formed from differentiated asteroids, pallasites are believed to originate at the boundary between the core and mantle, although some scientists propose that collisions in the early Solar System may have mixed these materials. The Imilac meteorite, one of the largest and oldest pallasites at over 4.5 billion years, exemplifies their beauty and scientific significance. Found in Chile, it is not only a collector's gem but also a stable specimen for ongoing research, providing clues about the Earth's interior and the processes that shaped our planet.
Published: Jan 22 2025, 6 ameznews.inPolish researchers have unveiled a stunning new map that intricately details supernatural stories from Polish and German folklore, particularly along the Polish-German border. Designed to resemble Renaissance maps, it highlights various mythical beings such as devils, spirits, gnomes, and dragons, based on 1,500 accounts collected in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Of these, 600 stories are linked to specific landscape features, showcasing the cultural significance of these narratives. The map is part of a broader study that employs modern Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to spatially analyze folklore, merging artistic elements with contemporary research methodologies. The project aims to preserve intangible heritage and offers insights into the socio-cultural context of these tales. The map and accompanying research are published in the Journal of Maps, contributing to the growing field of Computational Folkloristics.
Published: Jan 21 2025, 2 ameznews.inIn 46 BCE, the Roman calendar experienced an unprecedented length of 445 days, making it the longest year in recorded history, often referred to as the "year of confusion." This anomaly arose as Julius Caesar sought to reform the disordered calendar, which had fallen out of sync with the Earth's orbit due to the previous system's inefficiencies. Before Caesar's reforms, the Roman calendar comprised only four months of 31 days, with others shorter, leading to significant discrepancies, such as a recorded eclipse occurring months off its actual date. To realign the calendar with the seasons, Caesar added two extra months between November and December, abolishing the intercalary month and establishing a more consistent 365-day year with a leap day every four years. This overhaul aimed to ensure that seasonal festivals aligned correctly, marking a significant shift in how time was measured in the Roman world.
Published: Jan 21 2025, 2 pmeznews.inSpaceX's seventh test flight of the Starship, conducted on January 16 at 7:37 PM ET, ended in failure as the rocket exploded 8.5 minutes into its flight, with debris falling over the Turks and Caicos Islands. Initially deemed a success due to the successful recovery of the Super Heavy booster by the mechanical arms known as Mechazilla, the mission quickly turned disastrous when Starship experienced a "rapid unscheduled disassembly." Fortunately, there were no reported casualties, but the incident raised concerns about safety near populated areas and led to flight delays, including those by Qantas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to investigate the incident, a standard procedure following such failures. Despite the setback, SpaceX remains committed to the Starship program, which is crucial for NASA's Artemis missions to return humans to the Moon, with further tests planned for 2025.
Published: Jan 17 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a thought-provoking exploration published in the Journal of Astrobiology, two University of Cambridge scientists have drawn inspiration from the fictional Silurians of *Doctor Who* to pose a compelling question: could evidence of an ancient industrial civilization be detected in the geological record? The paper, titled "The Silurian Hypothesis," does not assert that such a civilization existed but examines the potential "geological fingerprints" it might leave behind. The researchers highlight the brief duration of human industrial civilization—approximately 300 years—compared to the Earth's extensive history, raising the possibility that earlier advanced societies could have existed. They discuss markers that could indicate past civilizations, such as synthetic molecules and radioactive fallout, while cautioning that sustainable practices might leave minimal geological traces. Ultimately, the authors hope their inquiry will inspire further research into both astrobiology and the Anthropocene, enhancing our understanding of civilization's impact on Earth.
Published: Jan 16 2025, 11 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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