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In the realm of food storage, three essential rules emerge: be kind, wash your hands, and never store tomatoes and potatoes together. This advice stems from the effects of ethylene gas, a plant hormone crucial for ripening, which is produced by many fruits, including tomatoes. While ethylene promotes ripening in climacteric fruits, it can adversely affect ethylene-sensitive vegetables like potatoes and onions, leading to rapid spoilage. Potatoes, when exposed to ethylene, may sprout or turn green, becoming toxic. The article highlights the importance of understanding the interactions between different fruits and vegetables to prolong their shelf life and prevent waste. For those keen to maintain their produce, a comprehensive list of ethylene-sensitive and producing items is available from US Foods, offering guidance on optimal storage practices. 
Published: Jan 01 2026, 2 ameznews.inRecent genetic discoveries have reshaped our understanding of human evolution, revealing that humans are closely related to great apes, including chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. Historically, humans were classified as hominids, a term that encompassed modern humans and extinct members of the _Homo_ lineage, such as Neanderthals and _Homo erectus_. However, as research progressed, it became clear that humans belong to the same family, Hominidae, as these apes. Consequently, the term "hominid" now includes all great apes and their ancestors, while "hominin" specifically refers to the human lineage after our split from chimpanzees approximately seven million years ago. This new classification highlights our kinship with other primates, with humans and chimpanzees sharing the subtribe Hominina, distinguishing us from gorillas and orangutans.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 3 ameznews.inIn 1977, NASA launched the Voyager probes to explore the outer Solar System and interstellar space. Both spacecraft encountered a "wall of fire" at the Solar System's boundary, recording temperatures between 30,000 and 50,000 kelvin (54,000 to 90,000 degrees Fahrenheit) as they crossed the heliopause, the boundary where the solar wind meets the interstellar medium. Voyager 1 became the first to cross this boundary on August 25, 2012, followed by Voyager 2 in 2018. The heliopause is not a fixed edge but fluctuates with solar activity, which was confirmed by the different distances at which the probes encountered it. Despite the extreme temperatures, the probes survived due to the sparse particle density in that region. Recent findings from Voyager 2 have confirmed that the magnetic fields beyond the heliopause align with those inside the heliosphere, providing new insights into the nature of interstellar space.
Published: Dec 27 2025, 6 ameznews.inIn 1962, French geologist Michel Siffre emerged from Scarasson, a glacial cave in the Alps, after spending 63 days in isolation, devoid of natural light and timekeeping devices. Initially intending to study the glacier for just 15 days, Siffre extended his stay to explore the effects of prolonged darkness on human physiology. His experience revealed that the human body possesses an internal clock independent of the Sun, leading to significant alterations in his sleep-wake cycle. Siffre's findings, which included a psychological time distortion and a shift from a 24-hour to a 48-hour cycle, laid the groundwork for the field of human chronobiology. Despite facing skepticism and criticism for his unconventional methods, his research has had lasting implications, influencing areas such as sleep science and military operations. Siffre's pioneering work continues to resonate in scientific circles, highlighting the mysteries of human biology and the potential for discovery in the depths of darkness.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 11 pmeznews.inIn a surprising twist to the recovery of Mount St Helens after its catastrophic 1980 eruption, researchers have found that a brief visit from local gophers significantly accelerated the regrowth of plant life in the devastated landscape. Initially, the area was left barren, with ash and pumice hindering plant roots from accessing essential nutrients. However, a team from the University of California Riverside discovered that the gophers, often deemed pests, played a crucial role by digging up old soil and bringing it to the surface, fostering a thriving ecosystem. Remarkably, six years post-visit, over 40,000 plants flourished in the gopher-affected areas, while surrounding regions remained desolate. The study also highlighted the vital role of mycorrhizal fungi in aiding tree regrowth, as they efficiently transported nutrients from fallen needles, contradicting earlier fears of prolonged forest recovery. The findings, published in *Frontiers in Microbiomes*, underscore the unexpected resilience of nature.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 11 pmeznews.inA declassified CIA report from 1983, titled "Analysis and Assessment of the Gateway Process," has resurfaced on social media, sparking interest in its claims about altered states of consciousness potentially transcending space and time. The 29-page document, part of Cold War-era investigations into mind control and hypnosis, explores the "Gateway Process," a technique developed by the Monroe Institute aimed at synchronizing brainwaves through meditation and sound, known as "hemi-sync." While the report suggests that achieving this state could allow individuals to connect with a higher realm of consciousness, it does not substantiate the popular "Law of Attraction" theory, which posits that positive thoughts yield positive outcomes. Critics caution that, despite its scientific jargon, the report's ideas are largely untestable and blend legitimate science with pseudoscience, urging readers to approach its conclusions with skepticism while exploring the mysteries of consciousness.
Published: Jan 01 2026, 12 ameznews.inScientists have revised their eruption forecast for the Axial Seamount, a massive underwater volcano off the Oregon coast, now predicting it may erupt in 2026 instead of 2025. Bill Chadwick, a research associate at Oregon State University, noted that the volcano's inflation rate has changed, complicating predictions. While Axial is the most monitored submarine volcano globally, with real-time data on seismic activity and surface growth, the current inflation levels have not reached the threshold necessary for an eruption. Despite surpassing the inflation levels seen before its last eruption in 2015, the volcano has exhibited low seismic activity, with fewer than 1,000 earthquakes per day, far below the expected levels before an eruption. Researchers are now exploring a new physics-based model for eruption forecasting, hoping it will yield more accurate predictions. Until then, the timeline for Axial's next eruption remains uncertain, with 2027 also a possibility.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 5 pmeznews.inFaces are integral to human interaction, serving as key indicators of identity and emotion, while also being a focal point for social judgments. A recent review highlights the historical use of facial disfigurement as a form of punishment across various cultures, from ancient Egypt to modern times. This practice, often targeting women, has roots in societal norms surrounding beauty and morality, with disfigurement seen as a means to humiliate and mark transgressors. Evidence of intentional facial mutilation dates back to Neolithic times, with methods evolving to include acid attacks in contemporary contexts. The motivations behind such acts are complex, often linked to gender dynamics and personal vendettas rather than legal transgressions. The authors of the study advocate for further research into the social and cultural factors driving facial disfigurement, suggesting that understanding these motivations could inform public health and judicial policies to better address this issue.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Surinam toad (_Pipa pipa_), often mistaken for a squashed fruit due to its unremarkable appearance, exhibits a remarkable and somewhat unsettling reproductive process. Males attract females by producing a metallic sound with their hyoid bone, leading to a mating embrace known as amplexus. Following fertilization, the female's back becomes a nursery for the developing offspring, which remain embedded in her skin until they fully mature into toadlets. This unique birthing method can trigger trypophobia—a condition characterized by an aversion to clusters of holes—affecting 10 to 18 percent of the population. Individuals with this aversion may experience intense disgust or sensations akin to skin crawling when confronted with the toad's honeycomb-like back. Researchers suggest this reaction may serve as an evolutionary defense against parasites, highlighting the complex interplay between human psychology and the natural world.
Published: Dec 29 2025, 11 pmeznews.inIn a groundbreaking development, Peru has become the first country to grant legal rights to an insect, specifically the native stingless bee, which plays a crucial role in pollinating over 80% of Amazonian flora. The Provincial Municipality of Satipo approved Municipal Ordinance No. 33-2025-CM/MPS, recognizing the bees' inherent rights to exist, thrive, and maintain healthy populations, as well as to a pollution-free habitat and stable climatic conditions. This historic legislation, supported by the Earth Law Center and local Indigenous groups, aims to protect these vital pollinators from threats such as deforestation and climate change. The bees, cultivated for centuries for their medicinal honey, are essential not only for biodiversity but also for global crops like coffee and chocolate. Advocates believe this pioneering ordinance could inspire similar initiatives worldwide, marking a significant shift in environmental law and our relationship with nature.
Published: Dec 31 2025, 9 pmFor the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
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