This weekend’s stories include The Black Frogs of Chernobyl to Scientists Discover Massive “Ocean” Near Earth’s Core to Elon Musk presents Humanoid Robot Optimus, and much more.
How a Chinese fossil find rewrites Earth’s history–Paleontologists describe some of the oldest teeth, jaws and limbs ever discovered, reports Salon.com. “Essentially, these discoveries could push back our understanding of humans’ early animal ancestors by about 10 million years.”
Scientists Discover Massive “Ocean” Near Earth’s Core–The study confirmed something that it was only a theory, namely that ocean water accompanies subducting slabs and thus enters the transition zone, reports NDTV.com. “Scientists have discovered a reservoir of water three times the volume of all the oceans beneath the Earth’s surface, according to an international study. The water has been found between the transition zone of the Earth’s upper and lower mantle.”
Pando, the world’s largest organism, has stopped growing –Pando is a stand of aspen in Utah that is 14,000 years old and weighs 12 million pounds. Big Think reports that humans threaten to end its long reign.
The fundamental problem with quantum physics and gravityBig Think reports. “We have two descriptions of the Universe that work perfectly well: General Relativity and quantum physics. Too bad they don’t work together.”
China has discovered a brand-new Moon mineral. Big Think reports. “China has discovered a previously unknown Moon mineral: Changesite-(Y). This mineral is rich in helium-3 which is a desirable isotope to fuel nuclear fusion reactors.
The Milky Way’s Spiral Arms May Have Carved Earth’s Continents–A controversial new theory suggests the Milky Way galaxy’s arms sent comets hurtling toward early Earth, where impacts built new continental crust, reports Scientific American.
A Quantum Rule that Clashes with Our Universe is Rewritten by Physicists Quanta. Quanta reports that the past and future are closely linked in quantum mechanics. Perhaps too closely. The theory could be tweaked to allow quantum possibilities to increase with space expansion.
Hurricanes are a good example of the severity of the climate crisis.Peter Kalmus reports for The Guardian. “Climate breakdown is far more intense in 2022 than even many scientists expected, yet the world still isn’t treating this like a crisis.”
Why monkeypox is spreading in wild animals: This is why scientists are concerned–Monkeypox rampant in wildlife would make the virus impossible to control, warn scientists, reports Nature.
Fossilized Fish Reveal Earliest Known Prequel of ‘Jaws’–In two deposits in China, paleontologists dug up remains that suggest jawed fish are tens of millions of years older than previously known, reports the New York Times.
Chernobyl Black Frogs show evolution in action reports Germán Orizaola and Pablo Burraco for The Conversation. “one of the most interesting research topics in Chernobyl is trying to detect if some species are actually adapting to live with radiation.
A massive study has shown that coffee drinkers will likely outlive the rest of us.Science Alert reports. “Based on an analysis of just under half a million records in the UK Biobank, people who drink two to three cups of coffee each day tend to live longer and exhibit less cardiovascular disease compared with those who abstain from the beverage.”
Scientists Create a New Type Of Human Cells Science Alert. “The new cells closely mirror their natural counterparts in early human embryos. As a result, scientists are better able to understand what occurs just after an embryo implants in the womb.”
Tesla boss Elon Tesla presents Optimus, a humanoid robot created by MuskThe BBC reports that the CEO said so. The CEO said the robot was work-in-progress but could be on sale to the public in a few years’ time.
Baby-targeting superbugsThe overuse of antibiotics has led to a hidden, deadly health crisis. BBC Future reports. “Has the overuse of antibiotics created a deadly risk to newborns? Kamala Thiagarajan investigates the hidden health crisis devastating families around the world – and the solutions that could stop it.”
Understanding the evolution of human hair.Science News. “We’re the only weirdos that are naked except for our head,” says biological anthropologist Tina Lasisi, who is studying the variation in human hair and how it evolved. Though humans’ nearly hairless bodies stick out like a cowlick among other primates, our nakedness isn’t unique in the world of mammals. Dolphins and whales are naked.”
The amazing power of internet memes BBC Future reports. “The science of these viral mash-ups reveals why they are so effective at spreading ideas and beliefs.”
Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, a former physics teacher, won the Nobel Prize for LiteratureFor Physics World, Hamish Johnston reports that this is the case. “Johnston looks looks at the small but important role physics played in the life of the Russian author and dissident Alexandr Solzhenitsyn.”
Existential Physics: A Scientist’s Guide to Life’s Biggest QuestionsNext Big Idea Club, “Sabine Hossenfelder is a theoretical physicist who researches quantum gravity.
Breaking barriers: How Ernest Rutherford, physicist, won the Nobel Prize for ChemistryPhysics World reports. “With the 2022 Nobel prizes due to be announced, Physics World editors look at the physicists who’ve won prizes in fields other than their own. Matin Durrani finds out how Ernest Rutherford scooped the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.”
This article was curated by the Daily Galaxy Editorial Staff
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