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Science (General/Chat)

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  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - NGC 6164: A Dragon's Egg

    04/24/2025 12:15:02 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 11 replies
    NASA ^ | 24 Apr, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Daniel Stern
    Explanation: Beautiful emission nebula NGC 6164 was created by a rare, hot, luminous O-type star, some 40 times as massive as the Sun. Seen at the center of the cosmic cloud, the star is a mere 3 to 4 million years old. In another three to four million years the massive star will end its life in a supernova explosion. Spanning around 4 light-years, the nebula itself has a bipolar symmetry. That makes it similar in appearance to more common and familiar planetary nebulae - the gaseous shrouds surrounding dying sun-like stars. Also like many planetary nebulae, NGC 6164 has...
  • Bronze Age Cymbals Highlight Shared Arabian Gulf Musical Traditions [Oman, Indus Valley]

    04/24/2025 8:07:14 AM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 11 replies
    Archaeology Magazine ^ | April 9, 2025 | editors / unattributed
    Phys.org reports that a pair of rare copper-alloy Bronze Age cymbals were uncovered at a site in Oman. The instrument has highlighted a shared musical connection between ancient cultures on both sides of the Arabian Gulf. “These cymbals are the first of their kind to have been found in good archaeological contexts in Oman and are from a particularly early context that questions some of the assumptions on their origin and development," said archaeologist Khaled Douglas. When the objects were first recovered from a third-millennium b.c. Umm an-Nar culture site in Dahwa, experts recognized their similarity to examples that had...
  • Canada's Indigenous Communities Operated Vast Obsidian Trade Network

    04/23/2025 8:37:21 PM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 19 replies
    Archaeology Magazine ^ | April 4, 2025 | editors / unattributed
    According to a CBC report, an extensive new project has highlighted just how vast the trade network in obsidian was for Indigenous communities living during the precontact period in current-day Alberta. Obsidian, a type of volcanic glass, was indispensable for many ancient cultures around the world because it can be easily shaped into arrowheads and cutting tools. No volcanoes have ever erupted in Alberta, however, so every sherd of obsidian was transported there from elsewhere. Researchers from the Alberta Obsidian Project analyzed 383 obsidian fragments from 96 sites across the area dating to between 13,000 and 300 years ago. They...
  • NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Had a Weird Close Encounter During Recent Asteroid Flyby, New Images Reveal

    04/23/2025 10:59:19 AM PDT · by Red Badger · 25 replies
    The Debrief ^ | April 22, 2025 | Micah Hanks
    (Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOIRLab) NASA’s Lucy spacecraft captured the most detailed images yet of an oddly shaped asteroid during its recent flyby, revealing the space object’s weird features and “strikingly complex” attributes. Lucy’s visit to the peculiar asteroid, dubbed Donaldjohanson, marked the intrepid NASA probe’s second close encounter, showcasing the object’s unusual barbell shape and offering images that provide additional clues to its unique geology. The flyby occurred on April 20, 2025, as Lucy approached to within just 600 miles of Donaldjohanson. High-resolution images of the contact binary object, which possesses two outer lobes joined by a narrow “neck,” offered...
  • Need Another Reason to Love Ginger? A New Study Shows It Can Provide a Major Health Benefit

    04/23/2025 1:43:31 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 50 replies
    Food & Wine ^ | April 20, 2025 | Andi Breitowich
    We'll never say no to more ginger in our life.Key Points -A new study published in medical journal Cureus reveals numerous health benefits ginger can provide, including its ability to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. -The many health benefits of ginger led researchers to conclude that the ingredient is a viable tool for assisting in treatment of cardiovascular disease. -Ginger can also aid in digestion, boost immunity, and reduce inflammation. Ginger is a welcome addition to many recipes. It’s aromatic, spicy, and carries a hint of earthy, citrusy flavor. But aside from its zesty taste, recent research published...
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - An Almost Everything Sky

    04/23/2025 1:31:23 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 15 replies
    NASA ^ | 23 Apr, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Koen van Barneveld
    Explanation: This surprising sky has almost everything. First, slanting down from the upper left and far in the distance is the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. More modestly, slanting down from the upper right and high in Earth's atmosphere is a bright meteor. The dim band of light across the central diagonal is zodiacal light: sunlight reflected from dust in the inner Solar System. The green glow on the far right is aurora high in Earth's atmosphere. The bright zigzagging bright line near the bottom is just a light that was held by the scene-planning astrophotographer. This "almost...
  • Is Fluoride in Water Actually Dangerous?

    04/23/2025 1:07:45 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 107 replies
    Food & Wine ^ | April 23, 2025 | Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC
    Here's what you need to know about this hot button topic.Key Points: -Political controversy has stoked new conversations around the fluoridation of water and whether the mineral is safe to consume. -Water fluoridation, or the practice of adding fluoride to sources of drinking water, has been credited as one of the greatest public health innovations of the 20th century and helps protect tooth enamel and prevent cavities. -Dental experts and research say that water fluoridation provides vital dental support for communities, is proven to reduce rates of tooth decay, and is safe when kept at recommended concentrations. Although the addition...
  • Ancient City Unearthed in North Macedonia

    04/23/2025 9:46:41 AM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 13 replies
    Archaeology Magazine ^ | April 9, 2025 | editors / unattributed
    According to a statement released by Cal Poly Humboldt, recent archaeological work at Gradishte, near the North Macedonian village of Crnobuki, has revealed that a much more substantial ancient settlement existed there than originally thought. It was previously believed that the site was merely a military outpost built to defend against Roman attacks, but new excavations have uncovered evidence of a prosperous city that was much older than scholars had expected. The acropolis alone extended across an area measuring at least seven acres. Archaeologists have thus far unearthed stone axes, coins, a clay theater ticket, pottery, game pieces, and textile...
  • Progress Report On Purging The Climate Scam From Federal Websites

    04/23/2025 4:38:09 AM PDT · by MtnClimber · 10 replies
    Manhattan Contrarian ^ | 20 Apr, 2025 | Francis Menton
    In a post on January 28 — a week into President Trump’s second term — I urged that it is time to “purge the climate scam from the federal websites.” Trump 1.0 did a remarkably poor job of taking control of communications on the climate issue on websites like those of EPA, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Transportation. Are they doing any better this time? They have definitely taken some significant steps to address this issue here in the early weeks of the new administration. For example, on April 15 the Guardian ran a piece with the...
  • 6,500-Year-Old Hunting Kit Recovered from Texas Cave

    04/22/2025 9:11:58 PM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 64 replies
    Archaeology Magazine ^ | April 8, 2025 | editors / unattributed
    According to Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, 6,500-year-old objects found deep within a cave in West Texas may comprise the oldest nearly-intact weapons kit recovered in North America. The wooden and stone tools were collected by a team of archaeologists from Sul Ross State University and the University of Kansas over the past several years from San Esteban Rockshelter near Marfa. Several thousand years ago, an Indigenous hunter sat by a fire in the cave and evaluated the state of their weapons, making repairs to some and discarding others. Their arsenal consisted of a throwing spear, a boomerang, and several...
  • Single Psychedelic Dose Shows Cognitive Boost Lasting Weeks

    04/22/2025 6:24:20 PM PDT · by Red Badger · 80 replies
    Study Finds ^ | April 22, 2025 | Research led by Omar J. Ahmed, Elizabeth J. Brouns, and Tyler G. Ekins (University of Michigan)
    In a nutshell One dose of a psychedelic compound (25CN-NBOH) significantly improved cognitive flexibility in mice, even 2 to 3 weeks after the drug was administered. Treated mice adapted better to new learning rules in a reversal task, showing stronger performance across multiple behavioral measures compared to controls. These long-lasting effects suggest psychedelics may promote meaningful, enduring changes in brain plasticity, offering potential new approaches for treating conditions like depression, PTSD, and Alzheimer’s disease. ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A single dose of a psychedelic compound could be key to helping your brain become more adaptable for weeks. University of Michigan...
  • Iberian DNA and the Evolution of Hazel Eyes... [15:00]

    04/22/2025 10:15:54 AM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 67 replies
    YouTube ^ | March 23, 2025 | Celtic History Decoded
    Only around 5% of the world’s population have hazel eyes. Yet a 2009 study found that 55.2% of their Spanish cohort had hazel-green eyes. This eye color is also more common in Portugal than the global average. But why is there such a concentration of hazel eyes in the Iberian peninsula compared to most other parts of the world? And is the evolution of hazel eyes connected to the genetic history of Iberia? Now there are a two main types of hazel eyes. Iberian DNA and the Evolution of Hazel Eyes... | 15:00 Celtic History Decoded | 48.5K subscribers |...
  • Former Intel CEO on Nvidia: You have to be 10x better to dethrone the king

    04/22/2025 7:51:17 AM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 11 replies
    Yahoo! Finance ^ | April 21, 2025 | Brian Sozzi
    Now that Pat Gelsinger is no longer occupying the corner office at embattled chipmaker Intel (INTC), he can acknowledge one thing about the semiconductor industry.Nvidia (NVDA) has a wide, wide lead over its rivals on the tech front..."They have built meaningful moats around their franchise," he added.Gelsinger led aggressive efforts to turn around Intel for more than three years. He slashed thousands of jobs, improved costs, secured CHIPS Act funding, built chip foundries, and promised fast AI chips that could compete with Nvidia and AMD (AMD).He was fired in early December amid missed financial targets, lack of progress on the...
  • How the IPCC Buried the Medieval Warm Period - And why it keeps proving today’s warming isn’t unique or unnatural

    04/22/2025 6:30:16 AM PDT · by MtnClimber · 21 replies
    Irrational Fear ^ | 21 Apr, 2025 | Dr. Matthew Wielicki
    Every year, new temperature records are breathlessly announced as though the planet is plunging into uncharted climate chaos. Mainstream headlines proclaim things like "Humanity just lived through the hottest 12 months in at least 125,000 years" or "This year virtually certain' to be warmest in 125,000 years, EU scientists say". We’re told, often without context or qualification, that the warming we’re experiencing is unlike anything seen in hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of years. But is that really true? Or have climate authorities, especially the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), built their entire narrative on the selective memory...
  • Lyrid meteor shower 2025: When, where & how to see it: best time to view early morning on April 22.

    04/21/2025 8:26:06 PM PDT · by UMCRevMom@aol.com · 13 replies
    https://www.space.com ^ | 4-21-2025 | Daisy Dobrijevic
    The best time to view the Lyrids this year will be early morning on April 22. The best time to observe the Lyrids is in the predawn hours when the shower’s radiant is at its highest in the sky. However, be mindful that as the morning progresses, the radiant will continue to climb, but so will the approaching sunrise and the brightening skies, which will hinder visibility. The shower is known for its luminous dust trains which can be observed for several seconds according to NASA. The Lyrids are associated with Comet Thatcher, a long-period comet that orbits the sun...
  • Where Did the Celts Really Come From? [48:22]

    04/21/2025 8:23:12 PM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 61 replies
    YouTube ^ | March 20, 2025 | Our History
    Anthropologist Richard Rudgley explores the history of the Celtic world and reveals the Celtic tradition to be a crucial part of what makes a Brit a True Brit. From Germany to the far west of Ireland, by way of Gaul, Pictish Scotland and England under Roman occupation, Rudgley takes a 5,000-mile journey of discovery that starts around 1,000 BC and ends in the present day. He uncovers remarkable archaeological evidence that puts a brand new light on the savagery and civilisation of an often misunderstood European culture. Where Did the Celts Really Come From? | 48:22 Our History | 883K...
  • Breakthrough Drug Restores Vision: Researchers Successfully Reverse Retinal Damage

    04/21/2025 7:07:31 PM PDT · by Red Badger · 17 replies
    Scitech Daily ^ | April 21, 2025 | The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
    KAIST researchers have developed a groundbreaking drug that restores vision by inducing retinal nerve regeneration, marking the first long-term neural regeneration in mammalian retinas. This treatment works by blocking the PROX1 protein, a key inhibitor of retinal regeneration, and has shown lasting effects in mouse models of retinal disease. ************************************************************ Blocking the PROX1 protein allowed KAIST researchers to regenerate damaged retinas and restore vision in mice. Vision is one of the most important human senses, yet more than 300 million people around the world are at risk of losing it due to various retinal diseases. Although recent treatments have helped...
  • ‘Bro-Science’ Overturned: Plant-Based Diets Build Muscle Just as Well as Animal Proteins

    04/21/2025 6:05:19 PM PDT · by Red Badger · 87 replies
    Study Finds ^ | April 21, 2025 | Research led by Andrew Askow and Nicholas Burd, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
    In a nutshell Vegan diets support muscle protein synthesis at the same rate as omnivorous diets when protein intake is matched (1.1-1.2g per kg of body weight). How you distribute protein throughout the day (evenly across meals vs. mostly at dinner) doesn’t significantly impact muscle growth. Vegan dieters reported higher energy levels and less fatigue, while omnivorous dieters reported greater meal satisfaction. ******************************************************************* CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Forget what you’ve heard at the gym about needing chicken breasts and steaks to build muscle. Science just delivered a win for plant-based eaters everywhere. Researchers found that vegan diets support muscle growth just...
  • Northern Lights Alert: Geomagnetic Storms Could Bring Aurora Borealis To These 10 States Tonight!

    04/21/2025 12:54:30 PM PDT · by Red Badger · 12 replies
    Daily Galaxy ^ | April 21, 2025 | Lydia Amazouz
    Get ready for a spectacular light show tonight as geomagnetic storms bring the northern lights closer to unexpected locations. The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are expected to put on a stunning display across several U.S. states tonight, thanks to geomagnetic storms that are disrupting Earth’s magnetic field. These solar-driven storms, forecasted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will bring the auroras closer to areas typically outside their usual range. This rare opportunity offers a chance for skywatchers in unexpected locations to witness one of nature’s most mesmerizing phenomena. Where Will the Northern Lights Be Visible? According to...
  • The Mysterious Algae That Melts Ice: Microscopic Life Fueling Glacier Loss

    04/21/2025 12:24:26 PM PDT · by Red Badger · 13 replies
    Scitech Daily ^ | April 21, 2025 | Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology
    The tiny ice inhabitants darken the glacier’s surface, which can accelerate its melting. Glaciers are massive bodies of white ice that reflect a significant amount of sunlight. However, in areas where the snow has melted and the bare ice is exposed, dark patches often appear. These dark areas are caused by microscopic algae that grow directly on the ice. By darkening the surface, these algae reduce the glacier’s ability to reflect sunlight, leading to increased absorption of heat. This, in turn, causes the ice to warm and melt more quickly. Mysterious algae growth Little is known about how the tiny...