In the recent science updates, we featured a collection of comets, a baffling light source at the core of our galaxy, the sensation of time accelerating as we age, and the potential revival of Neanderthals.(Image credit: Victor Habbick Visions/Science Photo Library via Getty Images (left), Petr Horálek (right).)Jump to:
This week has seen a surge of comet-related information, with a flurry of dispatches about three dusty cosmic snowballs journeying through our region of space.
Firstly, comets Lemmon and SWAN attained their brightest points in the night skies of Earth this week, allowing stargazers simple viewing opportunities. This resulted in some breathtaking scenes, such as Lemmon’s passage across a sky filled with colorful aurora over Scotland and the temporary shearing of its tail by solar winds over Czechia (also called the Czech Republic).
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Astronomers get closer to the roots of comet 3I/ATLAS, an odd gravity abnormality found off the coast of Africa, and AI conceives entirely novel viruses
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This week’s science round-up: NASA discovers optimal evidence of life on Mars and scientists create observable time crystals
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Revived microbes from permafrost emit CO2, scientists depict ‘relativity-defying’ illusion, and James Webb telescope locates something ‘thrilling’ emanating from black hole M87*
Could dark matter explain the Milky Way’s strange radiance?A mysterious light at the heart of the Milky Way could transform a fundamental cosmic concept
A puzzling luminescence at our galaxy’s center could be an indication of the location of missing dark matter.
Present at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy is an enigmatic, dispersed glow, a compressed plane of notably energetic gamma rays that has baffled astronomers for over a decade. Presently, a fresh study has provided credibility to a potential explanation: clashing areas of dark matter.
The outcomes, generated through the use of detailed supercomputer simulations, propose that dark matter in our galaxy could have been shaped into an oval-like form through impacts and gravitational consolidations.
These findings have the potential to initiate our first-ever identification of the mysterious element believed to constitute 85% of the matter in the universe, resolving a significant cosmic puzzle.
Explore further news from space
—Astronomers discover a massive unseen ‘connector’ and a tail of extraordinary length between a pair of dwarf galaxies
—The James Webb telescope reveals that primeval galaxies exhibited far more disarray than previously thought
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Astronomers get closer to the roots of comet 3I/ATLAS, an odd gravity abnormality found off the coast of Africa, and AI conceives entirely novel viruses
-
This week’s science round-up: NASA discovers optimal evidence of life on Mars and scientists create observable time crystals
-
Revived microbes from permafrost emit CO2, scientists depict ‘relativity-defying’ illusion, and James Webb telescope locates something ‘thrilling’ emanating from black hole M87*
—Astronomers identify the initial ‘pulse’ of a nascent star concealed inside a powerful celestial explosion
Small Puzzles of LifeAre there any nations without mosquitoes?
Iceland was once the sole nation lacking mosquitoes. However, this is no longer true.
Mosquitoes are an almost universally present animal and humanity’s most lethal predator — as many as 110 trillion mosquitoes globally inflict sicknesses on 700 million individuals yearly, leading to almost a million deaths during that same period.
So, does any place on the globe exist where these buzzing nuisances are absent? We presumed we knew the answer, but a surprising update altered everything this week.
—If you found this interesting, subscribe to our Small Puzzles of Life newsletter
Why does time seem to pass more quickly as we get older?Latest research clarifies why time appears to accelerate as we age
Time seems to pass ever more rapidly as we mature. Scientists have now discovered a cause situated within the brain.
It’s a frequently voiced expression: As we become slower in action, time passes more quickly. Numerous psychological explanations have been proposed for this phenomenon, but at last, scientists have located indications of its neurological bases.
The mechanism is referred to as neural dedifferentiation, where the function of diverse brain regions becomes less specialized as we age, leading our brains to process fewer distinct states that it could utilize to register the passage of time. And if older brains are documenting fewer “happenings” within a specific period, perhaps that’s the reason for the sensation of time flying.
Discover additional news related to health
—A high level of happiness is not crucial for avoiding premature death resulting from chronic disease, a study reveals
—A diagnostic quandary: A toddler accidentally ingested gonorrhea bacteria from a petri dish
—In a modest trial, novel eye implants coupled with augmented-reality eyewear are enabling blind individuals to read again
Additionally in science updates this week
—Google’s innovative ‘Quantum Echoes’ algorithm moves us closer to the reality of useful quantum computing — performing tasks 13,000 times faster than they would be on a supercomputer
—Residue found in 1,300-year-old fecal matter shows that pathogens plagued ancient inhabitants of Mexico’s ‘Cave of the Dead Children’
—An ‘unauthorized’ metal detectorist unearthed a massive cache of Roman artifacts in Germany — and kept it concealed for 8 years
Extensive science articleNeanderthals may be resurrected within 20 years — but is this advisable?
Neanderthals became extinct upwards of 30,000 years ago, yet we are approaching the ability to bring them back.
Ever since the Neanderthal genome was first sequenced in 2010, certain scientists have cautiously considered bringing back one of modern humans’ nearest extinct relatives (the Denisovans being the other). However, how would this be implemented? Is it even within the realm of possibility? And granting that we can, should we take action? Live Science looked into the answers.
Ideas for the weekend
If you desire a lengthier piece for weekend reading, here are some notable interviews, puzzles, and investigations into scientific history published recently.
‘It’s truly an unparalleled narrative,’ says historian Steven Tuck regarding the Romans he studied who survived the AD 79 Vesuvian explosion [Interview]
Live Science crossword challenge #15: Explosive death of a star — 11 down [Crossword]
Science history: Scientists employ ‘click chemistry’ for observing molecules within living creatures — Oct. 23, 2007 [Science history]
Science through imagesPair of ‘holy’ isles in hauntingly verdant African lake contain ancient relics and mummified emperors — Earth from the cosmos
Ethiopia’s Dek and Daga islands are repositories of holy artifacts and preserved emperors.
This week, Live Science featured an engaging account of this airborne snapshot captured by an astronaut, displaying the islands of Dek and Daga within Ethiopia’s Lake Tana.
This lake, situated in the country’s northwest and abundant in algae, features multiple islands (some appearing solely during the rainy season). These islands, in turn, hold a multitude of monasteries and churches. The construction of these religious structures on islands was done partly to safeguard the nation’s most prized sacred relics and the mummified remains of no less than five emperors during times of conflict and disturbance.
Follow Live Science on social media
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Ben TurnerSocial Links NavigationActing Trending News Editor
Ben Turner is a writer and editor working for Live Science in the UK. He reports on physics and astronomy, alongside technology and climate change. He has a particle physics degree from University College London, and he trained as a journalist. Aside from his writing, Ben is a literature lover, guitar player, and self-confessed chess enthusiast.
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Astronomers get closer to the roots of comet 3I/ATLAS, an odd gravity abnormality found off the coast of Africa, and AI conceives entirely novel viruses
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