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New Study Explores Dark Comets and Their Mysteries

Did you know that up to 60% of near-Earth objects could be dark comets? These mysterious space travelers orbit our sun and might have helped bring water to our planet. Dark comets likely contain or once contained ice. A new study from the University of Michigan supports this idea. Aster Taylor, a U-M graduate student in astronomy led the study. Taylor’s curiosity about the frosty secrets of the asteroid belt drove their research.

The asteroid belt, for those unfamiliar, is a region between Jupiter and Mars filled with rocky asteroids. Since the 1980s, scientists have suspected that these asteroids might hold hidden ice. Taylor’s findings strengthen this suspicion.

Taylor couldn’t confirm if dark comets delivered water to Earth but suggested it could be a way to bring ice from other parts of the solar system to our planet. “We don’t know if these dark comets brought water to Earth. But there’s still debate on how Earth’s water arrived,” Taylor said. “Our work shows there’s another way to get ice from the solar system to Earth.”

Dark comets are puzzling. They combine traits of asteroids and comets. Asteroids, which are close to the Sun, lose any ice through sublimation, becoming rocky bodies without ice. They have stable orbits and lack the coma or tails seen in comets.

Comets have a fuzzy cloud called a coma, formed by sublimating ice carrying dust. This gives them a glowing look through telescopes. They have elongated orbits that take them far from and close to the Sun.

Taylor’s study looked at seven dark comets and estimated that 0.5 to 60% of near-Earth objects could be these bodies. These dark comets probably come from the asteroid belt. Taylor explained that the near-Earth environment changes quickly over ten million years. Near-Earth objects don’t stay in their orbits long and are continuously replaced by a larger source.

July 11, 2024
The Impact of Bettongs and Potoroos on Australia’s Biodiversity

Australia is famous for its unique and diverse wildlife but few animals are as important to the country’s ecological balance that’s why marsupial family is going to be siginificant for the nature. Marsupials are often called “ecosystem engineers” because of how much they help the environment through their foraging habits.

Their varied diet also helps many plant species survive and thrive. However, the number of these native marsupials is dropping, and their ecosystems are suffering. A team of top experts in ecology and evolution at Flinders University has decided to study this issue.

Dr. Rex Mitchell, a research associate in the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University, said the first goal of the study was to understand how tough the foods are that these foragers eat.

This information is key to their survival in conservation areas, new reserves, and even in planning diets for those in captivity. Dr. Mitchell stressed the need to maintain the distinct populations and habitats of bettongs and potoroos to support biodiversity and healthy ecosystems in Australia.

The researchers conducted fieldwork in the New England region of NSW and the Simpson Desert in South Australia to measure the toughness of the food in the diets of bettongs and potoroos. They compared these findings with commercially available alternatives to find possible substitutes or additional food sources.

While understanding the dietary needs of marsupials is crucial, another big part of their conservation involves tackling habitat loss and predation. Urban expansion, farming, and climate change continue to invade the natural habitats of bettongs and potoroos, making it harder for these marsupials to survive. Additionally, introduced predators like foxes and feral cats are a serious threat to the survival of these small marsupials.

July 11, 2024
Killing Barred Owls: Can It Save the Spotted Owl from Extinction?

In an effort to save the endangered spotted owl, U.S. wildlife officials have proposed a very surprising plan to kill nearly half a million barred owls. Can the balance of nature be very restored by tipping the scales so drastically or are they thinking wrong?

According to a report from the Associated Press (AP), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service targets to increase the declining spotted owl populations in Oregon, Washington, and California. The agency’s documents showing us a plan to diminish up to 450,000 barred owls and they will take 30 years.

Spotted owls have been struggling to survive in that region. Their larger cousins, barred owls, have moved from the eastern U.S. into their West Coast territory and it is threatening their existence due to competition for resources.

The Fish and Wildlife Service Oregon state supervisor Kessina Lee highlighted the critical nature of the situation. “Without actively managing barred owls, northern spotted owls will likely go extinct in all or the majority of them, in spite of collaborative conservation efforts,” Lee stated.

Previous efforts to protect the spotted owls focused on preserving their forest habitats and sparking debates over logging but managing to slow their decline. The rise of barred owls has undermined thfese efforts significantly.

The dilemma now is whether sacrificing one bird species is necessary to save another. Critics argue that this approach can divert from more sustainable conservation strategies. Wayne Pacelle is founder of Animal Wellness Action, voiced strong disapproval.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service is turning from protector of wildlife to persecutor of wildlife,” Pacelle said, predicting the program will fail as more barred owls will migrate into areas where others have been killed. The barred owl strategy leader Robin Bown works for the Fish and Wildlife Service and he noted that about 4,500 barred owls have been removed since 2009.

July 9, 2024
A Parrot’s Tale: How Nigel Forgot English and Learned Spanish

Many people have heard parrots talk in human languages. But how many have seen a bird become a multilingual expert? You can imagine if a parrot learned the English password to guard a house’s safe, and then one day you hear it using the Spanish password! Today, I’ll share some amazing information about such a grey parrot.

One of the wonders of zoology is the birds’ talking system. Birds can learn anything humans teach them to say, whether it’s English, Spanish, French or Hindi or any other language. Sometimes people even use a bird’s language as a password for safes. A man in Britain loves African grey parrots and kept one with him for a long time.

He loved the bird so much and named the bird Nigel. After much effort, he taught Nigel to speak English fluently. But then, suddenly, his beloved parrot disappeared without any clue and that was very surprising.

The man was really heartbroken and searched everywhere but couldn’t find his beloved Nigel. Four years had passed. Then, he got the parrot back from a person in the US. Nigel recognized his old master without any problem.

But something was different. The bird no longer spoke English. After observing for a while, the man realized Nigel was speaking Spanish. The bird had completely forgotten English. Nigel now only speaks excellent Spanish and the old man was again surprised to see such change in his bird.

July 9, 2024
How COVID-19 Lockdowns Helped Humpback Whales Thrive

Life under the sea is full of simple pleasures away from the busy world of humans. During the COVID-19 pandemic, something unexpected happened like lockdowns helped humpback whales very much. A team from the University of Queensland, led by Dr. Jake Linsky, found something interesting. The lockdowns had a calming effect on humpback whales migrating off Australia’s east coast.

Dr. Linsky, from UQ’s School of Environment, studies these whales at Moreton Bay Research Station. He uses drone photos and samples to check the whales’ health. These whales have recovered well from whaling in the past. The team wanted to use new tools to see how healthy they are.

“We used drone photos and samples to check the health of eastern Australian humpback whales near North Stradbroke Island during their migration in 2020 and 2021,” Dr. Linsky said. “This whale group has recovered well from past whaling, so we wanted to use the best tools to check on their health.”

“We also used small boats to get close to the whales and collect tiny samples of skin,” he added. Lower cortisol levels mean less stress. Why did this happen? Dr. Linsky thinks it’s due to changes in climate and less human activity during the pandemic.

“Several things happened during this time, like climate shifts to La Niña and big changes in human activity due to the pandemic.” “Our gene tests suggest whales might be reacting to fewer pollutants in their feeding waters.”

“Other studies found similar stress hormone drops in whales on the other side of Antarctica. Our results show this might be true for the whole Southern Ocean.” These findings are important for making rules to protect whales and other sea life.

Less human activity during lockdowns and lower cortisol levels support creating protected marine areas and stricter rules on boat traffic and pollution. By reducing human stressors, we can make safer places for these amazing creatures.

July 7, 2024
Plastic Waste: Hidden Threat from Oceans to Norwegian Shores

Plastic pollution is a rising global crisis that spares no spot on our planet. From the deepest oceans to the pristine coastlines of Norway, traces of plastic waste are an unfortunate sight. This waste represents the intruder of a dangerous disgusting pollutant, yet it reflects a far-reaching systemic problem demanding global attention.

Scientists have been warning for years what out-of-control plastic pollution could do and have been cautioning that immediate steps be taken, while global plastic production and consumption levels saw a rise. The country of Norway, with its strict environmental stand, is proposing an international pact to decrease the flow of plastics into the environment. Yet, what is also important to point out is that even Norway adds to the plastic pollution.

Thanks to the high-resolution study provided by Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) scientists and their colleagues with the help of the Norwegian Air Research Institute (NILU). We now have a complete, detailed mapping of the complex plastic cycle down to each type of product and polymer in Norway. But, being green, Norway discharges around 15,000 tons of plastic into the environment each year.

The new study found that an enormous 758 thousand tons per year of plastic ends up on the Norwegian market, with 632 thousand tons as waste. Though nearly half this amount is burned, just 2.4% goes into the environment. Yet this “small” amount means an average of 2.8 kg per capita.

The most significant contributors to macroplastics were considered to be consumer packaging, such as bottles and bags. On the other hand, one of the highest contributions to microplastics came from tire abrasion, especially from electric and hybrid cars. Production of such items continues to remain at high levels, although a focus remains on decreasing the amount that is released. We just consume more than we can gather. Thus, it is necessary to cut down on plastic use to stop the pollution at its roots.

July 7, 2024
Gold Beneath Waves: Seawater’s Role in Precious Metal Formation

Close your eyes and you can imagine a world in which gold is present in the cracks of the seafloor. Scientists have found an important way that seawater helps form gold and it is considered one of our planet’s most precious materials. A team of scientists journeyed to the northwestern British Columbia, where they set out to gather and study ancient ore-bearing rocks.

The deposit was initially formed in a submarine oceanic island arc about 183 million years ago, brought up from below by plate tectonic processes. The detailed study showed that the ancient geological artifacts were the result of the powerful oceans. The researchers tracked how seawater eventually percolated into the Earth’s crust. Researchers in his group determined how seawater had made its way down into the Earth’s crust. They combined with ore fluids before this interaction forged gold.

The research study’s co-author is Anthony Williams-Jones, who is a professor at McGill University in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. “These rocks, dating back to the Early Jurassic period, are hosted in volcanic and sedimentary formations,” said Professor Williams-Jones. “Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, we decoded their unique chemical signatures. The finding of seawater-triggered gold is surprising.”

Finding gold in curdled milk
This discovery is not a standalone revelation. It follows a find from about six months back when the gold formation was discovered to be surprisingly akin to milk curdling, a widespread and well-understood process. Gold nanoparticles come together like proteins in milk.

Scientists more found that it lies with the sodium ions abundant in seawater. Sodium ions spur the gold nanoparticles to coalesce with a similar effect as the process of acid-making in the souring of milk. “In our new study, we found that sodium ions in seawater cause gold nanoparticles to clump together and it is acting like the acid in the souring of milk, and eventually forming gold veins,” said lead author Duncan McLeish.

July 7, 2024
Lima: The City That Defies Rain for 900 Years

We are well known for several kinds of natural calamities, including low rain, heavy rain, storms, typhoons, and tidal waves. But there is a city on this earth without rain for nine hundred years. Its city is Lima which is known as the capital of Peru. It is believed that this city is witnessing the effects of unusual climate change worldwide.

Experts blame the geographical location of the town as the reason behind no rain. The amount of rainfall in the Sahara desert is higher than in the capital of Peru. You can think of it as the driest region in the world. Fresh and green plants are still standing here which is interesting as there is no rain. The city is calm and foggy throughout the year. During cold weather, the temperature reaches up to 16 degrees Celsius. The temperature does not exceed 23 degrees Celsius during summer.

Most houses in the city do not have roofs because of the lack of rain. The sea is at its side; therefore, there is no problem with water. The total population of this city is 90 lakhs. Most people here are of Japanese descent. There are also people of European descent living here.

The capital city, Lima still standing despite not raining for 900 years. Most say that it is the ‘wonder city.’ It lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. This city contains its own culture and bears a rich history. It is the rainiest city in Peru. Less than 7.6 mm of rainfall in the entire year is considered a rainless city. Because it equals no rain, this city has not seen any lightning or heavy rain for such a long time.

July 7, 2024
Motorcycle Adventures on Isle of Wight: Scenic Routes and Coastal Views

The small Isle of Wight just off the south coast of England might not be top of your list as an adventure biking destination, but it actually has a pretty rich motorcycling tradition and it boasts some cracker-coastal roads to cruise around on.

For good reasons, the Isle of Man grabs all the attention but in terms of a good island for bikers, you could enjoy a lot what’s are you offered here. Just over £60 will buy a return ferry ticket from Portsmouth or Lymington, and put you on course for an island escapade. You can be there in less than an hour!

Even though it’s just 150 square miles, the Isle of Wight packs a lot into its small size. It has some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in Britain. This little island in the Atlantic has sunny hills and valleys. You can explore around 57 miles of coastline and over 500 miles of roads.

Island Explorer

This time around we are following the lead of Covid-cancelled Diamond Races anticipated for 2021. The organisers have set aside 12.4 miles of closed public roadways in the Southern part of The Isle Of Wight running through villages Chale, Kingston Shorwell, and Brighstone before a five-mile open section on coastal military roads as well. I reckon this is the best option for you; you can enjoy huge views and wide, open roads.

It can be better if you go to Afton, but continue on a right-hand bend into The Middle Road and then the Newport Road. It is considered as a beautiful track, first surrounded by trees and then opening up into the rolling fields again. To be fair, that is true right road for bikers in the Isle of Wight. It would most likely be an ideal location to run around on a vintage classic.

July 5, 2024
Potential of Bacteria: Transformative Approach to DNA Transformation

Bacteria, those tiny yet tenacious life forms are far more influential than many of us realize. Inhabiting our bodies, shielding crops, and serving as eco-friendly factories, these microscopic marvels hold the key to unlocking a world of possibilities. Harnessing the power of bacteria has long been hindered by a significant roadblock: the challenge of introducing foreign DNA into their genetic makeup, a process known as DNA transformation.

The prime culprit standing in the way of successful DNA transformation is the bacteria’s own security system – the restriction-modification systems. These systems act as locked doors, marking the bacterial genome with a unique pattern and destroying any incoming foreign DNA that doesn’t match this pattern. To bypass this barrier, scientists have had to add the bacterial pattern to the foreign DNA, a laborious process involving the use of enzymes called DNA methyltransferases.

IMPRINT is considered as a groundbreaking innovation proposed by a team led by the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), in collaboration with Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) and researchers from North Carolina State University (NCSU). IMPRINT represents a novel approach to reproducing these patterns and enhancing DNA transformation, leveraging a cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL) system – a liquid mix that can produce RNA and proteins from added DNA.

“While TXTL is widely employed for various purposes, it has not previously been used to overcome barriers to DNA transformation in bacteria,” explained Chase Beisel, head of the RNA Synthetic Biology department at the HIRI and professor at the JMU Medical Faculty.

The key advantage of IMPRINT lies in its ability to express a bacterium’s specific DNA methyltransferases, which are then used to modify the foreign DNA before its delivery into the target bacterium. This approach is significantly faster and simpler than existing methods, which often require purifying individual DNA methyltransferases or expressing them in E. coli, a process that can take days to weeks and only reconstitute a fraction of the bacterium’s methylation pattern.

“Current approaches require purifying individual DNA methyltransferases or expressing them in E. coli, which often proves cytotoxic. These methods can take days to weeks and only reconstitute a fraction of the bacterium’s methylation pattern,” said Justin M. Vento, a PhD student at NC State and the first author of the study.

July 4, 2024