Thursday, October 9News That Matters

Tag: study

Heatwaves in North America, Europe Could Intensify Twice as Expected Due to Soil Moisture Variations

Heatwaves in North America, Europe Could Intensify Twice as Expected Due to Soil Moisture Variations

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A new study has revealed that heatwaves in Eastern North America and Central Europe could become twice as intense as previously predicted, driven by variations in soil moisture. Published in Nature Communications, the research, led by Professor Douglas Maraun at the University of Graz with contributions from the University of Reading, highlights the potential for devastating temperature surges if global warming reaches 2°C. The study warns that extreme heat events in these regions could rise by up to 4°C, significantly outpacing moderate heatwave projections. This alarming trend mirrors the catastrophic heatwaves that hit Canada in 2021, India in 2022, and the Mediterranean in 2023. Reinhard Schiemann, a co-author of the study from the University of Reading, explained "While it’s kno...
UK Scientists to Probe Deep Sea’s ‘Dark Oxygen,’ A Discovery That Could Redefine Life’s Origins

UK Scientists to Probe Deep Sea’s ‘Dark Oxygen,’ A Discovery That Could Redefine Life’s Origins

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check, Learning & Developments
A groundbreaking study led by Prof. Andrew Sweetman of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) is set to explore the phenomenon of "Dark Oxygen," a form of oxygen produced in the absence of light. This revolutionary discovery, made last summer, challenges the long-held belief that oxygen production is exclusively a byproduct of photosynthesis. The project is backed by a £2 million support package from The Nippon Foundation. The team will deploy advanced sensors to the deepest parts of the ocean, aiming to determine how oxygen can be created in complete darkness, far from the reach of sunlight. The study will investigate whether this process occurs in other deep-sea environments and examine its implications for life on Earth and beyond. “Our discovery of Dark Oxygen was a p...
Melting Ice Reveals 5,900-Year-Old Forest in Rocky Mountains

Melting Ice Reveals 5,900-Year-Old Forest in Rocky Mountains

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
The melting ice of the Rocky Mountains has unearthed a stunning archaeological discovery: a 5,900-year-old whitebark pine forest preserved in remarkable detail. Located on the Beartooth Plateau in Wyoming at an elevation of 3,100 meters well above today’s tree line the discovery offers an unprecedented glimpse into ancient climates while raising pressing questions about the future. The frozen forest, uncovered during an archaeological survey, includes more than 30 well-preserved trees. Whitebark pine, a species that no longer grows at such heights, flourished there during a significantly warmer period in Earth's history. “This discovery offers us a window into past conditions at high elevations,” said Cathy Whitlock of Montana State University. Tree ring analysis and carbon dating re...
Unraveling the ‘Ice-Ocean Boundary Layer’ to Predict Sea Level Rise

Unraveling the ‘Ice-Ocean Boundary Layer’ to Predict Sea Level Rise

Breaking News, Learning & Developments
Scientists are making significant progress in deciphering the intricate relationship between the Antarctic ice sheet and the Southern Ocean, a dynamic that plays a crucial role in driving global sea level changes. Recent research highlights how small-scale oceanic processes, often occurring at the microscopic level, influence the melting of massive ice structures. Despite Antarctica’s vast ice reserves, the factors determining its stability are highly localized, presenting significant challenges in measurement and modeling. To overcome this, researchers are turning to advanced tools like autonomous underwater vehicles and cutting-edge computer simulations. These technologies are uncovering critical details about how ocean water interacts with the ice, offering new insights into previous...
Scientists Identify ‘Mystery Volcano’ That Cooled Earth’s Climate in 1831

Scientists Identify ‘Mystery Volcano’ That Cooled Earth’s Climate in 1831

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
Nearly two centuries after one of the most powerful eruptions of the 19th century caused global temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere to drop by around 1 degree Celsius, scientists have pinpointed the culprit: Zavaritskii volcano on Simushir Island in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The island is part of the Kuril Islands archipelago, a region disputed between Russia and Japan. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, the groundbreaking study links the historic 1831 eruption to Zavaritskii, which had previously been dormant since 800 BC. This revelation comes after decades of uncertainty, during which researchers knew the year of the eruption but struggled to locate the volcano responsible. The breakthrough came from analyzing ice cores collected from ...
Scientists Demonstrate ‘Negative Time’ in Quantum Breakthrough

Scientists Demonstrate ‘Negative Time’ in Quantum Breakthrough

Breaking News, Learning & Developments
Researchers at the University of Toronto have achieved a remarkable milestone, demonstrating "negative time" in a cutting-edge quantum experiment. This phenomenon, where light seems to emerge from a material before entering it, challenges long-held notions about the flow of time and opens new doors to understanding quantum mechanics. The research focused on atomic excitation a process where photons absorbed by atoms elevate electrons to higher energy levels. Typically, when these electrons return to their original states, they release the absorbed energy, causing a time delay in the photons' transit. However, the Toronto team observed an unexpected twist: photons behaved as if atoms spent a "negative amount of time" in their excited states. This startling finding suggests that time, ...
Each Cigarette Costs Men 17 Minutes, Women 22 Minutes of Life: Study

Each Cigarette Costs Men 17 Minutes, Women 22 Minutes of Life: Study

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
London: Smoking takes a far greater toll on life expectancy than previously believed, a new study from University College London (UCL) reveals. For men, each cigarette smoked shortens life by 17 minutes, while for women, the cost is even higher at 22 minutes per cigarette. These figures surpass earlier estimates, which suggested an 11-minute loss per cigarette. Commissioned by the UK’s Department for Health and Social Care, the study urges smokers to make quitting their top resolution for the New Year. The research concludes that a pack of 20 cigarettes robs an average smoker of nearly seven hours of life. Over a lifetime, smokers who don’t quit lose approximately a decade of life, according to Dr. Sarah Jackson, a principal research fellow at UCL. “Smokers lose about the same num...
Scientists Achieve Quantum Teleportation Over Fibre Optic Cables

Scientists Achieve Quantum Teleportation Over Fibre Optic Cables

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Tech
In a landmark scientific breakthrough, researchers have successfully demonstrated quantum teleportation using existing fibre optic cables that carry everyday internet traffic. While the term “quantum teleportation” may evoke images of human transportation akin to science fiction, the reality involves the instantaneous transfer of information over vast distances using quantum mechanics. The pioneering study, led by Prem Kumar of Northwestern University, Illinois, represents a monumental leap toward integrating quantum communication with traditional networks. Quantum teleportation relies on a phenomenon known as "quantum entanglement," where two particles, regardless of their separation, share an invisible link. Changes in one particle instantaneously affect its entangled partner, enablin...
Does Yoga Really Hold the Secret to Longevity? A Closer Look

Does Yoga Really Hold the Secret to Longevity? A Closer Look

Breaking News, Environment, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks
Yoga with its centuries-old roots is widely praised for its health benefits. But could it also be the secret to a long life? Centenarian Daisy Taylor of Chelmsford, England, believes so. On her 105th birthday, Taylor credited her enduring physical and mental health to yoga, optimism, and cherishing life's simple joys. Remarkably, Taylor still practices yoga, though now more often from a chair than a mat. Her story echoes those of other notable yoga practitioners, like B.K.S. Iyengar, who lived to 95 despite severe childhood illnesses, and Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, the founder of vinyasa yoga, who reached 100. These anecdotes suggest a connection between yoga and longevity but what does science say? Yoga’s Role in Ageing and Longevity Physical and Mental Health Benefits Yoga ha...
Does Acetaminophen Influence Risk-Taking Behavior? New Study Says It Might

Does Acetaminophen Influence Risk-Taking Behavior? New Study Says It Might

Breaking News, Fact Check
Acetaminophen, one of the most commonly used pain relievers worldwide, may do more than ease headaches it could also impact how people perceive risks. A 2020 study from The Ohio State University suggests that this popular over-the-counter drug might lower risk awareness and increase risk-taking behavior. "Acetaminophen seems to make people feel less negative emotion when they consider risky activities they just don't feel as scared," explains neuroscientist Baldwin Way, the study's lead author. Given that nearly 25% of Americans take acetaminophen weekly, these findings could have broader implications for decision-making and risk perception in everyday life. In a series of experiments, researchers tested the effects of a 1,000 mg dose of acetaminophen the maximum recommended singl...