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Astronomers Discover Oldest Known Eclipse Reference in 6,000-year-old Hindu Text
Astronomers found the oldest mention of a solar eclipse in an ancient Hindu text, the Rig Veda, dating back 6,000 years. The text also references historical events like the location of the vernal equinox centuries ago. Two astronomers believe they have identified passages describing an ancient eclipse that occurred around 4,200 B.C. or 3,811 B.C., making it one of the earliest recorded eclipses in history. This discovery showcases how ancient texts can enhance our understanding of celestial events and captivate people across generations.
Score (96)
The Who's Last Hurrah: Iconic Band Bids Farewell To North America This Summer
The Who, the legendary British rock band, is preparing to bid farewell to North America with a final tour this summer. Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend announced Thursday that they will perform hits spanning their six-decade career during "The Song Is Over North America Farewell Tour," named after their 1971 hit. Kicking off in Florida on Aug. 16, the tour will include stops in major cities such as New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Vancouver before concluding in Las Vegas on Sept. 28. “Every musician’s dream in the early '60s was to make it big in the U.S. charts," Daltrey said. “For The Who, that dream came true in 1967 and our lives were changed forever.” From club shows to headlining Woodstock, The Who became one of the world's biggest touring bands by the 1970s. They were inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990. Daltrey, now 81, and Townshend have been a prolific duo despite losing drummer Keith Moon in 1978 and bassist John Entwistle in 2002. “Today, Roger and I still carry the banner for the late Keith Moon and John Entwistle,” Townshend said. “I must say that although the road has not always been enjoyable for me... I keep coming back.” Their music defined rock with iconic sounds like “My Generation” and “Wont Get Fooled Again.” Pre-sales start May 13 with general sales beginning May 16. “Well, all good things must come to an end,” Townshend reflected. “For me, playing to American audiences and those in Canada has always been incredible.”
Score (78)
A Sherlock Holmes-Style Discovery Reveals New Method Behind Ancient Maya Blue
A recent investigation has unveiled a new method for creating the vibrant pigment known as Maya blue, adding to the understanding of this ancient technique. The discovery was presented by Dean Arnold, an adjunct curator of anthropology at the Field Museum in Chicago, during the Society for American Archaeology's annual meeting in Denver. Maya blue, first identified by researchers in 1931, is renowned for its durability and striking azure hue. It was used extensively by the Maya civilization from 300 B.C. to A.D. 300 on various artifacts and ceremonial items. The pigment is a unique blend of organic indigo and inorganic palygorskite clay. In 2008, Arnold's team discovered that copal incense played a crucial role in producing Maya blue when mixed with indigo and palygorskite over heat. However, Arnold's latest research reveals an alternative method involving wet grinding of palygorskite found in bowls at Chichén Itzá. Microscopic analysis showed burnt plant stems and heating marks on these bowls. "These observations provide evidence that the ancient Maya used this method as a second way to create Maya blue," Arnold said. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Arnold emphasized that Maya blue holds cultural significance for the Maya people. "This is a genius discovery that they made," he noted, suggesting it was likely known only to specialists like priests. Arnold believes future research could further unravel how this pigment was made by examining plant remains found in the bowls to identify their genus and species.
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Score (96)
Can Curiosity Be Your Secret Weapon Against Dementia?
Curiosity might just be the secret to staying sharp as we age, according to a new study. Researchers from an international team of psychologists have found that maintaining an interest in learning could help protect against Alzheimer's disease. Published in the journal PLOS One, the study suggests that curiosity can actually increase well into old age. Dr. Alan Castel from UCLA, the study's senior author, noted that while previous research indicated curiosity declines with age, their findings tell a different story. "We thought it was strange and went against what we saw in older adults who were very engaged and interested in learning," he said. The researchers explored two types of curiosity: "trait curiosity," which is a general inquisitiveness, and "state curiosity," which is sparked by specific topics or questions. They discovered that while trait curiosity tends to decline over time, state curiosity can rise sharply after middle age. To understand these patterns better, the team surveyed participants aged 20 to 84 about their general level of curiosity and tested their interest in learning new trivia facts. The results showed that as people age and life responsibilities decrease, they often become more selective about what they want to learn. "Our findings fit with selectivity theory; as we get older, we're more selective about our interests," Dr. Castel explained. He emphasized that staying curious can keep us mentally sharp as we grow older.
Score (98)
This Skateboarder Is On An Epic 1,500-Mile Journey From the UK To Africa
Sam Allison, a 21-year-old from England, is embarking on an extraordinary journey to skateboard 1,500 miles from Britain to Morocco. His mission? To raise funds for the Ben Raemers Foundation, a mental health charity close to his heart. Allison's passion for skateboarding emerged as a lifeline during his own struggles with mental health. "Skateboarding saved me," he shared. "When you're skating, you're so focused on what you're doing that you can't think about anything else." With savings from his job at UberEats, Allison estimates the trip will take 50 to 60 days, covering about 30 miles daily. He's currently in Chartres, France, and plans to meet friends in Bordeaux before continuing through Spain and crossing into Morocco via ferry. Carrying a hefty backpack filled with essentials like a tent and sleeping bag, Allison describes the experience as peaceful and meditative. "Being on the road has been incredibly peaceful," he said. "It's like meditation." Along the way, he's received kindness from strangers. A woman recently offered him and a friend accommodation and even promised them pasta after they aimed for a 50-mile day. Allison's journey supports the Ben Raemers Foundation, established in memory of professional skateboarder Ben Raemers, who died by suicide in May 2019 at age 28. As he continues his trek toward Tangier, Allison hopes to inspire others while raising awareness for mental health issues.
Score (96)
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Just Passed a Crucial Test
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is one step closer to its celestial mission. The telescope's outer barrel assembly, a crucial component, has successfully passed rigorous thermal testing at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “This milestone tees us up to attach the flight solar array sun shield to the outer barrel assembly, and deployable aperture cover, which we’ll begin this month,” said Jack Marshall, who leads integration and testing for these elements at NASA Goddard. “Then we’ll complete remaining environmental tests for the flight assembly before moving on to connect Roman’s two major assemblies and run the full observatory through testing, and then we’ll be ready to launch!” Earlier this year, technicians integrated a visor-like sunshade with the outer barrel assembly and added test solar panels. These components were then placed in the Space Environment Simulator test chamber in April. The structure endured extreme temperatures similar to those it will face in space. Next steps include attaching Roman’s flight solar panels and conducting a series of assessments, like a shake test, to ensure durability during launch. Meanwhile, another major portion of Roman, the integrated payload assembly, will undergo its own set of tests. “The test verifies the instruments will remain at stable operating temperatures even while the Sun bakes one side of the observatory and the other is exposed to freezing conditions,” said Jeremy Perkins, an astrophysicist at NASA Goddard. Technicians aim to connect Roman’s two main parts by November. Final preparations are expected by summer 2026 for a potential launch as early as fall 2026 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Score (82)
This 400 Million-Year-Old Plant is Getting Its Own Online Portal—Here's Why
The Florida Museum of Natural History has teamed up with 35 herbarium collections across the U.S. to launch an online portal dedicated to ferns and lycophytes, a group of plants that have been around for over 400 million years. These ancient plants were pioneers in developing roots and leaves, setting the stage for Earth's first trees. "Ferns are crucial to understanding plant diversity," said Michael Sundue, an integrative taxonomist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and co-author of a new paper on the fern portal. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), this project aims to create a comprehensive digital repository of fern specimens stored in museums worldwide. The NSF grant facilitated digitizing hundreds of thousands of records, including more than 14,000 from the University of Florida's herbarium. "The availability of digitized resources has fundamentally changed how we do science," Sundue noted. The PteridoPortal is already making strides in biodiversity research. It aids efforts like inventorying Colombia's fern diversity—a country rich in ecosystems but historically undersampled due to civil strife. Researchers can now use the portal to plan expeditions more efficiently by accessing existing data and images online. While NSF funding supported digitization at 17 nonfederal institutions, other organizations like the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History have also contributed data. Sundue is collaborating with Colombian institutions to enhance their digitization efforts, while Lucas Majure works on similar projects in the Dominican Republic. As scientists face Earth's sixth mass extinction event, tools like PteridoPortal are vital for documenting biodiversity and preventing further losses. "If we don't continue to learn and teach people about biodiversity," Sundue warned, "no one will notice when it disappears.
Score (96)
Webb Telescope Finds Water Vapor in Alien World's Atmosphere 244 Light-Years Away
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made a groundbreaking discovery, detecting water vapor in the atmosphere of a distant exoplanet known as TOI-421 b. This "sub-Neptune" planet, located about 244 light-years from Earth, orbits its star at scorching temperatures. The study, published in The Astronomical Journal Letters, highlights the significance of this finding. "One of the most exciting prospects in exoplanet science today is discovering the origin and makeup of sub-Neptunes," the research team noted. These planets are common but have no equivalent in our solar system. Previous attempts to study sub-Neptune atmospheres using transmission spectra often resulted in flat or featureless data due to potential cloud cover. However, researchers believed TOI-421 b might be different. "Why did we observe this planet, TOI-421 b? It's because we thought that maybe it wouldn't have hazes," said Eliza Kempton, principal investigator and professor of astronomy at the University of Maryland. TOI-421 b's atmospheric temperature is estimated at 1,340 degrees Fahrenheit (727 degrees Celsius), placing it in a potentially haze-free category. Using JWST's advanced instruments during two transits, scientists obtained a detailed atmospheric profile. "We saw spectral features that we attribute to various gases," explained Brian Davenport, a Ph.D. student involved in data analysis. The team detected water vapor and possible signs of carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide but found no evidence of methane or carbon dioxide. These findings challenge existing theories about sub-Neptune formation and evolution. The hydrogen-rich atmosphere closely resembles its host star's composition. "By studying their atmospheres, we're getting a better understanding of how sub-Neptunes formed and evolved," Kempton added.
Score (96)
Forging Friendships: New Study Shows Birds Help Non-Relatives Survive
In the vibrant world of African starlings, friendships are more than just a human trait. A groundbreaking study led by Alexis Earl, a former PhD student in Professor Dustin Rubenstein's lab, reveals that these birds engage in acts of reciprocity, helping each other with the expectation of future favors. This discovery challenges long-held beliefs about animal behavior. "Starling societies are not just simple families," Rubenstein explained. "They're much more complex, containing a mixture of related and unrelated individuals that live together, much in the way that humans do." The research, published in Nature, draws on two decades of data collected from 2002 to 2021. Researchers observed thousands of interactions among hundreds of starlings living in the challenging environment of East Africa's savannahs. By analyzing DNA samples and behavioral patterns over 40 breeding seasons, they sought to understand whether these birds helped only their kin or extended their support to non-relatives as well. The findings were striking: while starlings did prioritize helping relatives, they also consistently aided specific non-relatives even when family members were available. "Many of these birds are essentially forming friendships over time," Rubenstein noted. This study builds on years of research into animal social structures conducted by Rubenstein and his team across various species worldwide. From snapping shrimp in the Caribbean to wasps in Africa and beetles in Asia, they've explored how animals form complex societies. "I think this kind of reciprocal helping behavior is likely going on in a lot of animal societies," Rubenstein said. "People just haven't studied them long enough to be able to detect it.
Score (97)
These Students are Living Rent-Free In a Nursing Home, Sparking Global Inspiration
A Dutch nursing home has found a creative way to bridge the generational gap while addressing student housing shortages. Twelve years ago, Woon-en Zorgcentrum Humanitas Deventer launched a program allowing local college students to live rent-free in exchange for 30 hours of companionship with senior residents each month. Gea Sijpkes, director of WZC Humanitas, explained the initiative's origins: “It started with the idea of becoming the warmest home for seniors in Deventer. And we wanted to do that with the energy of the youth.” The program aims to foster intergenerational friendships, which studies show can reduce stress and depression among older adults. Sijpkes noted that students are not caregivers but rather "good neighbors." Activities like pool days and community dinners naturally bring residents together, but volunteer hours are flexible. Much of the time is spent simply chatting and building connections. “If you talk to each other and show interest in each other, that already gives so much meaning,” said Peter Kolb, a student resident. The program's success has inspired similar initiatives globally, including one by Augustinian sisters in Utrecht who welcomed young women with medical degrees as housemates. “They bring liveliness to the house and support the sisters with various tasks,” according to WZC Humanitas' website. Looking ahead, Sijpkes plans to introduce "Woonstudent 2.0," pairing seniors and students as roommates. “We continue to innovate,” she said. “We want to create more space for joint projects.”
Score (94)
This Tiny Lab Tool is Revolutionizing Brain Research, Offering Hope for Precision Epilepsy Care
A groundbreaking tool from researchers at Linköping University is set to revolutionize our understanding of the brain. This innovative pipette, a laboratory tool used to precisely measure and transfer small volumes of liquid, can deliver ions directly to individual neurons without disturbing the delicate extracellular environment. The tool was developed by the Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE). "This technology could be used to treat neurological diseases such as epilepsy with extremely high precision," said Daniel Simon, a professor at Linköping University. The human brain is a complex network of 85 to 100 billion neurons and an equal number of glial cells, which support neuron function. Understanding how these cells interact is crucial for advancing neurological research. The new micropipette, measuring just 2 micrometers in diameter, allows researchers to introduce ions like potassium and sodium into the extracellular milieu and observe their effects on neurons and glial cells. "Glial cells are the chemical half of the brain that we don't know much about because they don't respond to electrical stimulation," explained Theresia Arbring Sjöström, assistant professor at LOE. "But both neurons and glial cells can be stimulated chemically." Experiments conducted on mouse hippocampus tissue revealed surprising results: astrocytes responded dynamically to ion changes before nerve cells were activated. This discovery highlights intricate cellular dynamics previously unexplored by other technologies. The iontronic micropipette resembles traditional tools used in neuroscience but features a specially adapted ion-exchange membrane for chemical activation. Its familiar design means it could soon become widely adopted in labs worldwide. Researchers plan to further explore chemical signaling in healthy and diseased brain tissue using this tool, with hopes of developing treatments for conditions like epilepsy.