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☆ ‘Zombie star’ of supernova that exploded in 1181 revealed by study
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But Zijlstra, who was not involved with the new study, was the first to make the connection to SN 1181. The report suggested that SN 1181 might belong to the elusive Type Iax category of supernova due to the presence of this “zombie” white dwarf. That energy causes the sudden brightness of the supernova.”That massive collision might explain another curious aspect of the SN 1181 zombie star. “We theorize that the star reignited because SN 1181 was a Type Iax supernova, which is an incomplete explosion. Schaefer added that SN 1181 represents one of the few reliable connections from supernova to supernova remnant.

Persons: ”, Takatoshi Ko, Albert Zijlstra, Dana Patchick, Zijlstra, ” Zijlstra, “, coauthors, NASA's Chandra, ” Ko, Chandra, Ko, Bradley Schaefer, Schaefer, ” Schaefer, astrophysicists Organizations: CNN, Astrophysical, University of Tokyo, University of Manchester, Survey, NASA, ESA, JPL, Caltech, Subaru, Louisiana State University Locations: China, Japan, England, New Mexico, Hawaii

☆ Pompeii archaeologists find bodies of man and woman – and their treasure
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Rome CNN —The skeletal remains of a man and a woman have been unearthed in Pompeii, along with a cache of coins and precious jewelry, archaeologists say. Clutched in her hands was a small cache of gold, silver and bronze coins, as well as gold and pearl earrings. “Trapped in the cramped little room, their deaths were caused by the pyroclastic flow that buried them,” the archaeologists said. A large bronze candelabrum was found on the floor. They have provided some of the most important discoveries ever made in the ancient city.

Persons: Gabriel Zuchtriegel Organizations: Rome CNN, IX Locations: Rome, Vesuvius

☆ Oceans of water may be trapped deep beneath the Martian surface
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Data from a retired NASA mission has revealed evidence of an underground reservoir of water deep beneath the surface of Mars, according to new research. A team of scientists estimates that there may be enough water, trapped in tiny cracks and pores of rock in the middle of the Martian crust, to fill oceans on the planet’s surface. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took an image of InSight sitting on the Martian surface on February 2, 2019. “It’s certainly true on Earth — deep, deep mines host life, the bottom of the ocean hosts life. Windows into Martian historyThe findings add a new piece to the Martian water puzzle.

Persons: ”, Vashan Wright, ‘, Mars, orbiters, InSight’s seismometer, Wright, James Tuttle Keane, Aaron Rodriguez, Michael Manga, “ It’s, haven’t, Alberto Fairén, Fairén, Bruce Banerdt, we’re, Banerdt, al, ” Banerdt, “, ” Wright Organizations: CNN, NASA, National Academy of Sciences, Reconnaissance Orbiter, JPL, Caltech, University of Arizona, University of California, Diego’s Scripps, of Oceanography, Mars, Interior Exploration, Transport, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of Maryland, Cornell University Locations: Mars, Berkeley

☆ How and when to watch the Perseid meteor shower
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Riane Lumer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —It’s that time of summer to watch the most anticipated meteor shower of the year: the dazzling display known as the Perseids. Visible annually from mid-July to September 1, the Perseid meteor shower is set to peak between Sunday and before dawn Monday. Bill Cooke, head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office, described the Perseids as the richest meteor shower of the year because of the bright fireballs. “There are meteor showers going all the time, but again, they’re so weak, most people wouldn’t even notice they’re happening,” Cooke said. “Don’t look at your cell phone, because that screen ruins your night vision, and it takes your eyes off the sky,” Cooke said.

Persons: CNN —, Bill Cooke, ” Cooke, —, Cooke, Venus, ”, Robert Lunsford, ” Lunsford, “, Tuttle, Giovanni Schiaparelli, what’s, NASA’s Cooke, Lunsford, John Denver’s Organizations: CNN, NASA, American Meteor Society, Northern, Taurids Locations: Meteoroid, Italian, Hawaii, Antarctica, Colorado

☆ New fossils could reveal origin of ancient ‘hobbit’ humans
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

More bones followed, and at first, archaeologist Thomas Sutikna and his team thought they had uncovered the ancient fossils of a child. And the newly studied fossils represent an earlier hobbit who was 2.4 inches (6.1 centimeters) shorter than the first specimen. Homo erectus was the first ancient human to migrate out of Africa about 1.9 million years ago. Together, the Homo floresiensis fossils paint a portrait of a hardy species able to adapt and thrive despite the presence of hulking Komodo dragons. Defying gravityAstronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have long outstayed a planned eight days in low-Earth orbit after traveling to the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June.

Persons: Bua, Thomas Sutikna, floresiensis, Homo floresiensis, erectus, Homo erectus, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, SpaceX’s, Williams, David Brunetti, Pharaoh Djoser, NASA's, squaretail groupers, China’s Chang’e, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, International Space, NASA, Sutton, Exploration Rover, Rover, CNN Space, Science Locations: Indonesian, Flores, Africa, African, Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England, Sutton, Turkey, China, India’s

☆ Missing pieces of a Byzantine artifact recovered at Sutton Hoo
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The incomplete artifact is on display in the High Hall exhibition at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England. A researcher excavates part of the Bromeswell bucket from the trench at Sutton Hoo. Based on the forms of Greek letters at the top of the artifact, researchers think the vessel was already 100 years old when it arrived at Sutton Hoo, Howarth said. Future research at Sutton Hoo could reveal the broader history of the site and what kept drawing people to inhabit it over time, Howarth said. The aim of this project is to look at the landscape and think about who was inhabiting it and how that fits into the wider Sutton Hoo story.”

Persons: Count, David Brun, ”, Laura Howarth, Howarth, James Dobson, ’ ” Howarth, Angus Wainwright, “, David Brunetti, ” Howarth, Sutton, Edith Pretty Organizations: CNN, Sutton, harrow, National Trust ., National Trust, Field, Specialists, Heritage, Hoo, “, British Museum Locations: Suffolk, England, Hoo, African, Sutton Hoo, Byzantine, Antioch, Turkey, Britain, Sutton, Hampshire, East Anglia, what’s, Sri Lanka

☆ China rocket launch creates cloud of space debris in low-Earth orbit
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —One of China’s Long March 6A rockets has broken apart in low-Earth orbit and created a debris cloud consisting of hundreds of pieces, according to multiple space debris-tracking entities. And the reason for the rocket breakup remains unknown. Everything in low-Earth orbit travels at 17,500 miles per hour, Crassidis said. It’s the second time one of these rocket bodies has experienced a significant breakup event in low-Earth orbit, according to Victoria Heath, associate director of marketing and communications for LeoLabs. “Events like this highlight the importance of adherence to existing space debris mitigation guidelines to reduce the creation of new space debris and underscore the need for robust space domain awareness capabilities to rapidly detect, track, and catalog newly-launched space objects so they can be screened for potential conjunctions.”

Persons: China’s, SpaceX’s, “ USSPACECOM, ”, Rob Margetta, LeoLabs, John L, Crassidis, “, It’s, Victoria Heath, Audrey Schaffer Organizations: CNN, Taiyuan Satellite, Shanghai Spacecom, Satellite Technology, Space Command, US Department of Defense, NASA, International, Network, University, Buffalo’s School of Engineering, Applied Sciences, LeoLabs, Aerospace Locations: Taiyuan, Shanghai, Victoria

☆ Boeing Starliner: What life is like for two astronauts in limbo in space
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

They’re not part of Expedition 71, the international crew of seven astronauts serving as the space station’s official staff. Crew-9 — a routine trip to the space station to replenish expedition staff — is currently slated to fly with four astronauts: NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Nick Hague and Stephanie Wilson, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are greeted by the crew of the International Space Station on June 6, 2024. In 2012, during an earlier trip to the International Space Station, she became the first person to finish a triathlon in space. Without a suitcaseFlying to the space station without the suitcases they had packed for their mission perhaps complicated the comfort of the Starliner astronauts’ extended stay.

Persons: Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, —, They’ve, Williams, They’re, ” Dana Weigel, “ Butch, Suni, ” Weigel, “, Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, Stephanie Wilson, Aleksandr Gorbunov, Wilmore, they’ve, Sunita Williams, Frank Rubio, yearlong, ’, ”, Bill Spetch, Spetch, they’re, Ken Bowersox Organizations: CNN, Space, NASA, SpaceX, International Space Station, Boeing, SpaceX’s, International, Station, AP, Boston Marathon, Space Station, Northrop Grumman, Space Operations, “ Locations: Russian

☆ Archaeologists uncover ancient pot of gold
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Researchers discovered the stash in Notion, an 80-acre fortified city that was occupied from about the sixth century BC to the first century AD. “No one ever buries a hoard of coins, especially precious metal coins, without intending to retrieve it. One gold coin would have been the equivalent of a month’s salary for a mercenary soldier, according to the University of Michigan. Those were known as Persian silver sigloi, 20 of which would equate to one gold coin. Because of the gold coin’s high value, “it was far more efficient to store wealth in gold coins than in silver,” he added.

Persons: ”, Christopher Ratté, “, Alexander the, Persian King Darius, Peter van Alfen, ” van Alfen, Ratté, van Alfen, Herodotus Organizations: CNN, University of Michigan, American Numismatic Society, Spartan Locations: Turkey, Persian, Persia

☆ Boeing Starliner: NASA says it needs more time to plan astronaut return
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The space agency said the move “allows more time for mission managers to finalize return planning” for the Starliner and its crew, according to a written update from the space agency. NASA will host a news conference on the change Wednesday at 12:30 pm ET. The brief NASA update lands as rumors swirl about the fate of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which has remained attached to the space station for roughly seven weeks longer than expected, leaving its two crewmembers — veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams — in limbo aboard the orbiting laboratory. It also makes clear that the Starliner crewed test flight and SpaceX Crew-9 missions will not play out exactly as officials publicly mapped out in late July. That’s when NASA said SpaceX could launch its Crew-9 mission as soon as August 18 — likely after Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth aboard Starliner.

Persons: Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, —, Williams, Wilmore Organizations: CNN, SpaceX’s, International, NASA, Boeing, SpaceX

☆ Newly discovered fossils shed light on origins of curious ‘hobbit’ humans
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

An analysis of newly described Homo floresiensis fossils published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications attempts to answer some of these questions about the tiny human. Liang Bua cave is the only other place where hobbit fossils have been found. The Mata Menge humerus fragment (left) is shown at the same scale as the humerus of Homo floresiensis from Liang Bua. Overall, the research suggested that the hobbit species’ small size remained remarkably constant over a long period. “Every tiny fragment of Homo floresiensis or any other hominin is incredibly important,” Tocheri said.

Persons: floresiensis, —, Mata Menge, Flores Gerrit van den Bergh, ”, Yousuke Kaifu, Liang, Liang Bua, Yousuke, hominins, luzonensis, erectus, Gerrit van den Bergh, wristbones, habilis, Matt Tocheri, wasn’t, Flores, Tocheri, Van den Bergh, van den Bergh, hominin, ” Tocheri Organizations: CNN, Nature Communications, University of Tokyo, Archaeological Science, University of Wollongong, Lakehead University, Smithsonian Locations: Indonesian, Flores, Africa, Java, Asia, Mata, South Africa, Philippines, Australia, Canada, Ontario

☆ These scientists want to safeguard Earth’s species by cryogenically preserving them on the moon
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A group of scientists has devised a plan to safeguard Earth’s species in a cryogenic biorepository on the moon. In order to reach the required temperatures on earth, a supply of liquid nitrogen, electricity and human staff are required. To reduce this risk, Hagedorn and the team thought about how cryopreservation could be achieved passively, which is impossible on Earth, and alighted on the moon. “We aren’t saying what if the Earth fails – if the Earth is biologically destroyed this biorepository won’t matter,” Hagedorn said in the statement. Sally Keith, a senior lecturer in Marine Biology at Lancaster University, who was not involved in the research, had similar concerns.

Persons: Norway Lise Aserud, NTB Scanpix, ”, Mary Hagedorn, Hagedorn, ” Hagedorn, Rob Brooker, James Hutton, ” Brooker, Sally Keith Organizations: CNN, Smithsonian, BioScience, Reuters, Conservation Biology Institute, James, James Hutton Institute, Lancaster University Locations: Svalbard, Norway, Scotland

☆ Egypt’s first pyramid constructed using a hydraulic lift, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Now, a team of engineers and geologists brings a new theory to the table — a hydraulic lift device that would have floated the heavy stones up through the middle of Egypt’s oldest pyramid using stored water. Water from ancient streams flowed into a system of trenches and tunnels that surrounded the Step Pyramid, according to the study team. The shaft within the Step Pyramid is connected to a 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) underground tunnel that connects to another vertical shaft outside the pyramid. Conversely, a moderate-sized hydraulic lift can raise 50 to 100 tons. “It doesn’t mean (the hydraulic lift device) wasn’t used,” she added.

Persons: Pharaoh Djoser, ”, Dr, Xavier Landreau, aren’t, David Jeffreys, Paleotechnic, Guillaume Piton, Judith Bunbury, rainier, Jeffreys, Fabian Welc, Stefan Wyszynski, Welc, ” Welc, King Djoser, Landreau, University of Cambridge geoarchaeologist, ” Bunbury Organizations: CNN, University College London, France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, Institute of Environmental Geosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, University of Cambridge, of Archaeology, Stefan Wyszynski University Locations: Egypt, Paris, London, Old, Old Kingdom, Kingdom, Moat, Warsaw, Poland, Saqqāra, Giza, University of Cambridge geoarchaeologist Bunbury

☆ VIPER moon rover: Inside the scramble to save NASA’s canceled lunar vehicle
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-04 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

And the availability of the VIPER spacecraft piqued the company’s interest for future projects, Intuitive Machines told CNN. To get reach that goal, Intuitive Machines will likely have to dip into its own funds to complete VIPER’s finishing touches before liftoff. The Simulated Lunar Operations Lab at NASA Glenn Research Center tested planetary roving vehicle systems and components for vehicles such as the VIPER Rover. The Astrobotic Griffin lunar lander (pictured here in a rendering) is now slated to take off no earlier than late 2025. The lunar lander was designed to carry NASA’s VIPER rover as its main payload.

Persons: There’s, ”, Jack Kiraly, VIPER, Tim Crain, Thomas Zurbuchen, Aubrey Gemignani, Crain, ” Crain, “, Josh Marshall, it’s, Astrobotic, Griffin, John Thornton, Chandan Khanna, Griffin’s, Thornton, ” Thornton, Kiraly, I’m, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, luncheons, Craig Hudson, Jerry Moran, ” Kiraly, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Exploration Rover, NASA, Planetary Society, Research, Goddard Space Flight, Machines, NASA Glenn Research Center, VIPER Rover, Technology, United, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Getty, VIPER, Republican, Reuters Lawmakers, Commerce, Justice, Science, Kansas Republican Locations: Houston, Maryland, Nova, California, Pittsburgh, Cape, Cape Canaveral , Florida, West Virginia, Washington, Washington ,, China, Kansas

☆ Excavation in Egyptian necropolis uncovers 63 ancient tombs and a trove of gold artifacts
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —An ongoing excavation in Damietta, Egypt, has uncovered 63 tombs from more than 2,500 years ago, alongside a trove of gold artifacts, coins and pottery. Sixty-three tombs were uncovered during an ongoing excavation in Damietta, Egypt. The bodies were buried with gold foil figures that depicted religious symbols and ancient Egyptian idols. Ancient Egyptian burials reflect status and wealthThe excavation and mission to explore the necropolis has been ongoing for years. The recent find of 63 tombs consisted of mostly mud-brick tombs as well as some simple burials, according to a ministry statement.

Persons: Alexander the Great, Tal, Salima Ikram, Kotb Fawzy, King Psamtik II, Horus, ”, Lorelei Corcoran, Corcoran Organizations: CNN, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt Ministry of Tourism, American University, Ministry of Tourism, Antiquities, of Egyptian Art, University of Memphis Locations: Damietta, Egypt, Cairo, Tennessee

☆ Scientists digitally dissect ancient Egyptian ‘screaming’ mummy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Ancient Egypt’s pyramids, pharaohs and artifacts delight the imagination, reigniting wonder of the distant past in every generation. Experts are also using the latest techniques to spill secrets hidden within discoveries made decades ago, with new research this week “digitally dissecting” an unusual mummy found in 1935. The "screaming woman" whose mummified remains were discovered in 1935 may have died violently, a new study suggests. — To keep swimmers and beachgoers safe, scientists are using artificial intelligence to detect juvenile sharks, which like to hang out near the shore. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.

Persons: Sahar Saleem, Saleem, Saleem couldn’t, Venus, Guillermo Legaria, Lonely Guy, —, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kasr Al, Cairo University, Mercury, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, NASA, JPL, Caltech Venus, Lonely, —, CNN Space, Science Locations: ., Damietta, Egypt, Luxor, New York City, Kasr Al Ainy, Europe, Asia, Thailand, Southeast Asia

☆ How Xs and Cs spotted in the ionosphere could disrupt life on Earth
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Earth’s electric and magnetic fields and gravity cause charged particles in the ionosphere to flow away from Earth’s magnetic equator. Typically, plasma bubbles are long and straight because they form along Earth’s magnetic field lines. GOLD observations captured C-shaped and reverse C-shaped plasma bubbles close together in the ionosphere on October 12, 2020, and December 26, 2021. So far, GOLD has only observed two instances of the close pairings, but the C-shaped bubbles have the potential to disrupt communications. “Due to such wide view and continuous measurements, GOLD has allowed us to observe these mysteries within the ionosphere,” Karan said.

Persons: Jeffrey Klenzing, “, it’s, ”, NASA SVS, Fazlul Laskar, —, Laskar, ” Klenzing, Karan et, Deepak Karan, Karan, ” Karan, John Deere, Tim Marquis, ” Laskar Organizations: CNN, International Space Station, NASA SVS, Goddard Space Flight, NASA, of Geophysical Research, University of Colorado’s Laboratory, Atmospheric Locations: Tonga, Greenbelt , Maryland, Baltimore, Boston

☆ Scientists reveal new details about ‘screaming’ Egyptian mummy
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The mummy’s “screaming facial expression” could be read as a cadaveric spasm, a rare form of muscular stiffening associated with violent deaths, implying that the woman died screaming from agony or pain, according to the study. However, a mummy’s facial expression does not necessarily indicate how a person was feeling at death, the study noted. Several other factors, including the decomposition process, the rate of desiccation, or drying out, and the compressive force of the wrappings, could all affect a mummy’s facial expression. Sahar SaleemOpen-mouthed mummiesThe “screaming woman” had been buried beneath the tomb of Senmut, an architect of the temple of Egyptian queen Hatschepsut (1479–1458 BC) who held important positions during her reign. “More broadly, we can learn much about health and disease from the study of ancient mummies,” he added.

Persons: ”, Sahar Saleem, Saleem, ” Saleem, embalmers, Hatschepsut, It’s, Ramesses III, Meritamun, Randall Thompson, ’, Thompson, Moses Organizations: CNN, Kasr Al, Cairo University, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, Cairo Egyptian Museum, University of Missouri, University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine Locations: Luxor, Medicine, Kasr Al Ainy, New York City, Cairo, Egypt, University of Missouri –

☆ How did a rose get its prickles? A new study has answers
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Prickles have been around for at least 400 million years, dating back to when ferns and their relatives emerged with some bearing prickles on their stems. Lonely Guy genesBy removing prickles from various species, including roses and eggplants, the authors found that a LOG gene was responsible for the prickles in about 20 types of plants studied. LOG-related genes are found in all plants, even dating back to mosses, which are regarded as the first dry-land plant, Lippman said. “(LOG genes) have been repeatedly co-opted (a biological shift in a trait’s function) in different plant species for the formation of prickles, and also repeatedly lost in lineages where prickles are lost. For agricultural purposes, removing prickles could make harvesting easier and pave the way to get lesser-known produce into grocery stores.

Persons: munch, Zachary Lippman, —, Lippman, Guy, It’s, ” Lippman, “, Tyler Coverdale, ” Coverdale, Coverdale, ”, Vivian Irish Organizations: CNN, Laboratory, University of Utah, Wings, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Notre Dame, Yale Locations: Long, , New York, Yale University’s, Australia

☆ Mercury could have an 11-mile underground layer of diamonds, researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

This mechanism, the researchers say, can not only give us more insight into the secrets hidden below Mercury’s surface, but on planetary evolution and the internal structure of exoplanets with similar characteristics. Mercury owes its gray surface to the widespread presence of graphite, which is a form of carbon. Also known as the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging mission, it gathered data about the planet’s geology, chemistry and magnetic field, before the spacecraft ran out of fuel and impacted the surface. “However, some lavas at the surface of Mercury have been formed by melting of the very deep mantle. “Only future missions to the planet Mercury will tell whether these predictions were correct.

Persons: ”, Bernard Charlier, it’s, Yanhao Lin, ” Charlier, Lin, Charlier, —, Giuseppe “ Bepi ”, Sean Solomon, Solomon, landers, ” Solomon, BepiColombo, Manley, Felipe González, González, ” González, “ Organizations: CNN, Mercury, University of Liège, NASA, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington Mysterious, Center for, Science, Technology, Research, Nature Communications, MESSENGER, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Columbia University, ESA, University of California Locations: Mercury, Belgium, Beijing, Italian, Giuseppe “ Bepi ” Colombo, New York City, Berkeley

☆ DNA analysis sheds light on how Neanderthals disappeared
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The analysis, published July 12 in the journal Science, showed that the two groups exchanged DNA at multiple points over the past 250,000 years, shedding light on how Neanderthals disappeared and potentially rewriting the story of how and when our Homo sapiens ancestors left Africa. Genetic detective workDuring the two earlier waves of interbreeding, the Neanderthal population absorbed human genes and the offspring stayed within Neanderthal groups, according to the new study. Russian archeologists digging inside Denisova cave located in the the Altai mountains that's been home to Neanderthals, early modern humans and the Denisovans. A skull found in Qafzeh Israel is believed to have belonged to an early modern human. The researchers’ analysis suggests that the Neanderthal population size at the time was 20% smaller than previously thought.

Persons: ”, Joshua Akey, Sigler, ” Akey, Nobel, Svante Pääbo, Laurits Skov, wasn’t, Akey, “, Homo sapiens, Eddie Gerald, Alamy, Chris Stringer, “ I’ve, ” Stringer, De Agostini, Stringer Organizations: CNN, Lewis, Sigler Institute, Princeton University, University of California Locations: Africa, University of California Berkeley, Vindija, Croatia, Altai, East, Europe, London, Cave, Greece, Israel

☆ Ancient swimming sea bug ‘taco’ had mandibles, new fossils show
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Newfound fossils of the extinct arthropod Odaraia alata recently provided scientists with a first glimpse of Odaraia’s jawlike structures, called mandibles. He conducted the research at the Royal Ontario Museum while pursuing a doctoral degree in the University of Toronto’s department of ecology and evolutionary biology. For the new investigation, the researchers examined around 150 fossils collected by Royal Ontario Museum during expeditions between 1975 and 2000. The carapace folded over Odaraia’s limbs, so it may have been unable to walk on the seafloor, according to the Royal Ontario Museum. More mandibulate mysteriesOne feature that puzzled and intrigued the scientists had never been seen before in Cambrian animals: a single toothlike structure between Odaraia’s mandibles.

Persons: Odaraia, Alejandro Izquierdo, López, ”, “, Jean, Bernard Caron, Joanna Wolfe, ” Wolfe, Wolfe, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, Royal Ontario Museum, Royal Society, Biological Sciences, University of Toronto’s, Harvard University, “, Scientific Locations: Burgess, British Columbia, Canada, centipedes

☆ Solar storm watch fuels hope of aurora sightings
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Katie Hunt | Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The northern lights could grace skies farther south than usual this week because of a solar storm that may affect Earth, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The center issued a strong geomagnetic storm watch, known as a G3 — the third highest level out of five — for July 29 to July 31. Strong geomagnetic storms are infrequent, the Space Weather Prediction Center said, but they’re more common than the G5, or extreme, geomagnetic storm that occurred on May 10 and May 11. If the predicted G3 conditions occur, auroras could be visible as far south as Illinois and Oregon, the Space Weather Prediction Center said. Alerts issued by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center and other agencies help the operators of power grids and commercial satellites to mitigate potential negative impacts from a solar storm.

Persons: Aurorasaurus Organizations: CNN, Oceanic, Prediction, NOAA, Met, Meteorology, NASA Locations: Illinois, Oregon, United Kingdom, Scotland, Australia, Southern, India, Sweden, South Africa

☆ Venus atmosphere shows potential signs of life — again
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“We’re a long way from saying this, but if there is life on Venus producing phosphine, we have no idea why it’s producing it. So finding them in the atmosphere of Venus is interesting on that basis as well. But further analysis of that data by Clements’ team revealed weak traces of the molecule, reinforcing the theory. “To date, our analyses remain unchallenged in the literature,” said Mogul, who was not involved in the research of Clements’ team. While detecting phosphine and ammonia in Venus’ clouds is exciting, it is just the beginning of a longer journey to unravel the mysteries of that planet’s atmosphere, he said.

Persons: James, Maxwell, “ There’s, ”, Dave Clements, “, we’ve, Clements, ” Clements, Venus, Clements ’, Rakesh Mogul, Jane Greaves, NASA's, ” Greaves, Greaves, Javier Martin, Torres, Martín, Kate Pattle, ” Pattle, Pattle Organizations: CNN, Astronomical Society, Imperial College London, NASA, JPL, Caltech, Saturn, Venus, Telescope, California State Polytechnic University, ” Mogul, Cardiff University, Green Bank, Royal Astronomical Society, European Space Agency, University of Aberdeen, University College London Locations: Hull, England, Hawaii, SOFIA, ALMA, Pomona, United Kingdom, West Virginia

☆ Two meteor showers are set to peak this week. Here’s how to see them
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Look up at the night sky this week for a chance to see high-speed meteors and bright fireballs from two meteor showers set to peak around the same time. Meteor showers are the debris left by comets and asteroids orbiting the sun that Earth encounters annually at some point during its orbital path. Constellation Aquarius is the radiant for the Southern Delta Aquariids, and constellation Capricornus is the radiant for the Alpha Capricornids. The Southern Delta Aquariids are about 40 kilometers (25 miles) per second, according to NASA, and typically last for half a second. I think that makes them particularly special.”Meteor showersHere are the remaining meteor showers that are expected to peak in 2024.

Persons: Robert Lunsford, Lunsford, Andrew Rivkin, ” Rivkin, “ Organizations: CNN, Southern, American Meteor Society, NASA, Meteor, Applied, Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Northern, Southern Delta, Alpha, Taurids, Farmers, Almanac Locations: Baltimore, Southern, New York , New Jersey , Connecticut, East, Perseids

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