This week’s science news is full of surprising space discoveries, led by the largest map of the chaotic gas cloud at the center of the Milky Way.
New images captured in stunning detail by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Telescope (ALMA) radio telescope show a 650-light-year structure of gas surrounding the galaxy’s central black hole. This surprising image could help scientists better understand how the Milky Way evolved.
Tigers return to Kazakhstan
After being locally extinct for more than 70 years, tigers are set to roam historic Central Asian lands, with plans to reintroduce them by the end of the year.
An ambitious plan by the Kazakh government has transformed the country’s Lake Balkhash by planting just under 100,000 saplings to recreate lost tiger habitat.
The tiger itself was likely imported from Russia, as the Siberian tiger was part of the same population as Kazakhstan’s Amur tiger until it was separated in the 19th century. When it comes to lynx food, the burgeoning ecosystem provided by seedlings is already becoming home to wild boar and Bactrian deer. These herbivores are very cute, but if left unchecked by predators, they can multiply until they destabilize the newly restored ecosystem. So go get it, Tiger.
Discover more animal and earth news
– Scientists discover genetic ‘switch’ in mice that turns caring fathers into violent beasts
–How can there be a desert next to the sea?
— Incomplete remains of the world’s “youngest” impact crater discovered hidden in a Chinese forest — Earth seen from space
life’s little mysteries
Lobster rolls, Moxie, rocky coasts, Stephen King, and…Scandinavian invaders? Maine is known for many things, but an 11th-century Norse silver coin discovered there in the 1950s raises questions about whether it was a landing site for Viking sailors. But did the Vikings really make it to the Pine Tree State, or did the coins take a different route?
—If you enjoyed this, sign up for the Life’s Little Mysteries newsletter
Black teeth were a fashion statement in ancient Vietnam
Permanently blackening teeth has been popular in parts of Vietnam for centuries. Traditional methods involve using a mixture of iron and tannins or chewing betel nut to stain the teeth with a jet-black sheen.
Archaeologists have now traced this practice back 2,000 years to the Iron Age. Excavations of skeletons from archaeological sites in the Red River Delta region of northern Vietnam have revealed that many individuals from that period also had Stygian-colored claws. However, it remains unclear exactly why this custom arose, whether as a rite of passage or as a way to cover up the betel’s dirtiness.
More archeology news
–Babies were not to be mourned in the Roman Empire. These unusual liquid plaster burials prove otherwise.
– Research reveals that humans and Neanderthals interbred, but it was primarily male Neanderthals and female humans who combined.
– New genomic research suggests there are far fewer people related to Genghis Khan than previously thought.
Also featured in this week’s science news
—Diagnostic dilemma: A parasite never before seen in humans was responsible for a woman’s lung infection, organ damage and forgetfulness.
— COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy may reduce risk of preeclampsia
– Scientists discover genetic ‘switch’ in mice that turns caring fathers into violent beasts
— “Thermodynamic computers” can imitate AI neural networks — Use orders of magnitude less energy to generate images
—Ultrafast quantum chemistry engines could accelerate the development of new drugs and materials
science reading material
The genetic causes of “monogenic” diseases seemed fairly obvious to scientists. Mutations in a single gene have resulted in predictable genetic disease patterns that are diagnosed as inherited disorders. But it turns out that’s not quite true.
A growing body of research shows that monogenic diseases are not caused by mutations in a single gene, but because many healthy people suffer from monogenic diseases without showing any signs of disease. So what does that mean? Live Science contributor Stephanie Pappas investigates in this long read.
something for the weekend
If you’re looking for something a little longer to read over the weekend, here are some of the best skywatching guides, opinion pieces, and word puzzles published this week.
A rare ‘planetary parade’ returns to the evening sky this week – but you’ll need to time it right [Skywatching]
How menopause affects the brain, and what we still don’t know [Opinion]
Chain Words: Can you solve today’s science word puzzle? [Word puzzle]
Science news in pictures
This amazing Hubble Space Telescope image, which looks like a cosmic lighthouse swinging its beam through a wide arc of space, shows the Egg Nebula, the first, youngest, and closest preplanetary nebula ever discovered.
The light in the dust cloud comes from the star, which spewed out a dense disk of dust hundreds of years ago. This light leaks through polar apertures around this dust shield, creating twin beams.
Follow Live Science on social media
Want more science news? Follow our Live Science WhatsApp channel to keep up with the latest discoveries. It’s the best way to get expert reports on the go, but even if you don’t use WhatsApp, you can use Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Flipboard, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
Source link