This week’s science news follows last week’s climactic launch of the Artemis II mission, with a flurry of space and physics news that only melted our hearts even more.
Topping the list was a microscopy technique that allowed scientists to observe for the first time a singularity in the coupling of light and sound waves traveling faster than the speed of light, and discovered that it could reveal hidden processes in physics, chemistry and biology. And in another first for microscopic measurements, scientists observed quantum entanglement between two moving atoms, paving the way for a theory of everything.
Humans have evolved significantly over the past 10,000 years.
Despite arguments that human evolution has slowed, a new study of West Eurasians – a genetic population that includes populations with ancestry from Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia – finds that natural selection in this population has increased the frequency of white skin, red hair, and resistance to HIV and leprosy over the past 10,000 years.
“Human evolution hasn’t slowed down. We just missed a signal,” lead study author Ali Akbari, a staff scientist at Harvard University, told Live Science.
More archeology news
– Stone Age graves in Scotland reveal ‘web of descent’ between male relatives
— Homo erectus tools contained impressive geodes and fossils, study finds, perhaps as a way to connect with the universe
—An Anglo-Saxon burial shows a sister embracing her younger brother after he died, probably from an infection, 1,400 years ago
life’s little mysteries
Camelot? Merlin? A round table? Holy grail? A strange woman lying in a pond handing out swords? We’re all familiar with the trappings of Arthurian legend, but did the man who gave birth to the myth ever exist? As it turns out, this is a highly controversial question, as discovered by Live Science.
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Rethinking lobster
Do lobsters feel pain? David Foster Wallace certainly thought so when he wrote his famous essay in 2004 about the moral indefensibility of boiling animals alive for taste.
This week, new research supporting Wallace’s claims was published, finding evidence suggesting that lobsters respond to electrical shocks with a pain reflex, and that this response can be blunted by painkillers.
This discovery joins a growing body of evidence that crabs, octopuses, and other invertebrates can feel pain, and improved estimates of this form of perception will lead to legislation around the world to improve the welfare of these animals.
More animal news
— A strange mammalian ancestor laid giant leathery eggs — which was the key to surviving the world’s worst mass extinction.
—A relative of the Triassic alligator from Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, finally identified after nearly 80 years in a museum basement
— ‘More questions than answers’: Experts baffled by Alaskan mammal-eating killer whale discovered near Seattle
Also featured in this week’s science news
– Hackers used AI to steal hundreds of millions of Mexican government and civilian records, in one of the largest cybersecurity breaches ever.
— This humanoid robot will do all your housework for you — and its maker says it’s ready for your home
—Diagnostic Dilemma: Woman hears a voice telling her she has a brain tumor, but a scan confirms it is a brain tumor
— ‘Oslo patient’ likely cured of HIV after receiving stem cell transplant from brother who is genetically resistant to the virus
— The Colorado River pooled and overflowed to form the Grand Canyon, and a long-standing mystery may have been solved — but not everyone agrees
science spotlight
Can polar bears survive climate change? Much of the previous research suggests no, but we shouldn’t rule out an apex predator, especially one known for its ingenuity and resilience, just yet. Live Science contributor Chris Simms investigated this question and found some interesting signs that some polar bears are getting fatter than ever.
something for the weekend
If you’re looking for something to keep you busy over the weekend, here are some of the best quizzes, skywatching updates and news analysis published this week.
—Artemis II Quiz: Is your knowledge of NASA’s historic moon exploration mission out of this world? [Quiz]
— Northern lights could be visible in several U.S. states on Friday and Saturday as a giant hole opens in the sun’s atmosphere [Skywatching]
— “I heard cries of joy”: Why Artemis II’s sighting of a meteor flash on the moon dazzled scientists [Analysis]
Science news in pictures
It’s an iconic castle, the site of a Viking raid, and the setting for one of England’s last outposts in Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic zombie film 28 Years Later, but in this stunning snapshot, Lindisfarne (Holy Island) also serves as the backdrop for an extraterrestrial visit.
This photo, taken by lucky astrophotographer Ian Sproat, shows a meteor flashing across the frame before exploding in a green fireball shortly after entering Earth’s atmosphere.
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