Notices by Flipboard Science Desk (sciencedesk@flipboard.social), page 28

A new study by researchers from Clemson University and Loyola University in the U.S. suggests that DNA "stolen" from Neanderthals could be linked to autism spectrum disorder, with specific polymorphism in this DNA passed down from Neanderthals being more common in people with autism compared with the general population, Science Alert reports:
https://www.sciencealert.com/autism-linked-with-dna-our-ancestors-inherited-from-neanderthals

#Autism #Dna #Neanderthal

Most people have a decent idea of where their organs are located. But one in 12,000 people are born with their heart slightly to the right. There have also been cases of teeth found in the eye socket. Science Alert shares more about when body parts end up in the wrong place. https://flip.it/g7peSH
#Science #Health #Humans #Body

The sun is on the verge of a significant event: a magnetic field reversal. When the sun reaches its period of peak activity, known as solar maximum, our star's magnetic field suddenly reverses. What causes this, when will it happen, and will it be dangerous to us here on Earth? Live Science has the answers: https://flip.it/nVvHM2
#Science #Sun #Earth #Space #MilkyWay

Astronomers believe that at the heart of most, if not all, galaxies sits a titanic black hole with a mass that is millions or even billions of times that of our sun. How they grew to such great size may be the result of a chain of mergers of successively larger and larger black holes. Not only that, but black holes “born from the collision of other black holes contain information with them about their properties from their ancestors, including their ancestors’ spin as well as their mass,” said Imre Bartos of the University of Florida Department of Physics. Phys.org has more: https://flip.it/cve.eG
#Science #Space #BlackHoles #Astronomy #Astrophysics

If you’ve noticed more centenarians these days, you’re not alone. People 100 years or older are the fastest-growing demographic of the world’s population. So, what’s their key to longevity? A recent study has unveiled some common biomarkers, including levels of cholesterol and glucose, in people who live past 90. Read more from Science Alert: https://flip.it/kxvN2K
#Science #Health #Humans #Aging #HealthyAging

Have days on Earth always been 24 hours long? No, in fact, a day was once five hours shorter. Live Science has more on the planet’s historical varying lengths of a day and what the future may hold timewise. https://flip.it/pr.L86
#Science #Earth #Time #Day #History

New research shows it's possible to use ultrasound waves to monitor activity in the human brain. Researchers implanted a material into the man's skull that allowed ultrasound waves to pass into his brain. After entering through an "acoustically transparent" window, these waves bounced off boundaries between tissues. The data allowed scientists to build a picture of what was going on in the man's brain, similar to how ultrasound scans can visualize a fetus in the womb. Read more from Live Science: https://flip.it/yf8YS4
#Science #Health #Human #Neurology

A powerful solar storm last month created auroras on Mars and provided scientists with crucial information that could aid future crewed missions to the Red Planet. Live Science tells us more, including why auroras are widespread across the entire planet. https://flip.it/yfzHUf
#Science #Space #Mars #Auroras

Our body’s circadian clock affects everything from sleepiness to metabolism. Could it also influence the effectiveness of certain cancer treatments? Science Alert has more on how a person’s circadian rhythm may play a role in checkpoint inhibitor drug therapies. https://flip.it/GRsair
#Science #Health #Medicine #Cancer

Happy #NewstodonFriday! Once again, the many newsrooms who have an active presence in the #fediverse have produced inspiring, informative, interesting stories, and we’re highlighting their work in the thread below. If you like what you see, follow the profiles and boost their stories. If you’re a journo or newsroom that we don’t know about or if there’s a newsroom you’d love to put on our radar, please let us know in the comments.

⤵️

#Media #Journalism #News #MastodonMigration #FollowFriday

"Dyson spheres" were theorized as a way to detect alien life. Scientists say they’ve found potential evidence.

CNN reports on a new effort by researchers to find something that originated in science fiction: https://flip.it/R5FU4S

For similar stories, follow @space-news-science

#DysonSphere #Space #AlienLife #SciFi #ScienceFiction #Science

"Once-in-a-lifetime" cosmic explosion is likely this summer, NASA says.

CBS News has the details on the "nova, which happens when a white dwarf lights up suddenly and often strikingly in the night sky."

https://flip.it/5mC_6N

#Astronomy #Space #NASA #Nova #Stars #Science

"Echidnapus" hints at a lost age of egg-laying mammals.

From Science News: "The extinct creature's bizarre mix of features are reminiscent of platypuses and echidnas."

https://flip.it/1waIPt

Here's the original research: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03115518.2024.2348753

#Animals #Paleontology #Mammals #Platypus #Science

The wreck of the last ship of famed Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton was found off the coast of Canada.

AP reports: "Shackleton’s death aboard the ship in 1922 marked the end of what historians consider the 'heroic age' of Antarctic exploration. The explorer led three British expeditions to the Antarctic, and he was in the early stages of a fourth when he died of a heart attack. He was 47."

https://flip.it/UThYBM

#Shackleton #Antarctica #History #Ship #Shipwreck

Who were the victims of Maya sacrifice? Ancient DNA reveals an unexpected finding.

CNN reports on a new study from the journal Nature: https://flip.it/Iyq0Da

Here's the original study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07509-7

For similar content, follow @archeology-today-science

#Maya #DNA #Anthropology #History #Science

Who’s the father? For these baby animals, one doesn’t exist.

Vox reports: "More animals can occasionally reproduce asexually than scientists realized."

https://flip.it/u5.17K

#Animals #Life #Science #Biology

A 4,000-year-old Greek hilltop site mystifies archaeologists. It could spell trouble for new airport plans.

AP reports on the find "from Crete’s Minoan civilization, famous for its sumptuous palaces, flamboyant art and enigmatic writing system. Resembling a huge car wheel from above, the ruins of the labyrinthine, 1,800-square-meter (19,000-square-foot) building came to light during a recent dig by archaeologists."

https://flip.it/ZS1f60

#Archaeology #Greece #Crete #Minoan #History #Science

Mexico elected a climate scientist. But will she be a climate president?

@InsideClimate reports that the country's "outgoing president put climate policy on the backburner. His mentee, incoming President Claudia Sheinbaum, talks a good game on renewables—but remains committed to oil and gas."

https://flip.it/dlyp8J

#Mexico #ClimateChange #Sheinbaum #Politics #Climate #GlobalWarming

Why a new method for growing food on Mars is also relevant for our own planet.

@grist reports: "Turns out growing crops on the Red Planet is a lot like growing food on a climate-ravaged Earth."

https://flip.it/g2Vilc

#Mars #Earth #ClimateChange #Space #Climate #Agriculture

Human spaceflight’s new era is fraught with medical and ethical questions.

Science News reports: "Even short trips to space have lasting effects on the average human, private missions hint." Learn more about a new project known as the Space Omics and Medical Atlas, or SOMA.

https://flip.it/UgcU69

#Space #Astronaut #NASA #Science