Notices by Flipboard Science Desk (sciencedesk@flipboard.social), page 5

There are many factors that can affect the Earth’s spin, and no two days are ever exactly the same length. Turns out, we have something to do with that. Scientists have discovered that so-called megastructures built by humans can slow the Earth’s rotation. @sciencefocus reports: https://flip.it/O29T2t
#Science #Earth #Time #Humans #Building #Structures

The Atlantic Ocean's most vital ocean current is showing troubling signs of reaching a disastrous tipping point. Earlier this week, 44 oceanographers from 15 countries published an open letter calling for urgent action in the face of the weakening circulation. “We don't really consider it low probability anymore,” oceanographer Stefan Rahmstorf told @LiveScience. Read more: https://flip.it/-r0SuV
#Science #Earth #Ocean #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #AtlanticOcean

It pays to recognize the tiny details around us – especially for a pair of scientists who won first place in Nikon’s 50th Small World micrography competition. Augusta University neuroscientist Bruno Cisterna and cell biologist Eric Vitriol stained cellular components to capture an image of the precise moment brain tumor cells from mice interact, which revealed disruptions in support and transport structures that lead to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. @ScienceAlert has explains: https://flip.it/yuGoq6
#Science #Heath #Neurology #Neuroscience #Alzheimers #Human #Brain

A first-of-its-kind, animated map has revealed fresh secrets about a mysterious, flowering "zombie star" lurking in the remnant of a supernova that lit up Earth's skies more than 800 years ago. Today, researchers know that what was once called a “guest star” was actually a powerful supernova, or exploding star, known as SN 1181. However, its origin remained a mystery until 2021. @LiveScience has more: https://flip.it/8XzuLw
#Science #Space #Stars #Astronomy #SpaceExploration

Election workers are trying their very best to ensure every eligible person can cast a ballot in the upcoming U.S. election, and some people are doing their best to thwart that. @gbhnews learned what’s going on in New Hampshire — threats, intimidation, rumors and lies that have led to resignations and retirements of election workers across the state.

https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2024-10-23/new-hampshire-election-workers-are-under-threat-and-theyre-standing-up

#USElections #ElectionSecurity #USPolitics #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Former President Donald Trump says he’ll implement the “largest deportation in the history of our country.” This could target around 1.6 million undocumented people in Texas alone — and they’re the backbone of industries such as construction. “All this means Texas would be uniquely disrupted by Trump’s plans, with the tearing apart of mixed-status families placing a possibly massive burden on the state’s meager social services systems, and the exiling of a chunk of its workforce imperiling the economic development and affordability known as the so-called Texas Miracle.” writes Francesca D’Annunzio for @TexasObserver.

https://www.texasobserver.org/how-mass-deportations-would-devastate-texas/

#Texas #Immigration #Construction #Trump #HumanRights #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Tucson does not currently have a policy of clearing homeless encampments — instead, it allows those that don’t pose a risk to public health and safety to stay, supporting the people who live there and connecting them with services to get them into a permanent living situation. Conservatives aren’t happy, so on Arizona’s election ballot this month, there’ll be a proposition that will likely lead to more unhoused people being arrested and forced into treatment — despite resistance from police and prosecutors who say it simply won’t work. @bolts explains more.

https://boltsmag.org/arizona-prop-312-unhoused-ballot-measure/

#Arizona #Tucson #LawEnforcement #Homelessness #HumanRights #Newstodon #NewstodonFriday #FollowFriday

Could one type of fiber provide weight loss benefits similar to that of Ozempic? Researchers at the University of Arizona and the University of Vienna say a form that is readily found in oats and barley, called beta-glucan, may control blood sugar and assist in weight loss. It worked on mice that were fed a high-fat diet, decreasing their fat content and body weight within 18 months. @ScienceAlert has more: https://flip.it/kd4te_
#Science #Health #Nutrition #Diet #Fiber

The planet’s largest lake is shrinking fast. Experts fear it may never recover.

From @lemonde: "The Caspian Sea's water levels have dropped over the past 20 years, especially in the north, shared by Russia and Kazakhstan. The decline threatens biodiversity, and severely impacts the Kazakh fishing, transport, tourism and even hydrocarbon sectors."

https://flip.it/dhj_RY

#Water #ClimateChange #CaspianSea #Climate #Environment

Four astronauts return to Earth after being delayed by Boeing’s capsule trouble and Hurricane Milton.

@AssociatedPress reports: "The three Americans and one Russian should have been back two months ago. ... The space station is now back to its normal crew size of seven — four Americans and three Russians — after months of overflow."

https://flip.it/4RyxGy

#Space #NASA #Boeing #SpaceX #Astronaut #ISS

Can cats associate human words with images? A study suggests they might.

From Earth.com: "The study builds upon earlier research that suggested cats could discern when humans called their names, and even recognize photos of familiar people."

https://flip.it/QEZOUD

Here's the full study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-74006-2

#Cats #Animals #Science #Pets

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have records on space policy. An international affairs expert examines where they differ when it comes to the final frontier.

From @ConversationUS: https://flip.it/mKRhf-

#Space #NASA #Harris #Trump #USPolitics

Hong Kong discovers dinosaur fossils for the first time.

From @AssociatedPress: "Experts have initially confirmed the fossils were part of a large dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, about 145 million to 66 million years ago, the government said in a statement. They will need to conduct further studies to confirm the species of the dinosaur."

https://flip.it/564QAd

#Dinosaurs #Paleontology #Fossils #HongKong #Science

You've been throwing a frisbee all wrong, new study finds.

From @sciencefocus: "Researchers at Berry College, Georgia, investigated professional and amateur disc golf players (yes… that’s a real sport) to explore the effect different thumb positions had on disc throwing."

https://flip.it/NmLNk_

#Frisbee #Sports #Science

Frog habitats are drying up due to climate change, study finds.

From @Salon: "A new study finds up to one-third of frog habitats may be too arid for frog and toad survival by 2100."

https://flip.it/6zbRFD

#Frogs #ClimateChange #Climate #Biology #Science

How a nearly extinct crocodile species returned from the brink in Cambodia.

From @AssociatedPress: "Conservationists realized that saving the species would require captive breeding of purebred, fertile crocodiles. The crocodile farmers who had nearly hunted the species to extinction now play a vital role in that effort."

https://flip.it/.PlpV0

#Crocodile #Animals #Conservation #Wildlife #Endangered #Cambodia

We love the Curious Kids series from @ConversationUS

This one is really fun (and informative): Could fungi actually cause a zombie apocalypse?

https://flip.it/OsZK7G

#Fungi #Science #Education #Kids #Zombie #Plants

What it’s like to care for some of the most endangered animals on Earth, from @npr

"When Hurricane Douglas came barreling toward Oahu in 2020, David Sischo quickly packed up and drove to higher ground. But he wasn’t evacuating his family. He was evacuating snails."

https://flip.it/O275Bp

#Animals #Snail #ClimateChange #Ecology #Environment #Endangered #Hawaii #Science

The U.S. Space Force is tracking a new debris field after communications satellite breaks apart.

From @Gizmodo: "The Intelsat 33e satellite, designed to provide communication services to Europe, Africa, and parts of the Asia-Pacific region, lost power after experiencing an anomaly on Saturday, satellite provider Intelsat announced."

https://flip.it/.wrdUF

#Space #SpaceForce #Satellite

Scientists feared this huge "ghost" fish in Cambodia was extinct. It was just seen after almost 20 years.

CNN reports that "scientists have long worried that the 'Mekong Ghost,' a critically endangered giant salmon carp that can measure up to four feet long, could have been quietly wiped out as years passed without a sighting."

https://flip.it/isUaY3

#Fish #Endangered #Animals #Cambodia #Conservation #Environment #Science