In a stark update on the deteriorating condition of our planet, an international assembly of climate experts has reported that the Earth’s vital signs have declined to levels never before witnessed in human history. This critical state threatens the very fabric of life on our planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-scientific-consensus">Unprecedented scientific consensus</h2>



Led by William Ripple, a prominent figure from the Oregon State University <a href="https://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Forestry</a>, and Christopher Wolf, formerly associated with OSU, a team comprising 12 scientists has delivered a grim prognosis on Earth&#8217;s vital signs in their paper published in <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/biosci/biad080" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BioScience</a>. 



Titled &#8220;The 2023 State of the climate report: Entering uncharted territory,&#8221; the study underscores that a staggering 20 out of 35 planetary vital signs used as barometers for climate health have hit record extremes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-on-the-brink">World on the brink</h2>



&#8220;Without decisive steps to address the fundamental issue of humanity&#8217;s overconsumption of the Earth&#8217;s resources, we are navigating towards the potential disintegration of natural and socioeconomic systems,&#8221; Wolf stated, painting a picture of a future marred by intolerable heat, food scarcity, and water shortages.



The authors highlight alarming data from 2023, pointing out that numerous records related to climate and Earth&#8217;s vital signs have been shattered &#8220;by enormous margins.&#8221; This includes unprecedented ocean temperatures, drastic reductions in sea ice, and an extraordinary Canadian wildfire season contributing to record levels of carbon dioxide emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-echoes-of-past-warnings">Echoes of past warnings</h2>



This report is not the first of its kind. It follows a significant &#8220;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-pushed-earth-to-code-red/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency</a>&#8221; published four years ago, where Ripple, alongside other collaborators, received support from over 15,000 scientists from 161 countries. 



Despite these earlier calls to action, little progress has been made, with Ripple emphasizing, &#8220;Life on our planet is unmistakably under assault.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-climate-health-statistics">Alarming climate health statistics</h2>



The report lays bare several shocking statistics that outline why Earth&#8217;s vital signs are at an all-time low.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-chief-fossil-fuel-era-must-end-for-humanitys-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fossil fuel</a> subsidies saw a staggering increase from $531 billion to over $1 trillion between 2021 and 2022, incentivizing harmful emissions. </li>



<li><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-amplify-risks-for-socially-vulnerable-populations-in-western-states/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wildfires</a> in Canada alone have already contributed more than 1 gigaton of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in 2023, surpassing the nation&#8217;s total greenhouse gas emissions the previous year. </li>



<li>A concerning trend in global temperature rise, with 38 days already recorded where temperatures were more than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1.5 degrees Celsius</a> above pre-industrial levels. </li>



<li>July experienced the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/july-was-earths-hottest-month-in-120000-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highest average</a> Earth surface temperature on record, likely the most extreme in the last 100,000 years.</li>
</ul>



Wolf expressed deep concern, stating, &#8220;As scientists, the sudden escalation in the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters is deeply unsettling.&#8221;



The study cautions that these disasters&#8217; frequency and intensity might even be accelerating faster than temperature rises. The paper forecasts a dire future, where 3 to 6 billion people will find themselves in uninhabitable conditions by the end of this century.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-vital-signs-need-transformative-policies">Earth&#8217;s vital signs need transformative policies</h2>



The scientific community is advocating for policies that address &#8220;ecological overshoot,&#8221; a scenario where humanity&#8217;s demands exceed the Earth&#8217;s capacity, resulting in numerous environmental crises, including a decline in biodiversity.



They argue that solutions focusing solely on carbon or climate will fall short of repairing Earth&#8217;s vital signs unless the overarching pressures on global systems are alleviated. As Ripple puts it, the scientific community has a &#8220;moral duty&#8221; to guide humanity away from potential existential threats and lead action-driven dialogues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steering-towards-a-just-sustainable-future">Steering towards a just, sustainable future</h2>



The paper calls for a comprehensive overhaul of global economic practices. The authors of the study urge a transition that foregrounds human well-being, curtails excessive consumption, and drastically reduces affluent populations&#8217; emissions.



Key policy recommendations to reverse the decline of Earth&#8217;s vital signs include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies. </li>



<li>Encouraging shifts towards plant-based diets. </li>



<li>Amplifying efforts to protect global forest areas. </li>



<li>Establishing international treaties focused on eliminating coal and preventing new fossil fuel exploration.</li>
</ul>



The authors underscore the necessity for equity and social justice in all climate-related decisions. They clearly recognize the disproportionate impact of climate calamities on the world&#8217;s most impoverished populations, who have the smallest carbon footprints.



In a world where climate-related disasters are becoming the norm rather than the exception, this clarion call from the scientific community is more urgent than ever. It implores global leaders, decision-makers, and individuals alike to embark on a more sustainable path, with the understanding that the very future of life on Earth hinges on the actions humanity takes now.



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Life under siege: Earth’s vital signs reach an all-time low

China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), often labeled the “artificial sun,” is a fusion reactor that has sustained high-confinement plasma for a striking 1,066 seconds. 



This achievement stands out because the previous world record was 403 seconds, set by the same facility earlier this year.



Many have followed the quest for fusion power, but few anticipated such a major jump in sustained performance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-fusion-power-the-basics">Understanding fusion power - the basics</h2>



Artificial fusion power is all about mimicking the Sun’s process here on Earth to create a nearly limitless and clean energy source. 



Scientists and engineers are working hard to get <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-photosynthesis-could-transform-power-generation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hydrogen atoms</a> to fuse together under incredibly high temperatures and pressures, just like they do in the Sun. 



When these atoms fuse, they release a massive amount of energy, which we can harness to produce electricity. 



The big dream is that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plasma-can-bend-magnetic-fields-into-unique-shapes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fusion energy</a> could provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, drastically reducing our carbon footprint and helping combat climate change.



Right now, achieving artificial fusion power is one of the most challenging feats in modern science. If scientists can crack the code, fusion power could revolutionize our energy systems, offering a clean, safe, and virtually unlimited power source for every household on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sun-like-power-inside-a-fusion-reactor">Sun-like power inside a fusion reactor</h2>



The <a href="https://lssf.cas.cn/en/facilities-view.jsp?id=ff8080814ff56599014ff5a5768a0050" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EAST</a> reactor aims to recreate the sun’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-designs-nuclear-fission-reactor-to-provide-electricity-on-the-moon-and-mars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nuclear</a> fusion process inside a magnetic confinement device. Researchers pursuing this power source see it as a strong candidate for cleaner electricity.



They have faced tough engineering challenges, including generating extremely high temperatures, stabilizing plasma over extended intervals, and managing precise controls so energy output can be steady.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leadership-driving-east">Leadership Driving EAST</h2>



A significant part of this success involves collaboration across labs and technical teams. The director of the <a href="https://www.ipp.cas.cz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Plasma Physics</a> at the <a href="https://english.hf.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hefei Institutes of Physical Science</a>, under the <a href="https://english.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>, is one of the key people guiding these operations.



“A fusion device must achieve stable operation at high efficiency for thousands of seconds to enable the self-sustaining circulation of plasma, which is essential for the continuous power generation of future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/molten-salt-could-reshape-the-future-of-nuclear-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fusion</a> plants,” said <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1741-4326/ad4270" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Song Yuntao</a>, vice president of HFIPS.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seven-decades-of-progress">Seven decades of progress</h2>



Scientists have <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43673-023-00080-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">worked</a> toward fusion for more than seven decades, with advances in superconductors, materials science, and plasma physics fueling hopes.



Early tokamaks in the <a href="https://euro-fusion.org/fusion/history-of-fusion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1950s</a> showed that plasma confinement might be possible, but consistent power production remained elusive.



Reaching a state where fusion reactions produce net energy requires pushing the limits of temperature and duration, and that is exactly what EAST’s latest run has attempted to move closer toward.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-upgrading-fusion-reactor-s-heating">Upgrading fusion reactor’s heating</h2>



EAST’s heating setup, reportedly once equal to the power of nearly <a href="https://phys.org/news/2025-01-chinese-artificial-sun-fusion-power.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">70,000 standard household microwaves</a>, received a surge in power output this year while maintaining steady functions. Engineers designed upgrades to manage increased load without sacrificing performance.



The improved hardware is expected to offer valuable data on high-energy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nuclear-fission-what-exactly-happens-when-the-nucleus-of-an-atom-splits-in-two/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plasma</a> behavior, which is critical for scaling up future reactors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-international-partnerships">Role of international partnerships</h2>



China’s entry into the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (<a href="https://www.iter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ITER</a>) consortium in 2006 underscored the global dimension of fusion research. Multiple countries share knowledge, materials, and design expertise.



Observers see these alliances as a major catalyst for breakthroughs. The progress on EAST provides insights for ITER’s eventual operations, especially with regard to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07313-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plasma</a> stability over longer time spans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



Additional experimental facilities are being assembled in Hefei, aiming to speed up fusion research. 



Many experts believe that test reactors like EAST will guide the design of next-generation projects, including the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (<a href="https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/fusionportal/Shared%20Documents/FEC%202018/fec2018-preprints/preprint0216.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CFETR</a>).



As engineering hurdles are met, optimism grows that these projects will pave the way to a sustainable energy source. 



“We hope to expand international collaboration via EAST and bring <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chernobyl-dogs-are-rapidly-evolving-in-strange-ways-due-to-nuclear-radiation-exposure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fusion</a> energy into practical use for humanity,” said SONG.



The momentum from EAST’s milestone has fueled discussions about how soon fusion might serve everyday needs. 



Some commentators claim it is still decades away, while others argue that improved materials and new fusion reactor designs may accelerate progress.



Regardless of timelines, steady, clean power remains a priority as we search for reliable ways to satisfy growing energy demands. 



Many see the 1,066-second record as a sign that persistence in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/countdown-to-catastrophe-doomsday-clock-remains-unchanged/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fusion</a> research continues to yield meaningful steps forward.



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China's 'artificial sun' sets new record for fusion power generation

China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), often labeled the “artificial...

In the Southern Ocean, the world's largest iceberg is making headlines with its colossal presence and potential impact on wildlife and humans alike.



The protagonist of this unfolding tale? A gargantuan iceberg named A23a, a marvel of nature that once stretched over 1,540 square miles - twice the size of Greater London. For perspective, the current size of the main section is roughly comparable to the entire county of Cornwall, UK.



However, it isn't A23a's size that's now causing a sense of trepidation among scientists. It's the iceberg's trajectory that is now the primary concern.



A23a has become untethered from the South Orkney Islands and is ominously drifting towards South Georgia - a British territory and wildlife haven.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stark-warning-from-the-high-seas">Stark warning from the high seas</h2>



Commanding the South Georgia government vessel, Pharos, Simon Wallace has observed the impending crisis first-hand. 



"Icebergs are inherently dangerous. I would be extraordinarily happy if it just completely missed us," he said.



Iceberg A23a isn't just a looming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-has-lost-3000-billion-tons-of-ice-in-25-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mass of ice</a>. It's a potentially devastating force, with parts of it already breaking into large slabs. 



These fragments could dwell in the surrounding waters for years, making nautical navigation a perilous undertaking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-antarctica-to-the-southern-ocean">From Antarctica to the Southern Ocean</h2>



The story of A23a began in 1986, when the iceberg was born from the Filchner Ice Shelf of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-is-experiencing-rapid-plant-growth-concerning-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctica</a>. It lay dormant at the seabed of the Weddell Sea before embarking on its journey north in 2020.



Initially, the iceberg's progress was hindered by an ocean phenomenon known as a Taylor Column, causing it to spin almost on the spot. 



Nonetheless, its liberty was confirmed by satellite images in December, which showed it had split from its restrictive shackles.



"It's exciting to see A23a on the move again after periods of being stuck. We are interested to see if it will take the same route the other large icebergs that have calved off Antarctica have taken," noted Dr Andrew Meijers, an oceanographer with the prestigious British Antarctic Survey (<a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BAS</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-antarctica-s-iceberg-highway">Antarctica's iceberg highway</h2>



Interestingly, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> reports that most icebergs from Antarctica follow a similar route. Over 90% of them enter the Weddell Gyre's clockwise-flowing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-circumpolar-current-speed-increasing-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">current</a> off East Antarctica.



They ultimately make their way north along the Antarctic Peninsula and venture into the Drake Passage's warmer South Atlantic waters. This passage is playfully referred to as "iceberg alley."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-iceberg-threat-to-south-georgia">Iceberg threat to South Georgia</h2>



This isn't the first time South Georgia has faced the prospect of an invading iceberg. In 2017, an iceberg named A68a embarked on a three-year, 10,000-mile odyssey towards the island, fortunately passing by without incident.



However, three years later, an iceberg called A76 posed a similar threat, leaving dangerous ice slabs scattered around the island. 



"Those pieces basically cover the island - we have to work our way through it," said Captain Wallace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-wildlife-sanctuary-at-risk">A wildlife sanctuary at risk</h2>



The island, located in the southern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-atlantic-ocean-may-soon-enter-its-declining-phase/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atlantic Ocean</a>, is often referred to as a "wildlife sanctuary." It is a true oasis amid the tumultuous Southern Oceans.



 From penguins and seals to whales and albatrosses, this sanctuary is home to a dazzling array of species.



The majestic A23a has now become a point of intense study for scientists, sailors, and fishermen as they closely monitor its movement via satellite images. 



"The iceberg, at least in satellite images, appears to be maintaining its structure and has not yet broken up into smaller chunks, as previous "megabergs" have done," noted Dr. Meijers.



"It is presently in a meander of the current and not moving directly towards the island, but our understanding of the currents suggests that it is likely to again move towards the island soon."



Dr. Meijers noted that the current follows the shallow continental shelf around the island to the south east, but the question is whether the berg will follow this out into the open South Atlantic, or run up onto the shelf and become stuck for some time.



"If this happens it could seriously impede access to feeding grounds for the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/south-georgia-is-a-haven-for-wildlife/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a> - seals and penguins mostly - that breed on the island."



The story of A23a serves as a stark reminder that while mankind's actions may contribute to climate change, nature itself is perfectly capable of scripting its own potentially perilous narratives.



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World's largest iceberg may crash into a wildlife sanctuary

In the Southern Ocean, the world's largest iceberg is making...

2017 American Samoa

Scientists recently reported an unexpected deep-sea development in the Pacific: certain metallic rocks seem to be making oxygen in the dark, without light or sunshine, at the bottom of the ocean.



This idea runs counter to the usual belief that oxygen only forms in sunlight through photosynthesis.



Although these findings have stirred debate, the central claim is that potato-sized nodules found thousands of feet below the surface appear to split seawater molecules and release oxygen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxygen-and-photosynthesis-the-basics">Oxygen and photosynthesis - the basics</h2>



Since the late 1700s, we've been taught that light creates oxygen through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>, a crucial natural process that keeps life on Earth thriving. 



Plants, algae, and some bacteria soak up sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. 



In the simplest of terms, nature uses light as fuel to produce the oxygen we breathe and keep everything on Earth alive. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-photosynthesis-could-transform-power-generation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Photosynthesis</a> not only gives energy to these organisms but also releases oxygen into the atmosphere, maintaining the perfect balance of gases that most life forms need. 



Until the discovery of dark oxygen, it has been commonly accepted knowledge that without light, photosynthesis would grind to a halt, and our planet wouldn’t have the oxygen-rich air we rely on every day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sea-rocks-making-oxygen">Deep-sea rocks making oxygen</h2>



Exploration in a region called the <a href="https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/18ccz/background/mining/mining.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clarion-Clipperton Zone</a> - where deep-sea mining companies are eyeing metals resources like cobalt and nickel - uncovered <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/ferromanganese-deposit" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ferromanganese nodules</a> resting on the ocean floor.



Ferromanganese nodules are like little treasure rocks that settle on the ocean floor, packed with metals such as manganese and iron. 



These nodules form slowly over millions of years as minerals from seawater build up in layers around a tiny core, like a shark tooth or a piece of shell.



Think of them as underwater onions, with each layer adding more minerals and creating these cool, rounded shapes.



Researchers suggested that the nodules may produce electric charges that spark electrolysis, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/summer-storms-stir-oxygen-into-the-deep-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">generating oxygen</a> and hydrogen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-the-rocks-produce-oxygen">How do the rocks produce oxygen?</h2>



Early studies raised plenty of questions about the process and the potential <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-microalgae-show-photosynthesis-is-possible-in-near-darkness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effect on seafloor life</a>. 



Leading the push for more answers is <a href="https://www.sams.ac.uk/people/researchers/sweetman-professor-andrew-k/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andrew Sweetman</a>, a professor at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. 



He is running a three-year project to investigate how these nodules might form oxygen in the absence of light. One of his goals is to see if this phenomenon appears in other parts of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.&nbsp;



“Our discovery of dark oxygen was a paradigm shift in our understanding of the deep sea and potentially life on Earth, but it threw up more questions than answers,” said Sweetman.



He and his team will also look into whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cascading-oxygen-loss-could-endanger-our-oceans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbial reactions</a> help release hydrogen, an energy source for certain deep-sea microbes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-freshwater-mysteries">Freshwater mysteries</h2>



Dark oxygen has popped up in other surprising, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-microalgae-show-photosynthesis-is-possible-in-near-darkness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light-deprived places</a>.



<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38523-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emil Ruff</a> detected oxygen in freshwater samples beneath Alberta, Canada. It appeared in groundwater that had been isolated for tens of thousands of years, yet still contained enough oxygen to support life. 



“After 40,000 years or 30,000 years (separated from surface processes), there’s no reason really to think that there should be any oxygen left,” remarked Ruff.



He found that special bacteria could produce oxygen on their own by breaking down certain dissolved compounds. 



What’s more, Ruff found that the quantity of oxygen produced was enough to sustain other oxygen-dependent microbial life in the groundwater.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenging-dark-oxygen">Challenging dark oxygen</h2>



Not all scientists are in agreement about this dark oxygen discovery. Some deep-sea mining interests challenged Sweetman’s work, saying they have found no such electrical oddities in the nodules. 



<a href="https://metals.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Metals Co.</a> submitted a <a href="https://eartharxiv.org/repository/view/7717/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rebuttal</a> of the scientific research paper to Nature Geoscience, which awaits peer review.



Meanwhile, independent observers note the need for more experiments. A research oceanographer at the US Geological Survey’s <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/pacific-coastal-and-marine-science-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center</a> in Santa Cruz, California, said the USGS has not observed any electrical phenomena in ferromanganese nodules examined so far.



She was not involved in either Sweetman’s or Ruff’s research.



NASA hopes these findings might hint at life in places beyond Earth. Dark ocean worlds like Jupiter’s moon <a href="https://europa.nasa.gov/why-europa/europa-up-close/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Europa</a> and Saturn’s moon <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/gallery/8-real-world-science-facts-about-saturns-moon-enceladus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enceladus</a> are prime targets for research.



Sweetman shared that the space agency wants to test whether high pressures found on those icy moons can trigger oxygen generation in deep-sea rocks without direct sunlight. If the same basic chemistry works there, it could point to possible <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-oxygen-in-the-deep-sea-may-hold-clues-about-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbial life in alien seas</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-oxygen-and-deep-sea-mining">Dark oxygen and deep-sea mining</h2>



The Clarion-Clipperton Zone sits far offshore, and mining there is governed by the <a href="https://www.isa.org.jm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Seabed Authority</a>. Critics argue that removing nodules in huge volumes could destroy habitats.



Organizations like <a href="https://www.fauna-flora.org/publications/fauna-flora-deep-sea-mining-report-update-march-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fauna &amp; Flora</a> warn of irreparable harm, saying it may disturb carbon storage in the ocean. Sweetman believes it is risky to harvest seabed minerals until scientists know a lot more about these systems.



He acknowledges the controversy and plans to address critics in peer-reviewed forums. For now, the hunt for hard data continues, fueled by the hope of expanding our understanding of life - both here and possibly on other worlds.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01480-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>.



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'Dark oxygen' discovery upends centuries of scientific beliefs, textbooks to be rewritten

Scientists recently reported an unexpected deep-sea development in the Pacific:...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has gradually embedded itself in daily life, often without fanfare. Yet behind everyday conveniences like automated customer service chats and photo-sorting apps, AI’s capacity for complex tasks has grown at a faster pace than many anticipated.&nbsp;



Some professionals are embracing it as a tool for more efficient work. Others worry about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/work-related-stress-linked-to-serious-heart-condition/">job security</a>. As these technologies march forward, debates swirl around how they might redefine our jobs and even the global economy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-ai-sneaks-into-everyday-tasks">How AI sneaks into everyday tasks</h2>



In some US cities, police officers can now generate preliminary “<a href="https://www.crimrxiv.com/pub/nxbmzp2j/release/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">incident reports</a>” by uploading body-camera data, pressing a few buttons, and letting AI produce a first draft. This saves them from spending nearly 40 percent of their time on paperwork, freeing them to focus on other duties.&nbsp;



Mental health professionals in New York have begun using AI tools to track clients’ word choices across sessions. One psychiatrist calls these <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11488652/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analytics</a> a “game changer” in how effectively patients can be diagnosed and treated.&nbsp;



Massage therapists in unexpected places are even co-authoring memoirs with AI assistance, blending personal experiences with well-organized drafts that often rival high-level literary pitches.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-driven-changes-in-global-markets">AI-driven changes in global markets</h2>



Europe and other regions have seen technology developments of their own. Yet many analysts say the United States continues to push ahead in AI adoption, which is reminiscent of late 20th-century leaps that boosted American stock markets and widened the gap with international counterparts.



Investors in US-based AI ventures often note that returns can outstrip those of their European peers. This eagerness has led to remarkable share price increases for some AI-oriented companies, including one whose stock rose 730 percent in just five years.



Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu from MIT has studied technological transformation for decades, especially how it influences employment. 



Acemoglu has warned that short- to midterm gains from AI have a strong chance of being unevenly shared, potentially benefiting capital more than labor. Without sound policies, this can heighten fears about stagnating wages and possible layoffs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-reminder-from-past-economic-cycles">A reminder from past economic cycles</h2>



Economists often argue that disruption opens doors for new positions. History shows that after each wave of automation, different types of jobs emerge.



Yet change can still sting in the short run. The “<a href="https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/regional-economist/april-2004/a-jobless-recovery-with-more-people-working" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jobless recovery</a>” that followed the 1990-1991 recession saw unemployment numbers remain stubbornly high, even though output and corporate margins bounced back.



That pattern reminds us that entire categories of workers can be sidelined while a few companies thrive.



Workers in fields that are believed to be AI-proof, like middle management or programming, are increasingly facing redundancy notices. Meanwhile, those in personal service occupations feel a bit safer now, though no role is truly off-limits.



Worries run high when headlines suggest that AI could disrupt 85 percent of the labor market, significantly transforming the majority of jobs in some way.



The rise of political movements tied to economic dissatisfaction - seen in events like the election of Donald Trump and various waves of European populism - shows how rapidly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/practical-guide-overcoming-burnout-maintain-workplace-mental-health/">job concerns</a> can ripple through communities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-the-worries">Looking beyond the worries</h2>



A 2024 study found that AI positively influences employment structure from an industrial perspective. Some researchers see these technologies as a tool to streamline tedious duties and enable humans to focus on tasks that demand creativity or emotional intelligence.



One <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773032824000154" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a>, published in 2025, identifies a complementary effect of AI on certain job roles, indicating that AI might enhance rather than replace human work. These studies point to a possibility that more widespread AI use could coexist with a healthy labor market.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unequal-distribution-of-ai-driven-gains">Unequal distribution of AI-driven gains</h2>



Technology’s benefits often vary based on education, training, and geographical factors. A software developer in California who embraces AI could earn more by becoming a specialist in advanced coding systems.



A similar developer in a region with fewer opportunities or retraining programs might find themselves cut off from growth sectors. That mismatch fuels broad concerns about inequality.



Such gaps lead to political shifts, especially when entire communities share the feeling that their jobs have disappeared while the broader economy looks strong on paper.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-economic-anxiety-runs-deep">Economic anxiety runs deep</h2>



Jim Clark, who founded a New York-based institute focused on future employment and income, has suggested that rising anxiety about job security can alter how people vote and how families plan for the future. 



Even if new roles do appear, large numbers of workers might be caught off guard, especially if they are not equipped with updated skills.



Multiple research groups have warned that anxiety about AI can trigger reactions similar to those observed in earlier periods of rapid mechanical automation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-and-the-jobs-ahead">AI and the jobs ahead</h2>



No one can say exactly how or when <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-humans-and-ai-work-better-together/">AI will change the majority of jobs</a>, but many employees already sense shifts. The worry among governments is that while companies profit, there may be insufficient funding for retraining or social safety nets.



Efforts to expand tech education and promote agile labor policies take time to bear fruit. As technology redefines the workplace, a forward-thinking approach to compensation, new skill sets, and regulatory oversight might minimize the disruption.



The study is published in <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10907740/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heliyon</a>.



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AI is pushing the U.S. toward an unpredictable transformation

Artificial intelligence (AI) has gradually embedded itself in daily life,...

In the ceaseless dance of evolution, it has been recently discovered that men are moving at a faster rhythm than women. This isn't a matter of opinion or casual observation, but a result of extensive analysis.



The findings suggest that biological and environmental factors are interacting in ways that favor men's physical development at a faster pace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-conditions-and-male-evolution">Living conditions and male evolution</h2>



The research was led by experts at the <a href="https://unige.it/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Genova</a>. They have found that enhanced living conditions - including access to healthier food, superior healthcare, and reduced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-eats-away-our-brains-cognitive-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress</a> factors - have led to a rapid increase in men's stature and weight.



Remarkably, this growth trend appears to be passed down from generation to generation.



A somewhat intriguing aspect of this study is that the same positive environmental changes have not sparked comparable evolutionary progress in women. 



This has led to the suggestion that women may not be as responsive to changes in their environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-evolutionary-rhythms">A closer look at evolutionary rhythms</h2>



Digging a bit deeper into the study, the researchers focused on more than 135,000 people from 62 different countries. 



They used 2003 data from the World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO</a>) as the basis of their research, specifically examining the height and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fathers-have-a-surprising-influence-on-their-babys-birth-weight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weight</a> of the individuals.



To add another layer to their analysis, the team weighed this data against a measure known as the Human Development Index (HDI). This tool evaluates a country's overall quality of life, taking into account factors like health, education, and income.



The idea was to look for a correlation between a country's living conditions and the physical characteristics of its male population.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environment-fuels-the-evolution-of-men">Environment fuels the evolution of men</h2>



The results were not only intriguing but also quite significant. An increase of 0.2 in HDI resulted in men growing by 1.5 inches and gaining 14 pounds of muscle. So, to put it simply, better living conditions are making men taller and stronger.



The researchers explained that these changes align with basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evolution-is-not-as-random-as-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary theory</a>. Traits such as height in men are seen as signals of health and strength, making them more attractive to potential mates in the process of evolution.



"Consequently, this is why men assess the formidability of potential opponents using physical cues, such as upper body strength, and women find taller, muscular men with a relatively large overall <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weight-and-bmi-do-not-accurately-reflect-a-persons-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">body mass</a> (but not obese) particularly attractive," noted the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-body-sizes-of-males-and-females">Body sizes of males and females</h2>



This research on the evolution of men and women also touched on an interesting concept known as sexual size dimorphism (SSD). This term refers to a noticeable difference in body sizes between males and females within the same species.



The blanket octopus is a perfect illustration of SSD, as the females outweigh males by a factor of 40,000.



The study revealed that for every 0.2 increase in HDI, women gained about six pounds, while men gained about 14 pounds. A similar pattern emerged with height, with women growing roughly 0.6 inches compared to men's 1.5-inch increase.



The researchers also examined data specific to the UK and found that men's height increased faster than women's over time. While women's height grew by 0.25 centimeters every 5 years, the growth rate for men was 0.69 centimeters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-trends-in-evolution">Global trends in evolution </h2>



The researchers concluded that as living conditions improve globally, people's height and weight increase. However, this effect is notably more pronounced in men than in women.



"Based on our main finding of sexual size dimorphism being greater in more favorable environments, it is clear that the development and maintenance of gross morphology is more sensitive to living conditions in men than in women," noted the researchers.



It's important to clarify here that these results don't suggest any form of superiority or inferiority. Instead, they attest to the complex dance of evolution and the various factors, from genetics to environmental conditions, that cause species to evolve differently.



Ultimately, even as our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-evolution-may-be-the-biggest-roadblock-to-solving-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human evolution</a> grows, the dance continues, and each step we learn brings with it new insights and possibilities.



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Human evolution: Why men are advancing faster than women

In the ceaseless dance of evolution, it has been recently...

We often admire the alpha males of the world - think of a lion ruling his pride, a CEO commanding a boardroom, or a wolf leading his pack. These males have dominance, respect, and the first pick of resources. But what if being on top wasn’t as great as it seemed? 



For alpha baboons, for example, the price of power is steep. 



A new study shows that these primates live under intense stress. Surprisingly, their stress doesn’t come from fighting rivals but from guarding their mates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-alpha-male">What does it mean to be an alpha male?</h2>



Being an alpha male often means embodying confidence, leadership, and a strong presence in social situations. 



People who see themselves - or others - as alpha males typically take charge in group settings, make decisive choices, and inspire others to follow their lead. 



They usually exhibit traits like assertiveness, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-robots-with-charismatic-voices-get-better-results-from-students/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">charisma</a>, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Whether it's in the workplace, among friends, or in romantic relationships, alpha males are seen as the ones who set the tone and drive the group forward. 



They prioritize their goals and are often highly motivated, which can make them natural leaders in various aspects of life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alpha-males-and-leadership-pressure">Alpha males and leadership pressure</h2>



Becoming an alpha male <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primates-face-an-uncertain-future-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">baboon</a> is no easy feat. Males must battle their way up the ranks - relying on strength, strategy, and persistence. But reaching the top is only the beginning. Staying there demands constant vigilance.



The dominant male must protect his status against challengers, ensuring that no rival steals his position. But his biggest concern is not other males - it is the females.



During fertile periods, he must closely monitor them and prevent other males from mating with them. This requires following the females around for days on end, ensuring that he remains their only mate.



“They’re essentially staking a claim; preventing other males from gaining access,” said Professor Susan Alberts of <a href="https://duke.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a>.



This near-constant surveillance takes a toll. Instead of using their time to rest, eat, or socialize, alpha males devote their energy to guarding their mates. Over time, this effort drains them both physically and mentally.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-in-alpha-male-baboons">Stress in alpha male baboons</h2>



For decades, scientists have studied wild baboons in Kenya as part of the <a href="https://amboselibaboons.nd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amboseli Baboon Research Project</a>. Since 1971, researchers have closely tracked the social <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/visually-striking-primate-features-ease-tension-and-reduce-conflict/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interactions and behaviors</a> of these animals, collecting valuable data about their lives.



A study published in 2011 provided one of the first clues that being an alpha male comes with a cost. The research, led by senior scientist Laurence Gesquiere at Duke University, found that alpha males had significantly higher levels of glucocorticoids - hormones linked to stress and the "fight-or-flight" response.



“In humans, this response is activated for every kind of challenge we face, whether it’s running down the block because you’re late for a meeting, running a marathon, or going into a stressful meeting with your boss,” Alberts explained.



The new study builds on these findings. The research team analyzed 14 years of behavioral data from 204 male baboons and measured their stress hormone levels using droppings left behind in the wild.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-source-of-stress">Surprising source of stress</h2>



The results confirmed that life at the top is stressful. Alpha males had 6% higher glucocorticoid levels than lower-ranking males. 



But the study also revealed something unexpected: aggressive behaviors such as fighting, bullying, or threatening rivals had no impact on the stress levels of alpha male baboons. “That was a big surprise!” Gesquiere exclaimed.



The researchers had expected that constant battles with other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primate-evolution-completing-the-timetree-of-life-for-all-of-our-closest-relatives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">males</a> would be the main cause of stress. Instead, they found that stress hormones spiked when alpha males spent more time guarding females.



Their thyroid hormone levels also dropped, indicating they were burning more calories than they consumed. This suggested that being an alpha male is not just stressful - it is physically exhausting as well.



“Being alpha really has energy consequences,” Gesquiere noted. Unlike lower-ranking males, who can focus on feeding and resting, alpha males are constantly on alert, even when they attempt to eat.



“They’re constantly interrupted,” Alberts said. “They'll start to dig up or pry open a tasty morsel, but then the female gets up and walks away, and they have to abandon it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-high-cost-for-short-term-rewards">High cost for short-term rewards</h2>



The constant stress of being an alpha male baboon appears to have lasting effects. Previous research on Amboseli <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/non-human-primate-chromosomes-mapped-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">baboons</a> found that top-ranking males age faster and have shorter lifespans than their lower-ranking counterparts.



Chemical changes in their DNA suggest that stress accelerates aging, and weakens their bodies over time. Once they lose their alpha status, they may struggle to recover from years of physical and emotional strain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-can-humans-learn-from-baboons">What can humans learn from baboons?</h2>



While baboon society is different from human society, some parallels exist. Alpha males live in a rigid hierarchy, but humans navigate multiple social structures. A person may be a low-ranking employee at work but a leader in their sports team or community.



Still, the study on alpha male baboons highlights an important lesson: leadership comes with challenges, and constant stress can take a toll on well-being. In humans and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-primates-must-prioritize-survival-over-long-term-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">baboons</a> alike, maintaining power requires energy, focus, and sacrifice.



For dominant male baboons, the cost of being on top is clear. “Stress definitely has long-term consequences,” noted Gesquiere.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.1790#d1e1714" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.



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Many alpha male primates sacrifice good health for power

We often admire the alpha males of the world -...

Have you ever wondered what farmers in ancient times ate thousands of years ago? Their diets, shaped by the landscapes that the farmers inhabited and the resources available to them, offer a window into the past.



It's fascinating to see how their meals evolved from humble grain-based recipes - rooted in necessity and tradition - to the complex, rich, and intricate flavors we enjoy today.



While historians and archaeologists have been unraveling the secrets of ancient civilizations for decades, one fascinating piece remained undisclosed - the exact menu of the earliest farmers.



What ingredients did they rely on to sustain their communities? How did they supplement their cultivated crops with nature’s bounty?



But recently, a compelling study, drawing on cutting-edge archaeological techniques, has shed new light on this captivating subject, revealing surprising insights into the diverse and resourceful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-hunter-gatherer-ancestors-did-much-more-gathering-than-hunting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diets of our ancestors</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-did-ancient-farmers-eat">What did ancient farmers eat?</h2>



Unfolding the story requires a journey to Southern Scandinavia and Northern Germany, specifically Oldenburg LA 77, a region once known for its Middle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-neolithic-mountain-settlers-used-complex-farming-methods/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neolithic</a> settlements. 



Oldenburg LA 77 is located in a former wetland area known as the Oldenburger Graben, resting on the southwestern coast of the Baltic Sea. 



This area was home to a number of settlements, and this once-secluded village stands as a reflection of the evolution of society, gradually shifting from isolated farmsteads to more concentrated, populated villages.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-farming-diets">Ancient farming diets</h2>



During the excavations, scientists discovered plenty of artifacts including houses, wells, and an array of daily life materials such as pottery fragments and grinding stones. 



"Grinding stones are truly archives for preserving information about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-foods-linked-to-drastically-lower-risk-of-heart-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant foods</a>. Even a small fragment of them can carry plenty of plant microfossils, including starch grains and phytoliths," noted Dr. Jingping An, a research assistant in the study.



And so, it is these grinding stones from Oldenburg LA 77 that provided the breakthrough in this gastronomical mystery.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examining-grinding-stones">Examining grinding stones</h2>



The study, led by experts from the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1266 in Kiel, analyzed ancient plant microfossils preserved on these grinding stones. The findings were impressive, to say the least.



Various food ingredients were discovered, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-bread-wheat-gave-rise-to-civilization/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wheat</a>, barley, fruits of wild grasses, knotweeds, and acorns. Starch-rich tubers, and possibly a small number of wild legume seeds, were also detected. 



These wild ingredients shed light on our ancestors' use of nature's bounty.



"Charred <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/domesticating-wild-plants-may-result-in-more-resilient-crops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wild plants</a> have been documented by archaeobotanical analyses of soil samples from this Neolithic village, but this study further confirms their consumption by looking directly into food processing," noted Professor Wiebke Kirleis, who led the research.



"People in the past knew how to enrich their diet," added Dr. An. 



Undoubtedly, our ancestors were culinary explorers, well-versed in supplementing their meals with the best of what their environment had to offer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-similar-diets-among-ancient-farmers">Similar diets among ancient farmers</h2>



Interestingly, a similar dietary pattern was observed in a different site - the Frydenlund site in Denmark - which was part of the same Funnel Beaker Culture. 



Plant microfossils from wild plants were also found on the grinding stones at this site.



Ultimately, the study offers a fascinating insight into the culinary lifestyle of our earliest farmers. They were not just farmers but also skilled food processors, adept at harnessing the variety of ingredients around them to enrich their meals and lead a wholesome life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-legacy-of-neolithic-farmers">Legacy of Neolithic farmers</h2>



The dietary choices of Neolithic farmers were not only shaped by necessity but also by an intuitive understanding of their environment. 



Their ability to blend cultivated grains with wild plants provided a balanced and diverse diet that sustained growing communities. 



Today, this ancient knowledge continues to influence modern dietary trends, with a renewed focus on whole grains, plant-based nutrition, and sustainable food sources. 



Studies of early farming practices offer valuable insights into how our ancestors adapted to their surroundings, utilizing locally available ingredients to create nourishing meals. 



The enduring legacy of ancient farmers highlights the importance of biodiversity and traditional knowledge in shaping the way we eat today.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2352409X24005418" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Archaeological Science</a>.



Image Credit: Susanne Beyer, Kiel University



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Surprising diet of early farmers from 5,000 years ago revealed by new technology

Have you ever wondered what farmers in ancient times ate...

When it comes to understanding the process of effective learning, there are some variables that make it less straightforward. While many believe that repetition is the key to mastering new information, research suggests that the reality is far more intricate.



The human memory, as complex as it is, relies on several factors for successful information retrieval. These factors include context, variation, and the way knowledge is reinforced over time.



Simply reviewing material in the same way may not always yield the best results, highlighting the need for more dynamic approaches.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-memory-performance">Improving memory performance </h2>



When it comes to providing practical guidelines for effective learning, it's not always easy to translate scientific findings into actionable strategies.



Learners often fall into the trap of relying on familiar study methods that may feel effective but fail to promote long-term retention.



A recent study offers compelling evidence that varying methods of learning and recalling information could significantly improve memory performance, providing fresh insight into the subject.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rediscovering-memory-retrieval">Rediscovering memory retrieval</h2>



So what does it take for our brain to learn and remember effectively? Is there a method for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spacing-effect-spaced-learning-long-term-impact-on-memory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memorizing</a> things more efficiently?



The answer perhaps lies not only in retrieving information from memory at regular intervals - but also doing it in varied ways. 



The study was led by scientists from <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=SWPS+University&amp;client=ms-android-charter-us-rvc3&amp;sourceid=chrome-mobile&amp;ie=UTF-8#ebo=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SWPS University</a> in Warsaw and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. The initial findings suggest that one could boost <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sleep-improves-memory-formation-and-recall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memory recall</a> using a method that the researchers refer to as "variable learning."



This technique involves introducing variety into the way we memorize, essentially learning about a phenomenon from different perspectives, contexts, and methods. 



According to the study, even the process of retrieval should be varied (not tied to identical cues leading to the answer).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-variable-retrieval-in-learning">Understanding variable retrieval in learning</h2>



In their research paper, "The role of variable retrieval in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-how-students-learn-is-key-to-helping-them-succeed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effective learning</a>," the experts examined the many layers of the concept of variable learning.



In a series of experiments, participants were asked to learn foreign words, specifically Finnish. These words were embedded in sentences presented in the participants' native language. For instance, "Dad is sweeping the lattia" (Finnish: floor).



During the study, each foreign word was presented multiple times, either in the same sentence or in different sentences. 



The researchers found that memory performance was improved when foreign words were presented in varied sentences rather than repetitive ones.



The benefits of this method were observed both immediately after the study phase and 24 hours later.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-false-belief-in-learning-methods">False belief in learning methods</h2>



Interestingly, the participants believed that it was easier for them to memorize foreign words when they learned them using the same sentences repetitively, which contradicted the test results.



This phenomenon is referred to as a metacognitive illusion - a false belief in the effectiveness of certain learning conditions, leading to less effective ways of learning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-of-variable-learning">Challenges of variable learning </h2>



The concept of learning different features of information in each session is not foreign; it's vital for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-our-brain-form-long-term-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">long-term memory</a>. This could be analogous to creating multiple paths to memorized information, which can then be used to retrieve it.



The more paths we create while learning, the higher the chance of effectively recalling the information later. Such a diverse way of learning, where we explore several aspects of information, is a challenge for our memory.



While this approach requires more effort than learning repetitively, the effort boosts <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/having-too-much-knowledge-can-be-a-curse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">knowledge</a> acquisition.



"If we want our knowledge to be useful, i.e., accessible in different circumstances and in response to different cues or questions on a test, we should enrich our study sessions with the following difficulties: retrieving previously learned information (instead of reading it multiple times), spreading learning over a period of time (instead of accumulating it in a single learning session), and retrieving information from memory in different ways (and not in response to the same cue)," noted study co-author Dr. Ewa Butowska-Buczyńska.



The researchers believe that their findings could guide effective learning strategies. However, they noted that further work is needed to put these methods of learning into a broader context.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2413511121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Variable learning: The key to more effective study habits

When it comes to understanding the process of effective learning,...

The January blues aren't just a human struggle - our four-legged friends can feel them too. Dogs, much like humans, can experience post-holiday lows that leave them feeling out of sorts.



We're not talking about an episode of Blues Clues here, but rather a real phenomenon that affects many pets during this time of year.



According to new research conducted by the Guide Dogs organization, changes in routine and shorter days might be contributing to your dog's seasonal slump.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-january-blues-in-dogs">January blues in dogs</h2>



Just as many of us feel a bit lethargic and down in January, our canine companions are no different. 



In fact, the survey found that about one in four dogs exhibit signs of lethargy and lack of energy. Furthermore, roughly one in seven dogs appear to show signs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-household-sounds-trigger-anxiety-in-dogs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxiety</a> or boredom. 



But what is bringing dogs down in January? The answer is surprisingly human-like: changes in daily routines, dark mornings, and the absence of their owners (after the festive season).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-canine-emotions-mimic-humans">Canine emotions mimic humans</h2>



A staggering 94% of the surveyed owners agreed that their pets seemed to mirror their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-feel-our-emotions-through-our-heart-rate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotions</a>.



"Dogs are incredibly attuned to their owners’ feelings, and when routines are disrupted or we feel low, it’s no surprise that they might reflect those changes," said Tim Stafford, director of canine affairs at Guide Dogs.



However, it’s worth mentioning that while <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-are-evolving-to-fit-the-modern-lives-of-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> may be receptive to our feelings, we might not be as good at recognizing theirs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-helping-your-dog-cope-with-the-blues">Helping your dog cope with the blues </h2>



January is undoubtedly a rough month for both dogs and their owners. With this in mind, it's important to pay extra attention to your dog’s behavior at this time.



"We know that dogs thrive on routine and consistency, so whilst January can be tough, by focusing on re-establishing structure and following our tips on exercise and stimulation, we can easily help our dogs (and ourselves) feel better," noted Stafford. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-january-s-impact-on-dog-owners">January's impact on dog owners</h2>



Did you know that more than half of dog owners feel the pressure of the dark days and cold weather of January? Approximately one-third are dealing with financial stress, while 39% struggle to get back into their routine.



Meanwhile, during January, many dog owners also observed noticeable changes in their pets' behavior. 



Lethargy was the most commonly reported issue - affecting 27% of dogs - while 15% of owners noted signs of anxiety in their furry friends. Additionally, 13% reported their dogs experiencing boredom.



Overall, 59% of owners acknowledged observing behavioral shifts in their pets during the post-holiday period.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-boost-your-dog-s-mood">How to boost your dog's mood</h2>



The <a href="https://www.guidedog.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guide Dogs organization</a> recommends maintaining regular routines around walks, playtimes, and meals. There's no denying that dogs feel secure when they know what to expect.



Engaging with your dog during walks, playing games, and teaching them new skills can spark joy and distract them from their January blues. 



On cold, dreary days, snuggling on the sofa with your furry friend can also help to reduce stress and forge a stronger bond.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disrupted-dog-routines">Disrupted dog routines</h2>



The January blues can impact how you care for your dog too. Around one in five people confessed that the dark mornings have delayed outings, disrupting their dog's routine.



With many dog owners returning to work, about 13% reported that their dogs are spending more time alone compared to the holiday season.



However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. An uplifting 88% of owners agreed that walking their dog improved their mental well-being.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-battling-the-january-blues">Battling the January blues</h2>



The survey concluded on a positive note, revealing that 45% of owners have resolved to lead a more active lifestyle this year. The respondents plan to use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-walking-improves-mobility-and-prevents-falls-in-older-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dog walks</a> as an opportunity to improve their fitness.



So, as we muddle through January, know that you are not alone battling the blues. It seems even our furry friends are feeling it too. 



However, by spending more time with our dogs, we can lift their spirits while giving our own a much-needed boost as well.



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Dogs suffer from the January blues, just like humans

The January blues aren't just a human struggle - our...

Understanding how birds think and process information has long been a mystery. Unlike mammals, birds do not leave behind preserved brains in fossils, making it difficult for scientists to study their cognitive abilities over time. 



However, a breakthrough study by evolutionary biologists in Australia and neuroscience researchers in Canada is now providing remarkable insights into avian intelligence.



By analyzing the structure of bird skulls using advanced digital technology, researchers at Flinders University in South Australia and the University of Lethbridge in Canada have developed a new way to study both extinct and living birds. 



The method involves creating digital "endocasts" from the cranial spaces inside bird skulls, allowing them to estimate brain size and shape with remarkable accuracy. 



This approach is giving scientists a clearer picture of bird cognition, intelligence, and evolutionary history without needing to physically examine brain tissue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconstructing-bird-brains">Reconstructing bird brains</h2>



The research, published in the journal&nbsp;Biology Letters, focuses on reconstructing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagulls-birds-more-intelligent-than-believed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird</a> brain structures by analyzing the inside of their skulls.



By scanning dry museum skulls from long-dead birds, scientists have been able to extract surprisingly detailed information about their brains. This includes insights into the size of crucial brain regions responsible for intelligence and agility.



"This showed that the two correspond so closely that there is no need for the actual brain to estimate a bird's brain proportions," said study lead author and <a href="https://www.flinders.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flinders University</a> PhD researcher Aubrey Keirnan.



Despite the term "bird brain" often being used as an insult, birds are known for their remarkable intelligence. Many bird species such as crows and parrots demonstrate problem-solving skills, tool use, and even self-awareness.



"The brains of birds are so large that they are practically a braincase with a beak," noted Keirnan.



This study sought to determine whether the imprint left by a bird's brain on its skull accurately reflects the proportions of two crucial parts of the brain: the forebrain, which is responsible for intelligence, and the cerebellum, which controls coordination and movement.



To test this, the researchers scanned the skulls of 136 bird <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/survival-of-the-smartest-chickadees-with-better-memory-live-longer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> and compared the results with either microscopic brain sections or existing literature data. 



By doing so, they were able to determine whether the volume of these critical brain regions matched the imprints left inside the skull.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpectedly-precise-correlation">Unexpectedly precise correlation</h2>



The results of the study surprised even the researchers. The correlation between brain volume and endocast surface area was almost one-to-one, indicating a highly reliable method for estimating brain proportions.



"We used computed microtomography to scan the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crows-hold-grudges-for-up-to-17-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird</a> skulls. This allows us to digitally fill the brain cavity to get the brain's imprint, also called an endocast," explained Professor Vera Weisbecker from Flinders University.



The fact that endocasts so precisely reflect the shape of the brain means that scientists can now study the brains of rare and even extinct bird species without the need for preserved brain tissue. 



"This is excellent news because it allows us to gather insight into the neuroanatomy of elusive, rare, and even extinct species without ever even seeing their brains," said Weisbecker.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionizing-bird-brain-research">Revolutionizing bird brain research</h2>



The ability to create digital endocasts marks a significant shift in how scientists study bird brains. In the past, researchers had to pour liquid latex into a skull cavity, wait for it to harden, and then break the skull to retrieve the endocast. This process was destructive and often impractical for studying rare or fragile specimens.



"Using non-destructive scanning not only allows us to create endocasts from the rarest of birds, it also produces digital files of the skulls and endocasts that can be shared with scientists and the public," explained Weisbecker.



With these digital models, researchers can now conduct large-scale comparative studies, track evolutionary trends, and even explore how different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crows-count-out-loud-just-like-toddlers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird species</a> developed their unique cognitive abilities. 



The ability to share digital endocasts worldwide also means that scientists can collaborate more easily and work with data from species that might be difficult to access in person.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-bird-evolution">Implications for bird evolution</h2>



One of the most exciting aspects of this research is its potential to shed light on the evolution of bird intelligence. 



By studying the brain structures of different bird species, researchers can gain a better understanding of how certain cognitive traits developed over time.



University of Lethbridge Professor Andrew Iwaniuk, who co-led the study, admits he was surprised by how accurately the endocasts reflected brain structures. 



"While most of the telencephalon (outer part of the forebrain) is visible from the outer surface, a substantial portion of the cerebellum is obscured by this region," said Professor Iwaniuk.



"Given that the degree of obscurity can vary between species, I did not expect a strong correlation between endocast surface area and brain volume across all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bigger-bird-brains-grow-at-the-expense-of-the-parents/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-bird-conservation">Implications for bird conservation</h2>



The study also has implications for conservation and research on endangered birds. Since many threatened species are difficult to study in the wild, being able to analyze skull structures from museum specimens could provide valuable insights into their cognitive abilities and behaviors.



Additionally, this research could offer clues about extinct species, including birds' closest prehistoric relatives: the dinosaurs. However, applying this method to dinosaurs remains uncertain. 



"For example, crocodiles are the closest living relatives of birds, but their brains look nothing like that of a bird - and their brains do not fill the braincase enough to be as informative," said Keirnan.



This suggests that while digital endocasts may help reconstruct the brains of extinct birds, they may not be as useful for studying dinosaur cognition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-avian-neuroscience">Future of avian neuroscience</h2>



This study marks a major step forward in avian neuroscience and evolutionary biology. By using advanced digital techniques, scientists can now explore the complexities of bird brains without relying on preserved brain tissue, opening up new possibilities for research.



As scanning technologies continue to improve, researchers may be able to refine their methods even further, potentially unlocking new insights into how birds process information, solve problems, and interact with their environments. 



The findings could also lead to a better understanding of the evolutionary pressures that shaped bird intelligence over millions of years.



Ultimately, this research demonstrates that birds are far more intelligent than the outdated stereotype of "bird brains" suggests. 



With new digital tools, scientists are now able to unlock the secrets hidden within bird skulls, providing a clearer picture of avian cognition and evolution.



As more species are studied, we may discover even more surprising connections between brain structure and intelligence in the animal kingdom.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2024.0596" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Letters</a>.



Image Credit: CC-BY Aubrey Keirnan (skull) Andrew Iwaniuk (brain)



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"Bird brain" study gives remarkable new insights into avian intelligence

Understanding how birds think and process information has long been...

A mysterious item from the inner workings of a cow has sparked a worldwide scramble. Hardened lumps of bile known as cattle gallstones have become so valuable that criminal rings on multiple continents have begun hunting them down.



Some stones can command over twice the price of gold, sparking tales of nighttime thefts and elaborate smuggling schemes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-cattle-gallstones-are-suddenly-important">Why cattle gallstones are suddenly important</h2>



The fascination with gallstones centers on their use in <a href="https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese traditional medicine</a>, which is valued at around $60 billion annually, according to the World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine#tab=tab_1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO</a>).&nbsp;



<a href="https://africana.sdsu.edu/our-faculty/gomes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Daniela Gomes da Silva</a>, a researcher at <a href="https://www.international.unesp.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">São Paulo State University</a>, says the intensifying appetite for these stones has pushed some producers to consider strange ideas, such as trying to induce gallstones in their herds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-cattle-gallstones-the-basics">Understanding cattle gallstones - the basics</h2>



Cattle gallstones are solid formations that develop in the gallbladder of cows, although they’re not as common as in humans. They usually form when there's an imbalance in the substances that make up bile, much like in humans. 



However, in cattle, gallstones are typically made up of calcium salts like calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate instead of cholesterol, which is more common in humans. 



This difference stems from cattle’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-ai-can-help-reduce-methane-emissions-from-cows/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unique digestive systems</a>, which are designed to process large amounts of plant material. 



Their high-fiber diets and the way their bodies handle bile contribute to the formation of these calcium-based stones.



When cattle develop gallstones, they might not always show obvious signs at first. However, if the stones block the bile ducts, cows can experience discomfort, reduced appetite, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seaweed-supplements-reduce-methane-in-grazing-cattle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">digestive issues</a>. 



Farmers and veterinarians usually detect gallstones through ultrasound examinations or other imaging techniques if they suspect a problem. 



The fact that it's impossible to know if a cow has a gallstone without proper examination adds an entirely separate and sinister layer to this new global smuggling market.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-high-price-and-a-hidden-black-market">High price and a hidden black market</h2>



These rust-colored nuggets can fetch more than $5,800 an ounce - twice as much as gold - in certain markets.



They are often dried, powdered, and then combined with other materials to form traditional pills that some believe can help treat serious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stem-cell-therapy-improves-brain-activity-after-stroke/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conditions like strokes</a>.



Because of the profits involved, a black market has developed. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-parrots-in-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-with-dna-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smugglers</a> are known to transport stones in hidden compartments to avoid taxes and police, and some producers are wary of armed theft by those who want a shortcut to these lucrative byproducts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cattle-gallstones-and-stroke-recovery">Cattle gallstones and stroke recovery</h2>



The WHO <a href="https://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/stroke-cerebrovascular-accident/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a> that strokes are the leading cause of death in China. Traditional remedies that include gallstone powder are often promoted as a way to provide extra time for stroke patients.



One <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6548905/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> from the <a href="https://www.hku.hk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hong Kong</a> found evidence that certain ingredients in popular “<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4281447/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Angong</a>” pills, which include cattle gallstone powder, may offer short-term protection for the brain in rats experiencing ischemic strokes. 



While these findings are still under investigation, this belief in gallstones’ protective qualities has added to their demand.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildlife-controversies">Wildlife controversies</h2>



“The rapid growth of the TCM industry over the last few decades has exacerbated the pressure on endangered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-conservation-day-2024-saving-species-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a> in Asia and beyond,” said the London-based <a href="https://eia-international.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Investigation Agency</a>. Some in the conservation community are concerned about the wider industry.&nbsp;



Although cattle gallstones themselves do not threaten wild species, the industry sometimes combines them with ingredients like rhino horn or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-pangolin-day-project-launched-to-save-the-elusive-mammal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pangolin scales</a> in certain remedies. That element has triggered alarm among groups working to curb illegal wildlife trafficking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rising-demand-for-cattle-gallstones">Rising demand for cattle gallstones</h2>



Rising incomes and lifestyle changes in China have led to increased obesity, hypertension, and other conditions that are linked to <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular diseas</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">e</a>. 



As a result, gallstones, once discarded by slaughterhouses, have become prized commodities.



Because some black-market dealers try to dodge strict regulations, gallstone shipments have been hidden in everyday items to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-are-using-forensic-science-to-fight-wildlife-trafficking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">avoid detection</a>.



Authorities have also encountered schemes where sugar or brick dust is injected or ground into the stones to inflate weight and boost profits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-farming-methods-may-help">Modern farming methods may help</h2>



As Brazil becomes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-paves-the-way-for-climate-conscious-farming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more efficient</a> in producing beef, some farmers shorten the lifespan of their cattle with optimized feeding routines. 



Da Silva explains that younger herds may yield better meat and fewer gallstones because there is less time for these lumps to form.



The irony is that while certain ranchers see gallstones as valuable gold nuggets, modern techniques that improve farm production may unintentionally reduce the presence of these costly stones. 



Still, unscrupulous players look to exploit any opportunity to get their hands on the product, even resorting to theft in some regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lingering-mysteries">Lingering mysteries</h2>



Scientists have yet to determine the precise reasons some cattle develop gallstones. Da Silva notes that older animals with more time on pasture are more prone to this condition.



However, it remains unclear how diet, genetics, and stress might play a role. Rumors occasionally spread of stones the size of a football, but these stories are rarely supported by credible evidence.



Experts caution producers not to chase unrealistic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-elephant-day-2024-saving-the-gentle-giants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">legends</a>, warning that the gallstone frenzy can lead to costly risks, including robberies and legal troubles if regulations are ignored.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-regulations-needed">More regulations needed</h2>



Strict enforcement and improved oversight may push more of the market into legal channels. Some industry analysts believe that, if gallstones continue to command a price above that of gold, more players will be tempted to enter the trade, thus fueling both opportunities and criminal activities.



Meanwhile, many medical professionals maintain that though traditional solutions may offer support, they should be one facet of a well-rounded approach to healthcare.&nbsp;



Despite the high prices and dramatic tales of smuggling, many in Brazil’s farming regions remain content to focus on milk and meat production. For them, cattle gallstones are a novelty - albeit a very expensive one.



Details for this article came from <a href="https://www.wsj.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wallstreet Journal.</a>



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Cattle gallstones, insanely valuable, are the new 'must-have' item in global smuggling rings

A mysterious item from the inner workings of a cow...

Most people are left confounded and flummoxed when presented with the most basic concepts of quantum mechanics. That's because they make no sense to any rational mind, so please don't take this statement as any type of slight. 



This is especially true when discussing something called "superposition" - where a particle can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-a-simple-way-to-grasp-this-impossible-concept-carl-kocher/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exist in multiple states</a> at the same time until someone actually measures it.



One of the most memorable thought experiments used to explain superposition is through the story of Schrödinger’s cat, which paints a picture of a hypothetical feline that is simultaneously alive and dead inside a box. 



When someone opens the box to observe the cat, the superposition is broken, and the cat definitively becomes one or the other: alive or dead.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schrodinger-s-cat-explains-quantum-strangeness">Schrödinger’s cat explains quantum strangeness</h2>



Of course, we never encounter boxes containing real animals in that type of bizarre dual state, yet researchers continually explore and test superpositions of much smaller particles. 



They do this for many reasons, but for the purposes of this research, a team of scientists focused on particle superposition because they believe it holds the secret to error-free <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/google-record-shattering-quantum-ai-chip-accesses-parallel-universes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum computing</a>.



Quantum computers display processing <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/highereducation/books/quantum-computation-and-quantum-information/01E10196D0A682A6AEFFEA52D53BE9AE#overview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">power</a> that monumentally eclipses anything that modern traditional computers or supercomputers can manage.



<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/andrea-morello" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andrea Morello</a> from the University of New South Wales (<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNSW</a>) has been at the forefront of turning these quantum properties into a secure and efficient way to store and process information.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-antimony-as-the-quantum-cat">Antimony as the quantum cat</h2>



<a href="https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=pYmHeC8AAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xi Yu</a>, a researcher in the same UNSW group, describes their latest feat as creating a quantum atomic take on this cat story.



“In our work, the ‘cat’ is an <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Antimony" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atom of antimony</a>,” explains Xi Yu, who was lead author of the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-024-02745-0#Abs1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a>.



Antimony is no ordinary atom. It has a nuclear spin with <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.033105" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eight possible directions</a>, unlike simpler two-state systems called qubits.



That larger range protects the encoded data from sudden changes that would normally disrupt more fragile qubits.



A typical qubit can flip if anything nudges it, and one flip may turn a zero into a one, foiling any crucial calculation. The antimony approach helps avoid that vulnerability.



“As the proverb goes, a cat has nine lives. One little scratch is not enough to kill it,” says Xi Yu.



Each small error leaves most of the data intact, making it easier to notice and fix any trouble before it gets worse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schrodinger-s-cat-inside-a-silicon-chip">Schrödinger’s cat inside a silicon chip</h2>



<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/danni-holmes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Danielle Holmes</a> at UNSW built a silicon chip that can hold this single antimony atom. It grants full control over the spin state, and it is fashioned with the same material found in typical consumer electronics.



This opens the door for large-scale production methods that already exist. 



The prospect of connecting many atoms on a chip may allow <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/quantum-device" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum devices</a> to be assembled using machinery that has served the regular semiconductor industry for decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-error-correction-with-quantum-cats">Error correction with quantum cats</h2>



“A single, or even a few errors, do not immediately scramble the information,” says Morello, a professor at UNSW. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-teleportation-of-logical-qubits-performed-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum error correction</a> is a central challenge, since even minute glitches can cascade and ruin complicated tasks. 



By using antimony’s expanded spin space, the design does not topple when faced with a small slip. That extra buffer slows down error accumulation, so there is a higher chance of fixing mistakes in time.



Each quantum bit, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-quantum-computers-just-got-easier-with-new-technique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">qubit</a>, remains stable under minor disturbances that would derail simpler systems. Once a disturbance shows up, the device can often preserve the right values.



This relieves some of the burden from correction algorithms. With fewer surprises to manage, researchers hope these extra-robust qubits will lead to larger, more complex quantum circuits that can solve problems outside the reach of standard computers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-in-quantum-computing">Next steps in quantum computing</h2>



Scientists plan to refine their tools for spotting and fixing errors the moment they pop up. They aim to push reliability high enough for lengthy <a href="https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/quantum-science-explained/quantum-superposition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">computing</a> tasks.



Morello notes that this “Schrödinger’s cat” analogy shows how quantum systems can be both delicate and sturdy. 



By improving this technology, the team hopes to overcome one of the toughest hurdles to a fully fledged quantum computer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



Quantum machines could support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/code-breaking-encryption-quantum-computers-takes-big-step-closer-to-becoming-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">safer cryptography</a>, simulate large-scale phenomena, and sift through colossal data sets.



Engineers foresee a hybrid model where single-atom components work alongside today’s circuits, taking advantage of industrial processes that are already in place.



Though it may take time to perfect, early results suggest these unusual, cat-like states might boost the resilience of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-computer-can-instantly-execute-a-task-that-would-normally-take-47-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum hardware</a>, and pave the way for a new era of computing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rewriting-quantum-rules">Rewriting quantum rules</h2>



Teams worldwide keep testing different spins and elements, hunting for ways to control errors without overloading hardware resources. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45368-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">High-dimensional nuclear spins </a>may be a vital stepping stone in this pursuit.



By letting these spins act like sturdy bits, researchers cut down the complicated fixes usually required. The hope is that robust qudit-based strategies will open the door to leaner and more powerful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-computer-can-instantly-execute-a-task-that-would-normally-take-47-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum</a> machines.



Experts from UNSW Sydney, the <a href="https://www.unimelb.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Melbourne</a>, <a href="https://www.sandia.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sandia National Laboratories</a>, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/ames/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Ames</a>, and the <a href="https://ucalgary.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Calgary</a> joined forces for this research. They tackled materials growth, device engineering, and advanced theoretical modeling.



Together, they turned a classic thought experiment into a workable unit that might, someday soon, accelerate quantum technology to the point where we achieve error-free quantum computing at mass scale.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-024-02745-0#Abs1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Physics</a>.



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