<p>var icx_publication_id = 14770;<br />
var icx_content_id = 2575210;</p>


What is Cadmium?

<p>The Chinese strategist Zhuge Liang, better known as Kongming, once tricked an enemy fleet into launching a barrage of arrows at empty boats padded with straw. After the volley, his soldiers collected the arrows and fired them back, winning the day with weapons supplied by the opposition. </p>



<p>Twenty-one centuries later, microbiologists have uncovered a molecular echo of that famous ploy inside common gut bacteria that can defeat viruses.</p>



<p>Researchers from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Copenhagen</a> and <a href="https://en.hzau.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Huazhong Agricultural University</a> have found that <em>E</em>. <em>coli</em> carries a previously unknown antiviral system they have named “Kongming.” Like its namesake, the defense hijacks a viral enzyme to launch a counterstrike that ultimately destroys the virus.</p>



<p>Their work reveals a completely new immune signaling pathway in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-gut-bacteria-behave-like-vampires-to-target-human-blood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacteria</a>. It also widens the catalog of phage-resistance strategies and hints at applications ranging from cancer diagnostics to next-generation antibiotic alternatives.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-turning-viruses-against-themselves">Turning viruses against themselves</h2>



<p>Every virus that infects bacteria, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteriophages-use-selfish-genetic-elements-as-weapons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phage</a>, must replicate its genetic material at breakneck speed to outpace cellular defenses. Many phages therefore inject specialized nucleotide kinases, enzymes that churn out the building blocks of DNA and RNA.</p>



<p>The Kongming system detects that very enzyme and forces it to synthesize a different molecule altogether: a distinctive nucleotide signal known as dITP. Once made, dITP activates a protein complex, triggering a cascade that leads the bacterial cell to self-destruct.</p>



<p>“We’ve discovered a new antiviral signaling pathway in bacteria that, ironically, relies on a viral enzyme to produce the alarm signal that triggers defense - just like the historical Kongming, who used the production of enemy’s own arrows against them,” said Professor Rafael Pinilla-Redondo, co-author of the study.</p>



<p>In short, the phage hands the bacterium the very biochemical arrow that brings about its demise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-die-to-defeat-viruses">Bacteria die to defeat viruses</h2>



<p>Suicide might sound like an odd way to survive infection, but in bacterial colonies it can be remarkably effective. </p>



<p>“The bacterium sacrifices itself to stop the virus - which may sound dramatic, but it’s an incredibly effective strategy. By dying, it takes the virus down with it, preventing the infection from spreading to other bacteria in the population. It’s a bit like blowing up a bridge to stop an advancing enemy,” Pinilla-Redondo said.</p>



<p>Because phages must complete their replication cycles inside living hosts, the premature death of a single cell prevents the release of hundreds of viral progeny. A few sacrificial cells can protect the community - much like programmed cell death in the human immune system.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viruses-can-launch-counter-attacks">Viruses can launch counter attacks</h2>



<p>Phages are not passive targets. The scientists observed that some viruses carry auxiliary enzymes able to degrade dITP before it reaches lethal levels, effectively cutting the alarm wires. </p>



<p>“Some viruses have figured out how to get around Kongming,” noted first-author Ruiliang Zhao, a doctoral candidate in Pinilla-Redondo’s lab. “They carry special enzymes that break down the molecules needed to trigger the system. It’s their way of cutting off the cables of the alarm before it goes off.”</p>



<p>Such counterintelligence highlights the ongoing evolutionary arms race between microbes and their viral predators, a contest that has spawned <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crispr-gene-editing-gets-a-revolutionary-upgrade-with-new-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CRISPR</a>, toxin–antitoxin modules, and now the Kongming pathway.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kongming-beyond-the-gut">Kongming beyond the gut</h2>



<p>Although initially characterized in <em>E. coli</em>, genetic sleuthing revealed dozens of Kongming-like operons in soil and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/23-new-marine-bacteria-species-discovered-that-influence-global-ocean-cycles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine bacteria</a> across the globe. This suggests that the mechanism is not a niche curiosity but a broadly distributed archetype for bacteria to defeat viruses.</p>



<p>By mapping its genetic hallmarks, scientists can begin to predict which environmental microbes harbor similar systems. This information is critical for biogeochemical modeling and for developing phage therapies that must bypass native immunity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-therapy-blocked-by-bacteria">Therapy blocked by bacteria</h2>



<p>The rise of antibiotic resistance has rekindled interest in treating infections with phages tailored to kill specific pathogens. Yet a therapeutic phage will fail if its target bacterium possesses a potent defense like Kongming.</p>



<p>“To develop effective phage therapies, we need to understand the natural immune systems bacteria use to resist viral attacks,” noted Pinilla-Redondo.</p>



<p>Detailed knowledge of Kongming and its viral countermeasures can guide the selection, or engineering of phages that slip past bacterial alarms, improving clinical success rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biotech-uses-for-kongming">Biotech uses for Kongming</h2>



<p>The study’s significance is not limited to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-infectious-disease-landscape-is-changing-and-we-must-prepare/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infectious disease</a> control. Because the Kongming effector complex responds exclusively to dITP, a non-canonical nucleotide implicated in genomic instability and certain cancers, it could serve as a molecular sensor for diagnostic assays.</p>



<p>“Since the Kongming immune effector complex specifically responds to dITP, it could be used to detect this non-canonical nucleotide - opening the door to interesting biotechnological applications,” Zhao said. </p>



<p>Synthetic biologists may also harness the pathway to build programmable cell-death switches or precision gene-editing safeguards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-bacterial-immunity-revealed">New bacterial immunity revealed</h2>



<p>Over the past decade, comparative genomics has uncovered an astonishing diversity of bacterial antiviral systems, yet many remain poorly understood. Kongming demonstrates how a fresh look can rewrite assumptions. </p>



<p>Until now, hijacking a viral enzyme to synthesize an immune signal was a trick known only in certain viruses themselves.</p>



<p>The discovery shows that bacteria use viral “enemy arrows” to fight viruses, highlighting a richer immune toolkit in nature than once believed.</p>



<p>By turning a pathogen’s own resource into an executioner, the Kongming system offers an elegant illustration of molecular jiu-jitsu - one that not only deepens our understanding of microbial warfare but also points the way toward innovative therapies and diagnostic technologies.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads6055" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>.</p>



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Bacteria recreate an ancient war trick to defeat viruses

The Chinese strategist Zhuge Liang, better known as Kongming, once...

<p>In 2018, a silent threat we encounter daily - plastic chemicals - may have played a role in over 356,000 deaths from heart disease. Unlike dramatic outbreaks or high-profile toxins, this danger came from everyday plastic use.</p>



<p>More specifically, from the chemical di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), used in everything from food containers and IV bags to flooring and plastic wraps. While most people remain unaware of these risks, the scientific community is sounding a loud and urgent alarm.</p>



<p>Recent research led by scientists at <a href="https://nyulangone.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NYU Langone Health</a> brings global clarity to an issue long debated in toxicology circles. Their analysis, grounded in population-level health data and environmental exposure surveys, shows just how far-reaching the consequences of DEHP exposure really are. </p>



<p>And in doing so, it transforms an abstract <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-normal-plastic-turns-into-dangerous-micro-and-nanoplastics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental worry</a> into a concrete human cost.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-chemicals-quietly-harming-the-heart-nbsp">Plastic chemicals quietly harming the heart&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Phthalates like DEHP are used to make plastic flexible and durable. Over time, these chemicals leak from products and enter our bodies through food, water, and even the air. </p>



<p>Once inside, they break down into several harmful metabolites: MEHP, MEHHP, MEOHP, and MECPP. These compounds affect hormonal systems, metabolism, and cardiovascular health.</p>



<p>The NYU study found that DEHP exposure was responsible for 13.497% of all cardiovascular deaths among adults aged 55–64 in 2018. This figure represents not just numbers but millions of years of life lost. </p>



<p>The researchers estimated that globally, DEHP caused over 10.4 million years of life lost that year alone. These numbers offer a new lens through which to view our relationship with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-chewing-gum-may-be-full-of-microplastics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a> - not just as a pollution problem, but as a driver of premature death.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-linked-heart-deaths-in-asia">Plastic-linked heart deaths in Asia</h2>



<p>One of the study’s most revealing findings is the stark global inequality in exposure. DEHP-related heart disease deaths were not evenly distributed. Nearly three-fourths of all such deaths occurred in Asia. </p>



<p>India alone accounted for more than 103,000. China followed with over 60,000, and Indonesia ranked third. The researchers linked this concentration to rapid industrial expansion in these regions, combined with weaker environmental protections.</p>



<p>The Middle East and South Asia showed the highest DEHP exposure <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-treaty-is-a-historic-opportunity-to-stop-a-human-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">levels</a>, with some areas having six times the exposure seen in European countries. These areas also saw the highest percentage of cardiovascular deaths attributable to DEHP.</p>



<p>“There is a clear disparity in which parts of the world bear the brunt of heightened heart risks from phthalates,” said study senior author Leonardo Trasande.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-chemical-triggers-inflammation">Plastic chemical triggers inflammation</h2>



<p>DEHP doesn’t act alone. It breaks down into metabolites that accumulate in the body and influence cardiovascular processes in several ways. </p>



<p>They act as anti-androgens, interfere with lipid and glucose metabolism, and trigger inflammation in artery walls. These conditions are well-known drivers of heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis.</p>



<p>Studies on human tissues have found microplastics lodged in blood vessels, sometimes near damaged or inflamed areas. This raises concerns that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-linked-to-health-issues-including-cancer-and-infertility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastics</a> not only release harmful chemicals but may also act as physical irritants in the cardiovascular system.</p>



<p>To estimate risk, the NYU team analyzed data on DEHP exposure from urine samples collected globally in 2008. They then matched these exposure levels to mortality data from 2018, using established risk models. The result was a detailed map showing how different levels of DEHP exposure correlated with increased cardiovascular deaths.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-damages-health-with-trillions-lost">Plastic damages health, with trillions lost</h2>



<p>The toll of DEHP exposure doesn’t stop at lost lives. The study estimates the economic burden to range from $10.2 billion to as high as $3.74 trillion. These numbers include lost productivity, healthcare costs, and the societal value of years of life lost.</p>



<p>Different countries might calculate these costs in various ways. Some use a standard value per lost year of life; others calculate based on income levels. But whichever method is used, the conclusion is the same: phthalate exposure is costing humanity dearly.</p>



<p>“By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-linked-to-high-blood-pressure-and-heart-problems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">danger</a> to human health,” said lead author Sara Hyman.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exposure-levels-and-death-risks">Exposure levels and death risks</h2>



<p>Even within a single country, some people face much higher risks from plastic chemicals. The study found wide gaps between those with the lowest and highest levels of DEHP exposure.</p>



<p>In the United States and Africa, individuals in the top 5% exposure group had up to 30% higher DEHP-related cardiovascular mortality than those with lower exposure.</p>



<p>In contrast, countries in South Asia and East Asia saw elevated risks across the board. That means even people with “average” exposure in these regions faced high mortality risks. This suggests that in such areas, phthalates are deeply embedded in everyday life - from packaging to air to water.</p>



<p>The inequality is not just geographic. It’s also environmental, economic, and systemic. Countries with poor waste management, lax regulation, and high plastic consumption suffer more, especially when older adults are more vulnerable to heart disease.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regulatory-gaps-and-delays">Regulatory gaps and delays</h2>



<p>The timeline used in the study - 2008 exposure data and 2018 health outcomes - highlights another issue. Many countries implemented DEHP regulations only after 2018.</p>



<p>The European Union, Canada, Australia, and Japan had early restrictions in food packaging and childcare products. However, many countries had no such rules during the study period.</p>



<p>In recent years, some nations, including China and India, have started tightening controls. Yet even now, global regulation remains inconsistent. Many high-income countries continue to export plastic waste to lower-income nations, increasing exposure risks in already vulnerable regions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-lives-from-plastic-chemicals">Protecting lives from plastic chemicals</h2>



<p>The global community has taken some initial steps. In 2022, the UN began negotiations for a legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution. But efforts to limit production face strong resistance from petrochemical-producing countries.</p>



<p>This research provides key evidence to support stronger international policies. Reducing DEHP exposure will require more than bans on specific products. It will need coordinated action across supply chains, consumer behavior, waste management, and environmental justice.</p>



<p>Limiting exposure at the highest percentiles - those most affected - could yield the greatest health benefits. And extending bio-monitoring programs to regions without current data could help tailor interventions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-true-cost-of-plastic-comfort">The true cost of plastic comfort</h2>



<p>Plastics have made life easier in many ways. But their hidden costs are now surfacing. This study, the first of its kind to model global plastic chemical DEHP-related heart disease mortality, shows the damage extends beyond pollution and into our arteries.</p>



<p>By exposing this connection, researchers have given the world a chance to act. Whether governments respond with decisive regulation or continue business as usual remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the cost of ignoring plastic's effects on health is far too high.</p>



<p>Trasande and his team plan to investigate how reducing DEHP exposure might change mortality outcomes in the future. Their work lays the groundwork for safer, healthier policies around plastics. </p>



<p>It is now up to global leaders to decide whether they will listen to the science - or continue to pay the price in lives lost.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00174-4/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>EBioMedicine</em></a>.</p>



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Hidden chemical in plastic may be taking years off your life

In 2018, a silent threat we encounter daily - plastic...

<p>Sebecid fossils are changing everything we thought we knew about the ancient Caribbean. Imagine a crocodile built like a greyhound - tall, fast, and fully land-dwelling. These agile predators, some stretching up to 20 feet long, once ruled South American landscapes after the extinction of the dinosaurs.</p>



<p>Scientists believed they vanished around 11 million years ago. But a surprising discovery in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caribbean-salt-affects-global-climate-study-reveals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caribbean</a> tells a different story - one that begins with a few unusual fossilized teeth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fossil-discovery-changed-the-story">A fossil discovery changed the story</h2>



<p>Back in the 1990s, scientists discovered a pair of fossilized teeth in Cuba. The teeth, about 18 million years old, were serrated and sharp - built for tearing meat.</p>



<p>Then came another one in Puerto Rico, dated to 29 million years ago. The shape of these fossils clearly pointed to a large predator. </p>



<p>But researchers were baffled. Until then, they thought the Caribbean had no land predators of that size. Without more bones to go on, the mystery sat unsolved.</p>



<p>Then in early 2023, something changed. A new fossil tooth turned up in the Dominican Republic, but this time it came with two vertebrae. It was a small clue, but it changed everything. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-predators-in-the-caribbean">Large predators in the Caribbean </h2>



<p>The fossils confirmed the presence of a sebecid. That meant the Caribbean had been a safe haven for these large, land-based predators. They were still roaming these islands five million years after disappearing everywhere else.</p>



<p>This new discovery comes from a research team led by scientists from the <a href="https://www.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Florida</a>. </p>



<p>“That emotion of finding the fossil and realizing what it is, it’s indescribable,” said Lazaro Viñola Lopez, the study's lead author.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crocodiles-that-ran-like-dinosaurs">Crocodiles that ran like dinosaurs</h2>



<p>Sebecids were part of a long-extinct family of crocodile relatives called notosuchians. Unlike <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-amphibians-swam-like-modern-crocodiles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modern crocodiles</a> that lurk in rivers and swamps, sebecids were fully land-dwelling. </p>



<p>They ran on strong limbs and hunted like the carnivorous dinosaurs that came before them. Some were enormous. </p>



<p>Sebecids had armored bodies with tough bony plates beneath their skin. Their teeth were made for slashing meat, not catching fish.</p>



<p>When the mass extinction 66 million years ago wiped out most life, only the sebecids from the notosuchian line managed to survive in South America. With <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nuclear-winter-dinosaurs-were-likely-killed-by-dust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dinosaurs</a> gone, they rose to dominate the food chain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sebecids-may-have-crossed-the-sea">Sebecids may have crossed the sea</h2>



<p>How did a sebecid get to the Caribbean? The ocean has always been a serious barrier for land animals. That’s where the GAARlandia hypothesis comes in. </p>



<p>The theory suggests there was once a chain of temporary land bridges or stepping-stone islands between South America and the Caribbean. </p>



<p>These paths may have allowed animals like sebecids to migrate and settle. If the other teeth found across the Caribbean also belonged to sebecids, it means these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/past-climate-change-drove-the-rapid-evolution-of-reptiles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reptiles</a> weren’t just visitors. They were long-term residents.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-land-bridges-reshaped-ecosystems">Land bridges reshaped ecosystems </h2>



<p>The land bridges may have shaped island ecosystems for millions of years. Now that they’re gone, smaller animals like birds, snakes, and native crocodiles have taken their place.</p>



<p>“You wouldn’t have been able to predict this looking at the modern ecosystem,” said a paleontologist from the Florida Museum of Natural History. </p>



<p>“The presence of a large predator is really different than we imagined before, and it’s exciting to think about what might be discovered next in the Caribbean fossil record as we explore back further in time.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-secrets-of-the-caribbean">Fossil secrets of the Caribbean </h2>



<p>Scientists often describe islands as natural museums. Their isolation makes them safe places for rare plants and animals to hang on after they’ve vanished elsewhere. But the Caribbean still holds many sebecid secrets - especially from deep in the past.</p>



<p>Until now, most Caribbean fossils have been found in caves and water-filled sinkholes called blue holes. Caves protect bones from the elements, while blue holes prevent decay by cutting off oxygen. </p>



<p>These places have been valuable but only give a narrow view into recent biodiversity. They don’t tell us much about ancient species like sebecids.</p>



<p>Today, researchers are switching tactics. Instead of relying on caves and sinkholes, they’re going after older fossils in harder-to-reach spots.</p>



<p>“This is like a renaissance,” said Viñola-Lopez, describing the new wave of excitement in Caribbean paleontology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vanishing-fossil-sites">Vanishing fossil sites </h2>



<p>In the Caribbean, fossil sites vanish quickly. Rain, wind, and forests erase rocky outcrops fast. When workers cut new roads or dig into hills, researchers have to act fast. </p>



<p>That’s how the sebecid fossils were found. Road work in the Dominican Republic exposed the fossil bed just in time.</p>



<p>A graduate student from the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez was studying the rocks in the area and spotted the site. He notified his colleagues, and soon after, the team from the University of Florida arrived to excavate the bones.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-surprises-to-come">More surprises to come</h2>



<p>The sebecid fossils are only one piece of a much larger puzzle. In recent years, researchers have also found the first signs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosasaurs-had-fierce-survival-strategies-including-cannibalism/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mosasaurs</a> - massive sea reptiles - in the Caribbean. </p>



<p>The experts have identified the region’s oldest ground sloth fossils. And new work is hinting that early human arrival may have led to the extinction of native rodents.</p>



<p>It’s clear there’s more to uncover. “The sebecid is only the tip of the iceberg,” said Viñola-Lopez. And with more eyes now turned to the Caribbean, who knows what ancient giants might turn up next?</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.2891" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a></em>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Illustration by Jorge Machuky</p>



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<p></p>

Giant crocodile in the Caribbean? Fossils reveal a lost apex predator

Sebecid fossils are changing everything we thought we knew about...

<p>You grab a pre-made sandwich from the fridge, tear off the clear wrap, and toss the wrapper without a second thought. Yet that throwaway plastic film contains thousands of chemicals that can move into your lunch, enter your gut, and settle into your bloodstream.</p>



<p>Scientists have known for years that additives such as bisphenol A (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-plastic-items-pose-a-hidden-risk-to-childrens-gut-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BPA</a>) and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/airborne-plastic-chemicals-have-reached-shocking-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phthalates</a> leach from containers, but recent studies show the list of migrating chemicals is far longer. </p>



<p>The longer food rests against plastic, the more time those molecules have to move, and a microwave zap or a sun-soaked picnic only speeds the process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangled-mix-of-chemicals-in-plastics">Tangled mix of chemicals in plastics</h2>



<p>Plastics start as long <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-interlinked-crisis-of-plastic-pollution-and-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polymer chains</a>, but manufacturers tweak them with colorants, softeners, heat stabilizers, and other agents so the material bends, flexes, or shines on command. </p>



<p>Impurities, leftovers from production, and by-products that form as the plastic ages or cracks add to the list, creating a mixture even chemists struggle to map.</p>



<p>None of these extra molecules are firmly locked in place. Heat, grease, ultraviolet light, and mechanical stress let them slip out.</p>



<p>This is why food-contact articles like bags, trays, squeeze bottles, and bottle liners top the list of concern. The warm interior of a delivery truck or the jet of steam from a dishwasher can do the job.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thousands-of-chemicals-one-sandwich-bag">Thousands of chemicals, one sandwich bag</h2>



<p>“We found as many as 9936 different chemicals in a single plastic product used as food packaging,” noted Martin Wagner, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (<a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NTNU’s</a>) Department of Biology. </p>



<p>His team examined 36 everyday items sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany, and Norway, running high-resolution mass spectrometry screens to identify additives and breakdown products.</p>



<p>The researchers also exposed cultured human cells to extracts from those items. </p>



<p>“In most of these plastic products, we found chemicals that can affect the secretion of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stress-hormones-rise-during-sleep-to-prepare-your-body-for-the-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hormones</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-metabolism-has-evolved-to-become-energetically-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a>,” Wagner explained. </p>



<p>Those cellular changes line up with national biomonitoring surveys showing BPA and phthalates in more than 90 percent of Americans, a prevalence mirrored in Europe and Asia.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hormones-and-plastic-chemicals">Hormones and plastic chemicals</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hormones-may-slow-skin-aging-and-reduce-wrinkles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hormones</a> carry instructions between glands and organs. When those instructions are garbled, essential cellular functions such as growth, reproduction, and energy use can falter. </p>



<p>In a second experiment, the NTNU group tested mixtures of plastic chemicals against 82 G-protein-coupled receptors - molecules that handle many of the body’s incoming signals. </p>



<p>“We identified 11 chemical combinations from plastic products that affect these signal receptors,” said Associate Professor Wagner.</p>



<p>Even small tweaks to those pathways can ripple outward. A lab analysis linked phthalate exposure to about 350,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-worsens-cardiovascular-health-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular-related</a> deaths worldwide in 2018, with middle-aged adults carrying the heaviest burden. </p>



<p>The authors warned that phthalates may increase risks tied to obesity and high blood pressure, suggesting the true health toll could be higher.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-bpa-and-phthalates">Beyond BPA and phthalates</h2>



<p>When BPA drew fire, manufacturers shifted to related chemicals such as bisphenol S and bisphenol F. </p>



<p>A 2024 study found these replacements cause the same cellular disruptions linked to obesity and diabetes, challenging the comfort offered by “BPA-free” labels on water bottles and baby cups.</p>



<p>With more than 13,000 known plastic chemicals - and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/4200-harmful-plastic-chemicals-hidden-in-everyday-objects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">many still unlisted</a> - scientists say a substance-by-substance approach cannot keep up. </p>



<p>“These and previous findings show that plastic exposes us to toxic chemicals. They support the theory that we need to redesign plastic to make it safer,” Wagner continued.</p>



<p>Research teams are now testing plant-based polymers that break down quickly yet still block oxygen and moisture, two qualities valued by food producers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-momentum-for-safer-plastics">Global momentum for safer plastics</h2>



<p>Negotiators from 175 countries met in Ottawa last year to shape a <a href="https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations treaty</a> aimed at ending plastic pollution “from source to sea.” </p>



<p>Talks focused on additive databases and phase-outs for the most hazardous compounds, recognizing that pollution begins long before a bottle reaches the ocean. </p>



<p>Delegates hope to finalize text at a fifth session later this year, setting the stage for formal adoption in 2026.</p>



<p>While the treaty inches ahead, some regulators are moving on their own. The <a href="https://echa.europa.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Chemicals Agency</a> has listed dozens of plasticizers as substances of very high concern, and several U.S. states now ban BPA in food-contact materials. </p>



<p>Industry trade groups, meanwhile, are building open registries of additives to anticipate stricter disclosure rules, signaling that even manufacturers see change on the horizon.</p>



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



<p>Researchers are racing to map the many unknown plastic chemicals that standard tests miss. </p>



<p>High-resolution mass spectrometry, machine-learning models that predict biological activity, and expanding open databases are shrinking that blind spot, but laws often trail the lab work by years.</p>



<p>In the meantime, practical steps can trim exposure: choosing fresh or frozen foods over canned, microwaving leftovers in glass, swapping scratched non-stick pans for stainless steel, and airing out that new-car smell before long drives. </p>



<p>Small moves matter, because evidence suggests risk rises with every sip from a soft plastic bottle and every bite that rides down a plastic-lined conveyor. The wrapper may be tossed in seconds, but its chemistry can linger in the body for years.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c08250" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Science and Technology</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Common plastic food packaging found to contain 9,936 harmful chemicals

You grab a pre-made sandwich from the fridge, tear off...

<p>Gloucester is buzzing with talk about an unexpected archaeological find beneath a long-abandoned department store in its center. Workers preparing to renovate the space stumbled onto traces of ancient history that ended up including 317 human skeletons.</p>



<p>For months, the site was just another outdated commercial block that needed a facelift. Nobody guessed what mysteries lurked just below the floor.</p>



<p>Heading up the operation is archaeologist <a href="https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/personDetails.xhtml?personId=781" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cliff Bateman</a> from Cotswold Archaeology, who began investigating the area when the <a href="https://www.glos.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Gloucestershire</a> decided to build a new city campus there. </p>



<p>This initiative quickly took an unexpected turn once the team realized the scale of hidden structures, vaults, and graves.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-piecing-together-gloucester-s-distant-past">Piecing together Gloucester's distant past</h2>



<p>Gloucester traces its <a href="https://www.gloucestercivictrust.org/a-brief-history-of-gloucester/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">origins</a> to a legionary fortress constructed by the Romans in the AD 40s. Traces of those early foundations have surfaced in different parts of the city, hinting at an intricate puzzle that spans nearly two thousand years.</p>



<p>This newly uncovered site lies in what once might have been the <a href="https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">northeast quadrant</a> of that Roman town. In the basement, experts discovered mosaic floors that confirm the presence of ancient dwellings.</p>



<p>Centuries of continuous occupation turned the area into a layered hub of Roman, medieval, and post-medieval development. The find sheds new light on how the city evolved over time, from imperial frontier outpost to bustling trade center.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncovering-st-aldate-s-church">Uncovering St. Aldate’s church</h2>



<p>Buried beneath the modern facade, archaeologists located the footing of an 18th century building known as St. Aldate’s Church. Constructed around the mid-1700s, it was eventually demolished in 1960 to make way for new uses.</p>



<p>Historical records suggest the site replaced a much older church that may have stood before the Norman Conquest. Conflicts during the <a href="https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Origins-of-the-English-Civil-War/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">English Civil War</a> forced massive structural changes across Gloucester, and it appears that the earlier church did not survive.</p>



<p>Near this later structure, the team documented 83 brick burial vaults and other graves that held 317 skeletons. Several coffins lay within well-preserved brick enclosures, offering a glimpse into past funeral customs.</p>



<p>Such details might help historians piece together shifting traditions in church architecture and burial practices. Alongside these findings, the crew retrieved objects ranging from bits of Roman pottery to fragments of a post-medieval wine bottle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-intriguing-clues-from-the-16th-century">Tracking intriguing clues from the 16th century</h2>



<p>Among the most fascinating discoveries was a tobacco pipe that points to changing habits and trade networks in the 1500s. Experts also note that some human remains showed telltale signs of rising sugar consumption during this era.</p>



<p>Researchers plan to conduct more detailed studies of those teeth and bones to learn about health and lifestyles hundreds of years ago. They believe the shift in food availability and global trade routes left a direct imprint on dental records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-it-matters-for-modern-gloucester">Why it matters for modern gloucester</h2>



<p>The University of Gloucestershire hopes that these insights will add to local appreciation of the city’s layered identity. </p>



<p>Each uncovered fragment reminds residents that they walk over a tapestry of stories that has been woven across centuries.</p>



<p>Planners envision a city campus that respects this cultural wealth while providing modern spaces for teaching and community events. Digging deeper has proven that progress can go hand in hand with preserving knowledge of the past.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reflections-from-the-lead-archaeologist">Reflections from the lead archaeologist</h2>



<p>“It’s a massively important place,” said <a href="https://www.glos.ac.uk/content/new-archaeological-discovery-at-site-of-city-campus-in-gloucester/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bateman</a>. He has been exploring Gloucester's hidden layers for decades and believes this city still holds many untold secrets.</p>



<p>His longtime affiliation with Cotswold archaeology has brought him face-to-face with countless artifacts and remains. This project, however, stands out because of its scope and the remarkable variety of eras uncovered at once.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead">Looking ahead</h2>



<p>Although fieldwork is complete, the research phase is only beginning. Specialists will analyze the skeletons, vaults, and everyday items to learn about disease prevalence, dietary habits, and social customs.</p>



<p>By examining enamel wear, carbon isotopes, and other data points, scientists aim to pinpoint evidence of changing diets and lifestyles. Future generations of students and residents might benefit from exhibits and educational programs inspired by these findings.</p>



<p>Local historians look forward to fresh research that connects these revelations with written accounts from the middle ages. Clues from excavated pottery, structural remnants, and skeletal remains may reveal how communities coped with war, religion, and shifting economies.</p>



<p>Archaeology has a unique way of bridging the gap between present and past. Uncovering physical traces of vanished worlds reminds everyone that Gloucester's modern face rests on a bedrock of layered experiences.</p>



<p>This project began with a simple plan to repurpose an old department store. It ended up transforming how we see the city’s deeper narrative.</p>



<p>Rethinking today’s construction efforts sometimes means looking at yesteryear’s footprints. The analysis of these remains might reshape Gloucester's place in the greater history of Britain..</p>



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317 skeletons from the Roman Empire found beneath an old shopping center

Gloucester is buzzing with talk about an unexpected archaeological find...

<p>The personality possessed by a spider is distinct and may be similar to humans. But a group of African social spiders - often nicknamed ‘hippie spiders’ for their peaceful and cooperative lifestyles - might not fit that personality mold at all, according to recent observations by researchers.</p>



<p>Instead of having fixed traits or roles, these spiders seem to change their behavior from week to week. It’s as if individuality, at least in their case, is a moving target. </p>



<p>In a new study, scientists from the <a href="https://www.port.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Portsmouth</a> took a close look at the behavior of <em>Stegodyphus dumicola</em>, a species known for living in cooperative groups.</p>



<p>Over a four-month period, they carefully tracked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiders-can-protect-tomatoes-from-invasive-pests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spider colonies</a> to see how their behavior held up over time, across different conditions and situations. What they found challenges what we think we know about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-personalities-can-shape-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal personalities</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spider-personalities-keep-us-guessing">Spider personalities keep us guessing</h2>



<p>Traditionally, personality in animals is defined by behavior that stays the same across time and different situations. But these spiders don’t follow that rule.</p>



<p>The researchers observed 28 colonies, measuring how the spiders behaved when startled, how bold or timid they were, and how quickly they helped capture prey as a team. These checks were repeated every two weeks.</p>



<p>At first, spiders did show some consistency in personality. But over time, that consistency fell apart. An individual that acted brave in one moment might seem shy in the next. Even hunger and environmental changes may have played a role in these shifting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprising-breeding-behaviors-of-giant-sea-spiders-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behaviors</a>.</p>



<p>Dr Lena Grinsted is a senior lecturer of zoology in the School of the Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Portsmouth.</p>



<p>"Our study raises the question of whether these spiders truly have personalities at all. We found that their behavior fluctuates so much that it’s misleading to classify individuals as having stable personality traits," noted Dr. Grinsted.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-spider-society">Rethinking spider society</h2>



<p>Previous studies suggested these spiders had set roles - some being foragers, others acting as babysitters. It made sense at the time. These spiders live in tight-knit colonies, share food, and even sacrifice themselves to protect their young. </p>



<p>The idea that each spider might serve a particular purpose seemed logical. But the new findings paint a different picture. Rather than playing specific roles, spiders appear to change jobs depending on the situation. Their behavior is more flexible than fixed.</p>



<p>“It’s tempting to assume that these cooperative spiders have defined roles within their societies, just as we see in some other social animals, like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-many-ants-live-on-earth-at-any-point-in-time-total-number-is-astounding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ants</a>,” said Dr Grinsted. </p>



<p>“However, our findings suggest they may instead live in an even more equal society than expected, where individuals participate in tasks as needed rather than being locked into specific behavioral roles.”</p>



<p>This kind of flexibility could mean that the way we’ve been studying animal personality - especially in social spiders - needs to change. Short-term tests and one-off observations may not be enough to tell the full story.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-learned-from-hippie-spiders">What we learned from hippie spiders</h2>



<p>If we want to understand how behavior influences evolution or ecology, we’ll need to rethink how we measure it. The researchers urge scientists to watch <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-tool-superanimal-can-accurately-analyze-animal-behavior/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal behavior</a> for longer periods and to question the methods used in past personality studies.</p>



<p>Quick snapshots of behavior might capture a moment, but they miss the bigger picture. Long-term patterns can reveal the subtle shifts that short-term tests often overlook.</p>



<p>“This challenges the idea that individual personalities drive evolutionary and ecological outcomes in this species - at least based on using traditional methods to assess personality in spiders,” said Dr Grinsted. </p>



<p>She noted that the study really highlights the importance of understanding how behavior changes over the course of an animal’s lifetime.</p>



<p>“Our humble ‘hippie’ spiders have demonstrated how categorizing individuals into ‘bold’, ‘shy’ or ‘aggressive’ based on a few observations is not just inaccurate, it may lead to wrong conclusions about evolutionary outcomes. So, much like people, you can’t judge a spider on first impressions and they’re not a fan of labels either!”</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0003347225000946" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animal Behaviour</a></em>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Dr Virginia Settepani</p>



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Do spiders have personalities? What new research reveals

The personality possessed by a spider is distinct and may...

<p>High in the Dolomites of northern Italy, a quiet forest of spruce trees witnessed a cosmic event. As the moon began its slow passage across the face of the sun, these trees did something extraordinary. They didn’t just react to the solar eclipse - they prepared for it. </p>



<p>Hours before the eclipse unfolded, the inner signals of the trees began to shift in synchrony, echoing across the forest like an invisible wave.</p>



<p>What if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-losing-the-battle-against-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forests</a> could think? What if they didn’t just survive but sensed, remembered, and collectively adapted? These questions are no longer the domain of poetic speculation. A new international study has brought scientific weight to these ideas, revealing a forest’s capacity for anticipation and communication.</p>



<p>Led by Professor Alessandro Chiolerio of the Italian Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.iit.it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IIT</a>) and the University of the West of England (<a href="https://www.uwe.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UWE</a>), and Professor Monica Gagliano of <a href="https://www.scu.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Cross University</a>, the research shows how spruce trees behave not just as individuals but as members of a responsive, interconnected ecosystem.</p>



<p>The trees began altering their bioelectrical rhythms well before the eclipse. This wasn’t passive reaction - it was a coordinated prelude.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-older-trees-sense-eclipse-first">Older trees sense eclipse first</h2>



<p>The researchers placed specialized sensors on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planting-new-trees-brings-hope-for-healthier-babies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trees</a> ranging from decades-old elders to young saplings. The trees’ bioelectrical signals - minute voltage changes across their tissues - began shifting as early as 14 hours before the solar eclipse occurred.</p>



<p>Remarkably, older trees were the first to display these changes. They exhibited increased entropy and bioelectrical complexity long before the event, suggesting deep memory rooted in past experiences. </p>



<p>These ancient trees acted as environmental archives, holding clues from previous eclipses and perhaps other rare events that have repeated over their long lives.</p>



<p>“The fact that older trees respond first - potentially guiding the collective response of the forest - speaks volumes about their role as memory banks of past environmental events,” said Professor Gagliano.</p>



<p>This age-based hierarchy of response shows that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-trees-are-reaching-new-heights-in-the-mountains/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trees</a> are not just passive organisms. Instead, they may actively use memory to shape real-time responses to future events. The old trees don’t simply endure - they teach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-signals-sync-before-an-eclipse">Tree signals sync before an eclipse</h2>



<p>Custom-built CyberTree sensors recorded data from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/slow-and-steady-tree-growth-wins-the-race-for-carbon-capture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trees</a> at four distinct forest sites. Trees of different ages and light exposure were included. Some trees were healthy and tall, others young and shaded, and several were even stumps from felled trees.</p>



<p>In one 20-year-old tree, researchers noticed sharp, square-wave-like bioelectrical spikes hours before the eclipse. These signals vanished immediately after the event, creating a clear boundary in the data. </p>



<p>Older trees showed broader but more persistent fluctuations. During the eclipse itself, bioelectrical activity became less chaotic and more ordered.</p>



<p>“This study illustrates the anticipatory and synchronized responses we observed are key to understanding how forests communicate and adapt, revealing a new layer of complexity in plant behavior,” explained Professor Gagliano.</p>



<p>This coordination wasn’t superficial. It ran deep through the trees’ vascular systems - through xylem and phloem - recorded using electrodes both within trunks and around their circumference. The result was a living, electrical map of the forest’s inner state.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-whole-forest-acts-as-one-system">Whole forest acts as one system</h2>



<p>The synchrony wasn’t limited to isolated trees. Researchers applied cross-correlation analysis to examine relationships among signals from different trees. What they found was striking. As the eclipse approached, trees didn’t just change individually. They aligned with each other.</p>



<p>Compared to normal days, during the eclipse the trees exhibited larger deviations in signal symmetry. This meant the forest wasn’t operating randomly. Each tree’s electrical behavior influenced - and was influenced by - others. These shifts showed signs of communication and responsiveness beyond traditional ecological models.</p>



<p>“We now see the forest not as a mere collection of individuals, but as an orchestra of phase correlated plants,” said Professor Chiolerio.</p>



<p>Especially strong synchrony occurred between the oldest trees, suggesting that longevity also brings a central role in networked behaviors. Their signals moved together like synchronized swimmers, responding as one to the cosmic shift overhead.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-trees-align-their-behavior">How trees align their behavior</h2>



<p>To make sense of this synchrony, the team turned to an unlikely ally - quantum field theory (QFT). Trees, they argued, are open, dissipative systems. They constantly exchange energy with their environment, and classical physics falls short in describing their complex coordination.</p>



<p>By using thermal QFT models, the researchers could describe the trees' behavior at both molecular and systemic levels. They showed how microscopic structures like ion channels and water molecules aligned their activity, giving rise to coherent macroscopic behavior.</p>



<p>In this framework, the forest’s response becomes a form of spontaneous symmetry breaking. That is, a small environmental trigger - in this case, the eclipse - produces a large-scale shift in system organization.</p>



<p>During the eclipse, the system’s entropy dropped, coherence increased, and the forest appeared to enter a new state - like an orchestra locking into tempo after tuning their instruments. The forest was not only alive. It was aware.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gravity-may-cue-the-response">Gravity may cue the response</h2>



<p>A mystery remained: how could trees begin responding before the eclipse even started? The usual suspects - light, temperature, and humidity - couldn’t explain it. Trees began shifting their signals when it was still daylight and warm, and the Moon was far from their sky.</p>



<p>The authors propose another trigger: gravimetric tides. These are subtle shifts in Earth’s gravitational field caused by the alignment of the Moon and Sun. During a solar eclipse, especially one aligned with a Saros cycle, these tides peak.</p>



<p>Such gravimetric cues are hard for humans to detect, but not for trees. Their deep-rooted structure and fluid dynamics make them excellent sensors. Older trees, which have lived through several Saros cycles, may recognize this pattern and respond early.</p>



<p>“This discovery underscores the critical importance of protecting older forests, which serve as pillars of ecosystem resilience by preserving and transmitting invaluable ecological knowledge,” said Professor Gagliano.</p>



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



<p>This research expands our understanding of what a forest is. No longer can we see it as a collection of competing individuals. The trees synchronize their internal processes, align responses to stimuli, and likely share information across time and space.</p>



<p>This makes old-growth forests irreplaceable. Logging them erases not just biomass, but knowledge - decades or centuries of stored information that newer trees have not yet acquired.</p>



<p>From the lens of ecological stability, these forests act like community elders. They modulate, anticipate, and respond, ensuring the forest survives sudden changes. Protecting them becomes not only an act of conservation, but an act of safeguarding planetary memory.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hidden-intelligence-of-forests">The hidden intelligence of forests</h2>



<p>To share this finding with a wider audience, the research team collaborated on a documentary. <em>Il Codice del Bosco</em> (<em>The Forest Code</em>) is scheduled for release in Italy in May 2025. It brings the forest’s hidden world to life, showing trees as responsive and intelligent beings.</p>



<p>“Basically, we are watching the famous ‘wood wide web’ in action!” said Professor Gagliano.</p>



<p>The documentary will visualize the forest’s electrical signals, offering viewers a glimpse into a world usually invisible. It represents a step toward redefining how we relate to nature - not as masters, but as fellow participants.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trees-remember-eclipses-and-adapt">Trees remember eclipses and adapt</h2>



<p>The study of spruce trees during a solar eclipse has revealed something profound. Trees do not simply endure. They anticipate, adapt, and align with each other through non-verbal, bioelectrical communication. They exhibit behaviors long thought reserved for animals - coordination, memory, and possibly a form of decision-making.</p>



<p>As we understand this hidden intelligence, our approach to ecology must evolve. Forests are not just lungs of the planet. They are its silent minds - thinking slowly, speaking in signals, and remembering events we cannot see.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241786" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Society Open Science</a>.</em></p>



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Trees sync up their communication signals before a solar eclipse

High in the Dolomites of northern Italy, a quiet forest...

<p>Quantum experiments keep stirring up surprises. The latest involves an unusual property inside thin layers of molybdenum ditelluride crystals, twisted slightly to form a patterned lattice. Scientists have discovered more than a dozen new quantum states in these twisted layers.</p>



<p>The research was led by Xiaoyang Zhu at <a href="https://www.columbia.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a>, whose recent experiments hint at possible paths toward sturdier <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-form-of-quantum-entanglement-discovered-will-transform-next-gen-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum</a> computers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-of-new-quantum-states">Discovery of new quantum states</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1998/9580-practice-and-theory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hall effect</a> was first observed in 1879, when Edwin Hall noticed how electrons drift to one side of a metal strip under a magnetic field. It seemed straightforward until researchers spotted a related behavior at frigid temperatures, known as the <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2369245" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fractional quantum Hall effect.</a>&nbsp;</p>



<p>“It implies that many electrons, acting in concert, can create new particles having a charge smaller than the charge of any individual electron,” explained Horst Stormer, Columbia Professor Emeritus at the end of the 20th century.</p>



<p>Those fractional charges baffled many scientists. Before long, entire families of quantum states were predicted. Over the past few decades, teams around the world searched for them in different materials, adding to what some call a growing zoo of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-gates-teleported-a-leap-toward-scalable-computing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">possibilities</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-quantum-behavior-in-crystal-layers">New quantum behavior in crystal layers</h2>



<p>Scientists found that twisting ultrathin layers of certain crystals rearranges their electrons. This pattern is called a <a href="https://opg.optica.org/josa/abstract.cfm?uri=josa-64-10-1287" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moiré configuration</a>, and it sets the stage for unusual effects. One result is a hidden internal magnet-like field, which emerges even when no external magnet is used.</p>



<p>“Some of these states have never been seen before,” said Xiaoyang Zhu. The researchers hope some of these new discoveries will bolster topological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baffling-quantum-entanglement-statistics-puzzle-finally-solved-advanced-technologies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum</a> computing, an approach that could avoid many of the errors seen in present devices.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strange-particles-carry-electron-pieces">Strange particles carry electron pieces</h2>



<p>Another set of curious particles found in this material might be <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/0707.1889" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">non-Abelian anyons</a>, which carry fractional charges. </p>



<p>Experts have suggested these unusual entities could store information better than standard bits, thanks to topological properties. They have been difficult to verify in actual experiments, so spotting fresh hints of them fires up new discussions.</p>



<p>Many prior attempts relied on strong magnets to prod electrons. The trouble was that superconducting materials, often used in quantum computing, get thrown off by magnetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-speed-is-measured-first-time-too-fast-for-humans-minds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fields</a>. Twisted <em>molybdenum ditelluride </em>appears to solve that conflict by generating internal fields on its own.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-laser-pulses-reveal-quantum-states">Laser pulses reveal quantum states</h2>



<p>Zhu’s team used a pump-probe method. One powerful laser pulse “melts” the electronic arrangement, while a second pulse measures subtle changes in the <a href="https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/dielectric-constant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dielectric constant</a>, which indicates how charges interact. </p>



<p>This approach is sensitive enough to catch a long list of fractional energy states that remain hidden under static measurements.</p>



<p>“This discovery also establishes pump-probe spectroscopy as hitherto the most sensitive technique in detecting quantum states of matter,” said Zhu. The quick laser flashes reveal short-lived details that are otherwise missed.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“They just keep surprising us, especially when we push them out of equilibrium,” said Yiping Wang, a postdoctoral researcher involved in the experiments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connections-to-quantum-computers">Connections to quantum computers</h2>



<p>Researchers have long chased designs for <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.48.1559" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">topological quantum computers</a> that might avoid many forms of noise. </p>



<p>The idea is that braided groups of non-Abelian anyons could lock data into robust states. Finding ways to generate those states without magnets is a big deal, because it clears away a major engineering hurdle.</p>



<p>It’s still unknown which of these newly observed states will prove the most useful. But there is hope that a fraction of them might become the missing pieces needed to assemble next-level quantum machines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-quantum-states-react-to-rapid-changes">How quantum states react to rapid changes</h2>



<p>Pump-probe methods also show how these states respond to small disturbances over billionths of a second. Researchers observed that some states scramble quickly, while others respond more slowly. </p>



<p>These separate timescales may tell us something about how electrons and crystal vibrations pass information back and forth.</p>



<p>Extended data from these results will keep theorists busy. Shining rapid lasers on twisted bilayers adds a time dimension to the usual mix of charge and spin. Lab tests that focus on these sub-picosecond signals give a deeper look at electron interactions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-quantum-states-may-emerge">More quantum states may emerge</h2>



<p>What happens when other moiré materials are twisted at different angles? Scientists anticipate more quantum discoveries as they fine-tune the spacing between atoms. The group that studied molybdenum ditelluride thinks similar approaches could reveal additional hidden states in other layered systems.</p>



<p>This research also opens the door to exotic states on both the electron-doped side and the hole-doped side of these structures. If patterns continue, there may be more undiscovered phases lurking in corners of the moiré lattice. The quest is still unfolding.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-growing-variety-of-quantum-states">A growing variety of quantum states</h2>



<p>Quantum science is a rapidly expanding field. Teams worldwide are racing to characterize new materials and see if these phases lead to better electronics or advanced sensors. A single crystal can support many unique charges that lock together in unexpected ways.</p>



<p>There is a sense that this exploration is nowhere near complete. New tools, including ultrafast lasers, keep shining light on subtle effects that traditional instruments can’t detect. The results might be far greater than what we can predict.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08954-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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New quantum states found in crystal layers could boost computing

Quantum experiments keep stirring up surprises. The latest involves an...

<p>Humans have long accepted that we get one replacement set of teeth after our baby ones. The idea of sprouting another tooth by simply taking a pill has sounded like pure science fiction in everyday life.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.dentinova.co.uk/2025/02/26/dr-katsu-takahashi-a-visionary-in-teeth-regeneration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Katsu Takahashi</a> and his team at the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital in Osaka, Japan, have been exploring the possibility of helping people grow new teeth. The clinical trial began in July 2024 in hopes of making the treatment publicly available by 2030.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-missing-teeth-and-protein">Missing teeth and protein</h2>



<p>An estimated <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24168-anodontia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anodontia</a> rate of around <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0528.2004.00158.x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1%</a> of the general population presents a problem for those who cannot develop a complete set of permanent teeth. </p>



<p>This condition can affect speech and eating from an early age. Traditional treatments often involve dentures or dental implants, but these approaches can carry inconveniences for young children.</p>



<p>Researchers believe the new therapy could help children aged 2 to 6 who lack adult teeth. They are examining a way to block a protein linked with limiting tooth growth in mammals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protein-blocking-breakthrough">Protein blocking breakthrough</h2>



<p>Years ago, scientists discovered that the <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abf1798" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USAG-1 protein</a> plays a direct role in regulating the development of new teeth. When this protein is active, it can prevent additional teeth from forming. </p>



<p>By crafting a medication to neutralize it, Takahashi’s team encouraged animals to grow teeth beyond their normal sets.</p>



<p>The researchers tested their medication on mice with missing teeth. They observed tooth development in those mice where none had grown before.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-discovery-matters">Why the discovery matters</h2>



<p>Most people are born with two sets of teeth. Yet some animals - like sharks - regrow many sets as needed. Scientists once believed humans did not have any spare tooth buds beyond baby and adult teeth, but evidence now suggests we have a latent third set.</p>



<p>“The idea of growing new teeth is every dentist’s dream. I’ve been working on this since I was a graduate student. I was confident I’d be able to make it happen,” said Takahashi. </p>



<p>Some individuals show a tendency toward <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hyperdontia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hyperdontia</a>, which means they form extra teeth. One in three such cases involves growth of a third set.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-research-on-protein-and-teeth">Animal research on protein and teeth</h2>



<p>Trials on <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32922570/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mice</a> paved the way for studies in ferrets. The medication spurred the growth of an extra front tooth, suggesting that ferrets - like mice - possess the capacity for additional sets. It showed that what was once dormant could be nudged into action with the right approach.</p>



<p>Researchers emphasize the potential impact for those with tooth agenesis, another term for missing teeth. Many with missing teeth struggle from an early age due to problems with speech and chewing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-human-benefits">Potential human benefits</h2>



<p>Clinical trials in humans will aim to confirm the therapy’s safety. Takahashi believes an added set of teeth might someday become a realistic option for those who have lost teeth or never formed them in the first place. </p>



<p>“In any case, we’re hoping to see a time when tooth-regrowth medicine is a third choice alongside dentures and implants,” said Takahashi.</p>



<p>Dentists typically turn to implants or dentures, which require maintenance and can be uncomfortable. The proposed medication seeks to offer a biological alternative.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-on-the-road-ahead">Challenges on the road ahead</h2>



<p>Safe human testing remains a key goal. Regulatory reviews will be crucial to confirm there are no adverse effects. The team hopes that in six years, regrowing teeth for therapeutic purposes will be a common procedure.</p>



<p>Research in genetics has opened possibilities for medicine that once seemed too ambitious. Understanding how to spur a new set of teeth is a major step in combining genetics and dentistry for practical solutions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shaping-the-future-of-dentistry">Shaping the future of dentistry</h2>



<p>Scientists around the world have been intrigued by similar regenerative procedures. Some labs study <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/154405910408300703" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stem cells</a>, while others explore chemical triggers for tooth development. The search for a viable therapy has been active for decades.</p>



<p>Takahashi’s approach hinges on a well-defined protein target. If successful, it might also encourage the development of treatments for other dental conditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-it-works">How it works</h2>



<p>The medication contains an antibody designed to block USAG-1. When that happens, tooth buds have fewer barriers stopping them from maturing. </p>



<p>By directing the body’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-happens-to-our-teeth-as-we-age-new-details-have-emerged/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural growth process</a>, researchers aim to produce strong and fully formed teeth.</p>



<p>The hope is that those who never had a complete set can finally grow a replacement. Many doctors see it as a potential game-changer in oral health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-optimism">Signs of optimism</h2>



<p>In many cases, missing teeth lead to lifelong issues. Families handle multiple rounds of dental visits for children in need of prosthetics or implants. </p>



<p>If these trials confirm the safety and effectiveness of the therapy, the days of coping with artificial replacements might become less common.</p>



<p>Though the journey from mouse studies to human trials can be long, Takahashi’s team is excited about the milestone. They view their discovery as a chance to rewrite what is possible for tooth restoration.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead">Looking ahead</h2>



<p>The research community will watch these clinical trials in Japan to see if the technique can be reliably repeated in people. </p>



<p>If it works, it may shape a future where anyone could regrow a natural tooth. That prospect alone has generated plenty of curiosity and interest.</p>



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Scientists successfully grow human teeth in a laboratory for the first time

Humans have long accepted that we get one replacement set...

<p>In the global climate crisis, some effects shout louder than others - rising sea levels, scorched forests, and lost biodiversity dominate headlines. Yet beneath these urgent visuals lies a quieter devastation: education disrupted by tropical cyclones. </p>



<p>For many children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the storm does not end when the winds die down.</p>



<p>A new Stanford-led study reveals that these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-takes-a-major-toll-on-childrens-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate events</a> are quietly but deeply damaging schooling, especially for young girls.</p>



<p>Published in the <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em>, the study investigates the connection between exposure to tropical cyclones and decreased likelihood of attending school. </p>



<p>The researchers examined over 5.4 million individual schooling records across 13 LMICs, covering five decades of data. The conclusions are alarming: children who face tropical cyclones at an early age are significantly less likely to start school at all.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-cyclone-exposure-alters-lifelong-outcomes">Early cyclone exposure alters lifelong outcomes</h2>



<p>Tropical cyclones - storms known for violent winds and torrential rain - bring more than temporary ruin. They destroy homes and schools, block roads, and force families into survival mode.</p>



<p>In this environment, schooling is often pushed aside, particularly for children at the most critical stages of education. The study found that exposure at preschool age - around 5 or 6 years old - leads to a 2.5% increased risk of never attending school. After strong storms, this risk rises to as much as 8.8 percent.</p>



<p>“There’s a sweet spot - or maybe I should say a sour spot - where cyclones are intense enough but also rare enough to wreak havoc that causes children to lose out on the opportunity to attend school,” said study senior author Eran Bendavid, a professor of medicine and health policy at Stanford.</p>



<p>While some communities have learned to prepare for such disasters, others remain vulnerable due to infrequent exposure. These communities often lack the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-our-power-our-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resources</a> or infrastructure to recover quickly. </p>



<p>Children, especially girls, are pulled from school to support household needs or because school buildings no longer exist.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-girls-face-greater-educational-losses">Girls face greater educational losses</h2>



<p>The impact of cyclones is not evenly distributed. Girls bear a disproportionate burden. </p>



<p>When disasters strike, cultural and economic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">norms</a> often require girls to stay home, care for younger siblings, or help rebuild. The study reveals that girls experience a 0.6 percentage point increase in the likelihood of never attending school, compared to 0.3 for boys.</p>



<p>These findings reflect deeply embedded gender inequalities, especially in communities where education is already undervalued. In places with low baseline schooling rates, the losses are more severe. This creates a layered crisis: natural disasters compound existing disparities, making it even harder for girls to access education.</p>



<p>“Education is key to personal development, but tropical cyclones are depriving vulnerable populations of the opportunity to go to school,” said study lead author Renzhi Jing, a postdoctoral scholar at <a href="https://med.stanford.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford School of Medicine</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-communities-suffer-most">Which communities suffer most?</h2>



<p>Interestingly, the research highlights that areas regularly hit by cyclones often experience fewer educational disruptions. </p>



<p>Communities exposed to frequent storms may have adapted through stronger infrastructure or improved social resilience. They may rebuild schools faster or have systems to support displaced students. In contrast, areas with little past exposure suffer more because they have no such defenses.</p>



<p>The study classified exposure by frequency using “return periods.” Communities with a return period greater than 20 years - meaning storms happen rarely - were the most affected.</p>



<p>In these regions, cyclones increased the likelihood of no schooling by 0.7 percentage points. Communities with frequent exposure showed little or no impact, suggesting adaptation helps reduce educational loss.</p>



<p>In practical terms, this means that storms hurt the most where people least expect or prepare for them. As climate change alters weather <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-climate-change-is-impacting-infant-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">patterns</a>, more regions may move into this dangerous “sour spot” of infrequent but severe cyclone exposure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cyclones-and-lost-years-of-education">Cyclones and lost years of education</h2>



<p>The setbacks are not limited to whether a child starts school. The study examined long-term educational outcomes and found cascading consequences. </p>



<p>Children exposed to tropical cyclones at preschool age were less likely to complete primary school or begin secondary education. Even among those who did enroll, storm exposure led to lower total years of schooling.</p>



<p>These trends show that even when families manage to get children back into school, the learning journey remains hindered. The effects do not fade with time. </p>



<p>This has lifelong implications, not just for individual development but also for economic and health outcomes. Communities where education falters tend to remain trapped in poverty, reinforcing a cycle that’s difficult to break.</p>



<p>From 2000 to 2020, the researchers estimated that in the 13 study countries, cyclones prevented 79,000 children from starting school. The total loss amounted to 1.1 million years of education. If expanded to all LMICs, that loss could exceed 1.5 million years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regions-with-the-greatest-losses">Regions with the greatest losses</h2>



<p>The greatest absolute losses occurred in countries with large populations and high cyclone exposure. India, Bangladesh, and Madagascar topped the list. </p>



<p>India alone accounted for about 22,000 children missing school, followed by 17,000 in Bangladesh and 14,000 in Madagascar. These countries also saw the highest total years of schooling lost.</p>



<p>Girls in these regions were particularly vulnerable. The researchers found that in most countries, more girls were affected than boys, by a factor of 0.9 to 6.2. These gendered outcomes suggest that any education-focused disaster response must address existing inequalities to be effective.</p>



<p>Interestingly, countries like the Philippines, despite frequent storms, showed smaller educational losses. High baseline enrollment and better adaptation may explain this resilience. Frequent exposure, when met with proper response strategies, may reduce long-term harm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-start-of-school-matters-most">Why the start of school matters most</h2>



<p>The preschool years, the researchers argue, are a pivotal window. Disruptions during this phase can set a child back permanently. </p>



<p>Once behind, children rarely catch up. Even if they later enroll, they face challenges in attendance, performance, and grade completion. The data show no clear evidence that children eventually recover the lost schooling, even in adulthood.</p>



<p>In addition to school buildings and materials, children’s emotional readiness and family stability are often impacted by storms. The study speculates that without long-term social and financial help, children never regain the momentum needed to succeed academically.</p>



<p>The authors also noted that tropical cyclones have both direct and indirect effects. Immediate physical destruction is only part of the story. Displacement, increased domestic work, and household financial stress all contribute to reduced schooling.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-future-cyclones">Preparing for future cyclones</h2>



<p>This research signals a critical need for targeted interventions. Disaster preparedness should go beyond food and shelter. It must include plans to maintain or restore access to education quickly. Girls need special attention, with policies that protect their right to return to school and thrive there.</p>



<p>The researchers argue that schools must be built to withstand storms, and communities must be educated on the importance of keeping children - especially girls - in school after disasters.</p>



<p>Government and international agencies need to invest in early recovery programs that prioritize education alongside physical reconstruction.</p>



<p>As climate change continues to increase the strength of tropical cyclones, the problem will grow. Without a shift in priorities, we risk raising a generation denied the right to learn - not by choice, but by storm.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2413962122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.</em></p>



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Tropical cyclones are preventing children from starting school

In the global climate crisis, some effects shout louder than...

<p>Ancient farmers left traces of their lives in items that might look mundane at first glance. The discovery of black henbane hallucinogenic seeds inside a hollowed-out animal bone at a Roman-era site in the Netherlands, though, has generated lively conversation among historians and scientists alike.</p>



<p>Curiosity ran high when experts determined the seeds belonged to a toxic plant known for its mind-altering properties. </p>



<p>The excitement around the find only grew when the team established that the seeds were placed inside the bone on purpose, not by accident.</p>



<p>Soon after the news broke, zooarchaeologist <a href="https://www.geschkult.fu-berlin.de/en/e/praehist/mitarbeiter/wimi/Groot.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maaike Groot</a> from the <a href="https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Free University</a> of Berlin provided more context on how communities in that era might have gathered and stored such potent plants. </p>



<p>This specialized knowledge underscored the importance of carefully examining unusual plant remains to better understand Roman life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unpacking-the-poisonous-plant">Unpacking the poisonous plant</h2>



<p>Black henbane has a notorious reputation as a dangerous herb that contains compounds like hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which can affect the nervous system. </p>



<p>Ancient texts mention how its leaves and seeds held both curative and hazardous qualities, leaving physicians wary of its dosage.</p>



<p>Its presence on disturbed land near rivers and settlements gave communities easy access to it. However, deciding whether the plant was simply a wild nuisance or intentionally collected has been a long-standing challenge for researchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unlikely-container-for-hallucinogenic-seeds">Unlikely container for hallucinogenic seeds</h2>



<p>One of the most intriguing artifacts is the hollowed-out bone sealed at one end with birch-bark tar. The object’s shape suggests it was carefully modified to store more than a thousand hallucinogenic henbane seeds found inside.</p>



<p>There were no marks of burning in this container, so the idea of it being a pipe seems less likely. Experts propose that it served as a handy capsule, safe from moisture and pests, ensuring the seeds stayed intact for future use.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-use-a-bone-instead-of-pottery">Why use a bone instead of pottery?</h2>



<p>Most containers from the Roman period were ceramic, but this bone tube stands out for its portability and durability. Its small size and natural hollow made it ideal for carrying high-potency materials that needed to stay dry.</p>



<p>Using birch-bark tar to seal one end shows deliberate craftsmanship. The material has waterproofing and adhesive qualities, making it a reliable choice when protecting the contents from the elements or pests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hallucinogenic-seeds-as-medicine">Hallucinogenic seeds as medicine</h2>



<p>References from antiquity detail a host of medical uses for black henbane in controlled amounts. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666851/">Dioscorides</a> wrote that it could soothe pain and reduce fevers, but he warned that its black variety was more potent and risky.</p>



<p>Pliny the Elder stated that henbane was “both a poison and a remedy” at once, but he noted it caused “insanity and giddiness” when misused, said <a href="https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plin.+Nat.+toc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pliny the Elder</a>. Their combined observations paint a picture of a plant that demanded both respect and fear.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connections-to-other-healing-herbs">Connections to other healing herbs</h2>



<p>Earlier work at a Roman fortress hospital in Neuss pointed to black henbane seeds alongside herbs such as dill and coriander. </p>



<p>This combination hinted that some communities treated black henbane like a legitimate medical supply rather than a mere weed.</p>



<p>At other sites in northwestern Europe, researchers noted the plant appearing with species known for healing properties, further suggesting that ancient healers carefully controlled its use. Such cases offer a broader view of how the seeds might have been prepared to address certain ailments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ritual-practices-and-hallucinogenic-seeds">Ritual practices and hallucinogenic seeds</h2>



<p>Another twist to the story lies in how these seeds sometimes appear in abandonment offerings or special deposits. </p>



<p>The bone container in the Netherlands turned up in a water pit, grouped with animal remains that might have had symbolic significance.</p>



<p>Some of these findings raise questions about whether the seeds served ceremonial or spiritual functions. Researchers emphasize that context is key, since a plant with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-nigerian-food-plants-have-cancer-fighting-properties/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pain-relieving qualities</a> might also feature in a cultural ritual.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expert-perspectives">Expert perspectives</h2>



<p>“We argue that future discoveries of henbane should be studied in the context of the find and its relationship to other medicinal plants,” explains Groot. </p>



<p>That view supports the idea that archaeology should look beyond isolated seeds and, instead, examine where and how they appear with other objects.</p>



<p>Even at hospitals, cult sites, or ordinary settlements, the surrounding items provide clues about why these powerful seeds were stashed away. This method helps separate accidental occurrences from genuine examples of thoughtful collection.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-uses-for-an-ancient-drug">Modern uses for an ancient drug</h2>



<p>Black henbane’s active compounds still find use in <a href="https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2189&amp;sectionid=165936845" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">p</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/americans-have-a-shocking-dependency-on-prescription-drugs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rescription medications</a> for conditions like motion sickness, under strict professional supervision. </p>



<p>Though the plant might be less common now, it serves as a reminder of how ancient pharmacopeias shaped today’s medical research.</p>



<p>The legacy of these seeds is both cautionary and enlightening. It shows how small things hidden in old bones can transform our view of the past one remarkable discovery at a time.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/evidence-of-the-intentional-use-of-black-henbane-hyoscyamus-niger-in-the-roman-netherlands/A06E000B17E1642C878E469157D5131C" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Antiquity</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Archaeologists find hallucinogenic seeds in ancient bones

Ancient farmers left traces of their lives in items that...

<p>Birds have always impressed people with beaks that come in every imaginable shape and form. This variety is striking, yet researchers discovered that nearly all follow a single mathematical guide.</p>



<p>One scientist who participated in this study is Dr. Kathleen L.S. Garland of <a href="https://www.monash.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monash University</a>. Her group investigated extinct dinosaurs alongside modern birds to see how a hidden formula <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-evolution-timeline-pushed-back-20-million-years-by-baminornis-zhenghensis-discovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">influences</a> different beak shapes over millions of years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-bird-beaks-follow-one-pattern">Most bird beaks follow one pattern</h2>



<p>Beaks may appear random, but many share the same geometric growth <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-adapt-their-survival-strategies-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pattern</a>. This special pattern is known as the power cascade, which looks at how a beak’s width increases from the tip to the base.</p>



<p>“We call this rule the 'power cascade,'” noted Dr. Garland. Scientists found that 95% of bird beaks observed fit that shape.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-evolution">What this means for evolution</h2>



<p>Finding a shared growth rule like this helps explain how such different-looking beaks evolved from a common base. It shows that birds didn’t need a new rule every time a new beak type appeared - just small tweaks to the same basic process.</p>



<p>This kind of pattern gives scientists a new tool to track how features evolve across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-birds-are-at-great-risk-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>. It could also help in studying how extinct animals adapted to their environments when direct evidence, like diet or behavior, is hard to find.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaurs-with-toothless-beaks">Dinosaurs with toothless beaks</h2>



<p>Many dinosaurs like <a href="https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/tyrannosaurus-rex" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Tyrannosaurus rex</em></a> had bony snouts and teeth. Others, however, evolved toothless beaks more than once in a group of meat-eating dinosaurs called <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/saurischia/theropoda.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theropods</a>.</p>



<p>Over 66 million years ago, only one line of beaked theropods survived a massive extinction. Those animals carried on and gradually turned into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-americas-birds-scientists-declare-a-full-on-emergency-in-the-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> we know today.</p>



<p>Most bird beaks, from the eagle’s slicing tip to the ostrich’s hefty bill, fit the shape pattern. A large dataset of 127 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-brains-and-wide-ranges-cant-save-birds-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> showed beaks that precisely match the geometry in question.</p>



<p>“We are excited to share our findings, now published in the journal <em>iScience</em>,” wrote Dr. Garland. According to the researchers, this growth guide is deeply rooted in developmental processes.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-beak-shape-links-to-diet">How beak shape links to diet</h2>



<p>Birds don’t just grow random beaks - those shapes often match what they eat. Scientists found that birds with thin, sharp beaks tend to eat meat, while birds with thicker, more robust beaks are more likely to eat plants or a mix of foods.</p>



<p>Even more interesting, the shape of a beak changes faster in birds that eat both plants and animals. </p>



<p>This mixed diet might push beaks to evolve more quickly, sometimes bending the usual rules as species adapt to different food sources.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-few-birds-evolved-unusual-beaks-nbsp">A few birds evolved unusual beaks&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Certain birds break the pattern by showcasing very unusual beaks. One odd example is the <a href="https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/eurasian-spoonbill-platalea-leucorodia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eurasian spoonbill</a>, which has a flat and spoon-like tool that helps it sift for aquatic meals.</p>



<p>Those few exceptions confirm that most needs are met by following the power cascade, but special cases can force beaks to develop in different ways. Researchers welcome these outliers because they reveal how flexible evolution can be.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-birds-need-extreme-beaks">Some birds need extreme beaks</h2>



<p>Some birds not only broke the rule but did it in very dramatic ways. The brown pelican and the ruby-throated hummingbird, for example, have beaks so specialized that they no longer fit the power cascade model..</p>



<p>Scientists think that when birds evolve for extreme lifestyles - like diving from the sky to catch fish or hovering while sipping nectar - normal growth patterns get thrown out the window in favor of unique designs.</p>



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



<p>Early results indicate that this rule may extend to other animals with elongated jaws or snouts. More studies on bird chicks could show exactly how beak tissues grow in stages that match or deviate from the pattern.</p>



<p>Scientists think this model might be found in the rostrum of fish, reptiles, and even mammals. They hope to uncover other growth secrets that trace back hundreds of millions of years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beak-rule-could-shape-future-research">Beak rule could shape future research</h2>



<p>Knowing that the power cascade shows up in so many places opens new doors for evolutionary biology. Researchers could use it to predict what extinct animals might have looked like, even when fossils are missing parts of their faces.</p>



<p>It could also help spot when and why certain groups, like early birds or marine reptiles, broke from expected growth patterns. Tracking those moments might tell us even more about how life adapts when the usual rules no longer apply.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)00507-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>iScience</em></a>.</p>



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