SCIENCES ENERGIES ENVIRONNEMENT

 

Dear olivier hartmanshenn,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for week 28: Paleontologists make 'one in a million' discovery of soft tissue preserved in 450-million-year-old fossil Exceptionally preserved tube feet in the Ordovician crinoid Dendrocrinus simcoensis represent the oldest known crinoid soft tissue and only the second such occurrence, enabling direct comparison with living crinoids. Tube-foot morphology informs feeding strategies and habitat use, refining crinoid evolutionary history and early Paleozoic reef ecology, and underscoring the critical role of museum collections in such discoveries.   New beetle genus named after One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy, encompassing two new species A new rove beetle genus, Luffy gen. nov., is described with two species, Luffy schillhammeri (China) and Luffy nika (Laos), characterized by notably elongated mouthparts and antennae. Morphological analysis of the Ocypus group defines synapomorphies of the Eucibdelus lineage and indicates Luffy as its probable sister group, filling a key phylogenetic gap in Staphylinina taxonomy.   Larger brain, smaller face: Human evolution took a different course than previously thought Analyses of 3D cranial data from 87 Homo fossils indicate that brain enlargement and facial reduction are better explained by neutral processes, evolutionary stasis, and constraints than by sustained directional selection. Major shifts in brain size appear linked to periods when developmental, energetic, and ecological constraints were relaxed, likely facilitated by cultural and technological innovations.   Alcohol drives opposite brain circuit changes in amyloid and tau Alzheimer's models Alcohol produced divergent effects on corticostriatal communication in Alzheimer’s mouse models, decreasing activity in amyloid-β pathology and increasing it in tau pathology. These opposite circuit responses contrast with expectations of additive risk. Alcohol also altered microglial responses, particularly in the amyloid model, indicating pathology-specific interactions with immune and neural processes.   What do Sardinia's Blue Zone elders do differently that helps them age so well physically and mentally? Sardinian Blue Zone elders show higher openness to experience, emotional competence, and engagement in mentally stimulating activities than nearby peers. Lower neuroticism is strongly associated with better health-related quality of life, while conscientiousness and agreeableness relate to greater life satisfaction. Effective coping and selective optimization with compensation appear central to successful aging.   Cave finds reveal modern humans and Neanderthals may have shared long-term cultural continuity Archaeological evidence from Üçağızlı II Cave in Türkiye shows Neanderthals and Homo sapiens occupied the same site using identical stone-tool technologies and survival strategies. Both selectively collected non-food marine shells, indicating shared symbolic behaviors. Fossils dated to 50,000–60,000 years ago fill a key gap in the Out of Africa dispersal record.   Researchers uncover possible cause of muscle pain from widely used cholesterol medication Statins impair muscle-cell energy metabolism, which activates an intrinsic immune response that damages muscle tissue and produces muscle pain and weakness. Blocking this immune pathway in cells and mouse models reduced statin-induced muscle damage. The mechanism underlying muscle toxicity appears separable from cholesterol-lowering effects, suggesting potential targets to prevent statin intolerance without compromising cardiovascular benefit.   New drug against metastatic prostate cancer made entirely from human proteins A fully human therapeutic antibody targeting mechanisms driving growth, invasiveness, and metastasis of aggressive prostate cancer inhibited both primary tumor growth and metastatic spread in preclinical models. The antibody acts via a novel mechanism that may reduce adverse effects. Further safety evaluation and regulatory assessment are required before clinical application.   Darwin's 150‑year‑old hillside steps mystery may have a new answer from virtual grazing animals Computational simulations of grazing animals on steep slopes indicate that simple foraging and energy-minimizing movement can generate terracette-like step patterns. Repeated sideways paths and soil compaction create stigmergic feedback, linking individual hoof impacts to emergent hillside-scale morphology and supporting an animal-driven contribution to terracette formation.   A long‑standing mystery in the deadliest breast cancer just yielded 81 new treatment targets A CRISPR-based in vivo screen in basal-like (triple-negative) breast cancer mapped 3,700 aneuploidy-associated genes and identified 81 previously unrecognized drivers, 90% missed by cell culture assays. The tool (CRISPR-KOALA) enables simultaneous gene knockout and activation. PLGRKT emerged as a key driver supporting hypoxic, metabolism-adapted tumor cell survival and represents a potential therapeutic target.   Shackleton's final ship is no longer just a sonar shadow A deep-sea expedition obtained the first close-up visual documentation of the wreck of Quest, Ernest Shackleton’s final ship, in the Labrador Sea using ROV and human-occupied submersible imaging. The wreck is largely intact but partly obscured and damaged by fishing nets, and is colonized by corals and fish. High-resolution photogrammetry will generate a 3D digital twin for further analysis and public access.   Not all birth controls are equal, some are linked to higher risk of brain tumors, study finds Analysis of Danish registry data indicates a modestly increased meningioma risk with several hormonal contraceptives, particularly medroxyprogesterone injections, high‑dose levonorgestrel IUDs, combined estrogen–progestogen pills, and desogestrel-only pills. Lower-dose IUDs showed no excess risk. Risk was highest in current or recent users and largely returned to baseline within about five years after discontinuation.   Most obesity drugs do not improve quality of life or heart health, analysis indicates Randomized trials of 19 obesity drugs show substantial 1-year weight and fat loss, with tirzepatide and CagriSema having the largest effects, but greater weight loss consistently coincides with more adverse events, lean mass loss, and treatment discontinuation. Clinically meaningful quality-of-life gains are generally absent, and cardiovascular benefits are limited, with robust evidence mainly for subcutaneous semaglutide and tirzepatide in heart failure risk reduction.   New study provides first evidence of dopamine system injury in the brain of long COVID patients PET imaging in individuals with long COVID shows reduced dopamine nerve terminal density across striatal regions, indicating injury to dopamine-releasing neurons. Decreases in ventral striatum, dorsal putamen, and caudate putamen correlate with loss of motivation, slowed movement, and memory problems, respectively. Findings support long COVID as a disorder involving dopaminergic system dysfunction.   Tiny Jurassic bird reveals a key step in bird evolution A Late Jurassic bird, Zhengheornis buyu, shows a tail with only 15 vertebrae and no pygostyle, indicating vertebral reduction and shortening preceded pygostyle fusion in avialan evolution. Phylogenetic analysis places it just above Archaeopteryx. Its shortened tail likely conferred aerodynamic benefits, and its small size supports substantial morphological diversification in Jurassic birds.   Quantum computers model nine fusion fuel material configurations for first time Quantum-centric supercomputing was used to calculate electronic structures for nine FLiBe molecular configurations with and without tritium, enabling more accurate modeling of tritium binding than classical approximations. The results characterize binding strengths and mechanisms across configurations, supporting optimization of molten-salt fusion blanket materials for tritium production.   New approach boosts microplastic removal from wastewater Micro-nanobubble integrated dissolved air flotation removed >90% of microplastics from wastewater, outperforming systems using only one bubble size. Microbubbles enhanced flotation, while nanobubbles improved particle attachment and aggregation, and performance remained high in realistic wastewater with organic matter and fats. The method can be implemented by optimizing existing plant operating conditions.   Physical laws explain why most flies evolved similar flight, with mosquitoes as outliers Across 133 dipteran species, wing kinematics and aerodynamics cluster around a narrow, physically constrained flight regime, indicating strong biomechanical limits on evolutionary diversification of flight. Mosquitoes deviate with extremely high wingbeat frequencies that reduce aerodynamic efficiency, likely reflecting adaptation for acoustic communication in mating swarms.   Full-fat dairy shows benefits without raising body fat or cholesterol, study finds In adults with overweight or obesity, consuming three daily servings of full‑fat dairy for 12 weeks did not increase body weight, body fat, or adverse blood lipid profiles compared with a low‑dairy, calorie‑restricted diet. Higher dairy intake improved blood pressure and increased calcium, protein, and vitamin D intake, supporting a whole‑food “dairy matrix” perspective over single‑nutrient focus.   Metallic rutile oxides break the rules of cooling Metallic and insulating rutile oxides share a crystal structure but differ in electron–phonon coupling. Raman scattering at low temperature shows insulating rutiles follow standard Klemens phonon stiffening, while metallic rutiles exhibit anomalously enhanced phonon hardening due to conduction electrons. This explains their divergent electronic behavior and informs design of rutile-based devices.