SCIENCES ENERGIES ENVIRONNEMENT

 

Dear olivier hartmanshenn,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for week 22: New mathematical model suggests global population crash by 2064 A nonlinear rate-feedback mathematical model accurately reproduces 12,000 years of global population growth, capturing both rapid and slow expansion phases within a unified framework. The model indicates that, under abrupt and severe reductions in Earth's carrying capacity, global population could decline rapidly, potentially halving by 2064, but current trends remain stable and do not suggest imminent collapse.   CAR T moves beyond cancer, targeting autoimmune disease with immune system reset CAR T cell therapy, originally developed for cancer, is being investigated for autoimmune diseases by targeting and eliminating pathogenic B cells, potentially resetting immune function. Early trials show promising symptom improvement and reduced need for other immunotherapies, but risks include severe inflammation, immunosuppression, and uncertain long-term effects such as secondary malignancies. Newer approaches aim to enhance safety and reduce costs, including mRNA-based CAR T and off-the-shelf donor cell therapies. Long-term efficacy and safety in autoimmunity remain under investigation.   Green stones buried with Panama's ancient chiefs confirmed as Colombian emeralds Chemical analyses confirm that green stones buried with Panama's ancient elites are Colombian emeralds, marking the northernmost precolonial occurrence of emeralds in the Americas. The gems likely reached Panama via complex, multi-stage trade networks, with some arriving as finished pieces and others modified locally. Their presence indicates significant symbolic and political value within Coclé societies.   Vitamin D analog shuts down pancreatic cancer's shield in a clinical trial In a randomized clinical trial, adding the vitamin D analog paricalcitol to standard chemotherapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer was safe and reduced activation of fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment, while increasing T cell infiltration. Patients receiving paricalcitol showed higher rates of partial response and progression-free survival at one year, especially those with high tumor vitamin D receptor expression.   A giant warm wave is crossing the Pacific, signaling an El Niño that could alter weather worldwide this year Satellite data indicate the formation of warm Kelvin waves and elevated sea levels in the eastern Pacific, signaling the likely development of an El Niño event later this year. El Niño alters global atmospheric circulation, leading to regional shifts in precipitation and temperature, with impacts depending on event strength. Peak effects are expected between November and January.   Taking dark energy out of the equation: Mathematicians challenge the standard cosmological model of the universe Mathematical analysis of the Einstein-Euler equations demonstrates that Friedmann spacetimes, foundational to the standard cosmological model, are unstable to radial perturbations at large scales, challenging the viability of the Lambda-cold dark matter model and the necessity of dark energy. The accelerating expansion of the universe may arise naturally from these instabilities, without invoking a cosmological constant, and the findings also question the Copernican principle.   Arctic Ocean food chain is disrupted as a key tipping point has now been passed Loss of Arctic sea ice has triggered a persistent decline in nitrate levels due to increased benthic denitrification, shifting the Arctic Ocean from a light-limited to a nitrate-limited system. This change restricts plankton growth, disrupts the marine food chain, and reduces the ocean's carbon storage capacity, with likely irreversible impacts on Arctic and potentially global marine ecosystems.   A severed piece of sea cucumber refused to die, and what happened next could transform medicine Amputated tissue from the sea cucumber Psolus fabricii remained viable, showed cellular growth, and maintained structural integrity for over three years in natural seawater, without sterile conditions. This challenges assumptions about tissue decay and suggests new models for tissue resilience and regeneration, with potential applications in biomedical research and tissue engineering.   Perfect randomness realized for the first time Quantum entanglement between superconducting qubits, combined with an improved Bell test and a randomness amplification algorithm, enables extraction of perfectly random numbers from imperfect sources. The generated random sequences are certifiably free from bias and remain unpredictable under any analytical method, providing a physically certified source of randomness suitable for cryptographic and quantum-secure applications.   Tropical cyclones now release ocean carbon, but warming could flip role by 2035 Tropical cyclones currently cause net ocean carbon outgassing, but this effect has decreased from 16% to 4.5% of global annual carbon flux between 1993–2020 due to increased upper-ocean stratification from global warming. If anthropogenic CO2 emissions remain high, tropical cyclones could shift to causing net ocean carbon uptake by around 2035, potentially accelerating ocean acidification.   Last-of-its-kind tree clinging to cliffside finds new hope at botanic gardens Dendroseris neriifolia, a critically endangered tree endemic to Chile's Juan Fernández Islands and reduced to a single wild individual, faces imminent extinction due to habitat loss, invasive species, and low seed viability. Recent ex-situ conservation efforts have yielded seven seedlings from 25 potentially viable seeds, with ongoing germination trials and long-term seed storage aiming to secure the species' survival.   Why is Europe the world's fastest warming continent? Europe is warming faster than other continents, with average temperatures now 2.4°C above preindustrial levels, due to a combination of intensified high-pressure systems, proximity to the rapidly warming Arctic, reduced snow cover exposing darker surfaces, and decreased aerosol pollution that previously reflected sunlight. Regional warming rates vary, with the Arctic and parts of eastern and central Europe experiencing the most rapid increases.   Astrophysicists strike black gold with treasure trove of gravitational wave detections The GWTC-5.0 catalog adds 161 new gravitational wave detections, bringing the total to 390, and includes the most precise sky localization and clearest signal to date. Evidence for second-generation black holes and improved measurement of the Hubble constant are reported. Population analyses reveal distinct formation pathways for binary black holes, advancing understanding of their origins and properties.   Reading brachycephalic dogs' facial expressions requires extra cognitive processing by humans Humans exhibit increased visual attention and more frequent gaze shifts when interpreting facial expressions of brachycephalic (short-nosed) dogs compared to normocephalic breeds, indicating greater cognitive processing demands. Objective eye-tracking data revealed discrepancies with self-reported focus, with participants overestimating attention to snouts and underestimating fixation on eyes. These findings suggest that brachycephalic facial morphology complicates human interpretation of canine expressions.   Titanium particles may explain why antibiotics fail against dental implant infections Microscopic titanium particles shed from dental implants due to bacterial corrosion trigger a hyperinflammatory response in immune cells, impairing bacterial clearance and promoting jawbone destruction characteristic of peri-implantitis. This process is mediated by activation of the TRPC1 calcium channel in macrophages; inhibiting this channel in mice prevented disease progression, suggesting a potential therapeutic target. Nonabrasive cleaning methods reduce implant corrosion and may help prevent peri-implantitis.   How bean plants call on wasps for help when hungry caterpillars attack Bean plants detect caterpillar attack via the inceptin receptor (INR), which senses the peptide inceptin from caterpillar oral secretions. This recognition triggers the release of volatile chemicals that attract predatory wasps, leading to increased wasp attacks on caterpillars. Disabling INR reduces wasp recruitment, indicating that specific molecular signaling, not just physical damage, mediates this defense.   Why caffeine can sabotage deep sleep even when you still get eight hours Caffeine can reduce slow-wave activity during sleep, leading to shallower, less restorative deep sleep even if total sleep duration remains normal. Individual responses to caffeine vary due to genetics, metabolism, age, and lifestyle factors. This diminished sleep quality may not be subjectively perceived, potentially creating a cycle of increased fatigue and caffeine use.   New MRI sensors detect target molecules in the brain and body with high sensitivity Liposomal nanoparticle reporters (LisNRs) have been developed to enhance MRI sensitivity for detecting specific molecules in vivo. These sensors amplify MRI signal changes by allowing a single target molecule to modulate many contrast agents, enabling detection of micromolar-scale targets with approximately tenfold greater sensitivity than previous methods. LisNRs can be systemically delivered and are adaptable for imaging various neurochemicals.   Nitrogen-fixing genes moved into new bacterial strains, opening path beyond fertilizer A cluster of nitrogen-fixing genes from rhizobia was successfully transferred into non-nitrogen-fixing bacteria, enabling them to fix atmospheric nitrogen and colonize host plants. The process was most effective in bacteria closely related to the original nitrogen-fixers, with most new symbiotic interactions proving beneficial or neutral to the host. This approach may facilitate engineering of crop-associated microbes to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.   Unprecedented view inside live stem cells reveals aging process and loss of regenerative capacity Aging epidermal stem cells exhibit altered protein production patterns, leading to reduced regenerative capacity. Single-cell ribosome profiling revealed that these stem cells maintain high ribosome biogenesis but low protein synthesis rates, a feature linked to their stemness. Aging reprograms the translational landscape, reshaping how stem cells manufacture proteins and contributing to functional decline.