SCIENCES ENERGIES EVIRONNEMENT

 

Dear olivier hartmanshenn,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for week 18: An interplanetary shortcut can speed up trips to Mars Analysis indicates that using early orbital data from asteroids can identify more direct transfer opportunities between Earth and Mars, potentially reducing round-trip mission durations to as little as 153 days. This approach offers a methodological tool for screening rapid interplanetary transfer routes that may be overlooked by conventional planning methods.   One of the world's most common knee surgeries does not help and may even be harmful Ten-year follow-up data indicate that partial meniscectomy does not improve symptoms or function compared to sham surgery in patients with degenerative meniscal tears. Patients undergoing partial meniscectomy experienced more symptoms, reduced function, increased osteoarthritis progression, and a higher likelihood of subsequent knee surgery. These findings suggest partial meniscectomy may be ineffective or harmful.   Frozen-in gravity: A new way to understand the evolution of spacetime dynamics A new theoretical framework establishes that certain topological structures in the gravitational field, analogous to magnetic field lines in plasma, remain preserved during spacetime evolution under specific conditions. This approach introduces topological constraints and invariants, such as gravitational helicity, which may enhance understanding of nonlinear spacetime dynamics and inform studies of black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmic evolution.   How oak trees outwit their predators Oak trees delay leaf emergence by about three days following heavy caterpillar infestation, reducing caterpillar survival and leaf damage by 55%. This adaptive timing, detected via satellite data, demonstrates that trees respond not only to weather but also to biological threats, challenging models that consider only abiotic factors. The delay is a reversible defense, maintaining resilience amid climate change and insect pressure.   Physicists have measured 'negative time' in the lab Experiments with photons passing through a cloud of rubidium atoms demonstrated that photons can exhibit a negative dwell time, appearing to exit the cloud before entering it. Weak measurements of atomic excitation confirmed this negative dwell time, matching the value inferred from photon arrival times. This effect is not an artifact and has a measurable impact on the atomic system, consistent with quantum theory.   Microplastics turn up in nearly every human brain sample, including healthy tissue Microplastics and nanoplastics were detected in nearly all human brain samples analyzed, including both healthy and tumor-affected tissues. Concentrations were higher in tumor tissue, with nanoplastics more abundant than microplastics. Identified polymers included PET, polyethylene, polyamide, and PVC. Larger microplastic surface area correlated with faster tumor cell growth, though causality remains unestablished.   Soil fertilization with Amazonian dark earth increases tree diameter by up to 88% Application of Amazonian dark earth (ADE) to soil increased the height and diameter of Handroanthus avellanedae seedlings by up to 55% and 88%, respectively, and Schizolobium amazonicum by 20% and 15% over 180 days. Enhanced growth is attributed to changes in soil microbiota, particularly increased beneficial fungi, rather than nutrient content. ADE’s unique microbial composition supports improved nutrient cycling and pathogen suppression, offering potential for reforestation and ecosystem restoration.   You can't hear it, yet this sound may explain paranormal experiences Exposure to infrasound (18 Hz), even when not consciously perceived, increases salivary cortisol levels and irritability, and leads to more negative emotional responses in humans. Participants could not detect the presence of infrasound, indicating physiological and mood effects occur without conscious awareness. Prolonged exposure may have implications for health and well-being due to sustained cortisol elevation.   Beer and cannabis could share 'sex switch,' study finds A specific region on the X chromosome, containing three closely linked genes, controls sex determination in both cannabis and hops. This genetic "switch," conserved since before the species diverged, enables precise identification and manipulation of plant sex, offering potential benefits for agricultural production of female plants in both crops.   An unprecedented Antarctic heat wave hit in the dead of winter—what it signals for the decades ahead In July and August 2024, parts of East Antarctica experienced a winter heat wave with temperatures up to 28°C above average, driven by a weakened polar vortex, atmospheric river, and record-low sea ice. Climate modeling indicates human-induced climate change amplified the event, making such extremes significantly more likely and potentially up to 20 times more frequent by century’s end. These events threaten Antarctic ice stability and contribute to global sea level rise.   New copy of earliest poem in English language discovered by researchers in Rome A ninth-century manuscript discovered in Rome contains the third oldest surviving text of Caedmon's Hymn, the earliest known English poem, and uniquely presents the Old English version within the main Latin text. This finding demonstrates the value placed on Old English poetry by early medieval readers and provides new insights into the transmission and appreciation of English literature in continental Europe. The manuscript's complex history highlights cultural connections between England and Italy during the early Middle Ages.   Turning immune cells into tumor allies: A cancer cell protein can reprogram frontline defenders Claudin proteins on cancer cells bind to leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LILRB) on myeloid immune cells, inducing immunosuppressive signaling pathways such as NF-κB and STAT. This interaction reprograms myeloid cells to support tumor growth and correlates with poor clinical outcomes. Targeting the claudin-LILRB axis may provide new therapeutic strategies and predictive biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy.   An anomaly in global sea level rise is explained by deep ocean heating Including deep ocean warming below 2,000 meters accounts for previously unexplained global mean sea level rise since 2016, closing the sea level budget. Deep ocean heat contributed approximately 0.4 mm/year, or about 10% of observed sea level rise from 2005 to 2022, with an uncertainty of 40%. This highlights the significant and previously underestimated role of deep ocean heating in sea level changes.   A physics explanation shows why US elections keep ending 50:50—and why more spending won't change that A statistical physics model calibrated on 6,357 US House races identifies a campaign spending threshold of about 1.8 million USD, above which additional spending no longer affects electoral outcomes but increases polarization. When both parties exceed this threshold, elections systematically trend toward near-even results, regardless of further spending. The model also quantifies incumbency advantage, showing challengers must spend significantly more to overcome structural effects. These findings suggest rising campaign spending primarily fuels polarization rather than altering results.   Levitated nano-ferromagnet confirms a 160-year-old physical prediction A levitated, non-spinning ferromagnetic sphere exhibited gyroscopic behavior predicted by Maxwell, confirming that internal angular momentum from aligned electronic spins can induce precessional motion without physical rotation. This effect, observed in a 40-micrometer neodymium-based magnet, enables the development of ultrasensitive magnetic sensors and advances quantum technology applications.   Simulations predict ground motion for earthquakes on Bay Area's Hayward fault High-performance simulations of magnitude-7 earthquakes on the Hayward fault indicate that ground motion intensity is strongly influenced by rupture directivity and local subsurface structures. Areas near the fault, especially within a cone-shaped zone affected by rupture directivity, and sedimentary basins such as the Livermore basin, are at elevated risk of intense shaking, posing significant hazards to infrastructure and tall buildings.   Where was your backyard millions of years ago? A new paleogeographic model enables precise reconstructions of Earth's past latitudes and tectonic plate movements, incorporating small plates and lost continents for the first time. By integrating magnetic data from rocks, the model accurately determines their original formation latitudes, improving understanding of past climates and biodiversity patterns. This tool enhances analysis of fossil distributions and mass extinction events across both time and space.   Ancient farming clues may finally expose where humanity's most important wheat first emerged Genetic and archaeological evidence indicates that bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) likely originated in the South Caucasus region, specifically Georgia, during the Neolithic period around 8,000 years ago. Identification of ancient bread wheat rachis segments and radiocarbon dating support this area as a primary center of early domestication, aligning with genetic data. Early inhabitants also practiced shifting agriculture and produced wine.   Western music is getting simpler and more repetitive by the day and data prove it Analysis of over 20,000 Western music pieces from the 17th century to 2021 shows a marked decline in structural complexity and an increase in repetitiveness in modern genres. Melodic and harmonic pathways have become simpler and more homogenized across genres, with frequent use of repeated note transitions. These trends may be influenced by technological changes and algorithm-driven music consumption.   Japan startup seeks approval of cat kidney disease treatment A new drug for chronic kidney disease in cats demonstrated a one-year survival rate of 80–83% in treated cats compared to 20% in untreated controls. Chronic kidney disease is a progressive, incurable condition affecting a high proportion of older cats. The drug is currently under regulatory review in Japan.