Earth Day, Nova Outburst, and Earthquake in Taiwan (April 2024)

Celebrated every April 22, Earth Day is an annual reminder of the urgent need to protect our planet. The global movement began on April 22, 1970, when US lawmaker Gaylord Nelson mobilized more than 20 million people to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day Network (EDN) n...

Celebrated every April 22, Earth Day is an annual reminder of the urgent need to protect our planet. The global movement began on April 22, 1970, when US lawmaker Gaylord Nelson mobilized more than 20 million people to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day Network (EDN) now boasts more than 50,000 partners in over 190 countries. It has led to the passage of landmark environmental laws. These include the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in the US and the 2015 Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change. The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics. It highlights the fact that over 380 million tons of plastic are produced annually, an astounding 50 percent of which is for single-use purposes. The nonprofit is demanding a 60 percent reduction in the production of plastics by 2040. EDN wants a 60 percent reduction in plastic production by 2040 (Credit: Earthday.org) EDN has outlined four ways to achieve this lofty goal. The first is to raise public awareness of the health risks of plastic pollution. It has been linked to everything from cancer in humans to deaths in marine wildlife. The second entails persuading countries worldwide to commit to phasing out all single-use plastics by 2030. EDN also aims to urge governments to implement policies to end fast fashion, another major contributor to plastic pollution. Lastly, they want corporations to invest in innovative technologies to create sustainable materials to substitute plastic. “Our reliance on plastics could be the biggest gamble in the story of human health in history. We are all ingesting and inhaling microplastics. They are everywhere. Are we just hoping they are safe or is even the remotest possibility they might be toxic so terrifying that we can’t contemplate it?” says Kathleen Rogers, president of EarthDay.org. Fast fashion is one of the biggest creators of plastic pollution (Credit: Earth.org) Even if governments agree, the laws on plastic regulation will take some time to go into effect. Meanwhile, companies can take immediate action to reduce their plastic footprint with minor changes. For example, clothing manufacturers can choose natural or recycled fabrics. Restaurants can deliver food in compostable paper containers. Individuals of all ages can also make a big difference. Avoid single-use plastic spoons and forks by keeping a reusable cutlery set in your backpack or car. Carry a container for leftovers when you go to a restaurant. Take a reusable water bottle and lunch bag to school. These simple actions will go a long way toward saving our planet. Here is some exciting news for those who missed the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Between now and September, NASA predicts an even rarer celestial event — a nova outburst. Unlike the eclipse, this phenomenon can be observed from anywhere on Earth without using any special equipment. What is a nova? A nova only occurs in a star binary system with a red giant and white dwarf (Credit: NASA/ Public Domain) A nova only occurs in binary star systems consisting of a "dying" star, typically a large red giant, and a "dead" star, also known as a white dwarf. Since the two stars orbit in sync, material shed by the red giant accumulates on the surface of the white dwarf. Eventually, the gathered material explodes in a burst of energy known as a nova. It results in a sudden and dramatic increase in brightness, illuminating the night skies. Usually, these events only be seen through a powerful telescope. But the upcoming T Coronae Borealis nova eruption will be visible with the unaided eye! What is T Coronae Borealis? T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) lies 3,000 light-years away from Earth (Credit: PopePompus/CC-BY-SA-4.0/ Wikimedia Commons) T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) is a binary star system located 3,000 light-years away from Earth. It is well-known for its periodic nova outbursts. They occur approximately once in every 80 years. The last one was in 1946. The recurring outbursts stem from the tight orbits of the system's red giant and white dwarf star. As the red giant heats up, it sheds its outer layers onto the surface of the white dwarf. This in turn, causes the white dwarf's atmosphere to heat up and eventually erupt. The explosion is bright enough to be seen from Earth. Remarkably, T CrB's white dwarf survives each nova event, only to experience it again in the future. "As matter accumulates on the surface of the white dwarf, it heats up and you get higher and higher pressure until bang — it’s a runaway reaction," says Bradley Schaefer, an astrophysicist at Louisiana State University. When will the explosion occur? NASA expects the nova explosion to occur sometime before September 2024. But its exact timing is hard to determine. “It could maybe even happen tonight,” says Schaefer. "More probably, it’ll be within the next couple of months, and very probably before the end of summer." However, everyone will get a chance to see the rare phenomenon. That is because unlike the eclipse, the nova outburst will be visible to the unaided eye for several days and just over a week with binoculars. It will look like a bright star in the northern sky. On April 3, 2024, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan's east coast. The tremor, centered 11 miles south of the coastal city of Hualien, was the most powerful to hit the island nation in 25 years. It was felt across the country and as far away as Hong Kong and Shanghai, China. The quake sent boulders and mud tumbling down the mountains and destroyed or damaged several buildings in Hualien. At least 13 people were killed, and over a thousand were injured. As of April 7, 2024, rescuers were still looking for six people believed to be buried in the rubble. "I've grown accustomed to (earthquakes). But today was the first time I was scared to tears by an earthquake," said Taipei resident Hsien-hsuen Keng. "I was awakened by the earthquake. I had never felt such intense shaking before." The earthquake sent rocks from nearby mountains onto the highway (Credit: Taichung City Government'/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) The death and injury toll were not trivial. However, they were very low in comparison to the aftermath of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that shook Taiwan in 1999. The powerful tremor killed 2,400, injured over 11,000, and destroyed thousands of buildings. The sharp reduction in fatalities is credited to the preemptive measures put in place since 1999. These include sensors that monitor seismic movements and send phone alerts to at-risk residents. The few precious minutes of advance notice most likely saved hundreds of lives on April 3. Additionally, officials hold annual earthquake drills to help residents know precisely what to do when an earthquake strikes. Taiwan's strict building codes were another factor in the low fatality rate. The structures shook during the quake and in the subsequent aftershocks. However, even the buildings with the most damage stood standing, allowing residents to escape unscathed. Officials state that a majority of the fatalities were a result of the landslides near the mountains. Only one person died in a damaged residential building. In fact, within days of the quake, life in Hualien returned to almost normal, with many companies reopening for business. 90 percent of the world's earthquakes occur along the "Ring of Fire" (Credit: USGS/ Public Domain) "Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the most advanced in the world,” said Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. "The island has implemented strict building codes, a world-class seismological network, and widespread public education campaigns on earthquake safety." Earthquakes are relatively common in Taiwan due to its location along the "Ring of Fire." The 24,854 mile (40,000 km) horseshoe-shaped area on the edge of the Pacific plate is the biggest and most active of the nine tectonic plates that cover the Earth's surface. Over 90 percent of the world's earthquakes and 75 percent of volcano eruptions occur along its path. Cole Brauer has made history as the first American woman to sail alone around the world without stopping. The Long Island, New York, resident completed the tough 30,000-mile (48,280-km) Global Solo Challenge on March 7, 2024, in just 130 days. Brauer placed second among 16 sailors and was one of only seven participants who made it to the finish line. The 29-year-old was the only woman and the youngest racer. Standing 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) tall and weighing just 100 pounds (45 kg), she was also the smallest and lightest competitor. Brauer joins an elite group of fewer than 200 sailors who have accomplished this feat. The Global Solo Challenge route is extremely difficult Brauer's journey aboard her 40-foot (12-meter) racing vessel, First Light, began from A Coruña, Spain, on October 29, 2023. She sailed down the west coast of Africa, then over to Australia, and around the southern tip of South America before returning to Spain. Throughout the race, Brauer's team guided her via satellite. She could also talk to her family members, watch Netflix, and share her daily adventures on Instagram. Though Brauer made it look easy, the Global Solo Challenge is not for the faint-hearted. Sailors must navigate the three "great capes" — Africa's Cape of Good Hope, Australia's Cape Leeuwin, and South America's Cape Horn. In particular, sailing around Cape Horn has often been likened to climbing Mount Everest because of its difficulty. Located where the Pacific Ocean meets the Atlantic, it boasts a variety of hazards, including a sharp rise in the ocean floor and strong westerly winds that create massive waves. Brauer hopes her success will encourage other girls to become professional sailors Brauer certainly faced her fair share of difficulties. In one instance, 30-foot (9-meter) waves threw her across the boat, injuring her rib badly. In another, she had to insert an IV into her arm due to dehydration caused by nausea and vomiting. Brauer fell in love with sailing when she went to college in Hawaii. She originally intended to become a doctor but instead opted for professional sailing. However, breaking into the largely male-dominated profession has not been easy. Despite her success, she still has a hard time getting sponsors. But the challenges have not deterred the 29-year-old, who is already preparing for her next adventure. Brauer hopes her success will inspire other young girls to consider professional sailing. "It would be amazing if there was just one other girl that saw me and said, 'Oh, I can do that, too,'" she said. Humans and chimpanzees share 98.8 percent of their DNA, so it's not surprising that they display similar behaviors and traits. They include communicating through gestures and vocalizations, and using tools to complete tasks. Now, new research reveals that chimpanzees employ human-like military tactics to evaluate risk and expand their territories. For their study, Dr. Sylvain Lemoine and his team at the University of Cambridge observed the behavior of two western chimpanzee groups at West Africa's Tai National Park. The researchers used GPS trackers to follow the chimps for 8 to 12 hours daily from 2013 to 2016. They found that both groups regularly patrolled the edges of their territories. Like humans, they formed small groups and moved closely in a coordinated manner. The chimps also seemed to seek out higher ground along the borders. While on these hills, they sat quietly listening for sounds from their rivals. The Tai National Park chimpanzees attentively listen for sound from rival chimpanzees (Credit: Roman M. Wittig/Tai Chimpanzee Project) The border between chimp communities is not set in stone. Their daily presence in an area is what matters. Hence, when there was a low risk of conflict, such as fewer rivals, the patrolling chimpanzees felt more confident to enter and take over part of their neighbor's territory. "They use the high spots to find the right conditions where they can take the risk — or not — of attacking," Dr. Lemoine said. The scientists state that many animals climb to higher ground to keep watch for predators. However, chimpanzees are the first animals, other than humans, to strategically use elevation to assess the risks of a conflict with another group. The chimpanzees leaving a hilltop after listening for their rivals (Credit: Roman M. Wittig/Tai Chimpanzee Project) "Tactical warfare is considered a driver of human evolution," said Dr. Lemoine. "This chimpanzee behavior requires complex cognitive abilities that help to defend or expand their territories." The scientists revealed their findings in the journal PLOS Biology on November 2, 2023. Though they only studied West African chimpanzees, the team believes that other chimps probably use similar tactics to take control of each other's territory. In the mid-1970s, Judith Hernstadt, an avid collector of 18th-century artifacts, bought a set of sketches from a New York antique dealer. One piece, depicting a scene from the Revolutionary War, particularly stood out to her. The pen-and-ink drawing showed two women and a baby in a horse-drawn carriage filled with supplies. They were accompanied by six soldiers — two in the wagon, two on horseback, and two on foot. The back of the sketch featured five rough drafts of two men in different poses. This artwork became a treasured addition to her collection. But it took 40 years to realize its historical significance. The events leading to the discovery began in August 2023 when Hernstadt invited Matthew Skic, a curator at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution, to see her collection. The expert was admiring the Revolutionary War drawing when he noticed something he had never seen before. One of the soldiers was wearing a shirt typically worn by the Continental Army. This was the army that represented the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War that defeated the British in 1783. "Alarm bells were just going off in my head — this is incredible," Skic told The Philadelphia Enquirer. "There were just a lot of ideas circling in my head, that this is indeed real, this is indeed, probably, an eyewitness sketch, just who was the artist?" The back of the sketch had five rough drafts of two men (Credit: Museum of the American Revolution) To conduct a thorough examination, Skic took the 15 by 5 inch (38 by 12.7 cm) artwork to the museum. He first confirmed that the paper and ink were from the Revolutionary era. The next task was to decipher the blurry text on the sketch. It read, "An exact representation of a waggon belonging to the North Carolina Brigade of continental troops which passed through Philadelphia in August done by..." The remaining words were missing. Skic then tried to match the inscription and image to a recorded event. After scanning through hundreds of old newspaper archives, he found a match. Published on August 27, 1777, it described the North Carolina army marching through Philadelphia to join General Washington’s Continental Army. This was just before the September 11, 1777, Battle of Brandywine. The curator says that the sketch is the first known wartime drawing of the North Carolina troops done by an eyewitness. Moreover, it is one of only two known artworks to feature the female followers of the Continental Army. These women played a vital role in supporting soldiers through various tasks such as cooking, household chores, and medical care. Yet their efforts have often been overlooked in historical accounts. The sketch is one of only two that highlights the work of the Colonial women (Credit: Museum of the American Revolution) The last missing piece of the puzzle was to identify the artist of the unsigned masterpiece. Skic's investigation led him to Pierre Eugene du Simitiere. The Swiss artist, who came to Philadelphia in 1774, was known for his Revolutionary War sketches. After realizing the drawing's significance, Hernstadt generously donated it to the museum. It was put on public display in April 2024 for all to appreciate. “This sketch is extremely important to our understanding of the daily operations of the Continental Army,” said Skic. “It helps us visualize the everyday lives of these troops – the joyous, the difficult, and the mundane.” Environmental scientists Shi-Mao Wu and Jiang-Yun Gao were in a rainforest in China's Yuan Province when they noticed mosquitos buzzing around some flowers. Upon looking closer, the researchers realized they were looking at a male and a female crab spider. They had come together to resemble a single flower. The male spider was disguised as the pistils and stamens, while the female looked like the flower's lighter petals. "When I first observed the male spider, I did not observe the female spider," says Wu. "They successfully deceived my eyes." This female crab spider changed its color to white to blend in with the flower (Credit: Judy Gallagher/ CC-BY-2.0/ Wikimedia Commons) Wu and Gao say it is common for female crab spiders to camouflage themselves to blend in with their floral environment. Some even change colors to match the flower on which they are sitting. The clever disguise protects them against predators and makes it easy to catch unsuspecting prey. But this behavior has rarely been observed in male crab spiders, which are smaller and darker in color than the females. More importantly, this is the first evidence of cooperation mimicry in any species. This adaptation requires both participants to come together to create a convincing camouflage, which is difficult to achieve. Wu and Gao revealed their findings on March 1, 2024. "This could be an example of "cooperation" that expands the niche of both females and males in mimicry systems. Cooperating individuals may have improved survivorship and predation efficiency," the researchers said. Fossils found by a father-daughter team has led to the discovery of a new, massive species of ichthyosaur. The marine reptiles dominated the seas during the Triassic and Jurassic periods (251 to 145 million years ago). Often referred to as "fish-lizards," they shared physical similarities with dolphins and whales but were, in fact, members of the reptile family. The events leading to the exciting find began in spring 2020, when Justin Reynolds and his 11-year-old daughter Ruby went fossil hunting on Blue Anchor Beach in Somerset, England. The region is well-known for its rich deposits of fish and reptile fossils from the Triassic-era. Play 00:00 02:22 Mute Settings Enter fullscreen Play After carefully scouring the beach, the amateur paleontologists discovered a four-inch (10 cm) long oval fossil. Shortly after, Ruby found another piece of fossilized bone in the same area. This one was twice as big. Following some research, Justin made an educated guess that the bones were from an ichthyosaur. An email to Dr. Dean Lomax, a marine reptile expert at the University of Manchester, confirmed his hunch. "It's interesting because 95 percent of the time, it turns out to be an odd-shaped rock. You have to politely and gently let them down,” Dr. Lomax said. "Justin and Ruby’s email is an example of the other 5 percent of the time." Dr. Lomax and his team invited the Reynolds to help them find additional pieces of the intriguing fossil. Their quest ended in October 2022 when they finally gathered enough pieces to reconstruct a section of the marine reptile's lower jaw. Analysis revealed that, if complete, the jaw would have measured over six feet (1.8 m) long. By comparing the bone fragments to those of other giant ichthyosaurs, the scientists estimated the new specimen's length to be a staggering 80 feet (24 m) — the equivalent of two buses parked end to end. If true, it would rank as one of the largest marine animals to ever live. A size comparison of Ichthyotitan severnensis and a human (Credit: SlvrHwk /CC-BY-SA-4.0) The remains of the new specimen, along with those of another similar ichthyosaur found in 2016, enabled the scientists to classify it as a new species. The researchers named the creature Ichthyotitan severnensis, meaning "giant fish lizard of the Severn." Ruby and Justin were listed as co-authors in the study published in the journal PLOS One on April 17, 2024. Ruby, now 15, is eager to continue her fossil-hunting adventures. “I didn’t realize when I first found the piece of ichthyosaur bone how important it was and what it would lead to,” she says. “I think the role that young people can play in science is to enjoy the journey of exploring as you never know where a discovery may take you.” Sixteen US states, stretching from Maryland to Oklahoma and Illinois to Alabama, are bracing for the arrival of trillions of noisy cicadas. What makes the event especially rare is that two broods are emerging simultaneously. Brood XIX, comprising four species that surfaces every 13 years, and Brood XIII, consisting of three species that appears every 17 years. This unusual coincidence last occurred 221 years ago, in 1803, and won't happen again until 2245. The insects have already begun to emerge in some areas. However, their numbers are expected to peak for a two-to-three-week period starting mid-May. Experts believe that the two broods will come close in many states. However, they will only overlap in Illinois and Iowa. What are periodical cicadas? Periodical cicadas spend most of their lives underground, feeding off sap from tree roots. The black, shrimp-sized bugs with red, beady eyes emerge every 13 or 17 years to reproduce and die soon after. Why do cicadas come out every 13 or 17 years? Researchers have an interesting theory about why cicadas come out every 13 or 17 years. They believe that if the insects appeared after an even number of years, like 12 or 16, they would become predictable prey for predators with 2, 4, and 8-year lifespans. However, since 13 and 17 are prime numbers, any predator dependent on the cicadas must match those lifespans. As for how the cicadas know when it is time to emerge? That is a secret known only to the insects themselves! The two cicada broods are not expected to overlap (Credit: Missouri.edu/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) Are cicadas dangerous? Cicadas are harmless to humans. But their massive swarms can be daunting and even a nuisance since they seem to appear everywhere. Furthermore, the loud, high-pitched drone of male cicadas, which reaches 90 decibels as they try to attract females, can be extremely annoying. The slits created to lay cicada eggs can damage young plants (Credit: G. Edward Johnson/ CC-BY-SA-3.0/ Wikimedia Commons) Noise aside, the insects can cause significant damage to young trees. Female cicadas seek out slender twigs or vines to lay their eggs. The incisions they make to deposit their eggs often sever the food supply, causing the branch to wilt. Mature trees can withstand this damage. However, young fruit or nursery trees get stunted or killed. Experts suggest covering them with nets during the cicada onslaught. The adult cicadas die soon after the eggs are laid. Their bodies provide a rare feast for animals and nitrogen for growing trees. The eggs hatch in 4-6 weeks, and a new generation of cicadas burrows into the soil to live underground for the next 13 or 17 years. The Summer Olympics has traditionally featured 28 sports. But since 2020, host cities have been allowed to add up to six new sports to their Olympic program. The 2024 Summer Olympics, set to kick off in Paris, France, on July 26, will include four extra sports. They are breaking, surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing. Breaking Breaking, or breakdancing, will make its Olympic debut at the Paris Games. The urban dance style originated in the 1970s in New York City. It is characterized by intricate footwork, rapid movements, and impressive spins and flips. Breakdancing will debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics (Credit: Olympics.com/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) The breaking competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will feature two events — one for men and one for women. The 16 athletes in each event will be judged on their unique style and flair on the floor. To ensure a fair competition, dancers will be required to incorporate a few mandatory moves into their routines. Surfing Surfing, which made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, returns for a second time in Paris. The 2024 surfing events will be hosted by the South Pacific island of Tahiti. The competition will be held over four days in a 10-day window, from July 27 to August 5, 2024. The surfing events will take place in Tahiti (Credit: Olympics.com/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) The competitors will be judged on the variety, type, and difficulty of their maneuvers and tricks on a wave. Points will also be awarded for speed and flow — how seamlessly a surfer connects their moves from one to the next. Skateboarding Skateboarding returns to the Olympics after a successful debut in Tokyo. Competitors will have a choice of two disciplines: park and street. In the park competition, skaters will be scored on their height, speed, and agility as they navigate the course's obstacles and surfaces. Each contestant will have three 45-second runs, with the best run counting as their final score. A special urban street will be created for the street skateboarding competition (Credit: Tristan Nitot/ CC-BY-SA-2.9/ Flickr) In street skateboarding, athletes will tackle a specially created flat urban street with stairs, handrails, and other features. Each athlete will have two 45-second runs to perform five tricks. They will be evaluated based on their board control, trick variety, and overall style. Sport Climbing Sport Climbing also had a successful debut in Tokyo. The sport will make a second appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The competition will feature three events: bouldering, speed climbing, and lead climbing. Speed Climbing will make its second Olympics appearance at the Paris Games (Credit: Henning Schlottmann/ CC-BY-SA- 4.0/ Wikimedia Commons) In bouldering, athletes scale up 14.7-foot (4.5-m) high walls without ropes, racing against the clock to complete the climb in the fewest attempts possible. In speed climbing, competitors are required to climb the wall rapidly and with precision. In lead climbing athletes are given six minutes to reach the highest point on a 49-foot (15-m) wall. What makes it challenging is that they have no prior knowledge of the route. At the Tokyo Games, the scores of all three events were combined to determine the overall winner. However, that decision proved unpopular with athletes because speed climbing requires a very different skill set. To rectify this, at the Paris Games, only the bouldering and lead climbing scores will be combined. Speed climbing will be an independent event with its own medal. A Sumatran orangutan named Rakus has stunned researchers by treating a cheek wound with a medicinal plant. The male primate, believed to be about 35 years old, lives in Gunung Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The protected rainforest is home to over 750 animal species, including 150 orangutans. Dr. Isabelle Laumer and her team at Max Planck Research first noticed the primate's wound on June 22, 2022. They believe it was most likely the result of a fight with another orangutan. Three days later, they caught Rakus chewing on the stems and leaves of a tropical vine called liana. The plant is known to locals for its healing properties. Liana leaves (left) and Rakus chewing the plant (right) (Credit: Armas/ Suaq Project/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) Since Sumatran orangutans rarely eat the plant, the scientists were intrigued and decided to observe and document Rakus' behavior. The orangutan spent the first 13 minutes eating the plant. He then dedicated another seven minutes to chewing the leaves and rubbing the juice on his injury. When flies began hovering around the cut, the clever primate covered it with the leaves. Within five days, the wound had closed. By July 19, 2022, it was completely healed — only a scar remained. "This case represents the first known case of active wound treatment in a wild animal with a medical plant," Laumer told NPR. The researchers revealed their findings in the journal Scientific Reports on May 2, 2024. They state that in addition to being a good nurse, Rakus was also a great patient. The day after applying the healing juice to his wound, the orangutan returned to the plant to eat more leaves. He also rested more than usual to allow his body to heal. Rakus's wound was completely healed within a month (Credit: Armas/ Suaq Project/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) Sumatran orangutans are a critically endangered species, with only about 14,600 left in the wild. The primates can only be found in the northern tip of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Their numbers have plummeted due to the widespread conversion of rainforests into oil palm plantations and other agricultural development. Also, despite being legally protected, the animals are often captured for food or to be kept in households as status symbols. Since females give birth to just one infant at a time every eight or nine years, their populations are susceptible to even very low levels of hunting. Tornadoes can strike the United States year-round, but they are most active from March to July. While they occur nationwide, a region known as "Tornado Alley" is the most susceptible to the twisters. This includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, and Ohio. The activity typically ramps up in April, with an average of about 182 tornadoes. However, this April, over 300 tornadoes were reported across the nation. About 100 of the twisters occurred within just three days — from April 25 to 28, 2024. They include 30 in Oklahoma, at least two dozen in Iowa, 20 in Texas, 16 in Missouri, 15 in Kansas, and 13 in Nebraska. The worst tornado outbreak of the year so far has caused significant damage. Among the hardest hit was Marietta, Oklahoma. The town of about 2,900 residents was struck by an EF-4 twister — a tornado with winds between 166 mph (267 km/h) and 200 mph (320 km/h) — on April 27, 2024. The powerful storm killed one person and leveled several structures, including a hospital and a nursing home. Minden, Iowa, also suffered substantial damage after a powerful storm ripped through the small town of 600 people on April 26, 2024. The tornado destroyed 48 homes and damaged more than 300 structures. Photo of the Minden, Iowa, tornado around the time it impacted the city on April 26, 2024 (Credit: Wxtrackercody/ CC-BY-4.0/ Wikimedia Commons) Tornado activity remains robust in May. As of May 12, 2024, at least 133 tornadoes have been reported across the country. Most of them have been clustered around Oklahoma, Michigan, and Tennessee. However, the twisters have also surfaced as far south as Florida. On May 10, 2024, the state's capital, Tallahassee, was struck by three different tornadoes. The storms damaged several buildings and downed trees and utility poles. As of May 13, 2024, thousands of residents remain without power. While the number of tornadoes is above average for this time of year, it is still far from the record set in 2011. That year, 1,287 tornadoes had struck the US by May 7. But with over two months still remaining in the peak season, there is ample time to post a record tornado season. Tornadoes A tornado is a very powerful rotating column of air. It starts at the base of a thunderstorm cloud and extends all the way to the ground. Tornadoes form only during very severe rotating storms. Called supercells, they occur when cold, dry polar air comes in contact with warm, moist tropical air. Play 04:45 05:32 Mute Settings Enter fullscreen Play As the warm air rises, winds around the storm cause it to rotate and form a funnel. As the air in the funnel spins faster, it creates a low-pressure area. This sucks in even more air and, sometimes, even objects. While ordinary thunderstorms last between 30 to 60 minutes, supercells can linger on for hours. Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the world, but the US experiences the most, with about 1,200 twisters touching down annually. "Tornado Alley" is especially prone to these storms due to its unique geography. Here, the dry air from the Rocky Mountains intersects with the warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico and the chilly Arctic air from the north. The combination provides perfect conditions to spawn powerful storms that frequently turn into deadly tornadoes. Canada is no stranger to wildfires. However, the 2023 wildfire season was the worst on record. Over 6,500 blazes scorched more than 48 million acres of forest across Canada, a 170 percent increase over 2022. The wildfires finally seemed to die down when the snow arrived, bringing relief to affected communities. However, as the snow began to melt, a new challenge emerged. Many of the fires had not been fully extinguished. They were simmering under the snow, waiting for warmer weather to reignite. These "zombie" fires have now roared back to life, forcing thousands of people in British Columbia and Alberta to evacuate their homes. What are "zombie" fires? Zombie fires get their name because the wildfires seem to come back from the dead. Also known as holdover or overwintering fires, the flames can burn underground for weeks, months, or even years. They are sustained by organic matter such as peat, which is highly flammable. The blazes emerge when the ground is struck by lightning or when farmers set controlled fires to burn excess vegetation. Zombie fires can remain alive for years (Credit: Sitn.hms.harvard.edu/ CC-BY-SA-4.0) “When these fuels are exceptionally dry, wildfires smolder in deep duff layers and within large logs, remaining active underground with the potential to resurface come spring,” states Canada’s Wildfire Service. Are zombie fires a new natural phenomenon? Zombie fires occur annually in British Columbia and Alberta. However, there are usually no more than 15 each year. But there has been a significant surge this year. Officials estimate that there are currently 93 zombie fires raging in British Columbia and over 55 in Alberta. Canada's three-year drought has led to a surge in zombie fires (Credit: Agriculture and Ag Food Canada/ CC-BY-SA-4.0) Experts say that most years, the melting snow goes deep underground and extinguishes the hidden flames. However, British Columbia and Alberta have received less snow than usual for the past three years. The lower precipitation and warmer winter temperatures have enabled the fires to continue simmering in the dense vegetation layers under the snowpack. Why are firefighters unable to detect zombie fires? Play 00:00 02:06 Mute Settings Enter fullscreen Play Zombie fires are difficult to detect due to several factors. Firstly, many of these wildfires occur in remote, hard-to-reach forest areas, making them challenging to access. Additionally, the underground fires are mainly flameless. This allows them to spread undetected across large areas of land. While firefighters diligently monitor suspected active areas, the frozen, snow-covered ground often hampers their efforts. Do zombie fires only occur in Canada? Zombie fires are not unique to Canada. Alaska, Northern Europe, and Siberia are also prone to zombie fires, as they share similar characteristics. These areas are home to cool coniferous forests, where the ground is covered with a thick layer of needles and other vegetation that burns easily. NASA's X-59 aircraft, unveiled in January 2024, hopes to change the way we travel. The innovative plane is designed to fly at supersonic speeds without producing the characteristic sonic boom. The prototype is part of the US Space Agency's Quiet SuperSonic Technology (QueSST) mission. "We're definitely ready to write a new chapter in the history of supersonic flight, making air travel over land twice as fast, but in a way that is safe, sustainable, and so much quieter than before, " said Peter Coen, NASA's QueSST mission manager. The X-59's unique features allow it to break the sound barrier without the sonic boom (Credit: NASA/ Public Domain) Supersonic speed is the speed of an object that is faster than the speed of sound—about 768 mph (1,236 km/h). When an aircraft breaks the sound barrier, it produces an intense, startling sound that can shake buildings and even crack windows. This noise was a major factor in the failure of the Concorde, the world's first supersonic passenger airplane. Due to the disturbance caused by the noise, the aircraft was only allowed to fly at its top speeds over the ocean. This severely limited its travel routes. The X-59's "quiet" supersonic flight can be credited to its unique design. Its long, pointed nose breaks up the shock waves that create the noise. The effects of the shock waves are further reduced by removing the cockpit's forward-facing window. Instead, the pilot depends on advanced cameras at the front to fly the plane. Also, the airplane's engine is placed on top. This ensures that noise is directed away from the people on the ground. The X-59 could pave the way for supersonic passenger flights (Credit: NASA/ Public Domain) NASA plans to begin testing the X-59 in California in late 2024. Once deemed safe, the X-59 will be flown over select US cities to gather community feedback on the sound it produces. NASA hopes that the data will convince airline officials to reconsider rules prohibiting supersonic flights over land. If successful, the X-59 could pave the way for new commercial cargo and passenger supersonic aircraft by 2030. Rising sea levels, fueled by global warming, are escalating at an alarming rate, putting coastal communities worldwide at risk. By 2050, experts predict that nearly 300 million people living in coastal areas will face annual flooding. Japan's N-Ark hopes to combat the impact of climate change with an innovative floating city. Dogen City will measure roughly 1 mile (1.58 km) in diameter and about 2.5 miles (4 km) in circumference. The circular shape will protect inhabitants against tsunamis. The floating city will have a unique two-layer design. The top layer will house a self-sufficient maritime city. The second undersea layer will feature a sea-cooled data center for city management, healthcare, and drug discovery. Dogen City will have two levels (Credit: N-Ark.com/ CC-BY-SA-4.0) Dogen City will be able to accommodate 10,000 residents and up to 40,000 visitors at a time. The self-sufficient maritime city will feature food production facilities, schools, hospitals, sports areas, offices, and parks. New farming technology will enable residents to produce up to 7,000 tons of food annually using seawater. Additionally, locals and visitors alike will have access to state-of-the-art health care assessments and medical care. The ambitious plan also includes a dedicated area to launch and land rockets for space tourism. The project's designers have set an ambitious target of completing Dogen City by 2030. However, key details such as the location and cost of the project remain undisclosed. Dogen City is not the only floating city in the works. In 2022, the South Korean city of Busan also unveiled plans for a sustainable maritime metropolis. When built, it will be able to house up to 100,000 people. Amsterdam's Schoonship neighborhood is a self-sustaining floating community (Credit: Schoonship Amsterdam/CC-BY-SA-4.0) While these projects are still conceptual, the Netherlands has been home to a thriving floating community since 2021. The innovative Schoonship neighborhood consists of 46 homes across 30 water plots and is home to around 100 residents. Although relatively small, it is a promising model for building self-sufficient, eco-friendly floating cities. Scientists have found cures for many types of diseases. However, a guaranteed way to fight cancer has proved elusive. That is because every person's cancer is based on their particular genes. Dr. Catherine Wu and her team at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, aim to change that by developing custom vaccines to fight each person's unique cancer. Dr. Wu's research focuses on harnessing the power of the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. She got the idea after watching how a bone marrow transplant helped leukemia patients reset their immune systems to fight the disease. "There in front of my eyes were people who are being cured of their leukemia because of the mobilization of the immune response,” she said. The custom vaccines boost the body's immune system to fight cancers (Credit: UCR.org/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) The researcher wondered if vaccines created using an individual's cancer characteristics could stimulate their immune system to attack the diseased cells more effectively. For their first study, Dr. Wu and her team chose six people suffering from advanced melanoma, a type of skin cancer. The scientists began by analyzing each individual's cancer characteristics. They then created personalized vaccines containing each patient's unique proteins. The vaccines were designed to train the patients' immune systems to recognize and kill cancer cells while sparing the healthy ones. In 2015, all individuals were given a seven-shot course of their personalized vaccines. By 2017, four patients showed no signs of cancer recurrence. The tumors did return for the two patients with the most advanced cancer. But the growths disappeared after the patients received four more doses of the customized vaccines. By 2021, all six patients were declared cancer-free. Dr. Wu's first study proved that target vaccines could battle cancer (Credit: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) Though the sample size is small, Dr. Wu's research has proved that personalized vaccines can effectively battle cancer. Her pioneering work has earned her numerous awards. Most recently, in February 2024, she received the prestigious Sjöberg Prize. The honor carries a prize of $1 million — $100,000 as award money and $900,000 to fund future cancer research. Entertainers have readily adapted to new technologies and audience preferences. However, the physical spaces where they perform have largely remained static. Now, Sphere, a groundbreaking new entertainment venue in Las Vegas, Nevada, is shattering this mold. True to its name the 366 foot (111-m) tall and 561 foot (171-m) wide structure resembles an orb. The exterior is wrapped in a massive 580,000 sq. foot (53,900 sq. m) LED screen. It is visible for miles in the Nevada desert. This dynamic display is used to showcase diverse content — from advertisements to live sporting events. Irish rock band U2 performing at Sphere (Credit: James Dugas/ CC-BY-SA-4.0/ Wikimedia Commons) The theater inside features a high-resolution wrap-around LED screen and an advanced audio system comprising over 160,000 speakers. The world's largest auditorium boasts 17,500 seats. Ten thousand are fitted with technology that integrates with Sphere's sound system. This allows the audience to feel sound vibrations. There is also room for 2,400 standing spectators. Sphere opened to the public on September 29, 2023, with Irish rock legends U2 as its first performers. The band's 40-night residency, which ended on March 2, 2024, showcased the venue's cutting-edge technology. U2 used the massive screen to transport the audience to virtual destinations, perfectly syncing the visuals with their music. "The Sphere Experience" is hosted by five humanoid robots (Credit: The Sphere Experience/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) Those not interested in the live shows can buy tickets for "The Sphere Experience." This interactive two-hour program is hosted by five humanoid robots. It takes guests through the theater's cutting-edge features. The experience ends with a screening of Postcard from Earth. This 50-minute sci-fi movie, specially created for Sphere, transports viewers to new worlds without ever leaving their seats. Every year on the last Monday of May, thousands of people from around the world gather at Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire, England, for the Cheese Rolling competition. This unusual contest requires participants to run, or as is usually the case, tumble, down the steep hill to try to catch an 8-pound (3.6-kg) rolling wheel of cheese. The lively event is believed to have started in the 1800s as a way to settle land ownership disputes. It remained a well-kept secret, known only to locals, for decades. However, that changed in 2009 when 15,000 people flocked to Cooper's Hill to watch the race. Concerned about the potential for injuries, local authorities decided to cancel the competition. But that has not stopped organizers or fans from showing up every year to carry on the fun tradition. This year's competition took place on May 27, 2024. It comprised four downhill races — three for men and one for women. Each was limited to 25 competitors. There were also three uphill races — two for kids and one for adults. Abby Lampe claimed her second cheese-rolling victory (Credit: Coopers Hill Cheese Roll/ Facebook/ CC-BY-SA-4.0) Each race began with the release of a cheese round from the top of Cooper's Hill. Participants then sprinted down in pursuit of the tumbling wheel, which can reach speeds of up to 70 mph (112 km/h). Out-of-control racers were caught by volunteers from the local rugby team standing at the bottom of the hill. The men's downhill race winners included first-time competitors Tom Kopke from Germany and Dylan Twist from Australia. Gloucester resident Leilani Ryder took home her fifth title in the adult's uphill race, while USA's Abby Lampe claimed her second victory in the women's downhill race. Lampe, who plans on returning, said the key to winning is embracing the fall and rolling to the bottom. "There's a bit of pain, but it's just going to be temporary," she said. Claudia Sheinbaum made history on June 2, 2024, when she became the first female president of Mexico. She is also the first person of Jewish heritage to lead this primarily Catholic nation. Sheinbaum's achievement is even more remarkable considering that women in Mexico only gained the right to vote 70 years ago, in 1953. "For the first time in 200 years of the republic, I will become the first female president of Mexico," Sheinbaum told supporters. "And as I have said on other occasions, I do not arrive alone. We all arrived, with our heroines who gave us our homeland, with our ancestors, our mothers, our daughters, and granddaughters." Claudia Sheinbaum and former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Credit: Claudia Sheinbaum/ CC-BY-SA-2.0/ Facebook) The 61-year-old president-elect most recently served as head of government of Mexico City. However, she is not a career politician. Sheinbaum is a climate scientist with a PhD in energy engineering. She has dedicated much of her career to advocating for the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. Sheinbaum, who will take office on October 1, 2024, faces many challenges. Chief among them is the rising violence in Mexico. She plans to combat this issue by increasing the number of police officers and installing security cameras across the nation. The former climate scientist has also pledged to reduce Mexico's reliance on fossil fuels by 50 percent in the next six years. Sheinbaum hopes to achieve this by investing billions in green energy projects and improving the nation's mass transit systems. Sheinbaum plans to invest in clean energy sources (Credit: Claudia Sheinbaum/ CC-BY-SA-2.0/ Facebook) While she has a tough job ahead of her, Sheinbaum has already made a significant impact. The first female president of Mexico has shown girls and women worldwide that gender equality on the global stage is within reach. "I never imagined that one day I would vote for a woman," said 87-year-old Edelmira Montiel. "Before, we couldn't even vote, and when you could, it was for the person your husband told you to vote for. Thank God that has changed and I get to live it." China's Chang'e 6 lunar probe made history on June 25, 2024, when it brought back soil samples from the Moon's far side. The feat marks the first return of materials from the unexplored lunar region. The Chang'e 6 spacecraft is named after the Chinese Moon goddess. It launched from the Hainan province in South China on May 3, 2024. The spacecraft's month-long journey ended on June 2, 2024, with a picture-perfect landing at the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin. The approximately 1,600 miles (2,500 km) wide and 5 miles (8 km) deep SPA basin is located on the Moon's far side. It is one of the largest and oldest impact craters in our Solar System. Play 00:00 04:32 Mute Settings Enter fullscreen Play The lander's first task was to plant China's national flag on the crater's surface. Measuring about 12 by 8 inches (300 mm by 200 mm), the flag was made entirely from basalt. "So we thought that, since this material actually exists in large quantities on the Moon, how can we use it as a high-performance inorganic fiber?" said Cao Genyang, a professor at Wuhan Textile University. Next, the Chang'e 6 used its drill and robotic arm to collect rocks and soil samples from around its landing site. The lander also captured high-quality photos of the lunar surface. On June 4, 2024, the sample-carrying rocket lifted off from the lunar surface and entered the Moon's orbit. There, it docked with the Chang'e 6 orbiter and transferred the samples to the return capsule for the long journey back to Earth. Technicians remove the samples collected on the Moon's far side from the return capsule of the Chang'e 6 lunar mission (Credit: CCTV/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) The capsule, carrying about four pounds (two kg) of lunar material, landed safely in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia on June 25, 2024. It was retrieved and transported to the China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing. Chinese officials plan to keep a portion of the soil and rocks collected. The rest will be distributed to researchers in China and around the world for analysis. Scientists expect the materials to reveal information about the evolution of the Moon's far side. The samples could also provide insights into why the near and far sides are so different. They could possibly even shed light on the early history of the solar system. China next plans to explore the Moon's south pole. The upcoming uncrewed missions, Chang'e 7 (launching in 2026) and Chang'e 8 (launching in 2028), will focus on searching the area for water and other vital resources. Future plans include sending crewed missions to the Moon in 2030, and even building a permanent south pole base. The Paris 2024 Olympics will be one for the history books for American gymnastics. The USA men's and women's teams won a total of 10 medals. Their impressive haul included three gold, one silver, and six bronze medals. Men's gymnastics team medals after 16 years The US men's team had not medalled in the Olympic team event since the 2008 Games in Beijing, China. Their 16-year-long drought ended on July 29, 2024, with a bronze medal in the team all-around final. The victory was especially surprising after their disappointing performance in the qualifying events the previous day. The team came fifth in the trials, with captain Brody Malone falling during multiple routines. Malone's unusual performance was attributed to a serious knee injury he incurred 16 months ago. It led to speculation about his ability to perform in the finals. The men won a bronze medal in the team all-around final (Credit: USA Gymnastics/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) But the fears proved unfounded. The 24-year-old led his five-person team with a flawless routine on the still rings and high bar, improving both his personal score and the team's overall score. "You just got to forget about it," Malone said of his performance at the trials. "It was over and done with. There's nothing I can do about it. I just had to focus on the next day, and that's what we did. And it ended up working out great." Fellow gymnasts Paul Juda, Asher Hong, and Frederick Richard also delivered outstanding routines, boosting the team's medal prospects. However, the final result hinged on Stephen Nedoroscik, whose only task was to excel at the pommel horse. Nedoroscik did not disappoint. His flawless performance earned him a near-perfect score, securing the team's bronze medal. The 25-year-old gymnast cemented his reputation as the "pommel horse guy" with another bronze in the individual competition on August 3, 2024. Archaeologists have found 35 glass bottles dating back to the 18th century in George Washington's Mount Vernon home. Twenty-nine bottles were intact and contained perfectly preserved cherries and berries, likely gooseberries or currants. The exciting discovery, announced on June 13, 2024, was made during the excavation of six storage pits in the cellar. The exercise is part of a $40 million revitalization project to preserve the historic Virginia mansion for future generations. "Finding what is essentially fresh fruit, 250 years later, is pretty spectacular," said principal archaeologist Jason Boroughs. "All the stars sort of have to align in the right manner for that to happen." The bottles contained perfectly preserved cherries and berries (Credit: Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association) The bottles were made in England in the mid-1700s. They were probably buried under the clay sometime before 1776. The bottles were likely forgotten after George Washington departed the mansion in 1775 to take command of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The important artifacts provide a rare glimpse into the daily life and culinary practices of the Washingtons and the people around them. "The bottles and contents are actually material items that were connected to real lives and real people in the past," said Boroughs. "They may have been intended for the Washingtons' table, but they were certainly picked and packaged and stored by members of the enslaved community here." The bottles were found in storage pits in the cellar (Credit: Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association) The preserved fruits were carefully removed and sent to scientists at the US Department of Agriculture for analysis. Initial reports suggest that the cherries were likely a tart variety. This may have helped preserve them. Next, the team plans to extract DNA from the cherries and compare it to existing varieties. This would reveal the exact species the Washingtons enjoyed. The information could also provide valuable insights into how Virginia's climate has changed over time. Furthermore, the scientists plan to investigate if they can germinate any of the preserved cherry seeds. The resulting tree would serve as a living artifact of American history! Elephants are known for their exceptional intelligence, empathy, and communication skills. A new study suggests they may have another remarkable ability: assigning individual "names" to each other. The mammals are the first non-human species to exhibit this unique capability. “Dolphins and parrots call one another by ‘name’ by imitating the signature call of the addressee,” said lead author and biologist Dr. Michael Pardo. “By contrast, our data suggest that elephants do not rely on imitation of the receiver’s calls to address one another, which is more similar to the way in which human names work.” The research team included Dr. Joyce Poole, co-founder of ElephantVoices, a research and conservation organization based in Kenya, Africa. The scientist had frequently observed an elephant calling out, with only one responding. The rest of the group would continue feeding, seemingly oblivious to the call. This behavior led her to wonder if the mammals called each other by specific names. "I did wonder, are they being just rude by not answering, or is it because she's actually addressing somebody specific?" Dr. Poole said. The researchers recorded elephant vocalizations in Kenya for their study (Credit: George Wittemyer/ colostate.edu/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) For their study, the team selected over 600 recorded elephant calls, or "rumbles." They all seemed to be directed toward specific elephants. These calls were collected over almost 30 years from wild elephants in Kenya's National Parks. The mammal's low frequency sounds are hard for humans to decipher. So, the researchers turned to machine learning tools to analyze the audio. The computer model correctly guessed the receiving elephant's identity 28 percent of the time. While the number may seem low, the researchers say the mammals probably do not use names all the time. "Just like humans, elephants use names, but probably don't use names in the majority of utterances, so we wouldn't expect 100%," Dr. Pardo told Sky News. The scientists next plan to see if elephants have names for other things as well (Credit: George Wittemyer/ colostate.edu/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) To verify the findings, some of the rumbles were played back to 17 wild elephants through a speaker. Sure enough, the elephants only reacted to calls meant for them while ignoring the rest. The researchers said the mammals were likelier to address each other by name over long distances or when calling out to their calves. The study was published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution on June 10, 2024. Next, Dr. Pardo and his team aim to explore whether elephants also "name" other important elements, like food, water, and locations. In AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the city of Pompeii and nearby areas in thick volcanic ash. Among them was Herculaneum, a small seaside resort on the west coast of central Italy. Nearly 2,000 years later, the ancient city's beach has been excavated and restored. It was opened to the public on June 19, 2024. "The restoration of the beach allows people to see the site from the same position as the ancient Roman people," Francesco Sirano, the director of the Herculaneum Archaeological Park, told The Washington Post. "The visitors have to go down through a tunnel … and it's like we go back two thousand years, and then suddenly you have the beach." The restored beach was replaced with a dark-colored material (Credit: Gennaro Sangiuliano/ X/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) The original beach featured black sand. However, to ensure wheelchair accessibility, local authorities replaced the sand with a dark-colored material that closely matches the original hue. Visitors can not only enjoy the restored beach but also explore the ancient city's other impressive attractions. They include remarkably well-preserved baths, an underground theater, and luxurious homes. Named after the Greek god Hercules, Herculaneum was once a popular holiday destination for Rome's upper-class families due to its mild weather. The city lay hidden under more than 150 feet (46 m) of ash until its accidental discovery in 1709. Excavations throughout the 18th and 19th centuries revealed buildings, art, scrolls, and other ancient artifacts. But very few human remains were discovered at first. This led archeologists to believe that the residents had managed to escape before the volcanic ash engulfed the city. Many of the structures in Herculaneum are well-preserved (Credit: Diego Delso/ CC-BY-SA 4.0 /Wikimedia Commons) However, subsequent digs in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s revealed over 300 skeletons. The remains of women, children, and babies were found sheltered inside the boat houses. Those of men, both young and old, were discovered on the beach. Researchers believe the locals had fled there in the hopes of being rescued by boats. The human remains discovered in Herculaneum have offered researchers a unique glimpse into the lives and deaths of its inhabitants. Notable examples include the "Ring Lady," a skeleton adorned with emerald and ruby rings. Another skeleton found near the remains of a boat is believed to be that of a Roman soldier. The soldier's belt and weaponry suggest he was on a rescue mission when he perished. Though it has been over 2,000 years since the eruption, excavations at Pompeii, Herculaneum, and surrounding areas continue to uncover new secrets. Recent digs have revealed a stunning shrine with blue walls and a banquet room adorned with vibrant paintings depicting an ancient war. Ants are known for their teamwork. The tiny insects work together to build homes, find food, and care for their young. Now, a new study has found that Florida carpenter ants even perform life-saving "surgeries" to save their nestmates. This remarkable social behavior has never been observed in a non-human species before. Florida carpenter ants are native to the southern United States. The reddish brown insects live inside rotting wood and often sustain injuries while defending their homes from rivals. But unlike some other ant species, Florida carpenter ants lack the special glands that produce antimicrobial substances to treat infected nestmates. Curious to know how these ants responded to battle-related injuries, Dr. Erik Frank and his team at the University of Würzburg, brought back some specimens to their lab in Germany. The researchers began by injuring the legs of around 100 ants. Some ants suffered cuts on their femur, or upper leg, while others were hurt on their tibia, or lower leg. The wounds were then exposed to a commonly found soil germ. An ant bites off the leg of another with a femur injury (Credit: Bart Zijlstra/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) The injured ants were divided into two groups. Some were left to fend for themselves, while others were placed back in their nests. The injured ants in the nest received immediate attention from their mates. The ant "doctors" began by cleaning each wound with their tiny mouths. Their next step depended on the type of injury. For those with femur injuries, the ants would carefully bite off the leg, completely removing it. Each amputation took at least 40 minutes and involved multiple "surgeons." This extreme measure helped stop infections, resulting in a 90 percent survival rate among the treated ants. In contrast, only 40 percent of the isolated ants with femur injuries lived. Tibia wounds were treated with a mere lick to remove the bacteria. This simple action helped save 75 percent of the injured ants. By comparison, only 10 percent of the isolated ants with tibia injuries survived. The scientists believe the treatment decision is linked to the flow of hemolymph, a fluid similar to blood in invertebrates. A high-resolution image of the ant's leg revealed that the femur has more muscle tissue than the tibia. The muscles help slow down the "blood" flow, preventing bacteria from spreading quickly. This gives ants the time needed to perform the amputation. A Florida carpenter ant cleaning the wound of another ant (Credit: Bart Zijlstra/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) An ant's tibia, on the other hand, has less muscle tissue to stop the "blood" flow. This allows infections to spread much faster. Since amputations would take too long, the ants focus on cleaning the wound instead. "The ants are able to diagnose a wound, see if it's infected or sterile, and treat it accordingly over long periods of time by other individuals — the only medical system that can rival that would be the human one," said study leader Dr. Erik Frank. The scientists published their findings in the journal Current Biology on July 2, 2024. They next plan to explore whether other ant species perform similar "surgeries" to save their friends. On August 22, 2024, Lucara Diamond revealed the discovery of a massive 2,492-carat diamond in Botswana. The gemstone is the second biggest one ever found and the largest one found in the Southern African nation. The largest diamond discovered to date is the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond. It was found in South Africa in 1905. "We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492-carat diamond," said William Lamb, president and CEO of Lucara Diamond. The yet-to-be-named stone was found in the Karowe mine using X-ray technology. The relatively small mine is known for its exceptionally large diamonds. They include the 1,758-carat Sewelô diamond. Previously recognized as the world's second-biggest diamond, it was sold to French fashion house Louis Vuitton in 2019 for an undisclosed sum. The diamond is large enough to fill an adult's palm (Credit: Lucara Diamond/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) It will take experts several months to determine the value of the latest discovery. But the gemstone is expected to fetch tens of millions of dollars. Like most large diamonds, it will likely be cut into smaller gems. For example, the Cullinan diamond was divided into nine larger gems and nearly 100 smaller ones. Two of the biggest stones are part of the British Crown jewels. The 530.2-carat Cullinan 1 was added to the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross in 1910. The sceptre has been used in every coronation since Charles II became king in 1661. The 317-carat Cullinan II is the centerpiece of the Imperial State Crown. Queen Elizabeth II wore it annually for the State Opening of Parliament. The nine larger gems of the Cullinan diamond (Credit: Unknown author - Plate X, The Cullinan (1908)/ Public Domain/ wikimedia.org) Diamonds are formed when carbon atoms are squeezed together under high-pressure deep underground. This process occurs at depths of over 93 miles (150 km), where temperatures exceed 2,000°F (1,093°C). Over time, the diamonds are carried closer to Earth's surface by volcanic eruptions. Scientists believe that most natural diamonds are at least a billion years old. Some are even over three billion years old! On August 25, 2024, NASA officials announced that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth in early September without its crew members Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. NASA's decision is based on lingering concerns about the spacecraft's safety. Wilmore and Williams will remain at the International Space Station (ISS) until February 2025. "NASA has decided that Butch and Suni will return with Crew 9 next February and that Starliner will return uncrewed," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at a news conference. "I want you to know that Boeing has worked very hard with NASA to get the necessary data to make this decision." Original mission Wilmore and Williams launched aboard the Starliner on June 5, 2024, for an eight-day mission to test the new spacecraft's safety and capabilities. The reusable spacecraft is designed to transport up to seven astronauts to and from the ISS. The Boeing Starliner's test flight launched to the ISS on June 5, 2024 (Credit: NASA.gov) The flight was mainly without incident. However, as the Starliner approached the ISS, it experienced helium leaks and thruster failures. Fortunately, Wilmore and Williams managed to dock safely on June 6, 2024. Initially, experts from NASA and Boeing hoped to resolve the issues within a reasonable time and bring back the astronauts aboard the spacecraft. However, after careful consideration, NASA determined that returning them to Earth on the Starliner would be too risky. Return plan for Wilmore and Williams NASA plans to bring the astronauts back home aboard the SpaceX Dragon. The spacecraft will arrive at the ISS sometime after September 24, 2024. The SpaceX Crew-9 mission was initially planned for August 18, 2024. However, it had to be pushed back because the docking space is occupied by the Starliner. To make room for Wimore and Williams' return journey, the Crew-9 mission will comprise two astronauts instead of the original four. Wilmore and Williams' new role Wilmore and Williams will transition from being guests to full-time crew members. They will conduct spacewalks, help in maintaining the ISS, and participate in scientific experiments. Both astronauts are taking the unexpected extension in stride and happily embracing their new responsibilities. Wilmore and Williams appear to be enjoying their extended mission (Credit: NASA.gov) "We've been thoroughly busy up here," Williams said. "It feels like coming back home. It feels good to float around. It feels good to be in space and work up here with the International Space Station team." Wilmore agrees, saying, "It's a great place to be, a great place to live, a great place to work." This summer, Banksy captivated Londoners with a remarkable series of artworks. From August 5 to 13, 2024, the anonymous British street artist revealed stunning animal sketches at various locations around the city. The first artwork appeared on August 5, 2024. Residents of Kew awoke to a silhouette of a mountain goat perched on a structure supporting a factory wall. Delighted locals immediately attributed it to Banksy. The artist later confirmed their hunch by posting an image of the drawing on his Instagram page. The different artworks appeared for nine straight days (Credit: Banksy/ Instagram/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) Then, the following day, another Banksy masterpiece appeared at the end of a row of homes in nearby Chelsea. This one depicted two elephants peering out from blocked out windows. The animal murals continued to appear on walls across London for nine consecutive days. They included three monkeys swinging across a bridge and a howling wolf painted on a satellite dish. There was also a painted pair of pelicans perched above a fish-and-chips shop and a mural of a rhino climbing atop an abandoned car. Each masterpiece was posted on the artist's Instagram page for his millions of fans to enjoy. The final artwork appeared the shutters of the London Zoo (Credit: Banksy/ Instagram/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) The ninth and final piece of Banksy's animal series appeared on the shutters of the London Zoo, on August 13, 2024. It showed a gorilla lifting up the shutter to allow a sea lion and several birds to escape. Initially, Zoo officials placed a layer of thin plastic to protect the mural from the Sun. However, a few days later they removed the shutter with the precious artwork to preserve it forever. In its place, they installed a solid barrier featuring a high-quality photo of the artwork. It was accompanied by a sign that said: "Banksy was here." “We’re thrilled by the joy this artwork has already brought to so many, but primarily, we’re incredibly grateful to Banksy, for putting wildlife in the spotlight,” Kathryn England, the zoo’s chief operating officer, said on its website. “This has become a significant moment in our history that we’re keen to properly preserve.” A massive fire burned 97 percent of the Big Basin Redwood State Park in 2020 (Credit: California State Parks/ Public Domain) The Big Basin Redwood State Park in Santa Cruz, California, is home to some of the tallest and oldest redwood trees on Earth. The towering trees reach heights of over 300 feet (91 m) and have an incredibly thick bark. This natural armor usually protects their upper branches and needles from wildfire damage. However, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire that burned 97 percent of the park in August 2020 was so intense that it even scorched these ancient giants. But in a remarkable turn of events, the charred redwoods began to sprout fresh green needles within months after the fires were extinguished. Intrigued by their rapid recovery, a team led by Drew Peltier, an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, decided to investigate. What they discovered was stunning. The researchers, who published their findings in late 2023, found that the redwoods have two additional strategies to cope with adversity. First, they store excess energy from leaf photosynthesis. This helps sustain them when no leaves are present to produce new energy, as was the case with the charred trees. Regrowth can be seen throughout Big Basin Redwoods State Park this spring (Credit: California State Parks/ Public Domain) Even more impressive, a process called radiocarbon dating revealed that the stored energy in the giant redwoods was between 50 and 100 years old. That means it had been created and tucked away for emergencies as early as the 1920s! The trees' second adaptation is the presence of bud tissue to enable leaf regrowth. By examining the wood beneath the sprouting areas, the researchers traced the tissue to the tree's center. This led them to conclude that the sprouts had grown from tissue nearly as old as the tree itself. In some cases, the trees were over a thousand years old. The researchers traced the bud tissue to the tree's center (Credit: Drew Peltier/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) "In addition to having really thick bark and extreme tree height, this is just one of those additional adaptations that redwood trees have that make them super-resilient to fire," Peltier said. The ancient park's full recovery will take years. But with 90 percent of the charred trees already exhibiting signs of regrowth, the outlook is promising. For non-believers, Friday, September 13, 2024, will simply mark the start of a well-deserved weekend. However, others may not share this sentiment. Millions of people worldwide consider Friday the 13th the unluckiest day of the year. The origins of the day's fearsome reputation remain unclear, but experts have some theories. The superstition starts with the fear of the number 13. The condition is called "triskaidekaphobia." Thomas Fernsler is an associate policy scientist at the University of Delaware. He believes 13 has a bad reputation because it follows the "complete" number 12. There are 12 months in a year, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles of Jesus, and so on. Many consider 13 "incomplete" and, therefore, unlucky. Folklore historian Donald Dossey has a different theory. He thinks 13 is considered unlucky because of a Scandinavian legend. According to the story, 12 norse gods were having dinner when Loki, the trickster god, showed up. He convinced Hoder, the god of darkness, to kill Balder, the god of joy. To this day, many people avoid having 13 guests at a party. Friday has its own negative associations. In the Bible, Jesus was crucified on a Friday, although not specifically the 13th. But this event occurred after the Last Supper with his 12 apostles, including Judas who betrayed him. Many biblical scholars believe Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit on a Friday. The one historical event thought to have occurred on Friday the 13th is when Adam and Eve's son Cain killed his brother, Abel. Regardless of the reason, the fear of Friday the 13th is widespread. Experts estimate that over 20 million Americans, and many more worldwide, experience some level of anxiety on this day. For people in high-risk jobs like construction, the apprehension often leads to accidents. This makes them fear the day even more. Those who are superstitious avoid making purchases on Friday the 13th (Credit: YouGov/ CC-BY-SA-2.0/ Statista) Interestingly, Friday the 13th also hurts the US economy. Businesses lose about $900 million on this day as believers avoid working, traveling, or making big purchases. As it turns out, their fears are unfounded. A 2008 study found that fewer traffic accidents occur on Friday the 13th than on other Fridays. The number of fires and thefts reported was also much lower. For the brave, the day may even prove lucky. Many businesses offer discounts to encourage people to shop. So, celebrate 2024's first Friday the 13th by treating yourself to a bargain or two! Carbon dioxide (CO2), released by burning fossil fuels like oil and coal, is a large contributor to global warming. Switching to renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines can help reduce the harmful emissions. However, phasing out fossil fuels entirely will take time. Meanwhile, companies like Climeworks are developing innovative solutions to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels. On May 8, 2024, the Switzerland-based startup turned on Mammoth, the world's largest direct air capture (DAC) plant. Located in Iceland, Mammoth is similar to an in-home air purifier. It uses fans to pull air through specialized filters, trapping carbon molecules. These molecules are mixed with water and pumped deep underground. Here, they react with the volcanic rocks and eventually turn into stone. The DAC plant is powered by geothermal energy and produces no carbon emissions. Play 00:00 00:38 Mute Settings Enter fullscreen Play Mammoth is nine times bigger than Climeworks' Orca plant, which opened in 2021. It can absorb up to 39,000 tons of carbon from the air annually. This is the equivalent of removing over 7,000 cars from the road. Critics say this alone is not enough to reduce overall emissions. They also argue that DAC plants are too expensive and distract from efforts to minimize the use of fossil fuels. But many environmentalists disagree. They believe efforts beyond reducing our reliance on fossil fuels are needed to decrease carbon emissions. “It’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s a much bigger drop in the bucket than any we’ve seen so far,” said Klaus Lackner, director of the Center for Negative Carbon Emissions at Arizona State University. Mammoth can extract 39,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the air annually (Credit: Climeworks.com) Besides, Climeworks is just getting started. The company is currently in the final stages of planning an even bigger DAC plant in Louisiana, USA. This new plant is expected to capture a million tons of CO2 annually by 2030. That is nearly 30 times more than Mammoth! Moreover, Climeworks is not alone in this endeavor. US-based Occidental is building its first commercial-scale DAC plant in Texas. It is expected to remove 500,000 tons of carbon annually when ready in 2025. SpaceX is no stranger to making history. It was the first private spaceflight company to carry astronauts to the International Space Station and the first to develop a reusable rocket booster. On September 15, 2024, SpaceX reached a new milestone with the successful completion of Polaris Dawn, the first of three commercial space missions under the Polaris program. This five-day flight saw a crew of all civilian astronauts set several space altitude records and conduct a pioneering spacewalk. The Dragon capsule lifted from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on September 10, 2024. Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who is funding the Polaris missions, served as mission leader. He was joined by SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon and retired US Air Force pilot Scott Poteet. Late on September 11, 2024, the spacecraft reached its highest point, 870 miles (1,400 km) above Earth. This is higher than any previous human spaceflight since the Apollo missions to the Moon. The record was previously held by NASA's Gemini 11 mission, which reached an altitude of 853 miles (1,372 km) in 1966. Gillis and Menon made further history as the first women to fly so far from Earth. Play 00:00 01:24 Mute Settings Enter fullscreen Play Beyond the records, there was a more important reason for reaching the high altitude. It was to assess the impact of the increased radiation levels on the Dragon capsule and its crew. This information will help prepare for future missions to the Moon and beyond. The spacecraft then descended to a cruising altitude of 435 miles (700 km) above Earth for the mission's biggest test: The first-ever civilian spacewalk. On September 12, 2024, Isaacman and Gillis began preparing for the task, often considered the most dangerous part of space travel. They wore the new SpaceX spacesuits and underwent a "pre-breathing" routine to prevent decompression sickness. The astronauts then emerged from the capsule, holding onto a special set of rails. Notably, the new spacesuits lacked the life support systems found in traditional spacesuits. Instead, Isaacman and Gillis were tethered to the spacecraft by a 12-foot-long cord that provided them with oxygen. Following a successful 10-minute spacesuit functionality test, the astronauts safely re-entered the Dragon spacecraft. The Dragon capsule returning to Earth (Credit: SpaceX/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) The historic mission ended at 3:37 a.m. ET on September 15, when the Dragon and its four crew members splashed down into the Gulf of Mexico. Since returning to Earth, Issacman and his team have undergone a series of medical tests to assess the effects of space travel on their bodies. These findings will help scientists develop strategies to protect astronauts on future lunar and deep-space missions. In 79 AD, Italy's Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under a thick layer of volcanic debris. Nearly 1,700 years later, in 1752, researchers found over 1,800 rolled papyrus scrolls inside the library of a Herculaneum mansion. The scrolls' exterior was severely charred by the intense heat. But due to the lack of oxygen, the interiors remained well-preserved. Over the last two centuries, researchers have made numerous attempts to unfold these artifacts. They believe the scrolls contain insights about life in ancient times. Some of the scrolls were mechanically unrolled. But the process caused them to crumble into dust. In 2009, Brent Seales, a computer science professor at the University of Kentucky, devised a way to use X-ray technology to image the scrolls' interior without opening them. The scans revealed letters and even some words. However, the carbon-based ink blended with the charred papyrus, making them difficult to read. Mechanically unrolling the scrolls caused them to crumble (Credit: Vesuvius Challenge/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) Since then, Seales and his team have been working to creating an artificial intelligence (AI) program to help identify the letters and symbols. They managed to develop the technology. But deciphering hundreds of scrolls was too large a task for them to handle alone. In March 2023, Seales and his team invited students from around the world to help them decode the ancient scrolls. As part of what they called the "Vesuvius Challenge," they released their AI program along with thousands of 3D X-ray images of two rolled-up scrolls and three papyrus fragments. Cash prizes were offered to those who made notable contributions. “Faculty and student researchers are great at providing breakthroughs, and we've done that. We've proven that virtual unwrapping and machine-learning ink detection works on the Herculaneum scrolls,” Seales said. “What a competition can do now is amplify and accelerate those breakthroughs — refining them in ways that would take us years to achieve on our own.” The first word identified from the scroll was the Greek word for purple (Credit: Vesuvius Challenge/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) In October 2023, Luke Farritor, a 22-year-old computer science student from the University of Nebraska, decoded the first word from the ancient scrolls. He identified "porphyras," the Greek word for purple. Shortly after, Youssef Nader, a graduate student at Germany's Freie University, found the same word. The two shared the "First Letters Prize" of $50,000, with Farritor receiving $40,000 and Nader $10,000. The two then teamed up with Swiss student Julian Schillinger to compete for the top prize of $700,000. To win, they needed to decode 85 percent of the characters in four passages, each containing 140 characters. The trio not only accomplished this but also managed to read an additional 15 partial columns of text. In total, they covered about 5 percent of the scroll. The decoded passages were attributed to a philosopher named Philodemus. In the texts, he pondered whether the abundance of goods, such as food, affects the amount of joy one experiences. The winners were able to decode about five percent of the scroll. (Credit: Vesuvius Challenge/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) Although pleased with the progress, Seales is far from finished. He is now challenging contestants to decode an entire scroll by the end of 2024. To encourage more participation, a $100,000 cash prize will be given to the first team that can decipher at least 90 percent of all four scrolls. "This material goes back 2,000 years — there were people who wrote this,” Seales said. “They wrote about love, they wrote about war, they wrote about peace, they argued with each other. These manuscripts are dialogues that they’re having about philosophical views of the world. And so even if we learn nothing but the deep connection that we have to the ancients in terms of humanity, that’s still significant.” After an illustrious 15-year career, American soccer icon Alex Morgan has decided to retire from professional soccer. Morgan broke the news to her fans on social media on September 5, 2024. The 35-year-old is expecting her second child and wants to focus on her young family. Morgan's remarkable tenure includes 22 World Cup appearances and 16 Olympic matches. “I’m going to get to the point quickly,” Morgan said. “I’m retiring. I have so much clarity about this decision, and I am so happy to be able to finally tell you. It has been a long time coming, and this decision wasn’t easy. But at the beginning of 2024, I felt in my heart and soul that this was the last season that I would play soccer." The Southern California native began her journey with the US Women's National Team (USWNT) in late 2009. Then, a 20-year-old standout at the University of California, Berkeley, Morgan quickly made her mark. In her debut year with the USWNT, she scored four international goals and earned the nickname "Baby Horse" for her speed and distinctive running style. Over the next 15 years, Morgan played a pivotal role in helping the USA win back-to-back FIFA Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. She played in 13 of the 14 matches, scoring seven goals and providing four assists. Morgan's decisive goal during extra time against Canada in the 2012 Olympics semifinals sealed the USWNT's spot in the finals. The team went on to claim their third consecutive gold medal victory. With 176 combined goals and assists, Morgan ranks fifth all-time in USWNT history. Only Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Kristine Lilly, and Carli Lloyd have more. Play 00:00 02:38 Mute Settings Enter fullscreen Play With her dynamic personality and immense talent, the 35-year-old has become a leading figure in women's soccer, inspiring a generation of young girls. Throughout her career, she has been a tireless advocate for women's rights and sports equality. In 2019, Morgan, along with 28 USWNT players, sued the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination. They were seeking equal pay and treatment as their male counterparts. The players won the lawsuit in 2022 and even received $22 million in back pay. In 2023, Morgan founded the Alex Morgan Foundation to promote equity and opportunities for girls and women both on and off the field. Morgan played her final game for her club team, the San Diego Wave, on September 8, 2024. She made a symbolic 13-minute appearance and also took a penalty kick. Despite the Wave’s 4-1 loss to the North Carolina Courage, Morgan’s exit was unforgettable. She blew kisses to the crowd while fans chanted her name. "There have been so many incredible moments in my career," the soccer star said. "But this one, this last moment I share on the field with you, I will cherish forever. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you." Egyptian archeologists revealed the discovery of a gleaming bronze sword on September 5, 2024. The weapon was marked with the insignia of Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt's most powerful pharaohs. Despite being buried for over 3,000 years, the sword has retained its reflective shine. The sword was found inside a small room in one of the mud barracks surrounding Tell Al-Abqain, a 3,200-year-old military fort in northwest Egypt. The presence of the pharaoh's emblem on the weapon suggests it belonged to a prominent military official. The ancient fort revealed many insights into the life of the soldiers that lived there (Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) Peter Brand, a historian at the University of Memphis, believes the sword's discovery suggests the fort was well-defended. It possibly even had an on-site weapons production area. Brand theorizes that the sword was likely a royal gift to a high-ranking officer. "The king's name and titles engraved on it served as a status symbol, increasing the owner's prestige and advertising the king's wealth, power, and generosity," he told Live Science. The ancient fort also revealed a glimpse into the daily lives of its former occupants through various discoveries. The archeologists uncovered storerooms for grain storage and ovens for baking, indicating a self-sufficient community. The excavations also yielded remains of large clay pots containing bones of fish and other animals, suggesting a diverse diet. Two clay tablets, one with Ramses' name, were also found (Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) Other items, such as bead necklaces and an applicator for kohl eyeliner, provided rare insights into the soldiers' personal lives. Kohl, a dark, black powder, was used by ancient Egyptians to protect their eyes from the harsh desert Sun. Two limestone blocks were also found. One was engraved with the name of someone called "Bay," while the other mentioned Ramses. Ramses II, often called Ramses the Great, was the second longest-reigning pharaoh in ancient Egypt. He ruled for 66 years, from 1279 to 1213 BCE, as the third king of the 19th Dynasty. Ramses II was known for his military prowess. Under his rule, Egypt's borders expanded significantly, stretching from modern-day Syria in the east to Sudan in the south. Nicknamed the "builder pharaoh," he also commissioned numerous temples and monuments during his reign. On September 26, 2024, at 11:10 pm EST, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, as a dangerous Category 4 storm. With sustained winds of over 140 miles per hour (225 km/h), it was the most powerful hurricane to hit the region since record-keeping began in 1851. After causing widespread damage, Helene continued on to several states, including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Helene weakened to a tropical storm shortly after making landfall. But it still brought torrential rains and generated numerous tornadoes across all the areas in its path. The strong winds and floodwaters washed away hundreds of roads and destroyed countless buildings, homes, and vehicles. Millions of people lost power and cell service. As of October 2, 2024, officials have confirmed 170 storm-related deaths, making Helene one of the deadliest hurricanes to strike the mainland US. With hundreds of people still missing, the numbers could rise substantially over the next few days. The Florida National Guard cleaning debris in Keaton Beach, Florida (Credit: The National Guard/ CC-BY-2..0/ Wikimedia Commons) The city of Asheville, in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, and its surrounding areas were among the hardest hit. By the time Helene landed in Florida, Asheville had already received over 4 inches of rain from a separate storm system. The downpour continued through September 26. It worsened the following day when remnants of the hurricane arrived. The three-day period from September 25 to 27, 2024, was the region's wettest on record. Some areas saw three months worth of rain in just three days. The subsequent flooding devastated the town of Chimney Rock, 25 miles southeast of Asheville. Roads and bridges were destroyed, and most buildings in the once-bustling downtown district were reduced to rubble. "Our little community of about 125 people… every single business has been either destroyed or severely damaged. Many of them are damaged to the point where they'll have to be completely rebuilt,” the town's Mayor Peter O'Leary said. "It's devastating. The whole community of Chimney Rock is changed forever." Many businesses will need to be rebuilt in the small town of Chimney Rock (Credit: North Carolina Weather Authority/ Public Domain) On October 2, 2024, President Joe Biden authorized the deployment of 1,000 soldiers to support the delivery of food, water, and other critical supplies to communities impacted by the hurricane. These troops will assist the over 4,800 federal personnel already providing aid. The president has also approved a major disaster declaration for Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, allowing residents to apply for federal assistance. Additionally, he plans to ask Congress to approve an emergency funding package to support recovery efforts. Meanwhile, the American Red Cross and other non-profits are providing tens of thousands of people with temporary shelters and meals. The National Football League has pledged $8 million to help those in need. State governments, corporations, and businesses are contributing to the relief efforts with cash donations and essential supplies such as water and non-perishable foods. Hopefully, this collective assistance will help the affected communities recover quickly from the disaster. Earthworms are well-known for their ability to enrich and improve soil. Yet, their precise impact on plant growth had remained a mystery. Now, two groundbreaking studies have found that these creepy crawlers not only boost crop yields but also protect plants from harmful microplastics. In late 2023, a research team from Colorado State University (CSU) reported that earthworms are responsible for 6.5 percent — or as much as 140 million tons — of global food production annually. This is comparable to Russia's annual grain harvest, which is the world's fourth largest. Earthworms estimated impact on grain yields (Credit Steven Fonte et.al/ Nature.com) CSU's Steven Fonte and his team arrived at this conclusion after a comprehensive study. They surveyed earthworm populations, soil properties, and crop yields from around the world. The researchers focused on four grains — rice, maize, wheat, and barley. They also measured the harvests of legumes like soybeans and peas. The team found that the earthworms' impact was significant in developing countries. For example, they helped increase grain yields by 10 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa and 8 percent in Latin America. Fonte and his team believe farmers in these regions likely lack easy access to fertilizers and pesticides. This makes them more reliant on earthworm-rich organic matter, such as manure and crop residues. "Earthworms are contributing a lot in these areas where we have fewer chemical inputs," Fonte said. "If we manage our soils in a more sustainable way, we can better harness or leverage this biodiversity and produce more sustainable agroecosystems." Earthworms help soil in many ways (Credit: Soilwarrior.com/ CC-BY-SA-2.0) Earthworms help plant growth in several ways. Their burrowing creates channels that loosen and aerate the soil. This allows water to drain from the surface and be stored underground. The earthworms' constant movement helps churn the soil's organic matter, making the nutrients more available to plants. In a separate study, scientists at Japan's Nankai University found that earthworms can also protect plants from microplastic pollution. The researchers tested this by placing tomato plants in soil contaminated with tiny plastic particles. They found that when earthworms were present, the plants thrived despite the pollution. They were also able to repel common plant-eating bugs. The scientists revealed their findings in September 2024. They believe that earthworms help boost the tomato plants’ immune systems. This makes them more resilient to environmental changes. In the wild, animals frequently use deceptive tactics to survive. For instance, some wasps turn spiders into "zombie" slaves to build intricate nests. Similarly, mouse-eared bats mimic hornet buzzes to avoid being preyed upon by owls. Now, a new study reveals that a crafty orb-weaver spider species has found a way to manipulate the mating signals of male fireflies to catch more prey. The Araneus ventricosus is a nocturnal orb-weaver spider found primarily in China, Japan, and Korea. They build their webs in the evening. This is the same time fireflies emerge to attract mates, making them easy prey. Female fireflies emit single flashes to attract males, while males use two flashes to attract females. Xinhua Fu, a researcher at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, China, was out studying fireflies when he noticed something interesting. The orb-weaver spider webs contained caught many male fireflies but very few females. A closer look revealed that many of the ensnared fireflies were still alive. However, they were emitting a single flash instead of their usual two. It appeared as though they were mimicking female fireflies. Play 00:00 01:29 Mute Settings Enter fullscreen Play To determine if the altered signal was the reason for the larger number of males, Fu and his team decided to investigate further. They found 161 orb weaver webs and randomly divided them into four experimental groups. The first group had a male firefly on a web with a spider present. The second group had a male firefly but no spider. The third group had both a male firefly and a spider, but the firefly's light was blocked with black ink. The control group had no fireflies or spiders. The researchers found that most fireflies were trapped by the first group of webs — where both both spiders and male fireflies were present. Notably, the spiders wrapped the fireflies in a light layer of silk. This ensured their flashes remained visible. In contrast, other insects like beetles were covered in a much thicker layer of silk. Male fireflies were also kept alive longer than other prey. However, they only emitted single, female-like signals when a spider was nearby. This suggested that the spiders may be manipulating t