Current Science Report: July 2023

Hey there, welcome to my blog Mufawad. In this monthly writeup, we will try to unveil the latest breakthroughs & uncover tomorrow's possibilities. Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply a science enthusiast, this article will provide you an engaging and informative insights and updates. Plus, as a compliment, you will get a peep into quirky AI images generated by me related to those particular topics.

Let’s delve into the new scientific research that happened in the past month or so and explore the latest technologies and breakthroughs that were achieved in this field of science. In current blog, you will read about the following science events of the month:

• India launches Chandrayaan III into the Space
• New Telescope to probe Dark Matter in the universe
• Genome analysis gives idea about how snakes lost legs
• Certain Naturally occurring protein boosts memory in Monkeys
• Starlink satellites flooding sky with radiation
• Magpies and crows use anti-bird spikes to construct their nests
• Mind reading tech causing Privacy issues
• Why Humans started walking on two legs
• Australia lifts ban on MDMA and psilocybin for medical use

Current Science Report: July 2023; Mufawad.com

India Launches Chandrayaan III into the Space

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to soft-land the 1.75-tonne Vikram craft at a spot near the Moon's south pole on 23 August. The lander-rover complex will explore the area around the landing site for one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days.

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The Chandrayaan-3 mission follows a partially successful 2019 ISRO mission that sent an orbiter with eight functioning instruments into orbit. The lander carrying the rover for that mission crashed into the Moon's surface in the final moments of descent.

ISRO incorporated several design changes into the lander-rover portion of Chandrayaan-3, including new instruments to handle failures and algorithms to deal with unanticipated deviations in propulsion or trajectory.

The lander is equipped with four instruments: one to measure changes in the density of ions and electrons near the Moon's surface over time, another to record the temperature near the surface, a seismograph to check for moonquakes around the landing site, and a reflector array to understand the dynamics of the Earth-Moon system.

The rover carries two instruments: a spectroscope for analyzing the chemical and mineral composition of the Moon's surface and a spectrometer to study samples of soil and rocks and investigate their compositions.

The potential of new Chandrayaan-3 instruments is exciting, as they are more sensitive than previous successful missions. Planetary scientists believe that Chandrayaan-3 will help scientists better understand the formation and history of the Moon by getting down on the surface and making unprecedented measurements of the Moon's chemical make-up. The rover's instruments can help researchers assess the diversity of elements at the landing site and settle unresolved questions.

 

New Telescope to probe Dark Matter in the universe

Euclid, an ambitious Universe-mapping telescope, is set to be launched at the rate of whopping Rs.127 thousand crore (US$1.5-billion) mission to explore the acceleration of the Universe's expansion. The mission aims to understand the cause of this acceleration, whether it's due to dark energy or something else.

Euclid will map ordinary, visible matter and explore the distribution of dark matter, which is more than five times as abundant as ordinary matter and forms a transparent scaffolding on the largest cosmic scales.

Pic Credits: New Scientist

Dark energy and Dark matter constitute an estimated 95% of the Universe's contents, but their nature and properties are still poorly understood. The results could amount to "a revolution in our understanding of the physical laws of nature."

The Euclid spacecraft, which carries a 1.2-metre-wide primary mirror made of very stiff silicon carbide,  launched on 1 July from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The telescope will watch the sky with two cameras simultaneously, one in the visible spectrum and the other in the infrared, while following Earth's orbit around the Sun from a distance of 1.5 million kilometers.

The telescope will use a dichroic plate, a mirror that reflects visible wavelengths but is transparent to those in the infrared, to funnel light to both cameras at once. Over time, Euclid will explore one-third of the full sky, always pointing away from the Milky Way's disk and from the dusty plane of the Solar System so that it can peek deeper into extragalactic space.

Euclid is one of several upcoming observatories designed to take wide-field images and map the Universe in 3D. Researchers will combine data to extract the large-scale properties of the Universe with greater precision.

Data from Euclid's two cameras will feed two types of analysis: computer code will comb through the visible-light pictures to look for subtle distortions that typically squeeze the apparent shapes of galaxies by less than 1% in one direction or another. When mapped over large swathes of the sky, these distortions reveal the presence of enormous masses in the foreground, which curve space and bend the light coming from objects in the background — a phenomenon called gravitational lensing.

This weak lensing effect is everywhere in the sky, and researchers will need to combine Euclid's black-and-white photos with colour images taken from ground-based observatories, especially Rubin. The gravitational lensing will allow cosmologists to measure whether the dark-matter scaffolding is thin and dense or more puffed up, which could provide clues to the nature of the elementary particles that constitute dark matter.

It will also provide a way to measure the mass of subatomic particles called neutrinos, because the lighter they are, the farther they fly out of galaxies and the more they contribute to the puffing up.

The first results from Euclid are expected in 2025, but its full map will not be published until 2030. The current cosmological theory centers around dark energy and a particular type of dark matter made of heavy particles. The eventual outcome of Euclid and other cosmology-mapping projects will put this theory to the ultimate test, according astrophysicists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as reported in The Nature.

 

Genome analysis gives idea about how snakes lost legs

Snakes are unique vertebrates with thin bodies lack of ears and legs. Researchers has sequenced the genomes of over a dozen snake species, spanning 150 million years of evolution. The research reveals mutations that likely caused these appendages to disappear, as well as the DNA underlying other unusual traits.

The study also reveals that all snakes have the same PTCH1 mutations, which could be one of the important genetic bases underlying snakes' limb loss. The research also reveals other genetic peculiarities of snakes, such as the downregulation of genes for vision and hearing high frequencies.

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This downregulation may have led to the reconfigured ear bones, making snakes sensitive to vibrations. Additionally, snakes are missing two genes, DNAH11 and FOXJ1, which guide embryo development to ensure a symmetrical body with two lungs.

This work is a step toward identifying key genes in snake development and identifying how development shapes other vertebrates, including humans, and identifying potential diseases or malformations.

Certain Naturally occurring protein boosts memory in Monkeys

A study published in The Nature found that injecting ageing monkeys with a 'longevity factor' protein, klotho, can improve their cognitive function. This could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

The study involved testing the cognitive abilities of old rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), aged around 22 years on average, before and after a single injection of klotho. The monkeys performed significantly better in these tests after receiving klotho, identifying the correct wells around 45% of the time before the injections compared to around 60% of the time after injection.

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The improvement was sustained for at least two weeks. The mechanism of injecting klotho is still unclear, as it cannot cross the barrier from blood to brain. However, the study "certainly gives us hope" and there's a strong reason to jump into human clinical trials now.

Neurologists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, agrees that further work is needed to answer such questions. People with Alzheimer's who have naturally higher klotho levels tend to experience less cognitive impairment than those with lower levels. This raises the possibility that artificially increasing klotho might have beneficial effects. A better understanding of the protein's mode of action will be "crucial" for realizing its clinical potential.

Starlink satellites flooding sky with radiation

A new study by scientists from the International Astronomical Union's Centre for the protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS) found that Elon Musk's thousands of Starlink satellites are not only disrupting scientific research by causing streaks in deep space photos but also dumping "unintended electromagnetic radiation" into space.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, found that the satellites in low Earth orbit could be muddling or even drowning out signals from deeper in space that radio astronomers search for.

Some of the radiation emitting from the satellites falls within a bandwidth designated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to allow radio astronomers to perform their work. The study comes from the International Astronomical Union's Centre for the protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS), an organization made up of astronomers from across the globe dedicated to studying astronomical matters that pertain to satellites cluttering the night sky.

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Starlink has launched more than 3,000 satellites, providing internet to more than 50 countries, including Canada. They are aiming to hit 10,000 satellites by 2027. Previous research on satellite interference with astronomy has focused on the visual impact of a cluttered night sky, with several studies showing that satellites are leaving pale streaks on thousands of night sky photography, potentially blocking telescopes and cameras from capturing accurate observations from the ground.

However, less well understood is how satellites affect radio astronomy. The study used observations from a telescope in the Netherlands called the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to track the radiation coming from onboard electronics on the Starlink satellites.

This radiation is different from communications transmissions facilitated by satellites, which have long been something radio astronomers have to contend with in the course of their research. Human-made radio signals are capable of drowning out the faint signals from deep space, so many radio astronomy sites are specifically built in areas that have protections from terrestrial interference, including radio-quiet zones.

The discovery that there is another confounding signal from satellites for radio astronomers to worry about — the electromagnetic radiation — is something researchers say we need to look into more.

The larger the satellite constellation, the more important this effect becomes as the radiation from all the satellites adds up. This makes researchers worried not only about the existing constellations but even more about the planned ones and about the absence of clear regulation that protects the radio astronomy bands from unintended radiation.

The Elon Musk’s Star Link is aware of this new study and has offered to continue discussing possible ways to mitigate any adverse effects on astronomy in good faith. The authors praised SpaceX for collaborating with astronomers but pointed out that all satellite operators need to be part of a broader change to ensure that we can continue to study space without obstruction.

Magpies and crows use anti-bird spikes to construct their nests

Birds have long been known to turn human rubbish into nesting materials, but experts in the field have raised concerns about the latest nests found in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Antwerp, Belgium. Nests were found to be constructed almost entirely from strips of long metal spikes that are often attached to buildings to deter birds from setting up home on the structures.

 Researchers at the Natural History Museum in Rotterdam and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden scour the internet for further examples, leading to the identification of another anti-bird spike nest in Glasgow and a fourth nest in Enschede, the Netherlands.

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The Rotterdam nest was made by crows, while the other three were built by magpies, which construct large dome-like nests. The crows used the anti-bird spikes as a sturdy construction material, but the magpies may have appreciated their intended use: they placed most of the spikes on the nest's roof where they could deter predators, including other birds and weasels.

Biologists at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, said that these are the craziest bird nests he has ever seen. This is not the first time birds have been found to incorporate urban materials into their nests.

In 1933, a South African museum reported a crow's nest fashioned from hard-drawn copper, galvanized iron, and barbed wire. Nails, screws, and even drug users' syringes have all found their way into birds' nests. Crows and magpies appear to be finding and removing the metal strips from buildings, rather than finding old strips at rubbish dumps. They are ripping the stuff off. A European team of researchers warned that nearly 200 bird species build nests with potentially dangerous human litter ranging from cigarette butts to plastic bags and fishing nets.

Ornithologists at the University of Birmingham, say they were "amazed" at the anti-bird spike nests but added that if any group of birds was going to do it, it would be the corvids, who are known for their cognitive skills. Anti-bird spikes are not only attached to building ledges to deter birds from nesting. In 2017, residents in the leafy Clifton neighbourhood of Bristol fixed bird-repelling spikes to trees to stop pigeons perching on the branches and creating a mess on parked cars below.

Mind reading Tech causing Privacy issues

Scientific advances are rapidly making mind-reading concepts like mind-reading a reality, raising thorny questions for ethicists who are considering how to regulate brain-reading techniques to protect human rights such as privacy.

At a Paris meeting organized by UNESCO, neuroscientists, ethicists, and government representatives discussed the topic at a meeting. Neurotechnologies, which involve techniques and devices that directly interact with the brain to monitor or change its activity, often use electrical or imaging techniques.

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The field is growing rapidly, with a recent report showing that the number of neurotechnology-related patents filed annually doubled between 2015 and 2020. Investment rose 22-fold between 2010 and 2020, and neurotechnology is now a US$33-billion industry.

One area in need of regulation is the potential for neurotechnologies’ to be used for profiling individuals and the Orwellian idea of manipulating people's thoughts and behaviour. Mass-market brain-monitoring devices would be a powerful addition to a digital world in which corporate and political actors already use personal data for political or commercial gain.

Policymakers face the challenge of creating regulations that protect against potential harms of neurotechnologies without restricting research into their benefits.

Medical and consumer products present distinct challenges to ethicists, with products intended for clinical use largely governed by existing regulations for drugs and medical devices. More advanced devices, such as implanted BCIs (Brain Computer Interfase), are in trials. However, commercial devices are of more pressing concern to ethicists, as companies from start-ups to tech giants are developing wearable devices for widespread use that record different forms of neural activity and give manufacturers access to that information.

The need for neurorights is another theme at the meeting, as the ability to record and manipulate neural activity challenges existing human rights. Two researchers discussed the idea of 'neurorights', which protect against third parties being able to access and affect a person's neural activity.

Two main neurorights are proposed: the right to mental privacy; protection against personality-changing manipulations; protected free will and decision-making; fair access to mental augmentation; and protection from biases in the algorithms that are central to neurotechnology.

Countries including Chile, Spain, Slovenia, and Saudi Arabia have started developing regulations, and representatives discussed their nations' work at the meeting. Chile stands out because in 2021, it became the first nation to update its constitution to acknowledge that neurotechnology needs legal oversight. The next step for UNESCO member states will be to vote in November on whether the organization should produce global guidelines on neurotechnology, similar to the guidelines UNESCO is finalizing for artificial intelligence.

In conclusion, the rapid growth of neurotechnology raises questions for ethicists and policymakers about how to regulate brain-reading techniques and protect human rights.

Why Humans started walking on two legs

A study published in ‘The Science’ has generated a map of genomic regions that could explain how humans' unique skeletal architecture evolved and points to regions of our DNA that place us at risk of the common skeletal disease osteoarthritis. The study, which focuses on the skeletal proportions of humans, has been challenging to conduct genetic studies due to the difficulty in obtaining skeletal measurements and DNA on the same samples. Researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to extract precise measurements of bone lengths from over 31,000 records.

The genome-wide map identified 145 genetic locations associated with changes to skeletal proportions, many of which are known to have roles in skeletal development. 45 of the locations overlapped a single protein-coding gene, and 32 have previously been identified as resulting in abnormal skeletons when disrupted in mice and 4 as causing rare skeletal diseases in humans.

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The team investigated a range of skeletal ratios, such as hip width to shoulder width, forearm length to height, and torso length to leg length. Limb and torso proportions were linked to distinct regions of the genome, suggesting that their development is controlled by separate genetic programs.

One theory for why early hominins evolved upright walking is that their bodies were better able to keep cool in hot environments. Using biobank data on metabolic rate and body mass, the researchers found support for this hypothesis: as leg length increases, heat dissipation to stay cool improves. This correlation between skeletal proportions and metabolic rate and fat-free body mass is in line with what the theory would predict.

The study also identified genetic regions associated with osteoarthritis of the hips and knees, a disorder that is a leading cause of disability in the United States. This approach of pairing imaging and genetic data could be used to look for the genetic cause of other conditions, such as one leg being longer than the other or how pelvic proportions changed through evolution.

Genome-wide association studies are powerful tools for identifying candidates for future research, but pinpointing which genes directly affect the developmental processes is not straightforward if genetic variation occurs outside gene-coding sequences. Researchers are using gene-edited zebrafish to investigate whether the identified genes alter skeletal formation in a model organism.

Australia lifts ban on MDMA and psilocybin for medical use

Australia is set to become the world's first country to allow doctors to prescribe drugs psilocybin and MDMA for treating psychiatric conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, many scientists are concerned that research has not yet conclusively shown that these drugs are safe or effective.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia's drug regulator, approved the move after a nearly three-year process and included extensive consultation with experts. Research over the past few decades has shown that some illicit drugs, such as MDMA, are effective in treating certain mental-health disorders when combined with psychotherapy.

A phase II trial published late last year showed that a 25 milligram dose of psilocybin was twice as effective as a 1 mg dose in combating treatment-resistant depression, although significant side effects were noted.

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A report on a phase III trial of MDMA described it as a "potential breakthrough treatment" for PTSD3. The drugs have also shown potential in treating anxiety, anorexia, and substance addiction. Nations including the United States, Canada, and Israel allow individual use of these drugs on compassionate grounds or in clinical trials, but on 1 July Australia will be the first to regulate the drugs as medications, to be prescribed by approved psychiatrists.

Researchers are concerned that research has yet to show which patients are best suited to the treatments. Susan Rossell, a psychiatrist at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, who is working on Australia's only active clinical trial testing psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression, fears that, administered improperly, the drugs could give people bad trips and leave them with increased psychological issues. Her own unpublished research suggests that 10-20% of trial participants have a "really terrible time" with these drugs.

The approval comes with no guidance or stipulation that the drugs should be administered in a clinical setting with intensive psychotherapy support. It is unclear about how it will be enforced.