So, Let’s delve into the new scientific research that happened in the past month or so and explore the latest technologies that are being created and breakthroughs that were achieved in this field.
In the current blog, you will read about the following science events of the month:
- Marburg Virus rocks Rwanda
- Call for ethical use of quantum technologies growing louder
- Chinese build strongest magnet ever
- Earths “Vital Signs” has hit extremes
- Nearby river systems helped Himalayas grow taller
- Nature’s Carbon sink failing big time
- Spraying diamond dust can cool planet
- Scientists found gamma rays associated with lightning storms
- Researchers create DNA bricks that can store data
- New Microscope helps to track DNA and Proteins without opening the cell
- Bowerbird nests act as opera houses
- “Who Wins the Nobel Prize!” A look at Nature Infographics
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| Current Science Report: October 2024, Mufawad |
Marburg Virus rocks Rwanda
Rwanda is currently facing its first outbreak of the highly virulent Marburg virus, which was confirmed on September 27. As of now, 11 people have died from the virus, with 36 confirmed cases reported in the country. The health ministry has announced plans to begin clinical trials for experimental vaccines and treatments to combat the outbreak.
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Marburg virus is part of the Filoviridae family, which includes Ebola, and is known to cause haemorrhagic fever, leading to severe internal bleeding. The virus was first identified in 1967 in Marburg, Germany, and has a high case fatality rate, estimated between 24% and 88%, with an average of around 50% mortality for those infected. Symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after exposure and often include fever, headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues, with fatal cases typically showing signs of bleeding.
The virus is usually transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces, rather than being airborne. In Rwanda, a significant percentage of cases (around 70%) have occurred among healthcare workers in two facilities, highlighting the risks associated with limited infection control in healthcare settings.
Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Marburg virus. However, Rwanda is working to develop vaccines in collaboration with various organizations, including the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and the Sabin Vaccine Institute. Trials for a Marburg vaccine, modelled after the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, are already underway in the UK.
Preventative measures to avoid contracting Marburg include practicing good hygiene, wearing masks around symptomatic individuals, and not sharing food. Those who believe they have been exposed are advised to monitor their symptoms and seek medical help.
Experts are concerned that Marburg outbreaks may become more frequent due to increased human-wildlife interactions, rising chronic health conditions, and limited healthcare resources in some regions. The World Health Organization has assessed the risk of this outbreak as "very high" at the national level, "high" regionally, and "low" globally.
Courtesy: Aljazeera
Call for ethical use of quantum technologies growing louder
Quantum technologies are poised to revolutionize nations’ defence capabilities by refining data collection, intelligence analysis, secure communication, and precision in weapons development. For example, quantum sensors, which leverage quantum behaviors to measure forces and radiation, can detect objects with high sensitivity, even underwater or underground.
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Quantum communication systems that are resistant to jamming could transform military command and control, ensuring secure information exchange in critical situations. The global interest in these technologies is significant, with countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, India, and China heavily investing in various defence applications.
Notable projects include the U.S. Department of Defence’s $45 million quantum components initiative for improved targeting precision, the U.K.’s quantum-based navigation systems that resist jamming, and India’s work on quantum encryption for secure data. China is also developing quantum radar capable of overcoming traditional stealth technologies, which aim to conceal aircraft or ships from standard radar systems.
However, along with promise, quantum technologies carry ethical risks, some of which parallel those found in artificial intelligence (AI). Quantum computers, for example, might enable the creation of potent chemical or biological weapons or compromise cryptographic standards, posing a threat to global digital security. Additionally, quantum sensors raise significant privacy concerns, as they could enhance surveillance and infringe upon rights to privacy and freedom of communication. Quantum algorithms, with their complex nature, may be difficult to understand or reverse-engineer, creating a “responsibility gap” where it’s challenging to hold specific actors accountable for unintended consequences in military operations.
Addressing these ethical concerns from the outset is essential. Scholars and experts propose an "anticipatory ethical governance" approach, which involves considering ethical risks during every phase of quantum technology development, from design through to deployment. By tackling ethical challenges proactively, defense organizations can minimize risks and avoid costly corrections later. This approach is guided by six principles for responsibly advancing quantum technologies in defense, ensuring both innovation and ethical integrity.
The first principle emphasizes the need for developing a model for categorizing risks. Defence organizations should prioritize and address risks associated with quantum technology based on their predictability. By categorizing risks into “known knowns,” “known unknowns,” and “unknown unknowns,” organizations can focus on those that can be addressed immediately, such as privacy concerns with quantum sensors. At the same time, defense bodies can prepare for future challenges, like supply chain risks, which may arise due to the rare materials needed in quantum technology.
Another principle is to counter authoritarian and unjust uses of quantum technologies. It’s crucial to prevent these advanced tools from falling into the hands of repressive regimes that might exploit them for mass surveillance or other restrictive measures. For instance, quantum computing’s ability to break encryption could be used for invasive monitoring. To mitigate this risk, democratic nations might restrict the export of sensitive quantum technologies to countries with poor human rights records, ensuring these tools aren’t misused.
As quantum technology development in defense advances, securitization should be justified and balanced. The current geopolitical climate fosters a sense of urgency in technological advancement, and while strategic competition can spur innovation, excessive securitization could hinder the collective benefits of quantum technologies. Restricting research and technological advancements could lead to the isolation of nations and limit collaborative progress, which has proved essential in fields like artificial intelligence. Countries should thus aim for a balanced approach that considers both security needs and the broader, cooperative potential of these technologies.
In addition, multilateral collaboration and oversight are key to responsible quantum technology development. Given the cross-border impacts that such technologies may entail, unilateral governance will be insufficient. Establishing international frameworks and an independent oversight body, akin to the International Atomic Energy Agency, would ensure that countries adhere to agreed-upon standards and help prevent misuse of quantum technologies across borders.
Information security is also a priority; defense organizations should focus on reducing information leak risks throughout the quantum technology life cycle. As quantum encryption poses new challenges to data security, it’s essential to prepare against “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, where adversaries may collect encrypted data now with the intention of decrypting it once quantum technology matures. By strengthening information security protocols early, defense organizations can better protect against future cyber threats.
Finally, promoting development strategies for societal benefit will be essential to ethical governance. Quantum technologies, like AI, have dual-use potential, benefiting both civilian and military applications. Defense organizations can support civilian applications in areas such as health care, agriculture, and climate research, fostering public trust and demonstrating the positive impact of these technologies. This approach, inspired by lessons from AI development, would enable defense agencies to address societal needs and strengthen public confidence in the ethical use of quantum technologies.
Implementing these principles will require sustained investment, resources, and early intervention in governance, as the ethical implications of quantum technologies are best addressed proactively. By focusing on responsible development from the start, defense organizations can steer quantum innovation towards beneficial outcomes while safeguarding the values essential to democratic societies.
Courtesy: Nature
Chinese build strongest magnet ever
China's recent breakthrough in magnetic field technology is setting new standards in the field of high magnetic fields. Recently, Steady High Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF) in China achieved a steady magnetic field of 42.02 tesla, surpassing the 41.4-tesla record set by the U.S. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) in 2017. This powerful resistive magnet was developed by scientists at the Chinese Academy of Science's Hefei Institutes of Physical Science.
High-field magnets like this one are key research tools, enabling scientists to explore and manipulate advanced materials such as superconductors, which carry electric current without producing waste heat at very low temperatures. Higher magnetic fields allow for more detailed examination of these materials, and the increased resolution supports the study of faint phenomena, potentially revealing new states of matter.
Resistive magnets, while older in technology, offer advantages like sustaining high magnetic fields over long periods and rapid adjustability. However, they consume enormous amounts of power; the SHMFF magnet drew 32.3 megawatts to set the record. This high-power demand makes it costly to operate, pushing the scientific community to explore hybrid and superconducting magnets, which require less power but are challenging to build and maintain due to complex cooling systems and high initial costs.
The SHMFF team is advancing further, developing a 55-tesla hybrid magnet, while the NHMFL team is working on a 40-tesla superconducting magnet for experiments. These developments not only enhance our understanding of condensed matter physics but also signify China's growing role in advancing global magnetic field technology.
Courtesy: Nature
Earths “Vital Signs” has hit extremes
A new assessment by top climate scientists warns that Earth’s “vital signs” are deteriorating at record levels, suggesting humanity’s future is in jeopardy. The report, analyzing 35 indicators in 2023, found worsening trends in 25, including CO2 levels and population growth, signalling a critical stage in the climate crisis. Driven by fossil fuel use, global surface and ocean temperatures hit unprecedented highs. Daily population and livestock growth further escalates greenhouse gas emissions.
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Scientists identified 28 feedback loops, like emissions from melting permafrost, that could trigger tipping points, such as Greenland ice cap collapse. Extreme weather events, such as U.S. hurricanes and 50°C heatwaves in India, are increasingly common, affecting billions globally.
The report aims to motivate bold, informed action among leaders and the public to curb fossil fuel use, overconsumption, and waste, and to promote plant-based diets. Professor William Ripple from Oregon State University, a co-leader, emphasized that ecological overshoot has pushed Earth into uncharted climate conditions, risking geopolitical instability and even partial societal collapse.
Published in Bioscience, the assessment notes that CO2 and methane—potent greenhouse gases—are at record levels, with methane emissions accelerating. While renewable energy sources like wind and solar grew by 15% in 2023, fossil fuels remain dominant. A Guardian survey found that only 6% of climate experts believe the 1.5°C warming limit will be achieved.
The scientists stress that climate change reflects a deeper crisis of ecological overshoot, risking systemic collapse. Policies for change include education and rights for women and girls to manage population growth, ecosystem restoration, and climate education to drive action. The report concludes that only decisive measures can avert severe human suffering and preserve a livable world.
Courtesy: Guardian
Nearby river systems helped Himalayas grow taller
Mount Everest, standing at 29,032 feet above sea level, continues to grow taller each year, partly due to a historic river system merger. Scientists estimate that between 50 and 160 feet of Everest’s height resulted from this merger of the Kosi and Arun Rivers roughly 89,000 years ago. This powerful combined river eroded significant rock and soil from the Himalayas, about 50 miles from Everest, lightening the Earth’s crust in the region.
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Through a process called isostatic rebound, this erosion reduced the crust’s weight, allowing land to rise—similar to a boat rising when weight is removed. According to research in Nature Geoscience, this geological rebound contributes up to half of Everest's annual growth, estimated at 0.16 to 0.53 millimeters per year.
This unexpected mechanism helps explain Everest’s unusual height, towering nearly 800 feet above nearby peaks. Study co-author Dai Jingen noted that this new perspective on river-driven rebound, alongside tectonic activity, might reshape models of mountain formation, highlighting Earth’s interconnected processes and how regional changes can have far-reaching effects.
Courtesy: NBC News
Nature’s Carbon sink failing big time
The Earth's natural systems, from oceans to forests, play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change. Every night, billions of marine organisms rise to the surface to feed, leaving carbon-rich waste that sinks to the ocean floor. This “largest migration” removes millions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere. Combined, Earth's oceans, forests, soils, and other carbon sinks absorb around half of human emissions. However, scientists warn that global warming is disrupting these systems, potentially destabilizing the natural carbon cycle.
In 2023, which was recorded as the hottest year so far, land-based carbon absorption nearly collapsed. Forests, plants, and soils collectively absorbed very little carbon, highlighting their fragility under climate stress. Ocean systems are also under threat. Melting Arctic ice and glaciers are affecting ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream, which could reduce carbon absorption. For zooplankton, exposed sea ice means more sunlight, potentially keeping them at depth and limiting their nightly migration, which is essential for carbon storage.
The director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Johan Rockstrom, noted that Earth's natural resilience is “cracking” as climate impacts compound. While land-based carbon absorption may recover in years without droughts and fires, the 2023 breakdown shows that reaching net-zero emissions relies heavily on nature’s capacity to absorb carbon. As emissions reached a record 37.4 billion tons in 2023, over 118 countries depend on land-based carbon sinks to meet their climate targets. If natural absorption continues to decline, global warming could accelerate beyond current predictions.
Regions are experiencing significant declines in carbon absorption. Only the Congo Basin remains a major tropical rainforest carbon sink. The Amazon is facing extreme droughts, and tropical forests in Southeast Asia now emit more carbon than they absorb. Soil, the second-largest carbon store after the oceans, could increase its emissions by up to 40% by century’s end if current trends continue, driven by climate-driven soil drying and microbial activity.
Tim Lenton of Exeter University underscores that the biosphere is showing unpredicted responses to warming, raising concerns about the future reliability of natural carbon sinks. Studies indicate that boreal forests, which store about a third of the world’s land carbon, have sharply declined in their carbon-absorbing capacity due to climate-driven events like beetle outbreaks and fires. These conditions contributed to the 2023 land sink collapse and spurred atmospheric carbon increases.
Current climate models do not fully account for such rapid shifts. Philippe Ciais of France’s Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences warns that the reduction in northern carbon absorption may not rebound. Additionally, wildfires in regions like Canada and Siberia have become new, major carbon sources, with emissions on par with those of entire countries. Forest dieback due to drought is another factor missing in models, which may make their predictions too optimistic.
The consequences are stark. A weakened carbon sink system would require even more aggressive emission cuts to achieve net-zero goals. For countries like Finland, which has a leading carbon-neutrality target, declining land absorption has nullified their emission reductions. In Australia, carbon loss from drought-stricken soils could put its climate goals out of reach.
Nature’s limits are increasingly evident. While efforts to enhance natural carbon storage continue, many researchers argue that the primary goal should be protecting and conserving existing carbon sinks. This means cutting emissions, halting deforestation, and promoting ecosystem health. As Prof. Pierre Friedlingstein of Exeter University emphasizes, relying solely on forests for CO₂ removal is not sustainable. The path to a stable climate hinge on drastic fossil fuel reductions across all sectors.
Courtesy: Guardian
Spraying diamond dust can cool planet
Geoengineering, which includes controversial methods like dumping iron into oceans or launching mirrors into space, is back in the spotlight with a new proposal involving the injection of diamond dust into the stratosphere. A study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that dispersing 5 million tons of diamond dust each year could cool the planet by 1.6°C, potentially staving off severe climate impacts. However, this ambitious plan comes with a hefty price tag, estimated at $200 trillion over the century, far exceeding the costs of traditional sulfur-based methods.
This research focuses on stratospheric aerosol injection, inspired by natural volcanic eruptions that release sulfur dioxide, forming sulfate aerosols that reflect sunlight and cool the Earth. While past eruptions, like Mount Pinatubo in 1991, showcased this effect, artificial sulfur injections present risks, including acid rain and ozone layer depletion. Climate scientist Sandro Vattioni and his colleagues aimed to explore alternative particles with fewer drawbacks.
Using a 3D climate model, the team assessed various compounds and found diamond particles to be the most effective at reflecting sunlight and remaining aloft without clumping. However, achieving the cooling effect would require massive synthetic diamond production and logistical challenges. While sulfur remains a cheaper and more readily deployable option, it poses its own risks, such as absorbing light and causing stratospheric warming.
Despite the promise of diamond dust, experts like Douglas MacMartin express skepticism about its feasibility due to high costs—synthetic diamond dust would be significantly more expensive than sulfur, totaling an estimated $175 trillion from 2035 to 2100. Furthermore, the ease of deploying sulfur dioxide makes it the most likely candidate for geoengineering efforts.
Critics of geoengineering argue that research could detract from efforts to reduce carbon emissions and that focusing on one particle type might overlook significant uncertainties. However, Vattioni insists that ignoring solar geoengineering research neglects the severity of climate challenges. Shuchi Talati emphasizes the importance of including diverse voices in discussions about geoengineering to ensure equitable decision-making that addresses the needs of vulnerable populations.
Courtesy: Science.Org
Scientists found gamma rays associated with lightning storms
Thunderstorms are known for their wind, rain, and lightning, but they also produce another unexpected byproduct: gamma radiation. Recent studies published on October 3 in Nature reveal that these bursts of radioactive energy occur frequently, thanks to a revamped U-2 spy plane from NASA. This aircraft has enabled researchers to conduct direct analyses of gamma rays generated during thunderstorms, offering new insights into this phenomenon.
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Gamma rays were first detected in thunderstorms accidentally in the 1990s when NASA satellites, designed to study supernovas, picked up unexpected radiation signals from below. Since then, researchers have relied on various instruments, but understanding the mechanics of radiation generation remained challenging. As thunderstorms develop, wind-driven drafts create electric charges, much like static electricity. Positively charged ions rise while negatively charged ones descend, forming a powerful electric field—comparable to the energy of 100 million AA batteries. This field accelerates particles like electrons, resulting in interactions that can produce gamma rays and other radiation.
Previous aircraft campaigns have yielded mixed results regarding gamma radiation detection in storms, but the new ER-2 High-Altitude Airborne Science Aircraft has changed the game. Capable of flying at altitudes of 72,000 feet, this retrofitted U-2 plane is ideal for studying thunderstorms. Over a month, the research team conducted ten flights over storms in southern Florida, discovering that nearly all large thunderstorms generate gamma rays continuously throughout the day.
The team found that the gamma radiation resembles the dynamic behaviour of a boiling pot, often observed in conjunction with active lightning. This suggests that lightning is a significant factor in gamma ray generation, enhancing the high-energy electrons in the storm. Interestingly, the researchers also identified two new types of short gamma bursts that occur independently of lightning flashes. These spontaneous emissions, still shrouded in mystery, may relate to specific thunderstorm processes that initiate lightning.
While further research is needed to fully understand these phenomena, the current findings underscore the complexity of thunderstorms. Cummer, a co-author of the studies, assures that the gamma radiation poses no threat to those caught in a storm, stating, “The radiation would be the least of your problems if you found yourself there.”
Courtesy: Popular Science
Researchers create DNA bricks that can store data
For millennia, DNA has served as a robust data repository, capable of holding vast amounts of information—just one gram can store 10 million hours of high-definition video. However, scientists are continually seeking to improve data storage methods. A novel approach allows DNA to encode information in a binary format of 0s and 1s, akin to traditional computer systems. This technique could potentially be cheaper and faster than existing methods that rely on manipulating the DNA sequence itself.
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In a recent study published in Nature, researchers led by Long Qian from Peking University demonstrated this straightforward method, enabling 60 volunteers from diverse backgrounds to successfully encode and retrieve their chosen texts. Many volunteers were initially skeptical, but witnessing their texts returned correctly helped build their confidence in the method.
As the world’s data production escalates, conventional electronic storage methods are reaching their limits. Nicholas Guise from the Georgia Tech Research Institute highlights DNA’s immense storage capacity as an attractive alternative; with proper protection, DNA can last for hundreds of thousands of years, unlike electronic hard drives, which require frequent replacements and risk data corruption.
Traditional DNA data storage involves synthesizing DNA strands from scratch, a process that is both slow and costly compared to electronic storage. To address these challenges, Qian and her team focused on the epigenome—molecules that control gene activity without altering the DNA sequence itself.
They created a system using prefabricated DNA “bricks” that could be assembled with or without methyl groups to form a DNA strand representing binary code. The presence of a methyl group indicates a 1, while its absence indicates a 0, and researchers can retrieve the data using DNA sequencing techniques.
This approach, which capitalizes on the efficiency of prefabricated DNA segments, has the potential to lower costs significantly. The team successfully encoded and decoded images, including a Han dynasty tiger rubbing and a color picture of a panda, using nearly 270,000 bits.
Despite the promise of this technology, challenges remain in scaling up for larger datasets and achieving cost competitiveness with electronic storage. Guise emphasizes that while DNA storage has potential, it still requires significant advancements before it becomes commercially viable. The pursuit of such disruptive technologies continues to be critical in addressing the growing demand for data storage solutions.
Courtesy: Nature
New Microscope helps to track DNA and Proteins without opening the cell
A new microscopy technique, called expansion in situ genome sequencing, allows researchers to sequence DNA and map protein locations within a cell, all while keeping the cell intact. This breakthrough enables scientists to see how DNA and proteins interact in their natural environment, providing valuable insights into molecular functions.
Developers of the method have used it to study how aging might change protein interactions within the cell nucleus, revealing that these alterations could suppress gene activity over time. Ankur Sharma, a cancer biologist, called the approach “phenomenal” for its potential in cancer research.
Published as a preprint, the technique combines two existing methods: one for tagging DNA with fluorescent markers to read its sequence and another for expanding cells with a gel to increase spatial resolution. This combination allows clearer observation of DNA and protein interactions, even in confined spaces like the nucleus.
The method has been tested on cells from people with Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome, a condition causing premature aging. In progeria, mutated lamins, usually located on the cell nucleus’s periphery, are found inside the nucleus, disrupting chromosome arrangement and reducing gene activity. Similar changes were observed in cells from a 92-year-old without the syndrome.
While the technique requires significant skill, experts believe it could eventually be streamlined and commercialized, making it more accessible. Geneticist Thierry Voet envisions it as a step toward detecting various cell components, marking a promising development for cellular research.
Courtesy: Nature
Bowerbird nests act as opera houses
Male great bowerbirds have long fascinated researchers with their elaborate mating rituals, which now appear to include an impressive acoustic engineering component. A study published in Behavioral Ecology reveals how these birds construct intricate twig structures that amplify their calls to attract females, much like how architects design concert venues to enhance sound quality. Cognitive scientist Cliodhna Quigley from the University of Vienna notes that this behavior is akin to cupping your hands around your ears to better hear sounds.
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In northern Australia, male great bowerbirds gather materials to create tall, arching bowers, which consist of a tunnel called an avenue, flanked by courts adorned with pebbles, shells, and colorful debris. During courtship, males advertise their bower with loud calls, and when a female arrives, they engage in a captivating performance. The male sings a raspy song while showcasing various objects to the female, who can only see his head through the avenue's entrance. If the female is impressed, they mate in the avenue.
Natural historian John Endler, who has studied these rituals for years, sought to understand whether the bower's shape and decorations contribute to the sound quality. His team recorded the birds' songs in their natural habitat and played them back to observe how different court materials affected the sound experience within the avenue. The results indicated that the bower's design amplifies the male's calls, while the decorations enhance the complexity of the sound frequencies heard by the female.
This research highlights that great bowerbirds are skilled sound engineers, creating venues that not only attract females visually but also acoustically. Endler notes that other animals, like mole crickets and certain frogs, also construct sound-enhancing structures, but the great bowerbird's unique approach tailors its sound specifically for an audience.
The male bowerbird's elaborate displays, coupled with the thoughtful design of his bower, serve as a multisensory signal to potential mates. Quigley adds that the bower's walls are often coated with saliva and plant materials, providing a snack for the observing female—like having popcorn during a movie. Behavioral biologist Nao Ota suggests future research could explore how females respond to variations in sound quality and whether these factors influence a male's reproductive success.
Courtesy: Science.Org
