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:
- ISRO-NASA jointly launch NISAR
- Japan plans jumping back to Nuclear Energy
- Scientists observe largest ever Black Hole merger
- Completely different acid found in the rain
- China’s Kimi K2 makes global waves in AI
- USA exits UNESCO…. Again
- Ancient Egyptian Genome sequenced for the first time
- Spain to host TMT telescope amid US uncertainty
- The sex of baby not a simple random chance
- Life somehow evolves into anteaters again and again
- Rarest of rare blood group found in Humans: Gwada-Negative
- Never seen before cells found inside Pythons digestive system
- Mini-Organs grown in Lab with their own blood vessels
- Positive thinkers share similar neural patterns
- Google’s global alert system enhances seismic safety
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| Current Science Report: July 2025, Mufawad |
ISRO-NASA jointly launch NISAR
The United States and India have jointly launched an advanced Earth-observing satellite named NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), marking a major milestone in global space collaboration. The satellite, developed through a partnership between NASA and ISRO, was launched from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre and is equipped with cutting-edge radar technology capable of tracking minute changes in the Earth's surface, down to just one centimetre. Valued at $1.3 billion, NISAR’s mission is to improve our understanding of environmental phenomena like floods, landslides, volcanic activity, and glacial melting over the next three years.
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Now orbiting the Earth at a height of 747 kilometers, NISAR will survey the entire planet twice every 12 days, focusing on vulnerable regions and offering crucial data for disaster preparedness and climate research. While it cannot predict earthquakes directly, it will provide valuable insights into regions prone to seismic activity by tracking ground shifts and deformations. In addition to monitoring earthquakes, NISAR will capture vital data on ice sheet movement in Greenland and Antarctica, detect wildfires, and observe land swelling or subsidence.
What sets NISAR apart is its use of two radar frequencies: the L-band supplied by NASA and the S-band developed by ISRO, making it the first satellite of its kind. This dual-radar system operates continuously, regardless of weather or lighting conditions, capturing highly detailed surface imagery. Data is collected as radar signals bounce off the Earth’s surface and return to the satellite’s large antenna reflector, enabling scientists to track changes over time.
The mission is not just a technological achievement but also a symbol of deepening scientific ties between India and the United States. NASA provided $1.2 billion for the radar systems and reflector, while ISRO contributed $91 million for the satellite’s structure and high-frequency radar. Leaders from both agencies emphasized that the satellite’s data will serve scientists around the world, offering benefits well beyond national borders. The launch also comes at a time of increasing momentum in India’s space program, following successful missions to Mars and the Moon, and the recent milestone of an Indian astronaut reaching the International Space Station.
NISAR stands as a powerful example of how international cooperation in science can lead to transformative tools for understanding and protecting our planet.
Courtesy: DW
Japan plans jumping back to Nuclear Energy
Japan is reviving its nuclear energy program after 14 years of dormancy following the Fukushima disaster. Faced with soaring gas prices and increasing energy demands, especially from AI data centres, the country has begun restarting reactors and plans to introduce next-generation nuclear technology. Fourteen out of 54 reactors have been reactivated, and experts predict the rest will be operational by 2030. By then, Japan aims to incorporate advanced technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs), which promise to be safer and more cost-effective.
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The country has dropped its earlier policy of minimizing nuclear use. Its new energy roadmap, stretching to 2040, now aims to source 20% of electricity from nuclear power. This shift is also fuelled by the energy crisis sparked by Russia's war in Ukraine, and by unexpectedly high power consumption from tech infrastructure, which has altered previous assumptions about falling energy demand in a shrinking population.
Japan has identified five next-generation reactor types, with high-temperature gas-cooled reactors likely to be operational in the 2030s. However, local opposition and cautious regulatory attitudes present major hurdles. Communities like Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, home to the world’s largest nuclear plant, have stalled progress due to safety concerns.
Japan's bar association and environmental critics argue that the government is moving ahead with nuclear energy without fully considering the lasting impacts of Fukushima or investing adequately in renewables. Despite this, global collaborations continue. Japanese firms are investing in SMR projects abroad to maintain technological competitiveness and build public trust. Companies like Chubu Electric, IHI, and Hitachi are partnering on international SMR ventures, hoping overseas success will ease domestic skepticism.
Though challenges remain, Japan’s return to nuclear marks a significant policy reversal driven by urgent economic and environmental pressures.
Courtesy: Financial Times
Scientists observe largest ever Black Hole merger
Scientists have detected the largest black hole merger ever recorded, sending a gravitational wave that challenges our current understanding of how black holes form. The event, labeled GW231123, involved two massive black holes, one about 103 times the mass of the Sun and the other 137 times, merging to form a colossal black hole weighing 225 solar masses. Around 15 solar masses were lost as energy, creating the gravitational wave picked up by detectors. This discovery has left astrophysicists puzzled, as current models of stellar evolution don’t easily allow black holes of such massive size to form naturally.
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While smaller black hole mergers are now commonly observed thanks to improved detection technology, this event stands out due to its size and complexity. Standard models suggest that stars exceeding 140 solar masses should explode violently, leaving no black hole behind. Yet here, two such massive black holes merged, suggesting that their formation may involve multiple previous mergers or some unknown astronomical process. Some researchers believe that the larger black hole might have formed from several earlier collisions, though this would require highly unusual stellar environments.
Adding to the mystery, both black holes involved in GW231123 were spinning extremely fast, near the theoretical limits predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity. This made the gravitational wave signal harder to detect and interpret, pushing scientists to refine their theoretical models. Despite various explanations, including exotic objects mimicking black holes, the exact origin of this extraordinary merger remains unclear.
The event was detected during the 2023–2024 observation run by the global collaboration of LIGO, VIRGO, and KAGRA observatories. While most data from this run is still being analyzed, GW231123 was highlighted at the GR-Amaldi conference in Glasgow, where scientists even introduced a creative Scottish dance representing black hole mergers, an effort to bring cosmic phenomena to life through education and art.
Courtesy: IFL Science
Completely different acid found in the rain
Every time it rains or snows, a persistent chemical called trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) comes down with it. This compound is now being detected in rainwater, groundwater, crops, food, and even human bodies and levels are steadily rising around the world. TFA is part of the PFAS family, often referred to as "forever chemicals" because of their resistance to breaking down in the environment. While some PFASs are banned due to their harmful health effects, TFA’s risks are still being studied. The United Nations Environment Programme currently classifies TFA as a low-risk substance, but some European regulatory agencies are calling for it to be listed as a reproductive toxin due to growing evidence of potential harm.
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TFA is not just used directly in laboratories and industry: it is also a byproduct when other chemicals break down. This includes pesticides, certain medications, and gases used in refrigeration. Once released into the environment, TFA sticks around. It doesn’t evaporate, and it dissolves easily in water, which means it collects in soils, rivers, lakes, and even in ice and leaves. While some scientists have speculated that TFA might naturally form in the oceans, many argue that the rapid rise of TFA on land and in freshwater ecosystems is clearly linked to human activity.
Although current studies suggest that TFA levels in the environment are still well below what would cause harm to most animals, concerns are growing. TFA does not accumulate in human tissue and is quickly flushed out through urine, unlike other PFAS compounds. But since it’s showing up in drinking water and food more often, our daily exposure is increasing. Experiments on animals have shown some biological effects, such as growth and reproductive issues , but mostly at levels much higher than what people currently encounter. Still, the long-term effects on ecosystems and sensitive species are poorly understood. TFA can be absorbed by plants and doesn’t easily leave, which may disturb plant growth and soil health over time.
Scientists are now trying to identify all the major sources of TFA and better understand its environmental and health impacts. A major focus is on a refrigerant called HFO-1234yf, commonly used in cars, which rapidly degrades into TFA once released. Some researchers argue for phasing it out or finding safer alternatives. Meanwhile, a few countries have begun regulating TFA levels in drinking water or banning TFA-generating chemicals, and the European Union is debating stricter rules under its broader PFAS strategy.
While some experts believe TFA may not be as dangerous as other PFASs, others warn that its persistence makes it a long-term threat. With no effective ways to remove it from water or soil, and no sign that its spread will stop, scientists stress the need for swift action. As one chemist warned, "We can’t wait this out. Time is not on our side."
Courtesy: Nature
China’s Kimi K2 makes global waves in AI
A new AI model from China, Kimi K2, is generating buzz among researchers just months after DeepSeek’s R1 made headlines. Launched on July 11 by Beijing-based Moonshot AI, Kimi K2 reportedly matches or outperforms Western competitors,and even some DeepSeek models,especially in coding tasks, where it has scored impressively in benchmarks like LiveCodeBench.
Kimi K2 stands out not only for its performance but also because it is open-weight, meaning anyone can freely download, use, or build upon it. This makes it a valuable tool for researchers and developers without access to costly proprietary models like Claude 4. Within a day of its launch, Kimi K2 broke download records on Hugging Face, a popular AI platform. Experts have called its debut “another DeepSeek moment.”
What makes Kimi K2 unique is its focus as an agentic model, it’s designed to handle multi-step tasks using external tools like web browsing or math software. While models like ChatGPT offer similar functions, they are closed-source. Researchers are still verifying whether Kimi K2 can consistently deliver these complex, agent-like behaviors.
Its release signals that China’s AI breakthroughs are not isolated events. In fact, Kimi K2 has been described as the “new best open model in the world.” Though Moonshot AI was relatively unknown outside China, its earlier version of Kimi was already among the top three chatbots in the country by late 2023. With tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent backing the firm, its influence is rapidly expanding.
Kimi K2 is built with one trillion parameters but cleverly uses a "mixture of experts" approach: activating only 32 billion at a time, which makes it more efficient without compromising performance. It has also impressed users with its writing abilities, topping creative benchmarks and earning praise for its natural, emotionally intelligent responses.
However, the model isn’t flawless. It trails behind top models from Google and OpenAI in science-related benchmarks like SciMuse. Even so, it’s open availability signals a strategic shift in China's AI development. Experts believe the U.S. needs to catch up in the open-source AI space, warning that China’s influence in this field is growing rapidly. With strong backing and talent, more powerful models from China are likely on the horizon.
Courtesy: Nature
USA exits UNESCO…. again
The United States has decided to withdraw from UNESCO once again, ending its brief two-year return to the United Nations agency. This decision, announced on July 22 by the US State Department, will take effect on December 31, 2026. Researchers and scientists have expressed concern over this move, viewing it as a blow to international collaboration in science, education, and cultural preservation. UNESCO supports a wide range of global efforts, including promoting biodiversity, advancing girls' education, narrowing the gender gap in science, and preserving cultural and natural heritage. Its work is especially vital in lower-income nations, where it helps train educators and rebuild academic institutions in war-torn regions like Ukraine and Lebanon.
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UNESCO also plays a growing role in supporting open science and responsible use of technologies like generative AI, having issued global guidelines for its use in education and research in 2023. Experts say the US withdrawal comes at a particularly unfortunate time. Daniel Wagner, a UNESCO chair at the University of Pennsylvania, and Peter Gluckman, president of the International Science Council, highlight the missed opportunity for the US to influence upcoming leadership and participate in global scientific dialogue. Barbara Finlayson-Pitts, a chemist at the University of California, stresses that the US will lose influence in addressing major issues like climate change.
The decision, while not entirely unexpected, stems from ongoing criticisms of UNESCO by the US administration. Earlier this year, the White House signalled a revaluation of its participation in international organizations, citing UNESCO’s lack of reforms and positions on Israel. In its July statement, the US government further criticized the agency's focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, calling them part of a "globalist, ideological agenda" inconsistent with its foreign policy.
UNESCO’s current director-general, Audrey Azoulay, responded by affirming the organization’s readiness for the US exit. While the loss of funding is not as severe as in 2017, when the US last left, halting 22% of the agency’s budget , it still marks a significant shift. Azoulay also pushed back against US claims, highlighting UNESCO’s leadership in Holocaust education and combating antisemitism, and noted that cooperation with American private and academic partners will continue.
The decision reflects a broader pattern of US withdrawal from international agreements and institutions, including the WHO and the Paris climate accord. Scholars like Catherine McCarty and Matthew Brown emphasize the foundational role the US played in shaping UNESCO after World War II, aiming to promote science, culture, and education for peace. Withdrawing now, experts argue, undermines the global network of science institutions built for mutual benefit , including that of the US itself.
Courtesy: Nature
Ancient Egyptian Genome sequenced for the first time
Researchers have, for the first time, successfully sequenced the complete genome of an ancient Egyptian individual who lived between 4,500 to 4,800 years ago, making it the oldest DNA sample ever retrieved from Egypt. The remains, belonging to an adult male, were discovered in the early 20th century in a village called Nuwayrat, around 265 km south of Cairo. He was buried inside a large ceramic pot placed within a rock-cut tomb,an unusual but significant burial practice that likely contributed to the preservation of his DNA. Skeletal analysis revealed that he was between 157.4 and 160.5 cm tall and died between the ages of 44 to 64, possibly after a lifetime of physical labour. He had brown eyes, brown hair, and likely dark to black skin.
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Genetic analysis revealed that approximately 78% of his ancestry traced back to ancient North African populations, particularly Neolithic communities from present-day Morocco. Interestingly, around 22% of his genetic makeup matched early farmers from Mesopotamia, regions that include modern-day Iraq, western Iran, southern Syria, and southeast Turkey. This suggests that early Egyptians were not isolated but rather involved in long-distance interactions, possibly including migrations and cultural exchanges with the eastern Fertile Crescent, even before the construction of the pyramids. These results align with archaeological evidence that shows shared practices in farming, trade, and writing systems between Egypt and Mesopotamian civilizations.
Although this discovery is based on a single genome, it mirrors findings from other studies that have identified genetic links between Mesopotamia and surrounding regions during the Neolithic period. The DNA was exceptionally well-preserved, especially considering Egypt’s warm climate, where such preservation is rare. The researchers believe that the combination of the pot burial, rock-cut tomb, and the use of tooth root tips for sampling created a stable environment ideal for DNA preservation. This makes the sequenced genome not only the oldest but also the most complete from Ancient Egypt to date, offering valuable insight into the genetic diversity and historical connections of early Egyptian populations.
Courtesy: The Hindu
Spain to host TMT telescope amid US uncertainty
Spain has offered €400 million to host the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), a groundbreaking astronomical project currently threatened by potential budget cuts in the United States. Initially intended for construction on Maunakea in Hawaii, the TMT faces uncertainty after the US administration under Donald Trump proposed major funding cuts to the National Science Foundation, which had supported the telescope's development.
Spain’s science minister, Diana Morant, announced the proposal to relocate the telescope to La Palma in the Canary Islands, affirming Spain’s commitment to global scientific progress. She submitted the formal bid to the TMT board, stating the project was at risk of stagnation and that Spain could serve as a scientific refuge. While La Palma has always been considered a backup site, its lower altitude compared to Maunakea could slightly reduce observation quality due to increased atmospheric interference.
Though US Congress may reject the proposed cuts, there are concerns that funding may only cover one of the two major telescopes planned by US astronomers. The Trump administration has shown a preference for the 25-metre Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile. Meanwhile, costs for the TMT are expected to surpass $3 billion.
Spain’s proposed funding would be managed through its Centre for Technological Development and Innovation and would not affect other planned investments. Already an active player in astronomical research, Spain contributes to the 39-metre European Extremely Large Telescope, under construction in Chile and expected to be operational by 2029. With infrastructure in place at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory and strong political support, Spain is positioning itself as a central hub for the future of astronomy.
Courtey: Nature
The sex of baby not a simple random chance
The age-old belief that the sex of a baby is simply a matter of chance is being challenged by new research. A recent study published in Science Advances suggests that the odds of having a boy or girl may be more like flipping a weighted coin, where the bias is unique to each family. Analyzing over 146,000 pregnancies from more than 58,000 U.S. nurses between 1956 and 2015, researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that some families tend to have children of the same sex more frequently than expected by random chance. This pattern was especially visible in families with three or more children, where the likelihood of having all boys or all girls was higher than a simple 50-50 probability.
The findings suggest that sex at birth may be influenced by biological factors, including the mother’s age. Women who began having children after the age of 28 were slightly more prone to having all boys or all girls, potentially due to changes in vaginal acidity that affect the survival of Y chromosome-carrying sperm. While paternal factors may also be involved, the study couldn’t confirm this due to lack of data on fathers, a notable limitation. The researchers also uncovered two genes that appear linked with consistently giving birth to children of a single sex, though they admit the reasons behind these associations are still unclear.
Interestingly, the data showed that families with both a boy and a girl were more likely to stop having children, possibly indicating a natural preference for a "balanced" family. To reduce the impact of such family planning decisions, researchers reanalyzed the data by removing each woman’s last child and excluding those who experienced miscarriages or stillbirths. Even after these adjustments, the pattern persisted: the sex of a baby isn’t purely random.
This insight may explain real-life and fictional scenarios, such as why the TV family in Malcolm in the Middle had five sons or why the Bennets in Pride and Prejudice had five daughters. Historically, cases like that of King Louis VII of France, who remarried multiple times in search of a male heir, may have been less of a coincidence and more of a genetic pattern. Although many questions remain unanswered, especially around the role of lifestyle or environmental factors, this research opens the door to a deeper understanding of what shapes the sex of a child. As one expert put it, families may indeed be flipping different coins, with different biases.
Courtesy: Washington Post
Life somehow evolves into anteaters again and again
Since the extinction of nonavian dinosaurs 66 million years ago, mammals have independently evolved to feed on ants and termites at least 12 separate times. These animals, like anteaters, pangolins, and aardvarks, share similar traits such as sticky tongues, reduced teeth, and powerful digging limbs. The evolution of such specialized feeders, known as myrmecophages, highlights the massive ecological influence of ants and termites, which, in places like Central and South American rainforests, outweigh all other animal groups combined.
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A recent study led by palaeontologist Thomas Vida analyzed the diets of over 4,000 mammal species and mapped them onto the evolutionary tree. It revealed that myrmecophagy arose repeatedly across all three major mammalian groups: placentals, marsupials, and monotremes. Despite their different lineages, these mammals have converged on similar adaptations, making this a striking example of convergent evolution. Compared to crustaceans evolving a crab-like form five times over hundreds of millions of years, mammals have developed the anteater blueprint twice as often in a much shorter time span.
Only one mammal group, the short-eared elephant shrews, has reversed from ant-eating to a broader diet. The surge in ant- and termite-eating species aligns with a post-dinosaur boom in social insect populations, likely triggered by the spread of flowering plants. As these insects formed large colonies, they created abundant food sources that mammals quickly adapted to exploit. The study also raises the possibility that this mammalian pressure influenced ants and termites to evolve larger colonies or stronger defenses. Evolution seems to have a recurring fascination with turning mammals into insectivorous specialists, suggesting that for ants and termites, the threat of being devoured never truly fades.
Courtesy: Science.Org
Rarest of rare blood group found in Humans: Gwada-Negative
In an unexpected scientific breakthrough, researchers in France have identified the world's rarest blood group, Gwada-negative, found in a woman from Guadeloupe. Her blood was so unique that it was incompatible with every known donor, including her own siblings, revealing a previously unrecognized blood group and a major transfusion challenge.
While most people are familiar with the common A, B, AB, and O blood types, and whether they are Rh-positive or negative, these are only a fraction of over 40 known blood group systems. Each system is defined by specific proteins and sugars on red blood cells that determine transfusion compatibility.
The case of the Guadeloupian woman baffled doctors when her plasma reacted against every tested blood sample. To investigate, scientists used whole exome sequencing, a method that examines the genetic instructions for all proteins in the human body. They pinpointed a mutation in a gene called PIGZ, responsible for attaching a sugar molecule to red blood cells. The absence of this sugar created a new antigen, leading to the naming of the new group: Gwada-positive (with the sugar) or Gwada-negative (without it). The woman is currently the only person known to be Gwada-negative.
Further lab experiments confirmed the mutation’s effects by replicating it in red blood cells using gene editing. All donor samples tested so far are Gwada-positive, leaving the woman without any known compatible blood source.
Beyond transfusion concerns, the woman has mild intellectual disability and lost two children shortly after birth,potentially linked to her genetic condition. The PIGZ gene plays a role in building a complex molecule (GPI), and defects in similar genes have been associated with neurological disorders, developmental delays, and stillbirths.
The discovery of Gwada-negative emphasizes both the vast diversity and complexity of human genetics. Blood group evolution is closely tied to disease resistance, but extremely rare types like Gwada pose difficult medical challenges. There is no clear understanding of how a transfusion of incompatible blood might affect someone with this unique group, and finding other Gwada-negative individuals remains unlikely.
A promising solution lies in cutting-edge science: lab-grown red blood cells. By editing stem cells to carry the same PIGZ mutation, researchers could one day produce Gwada-negative blood artificially.
Gwada-negative now joins 47 other blood group systems recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion. Its name, derived from “Gwada,” a local term for Guadeloupe, honors the patient’s heritage while marking a significant milestone in blood research. As genetic technology advances, more rare blood types may come to light, offering deeper insight into human diversity and shaping the future of personalized medicine.
Courtesy: Conversation
Never seen before cells found inside Pythons digestive system
Scientists have discovered unique cells in the intestines of Burmese pythons that help them digest the bones of their prey. These specialized cells process calcium absorbed from the skeletons of animals the snakes consume whole. The finding, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology on June 25, helps explain how these large snakes manage such heavy calcium loads from their bone-rich diets.
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Burmese pythons typically feed on small mammals and birds, often going days without eating between meals. When they do feed, they swallow their prey whole, including bones, which are then broken down during digestion. Since bones are rich in calcium , much more than the snake requires, scientists wanted to understand how pythons control this excess mineral intake.
In their experiment, researchers fed pythons different diets: whole prey, boneless prey, and boneless prey with added calcium. They found that only snakes consuming whole prey or calcium-supplemented food had tiny particles made of calcium, iron, and phosphorus in their intestinal lining. These particles were held by thin, specialized cells likely responsible for managing and disposing of the extra calcium.
The study suggests these cells may concentrate the surplus calcium into particles that are then expelled in the snake’s waste. Interestingly, similar cells were later identified in other python species, boas, and even Gila monsters , all animals known to consume prey whole.
However, these bone-processing cells have not yet been found in other whole-prey eaters like dolphins or certain birds, raising new questions. Researchers believe more studies could reveal whether other animals that regularly eat bones have evolved similar adaptations. Species like bearded vultures or marine predators may hold further clues.
Courtesy: Nature
Mini-Organs grown in Lab with their own blood vessels
Researchers have made a breakthrough by creating lab-grown mini organs that can grow their own blood vessels. These tiny structures, called organoids, now resemble human organs like the heart, liver, lungs, and gut more closely than ever before. Traditionally, organoids lacked a vascular system, which limited their ability to grow, mature, and perform functions like oxygen exchange or blood filtration. But this new method allows organoids to develop blood vessels right from the early stages.
Two teams, using pluripotent stem cells, found a way to grow blood vessels and organ tissue together. Instead of adding blood vessel cells later, which had limited results, they managed to coax both cell types to develop simultaneously. This was achieved by precisely timing the molecular signals given to the stem cells. The lung organoids even formed alveoli-like structures when transplanted into mice, suggesting a greater maturity and complexity than seen before.
Another team applied the method to heart organoids, which developed muscle cells, blood vessels, and nerves. The blood vessels formed delicate branches that spread through the tissue. Liver organoids created using this strategy also showed similar vascular development.
Although these mini organs represent only early fetal stages, scientists are hopeful. To fully mimic real organs, organoids will need larger blood vessels, support tissues, and lymphatic systems. Eventually, the aim is to not just grow these vessels but to make them functional by circulating blood. This progress marks a major step forward in the quest to build functional organs in the lab.
Courtesy: Nature
Positive thinkers share similar neural patterns
A new brain-imaging study reveals that optimistic individuals share common patterns of brain activity and tend to distinguish more clearly between positive and negative experiences than pessimists. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research offers insight into how a hopeful mindset may influence brain function, with implications for understanding empathy, loneliness, and mental health conditions like depression.
Researchers at Kobe University used functional MRI scans to observe the brains of 87 participants as they imagined future scenarios that were either positive, neutral, or negative. After the scans, participants completed an optimism questionnaire. The team discovered that those with a positive outlook exhibited similar activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, a region linked to emotion and future planning, while pessimists showed more varied and inconsistent brain responses.
The study suggests that optimists process events differently: they visualize positive outcomes more vividly while distancing themselves emotionally from negative ones by thinking about them more abstractly. This consistent way of interpreting experiences may explain the neural alignment among optimists.
Experts believe these findings could contribute to mental health research. Since optimism is known to correlate inversely with depression, understanding these shared neural traits could help distinguish between typical brain activity and that seen in individuals with mental health challenges.
Courtesy: Nature
Google’s global alert system enhances seismic safety
Google has transformed over 2 billion smartphones into a vast earthquake early-warning system, proving to be nearly as effective as traditional seismometers, according to a recent study published in the journal Science. Between 2021 and 2024, the Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system detected more than 11,000 earthquakes and delivered over 1,200 warnings across 98 countries. This breakthrough has expanded access to earthquake alerts from 250 million people in 2019 to a staggering 2.5 billion today.
Using motion sensors built into smartphones and smartwatches, AEA detects fast-traveling P-waves that precede the more damaging S-waves of an earthquake. By analyzing this data, the system estimates the quake’s magnitude and location, sending timely alerts to users in at-risk areas. Google highlights that even a few seconds of warning can allow people to move away from danger, find cover, and potentially save lives.
The journey to building this system wasn't without challenges. Unlike precision seismic equipment, phone accelerometers are not designed for earthquake detection. However, the sheer number of Android devices globally allowed researchers to overcome this limitation through data pooling and intelligent filtering. Adjustments were made to account for differences in devices, geological features, and building structures, enabling AEA to function in diverse environments like Greece, Turkey, Japan, Indonesia, and the United States.
By March 2024, AEA had issued 1,279 alerts, with 85% of users confirming they received them. Of these, 36% were alerted before shaking began, 28% during, and 23% after. False alarms were rare, only three were reported, caused by thunderstorms and unrelated phone vibrations. However, the system underestimated the size of some major quakes, like the devastating February 2023 event in Turkey. In response, developers updated their algorithms and data collection methods to improve accuracy.
Despite its success, some critics question the reliance on a tech giant for critical warning systems. Google insists that AEA is designed to support, not replace, official national systems. The study concludes that globally distributed smartphones can offer earthquake warnings on a scale and speed never seen before, making seismic safety more accessible, especially in regions lacking expensive seismic infrastructure.
Courtesy: Live Science
