🌌 Did you know?

A single teaspoon of a neutron star would weigh around six billion tons on Earth! Neutron stars are incredibly dense remnants of supernova explosions, packing more mass than our Sun into a sphere only about 20 kilometers across.

#science #astronomy #DidYouKnow

Scientists from the Ocean University of China have reconstructed Earth’s plate tectonics over the past 1.8 billion years.

They’ve condensed this vast timeline into an animation just one minute long! The animation showcases the movement of continents over nearly half of our planet’s history.

Around 200 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, Gondwana merged with North America, Europe, and Northern Asia to form the supercontinent Pangaea. Both Pangaea and Gondwana were composed of even older tectonic plates. The reconstruction then reveals the even earlier supercontinent Rodinia, which formed from the ancient supercontinent Nuna around 1.35 billion years ago.

#Science #Geology #PlateTectonics

Meet Henry, the oldest and largest Nile crocodile in the world kept in captivity. At 122 years old and measuring 5 meters in length, Henry resides in South Africa.

He has fathered 10,000 offspring and weighs nearly a ton!

#CheckThisOut #Wildlife #Crocodiles

A group of scientists from China analyzed the composition of soil samples brought back from the far side of the Moon, according to China Central Television.

The lunar soil samples delivered by the “Chang’e-6” mission primarily consist of basalt, breccia, cementite, light-colored rocks, and glassy material. Basalt fragments make up 30% to 40% of the total sample volume. The minerals are mainly pyroxene, plagioclase, and ilmenite, with very little olivine present.

The mineralogical analysis revealed that the primary phase composition of the lunar soil samples is as follows: plagioclase (32.6%), pyroxene (33.3%), and glass (29.4%), with the glass content near the lower limit of samples retrieved during the Apollo missions.

How can you test Starlink’s satellite laser communication system?

SpaceX came up with a truly unique method. For instance, how about playing the violin aboard a spacecraft while being accompanied by several orchestras on Earth—all in real-time!

During the Polaris Dawn mission, astronaut Sarah Gillis performed Rey’s Theme from Star Wars: The Force Awakens while aboard the Dragon spacecraft in orbit. Her performance was accompanied by orchestras from the United States, Brazil, Sweden, Venezuela, and several other countries. The result? A flawless test of the satellite system!

@science

Breaking news: Earth is habitable! A sensational discovery by the European spacecraft JUICE.

But seriously, while the probe was performing a gravity assist maneuver before its long journey to Jupiter, it analyzed our planet’s atmosphere. The Submillimeter Wave Instrument (SWI) detected elements essential for life: oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, as well as ozone, carbon dioxide, and water. Meanwhile, the Moon and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer (MAJIS) captured infrared images of Earth’s surface, resulting in detailed temperature maps.

European scientists conducted this work not just for fun but to calibrate the instruments and ensure they are functioning properly.

The GIF shows how SWI scans Earth’s atmosphere.

Safe travels to Jupiter, JUICE!

#space #science

A viral video from an AI enthusiast is taking the internet by storm. Using neural networks, he’ve managed to generate incredibly realistic yet impossible deep-sea creatures. The mesmerizing footage showcases a range of fantastical monsters that push the boundaries of our imagination and demonstrate the power of AI in creative exploration.

“AI will be like air: too cheap to measure.”

That’s what Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in his recent speech. He argued that AI is not just a new technology, but a complete platform shift in terms of scale and progress.

In the past 18 months, the cost of generating per token has decreased by 97%, and Pichai believes this trend will continue to accelerate.

Really, why ? 😅😅😂

Scientists Successfully Grow Tree from a 1,000-Year-Old Seed

In an extraordinary feat of botanical science, researchers have cultivated a tree from a seed that dates back to between 993 and 1202 AD. The seed was discovered in the 1980s in a cave within the Judean Desert. After extensive radiocarbon dating, the team confirmed its ancient origins.

The sapling, named “Shiba,” belongs to the rare Commiphora genus, which is still found across Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. DNA analysis suggests a potential connection to the fabled “Balm of Gilead,” a plant referenced in biblical texts for its medicinal properties.

It took 14 years for scientists to nurture the tree to its current height of three meters. However, it has not yet flowered or borne fruit, making it challenging to compare with contemporary species. Researchers speculate that its current environment may not be conducive to flowering and reproduction.

Historically, the resin from this tree was highly valued for its therapeutic qualities, being used in perfumes, medicines, and antidotes. The biblical “tzori,” a balm derived from this resin, was prized throughout the Roman Empire for its medicinal applications. Experts believe that in ancient times, this species might have been grafted onto the famed Judean balsam tree to enhance its properties.

This remarkable achievement not only sheds light on ancient horticultural practices but also offers a glimpse into the botanical diversity of biblical times.

@science

By 2050, Nearly 40% of Adolescents Could Suffer from Myopia

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis by Chinese scientists has revealed a startling trend: between 1990 and 2023, the prevalence of myopia (nearsightedness) among children and adolescents surged from 24.32% to 35.81%. If this trajectory continues, by 2050, nearly 40% of adolescents worldwide—approximately 750 million individuals—could be affected by myopia.

Myopia typically develops in early childhood and often worsens as individuals progress into adolescence and adulthood. Younger schoolchildren are particularly susceptible to risk factors, and this vulnerability is even more pronounced in preschool-aged children due to critical periods of visual development.

The study's conclusions are drawn from data spanning 276 studies, encompassing over 5 million children and adolescents across 50 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Collectively, these studies recorded nearly 2 million cases of myopia.

One of the primary factors contributing to this rise, according to the researchers, is the increasing amount of time children spend in front of screens—be it computers, tablets, or smartphones. The recent COVID-19 pandemic may have further exacerbated the situation by necessitating more screen time for remote learning and reduced outdoor activities.

Implications: This growing public health concern underscores the need for proactive measures. Encouraging outdoor activities, limiting screen time, and regular eye check-ups could be vital steps in mitigating the risk of myopia in younger populations.

For the first time in history, a photograph from the surface of Mars shows both Earth and Mars’ moon Phobos in a single frame! This unique image was captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover, offering an unprecedented view of our home planet alongside one of Mars’ moons from the Martian landscape.


@science #space #mars

❗️ Crew Dragon Launches to the ISS with Russian Alexander Gorbunov and American Nick Hague

The spacecraft has successfully reached orbit.

Despite having space for four crew members, Gorbunov and Hague embarked on the mission together. The two vacant seats will be occupied during the return flight by astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who arrived at the ISS in June on Boeing’s first Starliner spacecraft.

Video: #NASA

@science

🌞 Sunday Science Spotlight: Unveiling the Sun’s Fiery Heart!

Happy Sunday, science enthusiasts! ☀️ Did you know that at the core of our Sun, a breathtaking process called nuclear fusion is constantly at work? Every second, about 600 million tons of hydrogen are fused into helium, releasing an incredible amount of energy that powers our entire solar system!

Here’s a stellar fact: This energy takes a journey of about 93 million miles to reach Earth, providing the light and warmth that make life possible. Next time you feel the sunshine, remember—you’re basking in the glow of a star’s ancient and ongoing cosmic dance!

Keep exploring, stay curious, and let your passion for science shine as brightly as the Sun! 🔭🌌

A Pocket Guide to Rome, 1658.

What still sets Telegram apart from other media outlets?

Well, consider this: Google has a division called the Threat Analysis Group (TAG), which combats disinformation by identifying and blocking channels and advertising campaigns that support the "wrong" policies and criticize the "right" ones. Their focus is on geopolitical content related to Ukraine, Western institutions, and U.S. foreign policy.

In their reports, the division details how it takes down pro-Russian YouTubers—not just Russian-speaking ones—because there's no need to create a positive image of Russia here.

From the perspective of a transnational corporation, it's only natural that China and Iran get banned. You can't support Azerbaijan and criticize Armenia. You can't support President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the Uzbek language. You can't express an original opinion from Togo or Burkina Faso. In Poland, speaking Polish before elections, you can't say anything against the European Union. In Mexico, you can't support the Morena party and Senator Ricardo Monreal. In Vietnamese, you can't support the government of Vietnam and its policies. In Turkish, you can't support Palestine and criticize Israel.