Episodes

  • A Map of 37 Trillion Cells in the Human Body is in the Making

    A Map of 37 Trillion Cells in the Human Body is in the Making
    Nov 22 2024
    Scientists from the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) project are mapping all 37 trillion cells in the human body, detailing their locations to advance disease research and the development of targeted treatments.On November 20, HCA researchers unveiled over 40 studies across several Nature journals, contributing to a groundbreaking draft of the Human Cell Atlas. These studies chart cells from various organs and systems—such as the lungs, brain, and skin—and introduce advanced computational tools to analyze the immense data.
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    4 mins
  • Russia Mass Produces Mobile Nuclear Bomb Shelters

    Russia Mass Produces Mobile Nuclear Bomb Shelters
    Nov 22 2024
    The KUB-M shelter, designed as a reinforced shipping container, consists of two modules capable of accommodating approximately 54 people.Russia has begun mass production of mobile bomb shelters that can protect individuals from harmful radiation effects for up to 48 hours in the event of a nuclear attack, Interesting Engineering reported on November 20. According to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations' research institute, the KUB-M shelters are designed to protect against explosions, shrapnel, debris, chemical threats, and even fires.Each KUB-M shelter includes two modules and a technical compartment, with the capability to add more modules if needed, Reuters reported. These shelters are also designed to operate in Russia's harsh permafrost regions. The KUB-M units can be transported via truck and connected to water supplies.
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    3 mins
  • The Most Dangerous Tree in the World: The "Tree of Death"

    The Most Dangerous Tree in the World: The "Tree of Death"
    Nov 22 2024
    The manchineel tree (Hippomane mancinella) is recognized as the "world’s most dangerous tree" by the Guinness World Records, as every part of it contains lethal toxins.This tree grows in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico, northern South America, the Galápagos Islands, and various parts of Florida. When Spanish explorers first encountered it during their conquest of the Americas, they dubbed it the "tree of death." Even touching its bark can cause chemical burns, though the most potent toxins are found in its fruit. Despite their sweet taste, manchineel fruits can induce severe vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures, according to IFL Science.
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    3 mins
  • A Signal That Preceded the Strongest Volcanic Eruption of the Modern Era

    A Signal That Preceded the Strongest Volcanic Eruption of the Modern Era
    Nov 20 2024
    Approximately 15 minutes before the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai erupted in 2022, a seismic wave was detected by monitoring stations located 750 km away.On January 15, 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in the Tonga archipelago unleashed a powerful eruption, the most intense ever recorded with modern equipment, shaking the South Pacific. A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters identifies a mysterious signal that occurred just before this catastrophic event.
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    4 mins
  • Why the Winter Solstice Isn’t the Coldest Day of the Year

    Why the Winter Solstice Isn’t the Coldest Day of the Year
    Nov 20 2024
    The winter solstice doesn’t coincide with the coldest day of the year due to Earth’s axial tilt and its ability to retain heat.The darkest day of the year—featuring the least amount of sunlight and the longest night—is the winter solstice. However, the coldest period of the year typically occurs about a month after the solstice. This delay is explained by Earth’s axial tilt and the way it absorbs and releases heat, according to Live Science.
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    3 mins
  • SpaceX Abandons ‘Chopsticks’ Recovery for Starship Booster

    SpaceX Abandons ‘Chopsticks’ Recovery for Starship Booster
    Nov 20 2024
    During its sixth test flight earlier today, SpaceX's Starship rocket successfully launched, but the company opted not to use its "chopsticks" system to recover the Super Heavy booster, which subsequently exploded upon splashdown.At 4 p.m. CST on November 19, the Starship rocket lifted off from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. All 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster ignited, propelling the vehicle into space.
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    4 mins
  • A Hidden Hydrogen Treasure 1,500 Meters Beneath a Billion-Year-Old Rift

    A Hidden Hydrogen Treasure 1,500 Meters Beneath a Billion-Year-Old Rift
    Nov 18 2024
    The Midcontinent Rift Zone in North America could become a massive natural hydrogen production source, supporting the global demand for clean energy.About 1.1 billion years ago, the North American continent nearly split in two, leaving behind a 1,900-kilometer-long volcanic rock formation known as the Midcontinent Rift Zone. Researchers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are studying this rift—which stretches from beneath Lake Superior through parts of Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas—to determine how best to access the vast amounts of hydrogen it harbors, SciTechDaily reported on November 15.
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    3 mins
  • What Would Happen If a Black Hole Entered the Solar System?

    What Would Happen If a Black Hole Entered the Solar System?
    Nov 18 2024
    If a black hole came close to Earth, it could heat the planet, evaporate oceans, and make life uninhabitable.A black hole is an almost invisible object with gravity so strong that even light cannot escape. The consequences of such an object entering the Solar System depend on several factors, including the black hole's size and distance, according to Live Science. Known black holes are either stellar-mass black holes (several to 100 times the mass of the Sun) or supermassive black holes (100,000 to billions of times the Sun’s mass), typically found at galactic centers.If a stellar-mass black hole or larger were to pass through the Solar System, it could cause catastrophic events depending on its proximity and speed. For instance, if it passed through the Oort Cloud—the most distant region of the Solar System—it could disrupt the orbits of comets and asteroids, sending them hurtling toward Earth, explains Karina Voggel, a postdoctoral researcher at the Strasbourg Astronomical Data Center in France.
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    3 mins