News.Life

Life on Mars? Scientists Uncover Long Organic Molecules on the Red Planet

Unknown animals, biology, ecology, environment, mars

<ul class="mol-bullets-with-font">
 <li class="">
 
 READ MORE: Rover uncovers signs of 'vacation-like' shores on Mars
 
 </li>
</ul>

 Organic molecules of 'unprecedented magnitude' have been found on
 <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/mars/index.html">
 Mars
 </a>
 , providing additional proof that life might have previously existed on Mars.


 Specialists have discovered lengthy carbon chains with up to 12 linked atoms in chunks of ancient Martian rock that are estimated to be billions of years old.


 These particular organic compounds — the most extensive ones detected up to this point — might stem from fatty acids. Fatty acids serve as foundational elements for fats and oils and are typically produced on Earth via biological processes.


 Scientists stated that the finding is of 'significant interest' in the quest for possible indicators of life.


 The samples were gathered using SAM, which stands for Sample Analysis at Mars – an instrument onboard the spacecraft.
 <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/nasa/index.html">
 NASA
 </a>
 The Curiosity Rover, which has been exploring the Gale Crater since 2012.


 It features both a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer, enabling it to analyze and pinpoint molecules within samples.


 The analysis showed that the gathered mudstone includes the organic compounds decane, undercane, and dodecane.


 The absence of geological activity coupled with the frigid, dry environment on Mars has aided in safeguarding this precious organic material over the last 3.7 billion years.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1BzoWb" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1BzoWb.jpg"/>

 The experts stated that it thus originates from the era when life first appeared on our planet.


 Although fatty acids are a crucial part of cellular structures in earthly life forms, these compounds can also originate from non-biological or purely physical processes, they noted.


 In the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the research team reported that their achievements open up new possibilities for upcoming missions aimed at discovering evidence of intricate, life-like chemical processes.


 'They noted that organic molecules conserved within old Martian rocks offer essential evidence for Mars’s potential to support life in the past and might serve as chemical indicators of biological activity.'


 The origin of the long-chain alkanes is still unclear; nonetheless, lab tests suggest they come from the saturated version of straight-chain, primary carboxylic acids—also known as fatty acids.


 While abiotic processes may produce these acids, they are regarded as common outcomes of biochemical reactions—both earthly and possibly Martian.


 'Hence, the origin and spread of these molecules are highly relevant in the quest for possible biosignatures on Mars.'


 Exploring more lifelike chemistry on Mars will be among the objectives of the European Space Agency’s forthcoming ExoMars mission, scheduled for launch in 2028.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1Bzmyi" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1Bzmyi.jpg"/>
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 The researchers behind this study will develop an apparatus akin to SAM for Dragonfly—the drone scheduled to investigate Titan, Saturn's biggest moon, starting in 2034.


 A recent independent study suggested that Mars previously had sunny shores with tranquil, wave-lapped sands.


 Scientists found indications of a 'getaway-like' setting on the Red Planet, even though no observable liquid exists on Mars’ surface nowadays.


 A global group of researchers leveraged information gathered by China’s Zhurong Mars rover to reveal concealed strata beneath the Martian terrain, providing strong evidence for a vast prehistoric ocean in what is now the planet's north.


 The latest study provides the most compelling proof to date that the planet previously had a substantial amount of water and a more hospitable setting for life, according to the scientists involved.

<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14530795/Life-Mars-Scientists-discover-organic-molecules.html">
 Read more
</a>

Life on Mars? Scientists Uncover Long Organic Molecules on the Red Planet

Unknown animals, biology, ecology, environment, mars

READ MORE: Rover uncovers signs of 'vacation-like' shores on Mars Organic molecules of 'unprecedented magnitude' have been found on Mars , providing additional proof that life mi…

Proses Penuaan: Apakah Berjalan Perlahan atau Mendadak? Jawaban Ilmu Pengetahuan

Unknown aging, biology, health, news, science

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1CbY0w" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1CbY0w.jpg"/>

 
 DIWIDA
 
 Untuk sebagian besar orang, proses menua berjalan perlahan-lahan. Sesudah beberapa waktu merasa segar dan bugar, pada akhirnya satu hari tiba-tiba lutut menjadi sakit tanpa ada penyebab yang pasti.


 "Kami bangkit pada pagi hari dan tiba-tiba merasa sudah lanjut usia," ungkap Dr. Steve Hoffman, professor bidang bioinformatika dari Leibniz Institute on Aging di Jena, Jerman.


 Ilmuwan sudah lama mencurigai bahwa proses penuaan bisa saja terjadi dengan cepat, namun baru pada sepuluh tahun belakangan ini mereka mulai memanfaatkan sinyal molekular sebagai metode pengukuran kecepatan penuaannya.


 Dengan mengevaluasi indikator berkaitan dengan umur, seperti protein serta tanda-tanda DNA di dalam darah, sejumlah ahli sudah mulai menyadari bahwa menua tidak semata-mata merupakan suatu perkembangan berkelanjutan, justru bisa menjadi fenomena yang mendadak signifikan pada masa hidup individu tertentu.


 Studi yang dijalankan oleh para peneliti dari Universitas Stanford pada tahun kemarin mengamati sejumlah modifikasi kimia berkaitan dengan proses penuaan dalam spesimen darah yang didapat dari 108 individu dewasa dengan usia mencapai antara 25 hingga 75 tahun.


 Dengan mengamati contoh dari beberapa individu dengan umur yang bervariasi, diketahui bahwa fenomena penuaan berkembang pesat di kisaran usia 44 tahun, lalu terulang lagi pada masa 60 tahun.


 Perubahan yang terjadi pada tahap awal proses penuaan banyak berhubungan dengan metabolisme lemak dan alkohol, serta kinerja otot. Sementara itu, pada fase selanjutnya, lebih banyak berkaitan dengan disfungsi sistem imun dan penurunan kemampuan otot.


 Seorang peneliti lain, Profesor Genetika Michael Snyder menegaskan bahwa kenaikan awal proses penuaan bisa mendukung pemahaman tentang alasan di balik masalah yang dialami seseorang saat mencerna alkohol ketika berusia sekitar empat puluhan, serta alasannya kenapa risiko terkena beberapa penyakit meningkat setelah memasuki usia enam puluh tahun.


 Studi lain yang dijalankan oleh Dr. Hoffman pada tahun lalu terhadap tikus juga mengungkapkan adanya tiga fase penuaan yang berlainan.


 
 Penuaan yang bertahap
 


 Para ahli lain menegaskan bahwa proses penuaan tak selalu terjadi secara cepat, melainkan seiring dengan periode yang cukup lama.


 Steve Horvath, yang umumnya dipandang sebagai pendiri instrumen pengukuran penuaan biologis bernama jam epigenetik, menyebutkan bahwa penelitian yang ia lakukan pada tahun 2013 menunjukkan laju penuaannya bergerak dengan kemiringan tajam mulai dari masa anak-anak hingga mencapai kematangan seksual, namun setelah memasuki usia 20 tahun, proses tersebut menjadi lebih linear.


 "Data awal juga mengindikasikan bahwa beberapa organ tubuh, misalnya jantung atau otak, kemungkinan akan mengalami penuaan dengan kecepatan yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan organ-organ lain," ungkap Tony Wyss-Coray, seorang profesor bidang neurologi dan ilmu saraf dari Universitas Stanford.


 Temuan-temuan dari studi ini belum dapat secara lengkap mengatasi berbagai pertanyaan tentang proses penuaan serta penyakit-penyakit yang berkaitan dengan umur.


 Apakah masih ada pertanyaan terbuka lainnya? Misalnya, apakah perubahan-perubahan ini memiliki variasi di antara setiap orang atau bahkan antar jenis kelamin? Selain itu, bagaimana pengaruh gaya hidup dan perilaku seseorang dalam menyumbang pada proses penuaan? Ada indikasi yang semakin kuat bahwa beberapa acara spesifik, seperti misalnya kehamilan ataupun cedera fisik, bisa jadi mendorong percepatan dari penuaan biologi.


 Secara keseluruhan, para peneliti hanya mulai menggali cara di mana modifikasi molekular terkait dengan proses penuaan, menurut Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, Direktur Ilmiah dari National Institute on Aging.


 Banyak studi lanjut yang dibutuhkan menurut dia, bisa memperpanjang umur seseorang serta mencegah berbagai macam penyakit.


 "Bila sebelumnya penurunan kinerja fisik dan mental terjadi di usia 70, kita bisa berusaha mendorong hal itu terjadi di usia 75, sehingga mendapatkan lima tahun hidup yang lebih bermakna," ungkapnya.

Proses Penuaan: Apakah Berjalan Perlahan atau Mendadak? Jawaban Ilmu Pengetahuan

Unknown aging, biology, health, news, science

DIWIDA Untuk sebagian besar orang, proses menua berjalan perlahan-lahan. Sesudah beberapa waktu merasa segar dan bugar, pada akhirnya satu hari tiba-tiba lutut menjadi sakit tanpa ada penyebab…

Scientists Might Unveil a Game-Changing Alien Life Signature—but Big Hurdles Remain

Unknown biodiversity, biology, ecology, exoplanets, life sciences

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1BfzmI" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1BfzmI.jpg"/>


 The search for alien life is one of the most captivating scientific quests of our time. With the discovery of thousands of exoplanets, astronomers are now focused on identifying clear biosignatures—chemical indicators in planetary atmospheres that could reveal the presence of life.


 A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside (UCR)
 , suggests that methyl halides could be one such biosignature. These gases, composed of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms bonded to a halogen, are naturally produced by bacteria, algae, fungi, and some plants on Earth, but they are not known to form through abiotic (non-biological) processes.


 This makes them a highly promising target in the search for life. However, there’s a significant obstacle: our current telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), are not yet powerful enough to detect them in Earth-sized exoplanets. Researchers believe, however, that a different class of planets—Hycean worlds—could provide a solution.

<h2>
 What Are Methyl Halides and Why Do They Matter?
</h2>

 In the hunt for
 alien life
 , scientists rely on finding molecules that are primarily produced by biological organisms. Traditionally, gases such as oxygen, methane, and water vapor have been considered promising biosignatures, but they are not definitive proof of life since they can also be created through geological and atmospheric processes.


 
 Methyl halides, however, are different.
 
 These gases are released into Earth’s atmosphere by biological activity but are not known to be created through purely chemical or geological processes. This makes them particularly valuable as potential biosignatures. If methyl halides were detected in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, it could strongly suggest the presence of life.


 “Unlike an Earth-like planet, where atmospheric noise and telescope limitations make it difficult to detect biosignatures, Hycean planets offer a much clearer signal,” explains
 
 Eddie Schwieterman
 
 , an astrobiologist at UCR.


 The study suggests that
 
 Hycean planets
 
 , which are water-rich worlds orbiting
 
 red dwarf stars
 
 , may provide the ideal conditions for these gases to accumulate in detectable amounts.

<h2>
 Why Can’t We Detect These Biosignatures Yet?
</h2>

 The
 
 James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
 
 has revolutionized exoplanet research by providing detailed observations of atmospheres, but even JWST has limits.


 ・Size Matters: Earth-sized exoplanets are too small and dim for JWST to observe directly. It can detect atmospheric signatures from larger gas giants, but analyzing smaller rocky planets remains a significant challenge.


 ・Signal Strength: Even if methyl halides exist in an exoplanet’s atmosphere, the concentration may be too low for JWST to detect using current techniques.


 ・Interference from Host Stars: Many promising exoplanets orbit red dwarf stars, which produce intense radiation and atmospheric noise that could obscure potential biosignatures.


 Because of these challenges, Schwieterman and his colleagues suggest that
 
 Hycean planets
 
 —which have thick hydrogen atmospheres and orbit dimmer red dwarf stars—could provide a better opportunity for detection.

<h2>
 Hycean Planets: A New Hope for Detecting Alien Life
</h2>

 Hycean planets are a relatively new category of exoplanets that astronomers believe could be more
 
 hospitable to microbial life
 
 than Earth-like planets. They are:


 ・Larger than Earth, but not as massive as gas giants


 ・Covered in global oceans, potentially resembling Earth’s early conditions


 ・Likely to retain biosignature gases, including methyl halides, in their thick atmospheres


 Because
 
 Hycean planets
 
 have thick atmospheres rich in hydrogen, they can allow methyl halides to accumulate in larger amounts than Earth-like planets, making them easier to detect with JWST and future space telescopes.


 If life exists on Hycean worlds, methyl halides could be one of the first biosignatures we detect beyond Earth.


 
 Enjoyed this article?
 
 Subscribe to our free newsletter
 for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news.


 For more news like this, visit
 .

Scientists Might Unveil a Game-Changing Alien Life Signature—but Big Hurdles Remain

Unknown biodiversity, biology, ecology, exoplanets, life sciences

The search for alien life is one of the most captivating scientific quests of our time. With the discovery of thousands of exoplanets, astronomers are now focused on identifying clear biosignature…

Oldest human FACE: Ancient man lived in Spain 1.4 million years ago

Unknown archaeology, biology, culture, culture & history, health, society

<ul class="mol-bullets-with-font">
 <li class="">
 
 READ MORE: Scientists reveal face of 'completely unknown' human ancestor
 
 </li>
</ul>

 Scientists have discovered the oldest human face in Western Europe, potentially rewriting the story of human evolution.


 The ancient human nicknamed 'Pink' lived in
 Spain
 's Iberian Peninsula between 1.1 and 1.4 million years ago.


 That means Pink easily predates the arrival of modern humans, Homo sapiens, on the continent just 45,000 years ago.


 The fossilised remains are distinct from other ancient hominin remains found in the area, raising the possibility that Pink could be an entirely new human species.


 The fragments of this hominin face were discovered in 2022 inside a cave called Sima del Elefante,
 where some of Europe's most ancient human remains have been found.


 Nevertheless, Pink seems to have a distinct architecture compared to Homo antecessor, another hominin species that inhabited the region as far back as 860,000 years ago.


 Rather than resembling us, he looks more like Homo erectus, an even older human species that appeared in Africa about two million years ago and was the first to walk upright just as we do today.


 Researchers think that Pink's species might have been some of the earliest humans to reach Europe, only to be eradicated later due to rapid climatic changes.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQdff" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQdff.jpg"/>
<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQ880" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQ880.jpg"/>

 Consisting of various fragmented pieces along with sections of two teeth, the skeletal remnants discovered at Sima del Elephant are thought to represent the earliest known instance of human face bones uncovered in Western Europe.


 The research team dubbed the person 'Pink' inspired by Pink Floyd's album "Dark Side of the Moon," known as 'La Cara Oculta de la Luna' in Spanish, with 'cara oculta' translating to 'hidden face.'


 Once Pink’s remains were uncovered, researchers originally believed that they might be attributed to another of the early human species that had been identified in the region.


 Inside the cave, earlier studies revealed the presence of Homo antecessor fossils estimated at around 860,000 years old.


 By examining the numerous other animal fossils discovered in the same stratum of the cave along with the indications of periodic changes in Earth’s magnetic field imprinted in the soil, scientists determined that Pink's remains are approximately 1.1 to 1.4 million years old.


 Moreover, upon meticulously rebuilding the remains, it was evident that Pink’s facial structure did not match any known ancient human species from the region.


 Dr María Martinón, who leads the National Centre for Research on Human Evolution, comments: "While Homo antecessor has a more contemporary appearance with a defined nasal bone area similar to Homo sapiens, Pink displays characteristics closer to those found in Homo erectus, specifically through its flatter and less developed nose."


 Homo erectus was the first human species to develop an upright gait and posture like a modern human and was the first to use stone hand tools for cutting.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQhJ5" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQhJ5.jpg"/>

 After emerging in Africa around two million years ago, this species migrated out into Asia and even made its way into Eastern Europe.


 At a site in modern-day Georgia, palaeontologists have discovered five skulls belonging to Homo erectus
 dating back 1.8 million years
 .


 However, the Western European fossil record is extremely bare before 800,000 years ago.


 Scientists have only found a single tooth and some stone tools dating to 1.4 million years ago in Spain, along with
 a jawbone at Sima del Elefante dated to 1.1 million years ago.


 Near Pink's remains, researchers also discovered stone tools made of quartz and flint, alongside animal bones bearing clear cut marks.


 This indicates that Pink and their relatives had already developed a simple tool 'industry' and knew how to butcher animals for meat just like Homo erectus.


 Study co-author Dr Xosé Pedro Rodríguez, of the University of Rovira i Virgili (URV), says: 'They suggest an effective subsistence strategy and highlight the hominins’ ability to exploit the resources available in their environment.'


 If Pink really is a member of Homo erectus, then this find would show that this human ancestor species spread itself far wider and far earlier than scientists had previously thought.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQhJp" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQhJp.jpg"/>
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<div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS sciencetech">
 <h3 class="mol-factbox-title">
 Who were Homo antecessor?
 </h3>
 <div class="ins cleared mol-factbox-body">
 
 Homo antecessor is one of the earliest known varieties of human discovered in Europe, dating as far back as one million years ago.
 
 
 Believed to have weighed around 14 stone, Homo antecessor was said to have been between 5.5 and 6ft tall.
 
 
 Their brain sizes were roughly between 1,000 and 1,150 cm³, which is smaller than the average 1,350 cm³ brains of modern humans.
 
 
 The species is believed to have been right-handed, making it different from other apes, and may have used a symbolic language, according to archaeologists who found remains in Burgos, Spain in 1994.
 
 </div>
</div>

 However, the researchers aren't convinced that Pink is just another member of this human ancestor species.


 Although their skulls are similar, Pink's facial structure is narrower than examples of Homo erectus found across Asia and Africa.


 But, with only fragments of bone and two worn teeth to go on, the researchers cannot yet be certain that Pink is an entirely new species.


 Instead, they opted to designate Pink as 'Homo affinis erectus', using the Latin term 'affinis' to mean that it has an affinity with the known species.


 Dr Martinón says: 'The evidence is still insufficient for a definitive classification, which is why we adopted the name Homo affinis erectus.


 She adds that this was done to 'acknowledge Pink’s affinities with Homo erectus while leaving open the possibility that the remains may belong to another species.'


 The researchers argue that Pink's species was part of the first wave of human migration into Western Europe.


 Yet, that first migration appears to have been cut off abruptly when the climate of the Iberian Peninsula suddenly changed.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQfxB" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQfxB.jpg"/>

 At the time Pink lived in Spain, the Sierra de Atapuerca region would have featured a mix of wooded areas, wet grasslands, and seasonal water sources - making for a resource-rich environment for ancient humans.


 However,
 previous studies suggest that there may have been a sudden climatic shift around 1.1 million years ago
 which could have wiped out the human population.


 That could explain why there is such a large gap in the fossil record between Pink and the later Homo antecessor remains.


 Dr Eudald Carbonell, a palaeontologist from URV and co-director of the project, says: 'Evidence for different hominin populations in Western Europe during the Early Pleistocene suggests that this region was a key point in the evolutionary history of the genus Homo.'

Read more

Oldest human FACE: Ancient man lived in Spain 1.4 million years ago

Unknown archaeology, biology, culture, culture & history, health, society

READ MORE: Scientists reveal face of 'completely unknown' human ancestor Scientists have discovered the oldest human face in Western Europe, potentially rewriting the story of human evo…

Oldest Human Face Unveiled: Ancient Spaniard Lived 1.4 Million Years Ago

Unknown archaeology, biology, culture, culture & history, health, society

<ul class="mol-bullets-with-font">
 <li class="">
 
 READ MORE: Scientists reveal face of 'completely unknown' human ancestor
 
 </li>
</ul>

 Scientists have discovered the oldest human face in Western Europe, potentially rewriting the story of human evolution.


 The ancient human nicknamed 'Pink' lived in
 Spain
 's Iberian Peninsula between 1.1 and 1.4 million years ago.


 That means Pink easily predates the arrival of modern humans, Homo sapiens, on the continent just 45,000 years ago.


 The fossilised remains are distinct from other ancient hominin remains found in the area, raising the possibility that Pink could be an entirely new human species.


 The fragments of this hominin face were discovered in 2022 inside a cave called Sima del Elefante,
 where some of Europe's most ancient human remains have been found.


 However, Pink appears to have a different structure from Homo antecessor, another human species which lived in the same area up to 860,000 years ago.


 Instead, he resembles Homo erectus, a far more ancient human species which emerged in Africa two million years ago and was the first to walk on two legs like a modern human.


 The researchers believe that Pink's species could have been among the very first humans to arrive in Europe before being wiped out by a sudden shift in the climate.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQdff" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQdff.jpg"/>
<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQ880" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQ880.jpg"/>

 Composed of several broken fragments and parts of two teeth, the remains found at Sima del Elefante are believed to be the oldest example of human facial bones found in Western Europe.


 The researchers nicknamed the individual 'Pink' after Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon, which is 'La cara oculta de la luna' in Spanish, where 'cara oculta' means 'hidden face'.


 When Pink's remains were discovered, scientists initially thought that they would belong to one of the other ancient human species found in the area.


 Within the cave, researchers have previously found the remains of Homo antecessor dating back 860,000 years.


 By looking at the thousands of other animal fossils found in the same layer of the cave alongside the traces left in the soil by periodic shifts in Earth's magnetic field, the researchers dated Pink's remains to between 1.1 and 1.4 million years ago.


 Additionally, after carefully reconstructing the remains, it became clear that Pink's face didn't have the same structure as any ancient human species from the area.


 Co-author Dr María Martinón, director of the National Centre for Research on Human Evolution, says: 'Homo antecessor shares with Homo sapiens a more modern-looking face and a prominent nasal bone structure, whereas Pink’s facial features are more primitive, resembling Homo erectus, particularly in its flat and underdeveloped nasal structure.'


 Homo erectus was the first human species to develop an upright gait and posture like a modern human and was the first to use stone hand tools for cutting.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQhJ5" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQhJ5.jpg"/>

 After emerging in Africa around two million years ago, this species migrated out into Asia and even made its way into Eastern Europe.


 At a location in present-day Georgia, paleontologists have unearthed five craniums attributed to Homo erectus.
 tracing back 1.8 million years
 .


 Nevertheless, the fossil records from Western Europe remain notably sparse until 800,000 years ago.


 Scientists have discovered just one tooth and some stone tools from approximately 1.4 million years ago in Spain, alongside
 a jawbone at Sima del Elefante dated to 1.1 million years ago.


 Near Pink's remains, researchers also discovered stone tools made of quartz and flint, alongside animal bones bearing clear cut marks.


 This indicates that Pink and their relatives had already developed a simple tool 'industry' and knew how to butcher animals for meat just like Homo erectus.


 Study co-author Dr Xosé Pedro Rodríguez, of the University of Rovira i Virgili (URV), says: 'They suggest an effective subsistence strategy and highlight the hominins’ ability to exploit the resources available in their environment.'


 If Pink really is a member of Homo erectus, then this find would show that this human ancestor species spread itself far wider and far earlier than scientists had previously thought.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQhJp" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQhJp.jpg"/>
<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQdfT" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQdfT.jpg"/>
<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQaLy" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQaLy.jpg"/>
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS sciencetech">
 <h3 class="mol-factbox-title">
 Who were Homo antecessor?
 </h3>
 <div class="ins cleared mol-factbox-body">
 
 Homo antecessor is one of the earliest known varieties of human discovered in Europe, dating as far back as one million years ago.
 
 
 Believed to have weighed around 14 stone, Homo antecessor was said to have been between 5.5 and 6ft tall.
 
 
 Their brain sizes were roughly between 1,000 and 1,150 cm³, which is smaller than the average 1,350 cm³ brains of modern humans.
 
 
 The species is believed to have been right-handed, making it different from other apes, and may have used a symbolic language, according to archaeologists who found remains in Burgos, Spain in 1994.
 
 </div>
</div>

 However, the researchers aren't convinced that Pink is just another member of this human ancestor species.


 Although their skulls are similar, Pink's facial structure is narrower than examples of Homo erectus found across Asia and Africa.


 However, based solely on pieces of bones and two slightly worn teeth, the scientists cannot yet confirm that Pink represents a completely new species.


 Rather than doing so, they chose to label Pink as 'Homo affinis erectus,' employing the Latin word 'affinis' which signifies that it shares similarities with recognized species.


 Dr Martinón states: "There isn't enough proof yet for a conclusive categorisation, so we chose the term Homo affinis erectus."


 She mentions that this step was taken to 'recognize Pink’s connections with Homo erectus while still allowing for the chance that the remains could be from another species.'


 The scholars contend that Pink's species formed part of the initial influx of humans into Western Europe.


 Yet, that first migration appears to have been cut off abruptly when the climate of the Iberian Peninsula suddenly changed.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AQfxB" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AQfxB.jpg"/>

 At the time Pink lived in Spain, the Sierra de Atapuerca region would have featured a mix of wooded areas, wet grasslands, and seasonal water sources - making for a resource-rich environment for ancient humans.


 However,
 previous studies suggest that there may have been a sudden climatic shift around 1.1 million years ago
 which could have wiped out the human population.


 This might be why there’s a significant gap in the fossil records between Pink and the subsequent Homo antecessor specimens.


 Dr Eudald Carbonell, a paleontologist from URV and co-director of the project, states: "The evidence pointing towards distinct hominin groups in Western Europe throughout the Early Pleistocene indicates that this area played a crucial role in the evolution of the genus Homo."

Read more

Oldest Human Face Unveiled: Ancient Spaniard Lived 1.4 Million Years Ago

Unknown archaeology, biology, culture, culture & history, health, society

READ MORE: Scientists reveal face of 'completely unknown' human ancestor Scientists have discovered the oldest human face in Western Europe, potentially rewriting the story of human evo…

Should We Revisit What NASA’s Viking Lander Discovered on Mars in 1976?

Unknown biology, controversies, ecology, science, scientific research

In 1976, the two NASA Viking landers reached a halt on Mars.


 Their
 life detection experimental findings
 continue echoing throughout the scientific community — sparking an ongoing debate about a crucial question: Does life exist on Mars?


 Today, a fresh study revisits and reassesses the outcomes of the Viking Biology experiments.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/video/AA1A5HGz" data-reference="video"/>
<h2 id="perchlorate-finding">
 Perchlorate finding
</h2>

 The most notable alteration following those 1970s experiments was the identification of elevated amounts of
 perchlorate on Mars
 Perchlorates along with non-biological oxidizers account for the findings of the Viking missions, thus eliminating the necessity to assume the presence of life on Mars.


 The recently published paper observes that “the finding of perchlorate on Mars by the Phoenix mission offers an explanation for the outcomes recorded by the Viking Lander missions. The thermal breakdown of perchlorates within the instruments' ovens could account for the absence of organic compounds detected. Additionally, the buildup of hypochlorite in Martian soil may also play a role.”
 cosmic ray
 The decomposition of perchlorate could account for the observed reactivity when nutrient solutions were introduced into the soil during the Viking Biology Experiments.


 The document also notes, "a non-biological interpretation of the Viking findings does not rule out the presence of life on Mars."

<h2 id="revisit-the-results">
 Revisit the results
</h2>

 The recently published paper titled "Revisiting the Viking Biology Experiments on Mars" has been written by prominent Mars researchers.
 Christopher McKay
 Richard Quinn and Carol Stoker, both from the science division of NASA's Ames Research Center located near San Francisco at Moffett Field, California, along with a third author, have collaborated on this work.


 The potential for upcoming Mars sample returns and future missions, possibly incorporating life-detection tools, prompts us to reconsider the outcomes of the Viking biology experiments," propose the researchers. "Although much has evolved since Viking touched down on Mars, certain aspects remain constant. One such unchanging factor over the last half-century is our comprehension of how life operates under frigid and arid conditions.


 In communications with Christopher McKay, he mentioned
 
 
 It should be emphasized that our findings from the Viking mission do not indicate conclusively either the absence of life on Mars nor confirm its presence.


 McKay stated that their main argument revolves around the idea that the Viking mission detected perchlorates and other oxidizing agents on Mars, "which were responsible for the responses observed in the Viking biological tests."


 This implies that the outcomes from the Viking Biology experiments cannot be employed to support a strategy for ensuring astronauts' health and safety, nor to establish policies regarding the quarantine of samples and/or astronauts upon their return to Earth, under the assumption that there is no life on Mars.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1A5HGu" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1A5HGu.jpg"/>
<h2 id="new-data">
 New data
</h2>

 In their article published in the scientific journal *Icarus*, the three researchers highlight significant alterations due to missions sent to Mars. They state, "Undoubtedly, the most crucial novel information comes from the unexpected findings made by the
 Phoenix Mission
 They point out that Martian soil contains approximately 0.5% perchlorate. This extremely high level of perchlorate remains poorly understood; however, it has significant implications for the findings from the Viking missions.


 In their publication, the researchers state that the findings regarding the perchlorate model and the subsequent inference that Viking failed to detect life in Martian surface soils will play a role in discussions about future missions involving sample returns or human expeditions to Mars.


 The Outer Treaty bans 'harmful alterations to Earth’s environment due to the addition of extraterrestrial substances,' " McKay and his team point out. They also emphasize that additional experiments are crucial for gaining deeper insights into the chemistry of Martian soil and the potential existence of life on Mars.

<h2 id="good-targets">
 Good targets
</h2>

 To summarize their research paper, they conclude that the perchlorate model for the Viking results "fails to confirm the absence of life."
 life on Mars
 , nor does it suggest that the ongoing quest for signs of life on Mars, whether in the past or present, is futile."


 Certainly, as proposed by the research team, they firmly advocate for seeking evidence of current life in upcoming missions. Ideal locations include salt deposits and polar surface ice.


 This latest study has been
 published in Icarus
 .

Should We Revisit What NASA’s Viking Lander Discovered on Mars in 1976?

Unknown biology, controversies, ecology, science, scientific research

In 1976, the two NASA Viking landers reached a halt on Mars. Their life detection experimental findings continue echoing throughout the scientific community — sparking an ongoing debate about a c…

6 Dinge, die ein Kind von seinen Eltern erbt – und nie ahnt, dass es sie hat (Magyarország)

Unknown biology, culture, genetics and heredity, lifestyle, popular culture

Az általunk végzett genetikai vizsgálataknak eredményeképpen ma megszámláltuk néhány olyan csodálatos információt, ami mindegyikünktőlörökkedhet!
 

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1oy4Hf" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1oy4Hf.jpg"/>

 Műholdázásban vagyunk? A tekinteted hasonló ahhoz, amilyen volt az apukádnek? Vagy talán a lábad ugyanezen alapján hasonlítható meg az anyukádnével? Ugye mindannyian emlékszik rá!
 fizikai jellemzőinek legtöbbjét szüleinktől
 
 örököl
 
 jük
 , vagy
 ritkább esetekben nagyszüleinktől
 . Ezeken felüli és más rengeteg dolgunk van, ami a
 
 gén
 
 Itt azon alapján múlik. Milyen ezek a személyes tulajdonságok?

<h3>
 1. Magas koleszterin
</h3>

 Többnyire mindenki úgy gondolja, hogy az
 magas koleszterin
 A koleszterinszint és az étkezés közötti kapcsolat létezik. Hosszan és boldogan élvek, szükségünk van nagyszerűen teli napi diétára felváltva friss zöldbizottságokkal és gyümölcssal, amely természetesen rendben van, de ezzel semlegesítenénk azt, hogy bizonyosaknak tekinthetjük volna arra, hogy mindez elhárítja a problémát. Ugyanis néha más tényezők - például genetika - befolyásolhatják a vércsereünket is. Ez állapotot körülbelül 500-ből 1-en tapasztálható meg. Ők eseten sosem segítne csökkenni a kolesterolértékükre csak zöldségektől és gyümölccsektől alkoholtalan étrendnek követése.

<div>
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1oy4H6" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1oy4H6.jpg"/>
</div>
<h3>
 2. Tanulmányi eredmény
</h3>

 Amikor a szüleiddel egyetértenek abban, hogy lecsökkentették az õrséget, mert rossz jegyű jelentsél a suliban, valójába egyszerûen megengedes lehette volna elmondani nekik, hogy ezektõl köszönheted. Kutatások alapján viszont a tanulmányi sikeres része csak annyi százaléknak tekinthetõ meg, ahányadika az örökleges
 genetikától függ
 Százezer gen tisztában van veled abban, hogyan alakíthatod ki sporttervezési képességeiddel a suli mezszámokon, tehát ha az apukaidék rendben mentek át a tantárgyat, te is magasabb valósszennyezetű leszel ennek elérére, ami természetesen megfordult irányba is érvényesül.

<div>
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1oyb52" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1oyb52.jpg"/>
</div>
<h3>
 3. Kopaszodás
</h3>

 A
 kopaszodás
 Azért tennék bele a listát, mert bár mindannyian tudjuk, hogy ez örökliséges kérdés, sokan még mindig csak az atyákat vállalják felelőségre, közöttük olyanok is, akiknél a anyák jól megmutatkoznak ebben a tekintetben. Az általunk látogatható kopaszodás-gén egyszerűen megtalálható az X kromoszónán belül; viszont természeti hatású faktorok valamint a napi életmód is jelentősen befolyásolja ennek a folyamatnak az eredményét.

<div>
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1oy2ll" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1oy2ll.jpg"/>
</div>
<h3>
 4. Az autóvezetési képességek
</h3>

 Amire eddig gyanusagunk volt, az ténylegesen bebizonyosodott a vizsgálatainkkal: nem mindenki rendelkezik ugyan abban mértékben a készségkönyveléstől szükséges emlékenyitessel vagy odafigyelés-konzentrációval kapcsolatosakkal amilyet a járművet vezeteni igénybevételez. Akár tudnivaló lehet minden forgatóhazi előírásot és elérhetséget is, de ha nincsenek megfelelő genetikai feltételeid ami következtében sérülnek információfelfogása, fókuszálási- és jelentőségiértelmező képtelenséged, valamint válaszképesed, ez esetben sajnálom, hogy bár ott lenned kellene a irányító kerék utánuk, talán mégsem leszel kiemelkedő játékos ebben a területen. Ezen belül ennélfogva annyi mint háromszázaddel teszi igazzá a statisztika, ahogy azt a mérlegük alapján mutatják.

<div>
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1oy2lt" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1oy2lt.jpg"/>
</div>
<h3>
 5. A kávé szeretete
</h3>

 Igazából ez nem azért van, mert így látod a szüleiddel kapcsolatban. A kutatók megvetették ilyen típusú emberek közötti hasonlíthatóságot.
 akiék nem képesek kávét fogyasztani aznap
 , és olyanokat találtak meg, akik igazából rendelkeznek egy specifikus genetikai profilmal. Ezzel az izolált csoport tagjainak lassabb folyamatú volt a szervük által koffein bőséges előállítása. Így alapján nincsenek abban az elvi állapotban, hogy érezniuk legyen a koffein impulzszerű hatásait; eztért sem sejtik be a lehetőséget arra, hogy hozzáfordulnaknálakunk a kávéhoz egyszerűen csak energia feltöltésére.

<div>
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1oyb59" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1oyb59.jpg"/>
</div>
<h3>
 6. Népszerűség
</h3>

 Először is találkozhassunk egy ilyen furcsa gondolattal: a populációs siker mögött lehet genetika rejljen. Esetleg nem hisznéd el, de a Harvard-i kutatók sok évig álldogáltak ezzel az elképzeléssel és végül arra jutottak, hogy az első emberi társadalomban az olyan tagok – akik például megértenek az élelmiszertermesztést vagy felismernék a melegen lógó fenyegetéseket – nagyon valószínű volt, hogy közepén játszanak szerepet. Ezek az emberek tehát termelték majd tovább gyerekeit, akik egyszerűen csak többen kívánták volna legyenük. Ez azt jelenti, hogy a mai napon annyi népek van, akinek a génjeivel kapcsolatos előnyös tulajdonságainkat örököltem, amire mi magunk sincsenek stimmelhetoek. Természettelenül érdekes dolog, ugye? De mindez alapján továbbra semmerült ki pontos okokkal, így a kutatóknak még rengeteg dolgot kell tanulnianak ennek teljes történetéből.

<div>
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1oy8TU" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1oy8TU.jpg"/>
</div>
<h3>
 És ezt láttad már?
</h3>
<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/slideshow/BB1nqrpA" data-reference="slideshow"/>

6 Dinge, die ein Kind von seinen Eltern erbt – und nie ahnt, dass es sie hat (Magyarország)

Unknown biology, culture, genetics and heredity, lifestyle, popular culture

Az általunk végzett genetikai vizsgálataknak eredményeképpen ma megszámláltuk néhány olyan csodálatos információt, ami mindegyikünktőlörökkedhet! Műholdázásban vagyunk? A tekinteted hasonló ah…