<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="https://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" > <channel> <atom:link href="https://www.livescience.com/feeds/all" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <title><![CDATA[ Livescience ]]></title> <link>https://www.livescience.com</link> <description><![CDATA[ ]]></description> <lastBuildDate>Sat, 23 Nov 2024 19:59:46 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Tens of millions of devices are thrown away each year — and the rise of generative AI will only make this worse ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Every time generative <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence"><u>artificial intelligence</u></a> drafts an e-mail or conjures up an image, the planet pays for it. Making two images can consume as much energy as charging a smartphone; a single exchange with ChatGPT can heat up a server so much that it requires a bottle's worth of water to cool. At scale, these costs soar. By 2027, the global AI sector could annually consume as much electricity as the Netherlands, according to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-ai-boom-could-use-a-shocking-amount-of-electricity/" target="_blank"><u>one recent estimate</u></a>. And a new study in <em>Nature Computational Science</em> <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43588-024-00712-6" target="_blank"><u>identifies another concern</u></a>: AI's outsize contribution to the world's mounting heap of electronic waste. The study found that generative AI applications alone could add 1.2 million to five million metric tons of this hazardous trash to the planet by 2030, depending on how quickly the industry grows.</p><p>Such a contribution would add to the tens of millions of tons of electronic products the globe discards annually. Cell phones, microwave ovens, computers and other ubiquitous digital products often contain mercury, lead or other toxins. When improperly discarded, they can contaminate air, water and soil. The United Nations found that in 2022 about 78 percent of the world's e-waste wound up in landfills or at unofficial recycling sites, where laborers risk their health to scavenge rare metals.</p><p>The worldwide AI boom rapidly churns through physical data storage devices, plus the graphics processing units and other high-performance components needed to process thousands of simultaneous calculations. This hardware lasts anywhere from two to five years — but it's often replaced as soon as newer versions become available. Asaf Tzachor, a sustainability researcher at Israel's Reichman University, who co-authored the new study, says its findings emphasize the need to monitor and reduce this technology's environmental impacts.</p> <p>To calculate just how much generative AI contributes to this problem, Tzachor and his colleagues examined the type and volume of hardware used to run large language models, the length of time that these components last and the growth rate of the generative AI sector. The researchers caution that their prediction is a gross estimate that could change based on a few additional factors. More people might adopt generative AI than the authors' models anticipate, for example. Hardware design innovations, meanwhile, could reduce e-waste in a given AI system — but other technological advances can make systems cheaper and more accessible to the public, increasing the number in use.</p><p><strong>Related: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/new-memory-chip-controlled-by-light-and-magnets-could-one-day-make-ai-computing-less-power-hungry"><u><strong>New memory chip controlled by light and magnets could one day make AI computing less power-hungry</strong></u></a></p><p>This study's biggest value comes from its attention to AI's broad environmental impacts, says Shaolei Ren, a researcher at the University of California, Riverside, who studies responsible AI and was not involved in the new research. "We might want these [generative AI] companies to slow down a bit," he says.</p><p>Few countries mandate the proper disposal of e-waste, and those that do often fail to enforce their existing laws on it. Twenty-five U.S. states have e-waste management policies, but there is no federal law that requires electronics recycling. In February Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts introduced a bill that would require federal agencies to study and develop standards for AI's environmental impacts, including e-waste. But that bill, the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024 (which has not passed the Senate), would not force AI developers to cooperate with its voluntary reporting system. Some companies, however, claim to be taking independent action. Microsoft and Google have pledged to reach net zero waste and net zero emissions respectively by 2030; this would likely involve reducing or recycling AI-related e-waste.</p> <div class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/scientists-design-new-agi-benchmark-that-may-say-whether-any-future-ai-model-could-cause-catastrophic-harm">Scientists design new 'AGI benchmark' that indicates whether any future AI model could cause 'catastrophic harm'</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/large-language-models-not-fit-for-real-world-use-scientists-warn-even-slight-changes-cause-their-world-models-to-collapse">Large language models not fit for real-world use, scientists warn — even slight changes cause their world models to collapse</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/ai-can-stunt-the-skills-necessary-for-independent-self-creation-relying-on-algorithms-could-reshape-your-entire-identity-without-you-realizing">AI 'can stunt the skills necessary for independent self-creation': Relying on algorithms could reshape your entire identity without you realizing</a></p></div></div> <p>Companies that use AI have numerous options to limit e-waste. It's possible to squeeze more life out of servers, for instance, through regular maintenance and updates or by shifting worn-out devices to less-intensive applications. Refurbishing and reusing obsolete hardware components can also cut waste by 42 percent, Tzachor and his co-authors note in the new study. And more efficient chip and algorithm design could reduce generative AI's demand for hardware and electricity. Combining all these strategies would reduce e-waste by 86 percent, the study authors estimate.</p><p>There's another wrinkle as well: AI products tend to be trickier to recycle than standard electronics because the former often contain a lot of sensitive customer data, says Kees Baldé, an e-waste researcher at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, who wasn't involved with the new study. But big tech companies can afford to both erase that data and properly dispose of their electronics, he points out. "Yes, it costs something," he says of broader e-waste recycling, "but the gains for society are much larger."</p><p><em>This article was first published at </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/generative-ai-could-generate-millions-more-tons-of-e-waste-by-2030/" target="_blank"><u><em>Scientific American</em></u></a><em>. © </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/scientificamerican.com/__;!!NLFGqXoFfo8MMQ!ve-vRNHfxzMpuwnzghmp615VHAOThOfKc0RxPLCh1dx85wIiwQoA7iednip0GtnAIg1pK3FBwkmX_WffcAvtUO0$" target="_blank"><u><em>ScientificAmerican.com</em></u></a><em>. All rights reserved. </em>Follow on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://linkin.bio/scientific_american" target="_blank"><u>TikTok and Instagram</u></a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://twitter.com/sciam" target="_blank"><u>X</u></a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.facebook.com/ScientificAmerican/" target="_blank"><u>Facebook</u></a>.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/tens-of-millions-of-devices-are-thrown-away-each-year-and-the-rise-of-generative-ai-will-only-make-this-worse</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Generative AI could saddle the planet with heaps more hazardous waste than ever before. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">wK6KsC4nxdf5FpZTmP76CP</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6xqgovPr4CZv8CUhufwFfg.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Artificial Intelligence]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6xqgovPr4CZv8CUhufwFfg.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Westend61 via Getty Images]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[A room full of computer servers with multicolored lights]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A room full of computer servers with multicolored lights]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Black hole quiz: How supermassive is your knowledge of the universe? ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/black-holes.html"><u>Black holes</u></a> are the most extreme objects in the universe. These hyper-dense celestial phenomena exert gravitational forces so powerful that not even light can escape their pull, and time itself is distorted in their orbit.</p><p>Physicist Karl Schwarzschild accidentally discovered the concept of black holes in 1916 while working on a solution to Einstein's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/32216-what-is-relativity.html"><u>general theory of relativity</u></a>. However, at that point, black holes were still theoretical, and many scientists refused to believe they existed.</p><p>In 1930, Indian astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar proved that they could exist by showing that above a certain density, no force can overcome gravity. It then took another 40 years for scientists to find one when, in 1972, astronomers Paul Murdin and Louise Webster surmised that a known galactic X-ray source called <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/features/yba/CygX1_mass/cygX1_more.html" target="_blank"><u>Cygnus X-1</u></a> was, in fact, a black hole.</p><p>Though we haven’t known about these awe-inspiring objects for very long, our knowledge has come a long way in recent years. Has your black hole knowledge been keeping up?</p><p>Try as you might, you can’t escape the pull of our black hole quiz, so it’s time to find out how much you know about these cosmic drain holes. Be sure to login if you want to try for a spot on our leaderboard — and feel free to hit the hint button if these perplexing objects leave you stumped.</p> <iframe allow="" height="800px" width="100%" data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://livescience.kwizly.com/embed.php?code=eMaVDe"></iframe> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/space/black-hole-quiz-how-supermassive-is-your-knowledge-of-the-universe</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Black holes have captivated scientists for more than a century. How well do you know these supermassive wonders of the universe? ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">ZeQ9kPhBwDYaEpTwnoF5f3</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dVLnwrRH7EGxQmEizdAVA9.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Space]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dVLnwrRH7EGxQmEizdAVA9.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA, ESA, and D. Coe, J. Anderson, and R. van der Marel (STScI)]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[This computer-simulated image shows a supermassive black hole at the core of a galaxy.]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[This computer-simulated image shows a supermassive black hole at the core of a galaxy.]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Green spoonworm: The female tentacle monsters that turn males into 'living testicles' ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p><strong>Name:</strong> Green spoonworm (<em>Bonellia viridis</em>)</p><p><strong>Where it lives:</strong> Seabeds in the northeast Atlantic, from the Mediterranean to northern Norway</p><p><strong>What it eats:</strong> Organic matter filtered from the water and small invertebrates.</p><p><strong>Why it</strong>'<strong>s awesome:</strong> Green spoonworms are named for their spoon-shaped proboscis — a long,sucking mouthpart used for feeding — which stretches out into the water to catch food floating by.</p> <p>"They basically look like a tentacle monster from a sci-fi film," <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.moreforsk.no/contact/staff/1156/0/?user=569" target="_blank"><u>Trond Roger Oskars</u></a>, a research scientist specializing in marine invertebrates at Møreforsking Research Institute, told Live Science in an email.</p><p>The rest of their thick, sausage-shaped body remains buried in the seafloor — sometimes in burrows created by other animals — while their ribbon-like proboscis flutters in the water to fish for tiny pieces of organic matter to eat, including algae, rotten materials and even poop. "They're like vacuum cleaners sweeping over the ocean floor," Oskars said.</p><p>While green spoonworms' bodies are around 6 or 7 inches (15 to 18 centimeters) long, "that wavy proboscis can extend up to 10 times longer," he said.</p><p>Their iconic bright green color, which comes from a toxic pigment called bonellin, warns predators to stay away. But not all green spoonworms look like this. "Here's the twist!" Oskars said. "The green specimens you see are only the females."</p> <div class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/upside-down-anglerfish-and-other-alien-oddities-spotted-in-one-of-the-worlds-deepest-trenches">Upside-down anglerfish and other alien oddities spotted in one of the world's deepest trenches</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/animals/horrifying-parasitic-worm-snatches-its-hosts-genes-to-control-its-mind">Horrifying parasitic worm snatches its host's genes to control its mind </a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/animals/these-images-show-the-moment-when-parasites-burst-from-their-hosts-and-theyre-scary">These 6 images show the moment when parasites burst from their hosts — and they're scary</a></p></div></div> <p>The sex of an individual relies on chemistry rather than genetics. If a larva floats through the ocean and settles on the seafloor, it develops into a female. But if a larva lands on a female, it reacts to the bonellin in her body and turns into a male. Like some species of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/animals/fish/anglerfish-entered-the-midnight-zone-55-million-years-ago-and-thrived-by-becoming-sexual-parasites"><u>anglerfish</u></a>, these males are microscopic and are absorbed into her body, becoming a parasite with the sole purpose of fertilizing her eggs. "It's basically reduced to a living testicle," he said.</p><p><strong>Related: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/animals/parasitic-provider-of-sperm-on-tap-why-the-sex-lives-of-deep-sea-creatures-demand-extreme-solutions"><u><strong>'Parasitic provider of sperm on-tap': Why the sex lives of deep sea creatures demand extreme solutions</strong></u></a></p><p>As well as protecting spoonworms from predators and turning males into living gonads, bonellin kills bacteria. "It is being targeted as a potential new antibiotic but may have a whole host of other interesting uses," Oskars said. "They are a prime example of why we need to know more about weird creatures and their habitats… We know only 10% of the species in the ocean, who knows what other creatures are hiding that have additional benefits?"</p> <div class='jwplayer__widthsetter'><div class='jwplayer__wrapper'><div id='futr_botr_AMbuYMhw_pBYGc5Ws_div' class='future__jwplayer'><div id='botr_AMbuYMhw_pBYGc5Ws_div'></div></div></div></div> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/animals/green-spoonworm-the-female-tentacle-monsters-that-turn-males-into-living-testicles</link> <description> <![CDATA[ This bright green sea creature contains a toxic pigment that protects it from predators, kills bacteria and determines the sex of larvae, turning males into a "living testacle." ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">MukWdu6Kqd4j4HLcRPXh4M</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QbQnRDyHcH4TyxvnqPzh7c.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Animals]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QbQnRDyHcH4TyxvnqPzh7c.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.alamy.com/search/imageresults.aspx?pseudoid=%7b2BE6DAF5-A88F-4B3D-9E7A-E2D310B501F7%7d&amp;amp;name=Poelzer%2bWolfgang&amp;amp;st=11&amp;amp;mode=0&amp;amp;comp=1&quot;&gt;Poelzer Wolfgang&lt;/a&gt; / Alamy Stock Photo]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Green bonellia on top of marine algae at the bottom of the sea.]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Green bonellia on top of marine algae at the bottom of the sea.]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ 'It might pave the way for novel forms of artistic expression': Generative AI isn't a threat to artists — it's an opportunity to redefine art itself ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>One of the key areas that artificial intelligence (AI) threatens to disrupt is human creativity — and the rise of generative AI has certainly thrown art into the spotlight. While fears remain that AI may replace human input and agency across society, a different approach suggests humans will meld with AI in some capacity — with the new technologies augmenting us rather than undermining us.</p><p>In "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Centaur-Art-Future-Age-Generative/dp/3031690621" target="_blank"><u>Centaur Art: The Future of Art in the Age of Generative AI</u></a>" (Springer, 2024), computer scientist <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=4LGMlCEAAAAJ&hl=it" target="_blank"><u>Remo Pareschi</u></a> explores the notion of "centauric intelligence" — an integration of human and computing intelligence — and its impact on the future of art. In this excerpt, Pareschi explains how our primal fears are misguided and argues that the rise of AI may, in fact, help human creative endeavors transcend to new heights.</p> <div class='jwplayer__widthsetter'><div class='jwplayer__wrapper'><div id='futr_botr_isS48Pu7_n8PLZiU4_div' class='future__jwplayer'><div id='botr_isS48Pu7_n8PLZiU4_div'></div></div></div></div> <hr> <p>As we revisit our initial, most pressing concern — will artificial intelligence surpass human creativity in artistic endeavors? — it's crucial to recognize that the question, as commonly posed, is somewhat misdirected. Unlike games such as chess or Go, art cannot be measured by a simple win-lose metric. The fear, however, is similar: could humans be supplanted in artistic production as they have been in high-level chess?</p><p>Our analysis, grounded in cognitive considerations and carried out in the pages to come, suggests a nuanced answer. At the pinnacle of creativity — where inspiration, conception and originality reign — AI is an enhancer, aiding in realizing powerful and original works. In such contexts, the human artist's role remains paramount, with AI serving as a tool to augment their creative vision. Conversely, AI's role can become more structured or repetitive. It can automate the production of routine outputs such as certain types of commercial illustrations, brochures, or video game characters. This automation significantly impacts professionals in these fields, who may rely on such work for their livelihood. Consequently, these individuals may view the advent of AI technologies with apprehension and concern.</p> <h2 id="economic-and-legal-implications-2">Economic and legal implications</h2> <p>The economic threat of generative platforms is closely intertwined with concerns about copyright infringement. A notable legal action in this arena occurred in January 2023, when a group of artists filed a class-action lawsuit against Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt. The lawsuit centered on the alleged unauthorized use of artists' works to train AI tools, sparking a debate over the legal and ethical boundaries of AI in art.</p><p>The highlighted lawsuit underscores the ongoing tension between AI’s innovative potential in art and individual artists’ rights. Plaintiffs in the case argued that AI tools were creating derivative works based on their styles without proper authorization or compensation. In contrast, the AI art companies defended their actions, asserting that the AI-generated images were transformative and original, thus not violating any laws. In a significant development in October 2023, a US judge dismissed most of these claims due to a lack of direct infringement evidence.</p><p>On the other hand, to complicate matters further, the US Copyright Office in September 2023 rejected copyright protection for <em>Theatre D’opera Spatial</em>, an artwork predominantly created by AI and crafted by artist Jason Allen. This artwork had previously won an art contest, but the Copyright Office’s decision was based on the lack of significant human intervention in its creation. This stance contrasts with the position of Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard Law School professor and a renowned expert on Internet and law issues. Lessig advocates for the recognition of copyright in prompt-generated artworks, arguing that they are original and creative, embodying the human input of the prompter. He believes these works should be treated on par with other technologically aided art forms and that they have the potential to invigorate the art world by inspiring current artists and drawing in new audiences interested in AI's artistic capabilities.</p><p>Interestingly, international perspectives on this issue vary. In November 2023, a Chinese court ruled that AI-generated content could be protected under copyright law, which starkly contrasts with the human authorship requirement under U.S. copyright law.</p> <figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="6gUEdeLzTpJs9n8NgmPq7F" name="psychedelicbrain-GettyImages-1447700721" alt="A psychedelic line drawing of a brain" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6gUEdeLzTpJs9n8NgmPq7F.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Pareschi's book explores the idea of "centauric intelligence," a synthesis of human and computing intelligence. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Eugene Mymrin via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Thus, despite these legal battles, the issue of copyright infringement in AI art remains unresolved, with the potential for future challenges and changes in various jurisdictions. This uncertainty underscores the evolving nature of art in the digital age and the need for a balanced approach that respects both innovation and artists’ rights.</p><p>A striking example of the social impact of generative platforms is the publication of<em> Sunyata </em>by Eris Edizioni, an Italian graphic novel authored by philosopher and digital artist Francesco D'Isla that combines AI-generated images with traditional text. The novel ignited controversy among artists and comic book creators, who criticized its use of AI as undermining artistic integrity and economic fairness. The author and publisher defended their work as a legitimate artistic endeavor, emphasizing their careful use of prompts and adherence to a Creative Commons license.</p><p>This case exemplifies the broader debate surrounding AI in art: balancing technological innovation with ethical considerations and the economic interests of human artists. As generative platforms continue to evolve, these discussions will likely intensify, shaping the future of art in the digital era. And yet, we might say that this is nothing new, with history repeating itself — the intersection of technology and art has always been a crucible of innovation and controversy.</p> <h2 id="exploring-new-artistic-avenues-2">Exploring new artistic avenues </h2> <p>Indeed, throughout history, technological advancements, from ink and paper to the development of cameras and computers, have continually opened new avenues for artistic expression. Yet, each technological leap has also brought ethical and social challenges, echoing today’s tensions between generativity and control, authenticity and originality, and the impact of digital platforms on the art market.</p><p>Historically, resistance to new art forms and technologies is not a novel phenomenon but a recurring pattern. For instance, the advent of photography in the 19th century was initially met with skepticism by some critics and artists, who viewed it as a mechanical, uncreative process threatening traditional art forms. Similarly, introducing sound and color in cinema faced opposition, with concerns about diminishing the artistic value of silent and black-and-white films. Just as photography and color cinema once disrupted artistic norms, today’s generative platforms like DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, and MidJourney are provoking similar debates in the art world.</p><p>To navigate this complex landscape, the insights of Walter Benjamin and John Maynard Keynes offer valuable perspectives. Benjamin was concerned about losing aura due to the mechanical reproduction of the work of art, but also recognized its democratizing potential. Generative platforms like DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, and MidJourney take this democratization one step further, making artistic creation more accessible and fostering a sense of community and creativity. Allowing users to generate and share art potentially fulfills Benjamin's social role in art.</p> <div class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/ai-can-stunt-the-skills-necessary-for-independent-self-creation-relying-on-algorithms-could-reshape-your-entire-identity-without-you-realizing">AI 'can stunt the skills necessary for independent self-creation': Relying on algorithms could reshape your entire identity without you realizing</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/new-ai-image-generator-koala-is-8-times-faster-than-openais-best-tool-and-can-run-on-cheap-computers">New AI image generator is 8 times faster than OpenAI's best tool — and can run on cheap computers</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/mit-has-just-worked-out-how-to-make-the-most-popular-ai-image-generators-dall-e-3-stable-diffusion-30-times-faster">MIT scientists have just figured out how to make the most popular AI image generators 30 times faster</a></p></div></div> <p>While Benjamin's insights shed light on the cultural implications of technological advancements in art, John Maynard Keynes's concept of technological unemployment offers a crucial economic perspective. Among his many contributions to economic theory, Keynes, a prominent economist of the 20th century, explored the job loss caused by technological advancements, a form of structural unemployment that he viewed as a ‘temporary phase of maladjustment'. This perspective is particularly relevant when considering the fears among artists about AI-powered generative platforms. While some artists worry about the potential for AI to diminish the demand for human-made art, thus impacting their livelihoods, it's crucial to recognize that technological changes can also create new job opportunities and artistic avenues.</p><p>Keynes' insights remind us that, despite initial disruptions, technological advancements often lead to the emergence of new roles and industries. In the context of art, generative AI might challenge traditional practices and pave the way for novel forms of artistic expression and collaboration. This evolution necessitates a redefinition of art and its creators, a task we aim to address in this book.</p> <hr> <div class="product"><a data-dimension112="799cf051-f75f-4987-ad5f-1c5228d31e48" data-action="Deal Block" data-label="Centaur Art: The Future of Art in the Age of Generative AI — $29.99 on Amazon" data-dimension48="Centaur Art: The Future of Art in the Age of Generative AI — $29.99 on Amazon" href="https://www.amazon.com/Centaur-Art-Future-Age-Generative-ebook/dp/B0D9YXY3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NPXN0PR0R7VD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NDCW1QAIGuexr8xrFsKmuQ.t8K3ErmGws3hdCpQ3HkISZHa2GGVBBeZCte1v3LCGEQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Centaur+Art%3A+The+Future+of+Art+in+the+Age+of+Generative+AI&qid=1732277901&sprefix=%2Caps%2C372&sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><figure class="van-image-figure " ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:827px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:150.67%;"><img id="KVDK466CUzG2BbYLoVWqc7" name="Centuar Art Springer" caption="" alt="" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KVDK466CUzG2BbYLoVWqc7.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="827" height="1246" attribution="" endorsement="" credit="" class=""></p></div></div></figure></a><p><strong>Centaur Art: The Future of Art in the Age of Generative AI — </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Centaur-Art-Future-Age-Generative-ebook/dp/B0D9YXY3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NPXN0PR0R7VD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NDCW1QAIGuexr8xrFsKmuQ.t8K3ErmGws3hdCpQ3HkISZHa2GGVBBeZCte1v3LCGEQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Centaur+Art%3A+The+Future+of+Art+in+the+Age+of+Generative+AI&qid=1732277901&sprefix=%2Caps%2C372&sr=8-1" data-dimension112="799cf051-f75f-4987-ad5f-1c5228d31e48" data-action="Deal Block" data-label="Centaur Art: The Future of Art in the Age of Generative AI — $29.99 on Amazon" data-dimension48="Centaur Art: The Future of Art in the Age of Generative AI — $29.99 on Amazon" data-dimension25=""><u><strong>$29.99 on Amazon</strong></u></a></p><p>Generative AI is transforming the landscape of numerous industries, and the creative fields are no exception. As the figurative arts become a focal point in the ongoing debate, this book explores hybrid and centauric intelligence — an integration of human and artificial intelligence. </p></div> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/it-might-pave-the-way-for-novel-forms-of-artistic-expression-generative-ai-isnt-a-threat-to-artists-its-an-opportunity-to-redefine-art-itself</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Rather than fearing the rise of generative AI, new technologies may allow creatives to define and express themselves in completely new ways. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">aMzDKt6juG4t6BxdKZujpE</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Yo9rb4uKcL6CckxGbLyuCS.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Nov 2024 12:00:20 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Artificial Intelligence]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Yo9rb4uKcL6CckxGbLyuCS.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Eugene Mymrin via Getty Images]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[a psychedelic illustration of a brain]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[a psychedelic illustration of a brain]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Aurora activity is just getting started. Here's why the best northern lights are yet to come. ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>There's no doubt we've been treated to some remarkable aurora shows this year (the May superstorms and the recent strong activity in October spring to mind) but what if I told you this was only the beginning of some incredible northern lights activity?</p><p>In October 2024, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/nasa-noaa-sun-reaches-maximum-phase-in-11-year-solar-cycle" target="_blank"><u>scientists announced</u></a> that the sun has reached <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/tag/solar-maximum"><u>solar maximum</u></a>, a period of heightened solar activity and sunspot frequency that occurs during <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/the-sun"><u>the sun</u></a>'s approximately 11-year solar cycle. During the solar maximum period, the sun emits more energized particles as it erupts with coronal mass ejections (<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/what-are-coronal-mass-ejections"><u>CMEs</u></a>) and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/solar-flares"><u>solar flares</u></a>, which can trigger geomagnetic storms and intensify aurora displays. Now that solar maximum is underway, it's understandable that many declare THIS is the year for the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/northern-lights"><u>northern lights</u></a>. However, scientists believe the best aurora activity in this <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/the-sun/scientists-finally-confirm-that-solar-maximum-is-well-underway-and-the-worst-could-still-be-to-come"><u>solar cycle</u></a> is still to come.</p><p>Space.com spoke to solar physicist and northern lights expert Pål Brekke and solar and astrophysical researcher Scott McIntosh to learn more about when you can expect the highest auroral activity this solar cycle and how to make the very most of your aurora-hunting efforts. Spoiler alert: you may have more time than expected to plan your next trip to see the northern lights.</p> <div class='jwplayer__widthsetter'><div class='jwplayer__wrapper'><div id='futr_botr_VrvhZKHz_bQHItauA_div' class='future__jwplayer'><div id='botr_VrvhZKHz_bQHItauA_div'></div></div></div></div> <p>It's good news for aurora chasers as peak auroral activity occurs a few years <em>after </em>solar maximum, according to Brekke. This means the best time to see the northern lights and the southern lights will be during the 2026-2027 aurora season.</p><p>But why?</p><p>The northern lights (aurora borealis) and the southern lights (aurora australis) are created when energized particles from the sun hit <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/64825-why-earth-has-an-atmosphere.html"><u>Earth's atmosphere</u></a> and are funneled toward the poles by our planet's magnetic field. As the particles are redirected toward the poles, they interact with our atmosphere, by depositing energy, causing the atmosphere to fluoresce, or emit visible light. We have come to recognize this fluorescence as the northern and southern lights.</p><p>"As mentioned, the aurora activity varies with the solar cycle. However, the peak in the aurora activity (if you plot the Ap or Kp-index) comes a few years after solar maximum. Thus, we should have several years still with very high aurora activity." Brekke explains.</p><p>For anyone familiar with aurora forecasting apps and software, the Kp-index is something you've likely come across.</p><p>"It is the global geomagnetic activity index based on 3-hour measurements from ground-based magnetometers around the world," Brekke explains. Likewise, the Ap-index is a similar geomagnetic index driven by the sun's magnetism and solar wind. Together, Kp and Ap are good proxies for aurora activity.</p><p>If you plot solar activity, indicated by the number of sunspots on the surface, and the Kp-index, there is a clear variation of aurora activity with the approximately 11-year solar cycle. But note that the peak in aurora activity actually occurs a few years after solar maximum. You can <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://kp.gfz-potsdam.de/en/figures/sunspot-numbers-and-kp" target="_blank"><u>view an interactive graph of this activity here</u> </a>courtesy of GRZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.</p><p>"This means that 2026-2027 should be great for hunting the northern and southern lights" Brekke told Space.com.</p><p>But why this so-called "aurora lag"? Brekke explains one reason is that Earth-directed coronal holes are more frequent in the decaying phase and the solar minimum period.</p><p>Coronal holes are dark regions in the sun's corona when viewed in extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray solar images. Like sunspots, they appear darker because they are cooler than the surrounding plasma. Coronal holes are areas of open, unipolar magnetic fields (where the magnetic field predominantly has one polarity, either north or south) that allow solar wind to escape more easily into space, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-holes" target="_blank"><u>Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA SWPC)</u></a>.</p> <figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1200px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="tK422enziNKt7WgdxbLqgP" name="coronalholes-nasa" alt="Several solar coronal holes are visible in an entertaining configuration in this SDO imagery taken from the AIA camera with the 193 Angstrom filter." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tK422enziNKt7WgdxbLqgP.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1200" height="675" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Several coronal holes are visible in this "smiley" image captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory using the AIA camera with a 193 Angstrom filter. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio)</span></figcaption></figure> <p>When directed at <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth"><u>Earth</u></a>, the stream of solar wind flowing from a coronal hole can impact Earth's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/tag/earths-magnetic-field"><u>magnetosphere</u></a>, triggering geomagnetic storm conditions and resulting in impressive aurora displays. Larger and more persistent coronal holes can sometimes remain for several solar rotations — 27-day periods, according to NOAA SWPC.</p><p>Coronal holes are the main driver of aurora activity during periods of low solar activity. Even at solar minimum, there is a lot of aurora activity. "It never drops close to zero as the sunspot activity almost does. So even during solar minimum, you can experience great auroras at high latitudes," Brekke continues.</p><p>Another factor affecting the apparent peak in auroral activity after solar maximum is that the space weather environment after the solar maximum period and before solar minimum gets a little bit "complicated".</p> <p>To understand why we need to first break up the solar cycle into two parts, McIntosh describes them as the "light side," activity driven by active regions such as solar flares and CMEs; and the "dark side," activity driven by coronal holes.</p><p>Both of these phases contribute to geomagnetic activity. During solar maximum, we see an increase in the "light side" of activity, through increased frequency and strength of solar flares and accompanying CMEs.</p><p>After solar maximum, during the declining phase of the solar cycle, the "light side" and "dark side" of solar activity overlap in time. This makes the space weather environment rather messy.</p><p>McIntosh's research has discovered that the sun's 22-year magnetic cycle known as the Hale Cycle is crucial to understanding why we have this overlap between the "light" and "dark" solar activity.</p><p>"This is the battle between the present Hale Cycle and the next one — the one that will produce sunspot cycle 26 in 8 years," McIntosh told Space.com.</p><p>"The next magnetic Hale Cycle is a source of coronal holes as are the decay of solar active regions on the present one — so in short the number of coronal holes increases for a few years post maximum and this makes for a very complex space environment." McIntosh continued.</p><p>This complexity drives Earth's magnetosphere wild, resulting in increased geomagnetic activity, according to McIntosh.</p><p>"In my view, it is the overlapping of the Sun's magnetic hale cycles that is the primary cause of the increase in Kp post maximum," McIntosh told Space.com</p><p>"With this solar cycle I guess we will be working to establish that as fact and not just a hypothesis," McIntosh continued.</p><p>The turbulent space weather environment during the post-solar maximum period will be a headache for space weather forecasters and technology in low earth orbit. But it's good news for aurora chasers and those wanting to catch a glimpse of the northern lights during this solar cycle.</p> <h2 id="top-tips-for-seeing-the-northern-lights-2">Top tips for seeing the northern lights </h2> <figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="Ej3qkqNmSBBbpSTJjQtHzP" name="aurora-GettyImages-1446646686" alt="A cityscape illuminated by warm yellow lights sits below a stunning display of green northern lights sweeping across the night sky. Snow-covered mountains and a calm body of water add to the serene, wintery atmosphere." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ej3qkqNmSBBbpSTJjQtHzP.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Tromsø, Norway, is well placed under the auroral oval for some seriously good northern lights displays. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Juan Maria Coy Vergara via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure> <p>We have had some incredible aurora displays deep into mid-latitudes during this solar cycle but to give yourself the very best chance of seeing stunning northern lights, you'll need to travel to high latitudes.</p><p>"The northern lights can be observed most frequently within a region around the Earth's magnetic pole, called the auroral zone. This is a band where you have the biggest chance of seeing the northern lights each clear night," Brekke told Space.com.</p><p>The auroral zone, or auroral oval, spans northern Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and southern Greenland as well as Northern Canada, Alaska and northern Russia.</p><p>Brekke recommends avoiding city lights as best you can and finding a dark place away from the city on a summit or open country with a clear view of the northern horizon.</p><p>Also, it's worth noting that amazing aurora displays are not just reserved for those of us watching from the ground. Lucky passengers on intercontinental flights also have a great opportunity to see the northern lights.</p><p>"Normally all long westbound flights are flying at night time and they are often flying far north along the great circle. A flight from the USA to Europe or China will bring you up close to the Arctic and you will most often see a great view of the northern lights." Brekke told Space.com.</p><p>Next time you book an intercontinental flight with a route along the great circle Brekke recommends booking a window seat on the side of the plane with a view of northern skies.</p><p><em>Originally posted on </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/" target="_blank"><u><em>Space.com</em></u></a><em>.</em></p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/space/the-sun/aurora-activity-is-just-getting-started-heres-why-the-best-northern-lights-are-yet-to-come</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Discover why the best aurora displays occur after solar maximum, and why 2026-2027 could be the year of the northern lights. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">Gc2aS5F5eon7gyZfVn6c5M</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oPqHzp4RXAQVsBWwGU6gGi.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[The Sun]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Space]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oPqHzp4RXAQVsBWwGU6gGi.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Juan Maria Coy Vergara via Getty Images]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[A person stands on a dark beach under a vibrant display of green and blue northern lights, which streak across the sky in a dynamic, swirling pattern. A large, rugged rock formation rises nearby, adding to the dramatic scene.]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A person stands on a dark beach under a vibrant display of green and blue northern lights, which streak across the sky in a dynamic, swirling pattern. A large, rugged rock formation rises nearby, adding to the dramatic scene.]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Where would a compass point in outer space? ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>On Earth, a compass can be a vital tool. Compasses have provided a constant point of reference for humans for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/compass-navigational-instrument" target="_blank"><u>over 800 years</u></a>, enabling us to successfully navigate to the far reaches of the planet.</p><p>But our species has started to journey farther, into the cold abyss of space. Is the compass still useful outside the bounds of our planet: And if so, where would it point?</p><p>"A compass in space is going to measure different things [depending on] where exactly in space you are," <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/jared.r.espley" target="_blank"><u>Jared Espley</u></a>, a planetary scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, told Live Science. A compass would still technically work in space, but it wouldn't necessarily point you back to Earth. Instead, it would point to the north pole of whatever magnetic field is the strongest, relative to where in space the compass is located.</p> <div class='jwplayer__widthsetter'><div class='jwplayer__wrapper'><div id='futr_botr_RqyA5I1y_n8PLZiU4_div' class='future__jwplayer'><div id='botr_RqyA5I1y_n8PLZiU4_div'></div></div></div></div> <p>A compass on Earth responds to our planet's magnetic field. The compass itself is a magnet, and its north pole <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/32732-how-does-a-compass-work.html"><u>naturally aligns</u></a> with the south pole of our planet's own magnetic field. The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/why-does-earth-have-magnetic-poles"><u>magnetic field</u></a> is generated by electric currents flowing through the molten, metallic core of our planet, which spin into an engine called a geodynamo. Earth is the only rocky planet in the solar system with such a strong magnetic field.</p><p><strong>Related: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/earth-magnetic-field.html"><u><strong>What if Earth's magnetic field disappeared?</strong></u></a></p><p>This magnetic field bubbles out from the planet about 23,000 miles (37,000 kilometers) on the side that faces the sun and trails at least 230,000 miles (370,000 km) behind the planet, according to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/heliophysics/focus-areas/magnetosphere-ionosphere/" target="_blank"><u>NASA</u></a>. This region around a planet dominated by the planet's magnetic field is known as the magnetosphere.</p><p>An astronaut who wanted to use a compass to get back to Earth would likely need to be within this magnetosphere for the compass to register the planet's magnetic field. However, the magnetic field isn't a particularly hard boundary. "Even beyond the classical magnetosphere, where you would say it's the Earth's field that is dominant or noticeable, you can still detect things really far away," Espley said.</p><p>Evidence from lunar rocks suggest that the moon <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/16969-moon-rocks-magnetic-field-lunar-dynamo.html"><u>once had a magnetic field</u></a>, but the natural satellite's inner core has since slowed and cooled, causing it to lose its geodynamo. And, like the moon, other celestial bodies in our solar system now lack a strong magnetic field. For example, around <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/mars/boost-for-mars-life-red-planets-magnetic-field-may-have-lasted-longer-than-thought"><u>3.9 billion years ago</u></a>, Mars' geodynamo mysteriously slowed down, dramatically weakening its magnetic field, which eventually resulted in the loss of its atmosphere.</p><p>But even without these celestial bodies' planetary magnetic fields intact, an astronaut standing on the moon or Mars would still pick up some magnetic signals. This is the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/astronomy-and-space-sciences/articles/10.3389/fspas.2022.895362/full" target="_blank"><u>crustal magnetic field</u></a>, Espley said — rocks on the outer crust that still hold evidence of the planet's old geodynamo.</p><p>Of all the planets in the solar system, a compass is most likely to point toward Jupiter. This is because Jupiter's magnetosphere is massive. According to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.missionjuno.swri.edu/jupiter/magnetosphere?show=hs_jupiter_magnetosphere_story_how-big-is-the-magnetosphere#:~:text=As%20the%20largest%20structure%20in,(12%20million%20miles)%20wide." target="_blank"><u>NASA</u></a>, Jupiter's magnetosphere is the largest structure in the solar system, at 12 million miles (21 million km) wide. This giant magnetosphere is generated by the planet's metallic hydrogen core and is currently being studied by the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/65951-jupiter-currents-magnetosphere-tesla.html"><u>Juno spacecraft</u></a> to better understand how magnetic fields are created.</p><p>But what if an astronaut isn't within a planet's magnetosphere? Most of space is seemingly empty. But within our solar system, one magnetosphere dwarfs all others: that of the sun.</p><p>"If you're in this stereotypical deep space vacuum in between the planets, [a compass] is mostly going to measure what magnetic field is coming from the solar wind," Espley said.</p> <figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:78.13%;"><img id="SduDTKNvGdtx42XxBYHA4Y" name="earth mahnetosphere_nasa" alt="Illustration of the sun and the earth, with the earth's magnetosphere protecting it." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SduDTKNvGdtx42XxBYHA4Y.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1500" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The sun's magnetic field can be measured on a compass past the farthest planets in our solar system. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA)</span></figcaption></figure> <p>The sun's magnetosphere, known as the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/heliophysics/focus-areas/heliosphere/" target="_blank"><u>heliosphere</u></a>, spirals out from the star and extends three times farther out than Pluto. This is because the sun's solar wind carries its own faint magnetic field as it blasts out into the solar system, according to the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://nationalmaglab.org/magnet-academy/history-of-electricity-magnetism/places/magnetic-field-of-sun/" target="_blank"><u>National Magnetic Field Laboratory</u></a>.</p><p>The magnetic field directly on the sun is also rather messy, which can be seen in images of the sun's coronal loops. These arches of plasma follow the sun's magnetic field lines, which grow larger and more complex as the sun reaches its <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/tag/solar-maximum"><u>solar maximum</u></a>, the peak period in its activity. It's so complex that the true north and south of the star begin to get a little bit blurry, and eventually swap places, according to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/sun-magnetic-field-flip-solar-maximum-2024" target="_blank"><u>Space.com</u></a>.</p> <div class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED MYSTERIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/is-there-an-up-and-a-down-in-space">Is there an 'up' and a 'down' in space?</a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/the-sun/scientists-finally-confirm-that-solar-maximum-is-well-underway-and-the-worst-could-still-be-to-come"></a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/what-does-space-smell-like">What does space smell like?</a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/geology/listen-to-haunting-sounds-of-earths-magnetic-field-flipping-41-000-years-ago-in-eerie-new-animation"></a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/planets/have-all-8-planets-ever-aligned">Have all 8 planets ever aligned?</a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/the-sun/scientists-discover-the-possible-origin-of-the-suns-magnetic-field-and-its-not-where-they-thought-it-was"></a></p></div></div> <p>Ultimately, a traditional compass that relies on an "up" and "down" to calibrate it would be rather pointless in space as a navigational tool. There are a few commercially available "3D" compasses that could theoretically point you toward magnetic north in space. However, they still wouldn't necessarily point you back to Earth — only to whichever magnetic field is closest.</p><p>However, highly powerful compasses called magnetometers are useful in space, just not for navigation. NASA uses these instruments to understand more about plasma interactions in space and to pick up ancient signs of geodynamos that died billions of years ago. "Measuring the magnetic field is super useful for understanding what is going on inside of a planet," Espley said.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/space/where-would-a-compass-point-in-outer-space</link> <description> <![CDATA[ On Earth, the magnetic field of our planet points a compass north, but in space, things are a bit more complicated. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">tXaUHUa86xSufpw3eoKpfY</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TaBZWZ5NC9qkAbJkjtwzaj.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Space]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TaBZWZ5NC9qkAbJkjtwzaj.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Panther Media via Alamy Stock Photo]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[an illustration of a compass in outer space]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[an illustration of a compass in outer space]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Wolves in Ethiopia spotted licking 'red hot poker' flowers like lollipops ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>One species of wolf has a bit of a sweet tooth.</p><p>Striking new photos show Ethiopian wolves (<em>Canis simensis</em>) feeding on the nectar of Ethiopian red hot poker flowers (<em>Kniphofia foliosa</em>).</p><p>The otherwise strict carnivores are the first large carnivorous species observed to consume nectar. They may also be the first large carnivores to act as pollinators, researchers said, though more research is needed to confirm their role.</p> <div class='jwplayer__widthsetter'><div class='jwplayer__wrapper'><div id='futr_botr_pwZObUXR_n8PLZiU4_div' class='future__jwplayer'><div id='botr_pwZObUXR_n8PLZiU4_div'></div></div></div></div> <p>"These findings highlight just how much we still have to learn about one of the world's most-threatened carnivores," study co-author<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.wildcru.org/members/sandra-lai/" target="_blank"> <u>Sandra Lai</u></a>, an ecologist at the University of Oxford, said in a<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1065557" target="_blank"> <u>statement</u></a>.</p><p>The Ethiopian red hot poker's red and yellow flowers produce a sweet nectar that attracts a host of pollinators, including insects and birds. During past field studies, researchers had occasionally spotted the wolves licking the flowers too, so they set out to study the behavior more closely.</p><p>In the new study, published Nov. 19 in the journal<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecy.4470" target="_blank"> <u>Ecology</u>,</a> the researchers followed six Ethiopian wolves from three different packs over four days. While most of the wolves visited only a handful of flowers, one visited 20 and another visited 30 in a single snacking foray.</p><p>When the wolves visited a red hot poker plant, they usually licked the mature lowermost flowers, which contained the most nectar. In doing so, their muzzles became coated with pollen. This could mean the wolves can spread that pollen to other flowers, the researchers wrote in the study.</p> <figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:451px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:155.21%;"><img id="nKMhKUvL6tjPGnmTqF8ofM" name="ethiopianwolfflower2-AdrienLesaffre" alt="A close-up of a wolf licking a red and yellow flower" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nKMhKUvL6tjPGnmTqF8ofM.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="451" height="700" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A wolf licks a red hot poker flower in Ethiopia. This is the first known large carnivore to consume nectar. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Adrien Lesaffre)</span></figcaption></figure> <p>However, it's not yet clear whether the wolves are effective pollinators. Nectar isn't a significant part of their diet, so more research is needed to determine how often the wolves visit the flowers. And there isn't evidence yet that a wolf could transfer enough pollen to another flower to pollinate it effectively.</p><p>Because the flowers attract many species, it's also not clear how important any potential pollination from the wolves is to the flowers' survival. Whether or not they act as pollinators, many other animals have been observed consuming red hot poker nectar as a sweet treat — including humans.</p> <div class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/animals/extinct-species/stunning-photos-show-44000-year-old-mummified-wolf-discovered-in-siberian-permafrost">Stunning photos show 44,000-year-old mummified wolf discovered in Siberian permafrost</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/health/food-diet/weve-always-been-omnivores-why-meatfluencers-are-wrong-about-what-our-ancestors-ate">'We've always been omnivores': Why 'meatfluencers' are wrong about what our ancestors ate</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/43131-woolly-mammoths-ate-flowers.html">Woolly Mammoths and Rhinos Ate Flowers</a></p></div></div> <p>"I first became aware of the nectar of the Ethiopian red hot poker when I saw children of shepherds in the Bale Mountains licking the flowers," study co-author<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.wildcru.org/members/prof-claudio-sillero/" target="_blank"> <u>Claudio Sillero</u></a>, a conservation biologist at the University of Oxford, said in the statement. "In no time, I had a taste of it myself — the nectar was pleasantly sweet. When I later saw the wolves doing the same, I knew they were enjoying themselves, tapping into this unusual source of energy."</p><p>Future research will involve determining the role of nectar in the wolves' diet and working out whether the wolves really do act as pollinators, the researchers wrote in the study.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/animals/wolves-in-ethiopia-spotted-licking-red-hot-poker-flowers-like-lollipops</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Wolves in Ethiopia that lick the flowers of the "red hot poker" flowers are the first known large carnivores to eat nectar. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">Af3SBpaoNbLaEHYMddpvf4</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ocNsmZpK8NZtbMG6xAsnkM.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2024 19:12:59 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Animals]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ocNsmZpK8NZtbMG6xAsnkM.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[Adrien Lesaffre]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[A wolf licks a red and yellow flower]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A wolf licks a red and yellow flower]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ NASA warns of potential 'catastrophic failure' on leaking ISS — but Russia doesn't want to fix it ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>The International Space Station (ISS) is leaking — and major space agencies are divided over what to do about it.</p><p>The leak is located in a Russian segment of the station known as a PrK module, which connects Russia's Zvezda service module to the space station's main body. NASA and Russian space agency Roscosmos have <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/iss-leaks-among-50-areas-of-concern-for-astronaut-safety-report"><u>known about the leak since at least 2019</u></a>, but its underlying cause remains a mystery. Since its discovery, cosmonauts have taken various steps to minimize its impact, including sealing off the segment when it is not in use. But Roscosmos and NASA now disagree about the leak's severity.</p><p>According to a<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://oig.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ig-24-020.pdf" target="_blank"> <u>recent NASA report</u></a>, the leak has intensified to the point where it poses a risk to the ISS's goal of operating until 2030. What's more, some NASA officials believe it could lead to "a catastrophic failure" of the station, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/people/former-nasa-associate-administrator-robert-d-cabana/" target="_blank"><u>Bob Cabana</u></a>, the chair of the agency's ISS Advisory Committee, said during a public meeting.</p> <div class='jwplayer__widthsetter'><div class='jwplayer__wrapper'><div id='futr_botr_e09R8ZVv_n8PLZiU4_div' class='future__jwplayer'><div id='botr_e09R8ZVv_n8PLZiU4_div'></div></div></div></div> <p>However, Russian space officials have downplayed the severity of the leak, insisting that it will not jeopardize future ISS operations, according to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/15/science/international-space-station-leak-nasa-russia/index.html" target="_blank"><u>CNN</u></a>.</p><p>The ISS has been continuously occupied since November 2000. Most of its infrastructure is a quarter-century old, and it is possible that years of mechanical stress have caused tiny fissures to form in the walls of certain sections. Additional stress from <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space-station-hit-by-orbital-debris.html"><u>colliding with small pieces of debris</u></a> and micrometeors could also have contributed to the perforation.</p><p><strong>Related: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/nasa-awards-spacex-dollar843-million-contract-to-destroy-the-international-space-station"><u><strong>NASA offers SpaceX $843 million to destroy the International Space Station</strong></u></a></p><p>NASA and Roscosmos have agreed to seal off the leaky segment if the rate of air loss becomes "untenable." But they have not yet reached a consensus on what, exactly, qualifies as an untenable rate. Currently, air is escaping at a rate of around 2 to 2.5 pounds (0.9 to 1.1 kilograms) per day above the space station's equilibrium, according to NASA. In April, it briefly spiked to 3.7 pounds per day (1.7 kg); if left unchecked, it could spike again.</p> <div class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/boeing-made-satellite-shatters-in-orbit-and-nobody-knows-why">Boeing-made satellite shatters in orbit, and nobody knows why</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/iss-leaks-among-50-areas-of-concern-for-astronaut-safety-report">ISS leaks among 50 'areas of concern' for astronaut safety: report</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/voyager-1-loses-contact-with-nasa-turns-on-retro-transmitter-not-used-since-1981">Voyager 1 loses contact with NASA, turns on retro transmitter not used since 1981</a></p></div></div> <p>The agencies are reportedly working closely with one another to monitor the situation as it unfolds. And NASA plans to add an extra seat — called a "pallet seat" — aboard future SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in case any astronauts need to evacuate.</p><p>"The station is not young," NASA astronaut <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/people/michael-reed-barratt/" target="_blank"><u>Michael Barratt</u></a> said during<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/15/science/international-space-station-leak-nasa-russia/index.html" target="_blank"> <u>a news briefing</u></a>. "We will expect to see more wear and tear in various other places."</p><p>The space station is expected to operate through to 2030, after which it will be <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/nasa-awards-spacex-dollar843-million-contract-to-destroy-the-international-space-station"><u>deorbited into Earth's atmosphere</u></a> for a fiery farewell. NASA currently has no plans to build a replacement for the ISS and instead will focus on crewed missions to the moon and Mars, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/faqs-the-international-space-station-transition-plan/#q1" target="_blank"><u>according to the agency</u></a>.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/nasa-warns-of-potential-catastrophic-failure-on-leaking-iss-but-russia-doesnt-want-to-fix-it</link> <description> <![CDATA[ A five-year leak on a Russian module of the International Space Station has gotten worse over time. Now, NASA and Russia's Roscosmos space agency disagree just how bad it is. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">dtbzoseMaCb4ofLu6QJRok</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eY7E2AfqACFRymrBrPypQA.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:41:46 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Space]]></category> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eY7E2AfqACFRymrBrPypQA.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[A photo in space of the ISS with Earth visible in the background]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A photo in space of the ISS with Earth visible in the background]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Astronomers spot 1 of the most powerful 'sonic booms' in the universe as massive galaxy crashes into its neighbors ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Astronomers have spotted one of the most powerful shock waves ever seen, caused by a galaxy slamming into four of its neighbors while traveling at 2 million mph (3.2 million km/h).</p><p>The cosmos-rattling event occurred in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/james-webb-space-telescope-debut-images"><u>Stephan's Quintet</u></a>, when one of the system's five galaxies, called NGC 7318b, smashed into the other four.</p><p>NGC 7318b's entry into the system created an immensely powerful shock front akin to a "sonic boom from a jet fighter," the researchers said. They hope that by studying it they can understand more about the violent and chaotic interactions between galaxies. They published their findings Nov. 22 in the journal <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/mnras/stae2235" target="_blank"><u>Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</u></a>.</p> <div class='jwplayer__widthsetter'><div class='jwplayer__wrapper'><div id='futr_botr_5wWmZOEY_pBYGc5Ws_div' class='future__jwplayer'><div id='botr_5wWmZOEY_pBYGc5Ws_div'></div></div></div></div> <p>"It's basically a huge intergalactic field of debris," <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.herts.ac.uk/research/centres/car/staff-and-students" target="_blank"><u>Marina Arnaudova</u></a>, an astrophysicist at the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K., told Live Science. "The new intruder NGC7318b has smashed into the debris field, and compressed the plasma and gas in it. In doing so it has re-energised the plasma causing it to glow brightly at radio frequencies, and likely triggered star formation in the process."</p><p>Named after French astronomer Édouard Stephan, who discovered it in the 19th century, Stephan's Quintet is a group of five galaxies that are "locked in a cosmic dance of repeated close encounters," according to NASA.</p><p><strong>Related: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/james-webb-space-telescope-discovers-mysterious-red-monster-galaxies-so-large-they-shouldnt-exist"><u><strong>James Webb Space Telescope discovers mysterious 'red monster' galaxies so large they shouldn't exist</strong></u></a></p><p>The quintet sits around 290 million light-years from Earth and was the first compact galaxy group ever spotted. It has been imaged by numerous telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope and the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/james-webb-space-telescope"><u>James Webb Space Telescope</u></a>.</p><p>To investigate the quintet's behavior and cosmic history, the researchers behind the new study used the William Herschel Telescope Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE), a spectrograph mounted to the William Herschel Telescope on the island of La Palma.</p><p>By breaking light from the system down into its constituent parts, the WEAVE spectrograph tracked the debris remnants, the births of new stars and the trails of ionized gas left behind by the force of the collision. All of these elements were stirred up by the shock front, which rippled out at hypersonic speeds following NGC 7318b's entry into the system.</p> <div class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/cosmology/13-billion-year-old-streams-of-stars-discovered-near-milky-ways-center-may-be-earliest-building-blocks-of-our-galaxy">13 billion-year-old 'streams of stars' discovered near Milky Way's center may be earliest building blocks of our galaxy</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/cosmology/study-of-twin-stars-finds-1-in-12-have-killed-and-eaten-a-planet">Study of 'twin' stars finds 1 in 12 have killed and eaten a planet</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/space/cosmology/newly-discovered-fountain-of-youth-phenomenon-may-help-stars-delay-death-by-billions-of-years">Newly discovered 'fountain of youth' phenomenon may help stars delay death by billions of years</a></p></div></div> <p>Astronomers studying Stephan's Quintet could gain valuable insights into how collisions and mergers stretching back to the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/65700-big-bang-theory.html"><u>Big Bang</u></a> shaped the galaxies we see today, and what the system may look like in the future, the researchers said.</p><p>"This type of galaxy collision in Stephan's Quintet is a rare chance to see a complex set of galaxies caught in the act of colliding," Arnaudova said. "As to how it will end up, well it's likely that it will eventually merge with one of the group members, but not for millions or billions of years because the sizes and speeds of these things are so vast."</p><p>The observations are the first to be made by WEAVE, but far from the last. The researchers say the spectrograph will also be used to study the reionization of the universe in the aftermath of the Big Bang; cast new light on how stars form and accrete over time; and perform a number of "galactic archaeology" experiments to find how our own <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/tag/milky-way"><u>Milky Way</u></a> grew over cosmic time.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomers-spot-1-of-the-most-powerful-sonic-booms-in-the-universe-as-massive-galaxy-crashes-into-its-neighbors</link> <description> <![CDATA[ A shockwave caused by the galaxy NGC 7318b slamming into four other galaxies is akin to a "sonic boom from a jet fighter." Astronomers hope the event will reveal vital secrets about the often-violent evolution of our universe. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">yzJrwcEu6qoD8CooHLSuaS</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iKmHBfP3nAQ84mRHqACX3F.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:21:43 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Space]]></category> <author><![CDATA[ ben.turner@futurenet.com (Ben Turner) ]]></author> <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iKmHBfP3nAQ84mRHqACX3F.jpg"> <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[A galaxy grouping called Stephan’s Quintet, which contains an imposter galaxy that is actually much closer to Earth than the others.]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A galaxy grouping called Stephan’s Quintet, which contains an imposter galaxy that is actually much closer to Earth than the others.]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[ Aztec 'death whistles,' used to prepare sacrifice victims to descend to the underworld, scramble your brain, scans reveal ]]></title> <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Ritual <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/aztec-empire-mexico"><u>Aztec</u></a> whistles produced a brain-scrambling "scream," according to a new study. The objects were used during human sacrifices and may have prepared victims for their supposed descent to Mictlan, the Aztec underworld.</p><p>The Aztecs created the small 1.2 to 2-inch-long (3 to 5 centimeters) skull-shaped whistles out of clay, possibly to represent Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec lord of the underworld.</p><p>The skull whistles "trigger a medium level of urgency responses in listeners," and many listeners said the sound was akin to a "scream," study lead author <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.psychology.uzh.ch/en/areas/ehem-einheiten/kaneuro/team/sfr%C3%BChholz.html" target="_blank"><u>Sascha Frühholz</u></a>, a neuroscientist at the University of Zurich, said in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.news.uzh.ch/en/articles/media/2024/Totenkopfpfeife.html" target="_blank"><u>statement</u></a>.</p> <div class='jwplayer__widthsetter'><div class='jwplayer__wrapper'><div id='futr_botr_UipnZajy_tfejT8dc_div' class='future__jwplayer'><div id='botr_UipnZajy_tfejT8dc_div'></div></div></div></div> <p>Archaeologists have recovered the whistles from the graves of people they assumed were sacrificial victims. "The whistles have a very unique construction, and we don't know of any comparable musical instrument from other pre-Columbian cultures," Frühholz said.</p><p>In the study, published Nov. 11 in the journal <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44271-024-00157-7" target="_blank"><u>Communications Psychology</u></a>, Frühholz and colleagues recruited 70 people to listen to more than 2,500 sound samples made by skull whistles.</p><p>Three of the whistles they used were modern reproductions, and the two others were whistles found at the Aztec site of Tlatelolco, near the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán in what is now Mexico City.</p><p>The whistles all made "a shrill, piercing, and scream-like sound quality when played with intensive air pressure," the team wrote in the study.</p><p><strong>Related: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/aztec-house-discovered-mexico"><u><strong>Remains of Aztec dwelling and floating gardens unearthed in Mexico City</strong></u></a></p> <div class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/centuries-old-aztec-texts-detail-history-of-their-capital-conquests-and-fall-to-the-spanish">Centuries-old Aztec texts detail history of their capital, conquests and fall to the Spanish</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/1500-year-old-burial-with-stacked-bones-discovered-during-sewer-system-dig-in-mexico">1,500-year-old burial with stacked bones discovered during sewer system dig in Mexico</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/mass-child-sacrifices-in-15th-century-mexico-were-a-desperate-attempt-to-appease-rain-god-and-end-devastating-drought">Mass child sacrifices in 15th-century Mexico were a desperate attempt to appease rain god and end devastating drought</a></p></div></div> <p>The researchers also recorded the listeners' brains to identify which regions responded to the sounds.</p><p>The researchers discovered that the death whistle lit up brain regions associated with emotional responses and with identifying symbolic meaning. Aztec communities may therefore have used the scary sounds in specific ritual contexts, such as ceremonies involving death.</p><p>"Skull whistles might have been used to scare the human sacrifice or the ceremonial audience," the researchers wrote. However, there are limitations to the study that could benefit from further research, they noted.</p><p>"Unfortunately, we could not perform our psychological and neuroscientific experiments with humans from ancient Aztec cultures. But the basic mechanisms of affective response to scary sounds are common to humans from all historical contexts," Frühholz said.</p> ]]></dc:content> <link>https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/shrill-piercing-and-scream-like-aztec-death-whistles-create-a-sense-of-fear-and-terror-in-listeners-brain-scans-reveal</link> <description> <![CDATA[ Brain scans of modern listeners suggest that Aztec whistles sound like human screams, which may have prepared sacrifice victims for their journey to the underworld. ]]> </description> <guid isPermaLink="false">5DSCK9tAc8Y2LoNPMhTdXb</guid> <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kBCGPjhFsLT2KinHFuNJbe.png" type="image/png" length="0"></enclosure> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:18:15 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Archaeology]]></category> <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kBCGPjhFsLT2KinHFuNJbe.png"> <media:credit><![CDATA[University of Zurich, Claudia Orbroki]]></media:credit> <media:text><![CDATA[Clay pipe shaped like a skull against a black background]]></media:text> <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Clay pipe shaped like a skull against a black background]]></media:title> </media:content> </item> </channel> </rss>