☕️ A Nearby Supernova Could End the Search for Dark Matter.

Good morning. This week I’m working to edit a new YouTube video and fixing up QAL VPN. You probably arrived here from my YouTube channel as I’m yet to start marketing the Science Brew elsewhere so I figured it couldn’t hurt to let y’all know.

As for QAL. Well I’ve had to put out many fires in the time that QAL has existed but things are still afloat and we’re not dead yet!

I just want to thank everyone that’s supported my YouTube and/or my projects like QAL, AImyINTERIOR ect., however small your support, I appreciate it!! The project has certainly taken a back seat in recent months due to my PhD commitments and life but I now have more time to work on my projects yet again. Things on the horizon for QAL include finishing the never-ending development of an iOS and Android app version of QAL VPN as well as a new extension of QAL which will provide an entirely new service. I will tell you about that when I have a working prototype.

Keep your ear to the grindstone and watch out for the vid!

—Dylan J. Dance

SCIENCE

💥 A Nearby Supernova Could End the Search for Dark Matter. A nearby supernova might finally reveal the mysterious dark matter. Astrophysicists argue that axions produced during the explosion could transform into detectable gamma rays. "If we see a supernova like 1987A with modern telescopes, we could either detect or rule out the existence of QCD axions," said Benjamin Safdi, senior author of the study, noting the urgency to have the right instruments ready.

🔵 Alarming Links Uncovered: Blue Light From Screens May Trigger Early Puberty and Stunt Growth. Exposure to blue light from screens may accelerate bone growth and early puberty, particularly in rats, raising concerns about the impact on children's health. “This is the first study to show how blue light could potentially influence physical growth and development,” said Dr. Aylin Kılınç Uğurlu, urging further research into long-term effects on children.

🦴 First Complete Map of Human Skeleton Formation Could Transform Bone Disease Treatment. The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute has unveiled the first 'blueprint' of human skeletal development, providing insights into conditions like arthritis and craniosynostosis. “Having this ‘blueprint’ of bone formation can also help us develop effective ways to grow bone and cartilage cells in a dish,” said Dr. Ken To, co-first author of the study, emphasizing its therapeutic potential for congenital and age-related conditions.

🪐 Youngest Planet Discovery Shatters Planetary Formation Theories. A newly discovered planet is challenging existing theories of planetary formation due to its extremely young age. "We thought we understood how planets form, but this discovery is forcing us to rethink everything," said astronomer Jane Roberts, reflecting on how the young planet's characteristics defy expectations.

🌊 Mysterious White Smokers Discovered in the Dead Sea. Researchers have found strange chimneys on the floor of the Dead Sea, marking potential early warning sites for hazardous sinkholes. Dr. Christian Siebert explained, "These structures bear a striking similarity to black smokers in the deep sea, but they operate in a completely different system." This discovery could be instrumental in forecasting where dangerous sinkholes might appear.

TECH

📱 Chinese phone hackers ‘had access to every call in the US’. Chinese hackers have infiltrated US broadband networks, potentially accessing telephone conversations and text messages. “This is far and away the most serious telecom hack in our history,” stated Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Mark Warner, highlighting the national security threat posed by this ongoing data breach.

🤫 The Future of Silence Is Here: MIT’s Noise-Canceling Silk. MIT researchers have developed a noise-canceling silk fabric that can suppress sound in two distinct ways, either by canceling out sound waves through interference or blocking their transmission. “We wanted to create a material that could turn noisy environments into tranquil spaces,” explained Grace Yang, the lead author, envisioning applications in open workspaces and vehicles.

🗣️ AI Can Now Create a Replica of Your Personality. A new AI model can replicate a person's personality after a two-hour interview, according to researchers from Stanford and Google DeepMind. "Imagine having a virtual version of yourself making decisions for you," said Joon Sung Park, lead researcher, envisioning uses for social science studies and beyond. This development raises ethical concerns, especially around privacy and consent.

HEALTH

🧬 Scientists Discover Molecule That Heals Intestines and Combats Cancer Growth. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a molecule that promotes intestinal healing and suppresses tumor growth, offering a new avenue for treating IBD and colorectal cancer. “This breakthrough could pave the way for new therapies targeting inflammatory bowel disease and cancer,” said Srustidhar Das, a research specialist involved in the study.

🧠 Scientists Uncover Potential Key to Keeping Your Brain Healthy: Midlife Recycling. New research has revealed that mitophagy plays a crucial role in brain aging, particularly during midlife. "Mitophagy dynamics in the brain change with age, making midlife a key point for interventions," said Associate Professor Thomas McWilliams, highlighting how understanding these processes could aid in tackling neurodegenerative diseases.

🧼 Scientists Invent Giant Dishwashing Machine for Entire Human Bodies. A Japanese company is about to debut a human washing machine at the Osaka Kansai Expo. This machine cleanses users in a 15-minute cycle and provides therapeutic benefits like stress measurement and relaxation. “We’re about 70 percent there,” said Yasuaki Aoyama, Science Co.'s chairman, who plans to make the human washing machine available for home use.

SPACE

🕸️ NASA’s Curiosity Rover Uncovers Mars’ Mysterious Spiderweb Rocks and Hidden Crystals. NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered mysterious spiderweb-like rock formations and pure sulfur crystals on Mars, shedding light on the planet's past wet and dry climate transitions. "These findings raise questions about how late-stage water activity shaped Mars' surface," said project scientist Ashwin Vasavada, emphasizing the potential for revealing past conditions favorable for life.

🌌 The Cosmic Soup Theory: Could Alien Life Start the Same Way As Earth? Researchers have developed a model that simulates early Earth's atmosphere, exploring whether the evolution of life here might resemble possible pathways on Venus or Mars. “Ancient Earth was a much more hostile place, with UV radiation triggering the formation of organic building blocks,” said Shungo Koyama from Tohoku University, offering a new perspective on how life might emerge on other planets.

CLIMATE

🌊🔥 Scientists Baffled by 2024's Unprecedented Heat. The extreme heat from June to August 2024 has baffled scientists, marking a record-breaking surge in global temperatures. "This kind of intensity is both humbling and confounding," said Gavin Schmidt, NASA GISS Director. Researchers are struggling to understand the unexpected surge, which seems to indicate a shift in how the climate system operates.

WORLD

🖥️ Put Your Usernames and Passwords in Your Will, Japan Advises. Japan's government is encouraging its citizens to create a "digital end of life plan" to help loved ones manage online accounts after death. "Digital legacies can be incredibly difficult to resolve, which is why it's crucial to prepare," said a spokesperson from Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center, emphasizing the importance of this new approach.

🔌 Wire Cutters: How the World’s Vital Undersea Data Cables Are Being Targeted. Undersea cables carry 99% of the world’s international telecommunications and are becoming targets of sabotage during times of geopolitical tension. “The ramifications of sustained damage are quite significant,” said Dr. Sidharth Kaushal from the Royal United Services Institute, stressing the vulnerability of these crucial lines of communication amidst rising global tensions.

✝️ Church Sets Up AI-Powered Jesus Inside Confessional Booth. A church in Lucerne, Switzerland, has introduced a confessional booth featuring an "AI Jesus," allowing visitors to converse with the model about spiritual matters. "For me, the positive responses were surprising," said theologian Marco Schmid, reflecting on the experiment, which saw over 1,000 participants engage with AI Jesus over a two-month period.

🏺 Scientists Solve Mystery of Pompeii’s Famous “Mother and Child.” Genetic analysis of remains from the House of the Golden Bracelet has revealed surprising details about individuals buried in Pompeii, debunking long-held assumptions about their relationships. “The genetic results encourage reflection on the dangers of making up stories about gender and family relationships in past societies based on present-day expectations,” said co-senior author David Reich, underscoring the importance of avoiding modern biases in interpreting ancient history.

🔡 New Discovery Suggests the Alphabet May Not Have Originated in Egypt After All. A recent study challenges the belief that the first alphabet came from Egypt. Evidence suggests the alphabet's origins could lie elsewhere, shaking long-held historical assumptions. "This finding could completely change our understanding of early writing systems," commented Dr. Sarah Cole, a linguist on the research team.

Thanks for reading!