☕️ Plastic-Eating Insect Discovered in Kenya.

Good morning. It was Carl Sagan’s 90th Birthday over the weekend so here’s one of my favorite Sagan quotes:

—Dylan J. Dance

SCIENCE

🪲 Plastic-Eating Insect Discovered in Kenya. Researchers from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Kenya have discovered that the lesser mealworm larvae can break down polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam. This discovery may offer a new, natural method for managing plastic pollution, particularly in African regions suffering from critically high plastic waste levels.

❄️ Was 'Snowball Earth' a Global Event? New Study Delivers Best Proof Yet. A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder has provided strong evidence that massive glaciers once covered Earth all the way down to the equator during a period known as "Snowball Earth." This study presents the first physical proof of glaciers reaching continental interiors, suggesting the planet experienced a truly global freeze around 720 to 635 million years ago.

🌌 Mining Old Data From NASA's Voyager 2 Solves Several Uranus Mysteries. New research analyzing decades-old data from NASA's Voyager 2 flyby has helped scientists unravel mysteries about Uranus's magnetosphere. It turns out a solar wind event compressed the magnetosphere, affecting the radiation belts in a unique way. These findings provide new insights into the magnetic environment around Uranus and its five major moons, potentially indicating geological activity.

💡 Physicists Create Tiny Hurricanes of Light to Transport Huge Amounts of Data. Physicists at Aalto University have developed a new technique to create vortices of light, akin to tiny hurricanes. These vortices can carry significant amounts of data, potentially transforming the way we transmit information over fiber optic cables. The researchers believe this approach could lead to an increase of up to sixteen times the data capacity in telecommunications.

TECH

🚀 SpaceX alums find traction on Earth with Mars-inspired CO2-to-fuel tech. A group of former SpaceX employees has started a company that is developing technology to convert CO2 into fuel, inspired by the need for sustainable living on Mars. The venture aims to help address Earth’s carbon emissions by creating fuels that could be used in various applications, including transportation.

🐙 Scientists capture the intricacies of an octopus arm using new muscular system models. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed new models to better understand the intricate workings of an octopus arm. The study explores how each of the arm’s unique muscles contributes to its movement, which could aid the development of more advanced robotic systems.

HEALTH

🦠 Gut Microbiome Dynamics Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis Progression. Research led by the University of Leeds has identified specific changes in the gut microbiome that may predict rheumatoid arthritis (RA) onset. The study found significant microbiome shifts around ten months before clinical symptoms appeared in high-risk individuals, suggesting the possibility of using gut bacteria for early RA prediction and prevention strategies.

🧬 Multifunctional antibody shows promise for treating several types of cancer. Researchers at Uppsala University have developed a new form of precision medicine using an antibody that amplifies the effect of T cells on cancer tumors. This approach aims to provide a more flexible, faster, and safer treatment option compared to traditional cancer therapies.

SPACE

🚀 NASA still trying to determine why astronaut was hospitalized after return to Earth. NASA is investigating why one of its astronauts had to be hospitalized after returning to Earth in late October. Despite being diverted to a hospital in Florida along with two colleagues, NASA has not disclosed the exact cause, citing the unpredictability of how astronauts readjust after prolonged periods in space.

🌪️ Swirling polar vortices likely exist on the sun, new research finds. According to a study by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the sun likely hosts swirling polar vortices similar to those seen on Earth. These vortices, influenced by magnetic fields, provide insight into the dynamics of the sun's poles and could be crucial for understanding and predicting space weather.

CLIMATE

☁️ Microplastics found in clouds are potentially affecting weather. Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned about the effect of microplastics in clouds. These tiny plastic particles may alter weather patterns by affecting cloud formation, raising new questions about the broader environmental impact of plastic pollution.

WORLD

🇬🇧 Mystery surrounding UK's oldest space satellite Skynet-1A. The UK's oldest space satellite, Skynet-1A, has inexplicably moved thousands of miles from its original position. Launched in 1969, the satellite now drifts over the Americas instead of the Indian Ocean, and no one knows who moved it or why. Experts believe this raises concerns about space sustainability and the risk of collisions in orbit.

🦏 Woolly Rhino Discovered in Siberia in 2020 Has a Fatty Hump on Its Neck. A woolly rhino found in Siberian ice in 2020 has confirmed that these extinct animals had a fatty hump on their necks, as depicted in ancient cave drawings. The hump likely served as an energy source during cold periods, providing further insight into the survival strategies of these ancient creatures during the harsh ice age conditions.

Thanks for reading!