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Semi-aquatic lizards, such as the water anole (Anolis aquaticus), have a unique ability to stay submerged for extended periods by creating an air bubble around their snout. This behaviour, first observed in 2018, has now been confirmed in 18 other anole species. The air bubble helps the lizards breathe while underwater, enabling them to remain hidden from predators for longer durations. Researchers have recently discovered that this bubble is not just a side effect of their water-repellent skin but plays an essential role in their survival.

Air Bubbles Extend Dive Times

In a study led by Lindsey Swierk, assistant research professor in biological sciences at Binghamton University, 28 water anoles were observed to determine how long they could stay underwater with and without their air bubble. The results revealed that anoles with the air bubble could remain submerged 32% longer than those without. This extra time underwater helps them avoid predators in their natural habitats near riverbanks in Costa Rica and Panama.

How the Air Bubble Works

Water anoles produce the bubble by exhaling, which is then held in place by their hydrophobic skin. As they dive, the bubble expands and contracts, allowing the lizard to redistribute oxygen, enabling longer dives. The longest recorded dive for an unaltered anole during the study lasted over five minutes. However, anoles whose skin was treated to prevent the formation of the bubble had shorter dive times.

Future Research on Bubble Breathing

Swierk suggests that if the study had been conducted in the wild, the difference in dive times might have been more pronounced, as the pressure from real predators could push the lizards to stay submerged even longer. The research team now aims to explore whether the bubbles serve as a “physical gill,” similar to how diving beetles use trapped air to replenish their oxygen supply.

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Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Moves Closer to First Orbital Launch

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13 hours ago

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September 27, 2024

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Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Moves Closer to First Orbital Launch

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, the much-anticipated rival to SpaceX‘s Falcon Heavy, has taken a major step forward with a successful second-stage hot-fire test. This crucial test was conducted to validate key interactions between the rocket’s subsystems, its two BE-3U engines, and the ground control systems. The test, which lasted 15 seconds, represents a major advancement for New Glenn as it heads towards its first orbital launch in November 2024.

Validating the Second Stage Systems

The recent test focused on the New Glenn rocket’s second stage, ensuring its subsystems work cohesively under real-world conditions. The BE-3U engines, designed for high-energy missions, performed exceptionally well, demonstrating the thrust vector control system and the tank pressurization system to steer and fuel the rocket during its flight. The test also allowed Blue Origin’s launch operations team to rehearse critical launch procedures, ensuring the team was prepared for the November mission. This launch will take place at Cape Canaveral, Florida, from Launch Complex 36.

Looking Ahead: New Glenn’s First Mission

After several delays, Blue Origin has confirmed that New Glenn’s first mission (NG-1) will transport the Blue Ring orbital platform, designed by Blue Origin, into space. This mission marks a significant milestone for the company, which has thus far focused mainly on suborbital tourism with its New Shepard rocket.

A Rival to SpaceX

While Blue Origin has been slower to market, New Glenn is seen as a potential game changer in the commercial space industry. With a height of over 320 feet and its powerful BE-3U and BE-4 engines, New Glenn is built for ambitious missions, ranging from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit.

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Depression Could Be Linked With Brain’s Attention Guiding Network

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September 27, 2024

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Depression Could Be Linked With Brain’s Attention Guiding Network

New research is shedding light on the brain‘s role in depression, particularly through the discovery of an enlarged salience network in people suffering from the condition. This brain network, located primarily in the frontal cortex and striatum, is responsible for processing rewards and focusing attention on significant stimuli. The findings open promising avenues for early detection and personalised treatments for depression. The study claims that the brain network responsible for guiding attention was twice as large in those individuals who later developed symptoms of depression.

What is the Salience Network?

The salience network helps the brain determine which stimuli are most important and worthy of attention. It processes rewards and manages our focus on both external and internal factors. In people with depression, researchers have discovered that this network is significantly larger, potentially explaining the cognitive and attentional issues often associated with the disorder.

The Significance of This Enlargement

Studies have shown that the salience network in individuals with depression can be almost twice the size of that in healthy controls. Interestingly, this expansion does not fluctuate with changes in mood, suggesting that it is a stable trait rather than a symptom-based occurrence. This has led researchers to believe that an enlarged salience network could serve as an indicator of depression risk, even before the condition develops.

Implications for Early Detection and Treatment

This discovery could lead to innovative ways to identify individuals at risk for depression. Since the salience network can be detected early, even in children who are yet to develop depressive symptoms, this could transform preventative care. Furthermore, interventions targeting this specific network, such as neuromodulation techniques or personalised therapies, could become a future treatment path.

A Step Towards Precision Medicine in Mental Health

The research is still in its early stages, but experts believe that understanding the mechanisms driving salience network expansion could pave the way for new pharmaceutical and therapeutic interventions. By focusing on how this network contributes to depression, scientists hope to tailor treatments more effectively, improving patient outcomes.

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Did Pollen Allergies Lead to Woolly Mammoth Extinction?

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15 hours ago

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September 27, 2024

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Did Pollen Allergies Lead to Woolly Mammoth Extinction?

Woolly mammoths have long been thought to have disappeared due to a combination of factors, such as climate change and human activity. However, a recent study proposes an unexpected hypothesis: pollen allergies may have played a role in their extinction. The study suggests that at the end of the last Ice Age, a surge in vegetation led to excessive pollen production. This may have triggered allergic reactions in mammoths, impacting their sense of smell. Since mammoths relied heavily on smell for various vital functions, such as finding food, evading predators, and locating mates, pollen-related allergies could have severely disrupted these abilities.

Could Allergies Explain Extinction?

Researchers argue that this impairment during mating season may have made it difficult for mammoths to communicate and breed, contributing to a sharp population decline. However, further testing, including examining fossilized mammoth remains for immune proteins associated with allergic responses, is needed to confirm this theory.

Scepticism Around the Hypothesis

While the study presents a compelling narrative, not all experts are convinced. Evolutionary biologist Vincent Lynch, for example, points out that mammoth extinction is more likely to have been caused by a combination of environmental shifts and human hunting. Until more concrete evidence emerges, the pollen allergy theory remains an intriguing but debated topic in mammoth research.

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