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In 1975, NASA’s Viking programme made history when its twin landers became the first American spacecraft to successfully reach the surface of Mars. These landers conducted pioneering experiments, collecting and analysing Martian soil samples for over six years in a quest to determine whether microbial life existed on the Red Planet. However, a provocative new theory suggests that the very methods used in these experiments may have unintentionally killed potential life on Mars.

Life Detection Methods Under Scrutiny

Dirk Schulze-Makuch, an astrobiologist at the Technische Universität Berlin, has proposed that the Viking experiments might have encountered Martian microbes but destroyed them by introducing liquid water. In a commentary published in Nature Astronomy, Schulze-Makuch argued that Mars’ hyperarid environment, drier than Earth’s Atacama Desert, likely harbours lifeforms adapted to extract moisture from salts in the atmosphere. These organisms, if present, could be fatally overwhelmed by the addition of liquid water, as used in the Viking experiments.

Misguided Assumptions About Water

The Viking programme assumed that Martian life, like life on Earth, would depend on liquid water. The experiments added water and nutrients to the soil samples, monitoring for metabolic reactions. While initial results showed potential microbial activity, they were later dismissed as inconclusive. Schulze-Makuch believes these findings might instead indicate the destruction of lifeforms adapted to Mars’ arid conditions. He has suggested adopting a “follow the salts” strategy, which focuses on detecting organisms thriving in salt-driven moisture environments.

Shifting the Search for Life

Highlighting parallels with Earth’s deserts, Schulze-Makuch pointed to evidence of microbes in salt-rich regions surviving through a process called deliquescence, where salts absorb moisture to create brines. His proposal calls for multiple life-detection methods, including AI-assisted motility analysis and advanced microscopes, to avoid relying on water-based assumptions.

This theory challenges NASA’s longstanding approach of searching for water as the key to extraterrestrial life, urging a broader exploration strategy. While controversial, it opens a critical discussion about refining techniques to uncover life on Mars.

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Ancient 2,600-Year-Old Inscription in Turkey Finally Decoded

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November 19, 2024

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Ancient 2,600-Year-Old Inscription in Turkey Finally Decoded

A 2,600-year-old inscription engraved on a monument in Turkey, known as Arslan Kaya or “lion rock,” has been deciphered, according to research by Professor Mark Munn of Pennsylvania State University. This ancient carving, which has endured significant damage from weathering and looting, contains references to Materan, a goddess revered by the Phrygians, an ancient civilisation that thrived in the region between 1200 and 600 B.C. Materan, often simply called “the Mother,” was central to Phrygian religious beliefs.

Monument Details and Historical Significance

The Arslan Kaya monument is decorated with images of lions and sphinxes, which were symbols of strength and protection in Phrygian culture. The name Materan, deciphered through careful analysis of the damaged inscription, appears alongside a depiction of the goddess. Materan was later venerated by other cultures, known as “Mother of the Gods” by the Greeks and as “Magna Mater” or “Great Mother” by the Romans.

At the time the inscription was created, the region was under the influence of the Lydian kingdom, which also held Materan in high regard. The inscription, believed to have been part of a longer text, may have detailed the commissioning party and explained the goddess’s significance.

Challenges in Deciphering the Inscription

The text has been the subject of scholarly debate for over a century. Munn utilised detailed photographs and historical records to piece together its meaning, noting that optimal lighting on April 25, 2024, played a crucial role in capturing the monument’s details.

Rostyslav Oreshko, a lecturer at the Practical School of Advanced Studies in France, told LiveScience that Munn’s work affirms earlier readings from the 19th century, which identified the name Materan. Despite this, Oreshko emphasised that the study solidifies previous interpretations rather than offering entirely new insights.

The deciphered inscription sheds light on the enduring cultural significance of Materan and highlights the Phrygians’ influence on subsequent civilisations.

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Dolphin in Baltic Sea Talks to Himself, Might Feel Alone Claims Scientists

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November 19, 2024

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Dolphin in Baltic Sea Talks to Himself, Might Feel Alone Claims Scientists

A bottlenose dolphin residing alone in the Baltic Sea has been documented producing thousands of vocalisations, potentially as a result of loneliness. Known locally as Delle, this dolphin was first noticed in the Svendborgsund channel near Funen Island, Denmark, in 2019. Bottlenose dolphins typically thrive in social pods, but no other dolphins have been seen in the area.

The University of Southern Denmark deployed underwater recorders to monitor the impact of Delle’s presence on local harbour porpoises. Unexpectedly, 10,833 sounds were recorded over 69 days between December 8, 2022, and February 14, 2023. Dr Olga Filatova, cetacean biologist and lead researcher, reported hearing an extensive range of sounds, including whistles and tonal noises. These sounds are often associated with social interactions among dolphins, yet Delle was entirely alone.

Unpacking the Recordings

Among the captured vocalisations were 2,291 whistles and 2,288 burst-pulses—clicks often linked to aggression or excitement. Delle also produced three distinctive whistles resembling “signature whistles”, unique sounds used by dolphins as individual identifiers. These findings, detailed in the journal Bioacoustics on October 31, led researchers to initially speculate that multiple dolphins might be present. However, Delle’s solitary state ruled out such assumptions.

Possible Explanations for the Vocalisations

The sounds may indicate attempts to connect with others or might simply reflect involuntary expressions linked to emotions, similar to humans laughing while alone. Dr Filatova suggested it is unlikely that Delle was calling other dolphins, as his years in the area would have revealed the absence of companions.

The study highlights a gap in understanding solitary dolphins’ behaviour. Thea Taylor, Managing Director of the Sussex Dolphin Project, noted the potential for these findings to provide insights into dolphin emotions and behaviour, stressing that solitary individuals remain under-researched.
Delle’s case underscores the complexity of dolphin communication, with researchers aiming to uncover the motivations behind such vocal patterns in isolated circumstances.

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New Research Explains Zebra Pattern in Radio Waves from Crab Nebula

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November 19, 2024

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New Research Explains Zebra Pattern in Radio Waves from Crab Nebula

A puzzling ‘zebra’ pattern in high-frequency radio waves emitted by the Crab Nebula’s pulsar might finally have an explanation, according to new research by Mikhail Medvedev, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Kansas. This unique pattern, characterized by unusual frequency-based band spacing, has intrigued astrophysicists since its discovery in 2007. Medvedev’s findings, recently published in Physical Review Letters, suggest that wave diffraction and interference occurring in the pulsar’s plasma-rich environment could be responsible.

High-Frequency Radio Pulses Create Zebra-Like Patterns

The Crab Nebula, a remnant of a supernova observed nearly a millennium ago, features a neutron star known as the Crab Pulsar at its core. This pulsar, approximately 12 miles in diameter, emits electromagnetic radiation in sweeping pulses similar to a lighthouse beam. The Crab Pulsar stands out due to its distinct zebra pattern—observed only within a specific pulse component and spanning frequencies between 5 and 30 gigahertz.

Medvedev’s model theorizes that the zebra pattern arises from the pulsar’s dense plasma environment. The plasma, made up of charged particles like electrons and positrons, interacts with the pulsar’s magnetic field, affecting radio waves in ways that resemble diffraction phenomena seen in light waves. As these waves propagate through areas of varying plasma density, they create a pattern of bright and dark fringes, which ultimately appear as the zebra pattern observed from Earth.

Implications for Plasma Density Measurement and Neutron Star Research

Medvedev’s work sheds light on the peculiarities of the Crab Pulsar and offers a method for measuring plasma density in the magnetospheres of neutron stars. The model uses wave optics to analyse fringe patterns and determine the plasma’s distribution and density. This is a breakthrough that could open new avenues for studying other young and energetic pulsars. This innovative method provides what Medvedev describes as a “tomography of the magnetosphere,” enabling a density map of charged particles around neutron stars.

Further observational data will be needed to validate Medvedev’s theory, especially as astrophysicists seek to apply his method to other young, energetic pulsars. His model, if confirmed, could help to enhance our understanding of neutron stars’ plasma environments and the interactions of electromagnetic waves with pulsar plasma.

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