Researchers have discovered a biological adaptation in heart cockles (Corculum cardissa), a species of bivalve found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. These clams possess unique structures in their shells that act similarly to fibre optics, guiding sunlight to symbiotic algae living within them. This allows the clams to provide their algae with the necessary light for photosynthesis while simultaneously protecting them from harmful ultraviolet rays. The algae, in turn, offer the clams essential nutrients such as sugars.

Sunlight Channeling Through Shells

Heart cockles are small bivalves measuring around the size of a walnut. Their shells are covered with tiny transparent areas, which have been found to function like fibre-optic cables. This ability is attributed to the structure of aragonite, a crystalline form of calcium carbonate present in their shells. Through microscopic examinations, it was revealed that the aragonite crystals form tubes that allow light to pass through with precision while blocking damaging UV radiation.

Dakota McCoy, an evolutionary biophysicist from the University of Chicago, and her team demonstrated that the shells allow more than twice as much photosynthetically beneficial light to enter than UV light in a study published in the Nature Communications journal. This process potentially helps prevent coral bleaching and similar phenomena in clams, which can be exacerbated by climate change.

Unique Design Offers Technological Insights

The fibre-optic-like structures found in heart cockles are not only intriguing in a biological context but also present possible applications in technology. Researchers suggest that the natural light-channelling abilities of aragonite could inspire advancements in optical systems, particularly for wireless communication and precision measurement tools.

Boon Ooi, a photonics researcher at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, noted that mimicking these structures could lead to more efficient light collection systems, offering improvements over current fibre-optic technologies, as per a Science News report.

In a recent Senate testimony, Jon T. Kosloski, Director of the Pentagon’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), clarified the office’s stance on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and their ongoing investigations. Speaking to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities on November 19, Kosloski emphasised that AARO has yet to uncover verifiable evidence supporting extraterrestrial life, technology, or activity despite numerous unexplained sightings reported by military personnel. He stressed that his office investigates each sighting scientifically and transparently, addressing all domains – including sea, sky, and space.

UAP Cases: Mostly Explained, Some Remain Unresolved

AARO was established in 2022 to centralise UAP reports, allowing streamlined assessment of anomalous sightings by government and military entities. While most cases have been attributed to known objects like birds, drones, and balloons, Kosloski mentioned that a minority of incidents remain unexplained, as per a Space.com report.

In his testimony, he reportedly reviewed examples, such as a 2013 UAP sighting in Puerto Rico that appeared to vanish into the ocean. AARO’s investigation concluded it was an optical illusion caused by the camera’s inability to differentiate the object’s temperature from its surroundings.

Public Pressure for Transparency

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand queried whether AARO’s methods might deter individuals from reporting UAP incidents due to perceptions of governmental secrecy. Kosloski countered by asserting that AARO is uniquely empowered to access historical and current UAP data, with a mandate for transparency in reporting to Congress. In the session, it was noted that some classified data restrictions still apply, particularly regarding sensitive sensor technology, limiting the office’s public disclosures.

AARO’s 2024 report outlined 485 UAP cases, of which 118 have been solved, and 174 are under final review. While the office has encountered challenges in securing complete sensor data for some incidents, Kosloski assured that no evidence points to UAP activity linked to foreign adversaries.

In a new study published on Tuesday, researchers from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) project suggest that the mysterious force known as dark energy might not remain constant over time, challenging existing assumptions in cosmology. While the findings hint that dark energy, believed to drive the universe’s accelerated expansion, may be waning, the study simultaneously upholds the validity of general relativity, Albert Einstein’s foundational theory of gravity. Published on the DESI project’s website and on arXiv, the study builds on an April report from the same collaboration that had indicated a similar outcome.

DESI’s Expansive Galaxy Mapping Efforts

The DESI project, conducted at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, has created an unprecedented 3-D map of galaxies, which allows scientists to explore the structure and growth of cosmic formations over time. Unlike previous analyses, which primarily examined baryon acoustic oscillations — sound waves from the early universe that are still detectable — the latest study includes data on how galaxy formations evolve. Cosmologist Dr Dragan Huterer of the University of Michigan noted that these structural shifts are highly responsive to the effects of dark energy and potential modifications in gravity.

Evidence Points Toward Variable Dark Energy

The consistency between the recent findings and those from earlier analyses has been highlighted by cosmologist Dr Pauline Zarrouk of the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France, who explained that matching conclusions were essential given the shared dataset. DESI’s analysis also incorporated information from other astronomical observations, including the cosmic microwave background, the universe’s oldest observable light. The study’s results suggest a potential variation in dark energy’s density, reinforcing previous indications that cosmologists may need to revise their models if these findings continue to hold.

Upcoming DESI Results May Shed New Light

While general relativity remains largely unchallenged, the DESI findings have introduced uncertainty into the field. Physicist Dr Daniel Scolnic of Duke University remarked that such discoveries often dissipate quickly, but the DESI team continues to stand by its data. The results present no evidence for modified gravity theories, which propose an alternative view of gravity that could explain dark energy and dark matter.

DESI’s upcoming findings, expected in 2025, will reveal insights based on three years of data collection, testing the robustness of the variable dark energy hypothesis and potentially reshaping our understanding of the cosmos.