Ancient hominin Australopithecus afarensis could run, but not fast
In a study published in Current Biology, researchers have revealed that Australopithecus afarensis, an ancient hominin species, exhibited a limited capacity for running. This small bipedal ancestor, which lived over three million years ago, was capable of running on two legs but could not match the speed or efficiency of modern humans. According to reports, these findings were achieved through advanced 3D simulations, providing insights into the muscular and skeletal adaptations that have evolved in the human lineage.
Insights from 3D Models
Researchers led by Karl Bates, an evolutionary biomechanics expert at the University of Liverpool, utilised a 3D model of the iconic “Lucy” skeleton, a near-complete specimen of A. afarensis discovered in Ethiopia, as per sources. Muscle mass estimations were derived from modern apes and applied to the fossil data. Through computer simulations, the team evaluated Lucy’s running capabilities against those of a digital model of a modern human.
The analysis revealed that Lucy could run, but her speed peaked at approximately five metres per second. In comparison, modern humans in the model reached speeds of about eight metres per second. Reports attribute this disparity to Lucy’s anatomical structure, including her lack of a lengthened Achilles tendon and other features crucial for endurance running.
Energy Efficiency and Muscular Adaptations
The study also explored energy expenditure during running by modifying Lucy’s digital model with modern human-like ankle muscles. When these muscles were incorporated, the energy costs of running became similar to those observed in animals of a comparable size. However, replacing these muscles with ape-like features significantly increased energy demands, highlighting the importance of muscular and tendon adaptations in the evolution of human endurance running.
Herman Pontzer, an evolutionary anthropologist at Duke University, commented to Nature that the study offers a comprehensive approach to understanding human evolution. The researchers plan to expand their investigation into fatigue and bone strain to further assess the physical limitations of A. afarensis in endurance activities.
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The failed Soviet Venus lander Kosmos 482 has finally met its end after a remarkable 53-year journey in Earth orbit. Launched in 1972 under USSR’s Venera programme, the probe re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on May 10 at 2:24 a.m. ET (0624 GMT), with Russia’s space agency Roscosmos confirming its descent over the Indian Ocean, west of Jakarta, Indonesia. Although the debris was thought to have safely splashed down, other international space tracking organisations had pinpointed possible reentry sites as far afield as South Asia and the eastern Pacific, making the final impact location at least somewhat even hours after the event.
Kosmos 482’s Fiery Fall Captured Before Impact, Sparking Concerns Over Space Junk Threat
As per reports by Roscosmos and astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project, the spacecraft was captured in a striking image during one of its final orbits over Rome. In the picture, Kosmos 482 appears as a dashed trail — a result of the probe streaking across a composite of four images. Originally intended to land on Venus, the lander had failed to leave Earth’s orbit due to a launch malfunction, leading it into an elongated Earth-bound trajectory for over five decades. Its descent was guided slowly by atmospheric drag.
The 495-kilogram probe may have remained intact during reentry, as it was engineered to survive Venus’s dense atmosphere. Marco Langbroek, a Dutch satellite tracker, mentioned that if Kosmos 482 had impacted the surface as one piece, it would have had an impact velocity of about 150 mph and the energy of a small to mid-size meteorite. This fall has led to discussion over growing space debris risks.
ESA data shows that, on average, three significant pieces of debris land on Earth daily. With mega constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper set to launch thousands of satellites, experts warn that uncontrolled reentries will likely happen with greater frequency.
ESA officials have pointed out that although the threat to people is low, repeated strikes could become a hazard over time, not just from crashes but also from pollutants that are purged at reentry and may damage the ozone layer or shift climate trends.
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Recently found accordion worm Pararosa vigarae, a new genus and species of ribbon worms and a comparatively less-known group of invertebrates, has amazed the researchers because of its unique ability to squash up like an accordion to a staggering one-fifth of its normal body length. It was discovered from Ría de Arosa in the Northwest coast of Spain, where it lurks under rocks in the subtidal zone at a depth of 30 metres (98 feet). Combining morphological data with DNA analysis techniques, researchers were able to overcome the taxonomical challenge of identifying this worm.
Classification challenges
According to the study published in Royal Society Open Science, accordion worms belong to the phylum Nemertea, a group of predatory worms that use venom to immobilize their prey. They pose serious challenges for taxonomical studies due to the scarcity of external morphological features.
Taxonomy is the study of the classification and identification of the living world. Traditionally, external morphological features are considered the criteria of this study. However, Nemerteans have very few distinctive visible features to rely on. To overcome this, scientists tried to consider the internal anatomy as a potential marker, but this process turned out to be very complex and inconvenient. Eventually, this process became obsolete, resulting in Nemerteans remaining a lesser-known phylum with currently described 1,350 species.
Genetic Analysis
The study describes that molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and histone H3 gene markers that indicated the newly identified specimens represent a new genus and species of heteronemertean in the family Lineidae.
Imaging experiments revealed that the accordion worm contracts its body to form regular rings that are annular epidermal constrictions that remain visible even when the animal is fully stretched. The number of rings varies with the size of the worm—for instance, the largest specimen collected had 60 rings when fully stretched.
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A new satellite-based study reveals that the 28 most populous cities in the United States—including New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Denver—are gradually sinking at rates of 2 to 10 millimetres (0.08 to 0.4 inches) per year. Researchers at Virginia Tech used high-resolution radar measurements to map this ground subsidence across urban regions. In every city examined, at least 20 percent of the land area was found to be sinking; in 25 of the 28 cities, more than 65 percent exhibited measurable downward movement, posing serious long-term risks to urban infrastructure systems.
As per the Nature Cities report published on May 8, cities in Texas showed the highest subsidence rates, with Houston being the most affected—40 percent of the city is sinking faster than 5 millimetres per year, and 12 percent exceeds 10 millimetres annually. Under the direction of Leonard Ohenhen, the researchers linked almost 80 percent of the urban subsidence to too high groundwater extraction, a process motivated by growing urban needs. While natural geological activity is important as well, human activity is now the dominant driver of land depression.
Experts warned that even small changes can undermine the structural integrity of roads, bridges, rail systems, and other infrastructure. “This hazard grows very slowly, decimates the ground from underneath, and if disasters occur, very few people recognise it in its early stages,” Manoochehr Shirzaei, who is an associate professor at Virginia Tech, said in a statement. The study also highlighted the vulnerability of not only coastal cities but also inland cities, including those located far from the ocean, where land subsidence increases the frequency of flooding and impacts the long-term planning of urban development.
Although it’s never going to be completely prevented, the report recommends more monitoring and legal action. Emphasis should be on improved satellite surveillance, changes in groundwater management, and building strong infrastructure. Left alone, the subsidence can turn into a quiet urban menace, experts stated.
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