livescience--2020-11-23--Adorable monkeys caught commiting grisly act of cannibalism

Screams sounded from the treetops just before a baby capuchin monkey tumbled to its death .
Soon after , a few of the infant 's relatives gathered to consume the lifeless corpse — and scientists saw the whole thing .
Researchers have observed this particular population of white-faced capuchin ( Cebus imitator ) for more than 37 years , documenting their lives in the Santa Rosa National Park in Costa Rica .
In all those years , scientists had never recorded a case of cannibalism among the monkeys ; but that all changed on April 9 , 2019 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new report , published Oct. 16 in the journal .
While observing a small group of monkeys , the scientists heard loud vocalizations from high in a nearby tree .
A 10-day-old monkey , known as CT-19 , fell to the ground , and its mother , called CT , scrambled down to collect the infant .
CT tried to carry the baby back into the treetops , twice , with CT-19 clinging to her belly , but the infant fell both times and could no longer hang onto the mother .
CT-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon , other monkeys gathered around to inspect the corpse .
Warning : What follows is a graphic description of what happened next .
A 2-year-old male approached the scene and began nibbling at the dead monkey 's foot , chomping on its toes .
`` Though CT made no attempt to retrieve the corpse , she remained close by and vigilant , '' the authors wrote .
An alpha female , age 23 , then drew the body away from the young male and gnawed at the corpse in earnest , starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour , the female had consumed the infant 's entire lower half , leaving only the head , chest and arms .
The juvenile male managed to steal off with a bit of tail during this feast , but otherwise , the alpha female gobbled up most of CT-19 .
Technically , the male was a second cousin of CT-19 , and the alpha female was the infant 's grandaunt , the authors wrote .
Prior to this young capuchin 's demise , only eight cases of cannibalism had been observed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors noted .
Among primates , in general , the rare cases of cannibalism tend to coinicide with infanticide committed by unrelated adults .
In other cases , closely related individuals may consume an infant after its natural death .
In this case , there is reason to believe that CT-19 was a victim of infanticide , the authors wrote .
`` Immediately following the screams and the infant 's fall to the ground , adult male PW was chased from the same area by an adult female , '' the authors wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chase the perpetrator away after witnessing infanticide , and although the scientists did not witness how or why CT-19 fell , they suspect the adult male PW may have pushed or otherwise attacked the baby .
White-faced capuchin monkeys typically eat both plants and small animals , such as lizards , squirrels and birds .
When they capture animal prey , the monkeys tend to start by biting the face , so as to quickly silence the animal and to avoid being bitten themselves ; the capuchins usually consume the entire animal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When cannibalizing one of their own , however , the monkeys behaved quite differently ; only two monkeys took part in the meal and they left the entire upper half of the corpse untouched .
Most of the other monkeys nearby only inspected the corpse , or else made threatening gestures toward it , suggesting that this was `` an unusual situation for the capuchins , '' the authors wrote .
The few monkeys that did turn to cannibalism may have done so for the nutritional benefits , the authors suggested .
About @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alpha female gave birth to her own young , meaning she had been in the late stages of pregnancy during the incident .
The juvenile male had recently been weaned from his own mother , meaning he had just begun fending for himself when CT-19 tumbled from the treetops .
These scenarios hint that capuchins may turn to cannibalism when in desperate need of supplemental nutrients , but since primate cannibalism is so rarely observed , this is just a hypothesis .
More case reports of primate cannibalism will need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this behavior , the authors concluded .

Screams sounded from the treetops just before a baby capuchin monkey tumbled to its death. Soon after, a few of the infant's relatives gathered to consume the lifeless corpse — and scientists saw the whole thing.
Researchers have observed this particular population of white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) for more than 37 years, documenting their lives in the Santa Rosa National Park in Costa Rica. In all those years, scientists had never recorded a case of cannibalism among the monkeys; but that all changed on April 9, 2019.
The team described the grisly incident in a new report, published Oct. 16 in the journal Ecology and Evolution .
Related: Survival of the grossest: 8 disgusting animal behaviors
While observing a small group of monkeys, the scientists heard loud vocalizations from high in a nearby tree. A 10-day-old monkey, known as CT-19, fell to the ground, and its mother, called CT, scrambled down to collect the infant. CT tried to carry the baby back into the treetops, twice, with CT-19 clinging to her belly, but the infant fell both times and could no longer hang onto the mother. CT-19 fell motionless for several minutes, and soon, other monkeys gathered around to inspect the corpse.
Warning: What follows is a graphic description of what happened next.
A 2-year-old male approached the scene and began nibbling at the dead monkey's foot, chomping on its toes. "Though CT made no attempt to retrieve the corpse, she remained close by and vigilant," the authors wrote. An alpha female, age 23, then drew the body away from the young male and gnawed at the corpse in earnest, starting with the left foot; after half an hour, the female had consumed the infant's entire lower half, leaving only the head, chest and arms.
The juvenile male monkey (left) and adult female monkey (right) can be seen holding and eating the dead infant CT-19. (Image credit: N. Ferrero/M. Nishikawa et al.)
The juvenile male managed to steal off with a bit of tail during this feast, but otherwise, the alpha female gobbled up most of CT-19. Technically, the male was a second cousin of CT-19, and the alpha female was the infant's grandaunt, the authors wrote.
Prior to this young capuchin's demise, only eight cases of cannibalism had been observed in Central and South American primates, the authors noted. Among primates, in general, the rare cases of cannibalism tend to coinicide with infanticide committed by unrelated adults. In other cases, closely related individuals may consume an infant after its natural death.
Related: The 12 weirdest animal discoveries
In this case, there is reason to believe that CT-19 was a victim of infanticide, the authors wrote.
"Immediately following the screams and the infant's fall to the ground, adult male PW was chased from the same area by an adult female," the authors wrote. Prior observations of capuchins suggest that females often chase the perpetrator away after witnessing infanticide, and although the scientists did not witness how or why CT-19 fell, they suspect the adult male PW may have pushed or otherwise attacked the baby.
White-faced capuchin monkeys typically eat both plants and small animals, such as lizards, squirrels and birds. When they capture animal prey, the monkeys tend to start by biting the face, so as to quickly silence the animal and to avoid being bitten themselves; the capuchins usually consume the entire animal, either alone or as a group. When cannibalizing one of their own, however, the monkeys behaved quite differently; only two monkeys took part in the meal and they left the entire upper half of the corpse untouched.
Most of the other monkeys nearby only inspected the corpse, or else made threatening gestures toward it, suggesting that this was "an unusual situation for the capuchins," the authors wrote.
The few monkeys that did turn to cannibalism may have done so for the nutritional benefits, the authors suggested. About two weeks after snacking on CT-19, the alpha female gave birth to her own young, meaning she had been in the late stages of pregnancy during the incident. The juvenile male had recently been weaned from his own mother, meaning he had just begun fending for himself when CT-19 tumbled from the treetops.
These scenarios hint that capuchins may turn to cannibalism when in desperate need of supplemental nutrients, but since primate cannibalism is so rarely observed, this is just a hypothesis. More case reports of primate cannibalism will need to be assessed to determine exactly why monkeys engage in this behavior, the authors concluded.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-11-23--Best Black Friday board game deals for kids who love science

that play is not just an big part of a child 's development but also their education .
Simple yet creative STEM toys such as are ideal for early development , but for older children ( ages 8 and up ) , more complex games that require following rules , counting spaces and reading playing cards are also excellent ways to help them practice logical problem-solving , literacy and math skills .
What 's more , there are tons of games that can help inspire your child 's curiosity for STEM topics , from exploring the Periodic Table , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a human cell .
Beyond STEM , there are also great games that can help teach your child about the great outdoors , learning the U.S. states and countries of the world .
So if you 're stuck inside this holiday season , board games are the ideal way to get the family together , have fun and inspire your young scientist , engineer or explorer .
This Black Friday , there are loads of fantastic deals on some of the best board games that are ideal for kids who love science .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nerds and geeks Ages : 8 and up Players : 2 to 4 Get back in touch with nature as you take control of your own forest with this beautifully crafted game from Blue Orange .
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RRP : Price : $ 37.74 View Deal Evolution Ages : 12 and up Players : 2 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this colorful game perfect for the budding biologist .
Choose a species and guide it through its evolutionary journey , avoiding predators and adapting to survive and thrive .
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RRP : Price : $ 30.99View Deal Cytosis Ages : 10 and up Players : 2 to 5 Explore the building blocks of life in this worker placement strategy game , themed around biological cells !
To score points , players must collect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and receptors , and even fight off invasive viruses .
Bonus points are available for completing specific cell-building tasks , making for fun and competitive gameplay with science educators and students alike !
RRP : Deal : $ 34.15 View Deal Dr. Eureka Speed Logic Game Ages : 8 and up Players : 1 to 4 Dr. Eureka has a number of very important experiments to work on , and you , his able assistants must help at once !
Pick a challenge card and grab your test tubes and carefully pour the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solve the puzzle .
Inside the box are 12 plastic test tubes , 24 colored balls and 54 challenge cards .
Prime Club Ages : 10 and up Players : 2 to 4 Educational game maker Math for Love has a simple and noble goal : to transform how math is taught to kids .
This game sees players test their multiplication , addition and knowledge of prime numbers to progress across the colorful game board .
Recommended by MENSA and the recipient of multiple awards , Prime Club is mathematically certain to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : $ 29.95View Deal STEM Family Battle Ages : 15 and up Players : 2 to 4 The battle lines are drawn as kids and adults are tested on their science , technology , engineering and math knowledge in this fast-paced trivia game .
Questions are balanced fairly between younger and older players , meaning whether it 's Minecraft or classic car mechanics , no one will be left out of the fun .

We could be 16 years into a methane-fueled 'termination' event significant enough to end an ice age
Methane emissions from tropical wetlands have been soaring since 2006 and accelerating at the same breakneck speed as when Earth's climate has flipped from a glacial to an interglacial period.


livescience--2020-11-23--Save 50% on your favorite magazines this Black Friday

Are you looking to bag an early holiday gift for the scientist , engineer or budding astrophysicist in your life ?
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Across 13 issues per year , the How It Works team uncovers the incredible engineering inside everything from household objects to high-speed vehicles .
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Ötzi the Iceman may have been bald and getting fat before his murder 5,300 years ago
A new DNA analysis reveals that Ötzi the Iceman was genetically predisposed to male-pattern baldness, diabetes and obesity.


livescience--2020-11-21--Why do some animals sleep so much?

Why do some animals sleep so much?

A dog snoring away the afternoon on the living room floor .
snoozing belly-up on a beach .
sprawled out on the .
A dozing on a mudbank .
These slumberous scenes may make folks wonder why these other mammals seem to be getting so much more sleep than humans .
Do they actually need more sleep ?
Are they just sleeping because they can ?
Should humans be sleeping more , too ?
Be prepared for a surprising and fascinating answer to these questions : Related : Can any animal survive without sleep ?
Though constantly studied , sleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science has n't completely cracked .
`` We really do n't know what sleep is for , '' Dr. David Raizen , associate professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania 's Perelman School of Medicine , told Live Science .
Raizen said scientists have identified relationships between sleep and animal function — certain kinds of sleep can increase a critter 's ability to fight off illness or .
Yet these associations do n't necessarily describe the ultimate purpose of sleep and can be misleading .
`` A brown bat that sleeps 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a genius , '' Raizen said , speaking to the idea that sleep is meant to serve learning and memory .
Likewise , a 2017 study published in the journal found that elephants sleep for an average of only two hours a night , but it 's known elephants are intelligent animals with very good memories .
`` This difference in sleep amounts has been used for arguments against a core function of sleep , '' Raizen said .
How could sleep be so important if an animal like an is perfectly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typical human needs quadruple that ?
But Raizen thinks sleep does serve a core function , though an as-of-yet poorly understood one .
Sleep has been observed in every animal ever studied by science , Raizen said , making it as universal across lifeforms as energy intake .
Studies have also shown that various animals ' bodies begin to break down if they 're continuously sleep deprived , suggesting sleep is essential .
So if it 's essential , why is n't more always better and the amount always similar , particularly across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea is that sleep in mammals has to do with body size and diet , according to a 2005 study in the journal .
Across many studies of mammalian sleep , scientists have observed that less sleep is correlated with larger body sizes , and this correlation is stronger and more extreme among herbivores than it is among carnivores .
A reason for this may be that the larger an animal is , the more calories it needs , and the more time it needs to spend eating .
Herbivores tend to rely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the food carnivores eat so need to gulp down much more .
This could partly explain why an elephant may have evolved to survive on only two hours a day , Raizen said .
However , the matter is far from settled .
Sleep is complex , hard to measure in wild animals and even harder to interpret .
Along those lines , it 's important to remember that some differences in observed sleep might not be what they seem .
Just because a house cat sleeps for 18 hours a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleep to function , Raizen said .
Some sleep is probably a matter of convenience — done when it 's not safe for an animal to be out and about , when food availability is low or simply because there 's nothing else to do .
As for human sleep ?
Raizen said the most important thing is for people to listen to their bodies and get as much sleep as they feel they need — which is about eight hours for most folks but might be as few as five and as @ @ @ @

A dog snoring away the afternoon on the living room floor. Walruses snoozing belly-up on a beach. Lions sprawled out on the Serengeti . A hippo dozing on a mudbank.
These slumberous scenes may make folks wonder why these other mammals seem to be getting so much more sleep than humans. Do they actually need more sleep? Are they just sleeping because they can? Should humans be sleeping more, too?
Be prepared for a surprising and fascinating answer to these questions:
Nobody knows.
Related: Can any animal survive without sleep?
Though constantly studied, sleep is one of the great mysteries modern science hasn't completely cracked. "We really don't know what sleep is for," Dr. David Raizen, associate professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, told Live Science.
Raizen said scientists have identified relationships between sleep and animal function — certain kinds of sleep can increase a critter's ability to fight off illness or consolidate memories . Yet these associations don't necessarily describe the ultimate purpose of sleep and can be misleading.
"A brown bat that sleeps 20 hours a day you'd think would be a genius," Raizen said, speaking to the idea that sleep is meant to serve learning and memory. Likewise, a 2017 study published in the journal PLOS One found that elephants sleep for an average of only two hours a night , but it's known elephants are intelligent animals with very good memories.
"This difference in sleep amounts has been used for arguments against a core function of sleep," Raizen said. How could sleep be so important if an animal like an elephant is perfectly functional with only two hours while a typical human needs quadruple that?
But Raizen thinks sleep does serve a core function, though an as-of-yet poorly understood one. Sleep has been observed in every animal ever studied by science, Raizen said, making it as universal across lifeforms as energy intake. Studies have also shown that various animals' bodies begin to break down if they're continuously sleep deprived, suggesting sleep is essential.
So if it's essential, why isn't more always better and the amount always similar, particularly across closely-related animals, like mammals?
One idea is that sleep in mammals has to do with body size and diet, according to a 2005 study in the journal Nature . Across many studies of mammalian sleep, scientists have observed that less sleep is correlated with larger body sizes, and this correlation is stronger and more extreme among herbivores than it is among carnivores.
A reason for this may be that the larger an animal is, the more calories it needs, and the more time it needs to spend eating. Herbivores tend to rely on food that is far less calorie-dense than the food carnivores eat so need to gulp down much more. This could partly explain why an elephant may have evolved to survive on only two hours a day, Raizen said.
However, the matter is far from settled. Sleep is complex, hard to measure in wild animals and even harder to interpret.
Along those lines, it's important to remember that some differences in observed sleep might not be what they seem. Just because a house cat sleeps for 18 hours a day doesn't mean it needs all that sleep to function, Raizen said. Some sleep is probably a matter of convenience — done when it's not safe for an animal to be out and about, when food availability is low or simply because there's nothing else to do.
As for human sleep? Raizen said the most important thing is for people to listen to their bodies and get as much sleep as they feel they need — which is about eight hours for most folks but might be as few as five and as many as 11.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-11-24--Physicists could do the 'impossible': Create and destroy magnetic fields from afar

Scientists have figured out a way to create and cancel magnetic fields from afar .
The method involves running electric current through a special arrangement of wires to create a that looks as if it came from another source .
This illusion has real applications : Imagine a cancer drug that could be delivered directly to a tumor deep in the body by capsules made of magnetic nanoparticles .
It 's not possible to stick a magnet in the tumor to guide the nanoparticles on their journey , but if you could create a magnetic field from outside the body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you could deliver the drug without an invasive procedure .
The strength of a magnetic field decreases with distance from the magnet , and a theorem proven in 1842 , Earnshaw 's Theorem , says that it 's not possible to create a spot of maximum magnetic field strength in empty space .
`` If you can not have a magnetic field maxima in empty space , it means you can not create the field of a magnetic source remotely , without placing an actual [ magnetic ] source at the target location @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physicist at the Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies in Italy who led the new research .
Mach-Batlle and her colleagues , though , thought they might be able to get around that problem .
They were inspired by work in optics that uses engineered materials known as metamaterials ( designed to have properties not found in any naturally-occuring material ) to get around limits on resolution set by the wavelength of light .
Similarly , they thought , hypothetical magnetic materials might enable the impossible in the world of magnetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a magnetic permeability of negative 1 .
A material 's magnetic permeability indicates how much that material increases or decreases a magnetic field when exposed to that field .
In a material with a magnetic permeability of negative 1 , the direction of the would be the opposite of the direction of the initial magnetic field .
Of course , a new method of inducing magnetic fields that relied on materials that do n't exist would n't be particularly useful .
But even though this hypothetical material with negative permeability does n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of temporary `` material '' out of electric current running through a specific arrangement of wires .
That 's because current induces magnetism and vice versa , a consequence of Maxwell 's Equations of electromagnetism .
Related : Black hole-sized magnetic fields could be created on Earth , study says '' In the end , we do not use any material , we use a precise arrangement of currents that can be regarded as an active metamaterial , '' Mach-Batlle told Live Science .
To create the field from a distance , Mach-Batlle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made of about 20 wires surrounding one long interior wire .
When current runs through these wires , it creates a magnetic field that looks the same as if the long interior wire were actually outside the device .
It 's the electromagnetic equivalent of a ventriloquist throwing her voice ; the source of the field is not actually outside the device , but the field itself is indistinguishable from the field that would have resulted if the source were outside the device .
`` We create the illusion of having this source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The researchers published their findings Oct. 23 in the journal There are still questions about how well this method would work for real-world applications .
One quirk of the system is that there is an area of very strong magnetic fields between the wire cylinder and the field-at-a-distance .
This region could interfere with some applications of the research , Mach-Batlle said , though whether it would be problematic or not probably depends on what you 're trying to do with the field .
Possible applications beyond drug delivery include canceling out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could be useful in quantum computing to reduce `` noise '' from external fields that can interfere with measurements .
Another use might be improving transcranial magnetic stimulation , which uses magnets to stimulate neurons in the brain to treat .
Being able to control magnetic fields at a distance could improve the targeting of transcranial magnetic stimulation , so that doctors could better focus on particular regions in the .
The researchers next hope to build a configuration of wires that allows for the creation of 3D magnetic fields from afar @

Scientists have figured out a way to create and cancel magnetic fields from afar.
The method involves running electric current through a special arrangement of wires to create a magnetic field that looks as if it came from another source. This illusion has real applications: Imagine a cancer drug that could be delivered directly to a tumor deep in the body by capsules made of magnetic nanoparticles. It's not possible to stick a magnet in the tumor to guide the nanoparticles on their journey, but if you could create a magnetic field from outside the body that centered right on that tumor, you could deliver the drug without an invasive procedure.
The strength of a magnetic field decreases with distance from the magnet, and a theorem proven in 1842, Earnshaw's Theorem, says that it's not possible to create a spot of maximum magnetic field strength in empty space.
"If you cannot have a magnetic field maxima in empty space, it means you cannot create the field of a magnetic source remotely, without placing an actual [magnetic] source at the target location," said Rosa Mach-Batlle, a physicist at the Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies in Italy who led the new research.
Related: 9 cool facts about magnets
Making the hypothetical real
Mach-Batlle and her colleagues, though, thought they might be able to get around that problem. They were inspired by work in optics that uses engineered materials known as metamaterials (designed to have properties not found in any naturally-occuring material) to get around limits on resolution set by the wavelength of light. Similarly, they thought, hypothetical magnetic materials might enable the impossible in the world of magnetic fields.
The researchers envisioned a material with a magnetic permeability of negative 1. A material's magnetic permeability indicates how much that material increases or decreases a magnetic field when exposed to that field. In a material with a magnetic permeability of negative 1, the direction of the magnetism induced within the material would be the opposite of the direction of the initial magnetic field.
Of course, a new method of inducing magnetic fields that relied on materials that don't exist wouldn't be particularly useful. But even though this hypothetical material with negative permeability doesn't exist, physicists can create a sort of temporary "material" out of electric current running through a specific arrangement of wires. That's because current induces magnetism and vice versa, a consequence of Maxwell's Equations of electromagnetism.
Related: Black hole-sized magnetic fields could be created on Earth, study says
"In the end, we do not use any material, we use a precise arrangement of currents that can be regarded as an active metamaterial," Mach-Batlle told Live Science.
To create the field from a distance, Mach-Batlle and her team created a hollow cylinder made of about 20 wires surrounding one long interior wire. When current runs through these wires, it creates a magnetic field that looks the same as if the long interior wire were actually outside the device. It's the electromagnetic equivalent of a ventriloquist throwing her voice; the source of the field is not actually outside the device, but the field itself is indistinguishable from the field that would have resulted if the source were outside the device.
"We create the illusion of having this source at a distance," Mach-Batlle said. The researchers published their findings Oct. 23 in the journal Physical Review Letters
Biomedical applications
There are still questions about how well this method would work for real-world applications. One quirk of the system is that there is an area of very strong magnetic fields between the wire cylinder and the field-at-a-distance. This region could interfere with some applications of the research, Mach-Batlle said, though whether it would be problematic or not probably depends on what you're trying to do with the field.
Possible applications beyond drug delivery include canceling out magnetic fields from afar, a technique that could be useful in quantum computing to reduce "noise" from external fields that can interfere with measurements. Another use might be improving transcranial magnetic stimulation, which uses magnets to stimulate neurons in the brain to treat depression . Being able to control magnetic fields at a distance could improve the targeting of transcranial magnetic stimulation, so that doctors could better focus on particular regions in the human brain .
The researchers next hope to build a configuration of wires that allows for the creation of 3D magnetic fields from afar.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-11-24--Is belief in God a delusion?

Is belief in God a delusion?

As the pandemic raged in April , churchgoers in Ohio defied warnings not to congregate .
Some argued that their religion conferred them immunity from COVID-19 .
In one memorable CNN clip , a woman insisted she would not catch the virus because she was “ covered in Jesus ’ blood ” .
Some weeks later , the cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker commented on the dangers of evangelical religious belief in the coronavirus era .
Writing on Facebook , he said : “ Belief in an afterlife is a malignant delusion , since it devalues actual lives and discourages action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and happier.
” Pinker , of course , is not the first to connect – or equate – religion with delusion .
The evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is probably the most famous contemporary proponent of this view , which has intellectual roots dating back at least to political theorist Karl Marx and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud .
In his book The God Delusion , Dawkins argued that religious faith is “ persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence ” , and thus delusional .
Was Dawkins right ?
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theological grounds .
But the relationship between his thesis and the dominant psychiatric conception of delusion is less often considered : This definition is from the American Psychiatric Association ’ s ( APA ) “ Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ” – often referred to as the “ bible ” of psychiatry .
The definition is well known but controversial , and those who think belief in God is delusional may take issue with the final clause .
Dawkins , for his part , approvingly quoted the writer Robert M Pirsig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person suffers from a delusion , it is called insanity .
When many people suffer from a delusion it is called Religion ” .
So , is the distinction between insanity and religion a mere semantic quibble ?
In a new paper , we review research that examines relationships – and distinctions – between religion and delusion .
The APA ’ s definition of delusion excludes beliefs that are widely accepted .
This drives a seemingly arbitrary wedge between isolated cases of obviously pathological belief and cases where beliefs with the same content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an Australian man who believed his penis had been stolen and replaced with someone else ’ s .
The man had cut his penis and poured boiling water on it , and was surprised that these acts were painful .
This is a clear case of delusion , as the belief is false , and this kind of belief is virtually unheard of in Australia .
But beliefs in genital theft do have some cultural acceptance in other parts of the world .
Indeed , epidemics of such beliefs – so-called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in various countries .
Should a belief cease to be a delusion once widely adopted ?
That ’ s what the APA ’ s definition of delusion seems to imply .
And this focus on shared belief appears to have other surprising implications .
For example , while the APA ’ s definition of delusion may exclude followers of popular religions , the founders of those same religions may not get a pass until they attract a community of followers , at which point the subculture exemption comes into effect .
So there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belief by its popularity .
But we argue that the APA ’ s clause about culture is clinically valuable .
After all , a definition of delusion that pathologizes most of the world ’ s people would be clinically worthless .
Careful attention to cultural judgements can help clinicians distinguish beliefs that require psychiatric treatment from those that do not .
Consider a young Bengali woman ’ s belief that her husband had been possessed by an invisible spiritual creature called a jinn .
Beliefs about jinn possession are widespread in some Muslim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treating psychiatrists ( in Australia ) were aided by a Muslim Bengali caseworker who advised about cultural factors impacting the patient ’ s presentation .
In addition , the APA ’ s emphasis on cultural acceptance is consistent with a growing awareness of the social function of beliefs .
Through our beliefs we do not just model the world around us – we mould it to our purposes .
Our beliefs mark us out as members of certain social groups , helping us to secure trust and cooperation .
Indeed , steadfast endorsement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the claim that the crowd which attended the 2017 presidential inauguration of Donald Trump was the largest in US history – may be equivalent to ritual body piercing or firewalking : a signal of group commitment that is credible to others precisely because it is hard to sustain .
In the case of religious beliefs , there is typically a social payoff to these mental contortions – a range of evidence supports the role of religion in social bonding .
But the prevailing psychiatric view is that delusions are idiosyncratic , alienating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ability to negotiate social alliances .
So what distinguishes healthy religious beliefs – and perhaps beliefs in conspiracy theories – from delusions may be partly a matter of whether or not the belief strengthens community bonds .
If sustaining a belief impairs your daily functioning and disrupts your social relationships , then your belief is more likely to count as a delusion .
Nevertheless , distinctions between healthy and pathological religious beliefs are unlikely to be sharp .
Instead , the emerging picture is of continuity between religious cognition and cognition associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is neither to demonize , nor to defend , religious belief .
While religion is a source of solace and comfort for millions , particular religious beliefs can be “ malignant ” in Pinker ’ s sense – devaluing and damaging mortal lives .
And , unfortunately , malignant beliefs that are shared by the many are far more dangerous than those shared by the few .
Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates — and become part of the discussion — on Facebook and Twitter .
The views expressed are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily reflect the views of the publisher .

As the pandemic raged in April, churchgoers in Ohio defied warnings not to congregate. Some argued that their religion conferred them immunity from COVID-19. In one memorable CNN clip, a woman insisted she would not catch the virus because she was “covered in Jesus’ blood”.
Some weeks later, the cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker commented on the dangers of evangelical religious belief in the coronavirus era. Writing on Facebook, he said: “Belief in an afterlife is a malignant delusion, since it devalues actual lives and discourages action that would make them longer, safer, and happier.”
Pinker, of course, is not the first to connect – or equate – religion with delusion. The evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is probably the most famous contemporary proponent of this view, which has intellectual roots dating back at least to political theorist Karl Marx and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. In his book The God Delusion, Dawkins argued that religious faith is “persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence”, and thus delusional.
Was Dawkins right? Many have critiqued his arguments on philosophical and theological grounds. But the relationship between his thesis and the dominant psychiatric conception of delusion is less often considered:
This definition is from the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” – often referred to as the “bible” of psychiatry. The definition is well known but controversial, and those who think belief in God is delusional may take issue with the final clause. Dawkins, for his part, approvingly quoted the writer Robert M Pirsig’s observation that “when one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called Religion”.
So, is the distinction between insanity and religion a mere semantic quibble? In a new paper, we review research that examines relationships – and distinctions – between religion and delusion.
Penis theft and pathology
The APA’s definition of delusion excludes beliefs that are widely accepted. This drives a seemingly arbitrary wedge between isolated cases of obviously pathological belief and cases where beliefs with the same content have cultural support.
Consider the case of an Australian man who believed his penis had been stolen and replaced with someone else’s. The man had cut his penis and poured boiling water on it, and was surprised that these acts were painful. This is a clear case of delusion, as the belief is false, and this kind of belief is virtually unheard of in Australia.
But beliefs in genital theft do have some cultural acceptance in other parts of the world. Indeed, epidemics of such beliefs – so-called “penis panics” – have been documented in various countries. Should a belief cease to be a delusion once widely adopted? That’s what the APA’s definition of delusion seems to imply.
And this focus on shared belief appears to have other surprising implications. For example, while the APA’s definition of delusion may exclude followers of popular religions, the founders of those same religions may not get a pass until they attract a community of followers, at which point the subculture exemption comes into effect.
Culture and clinical judgment
So there are certainly controversial consequences of judging a belief by its popularity. But we argue that the APA’s clause about culture is clinically valuable. After all, a definition of delusion that pathologizes most of the world’s people would be clinically worthless.
Careful attention to cultural judgements can help clinicians distinguish beliefs that require psychiatric treatment from those that do not. Consider a young Bengali woman’s belief that her husband had been possessed by an invisible spiritual creature called a jinn. Beliefs about jinn possession are widespread in some Muslim communities. In this case, the treating psychiatrists (in Australia) were aided by a Muslim Bengali caseworker who advised about cultural factors impacting the patient’s presentation.
In addition, the APA’s emphasis on cultural acceptance is consistent with a growing awareness of the social function of beliefs. Through our beliefs we do not just model the world around us – we mould it to our purposes. Our beliefs mark us out as members of certain social groups, helping us to secure trust and cooperation.
Indeed, steadfast endorsement of some clearly false propositions – such as the claim that the crowd which attended the 2017 presidential inauguration of Donald Trump was the largest in US history – may be equivalent to ritual body piercing or firewalking: a signal of group commitment that is credible to others precisely because it is hard to sustain.
Community and continuity
In the case of religious beliefs, there is typically a social payoff to these mental contortions – a range of evidence supports the role of religion in social bonding. But the prevailing psychiatric view is that delusions are idiosyncratic, alienating and stigmatising, representing a dysfunction in the ability to negotiate social alliances.
So what distinguishes healthy religious beliefs – and perhaps beliefs in conspiracy theories – from delusions may be partly a matter of whether or not the belief strengthens community bonds. If sustaining a belief impairs your daily functioning and disrupts your social relationships, then your belief is more likely to count as a delusion.
Nevertheless, distinctions between healthy and pathological religious beliefs are unlikely to be sharp. Instead, the emerging picture is of continuity between religious cognition and cognition associated with mental disorders.
Our aim here is neither to demonize, nor to defend, religious belief. While religion is a source of solace and comfort for millions, particular religious beliefs can be “malignant” in Pinker’s sense – devaluing and damaging mortal lives. And, unfortunately, malignant beliefs that are shared by the many are far more dangerous than those shared by the few.
Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates — and become part of the discussion — on Facebook and Twitter. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.


livescience--2020-11-24--Faint 'super-planet' discovered by radio telescope for the 1st time

Scientists have discovered a cold , faint `` super-planet '' that has remained elusive to traditional infrared survey methods .
Observations from the Low-Frequency Array , or LOFAR radio telescope , revealed a brown dwarf , which researchers have designated BDR J1750+3809 and nicknamed Elegast .
are sometimes referred to as failed stars or super-planets because they are too small to be considered stars , yet too big to be considered planets .
Generally , are discovered by infrared sky surveys .
Elegast , however , represents the first substellar object to be detected using a radio telescope , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This work opens a whole new method to finding the floating in the sun 's vicinity , which would otherwise be too faint to discover with the methods used for the past 25 years , '' Michael Liu , coauthor of the study and researcher from the the University of Hawai ' i Institute for Astronomy , said in the statement .
Since brown dwarfs are too small to become stars , they do n't undergo the same nuclear fusion reactions that , like our sun .
Therefore , they are smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stars , making them harder to find using conventional methods , such as infrared instruments .
However , brown dwarfs can emit light at radio wavelengths .
The researchers first discovered Elegast using the radio telescope based in the Netherlands .
Their observations were then later confirmed using the International Gemini Observatory in Hawaii and Chile and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility , which is operated by the University of Hawaiʻi .
`` We asked ourselves , 'Why point our at catalogued brown dwarfs ? '
'' Harish Vedantham , lead author of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute for Radio Astronomy ( ASTRON ) , said in the statement .
`` Let 's just make a large image of the sky and discover these objects directly in the radio . ''
Using the LOFAR instrument to detect Elegast represents an innovative approach that could help scientists discover other celestial objects , such as , that are too cold or faint to be detected by infrared surveys , according to the statement .
The new research was in the Astrophysical Journal Letters .
Follow Samantha Mathewson .
Follow us on Twitter @ @ @

An artist's impression of the new brown dwarf BDR J1750+3809, or "Elegast." This faint, cold celestial body was detected using radio telescope observations for the first time.
Scientists have discovered a cold, faint "super-planet" that has remained elusive to traditional infrared survey methods.
Observations from the Low-Frequency Array, or LOFAR radio telescope, revealed a brown dwarf, which researchers have designated BDR J1750+3809 and nicknamed Elegast. Brown dwarfs are sometimes referred to as failed stars or super-planets because they are too small to be considered stars, yet too big to be considered planets.
Generally, brown dwarfs are discovered by infrared sky surveys. Elegast, however, represents the first substellar object to be detected using a radio telescope, according to a statement from the University of Hawai'i.
Related: Brown dwarfs: Strange failed stars of the universe explained (infographic)
"This work opens a whole new method to finding the coldest objects floating in the sun's vicinity, which would otherwise be too faint to discover with the methods used for the past 25 years," Michael Liu, coauthor of the study and researcher from the the University of Hawai'i Institute for Astronomy, said in the statement.
Since brown dwarfs are too small to become stars, they don't undergo the same nuclear fusion reactions that fuel bright stars , like our sun. Therefore, they are smaller, dimmer, and colder than normal stars, making them harder to find using conventional methods, such as infrared instruments. However, brown dwarfs can emit light at radio wavelengths.
The researchers first discovered Elegast using the LOFAR radio telescope based in the Netherlands. Their observations were then later confirmed using the International Gemini Observatory in Hawaii and Chile and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, which is operated by the University of Hawaiʻi.
"We asked ourselves, 'Why point our radio telescope at catalogued brown dwarfs?'" Harish Vedantham, lead author of the study and astronomer from the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), said in the statement. "Let's just make a large image of the sky and discover these objects directly in the radio."
Using the LOFAR instrument to detect Elegast represents an innovative approach that could help scientists discover other celestial objects, such as gas giant exoplanets , that are too cold or faint to be detected by infrared surveys, according to the statement.
The new research was published Nov. 9 in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.


livescience--2020-11-24--Hubble captures a black hole's 'shadow beams,' yawning across space

In images from the Hubble Space Telescope , scientists have spotted an entirely new phenomenon .
Reaching tens of thousands of light-years into the void of space , vast shadows stretch from the centre of the galaxy IC 5063 , as though something is blocking the bright light from therein .
You 've probably seen something very like it before – bright beams from the Sun when it 's just below the horizon and clouds or mountains only partially block its light , known as crepuscular rays .
According to astronomers , the shadows from IC 5063 could be something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole lot bigger – at least 36,000 light-years in each direction .
IC 5063 , a galaxy 156 million light-years away , is a Seyfert galaxy .
This means it has an active nucleus ; the supermassive black hole at its centre is busily guzzling down material from a dense accretion disc and torus of dust and gas around it .
Although the supermassive black hole itself gives off no light , the intense forces involved in this massive accretion process generate so much heat and light from the region around the black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across space .
It 's this light , astronomers think , that is being shadowed .
The obstruction ?
Likely caused by dust .
`` We think we 've found evidence that there is probably dust all over the galaxy scattering light from the accreting black hole in the galaxy 's active nucleus , and that the light can illuminate almost the whole galaxy , '' said astronomer Peter Maksym of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics .
`` We know that this galaxy recently had a merger with another galaxy and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's also possible that the black hole jets are kicking up dust from near the nucleus . ''
The strange features were originally spotted in December 2019 by amateur space image processor Judy Schmidt .
She was reprocessing raw data from new Hubble Space Telescope observations into images , obtained in 2018 and 2019 .
In the original images , there was no sign of the cone-shaped features .
But Schmidt spotted something awry straight away .
`` I noticed the dark rays almost immediately after I 'd opened the file in Photoshop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure what I thought I saw was there , '' Schmidt explained .
`` Even after I 'd processed it , I kept blinking my eyes wondering if I was seeing what I thought I was seeing , '' she added .
She posted her strange discovery to Twitter , and astronomers – including Maksym – were immediately intrigued .
He and colleagues , who were already working on the jets produced by IC 5063 's supermassive black hole , got to work on studying the strange shadowy shapes .
They used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Hubble Space Telescope 's Wide Field Camera 3 .
At those wavelengths , the instrument can peer through the dust to get a better understanding of the galaxy 's centre .
Based on the team 's analysis , there could be gaps or clear lanes in the torus of dust and gas that shrouds the innermost core of IC 5063 .
If the black hole were tipped on its side with respect to the galactic plane , some light from the galactic nucleus would be blocked by the denser regions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out through these gaps , creating colossal galactic crepuscular rays .
The gaps would have to be stable for at least 36,000 years for the rays to create more-or-less consistent straight lines .
This places some constraints that may help astronomers better understand the dynamics at play in the centre of a galaxy 156 million light-years away .
If it is the torus responsible , that tells us the structure is quite thin and could be being warped by torque in the galactic centre .
`` The discovery shows that the torus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – light seems to get out almost everywhere .
If the torus is big enough it becomes unstable , the gravity and rotation holding it together point one direction near the black hole and in a different direction as influences from the galaxy start to become important .
This looks like a warp or a bend , '' Maksym said .
`` Scientifically , it 's showing us something that is hard – usually impossible – to see directly .
We know this phenomenon should happen , but in this case , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Knowing more about the geometry of the torus will have implications for anybody trying to understand the behavior of supermassive black holes and their environments . ''
Because this is the first time we have actually seen this , it may take some time to unravel what 's actually going on .
There are other possibilities yet to be ruled out .
A mysterious encounter could have created unusual X-shaped stellar orbits .
The destruction of dust by hot outflows from the galactic nucleus has also not entirely been ruled out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , based on their modelling .
The next step will be to take more observations in other wavelengths with a range of instruments , and use those new data as a basis to perform detailed modelling .
`` This is a project that is just begging for new data because it raises more questions than it answers , '' Maksym said .
The research has been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters .
This article was originally published by ScienceAlert .
Read the original article here .

A ring of dusty material surrounding this black hole may be casting its shadow into space, astronomers say.
In images from the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists have spotted an entirely new phenomenon. Reaching tens of thousands of light-years into the void of space, vast shadows stretch from the centre of the galaxy IC 5063, as though something is blocking the bright light from therein.
You've probably seen something very like it before – bright beams from the Sun when it's just below the horizon and clouds or mountains only partially block its light, known as crepuscular rays. According to astronomers, the shadows from IC 5063 could be something very similar. They're just a whole lot bigger – at least 36,000 light-years in each direction.
IC 5063, a galaxy 156 million light-years away, is a Seyfert galaxy. This means it has an active nucleus; the supermassive black hole at its centre is busily guzzling down material from a dense accretion disc and torus of dust and gas around it.
Although the supermassive black hole itself gives off no light, the intense forces involved in this massive accretion process generate so much heat and light from the region around the black hole that the galactic nucleus absolutely blazes across space. It's this light, astronomers think, that is being shadowed. The obstruction? Likely caused by dust.
"We think we've found evidence that there is probably dust all over the galaxy scattering light from the accreting black hole in the galaxy's active nucleus, and that the light can illuminate almost the whole galaxy," said astronomer Peter Maksym of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
"We know that this galaxy recently had a merger with another galaxy and that could kick up dust everywhere. It's also possible that the black hole jets are kicking up dust from near the nucleus."
The strange features were originally spotted in December 2019 by amateur space image processor Judy Schmidt. She was reprocessing raw data from new Hubble Space Telescope observations into images, obtained in 2018 and 2019.
In the original images, there was no sign of the cone-shaped features. But Schmidt spotted something awry straight away.
"I noticed the dark rays almost immediately after I'd opened the file in Photoshop and began working to enhance them to make sure what I thought I saw was there," Schmidt explained.
"Even after I'd processed it, I kept blinking my eyes wondering if I was seeing what I thought I was seeing," she added.
She posted her strange discovery to Twitter, and astronomers – including Maksym – were immediately intrigued. He and colleagues, who were already working on the jets produced by IC 5063's supermassive black hole, got to work on studying the strange shadowy shapes.
In this Hubble Space Telescope image of the heart of nearby active galaxy IC 5063 reveals a mixture of bright rays and dark shadows coming from the blazing core, home of a supermassive black hole. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, STScI and W.P. Maksym (CfA))
They used near-infrared observations taken in March and November with the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3. At those wavelengths, the instrument can peer through the dust to get a better understanding of the galaxy's centre.
Based on the team's analysis, there could be gaps or clear lanes in the torus of dust and gas that shrouds the innermost core of IC 5063. If the black hole were tipped on its side with respect to the galactic plane, some light from the galactic nucleus would be blocked by the denser regions of the torus, but some would slip out through these gaps, creating colossal galactic crepuscular rays.
The gaps would have to be stable for at least 36,000 years for the rays to create more-or-less consistent straight lines. This places some constraints that may help astronomers better understand the dynamics at play in the centre of a galaxy 156 million light-years away.
If it is the torus responsible, that tells us the structure is quite thin and could be being warped by torque in the galactic centre.
"The discovery shows that the torus, or ring, could be very thin – light seems to get out almost everywhere. If the torus is big enough it becomes unstable, the gravity and rotation holding it together point one direction near the black hole and in a different direction as influences from the galaxy start to become important. This looks like a warp or a bend," Maksym said.
"Scientifically, it's showing us something that is hard – usually impossible – to see directly. We know this phenomenon should happen, but in this case, we can see the effects throughout the galaxy. Knowing more about the geometry of the torus will have implications for anybody trying to understand the behavior of supermassive black holes and their environments."
This illustration depicts one possible explanation for the mysterious bright rays and dark shadows observed emanating from the blazingly bright center of nearby active galaxy IC 5063. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, and Z. Levy (STScI))
Because this is the first time we have actually seen this, it may take some time to unravel what's actually going on. There are other possibilities yet to be ruled out. A mysterious encounter could have created unusual X-shaped stellar orbits. The destruction of dust by hot outflows from the galactic nucleus has also not entirely been ruled out, although the team notes it seems unlikely, based on their modelling.
The next step will be to take more observations in other wavelengths with a range of instruments, and use those new data as a basis to perform detailed modelling.
"This is a project that is just begging for new data because it raises more questions than it answers," Maksym said.
The research has been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
This article was originally published by ScienceAlert. Read the original article here.


livescience--2020-11-24--Stratolaunch starts building Talon hypersonic plane for Mach 6 flights

Stratolaunch has started construction on a prototype hypersonic vehicle designed to launch from the world 's biggest airplane .
Recent pictures the company shared on Twitter show a prelude of the sleek Talon-A reusable hypersonic vehicle coming together in a manufacturing facility .
`` The upper skin layup tool and prototype upper skin are giving us a peek at what 's to come .
One .
Step .
Closer , '' Stratolaunch .
In a separate missive , Stratolaunch thanked their employees for the ongoing hard work .
`` Maybe we 're biased , but we think we have some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … and beyond , '' the company .
The construction is a promising start after months of uncertainty for Stratolaunch , the future of which came into question after founder Paul Allen ( also co-founder of Microsoft ) died in October 2018 and the company was sold a year later .
In March 2020 , however , Stratolaunch announced it would pivot its services to building , testing and operating hypersonic vehicles : vehicles that fly at , or five times faster than the speed of sound .
`` Our hypersonic testbeds will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renaissance in hypersonic technologies for our government , the commercial sector and academia , '' Stratolaunch CEO W. Jean Floyd said in a statement on the company website .
Stratolaunch 's Talon-A will be 28 feet ( 8.5 meters ) long with a mass of 6,000 lbs .
( 2,700 kilograms ) and will fly as fast as Mach 6 , the .
Key components for the plane appear to be well under way , too .
In late October , Stratolaunch said testing on its first engine was complete , courtesy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Major Tech .
You can see a two-minute video of an engine test here .
Stratolaunch also signed an agreement with Draper , a decades-old engineering nonprofit , last month to provide guidance , navigation and control software for the hypersonic vehicle .
`` Under the multi-year contract , Draper will design , develop and deliver a guidance , navigation and control system for the Stratolaunch reusable hypersonic vehicle , '' wrote .
`` The vehicle is designed for use by government , the Department of Defense , the commercial sector and academia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for space or Earth applications . ''
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @ howellspace .
Follow us on Twitter @ Spacedotcom and on Facebook .

Stratolaunch has started construction on a prototype hypersonic vehicle designed to launch from the world's biggest airplane.
Recent pictures the company shared on Twitter show a prelude of the sleek Stratolaunch Talon-A reusable hypersonic vehicle coming together in a manufacturing facility.
"The upper skin layup tool and prototype upper skin are giving us a peek at what's to come. One. Step. Closer," Stratolaunch said on Twitter Oct. 20 . In a separate missive, Stratolaunch thanked their employees for the ongoing hard work. "Maybe we're biased, but we think we have some of the coolest jobs on the planet … and beyond," the company tweeted Oct. 22 .
Related: Stratolaunch test photos: The world's largest plane in action
The construction is a promising start after months of uncertainty for Stratolaunch, the future of which came into question after founder Paul Allen (also co-founder of Microsoft) died in October 2018 and the company was sold a year later .
In March 2020, however, Stratolaunch announced it would pivot its services to building, testing and operating hypersonic vehicles : vehicles that fly at Mach 5 , or five times faster than the speed of sound.
"Our hypersonic testbeds will serve as a catalyst in sparking a renaissance in hypersonic technologies for our government, the commercial sector and academia," Stratolaunch CEO W. Jean Floyd said in a statement on the company website .
Stratolaunch's Talon-A will be 28 feet (8.5 meters) long with a mass of 6,000 lbs. (2,700 kilograms) and will fly as fast as Mach 6, the company has said . Key components for the plane appear to be well under way, too.
In late October, Stratolaunch said testing on its first engine was complete , courtesy of a partnership agreement with propulsion company Ursa Major Tech. You can see a two-minute video of an engine test here .
Stratolaunch also signed an agreement with Draper, a decades-old engineering nonprofit, last month to provide guidance, navigation and control software for the hypersonic vehicle.
"Under the multi-year contract, Draper will design, develop and deliver a guidance, navigation and control system for the Stratolaunch reusable hypersonic vehicle," Draper representatives wrote in a statement . "The vehicle is designed for use by government, the Department of Defense, the commercial sector and academia, which will contract for payload capacity for space or Earth applications."
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.


livescience--2020-11-24--Margaret Thatcher: Facts about the controversial prime minister in 'The Crown'

More than 30 years since she was last in power , Margaret Thatcher remains a divisive figure in Britain .
Some see the prime minister as having saved the country from economic decline , while others believe she destroyed the livelihoods of millions of workers .
But none can deny that Thatcher became a legend in her own lifetime .
Related : Read a FREE issue of All About History magazine Born Margaret Roberts on Oct. 13 , 1925 , Thatcher had a humble but comfortable upbringing , living with her family in an apartment above her parents ' grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to being a grocer , Thatcher 's father , Alfred Roberts , was also a preacher and a local politician , having held a seat on the local town council for several years and serving as Mayor of Grantham from 1945 - 1946 .
Her father 's religious devotion and interest in politics , no doubt , influenced Thatcher 's views and career path as an adult .
She was a determined student , and after attending grammar school on a scholarship , was granted admission to Oxford in 1943 — an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most women in the years after World War II .
She graduated Oxford in 1947 with a chemistry degree , having specialized in X-ray crystallography while under the supervision of Dorothy Hodgkin , a Nobel Prize-winning chemist .
After graduating , Thatcher worked as a chemist for BX Plastics in Colchester , Essex .
In 1948 she applied for a job at Imperial Chemical Industries , but was denied because she was `` headstrong , obstinate and dangerously self-opinionated , '' according to a BBC article .
Unperturbed , she continued her career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for politics by joining the local Conservative Association .
Then , in the 1950 and 1951 general elections , she was the Conservative candidate for a Labour seat in Parliament .
She lost both times but stood out among her competition as the youngest and only woman candidate , according to John Blundell 's biography `` Margaret Thatcher : A Portrait of the Iron Lady '' ( Algora , 2008 ) .
In 1949 , soon after being selected as a Member of Parliament ( MP ) candidate , Thatcher ( still Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a World War II veteran and successful businessman , who had just recently divorced .
Margaret thought Denis was `` nice , '' but was n't swept off her feet by any means , according to a report by The Telegraph .
Nonetheless , the two stayed in touch and married on Dec. 13 , 1951 .
After failing to be selected as the Conservative candidate for the 1955 by-election to replace Sir Waldron Smithers , a Conservative MP who had died , Thatcher took a step back from politics to focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to John Campbell 's book `` Margaret Thatcher Volume One : The Grocer 's Daughter '' ( Johnathan Cape , 2000 ) .
Finally , in 1959 , after a challenging campaign , Thatcher was elected as the Conservative MP for the county of Finchley .
For the next decade , she served in a variety of political posts , consistently attracting attention for being a young woman in politics and for her sometimes controversial views , such as her support for capital punishment .
Her first role as a top government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Edward Heath appointed Thatcher to his Cabinet as Secretary of State for Education and Science .
During her time in office she oversaw the expansion of comprehensive schools , which are secondary schools that welcome all students rather than selecting students based on academics or wealth , as grammar schools do .
There were supporters and detractors of comprehensive schools , but at the heart of the criticism was the belief that it underpinned class-based society and stifled aspiration , especially in the poorer disadvantaged areas .
Thatcher 's popularity in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abolished free milk for school children over seven years old as part of the government 's broader effort to cut spending .
Many people began to see her as an enemy of the health and wellbeing of the nation 's future , and the phrase `` Mrs. Thatcher , milk snatcher '' was born .
However , government papers revealed later that Thatcher opposed the decision to stop the program , but was forced to go through with it by the Treasury , according to The Independent .
She was so upset by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics .
But she persisted , and as Heath 's government struggled through the 1970s , Thatcher began to emerge as a political leader .
In 1975 , she was elected as the Conservative Party leader and Leader of the Opposition , making her the first woman to lead a major political party in Britain , according to the Margaret Thatcher Foundation .
In January 1976 , Thatcher delivered a speech at Kensington Town Hall in London , and spoke about the Iron Curtain — the political boundary that separated Europe during World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the speech referred to Thatcher as the `` Iron Lady , '' according to the Margaret Thatcher Foundation .
The nickname followed her throughout the rest of her career and long after .
In 1979 , Thatcher became not only Britain 's first woman prime minister , but the first woman to govern a western democracy .
Advocating for people to be less dependent on the state and more able to make their own choices , her policies were bold and controversial in equal measure ; increasing indirect taxes and reducing contributions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , failing economy , her solutions were harsh and difficult to bear for the poor and disadvantaged in society .
However , her grit and determination prevailed and her famous `` the lady 's not for turning '' speech at the Conservative Party Conference in 1980 left her critics in no doubt as to her vision and strength of her will .
Not everyone suffered under Thatcher 's government .
Her focus was to inject momentum and strength into the economy with initiatives such as the ability of tenants to buy their council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public housing ) , and for anyone to be allowed to purchase shares in the main utility companies as part of a massive privatization program ; all pursued with a firm belief in giving all men and women greater choices in where to put their money and a pride in their future .
National pride was at the center of a pivotal moment in Thatcher 's leadership .
Following the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina in 1982 , and with diplomatic channels exhausted , the prime minister took the momentous decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands to sail down to the South Atlantic to retake the British Overseas Territory .
It was a move that galvanised a nation , united in a patriotic fervor and single belief that Britain was still a major player to be reckoned with on the world stage .
With the Argentinian army forced to surrender , a hero 's welcome awaited the returning task force and Thatcher referred to the `` Falklands spirit '' for many years afterwards , The Guardian reported .
But it came at a price : over 250 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation .
There was criticism from some quarters , but the majority voice was one of support , and for a while she was able to ride the crest of the wave .
As a player on the international stage she became a force to be reckoned with .
Her role in aiding the peace process of Northern Ireland by signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement is in direct contrast to her personal attacks on the Republican hunger strikers .
Her relations with U.S. President Ronald Reagan gave her the platform from which she could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global influence to be taken seriously and listened to , even if this meant a lack of popularity at home .
The American cruise missiles based at Greenham Common , the use of British Royal Air Force bases for U.S. aircraft to bomb Libya ; all this played into the hands of those accusing Thatcher of being a puppet of the United States .
But Thatcher did not view herself so blinkered in this way , and as part of her global char , strategy , was even willing to engage with those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political spectrum ; she was the first British Prime Minister to visit the People 's Republic of China , and she formed closer ties with the reformist policies of Mikhail Gorbachev as he guided the Soviet Union out of the Cold War .
But the glittering glamour of foreign policy was to be overshadowed by a grim harsh reality for many living under Thatcher 's domestic agenda .
The introduction of the Community Charge , or `` Poll Tax '' as it became known , became synonymous with Thatcherism at its most brutal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxation of individuals thereby dividing the nation along lines of the have and have-nots , which for many was the same as class .
Protests were country-wide and many of the bigger cities saw violence and riots , The Independent reported .
Having seen a previous traditional , conservative government brought to its knees by union strike action , Thatcher was determined to prevent it from happening again .
But when she clashed with the unions in 1984 over the closure of unprofitable coal pits , it was a confrontation of epic proportions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Arthur Scargill , President of the National Union of Mineworkers refused to hold a strike vote , which meant the strike was deemed unlawful .
Whole communities suffered as the industrial action dragged on , according to Martin Adeney and John Loyd 's book `` The Miners ' Strike , 1984-1985 '' ( Taylor and Francis , 1988 ) .
Images of violent clashes between strikers and police were beamed around the world .
Thatcher stood firm , and was living up to her `` Iron Lady '' reputation , but many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncaring for the damage she was causing to honest hardworking families .
After a year , the unions were forced to back down , opening up a new era in industrial relations and leaving the unions a shadow of their former selves .
The era of Thatcher was an era of change .
In response to political and social turmoil of the 1970s the world of the 1980s and beyond became a very different place , but at what cost ?
For her it was no pain , no gain .
For others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society .
She enabled huge numbers of people to own their own homes and to benefit from shared ownership , but she stripped entire communities of their livelihood and left many feeling targeted and victimised by unfair taxation .
It can not be denied that she broke the mould when she came to power , only to be criticised by some for not governing more like a woman and by others for not being more like a man .
Her resolve , focus and self belief can not be questioned nor her ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a world figure she became a colossus , but by her third term in office the cracks were beginning to show and former loyalties turning against her until , eventually , she perhaps stayed just a little too long and went out on a whimper rather than a bang .
While her advocacy of laissez-faire economics and individual self-determination lives on as the right-wing philosophy we call Thatcherism , her real legacy is in how she transformed Britain — even if we 're still debating if it was for better or worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's speeches and more information about the prime minister , from the Margaret Thatcher Foundation .
• Read more about Thatcher 's time in office , according to the British government • Here 's another biography of Thatcher , published by Churchill College .
This article was adapted from a previous version published in All About History magazine , a Future Ltd. publication .
To learn more about some of history 's most incredible stories , subscribe to All About History magazine .

More than 30 years since she was last in power, Margaret Thatcher remains a divisive figure in Britain. Some see the prime minister as having saved the country from economic decline, while others believe she destroyed the livelihoods of millions of workers. But none can deny that Thatcher became a legend in her own lifetime.
Related: Read a FREE issue of All About History magazine
Early years
Born Margaret Roberts on Oct. 13, 1925, Thatcher had a humble but comfortable upbringing, living with her family in an apartment above her parents' grocery store in Grantham, Lincolnshire. In addition to being a grocer, Thatcher's father, Alfred Roberts, was also a preacher and a local politician, having held a seat on the local town council for several years and serving as Mayor of Grantham from 1945 - 1946. Her father's religious devotion and interest in politics, no doubt, influenced Thatcher's views and career path as an adult.
She was a determined student, and after attending grammar school on a scholarship, was granted admission to Oxford in 1943 — an ambition still firmly out of reach of most women in the years after World War II. She graduated Oxford in 1947 with a chemistry degree, having specialized in X-ray crystallography while under the supervision of Dorothy Hodgkin, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist.
Related: Gallery: A treasure trove of Britain's old newspapers
After graduating, Thatcher worked as a chemist for BX Plastics in Colchester, Essex. In 1948 she applied for a job at Imperial Chemical Industries, but was denied because she was "headstrong, obstinate and dangerously self-opinionated," according to a BBC article. Unperturbed, she continued her career as a chemist while satisfying her appetite for politics by joining the local Conservative Association. Then, in the 1950 and 1951 general elections, she was the Conservative candidate for a Labour seat in Parliament. She lost both times but stood out among her competition as the youngest and only woman candidate, according to John Blundell's biography "Margaret Thatcher: A Portrait of the Iron Lady" (Algora, 2008).
In 1949, soon after being selected as a Member of Parliament (MP) candidate, Thatcher (still Roberts at that time) met Denis Thatcher, a World War II veteran and successful businessman, who had just recently divorced. Margaret thought Denis was "nice," but wasn't swept off her feet by any means, according to a report by The Telegraph. Nonetheless, the two stayed in touch and married on Dec. 13, 1951.
Margaret Thatcher at a meeting of the Christian Democratic Union in Hannover, Germany in 1976. (Image credit: Rust/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Her rise in politics
After failing to be selected as the Conservative candidate for the 1955 by-election to replace Sir Waldron Smithers, a Conservative MP who had died, Thatcher took a step back from politics to focus on raising her two-year-old twin children, according to John Campbell's book "Margaret Thatcher Volume One: The Grocer's Daughter" (Johnathan Cape, 2000).
Finally, in 1959, after a challenging campaign, Thatcher was elected as the Conservative MP for the county of Finchley. For the next decade, she served in a variety of political posts, consistently attracting attention for being a young woman in politics and for her sometimes controversial views, such as her support for capital punishment.
Her first role as a top government official came in 1970, when Prime Minister Edward Heath appointed Thatcher to his Cabinet as Secretary of State for Education and Science. During her time in office she oversaw the expansion of comprehensive schools, which are secondary schools that welcome all students rather than selecting students based on academics or wealth, as grammar schools do. There were supporters and detractors of comprehensive schools, but at the heart of the criticism was the belief that it underpinned class-based society and stifled aspiration, especially in the poorer disadvantaged areas.
Thatcher's popularity in her Cabinet role continued to decline when she abolished free milk for school children over seven years old as part of the government's broader effort to cut spending. Many people began to see her as an enemy of the health and wellbeing of the nation's future, and the phrase "Mrs. Thatcher, milk snatcher" was born. However, government papers revealed later that Thatcher opposed the decision to stop the program, but was forced to go through with it by the Treasury, according to The Independent. She was so upset by the negative response that she almost left politics.
But she persisted, and as Heath's government struggled through the 1970s, Thatcher began to emerge as a political leader. In 1975, she was elected as the Conservative Party leader and Leader of the Opposition, making her the first woman to lead a major political party in Britain, according to the Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
In January 1976, Thatcher delivered a speech at Kensington Town Hall in London, and spoke about the Iron Curtain — the political boundary that separated Europe during World War II. A Soviet newspaper story about the speech referred to Thatcher as the "Iron Lady," according to the Margaret Thatcher Foundation. The nickname followed her throughout the rest of her career and long after.
British prime minister candidate Margaret Thatcher speaks at a podium in an arena during the 1979 parliamentary election. (Image credit: Owen Franken/Corbis via Getty Images)
Prime Minister Thatcher
In 1979, Thatcher became not only Britain's first woman prime minister, but the first woman to govern a western democracy.
Advocating for people to be less dependent on the state and more able to make their own choices, her policies were bold and controversial in equal measure; increasing indirect taxes and reducing contributions from government. Having inherited a poor, failing economy, her solutions were harsh and difficult to bear for the poor and disadvantaged in society. However, her grit and determination prevailed and her famous "the lady's not for turning" speech at the Conservative Party Conference in 1980 left her critics in no doubt as to her vision and strength of her will.
Not everyone suffered under Thatcher's government. Her focus was to inject momentum and strength into the economy with initiatives such as the ability of tenants to buy their council house (Britain's version of communal public housing), and for anyone to be allowed to purchase shares in the main utility companies as part of a massive privatization program; all pursued with a firm belief in giving all men and women greater choices in where to put their money and a pride in their future.
Related: Who inherits the British throne?
National pride was at the center of a pivotal moment in Thatcher's leadership. Following the invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina in 1982, and with diplomatic channels exhausted, the prime minister took the momentous decision to create and deploy a task force of thousands to sail down to the South Atlantic to retake the British Overseas Territory. It was a move that galvanised a nation, united in a patriotic fervor and single belief that Britain was still a major player to be reckoned with on the world stage. With the Argentinian army forced to surrender, a hero's welcome awaited the returning task force and Thatcher referred to the "Falklands spirit" for many years afterwards, The Guardian reported. But it came at a price: over 250 British dead that were mourned by a nation. There was criticism from some quarters, but the majority voice was one of support, and for a while she was able to ride the crest of the wave.
As a player on the international stage she became a force to be reckoned with. Her role in aiding the peace process of Northern Ireland by signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement is in direct contrast to her personal attacks on the Republican hunger strikers. Her relations with U.S. President Ronald Reagan gave her the platform from which she could project the image of Britain as a global influence to be taken seriously and listened to, even if this meant a lack of popularity at home. The American cruise missiles based at Greenham Common, the use of British Royal Air Force bases for U.S. aircraft to bomb Libya; all this played into the hands of those accusing Thatcher of being a puppet of the United States.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan speak at The South Portico of the White House after their meetings in the Oval Office in September 1983. (Image credit: Shutterstock)
But Thatcher did not view herself so blinkered in this way, and as part of her global char, strategy, was even willing to engage with those at the complete opposite end of the political spectrum; she was the first British Prime Minister to visit the People's Republic of China, and she formed closer ties with the reformist policies of Mikhail Gorbachev as he guided the Soviet Union out of the Cold War.
But the glittering glamour of foreign policy was to be overshadowed by a grim harsh reality for many living under Thatcher's domestic agenda. The introduction of the Community Charge, or "Poll Tax" as it became known, became synonymous with Thatcherism at its most brutal, with taxation of property moving to taxation of individuals thereby dividing the nation along lines of the have and have-nots, which for many was the same as class. Protests were country-wide and many of the bigger cities saw violence and riots, The Independent reported.
Related: Margaret Thatcher: Why powerful women face more stress
Having seen a previous traditional, conservative government brought to its knees by union strike action, Thatcher was determined to prevent it from happening again. But when she clashed with the unions in 1984 over the closure of unprofitable coal pits, it was a confrontation of epic proportions, and one she intended to win.
Arthur Scargill, President of the National Union of Mineworkers refused to hold a strike vote, which meant the strike was deemed unlawful. Whole communities suffered as the industrial action dragged on, according to Martin Adeney and John Loyd's book "The Miners' Strike, 1984-1985" (Taylor and Francis, 1988). Images of violent clashes between strikers and police were beamed around the world. Thatcher stood firm, and was living up to her "Iron Lady" reputation, but many saw her as cold and heartless, uncaring for the damage she was causing to honest hardworking families. After a year, the unions were forced to back down, opening up a new era in industrial relations and leaving the unions a shadow of their former selves.
Thatcher's legacy
The era of Thatcher was an era of change. In response to political and social turmoil of the 1970s the world of the 1980s and beyond became a very different place, but at what cost? For her it was no pain, no gain. For others, it was a brutal dissection of society. She enabled huge numbers of people to own their own homes and to benefit from shared ownership, but she stripped entire communities of their livelihood and left many feeling targeted and victimised by unfair taxation.
Related: 'Iron Lady' Margaret Thatcher dies at 87
It cannot be denied that she broke the mould when she came to power, only to be criticised by some for not governing more like a woman and by others for not being more like a man. Her resolve, focus and self belief cannot be questioned nor her ability to ignite passions on all sides. As a world figure she became a colossus, but by her third term in office the cracks were beginning to show and former loyalties turning against her until, eventually, she perhaps stayed just a little too long and went out on a whimper rather than a bang. While her advocacy of laissez-faire economics and individual self-determination lives on as the right-wing philosophy we call Thatcherism, her real legacy is in how she transformed Britain — even if we're still debating if it was for better or worse.
Additional resources:
Find archived transcripts of Thatcher's speeches and more information about the prime minister, from the Margaret Thatcher Foundation.
Read more about Thatcher's time in office, according to the British government
Here's another biography of Thatcher, published by Churchill College.
This article was adapted from a previous version published in All About History magazine, a Future Ltd. publication. To learn more about some of history's most incredible stories, subscribe to All About History magazine.