livescience--2020-12-17--Ötzi the Iceman may have scaled ice-free Alps

Ötzi the Iceman , a Copper Age wanderer found mummified in the Alps nearly three decades ago , may have lived at a time when the glaciers were advancing down from the highest peaks to the lower slopes of the mountains .
The ice that preserved Ötzi upon his death in about 3300 B.C .
has melted since the mummy was discovered in 1991 .
But a new analysis of ice only 7.4 miles ( 12 kilometers ) from where Ötzi was found suggests that only the very highest peaks were covered in glaciers until slightly before the iceman 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Ötzi was born , nearby mountains may have been ice-free .
The findings suggest that during the Holocene , the epoch covering 11,650 years ago to the present , glaciers in the Alps have changed dramatically .
`` Our main finding is that the ice is 5,900 years old , more or less , which is just a bit older than the iceman , '' said Pascal Bohleber , who studies glacial ice at the Austrian Academy of Sciences .
`` This suggests that , in this region , we had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions that were ice-free or with glaciers distinctly smaller than today . ''
Most of the history of ice in the Alps has been gleaned from glacial tongues within relatively low-elevation valleys , Bohleber told Live Science .
Ice cores have been drilled at a few summit locations , he said , but most of those are in the western Alps above about 12,000 feet ( 4,000 meters ) .
The two ice cores analyzed in the new study came from the summit glacier of Weißseespitze in the Austrian part of the Ötzal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,500 m ) elevation .
Bohleber and his colleagues ferried themselves and their equipment to the summit by helicopter and drilled 36 feet ( 11 m ) down to where the ice was frozen fast to the bedrock .
This was crucial for a continuous record of ice , because meltwater not only carries away the historical record as it flows but causes the ice to slide and deform , also erasing decades or centuries of data .
Fortunately , the ice at the base of the Weißseespitze glacier had never melted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trouble .
Meltwater on top of the ice threatened to contaminate layers below , so the team did much of their drilling after sunset , when the ice was firmer .
The research team then analyzed microscopic amounts of trapped within the ice .
The method used radiocarbon dating , which measures the level of carbon 14 in a sample .
Carbon 14 is a radioactive variation of carbon that decays over time , thus providing a sort of clock that pinpoints the age of the sample .
The results showed that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , give or take 700 years , the researchers report today ( Dec. 17 ) in the journal .
( Ötzi died approximately 5,300 years ago . )
This is younger than ice found at higher elevations elsewhere in the Alps , particularly above 13,100 feet ( 4,000 ) meters .
At Colle Gnifetti glacier in the Swiss-Italian Alps , for example , the oldest ice dates back at least 11,500 years .
Alongside data from stalagmites and ancient forests , the ice record seems to suggest that during the Holocene , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at high elevations , Bohleber said , and it 's possible that Ötzi watched the glaciers advance during his 45-year life span .
That could have implications for current studies of climate change , he added .
`` We are now adding a strong anthropogenic [ human-influenced ] component in climate change on top of this , and see the glaciers disappearing so rapidly today , '' Bohleber said .
`` This rate of change is something that we urgently need more information on . ''
Unfortunately , the research ca n't directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether he died in an ice field or the ice entombed him soon after .
The ice around the mummy melted before scientists had the technology to date minuscule amounts of carbon as they can today , so there 's no way to investigate the question directly .
It 's not clear whether the glaciers had advanced to where the iceman died , but the new results do show that it was icy a short hike away .
The lost opportunity to study Ötzi 's resting place highlights the myriad other opportunities that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
The Weißseespitze glacier is expected to vanish within two decades .
The scientific information held within many Alpine glaciers could be gone even sooner than the ice itself , as meltwater will disturb , and ultimately erase , the potential climate record in the ice layers , Bohleber said .
`` If we do n't do it now , we will have little time to do this in the future , '' he said , `` so we are really searching for other sites that may still have this old ice @ @

The Ötzal Alps, where Ötzi the Iceman was found three decades ago, may have been largely ice-free during his time.
Ötzi the Iceman, a Copper Age wanderer found mummified in the Alps nearly three decades ago, may have lived at a time when the glaciers were advancing down from the highest peaks to the lower slopes of the mountains.
The ice that preserved Ötzi upon his death in about 3300 B.C. has melted since the mummy was discovered in 1991. But a new analysis of ice only 7.4 miles (12 kilometers) from where Ötzi was found suggests that only the very highest peaks were covered in glaciers until slightly before the iceman's lifetime. Just a few hundred years before Ötzi was born, nearby mountains may have been ice-free.
The findings suggest that during the Holocene, the epoch covering 11,650 years ago to the present, glaciers in the Alps have changed dramatically.
Related: Mummy melodrama: Top 9 secrets of Ötzi the iceman
"Our main finding is that the ice is 5,900 years old, more or less, which is just a bit older than the iceman," said Pascal Bohleber, who studies glacial ice at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. "This suggests that, in this region, we had a time where glaciers started to form in conditions that were ice-free or with glaciers distinctly smaller than today."
A history in ice
Most of the history of ice in the Alps has been gleaned from glacial tongues within relatively low-elevation valleys, Bohleber told Live Science. Ice cores have been drilled at a few summit locations, he said, but most of those are in the western Alps above about 12,000 feet (4,000 meters).
The two ice cores analyzed in the new study came from the summit glacier of Weißseespitze in the Austrian part of the Ötzal Alps, at about 11,500 feet (3,500 m) elevation. Bohleber and his colleagues ferried themselves and their equipment to the summit by helicopter and drilled 36 feet (11 m) down to where the ice was frozen fast to the bedrock. This was crucial for a continuous record of ice, because meltwater not only carries away the historical record as it flows but causes the ice to slide and deform, also erasing decades or centuries of data. Fortunately, the ice at the base of the Weißseespitze glacier had never melted, but warming temperatures still caused the researchers trouble. Meltwater on top of the ice threatened to contaminate layers below, so the team did much of their drilling after sunset, when the ice was firmer.
The ice core drilling operation at Weißseespitze summit glacier. (Image credit: Andrea Fischer)
The research team then analyzed microscopic amounts of carbon trapped within the ice. The method used radiocarbon dating, which measures the level of carbon 14 in a sample. Carbon 14 is a radioactive variation of carbon that decays over time, thus providing a sort of clock that pinpoints the age of the sample.
The results showed that the oldest ice dated back to 5,900 years ago, give or take 700 years, the researchers report today (Dec. 17) in the journal Scientific Reports . (Ötzi died approximately 5,300 years ago.)
This is younger than ice found at higher elevations elsewhere in the Alps, particularly above 13,100 feet (4,000) meters. At Colle Gnifetti glacier in the Swiss-Italian Alps, for example, the oldest ice dates back at least 11,500 years.
Past ice, future melt
Alongside data from stalagmites and ancient forests, the ice record seems to suggest that during the Holocene, climate variations dramatically changed glacier extents even at high elevations, Bohleber said, and it's possible that Ötzi watched the glaciers advance during his 45-year life span. That could have implications for current studies of climate change, he added.
"We are now adding a strong anthropogenic [human-influenced] component in climate change on top of this, and see the glaciers disappearing so rapidly today," Bohleber said. "This rate of change is something that we urgently need more information on."
Unfortunately, the research can't directly answer one enduring mystery about Ötzi: whether he died in an ice field or the ice entombed him soon after. The ice around the mummy melted before scientists had the technology to date minuscule amounts of carbon as they can today, so there's no way to investigate the question directly. It's not clear whether the glaciers had advanced to where the iceman died, but the new results do show that it was icy a short hike away.
The lost opportunity to study Ötzi's resting place highlights the myriad other opportunities that could be lost within just a few years. The Weißseespitze glacier is expected to vanish within two decades. The scientific information held within many Alpine glaciers could be gone even sooner than the ice itself, as meltwater will disturb, and ultimately erase, the potential climate record in the ice layers, Bohleber said.
"If we don't do it now, we will have little time to do this in the future," he said, "so we are really searching for other sites that may still have this old ice."
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-17--Huge methane cache beneath Arctic could be unlocked by the moon

The moon could be affecting how much methane is released from the Arctic Ocean seafloor , a new study finds .
The tides , which are controlled by , affect how much methane is released from seafloor sediments : Low tides mean less pressure and more methane released , while high tides create more pressure , and therefore less methane emission .
The research was conducted in the west-Svalbard region of the Arctic , with the findings published Oct. 9 in the journal .
`` It is the first time that this observation has been made in the Arctic Ocean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can release significant amounts of methane .
This is a game-changer and the highest impact of the study , '' study coauthor , Jochen Knies , a marine geologist at the Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate , Environment and Climate ( CAGE ) , said in a statement .
Related : 10 signs Earth 's climate is off the rails Methane is a , which contributes to by trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere .
Huge methane reserves lurk beneath the seafloor and ocean warming is expected to unlock some of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tides impact these seafloor methane emissions is important for future climate predictions .
To find this tidal effect , the team measured the pressure and temperature inside the sediments and found that gas levels near the seafloor rise and fall with the tides .
By using a permanent monitoring tool they were able to identify methane release in an area of the Arctic Ocean where it has not previously been observed .
`` This tells us that gas release from the seafloor is more widespread than we can see using traditional sonar surveys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Faverola , a marine geologist and geophysicist at CAGE , said in the statement .
Their discovery implies that scientists have been underestimating greenhouse gas emissions in the Arctic .
`` What we found was unexpected and the implications are big .
This is a deep-water site .
Small changes in pressure can increase the gas emissions but the methane will still stay in the ocean due to the water depth .
But what happens in shallower sites ?
This approach needs to be done in shallow Arctic waters as well , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the possibility that methane will reach the atmosphere is greater , '' Knies said .
This newly discovered phenomenon also raises questions about how rising sea levels and ocean warming , both of which are caused by , will interact .
Because high tides reduce methane emissions , it 's possible rising sea levels , which come with higher tides , might partially counterbalance the threat of increased gas emissions being caused by a warming ocean .

In this digital reconstruction, methane can be seen rising as flares from the sea floor.
The moon could be affecting how much methane is released from the Arctic Ocean seafloor, a new study finds.
The tides, which are controlled by the moon , affect how much methane is released from seafloor sediments: Low tides mean less pressure and more methane released, while high tides create more pressure, and therefore less methane emission.
The research was conducted in the west-Svalbard region of the Arctic, with the findings published Oct. 9 in the journal Nature Communications .
"It is the first time that this observation has been made in the Arctic Ocean. It means that slight pressure changes can release significant amounts of methane. This is a game-changer and the highest impact of the study," study coauthor, Jochen Knies, a marine geologist at the Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE), said in a statement.
Related: 10 signs Earth's climate is off the rails
Methane is a greenhouse gas , which contributes to global warming by trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere. Huge methane reserves lurk beneath the seafloor and ocean warming is expected to unlock some of that trapped methane. So understanding how the tides impact these seafloor methane emissions is important for future climate predictions.
To find this tidal effect, the team measured the pressure and temperature inside the sediments and found that gas levels near the seafloor rise and fall with the tides.
By using a permanent monitoring tool they were able to identify methane release in an area of the Arctic Ocean where it has not previously been observed.
"This tells us that gas release from the seafloor is more widespread than we can see using traditional sonar surveys,” study co-author, Andreia Plaza Faverola, a marine geologist and geophysicist at CAGE, said in the statement.
Image 1 of 2 A full moon in Tromsø, Norway. (Image credit: Maja Sojtaric) A tool known as a piezometer was used to monitor methane release from the ocean floor sediments. (Image credit: Screenshot from video. P.Domel.)
Their discovery implies that scientists have been underestimating greenhouse gas emissions in the Arctic.
"What we found was unexpected and the implications are big. This is a deep-water site. Small changes in pressure can increase the gas emissions but the methane will still stay in the ocean due to the water depth. But what happens in shallower sites? This approach needs to be done in shallow Arctic waters as well, over a longer period. In shallow water, the possibility that methane will reach the atmosphere is greater," Knies said.
This newly discovered phenomenon also raises questions about how rising sea levels and ocean warming, both of which are caused by climate change , will interact. Because high tides reduce methane emissions, it's possible rising sea levels, which come with higher tides, might partially counterbalance the threat of increased gas emissions being caused by a warming ocean.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-18--Newly discovered fungi turn flies into zombies and devour them from the inside out

Two newly discovered fungi species have a similarly macabre mode of action : They eat flies alive while using them to drop spores on new victims .
The related species , Strongwellsea tigrinae and Strongwellsea acerosa , attack the fly species Coenosia tigrina and Coenosia testacea , which look like ordinary house flies but undergo a horrific change once they 're invaded by the fungi .
The fungi eat one or more holes in the abdomens of the flies and then produce clumps of orange spores , which spread by dropping out of the holes .
The infected , now-zombie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process , meaning they inadvertently spread the spores far and wide , particularly when mating with other flies .
Meanwhile , the fungi continue to devour the flies alive .
Finally , the fungi-ravaged insects collapse to the ground in spasms and die .
Even after death , the flies can spread the spores of their killers : The flies ' abdomens gradually crumble , releasing more spores from inside .
These spores have thick walls that may help them lie dormant over winter , infecting more flies when the insects become active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozens of fungi-infected flies during fieldwork in Jægerspris and Amager , Denmark .
The flies were found in both rural areas and residential neighborhoods , hinting of a horror-story struggle playing out in seemingly peaceful fields and yards .
The researchers reported their findings in the September 2020 issue of the .
`` This is an exciting and bizarre aspect of biodiversity that we have discovered in Denmark , '' study leader Jørgen Eilenberg , a biologist at the University of Copenhagen , .
`` In and of itself , this mapping of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , at the same time , this is basic new knowledge that can serve as a basis for experimental studies of infection pathways and the bioactive substances involved . ''
Eilenberg and his colleagues suspect that the fungi `` dope '' the flies with some substance that keeps them flying and active even as their abdomens are devoured from the inside out .
Other fungi that prey on insects use amphetamine-type substances to keep their victims moving , so perhaps the newly discovered fungi do the same , Eilenberg said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep other pathogens away from the abdomen holes in order to keep the flies alive longer .
`` We would definitely like to continue our research , as doing so has the potential to discover , and later make use of , these substances , perhaps in medicine , '' Eilenberg said .

This fly species (Coenosia tigrina) was infected with the fungus Strongwellsea tigrinae, which ripped holes into the fly’s abdomen. The fungus spores can spew through these holes.
Two newly discovered fungi species have a similarly macabre mode of action: They eat flies alive while using them to drop spores on new victims.
The related species, Strongwellsea tigrinae and Strongwellsea acerosa, attack the fly species Coenosia tigrina and Coenosia testacea, which look like ordinary house flies but undergo a horrific change once they're invaded by the fungi. The fungi eat one or more holes in the abdomens of the flies and then produce clumps of orange spores, which spread by dropping out of the holes.
The infected, now-zombie flies remain alive for days during this process, meaning they inadvertently spread the spores far and wide, particularly when mating with other flies. Meanwhile, the fungi continue to devour the flies alive. Finally, the fungi-ravaged insects collapse to the ground in spasms and die. Even after death, the flies can spread the spores of their killers: The flies' abdomens gradually crumble, releasing more spores from inside.
Related: See gross photos of zombie ants
These spores have thick walls that may help them lie dormant over winter, infecting more flies when the insects become active in the spring.
Danish researchers discovered dozens of fungi-infected flies during fieldwork in Jægerspris and Amager, Denmark. The flies were found in both rural areas and residential neighborhoods, hinting of a horror-story struggle playing out in seemingly peaceful fields and yards. The researchers reported their findings in the September 2020 issue of the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology .
"This is an exciting and bizarre aspect of biodiversity that we have discovered in Denmark," study leader Jørgen Eilenberg, a biologist at the University of Copenhagen, said in a statement . "In and of itself, this mapping of new and unknown biodiversity is valuable. But, at the same time, this is basic new knowledge that can serve as a basis for experimental studies of infection pathways and the bioactive substances involved."
Eilenberg and his colleagues suspect that the fungi "dope" the flies with some substance that keeps them flying and active even as their abdomens are devoured from the inside out. Other fungi that prey on insects use amphetamine-type substances to keep their victims moving, so perhaps the newly discovered fungi do the same, Eilenberg said. The fungi might also produce antimicrobial substances that keep other pathogens away from the abdomen holes in order to keep the flies alive longer.
"We would definitely like to continue our research, as doing so has the potential to discover, and later make use of, these substances, perhaps in medicine," Eilenberg said.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-18--Scientists think they've detected radio emissions from an alien world

Scientists may have detected radio emissions from a planet orbiting a star beyond our sun for the first time .
The astronomers behind the new research used a radio telescope in the Netherlands to study three different stars known to host .
The researchers compared what they saw to observations of Jupiter , diluted as if being seen from a star system dozens of light-years away .
And one star system stood out : Tau Boötes , which contains at least one exoplanet .
If the detection holds up , it could open the door to better understanding the magnetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves , the researchers hope .
`` We present one of the first hints of detecting an exoplanet in the radio realm , '' Jake Turner , an astronomer at Cornell University and lead author of the new research , .
`` We make the case for an emission by the planet itself .
From the strength and polarization of the radio signal and the planet 's magnetic field , it is compatible with theoretical predictions . ''
However , Turner and his colleagues are n't yet positive that the signal they detected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dubbed Tau Boötes b ; the researchers called for additional observations of the system , which is about 51 light-years away from Earth in the constellation .
The new research actually began at ; the researchers had previously studied that planet 's radio emissions and then tweaked those measurements to reflect the effect they expected closeness to the host star and distance from Earth would have had on their observations of an exoplanet .
Then , the scientists consulted observations made in 2016 and 2017 by the ( LOFAR ) in the Netherlands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Tau Boötes b , the researchers also report that they may have picked up a signal from the star Upsilon Andromedae or its planet , but that detection was even fainter than the one from Tau Boötes b .
The researchers are interested in detecting radio emission from planets because such information may help scientists decipher what 's happening in the same worlds ' magnetic fields .
Those , in turn , influence conditions on the surface of the planet — Earth 's magnetic field protects the atmosphere that makes the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Such magnetic fields can also tell scientists about other qualities of a world , like its structure and history .
But so far , studying those magnetic fields directly has been difficult for scientists to manage , despite the fact that nearly every planet in our has had one at some point in its history .
Hence the interest in using radio emissions as an intermediate .
`` We learned from our own Jupiter what this kind of detection looks like , '' Turner said .
`` We went searching for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's just the beginning of the story , not the end of it , he emphasized , since the radio emissions could still be coming from the stars or another source instead of the planet .
`` There remains some uncertainty that the detected radio signal is from the planet .
The need for follow-up observations is critical . ''
The research is described in that will be published by the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics and is already available to read online .
Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels @ space.com or follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us on Twitter @ Spacedotcom and on Facebook .

Scientists may have detected radio emissions from a planet orbiting a star beyond our sun for the first time.
The astronomers behind the new research used a radio telescope in the Netherlands to study three different stars known to host exoplanets . The researchers compared what they saw to observations of Jupiter, diluted as if being seen from a star system dozens of light-years away. And one star system stood out: Tau Boötes, which contains at least one exoplanet. If the detection holds up, it could open the door to better understanding the magnetic fields of exoplanets and therefore the exoplanets themselves, the researchers hope.
"We present one of the first hints of detecting an exoplanet in the radio realm," Jake Turner, an astronomer at Cornell University and lead author of the new research, said in a statement . "We make the case for an emission by the planet itself. From the strength and polarization of the radio signal and the planet's magnetic field, it is compatible with theoretical predictions."
Related: 7 ways to discover alien planets
However, Turner and his colleagues aren't yet positive that the signal they detected really is coming from the planet, dubbed Tau Boötes b; the researchers called for additional observations of the system, which is about 51 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Boötes .
The new research actually began at Jupiter ; the researchers had previously studied that planet's radio emissions and then tweaked those measurements to reflect the effect they expected closeness to the host star and distance from Earth would have had on their observations of an exoplanet.
Then, the scientists consulted observations made in 2016 and 2017 by the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) in the Netherlands. In addition to the potential signal from Tau Boötes b, the researchers also report that they may have picked up a signal from the star Upsilon Andromedae or its planet, but that detection was even fainter than the one from Tau Boötes b.
The researchers are interested in detecting radio emission from planets because such information may help scientists decipher what's happening in the same worlds' magnetic fields. Those magnetic fields , in turn, influence conditions on the surface of the planet — Earth's magnetic field protects the atmosphere that makes the world one we can survive, for example. Such magnetic fields can also tell scientists about other qualities of a world, like its structure and history.
An artist's depiction of the exoplanet Tau Boötes b shows a magnetic field, which may cause the radio emissions scientists believe they have detected. (Image credit: Jack Madden/Cornell University)
But so far, studying those magnetic fields directly has been difficult for scientists to manage, despite the fact that nearly every planet in our solar system has had one at some point in its history. Hence the interest in using radio emissions as an intermediate.
"We learned from our own Jupiter what this kind of detection looks like," Turner said. "We went searching for it and we found it."
But that's just the beginning of the story, not the end of it, he emphasized, since the radio emissions could still be coming from the stars or another source instead of the planet. "There remains some uncertainty that the detected radio signal is from the planet. The need for follow-up observations is critical."
The research is described in a paper that will be published by the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics and is already available to read online.
Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.


livescience--2020-12-18--Invisible 'arches of chaos' span the solar system

A vast network of invisible energy structures have been discovered in the — a celestial superhighway that future space probes might use to explore far-away corners of solar space .
These hidden energy structures , called manifolds , emerge in due to the gravitational interaction of massive objects like the planets , said Nataša Todorović , a mathematician at the Serbian Belgrade Astronomical Observatory and lead author of a paper on the discovery .
While astronomers have long known about such pathways , and even used them to navigate our celestial neighborhood , the new study has revealed a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of chaos '' that form an unseen `` ornamental structure '' that evolves over decades .
And this discovery could help explain the mysterious behavior of comets and other small objects that dance erratically in and out of this part of the universe .
Related : From Big Bang to present : snapshots of our universe through time Manifolds are essentially cosmic express lanes that emerge from the complicated gravitational attraction between celestial objects .
`` Gravitational [ manifolds ] are simply a catalog of some unusual looking 'free fall ' paths through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where an object seems to fall , like Newton ’ s apple , on a path dictated by the gravity of a large object , said Shane Ross , a Virginia Tech University aerospace engineer who pioneered the study of these structures .
`` Here on Earth , close to the ground , free fall paths look rather boring — a collection of straight lines pointing to the ground ( for objects starting from rest , like a falling rock ) and parabolic lines if the object was given an initial horizontal velocity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was not involved in the current study , told Live Science .
`` But imagine a rock starting out farther from the Earth , in fact close to the moon . ''
At that point , the layout of gravitational corridors gets more complex .
A small nudge could make a big difference — a sensitivity mathematicians refer to as chaos .
As the of Earth and the gravity of the moon get closer and closer to balancing each other out , chaos increases , and the manifolds grow more complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the boundary between chaos and order , '' said study co-author Di Wu , an engineering researcher at the University of California , San Diego ( UCSD ) .
Todorović , Wu and Aaron Rosengren , also an engineering researcher at UCSD , studied manifolds emanating from each planet 's `` Lagrange points '' with the sun , which are the points where the gravities of the two massive objects can combine to hold smaller objects in a fixed position in space relative to the planet .
A third object orbiting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hang in space from the planet 's perpective because of that gravitational effect .
The researchers studied these manifolds by simulating the solar system on a computer and sending `` test particles '' through it , like thousands of tiny , imaginary spacecraft .
Over time , the paths followed by those spacecraft revealed the true shape of the manifolds emanating from the Lagrange points of planets such as the gas giants .
Jupiter 's manifolds , they found , create an arch shape , with more chaotic manifolds surrounding the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Jupiter produces a new arch , and they pile up over time .
The manifolds following Saturn , Uranus and Neptune produce arches as well .
These arching manifolds likely explain the behavior of asteroids and comets that tend to hang around Jupiter before unexpectedly skipping off into deep space or plunging into the inner solar system .
Over the course of a century in the researchers ' simulation , thousands of test particles passing through Jupiter 's Langrange points changed course and blasted outward toward Neptune .
Some completed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Related : 9 strange , scientific excuses for why humans have n't found aliens yet These manifold changes could also explain why small objects tugged on by a giant planet often behave in predictable ways — until they do n't .
Comets around Jupiter have been observed suddenly changing their orbits after long periods of stability .
Researchers have long thought of manifolds as forming an `` interplanetary superhighway , '' Rosengren said .
So it 's not surprising that Jupiter 's gravity can help objects reach deep space .
`` The unique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what has hitherto not been observed , is the [ full ] structure of this superhighway , '' Rosengren told Live Science .
`` What is also revealed is the surprising depth to which the manifolds emanating from the neighborhood of Jupiter can permeate the solar system . ''
Hopefully , this new understanding will eventually lead to more advanced navigation for space missions , Rosengren said .
A probe riding expertly along the arches of chaos might reach its destination much faster and use less fuel than current probes , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account for one major source of gravity ( like Jupiter , or the sun ) at a time .
`` More research is needed to understand the arch shape , '' Rosengren said .
The arches seem to link together in a gorgeous , hidden logic .
`` As to why they connect in such a beautiful pattern , frankly speaking , we have n't the slightest idea yet . ''

A vast network of invisible energy structures have been discovered in the solar system — a celestial superhighway that future space probes might use to explore far-away corners of solar space.
These hidden energy structures, called manifolds, emerge in space-time due to the gravitational interaction of massive objects like the planets, said Nataša Todorović, a mathematician at the Serbian Belgrade Astronomical Observatory and lead author of a paper on the discovery. While astronomers have long known about such pathways, and even used them to navigate our celestial neighborhood, the new study has revealed a new shape in these manifolds: "arches of chaos" that form an unseen "ornamental structure" that evolves over decades. And this discovery could help explain the mysterious behavior of comets and other small objects that dance erratically in and out of this part of the universe.
Related: From Big Bang to present: snapshots of our universe through time
Manifolds are essentially cosmic express lanes that emerge from the complicated gravitational attraction between celestial objects. "Gravitational [manifolds] are simply a catalog of some unusual looking 'free fall' paths through the solar system," meaning paths where an object seems to fall, like Newton’s apple, on a path dictated by the gravity of a large object, said Shane Ross, a Virginia Tech University aerospace engineer who pioneered the study of these structures.
"Here on Earth, close to the ground, free fall paths look rather boring — a collection of straight lines pointing to the ground (for objects starting from rest, like a falling rock) and parabolic lines if the object was given an initial horizontal velocity, like a baseball," Ross, who was not involved in the current study, told Live Science. "But imagine a rock starting out farther from the Earth, in fact close to the moon."
At that point, the layout of gravitational corridors gets more complex. A small nudge could make a big difference — a sensitivity mathematicians refer to as chaos. As the gravity of Earth and the gravity of the moon get closer and closer to balancing each other out, chaos increases, and the manifolds grow more complex.
"I understand a single manifold as the boundary between chaos and order," said study co-author Di Wu, an engineering researcher at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
Todorović, Wu and Aaron Rosengren, also an engineering researcher at UCSD, studied manifolds emanating from each planet's "Lagrange points" with the sun, which are the points where the gravities of the two massive objects can combine to hold smaller objects in a fixed position in space relative to the planet.
An animation shows how the Lagrange points (numbered) of a planet (blue) move along with the planet as the planet orbit the sun. (Image credit: Anynobody, Wikimedia commons/CC BY-SA 3.0)
A third object orbiting the sun at a Lagrange point would seem to hang in space from the planet's perpective because of that gravitational effect.
The researchers studied these manifolds by simulating the solar system on a computer and sending "test particles" through it, like thousands of tiny, imaginary spacecraft. Over time, the paths followed by those spacecraft revealed the true shape of the manifolds emanating from the Lagrange points of planets such as the gas giants.
Jupiter's manifolds, they found, create an arch shape, with more chaotic manifolds surrounding the most orderly central manifold. Every new Jovian year, Jupiter produces a new arch, and they pile up over time. The manifolds following Saturn, Uranus and Neptune produce arches as well.
Jupiter's arches of chaos are graphed developing over the course of years in the simulation. (Image credit: Science Advances)
These arching manifolds likely explain the behavior of asteroids and comets that tend to hang around Jupiter before unexpectedly skipping off into deep space or plunging into the inner solar system.
Over the course of a century in the researchers' simulation, thousands of test particles passing through Jupiter's Langrange points changed course and blasted outward toward Neptune. Some completed that epic journey in under a decade.
Related: 9 strange, scientific excuses for why humans haven't found aliens yet
These manifold changes could also explain why small objects tugged on by a giant planet often behave in predictable ways — until they don't. Comets around Jupiter have been observed suddenly changing their orbits after long periods of stability.
Researchers have long thought of manifolds as forming an "interplanetary superhighway," Rosengren said. So it's not surprising that Jupiter's gravity can help objects reach deep space.
"The unique aspect of our research, however, and what has hitherto not been observed, is the [full] structure of this superhighway," Rosengren told Live Science. "What is also revealed is the surprising depth to which the manifolds emanating from the neighborhood of Jupiter can permeate the solar system."
Hopefully, this new understanding will eventually lead to more advanced navigation for space missions, Rosengren said. A probe riding expertly along the arches of chaos might reach its destination much faster and use less fuel than current probes, which rely on blunter navigation techniques that only account for one major source of gravity (like Jupiter, or the sun) at a time.
"More research is needed to understand the arch shape," Rosengren said.
The arches seem to link together in a gorgeous, hidden logic.
"As to why they connect in such a beautiful pattern, frankly speaking, we haven't the slightest idea yet."
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-18--Angel, devil and blood-red heart appear at Martian south pole

It 's summer at the south pole of , and the angels and devils are coming out to play .
You can see them both in a stunning new image of the recently thawed pole , taken by the European Space Agency ( ESA ) .
The devils , it should be said , are made of dust .
Just like on , form when a pocket of warm air suddenly rises through a column of cool air , creating a spinning updraft .
( Unlike on Earth , these dusty cyclones can tower 6 miles , or 10 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scratchy-scratchy tracks of one such cyclone in the dark region to the far left of this image .
And as for the angel ?
For an explanation , we 'll have to turn to the heavens .
Take a close look at the `` halo '' around the angel 's head , and you 'll notice the steep , sloping walls of an impact crater .
from the ESA , this ethereal feature is the product of a meteorite collision that dug deep into the Red Planet 's crust , building a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sediment below .
Related : The 12 strangest objects in the universe Those old layers take on a dark-red hue and are visible in this image all through the angel 's body as well as the heart-shaped structure below its right wing .
What this reddish stuff is made of , scientists are n't sure .
These strange , dark deposits are found all over Mars and are thought to be the result of ancient volcanic activity , long buried below the Martian crust , according to the ESA .
Erosion , asteroid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these mysterious red scars to the surface .
This image was captured by the ESA 's Mars Express spacecraft , which has been orbiting the Red Planet since 2004 .
These mysterious structures near the Martian south pole are visible now only because of the season ; normally , the whole area would be covered in a 250-mile-wide ( 400 km ) ice cap .
Be thankful you do n't have to shovel your car out of that .

It's summer at the south pole of Mars , and the angels and devils are coming out to play. You can see them both in a stunning new image of the recently thawed pole, taken by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The devils, it should be said, are made of dust. Just like on Earth , Martian dust devils form when a pocket of warm air suddenly rises through a column of cool air, creating a spinning updraft. (Unlike on Earth, these dusty cyclones can tower 6 miles, or 10 kilometers, high). You can see the scratchy-scratchy tracks of one such cyclone in the dark region to the far left of this image.
And as for the angel? For an explanation, we'll have to turn to the heavens. Take a close look at the "halo" around the angel's head, and you'll notice the steep, sloping walls of an impact crater. According to a statement from the ESA, this ethereal feature is the product of a meteorite collision that dug deep into the Red Planet's crust, building a crater and revealing the layers of ancient sediment below.
In this topographic map, blue and purple regions show low altitudes while red, yellow and white regions show higher altitudes. Note the deep crater around the angel's head. (Image credit: ESA)
Related: The 12 strangest objects in the universe
Those old layers take on a dark-red hue and are visible in this image all through the angel's body as well as the heart-shaped structure below its right wing. What this reddish stuff is made of, scientists aren't sure. These strange, dark deposits are found all over Mars and are thought to be the result of ancient volcanic activity, long buried below the Martian crust, according to the ESA. Erosion, asteroid impacts and scathing winds have slowly brought these mysterious red scars to the surface.
This image was captured by the ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, which has been orbiting the Red Planet since 2004. These mysterious structures near the Martian south pole are visible now only because of the season; normally, the whole area would be covered in a 250-mile-wide (400 km) ice cap. Be thankful you don't have to shovel your car out of that.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-18--Coronavirus outbreak: Live Updates

Coronavirus outbreak: Live Updates

COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the U.S .
There have now been more than 17 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and more than 300,000 deaths , according to The COVID Tracking Project .
There are currently 114,237 people hospitalized across the country and 21,900 people in the ICU .
California is facing a massive surge in cases ; the state reported 41,012 new COVID-19 cases and 300 new deaths on Thursday ( Dec. 17 ) , according to the state 's .
By comparison , at the start of November , California was reporting a seven-day average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average of 38,774 on Thursday , .
`` We 're experiencing an explosive and very deadly surge , '' Dr. Barbara Ferrer , Los Angeles County Public Health Director said , according to CNN .
Intensive care unit beds are rapidly filling up across the state ; there are only 1,234 ICU beds left available in California , according to the dashboard .
Current closures across California are impacting around 98 % of the state 's population , according to CNN .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Moderna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 ) .
Once authorized , it will be the second coronavirus vaccine to get the green light from the agency in just a week , with Pfizer 's vaccine gaining authorization on Dec. 11 .
Moderna is expected to begin shipping 5.9 million doses of its vaccine on Sunday ( Dec. 20 ) , with the first deliveries arriving Monday ( Dec. 21 ) , according to .
Unlike the Pfizer vaccine , Moderna 's vaccine does not require storage in extremely cold temperatures , and states are hoping to distribute the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers , the Times reported .
California becomes new epicenter of COVID-19 in U.S. California , once praised for its early pandemic response , is now the new U.S. hotspot for COVID-19 infections .
The state has reported an alarming surge in cases , breaking previous records for daily cases .
On Thursday ( Dec. 17 ) , the state reported some 50,000 COVID-19 infections in 24 hours , and nearly 100,000 in 48 hours , according to .
That 's more than the daily cases reported in many countries , including India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
The state also set a record for daily deaths on Thursday , with 379 fatalities reported , up from the previous high of 293 .
Capacity in intensive care units has also dropped dramatically , with hospitals in Southern California reporting zero percent capacity on Thursday .
`` I want to be very clear : Our hospitals are under siege , and our model shows no end in sight , '' said Christina Ghaly , director of Los Angeles County 's Department of Health Services , the Post reported .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote on whether to recommend Moderna 's coronavirus vaccine for emergency approval On Thursday ( Dec. 17 ) , a Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) advisory committee will meet to determine whether to recommend that Moderna ’ s coronavirus vaccine for emergency approval , according to The New York Times .
This panel , composed of independent experts , will vote on whether to recommend the vaccine after hearing from the company , FDA scientists and the public , according to The Times .
Last week , the same panel of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccine and voted to recommend emergency authorization ; the authorization came the next day .
There have now been more than 16.9 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and more than 307,000 deaths , according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard .
There are currently 113,090 people hospitalized across the country with more than 21,900 of them in the ICU and 7,778 on a ventilator , according to The COVID Tracking Project .
A wild mink tested positive for the coronavirus , it may be the first wild animal to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be the first `` free-ranging , native wild animal '' confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 , according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) , Live Science reported .
The mink was found near a mink farm and likely picked up the infection from the farmed mink .
There 's no evidence that the virus spread to other minks or wild animals ; but if the virus does begin circulating in wild animals , it could pick up mutations that COVID-19 vaccines may not protect well against if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report .
`` If it does [ establish a reservoir ] , then we 've got a long-term issue here , where this virus has the potential to be with us for millennia , '' Sarah Olson , associate director of the health program at the Wildlife Conservation Society , told Vox .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture 's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has screened other animal species for the virus near mink farms in Utah , Michigan and Wisconsin , but all of them have tested negative so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has authorized the first over-the-counter COVID-19 test , which can be done at home and does not need a prescription .
The test , made by the Australia-based company Ellume , provides results in as little as 20 minutes , according to a .
It is a `` lateral flow antigen test , '' meaning it works in a similar way to a home pregnancy test , by running a `` liquid sample along a surface with reactive molecules , '' the FDA said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ smartphone app .
Users take a nasal swab and place their sample in an analyzer , which communicates to the smartphone app via Bluetooth .
The results are delivered through the app , and also reported to public health authorities ( based on a user 's zip code ) through a secure cloud connection , .
Ellume is ramping up production of its test , and expects to produce three million tests in January 2021 , and 20 million within the first half of 2021 .
FDA analysis confirms Moderna 's vaccine is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to come Friday A new from the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) released on Tuesday ( Dec. 15 ) confirmed that Moderna 's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective , .
Moderna 's COVID-19 vaccine is 94 % effective and has `` a favorable safety profile , '' according to the document .
A panel of experts is set to meet on Thursday ( Dec. 17 ) to discuss the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine and vote on whether or not the FDA should grant emergency approval to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel voted that the FDA should grant emergency approval to Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine ; the authorization came a day late and the first doses were given on Monday ( Dec. 15 ) .
The FDA will likely approve Moderna 's vaccine for emergency use on Friday ( Dec. 18 ) , according to The New York Times .
ICU nurse in New York becomes first person in the US to receive a coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials New York , the worst-hit state at the start of the pandemic , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine outside of clinical trials , kicking off a long , massive effort to vaccinate the American people , Live Science reported .
Around 9 a.m. E.T .
on Monday ( Dec. 14 ) , the very first dose of Pfizer and BioNTech 's coronavirus vaccine was given to Sandra Lindsay , an intensive care nurse in Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens , New York , according to The New York Times .
This comes as the U.S. continues to battle a massive wave of the virus that has more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The COVID Tracking Project .
Since the start of the pandemic , New York has recorded more than 780,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 35,100 deaths , according to The Times .
`` This vaccine is exciting because I believe this is the weapon that will end the war , '' Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said during a live broadcast of the first vaccination .
`` It 's the beginning of the last chapter of the book , but now we just have to do it . ''
An Australian COVID-19 vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials is being abandoned after researchers found that the shot caused false-positive results on HIV tests .
On Friday ( Dec. 11 ) , Australian officials said they had canceled an order for some 51 million doses of the vaccine , which was being developed by The University of Queensland and CSL Ltd. , a local biotech company , according to .
In an early trial with 216 participants , the vaccine appeared to be safe and to produce a robust immune response against COVID-19 , according to a .
But some volunteers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials feared would undermine trust in the vaccine , the Times reported .
The vaccine contained small fragments of an HIV protein , which helped stabilize the vaccine .
Some of the participants developed antibodies against these fragments , and these antibodies triggered false positive results on some HIV tests .
It 's important to note that there is no way for the vaccine to cause an HIV infection , because it contains harmless fragments of the virus .
Vaccine approval could come this weekend , as U.S. continues to record high daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , the U.S. recorded another 2,902 COVID-19 deaths , a day after the country set a record of 3,253 deaths , .
“ Probably for the next 60 to 90 days , we ’ re going to have more deaths per day than we had on 9/11 or we had at Pearl Harbor , ” Dr. Robert Redfield , the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , told the Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday , according to Reuters .
`` The reality is the vaccine approval this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , I think , to any degree for the next 60 days . ''
On Thursday , the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee discussed , voted and recommended that the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) should grant an emergency use authorization for Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine .
The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved in the U.K. and in Canada , and FDA approval for use in the U.S. could come this weekend .
Daily COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. reaches record-high , surpassed 9/11 On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded 3,124 new COVID-19 deaths , the highest daily death toll to date , .
In comparison , 2,977 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks .
The U.S. has now recorded 280,488 deaths related to the virus , according to The COVID Tracking Project .
A from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that the total death toll can increase to between 332,000 and 362,000 by January 2 , according to CNN .
There are currently 106,671 people hospitalized with the virus in the U.S. ; 20,903 of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are currently on a ventilator , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
On Thursday ( Dec. 10 ) , the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is set to meet to discuss an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine .
Canada has authorized Pfizer 's new COVID-19 vaccine , with the first doses expected to be administered there as early as next week .
Health Canada , the country 's health regulatory agency , said in a statement on Wednesday ( Dec. 9 ) that it had determined that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stringent safety , efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada , '' according to .
`` We expect vaccines to arrive maybe as early as Monday [ Dec. 14 ] .
It takes time to prepare the vaccine , '' said Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin , the top military general leading the vaccine rollout for the Public Health Agency of Canada , according to CTV News .
The first doses could be administered by the middle of next week , he said .
Canada is the third country in the world to authorize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kingdom and Bahrain .
The country should receive up to 249,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of December , and has purchased 20 million doses total , with the option to purchase more , CTV News reported .
The U.K. 's Regulatory Agency is advising people with a history of `` significant '' allergic reactions to avoid Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine , after two National Health Service members developed severe allergic reactions to it on Tuesday ( Dec. 8 ) , Live Science reported .
`` As is common with new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products Regulatory Agency ) have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday , '' Stephen Powis , the national medical director for England 's National Health Service said in a statement on Wednesday ( Dec. 9 ) .
Both workers have a history of severe allergies and carry adrenaline auto injectors ( such as EpiPens ) around with them , according to The Guardian .
Shortly after receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anaphylaxis-like symptoms , or severe allergic reactions , but have recovered after receiving treatment .
The MHRA will investigate further and Pfizer and BioNTech will support their investigation , according to Reuters .
`` Allergic reaction occurs with quite a number of vaccines , and perhaps even more frequently with drugs .
So it is not unexpected , '' Stephen Evans , a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said in remarks to journalists published by Britain 's Science Media Center .
“ What would be wise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would be for anyone who has known severe allergic reaction such that they need to carry an EpiPen , to delay having a vaccination until the reason for the allergic reaction has been clarified , '' he said .
For the general population this does not mean that they would need to be anxious about receiving the vaccination , he added .
`` One has to remember that even things like marmite [ a quintessential British food spread ] can cause unexpected severe allergic reactions.
” 90-year-old woman in the UK receives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review confirms vaccine is safe and effective A 90-year-old woman ( who will turn 91 next week ) became the first in the world to be given Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials , according to the BBC .
Margaret Keenan , who is originally from Northern Ireland , was given the vaccine at the University Hospital in Coventry , England .
She received the first of 800,000 doses expected to be administered in the U.K. in the coming weeks , according to the BBC .
`` I feel so privileged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 , '' Keenan said , according to the BBC .
`` It 's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year . ''
`` My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it .
If I can have it at 90 , then you can have it too , '' she added .
Up to four million doses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given to people in the U.K. by the end of the month .
Meanwhile , a 53-page Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) review published Tuesday ( Dec. 8 ) confirmed that Pfizer 's vaccine is safe and effective , according to The Washington Post .

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90-year-old woman in the UK receives first dose of Pfizer vaccine, FDA review confirms vaccine is safe and effective A 90-year-old woman (who will turn 91 next week) became the first in the world to be given Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials, according to the BBC. Margaret Keenan, who is originally from Northern Ireland, was given the vaccine at the University Hospital in Coventry, England. She received the first of 800,000 doses expected to be administered in the U.K. in the coming weeks, according to the BBC. "I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19," Keenan said, according to the BBC."It's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year." "My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it. If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too," she added. Up to four million doses of Pfizer's vaccine is expected to be given to people in the U.K. by the end of the month. Meanwhile, a 53-page Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review published Tuesday (Dec. 8) confirmed that Pfizer's vaccine is safe and effective, according to The Washington Post.
Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine starts to work just 10 days after 1st dose Pfizer's new COVID-19 vaccine starts to protect people from the novel coronavirus just 10 days after the first dose, according to new documents from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The documents were released on Tuesday (Dec. 8), two days before a meeting of the FDA's vaccine advisory panel, which will vote on whether to recommend authorization of the vaccine in the U.S, Live Science reported . The FDA analyzed data from Pfizer's phase 3 clinical trial, which included some 44,000 people in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Turkey, about half of whom received the vaccine while the other half received a placebo. Both groups received two shots, 21 days apart. About 10 days after the first dose, there was a noticeable drop-off in new COVID-19 cases in the vaccine group compared with the placebo group, indicating that even one dose provides some protection, the report said. However, scientists don't know how long the protection from a single dose will last, so it will still be important for people to receive two shots, according to The New York Times . Overall, the vaccine was 52% effective after the first dose and 95% effective after the second dose, the report said.
People with significant allergies should avoid Pfizer vaccine, UK warns The U.K.'s Regulatory Agency is advising people with a history of "significant" allergic reactions to avoid Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, after two National Health Service members developed severe allergic reactions to it on Tuesday (Dec. 8), Live Science reported. "As is common with new vaccines the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday," Stephen Powis, the national medical director for England's National Health Service said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec. 9). Both workers have a history of severe allergies and carry adrenaline auto injectors (such as EpiPens) around with them, according to The Guardian. Shortly after receiving the vaccine, both NHS workers developed anaphylaxis-like symptoms, or severe allergic reactions, but have recovered after receiving treatment. The MHRA will investigate further and Pfizer and BioNTech will support their investigation, according to Reuters. "Allergic reaction occurs with quite a number of vaccines, and perhaps even more frequently with drugs. So it is not unexpected," Stephen Evans, a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said in remarks to journalists published by Britain's Science Media Center. “What would be wise, as the MHRA have already advised, would be for anyone who has known severe allergic reaction such that they need to carry an EpiPen, to delay having a vaccination until the reason for the allergic reaction has been clarified," he said. For the general population this does not mean that they would need to be anxious about receiving the vaccination, he added. "One has to remember that even things like marmite [a quintessential British food spread] can cause unexpected severe allergic reactions.”
Canada approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Canada has authorized Pfizer's new COVID-19 vaccine, with the first doses expected to be administered there as early as next week. Health Canada, the country's health regulatory agency, said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec. 9) that it had determined that the vaccine "meets the Department's stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada," according to CTV News . "We expect vaccines to arrive maybe as early as Monday [Dec. 14]. It takes time to prepare the vaccine," said Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the top military general leading the vaccine rollout for the Public Health Agency of Canada, according to CTV News. The first doses could be administered by the middle of next week, he said. Canada is the third country in the world to authorize the Pfizer vaccine, following the United Kingdom and Bahrain. The country should receive up to 249,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of December, and has purchased 20 million doses total, with the option to purchase more, CTV News reported.
Daily COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. reaches record-high, surpassed 9/11 On Wednesday (Dec. 9), the U.S. recorded 3,124 new COVID-19 deaths, the highest daily death toll to date, according to CNN . In comparison, 2,977 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. has now recorded 280,488 deaths related to the virus, according to The COVID Tracking Project . A forecast from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that the total death toll can increase to between 332,000 and 362,000 by January 2, according to CNN. There are currently 106,671 people hospitalized with the virus in the U.S.; 20,903 of them are currently in the ICU and 7,621 are currently on a ventilator, according to the COVID Tracking Project. On Thursday (Dec. 10), the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is set to meet to discuss an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.
FDA panel recommends authorization of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine A panel of experts for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that the agency authorize Pfizer's new COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. On Thursday (Dec. 10), the panel voted 17 to 4 to recommend that the vaccine receive emergency use authorization (EUA) for people ages 16 and older, according to The New York Times . The FDA typically follows the advice of its panels, and so today's vote is an important step towards the vaccine's authorization. It is anticipated that the agency will officially authorize the vaccine on Saturday (Dec. 12), the Times reported. Several countries have already authorized Pfizer's vaccine, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Bahrain.
Vaccine approval could come this weekend, as U.S. continues to record high daily death tolls On Thursday (Dec. 10), the U.S. recorded another 2,902 COVID-19 deaths, a day after the country set a record of 3,253 deaths, according to Reuters . “Probably for the next 60 to 90 days, we’re going to have more deaths per day than we had on 9/11 or we had at Pearl Harbor,” Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday, according to Reuters. "The reality is the vaccine approval this week is not going to really impact that, I think, to any degree for the next 60 days." On Thursday, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee discussed, voted and recommended that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should grant an emergency use authorization for Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved in the U.K. and in Canada, and FDA approval for use in the U.S. could come this weekend.
Australia abandons local COVID-19 vaccine after it caused false-positive HIV tests An Australian COVID-19 vaccine that had shown promising results in early trials is being abandoned after researchers found that the shot caused false-positive results on HIV tests. On Friday (Dec. 11), Australian officials said they had canceled an order for some 51 million doses of the vaccine, which was being developed by The University of Queensland and CSL Ltd., a local biotech company, according to The New York Times . In an early trial with 216 participants, the vaccine appeared to be safe and to produce a robust immune response against COVID-19, according to a statement from CSL . But some volunteers falsely tested positive for HIV, which officials feared would undermine trust in the vaccine, the Times reported. The vaccine contained small fragments of an HIV protein, which helped stabilize the vaccine. Some of the participants developed antibodies against these fragments, and these antibodies triggered false positive results on some HIV tests. It's important to note that there is no way for the vaccine to cause an HIV infection, because it contains harmless fragments of the virus.
ICU nurse in New York becomes first person in the US to receive a coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials New York, the worst-hit state at the start of the pandemic, just became the first to administer a coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials, kicking off a long, massive effort to vaccinate the American people, Live Science reported. Around 9 a.m. E.T. on Monday (Dec. 14), the very first dose of Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine was given to Sandra Lindsay, an intensive care nurse in Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York, according to The New York Times. This comes as the U.S. continues to battle a massive wave of the virus that has more than 109,000 people currently hospitalized, according to The COVID Tracking Project. Since the start of the pandemic, New York has recorded more than 780,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 35,100 deaths, according to The Times. "This vaccine is exciting because I believe this is the weapon that will end the war," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during a live broadcast of the first vaccination. "It's the beginning of the last chapter of the book, but now we just have to do it."
FDA analysis confirms Moderna's vaccine is safe and effective, emergency authorization is likely to come Friday A new briefing document from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released on Tuesday (Dec. 15) confirmed that Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, according to NPR . Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is 94% effective and has "a favorable safety profile," according to the document. A panel of experts is set to meet on Thursday (Dec. 17) to discuss the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine and vote on whether or not the FDA should grant emergency approval to the vaccine. Last week, the same panel voted that the FDA should grant emergency approval to Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine; the authorization came a day late and the first doses were given on Monday (Dec. 15). The FDA will likely approve Moderna's vaccine for emergency use on Friday (Dec. 18), according to The New York Times .
FDA authorizes first over-the-counter COVID-19 test The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first over-the-counter COVID-19 test, which can be done at home and does not need a prescription. The test, made by the Australia-based company Ellume, provides results in as little as 20 minutes, according to a statement from the FDA . It is a "lateral flow antigen test," meaning it works in a similar way to a home pregnancy test, by running a "liquid sample along a surface with reactive molecules," the FDA said. The test works in conjunction with a smartphone app. Users take a nasal swab and place their sample in an analyzer, which communicates to the smartphone app via Bluetooth. The results are delivered through the app, and also reported to public health authorities (based on a user's zip code) through a secure cloud connection, the company said . Ellume is ramping up production of its test, and expects to produce three million tests in January 2021, and 20 million within the first half of 2021.
A wild mink tested positive for the coronavirus, it may be the first wild animal to have a confirmed case A wild mink in Utah may be the first "free-ranging, native wild animal" confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Live Science reported. The mink was found near a mink farm and likely picked up the infection from the farmed mink. There's no evidence that the virus spread to other minks or wild animals; but if the virus does begin circulating in wild animals, it could pick up mutations that COVID-19 vaccines may not protect well against if it spreads back to humans, according to the report. "If it does [establish a reservoir], then we've got a long-term issue here, where this virus has the potential to be with us for millennia," Sarah Olson, associate director of the health program at the Wildlife Conservation Society, told Vox. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has screened other animal species for the virus near mink farms in Utah, Michigan and Wisconsin, but all of them have tested negative so far, according to a statement.
An FDA advisory panel will meet today to vote on whether to recommend Moderna's coronavirus vaccine for emergency approval On Thursday (Dec. 17), a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee will meet to determine whether to recommend that Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine for emergency approval, according to The New York Times . This panel, composed of independent experts, will vote on whether to recommend the vaccine after hearing from the company, FDA scientists and the public, according to The Times. Last week, the same panel of experts met to discuss Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine and voted to recommend emergency authorization; the authorization came the next day. There have now been more than 16.9 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and more than 307,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . There are currently 113,090 people hospitalized across the country with more than 21,900 of them in the ICU and 7,778 on a ventilator, according to The COVID Tracking Project .
California becomes new epicenter of COVID-19 in U.S. California, once praised for its early pandemic response, is now the new U.S. hotspot for COVID-19 infections. The state has reported an alarming surge in cases, breaking previous records for daily cases. On Thursday (Dec. 17), the state reported some 50,000 COVID-19 infections in 24 hours, and nearly 100,000 in 48 hours, according to The Washington Post . That's more than the daily cases reported in many countries, including India, Germany and Britain, the Post reported. The state also set a record for daily deaths on Thursday, with 379 fatalities reported, up from the previous high of 293. Capacity in intensive care units has also dropped dramatically, with hospitals in Southern California reporting zero percent capacity on Thursday. "I want to be very clear: Our hospitals are under siege, and our model shows no end in sight," said Christina Ghaly, director of Los Angeles County's Department of Health Services, the Post reported.
FDA expected to authorize Moderna's vaccine on Friday The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine on Friday (Dec. 18). Once authorized, it will be the second coronavirus vaccine to get the green light from the agency in just a week, with Pfizer's vaccine gaining authorization on Dec. 11. Moderna is expected to begin shipping 5.9 million doses of its vaccine on Sunday (Dec. 20), with the first deliveries arriving Monday (Dec. 21), according to The New York Times . Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna's vaccine does not require storage in extremely cold temperatures, and states are hoping to distribute the vaccine to rural hospitals and community health centers, the Times reported.
COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the U.S. There have now been more than 17 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and more than 300,000 deaths, according to The COVID Tracking Project . There are currently 114,237 people hospitalized across the country and 21,900 people in the ICU. California is facing a massive surge in cases; the state reported 41,012 new COVID-19 cases and 300 new deaths on Thursday (Dec. 17), according to the state's COVID-19 dashboard . By comparison, at the start of November, California was reporting a seven-day average of 4,183 cases, compared to an average of 38,774 on Thursday, according to CNN . "We're experiencing an explosive and very deadly surge," Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Public Health Director said, according to CNN. Intensive care unit beds are rapidly filling up across the state; there are only 1,234 ICU beds left available in California, according to the dashboard. Current closures across California are impacting around 98% of the state's population, according to CNN.
London and southeast England are under an emergency lockdown Following concerns of a new version of the coronavirus that might be more transmissible, London and most of southeast England are now under an emergency lockdown, according to The New York Times . Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the lockdown on Saturday (Dec. 19) citing concerns that the mutated virus — which was detected a couple of weeks ago in southeast England — may be as much as 70% more transmissible than previous versions, according to the Times. The new version of the coronavirus is detected in more than 60% of new infections in London and have also been detected in several other countries, according to the Times. But it's not yet clear if this coronavirus version is any more infectious than the last and thorough analyses will need to be conducted before conclusions are made, scientists cautioned. In South Africa, a similar version of the virus has been found in up to 90% of new cases detected since mid-November, according to The Times . It's common for viruses to mutate, and this particular coronavirus has mutated many times since the start of the pandemic. But experts told The Times that it would take years for the virus to mutate enough such that it would make the current vaccines developed to fight COVID-19 ineffective.
Biden gets Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine President-elect Joe Biden received a dose of Pfizer's new COVID-19 vaccine on Monday (Dec. 21), according to The New York Times . He received the shot on camera at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. "I'm doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it's available to take the vaccine. There's nothing to worry about," Biden said.
Antarctica has its 1st COVID-19 outbreak The first COVID-19 cases have been reported in Antarctica , meaning the disease has now spread to every continent in the world. On Tuesday (Dec. 22), Chilean officials reported an outbreak of 36 COVID-19 cases at the Chilean research base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme on the Antarctic Peninsula, according to the BBC . Of these, 26 cases were military personnel and 10 were maintenance workers, the BBC reported. All of these cases have been evacuated from Antarctica to Punta Arenas, Chile, according to The Guardian . Antarctica had been COVID-19 free up until the current outbreak. The continent has no permanent residents, but about 1,000 people, including scientists and other workers, stayed there this past winter, The Guardian reported.
Live updates will continue in 2021!


livescience--2020-12-18--Unsafe levels of radiation found in Chernobyl crops

Crops grown near the Chernobyl nuclear site in Ukraine are still contaminated with radiation from the explosive 1986 disaster .
In a new study , researchers found that wheat , rye , oats and barley grown in this area contained two radioactive isotopes — strontium 90 and cesium 137 — that were above safe consumption limits .
Radioactive isotopes are elements that have increased masses and release excess energy as a result .
`` Our findings point to ongoing contamination and human exposure , compounded by lack of official routine monitoring , ” study author David Santillo , an environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Exeter , , referring to the fact that the government suspended its radioactive goods monitoring program in 2013 .
Related : 5 weird things you did n't know about Chernobyl Santillo and his colleagues , in collaboration with researchers from the Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology , analyzed 116 grain samples , collected between 2011 and 2019 , from the Ivankiv district of Ukraine — about 31 miles ( 50 kilometers ) south of the nuclear plant .
This area is outside of Chernobyl 's `` exclusion zone , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ km ) radius around the plant that was evacuated in 1986 and has remained unoccupied .
They found radioactive isotopes , predominantly strontium 90 , were above safe consumption level in 48 % of samples .
They also found that wood samples collected from the same region between 2015 and 2019 , had strontium 90 levels above the safe limit for firewood .
The researchers believe that the lingering radiation in the wood , in particular , may be the reason for the continued contamination of crops , almost 35 years after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from domestic wood-burning ovens , they found strontium 90 levels that were 25 times higher than the safe limit .
Locals use this ash , as well as ash from the local thermal power plant ( TPP ) , to fertilize their crops , which continues to cycle the radiation through their soil .
However , computer simulations suggest that it could be possible to grow crops in the region at `` safe '' levels if this process of repeated contamination ceased .
The researchers are now calling for the Ukrainian government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system for properly disposing of radioactive ash .
`` Contamination of grain and wood grown in the Ivankiv district remains of major concern and deserves further urgent investigation , ” study author Valery Kashparov , director of the Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology , said in the statement .
`` Similarly , further research is urgently needed to assess the effects of the Ivankiv TPP on the environment and local residents , which still remain mostly unknown . ''
The findings were published on Dec. 17 in the journal .

Crops grown near the Chernobyl nuclear site in Ukraine are still contaminated with radiation from the explosive 1986 disaster.
In a new study, researchers found that wheat, rye, oats and barley grown in this area contained two radioactive isotopes — strontium 90 and cesium 137 — that were above safe consumption limits. Radioactive isotopes are elements that have increased masses and release excess energy as a result.
"Our findings point to ongoing contamination and human exposure, compounded by lack of official routine monitoring,” study author David Santillo, an environmental forensic scientist at Greenpeace Research Laboratories at the University of Exeter, said in a statement , referring to the fact that the government suspended its radioactive goods monitoring program in 2013.
Related: 5 weird things you didn't know about Chernobyl
Santillo and his colleagues, in collaboration with researchers from the Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology, analyzed 116 grain samples, collected between 2011 and 2019, from the Ivankiv district of Ukraine — about 31 miles (50 kilometers) south of the nuclear plant.
This area is outside of Chernobyl's "exclusion zone," which is a 30 mile (48 km) radius around the plant that was evacuated in 1986 and has remained unoccupied. They found radioactive isotopes, predominantly strontium 90, were above safe consumption level in 48% of samples. They also found that wood samples collected from the same region between 2015 and 2019, had strontium 90 levels above the safe limit for firewood.
The researchers believe that the lingering radiation in the wood, in particular, may be the reason for the continued contamination of crops, almost 35 years after the disaster. When analyzing the wood ash from domestic wood-burning ovens, they found strontium 90 levels that were 25 times higher than the safe limit. Locals use this ash, as well as ash from the local thermal power plant (TPP), to fertilize their crops, which continues to cycle the radiation through their soil.
However, computer simulations suggest that it could be possible to grow crops in the region at "safe" levels if this process of repeated contamination ceased. The researchers are now calling for the Ukrainian government to reinstate its monitoring program and create a system for properly disposing of radioactive ash.
"Contamination of grain and wood grown in the Ivankiv district remains of major concern and deserves further urgent investigation,” study author Valery Kashparov, director of the Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology, said in the statement. "Similarly, further research is urgently needed to assess the effects of the Ivankiv TPP on the environment and local residents, which still remain mostly unknown."
The findings were published on Dec. 17 in the journal Environment International .
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-18--Lost artifact from Great Pyramid was just found in a cigar tin in Scotland

An artifact that was taken from Egypt 's in 1872 was missing for 70 years until it was recently discovered in a cigar box at the University of Aberdeen Museums ( UAM ) in Scotland .
Curatorial assistant Abeer Eladany was reviewing objects in storage in the museum 's Asia Collection at the end of 2019 when she found a small box that looked out of place — in part because its lid was decorated with a motif of the former Egyptian flag , university representatives .
Inside the box was a 5-inch-long ( 13 centimeters ) piece of cedar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humble-looking wood fragment is one of only three objects ever to have been removed from the Queen 's Chamber ; it is thought to have been placed in the tomb when the structure was built about 4,500 years ago and may be part of a tool that was used to erect the massive pyramid , according to the statement .
Related : In photos : Looking inside the Great Pyramid of Giza '' I could n't believe it when I realized what was inside this innocuous-looking cigar tin , '' Eladany said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Egyptian pharaoh who ruled around 2500 B.C.
, stands in the Necropolis of Memphis , south of Egypt 's Giza Plateau .
It 's the largest in a trio of pyramids , made of more than 6 million tons ( 5.5 million metric tons ) of limestone , 8,800 tons ( 8,000 metric tons ) of granite and 550,000 tons ( 500,000 metric tons ) of mortar , according to the ( NMS ) .
Even after millennia of weathering , the pyramid stands about 455 feet ( 138 meters ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was built , it measured approximately 481 feet ( 146 m ) tall .
Back in the 19th century , British engineer Waynman Dixon was constructing a bridge in Cairo when he was contacted by Charles Piazzi Smyth , astronomer royal for Scotland , to assist in a survey of the Great Pyramid with the permission of the Egyptian Antiquities Service , according to the NMS .
During the 1872 survey , Dixon removed three objects from the Queen 's Chamber : a piece of cedar , a ball and a hook .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Dixon relics , '' and while the ball and hook were later housed in the collection of The British Museum , the piece of wood embarked on a different journey , according to the UAM statement .
The cedar chip ended up in the possession of Dr. James Grant , a Scottish doctor who practiced medicine in Egypt during the late 19th century ; he assisted Dixon with the Great Pyramid survey and was with Dixon when he found the so-called relics , UAM representatives said .
Their records showed that Grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cedar '' to the museum in 1946 .
Collection , she cross-referenced it with museum records for objects from Egypt .
She quickly realized that it was the long-missing wooden artifact .
`` Once I looked into the numbers in our Egypt records , I instantly knew what it was , and that it had effectively been hidden in plain sight in the wrong collection , '' Eladany said in the statement .
`` I 'm an archaeologist and have worked on digs in Egypt , but I never imagined it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd find something so important to the heritage of my own country . ''
dating of the wood revealed another surprise : It dated to around 3341 B.C .
to 3094 B.C.
, preceding Khufu 's reign and the Great Pyramid 's construction by about 500 years and making the object `` even older than we had imagined , '' Neil Curtis , head of museums and special collections at the University of Aberdeen , said in the statement .
`` This may be because the date relates to the age of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long-lived tree , '' Curtis said .
`` Alternatively , it could be because of the rarity of trees in ancient Egypt , which meant that wood was scarce , treasured and recycled or cared for over many years . ''
The fragment 's age suggests that the original wooden object and its companion `` relics '' from the tomb were likely placed inside the pyramid at the time of its construction and were n't left there by explorers from a later era .
`` It will now be for scholars to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliberately deposited , as happened later during the New Kingdom , when pharaohs tried to emphasize continuity with the past by having antiquities buried with them , '' Curtis said in the statement .

The small cigar tin held pieces of cedar that Scottish archaeologists took from the Great Pyramid in the 19th century.
An artifact that was taken from Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza in 1872 was missing for 70 years until it was recently discovered in a cigar box at the University of Aberdeen Museums (UAM) in Scotland.
Curatorial assistant Abeer Eladany was reviewing objects in storage in the museum's Asia Collection at the end of 2019 when she found a small box that looked out of place — in part because its lid was decorated with a motif of the former Egyptian flag, university representatives said in a statement .
Inside the box was a 5-inch-long (13 centimeters) piece of cedar, now in several pieces. The humble-looking wood fragment is one of only three objects ever to have been removed from the Queen's Chamber; it is thought to have been placed in the tomb when the structure was built about 4,500 years ago and may be part of a tool that was used to erect the massive pyramid, according to the statement.
Related: In photos: Looking inside the Great Pyramid of Giza
"I couldn't believe it when I realized what was inside this innocuous-looking cigar tin," Eladany said.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu, dedicated to the Egyptian pharaoh who ruled around 2500 B.C., stands in the Necropolis of Memphis, south of Egypt's Giza Plateau. It's the largest in a trio of pyramids, made of more than 6 million tons (5.5 million metric tons) of limestone, 8,800 tons (8,000 metric tons) of granite and 550,000 tons (500,000 metric tons) of mortar, according to the National Museum of Scotland (NMS). Even after millennia of weathering, the pyramid stands about 455 feet (138 meters) tall, and at the time it was built, it measured approximately 481 feet (146 m) tall.
Back in the 19th century, British engineer Waynman Dixon was constructing a bridge in Cairo when he was contacted by Charles Piazzi Smyth, astronomer royal for Scotland, to assist in a survey of the Great Pyramid with the permission of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, according to the NMS. During the 1872 survey, Dixon removed three objects from the Queen's Chamber: a piece of cedar, a ball and a hook. Together, they became known as the "Dixon relics," and while the ball and hook were later housed in the collection of The British Museum, the piece of wood embarked on a different journey, according to the UAM statement.
The cedar chip ended up in the possession of Dr. James Grant, a Scottish doctor who practiced medicine in Egypt during the late 19th century; he assisted Dixon with the Great Pyramid survey and was with Dixon when he found the so-called relics, UAM representatives said. Their records showed that Grant's daughter donated a "five-inch piece of cedar" to the museum in 1946.
Radiocarbon dating revealed that the wood fragments were even older than the Great Pyramid. (Image credit: University of Aberdeen)
Older than expected
Collection, she cross-referenced it with museum records for objects from Egypt. She quickly realized that it was the long-missing wooden artifact.
"Once I looked into the numbers in our Egypt records, I instantly knew what it was, and that it had effectively been hidden in plain sight in the wrong collection," Eladany said in the statement. "I'm an archaeologist and have worked on digs in Egypt, but I never imagined it would be here in northeast Scotland that I'd find something so important to the heritage of my own country."
Carbon dating of the wood revealed another surprise: It dated to around 3341 B.C. to 3094 B.C., preceding Khufu's reign and the Great Pyramid's construction by about 500 years and making the object "even older than we had imagined," Neil Curtis, head of museums and special collections at the University of Aberdeen, said in the statement.
Locating the object in the vast collections of the university's museums "has been like finding a needle in a haystack," said curatorial assistant Abeer Eladany. (Image credit: University of Aberdeen)
"This may be because the date relates to the age of the wood, maybe from the centre of a long-lived tree," Curtis said. "Alternatively, it could be because of the rarity of trees in ancient Egypt, which meant that wood was scarce, treasured and recycled or cared for over many years."
The fragment's age suggests that the original wooden object and its companion "relics" from the tomb were likely placed inside the pyramid at the time of its construction and weren't left there by explorers from a later era.
"It will now be for scholars to debate its use and whether it was deliberately deposited, as happened later during the New Kingdom, when pharaohs tried to emphasize continuity with the past by having antiquities buried with them," Curtis said in the statement.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-19--The world's largest iceberg has just broken in two

The world 's largest iceberg has just broken in two , with a chunk of ice about the size of Queens and the Bronx combined splitting off from the main berg .
The mammoth A-68a berg first split from Antarctica 's Larsen C ice shelf in 2017 , .
The giant hunk of ice has been drifting ponderously northward ever since .
From the water , A-68a would look a bit like a moving island , with cliffs rising up to 100 feet ( 30 m ) above sea level .
As recently as April , it measured 2,000 square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or about as big as three Houstons plus one Chicago ( or 1.7 Rhode Islands ) .
Recently , this floating ice-land has been on a collision course with South Georgia Island , a wildlife refuge in the South Atlantic Ocean that 's home to millions of penguins , seals and other wildlife .
It 's not clear exactly why the iceberg fractured , but a crash into the shallow seabed several dozen miles from the South Georgia shoreline may have caused the split , according to the European Space Agency ( ESA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission captured A-68a 's drift toward South Georgia in a series of images between Nov. 29 and Dec. 17 .
It appears that in recent days the iceberg spun clockwise , moving one of its ends into shallow water , the ESA said .
In that region , the seafloor is just 650 feet ( 200 m ) deep , close enough to the surface for the bottom of the iceberg to have scraped against .
In the process , the smaller piece — expected to take the name A-68d — likely snapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the iceberg will go from here .
Past chunks of ice have traced similar paths north from the southernmost continent past South Georgia .
But there is some concern that if A-68a remains offshore for too long , it could block the nearby waters where the penguins that live on the island feed .
`` The actual distance [ the animals ] have to travel to find food ( fish and krill ) really matters , '' Geraint Tarling , an ecologist with the British Antarctic Society , .
`` If they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it means they 're not going to get back to their young in time to prevent them starving to death in the interim . ''
Future images and observations will likely reveal how much of a threat A-68a will end up posing to the waddling birds .
After A-68a 's spectacular breakup , another iceberg , farther south in Antarctica 's Weddell Sea , is now the world 's largest at 1,500 square miles ( 4,000 square km ) , according to ESA .
Its name is A-23a .

A Dec. 17 image shows A-68a after its big split, likely due to a collision with shallow seabed off the shore of South Georgia.
The world's largest iceberg has just broken in two, with a chunk of ice about the size of Queens and the Bronx combined splitting off from the main berg.
The mammoth A-68a berg first split from Antarctica's Larsen C ice shelf in 2017, Live Science previously reported . The giant hunk of ice has been drifting ponderously northward ever since. From the water, A-68a would look a bit like a moving island, with cliffs rising up to 100 feet (30 m) above sea level. As recently as April, it measured 2,000 square miles (5,100 square kilometers), or about as big as three Houstons plus one Chicago (or 1.7 Rhode Islands).
Recently, this floating ice-land has been on a collision course with South Georgia Island, a wildlife refuge in the South Atlantic Ocean that's home to millions of penguins, seals and other wildlife.
It's not clear exactly why the iceberg fractured, but a crash into the shallow seabed several dozen miles from the South Georgia shoreline may have caused the split, according to the European Space Agency (ESA) .
A contour map shows the seafloor in the region where A-68a split and turned. (Image credit: British Antarctic Survey/ESA)
Related: 10 climate myths busted
The ESA's Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission captured A-68a's drift toward South Georgia in a series of images between Nov. 29 and Dec. 17.
A series of images taken over the course of more than two weeks show A-68a approaching South Georgia, then cracking and rotating after impacting an area of shallow seabed offshore. (Image credit: ESA)
It appears that in recent days the iceberg spun clockwise, moving one of its ends into shallow water, the ESA said. In that region, the seafloor is just 650 feet (200 m) deep, close enough to the surface for the bottom of the iceberg to have scraped against. In the process, the smaller piece — expected to take the name A-68d — likely snapped off.
It remains to be seen where the iceberg will go from here.
A map shows how A-68a has moved since cracking off of Larsen C. The blue lines show the historical tracks of other icebergs. (Image credit: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2020), processed by ESA; Antarctic Iceberg Tracking Database)
Past chunks of ice have traced similar paths north from the southernmost continent past South Georgia. But there is some concern that if A-68a remains offshore for too long, it could block the nearby waters where the penguins that live on the island feed.
"The actual distance [the animals] have to travel to find food (fish and krill) really matters," Geraint Tarling, an ecologist with the British Antarctic Society, said in a statement . "If they have to do a big detour, it means they're not going to get back to their young in time to prevent them starving to death in the interim."
Future images and observations will likely reveal how much of a threat A-68a will end up posing to the waddling birds.
After A-68a's spectacular breakup, another iceberg, farther south in Antarctica's Weddell Sea, is now the world's largest at 1,500 square miles (4,000 square km), according to ESA. Its name is A-23a.
Originally published on Live Science.