MI weekly selection #491

Flash thought to result from black hole swallowing a star

Two separate teams of scientists, who have published papers in Nature and Nature Astronomy, have concluded that a flash of light that appeared in February was the astrophysical jet that erupted from a massive black hole as it swallowed a star. “From the data we have, we can estimate that relativistic jets are launched in only 1% of these destructive events, making AT2022cmc an extremely rare occurrence,” said astronomer Michael Coughlin.

Full Story: ScienceAlert

Mathematical model for color needs tweaking

A new study identifies an important error in the 3D mathematical colour space developed by the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Erwin Schrodinger and others. For more than 100 years we used this mathematical space to describe how the eye distinguishes one colour from another, and to build electronic color reproduction accordingly — but now it seems the underlying model may be faulty.

Full Story: Sound & Video Contractor

Duck-sized dinosaur may have dived for dinner

A team of paleontologists in China discovered a new species of duck-sized dinosaur, Natovenator polydontus, that likely dived into the water to retrieve prey in a method similar to the one used by penguins. “Although the rib cage was not completely preserved, the rib orientation and shape clearly indicate that this animal had a streamlined body, as penguins do,” said Yuong-Nam Lee of Seoul National University, one author of the study.

Full Story: Live Science

Magma estimate at Yellowstone supervolcano raised

Researchers using seismic tomography to map the seismic wave speed underneath Yellowstone National Park’s supervolcano say more magma lies under the caldera than previously estimated. The scientists say they see no signs of heightened unrest at the volcano.

Full Story: ABC News

Trial shows experimental Alzheimer’s drug has potential

The experimental monoclonal antibody lecanemab shows promise as a therapy to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, but a relatively high rate of serious adverse events raised safety concerns. Manufacturers Biogen and Eisai said in an earlier statement that the drug reduced cognitive and functional decline by 27% during a Phase 3 trial, while researchers noted that longer trials are needed to better understand the drug’s safety and effectiveness.

Full Story: CNN