MI weekly selection #538

Dinosaurs may have influenced evolution of human aging

The genetic foundations of the human aging process may have evolved from the pressure that dinosaurs put on mammals 100 million years ago. “While humans are among the longest-living animals, there are many reptiles and other animals that have a much slower aging process and show minimal signs of senescence over their lives,” said study author Joao Pedro de Magalhaes.

Full Story: Newsweek

Rocky planets may form even in extreme environments

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified water and organic carbon molecules in a planet-forming disk close to a powerful, young star 5,500 light-years away from Earth. While scientists previously believed that the intensity of ultraviolet radiation from such stars may prevent rocky planets from forming, the discovery indicates that planets like Earth can form even in these harsh conditions.

Full Story: Space

Brain processes traumatic memories as if in the present

A new study reveals that people with post-traumatic stress disorder process traumatic personal memories differently from sad ones, with the brain interpreting traumatic memories in a state of present experience. Researchers analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 28 participants diagnosed with PTSD while they listened to audio recordings of memories, finding that sad memories engaged the hippocampus while traumatic memories stimulated the posterior cingulate cortex.

Full Story: New Atlas

2023 expected to set new global warming record

World Meteorological Organization data show that 2023 will be the hottest year on record by a significant margin, reaching global warming of about 1.4 ºC over preindustrial levels. The previous record was set in 2016, and scientists said 2024 could prove even warmer than this year due to El Niño’s effect on temperatures.

Full Story: Reuters

World’s largest genomic database released by UK Biobank

The UK Biobank has completed work on the largest collection of full genome sequences in the world, containing 10,000 variables per person collected over a period of 15 years for 500,000 volunteers. The data, accessible to 30,000 researchers from 90 countries, took 350,000 cumulative hours of sequencing over five years to compile.

Full Story: Nature