Author archives: César Tomé

MI weekly selection #184

MI weekly selection #184

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Unusual underwater structures are geological, not ancient city Uniquely shaped structures found underwater near the Greek island of Zakynthos are naturally occurring geological forms and not the ruins of an ancient city lost to the sea. The circular structures reminiscent of columns, floors and courtyards likely formed about 5 million years ago during the Pliocene […]

MI weekly selection #183

MI weekly selection #183

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Ancient Phoenician’s genome sequenced A Phoenician who lived 2,500 years ago near Carthage had European ancestors, according to researchers who sequenced his mitochondrial genome after collecting DNA from his remains. The Phoenician’s ancestry was traced back to the European haplogroup U5b2cl, connected to the North Mediterranean and possibly the Iberian Peninsula. Seeker Protein linked to […]

MI weekly selection #181

MI weekly selection #181

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Earth-sun magnetic field interactions seen by NASA space probes Explosive storms spawned by interactions between the magnetic fields of Earth and the sun can endanger satellites, spacecraft and astronauts in space, as well as power grids on Earth. Now, a fleet of NASA spacecraft has for the first time directly witnessed the mysterious way in […]

MI weekly selection #180

MI weekly selection #180

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Venus flytraps’ predatory ways may have roots in defense The genes that allow Venus flytraps to be carnivores may come from defensive mechanisms carried over from their non-insect-eating ancestors. Researchers found that gene expression patterns shift radically when prey steps into the plants’ traps, signaling digestive enzymes along the same protein paths used to help […]

MI weekly selection #179

MI weekly selection #179

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Nonhuman primates may be involved in Zika transmission Scientists who collected biological samples from 15 wild marmosets and eight pet capuchin monkeys plus one free-ranging capuchin in Brazil found four marmosets and three capuchins had been infected with the Zika virus. The Scientist Cosmic-particle technology opens window into Bent Pyramid New cosmic-particle technology has allowed […]

MI weekly selection #178

MI weekly selection #178

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Dali painting used in study of how brain processes information Scientists used a painting by Salvador Dali to help them discover how the brain processes information. Researchers asked study participants to examine Dali’s 1940 work “Slave Market with the Disappearing Bust of Voltaire,” which is visually ambiguous. “We found very early on … that the […]

MI weekly selection #177

MI weekly selection #177

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

First images from Japan’s long-delayed Venus probe revealed Japan’s Akatsuki spacecraft has finally begun sending back images from Venus after an unexpected five-year orbit around the sun. Images show a strange curved shape moving across Venus’ atmosphere as well as clouds of sulfuric acid. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency rescued the craft and put it […]

MI weekly selection #176

MI weekly selection #176

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Neanderthal Y chromosome missing in modern humans The Neanderthal Y chromosome hasn’t been found in modern humans, suggesting it is extinct. Researchers found dissimilarities in the Neanderthal Y chromosome’s immunity genes that could have caused miscarriages. BBC Clouds may not help keep global temperatures down Clouds’ cooling power may not be as great as climate […]

MI weekly selection #175

MI weekly selection #175

Humanities & Social SciencesScienceTechnologyWeekly Selection

By César Tomé

Photos reveal possible planet-forming disk around young star Photos taken by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, or ALMA, appear to show the birth of an alien planet similar to Earth along with other nascent worlds. The photos reveal a disk surrounding the star TW Hydrae that appears to have planets starting to form within it […]