BOEING STARLINER CREWED LAUNCH POSTPONED FOUR DAYS MINIMUM.
The first crewed launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has been postponed for at least four days due to an issue with an oxygen relief valve on the Centaur stage of the Atlas V rocket. Scheduled to launch at 10:34 p.m. EDT on May 6, the mission was halted about two hours prior, as NASA declared the rocket was not in a flight-ready state. This mission, carrying astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams, will be the first crewed flight of the Atlas V since Gordon Cooper’s Mercury-Atlas 9 in 1963, and the first from Cape Canaveral since Apollo 7 in 1968. Starliner will transport its crew to the International Space Station, where they are expected to stay for a week. NASA hopes to have Starliner ready for regular missions by next year, complementing SpaceX’s operational flights that began in 2020. Further updates will follow from NASA, Boeing, or United Launch Alliance. (space.com)
TWO COPIES OF APOE4 GENE MAY DEFINE DISTINCT ALZHEIMER’S FORM.
Researchers suggest that having two copies of the gene variant ApoE4 could represent a distinct genetic form of Alzheimer’s disease. While ApoE4 has long been recognized as a risk factor, new research indicates that nearly all individuals with two copies develop Alzheimer’s. According to Dr. Juan Fortea, over 95% of people with this genetic makeup show clear Alzheimer’s pathology. Clinical data analysis from over 10,000 people revealed that, by age 65, most had abnormal amyloid-beta protein levels, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s. The onset of symptoms occurs about 7-10 years earlier in those with two copies compared to others. The research team argues that defining this variant as a distinct genetic form could help in developing targeted treatments and enhance clinical trial designs. However, some experts, like Prof. David Curtis, dispute the notion of it being a separate form, noting that effective treatments should apply broadly regardless of genetic variation. (The Guardian)
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TEENS SHARE DIAGNOSES AS SCHOOLS EMBRACE EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
Mental health is increasingly central to childhood and adolescence, with teens sharing psychiatric diagnoses on social media and schools introducing preventive courses in emotional regulation. However, researchers like Heather Smith caution that overemphasis on mental health awareness may lead to “prevalence inflation,” where mild symptoms are misinterpreted as disorders. Her research suggests that mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy programs might not always yield positive results; in trials, students who underwent training sometimes fared worse afterward. Lucy Foulkes and Jack Andrews, researchers from the University of Oxford, advocate for caution, noting that these interventions might exacerbate problems by emphasizing troubling emotions without providing solutions. Yet, other experts emphasize the need for proactive approaches to support young people with limited access to treatment. A meta-analysis found that, on average, social-emotional learning programs improve students’ academic and social outcomes. Critics of the prevalence inflation hypothesis argue that stigma and barriers to care remain greater concerns than overdiagnosis. (New York Times)
YOUNG AMERICANS AVOID STATES WITH ABORTION BAN JOB OFFERS.
A recent CNBC/Generation Lab survey of 1,033 young Americans aged 18 to 34 reveals significant shifts in attitudes toward abortion laws, work, and the economy. Nearly two-thirds of respondents would avoid living in a state with an abortion ban, and 45% would reject job offers in such states. This poses a major challenge for companies trying to attract talent. The survey also highlights economic concerns: despite a strong job market, only 6% view it as “great,” while most feel the impact of inflation, especially in food and housing costs. Mortgage rates and high prices are deterring many from investing or buying homes. Additionally, young workers strongly support a four-day workweek (81%) and oppose banning TikTok (70%). Politically, younger voters are split between Biden and Trump, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drawing significant interest. The survey suggests that abortion rights will be a key issue influencing voter turnout and corporate strategies. (CNBC)
WILD DOG MUSCLE DISCOVERY CHALLENGES EXCLUSIVE “PUPPY-DOG EYES” THEORY.
A recent study led by comparative anatomist Heather Smith challenges the 2019 finding that dogs evolved “puppy-dog eyes” specifically to communicate with humans. The new research shows that African wild dogs possess similar eyebrow muscles, indicating this trait wasn’t exclusive to domesticated breeds. The muscles in question, the levator anguli oculi medalis (LAOM) and the retractor anguli oculi lateralis (RAOL), were found to be well-developed in the dissected wild dog, suggesting the “puppy-dog” expression may have evolved for non-vocal communication within the highly social species. Anne Burrows, co-author of the earlier study, believes this discovery prompts a re-evaluation of canine evolution, potentially revealing that these muscles existed long before domestication and were lost in wolves. However, Muhammad Spocter, an anatomist, advises caution, emphasizing that the presence of these muscles doesn’t confirm their use or purpose. Understanding their behavior will require further investigation. (Nature)
PACIFIC HEAT WAVES LINKED TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLLUTION REDUCTION.
Starting in 2013, a series of extreme heat waves struck the North Pacific Ocean near Alaska, driven by temperatures reaching over 2°C above normal. These heatwaves, recurring four times in the past decade, triggered widespread toxic algae blooms, starved seabirds, killed thousands of humpback whales, and decimated Alaska’s cod fisheries. Scientists link climate change and China’s successful pollution reduction to these heatwaves. China’s significant reduction of aerosol emissions, which act as a shield by reflecting sunlight, potentially amplified the Pacific heat waves by up to 30%, according to research published in *PNAS*. Models show a decline in East Asian aerosol pollution disrupted atmospheric patterns, triggering a chain reaction that intensified the Aleutian Low system near Alaska. Although natural weather patterns initially caused the heat waves, this pollution reduction created conditions that made them more intense and frequent. The study offers a cautionary lesson on the rapid and far-reaching impacts of climate interventions. (Science)
RARE SAOLA SIGHTING INSPIRES HOPE FOR SPECIES CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
Ngoc Thinh, WWF-Vietnam’s CEO, vividly recalls September 7, 2013, when a camera trap captured a rare saola, or “Asian unicorn,” in central Vietnam. First discovered in 1992, the saola had been unseen in the wild for 15 years and had never survived long in captivity. This 2013 sighting was an emotional moment, confirming the species hadn’t gone extinct despite intense poaching and habitat loss. Estimates suggest fewer than 100 saolas remain. WWF and its partners are working to find and protect these elusive mammals through biodiversity monitoring and awareness campaigns, alongside planning a captive breeding program in Bach Ma National Park. This initiative aims to bolster the wild population, drawing lessons from similar successes with endangered Arabian oryx and takhi. Despite the challenges, Thinh remains hopeful, driven by his dream to see the saola thrive again. (WWF)
Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.
IMAGE CREDIT: NASA.
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