12% OF PET SWABS TEST POSITIVE FOR MPOX DNA

A US study found that 12% of swabs from pets living with mpox patients tested positive for mpox virus DNA, though blood cultures showed no infection. Researchers from the CDC, collaborating with officials in several states, collected swabs from 34 pets in 21 households with mpox patients between July 2022 and March 2023. They sampled 24 dogs, 9 cats, and 1 rabbit, as well as their environments. While mpox DNA was found in 12% of pet swabs and 25% of environmental samples, blood tests showed no viable mpox or orthopoxvirus antibodies. The positive samples likely indicated human contamination. The study highlights a low likelihood of pet infection and suggests that mpox contamination in animals is due to human exposure. Researchers recommend avoiding contact between mpox patients and pets and advocate for a One Health approach to study human-to-animal transmission. (CIDRAP)

CHICXULUB IMPACTOR TRACED TO CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITE

Researchers have traced the Chicxulub impactor, the asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago and contributed to the dinosaur extinction, back to its origin. The impactor is identified as a carbonaceous chondrite, a rare meteorite type formed beyond Jupiter’s orbit. Evidence includes a 2016 fragment from the crater and new measurements of ruthenium isotopes from global K-Pg boundary layers, which match those in carbonaceous chondrites. This finding supports the earlier hypothesis by Luis and Walter Alvarez that the impact caused a global winter. The carbonaceous chondrite, rich in volatiles and water, contrasts with common meteorites from closer to the Sun. Simulations suggest these carbon-rich asteroids could be ejected into the inner Solar System every few hundred million years. The discovery emphasizes the impactor’s role in creating a dense, sunlight-blocking plume, enhancing the extinction event’s severity. Future studies may further refine the impactor’s exact subtype and explore cometary origins. (Science)

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CURIOUSITY ROVER FINDS PURE SULFUR ON MARS

NASA’s Curiosity rover, which has been exploring Mars for 12 years, has unexpectedly discovered pure sulfur on the red planet. This finding occurred when the rover cracked open a rock in Gediz Vallis, revealing yellowish-green sulfur crystals. While Curiosity had previously found sulfur-based minerals, this is the first detection of elemental sulfur on Mars. The discovery, described as finding “an oasis in the desert,” raises questions about its origin, with possibilities including meteorite showers. Sulfur, crucial for life on Earth due to its role in key proteins and chemical processes, adds a new dimension to Mars exploration. Despite initial skepticism from some experts about the significance of the find, the discovery highlights the rover’s successful remote operation and the excitement of planetary exploration. (Futurity)

NASA TESTS LUNAR CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES ON ISS

As NASA prepares for a return to the moon under its Artemis program, astronauts are testing construction techniques on the International Space Station (ISS). The goal is to develop methods for building permanent lunar bases by 2026. Researchers are experimenting with mixing simulated lunar soil with various materials to create cement in the microgravity environment of the ISS. NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick has conducted tests involving simulated lunar soil, other materials, and a liquid solution to develop viable building materials. This experiment, part of the Material Science on the Solidification of Concrete investigation, aims to address challenges such as air bubbles and brittleness in lunar construction. The research also seeks alternatives to traditional cement, which is energy-intensive and environmentally harmful. The findings could help reduce the cost of lunar construction by utilizing local materials and improve sustainability for future lunar habitats. (space.com)

WORLD’S LARGEST ICEBERG TRAPPED IN ROTATING WATER COLUMN

The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has halted its northward drift from Antarctica and is now trapped in a rotating water column near the South Orkney Islands. This Taylor column causes A23a to slowly spin at about 15 degrees per day. Originally part of the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, A23a broke away in 1986, and for 34 years, it remained grounded in the Weddell Sea. It began drifting in 2020 and was expected to move towards South Georgia Island, but it has instead become ensnared in the ocean’s complex currents. Scientists are unsure how long this stasis will last, with estimates ranging from a year to several years. The iceberg’s unique position delays its melting, offering researchers valuable insights into iceberg behavior, marine life interactions, and oceanic carbon balance. (Smithsonian Magazine)

ARCHAEOLOGIST MICHAEL D. WATERS CHALLENGES CLOVIS THEORY

A recent article “Encounters with the Maverick Archaeologist of the Americas” explores the unconventional methods and groundbreaking discoveries of Dr. Michael D. Waters, a renowned archaeologist. Waters challenges traditional views on the peopling of the Americas with his research on the Clovis culture. He argues that the first human migration occurred earlier than previously believed, based on evidence from pre-Clovis sites. The article highlights his controversial but influential work, including his studies at the Debra L. Friedkin site in Texas, which suggest that early humans arrived in North America around 15,000 years ago, contradicting the long-held Clovis-first theory. Waters’ innovative approaches and dedication to uncovering the true history of human migration have made him a prominent and sometimes contentious figure in the field of archaeology. (Hakai Magazine)

Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.

WORDS: The Biology Guy.

IMAGE CREDIT: Nancy Guth.