MICROSOFT PARTNERS WITH EBB CARBON FOR CO2 SEQUESTRATION

Microsoft has partnered with marine carbon removal startup Ebb Carbon, based in South San Francisco, to potentially sequester up to 350,000 tons of CO2 over the next decade. Ebb Carbon employs a technique known as “ocean alkalinity enhancement,” which adjusts the ocean’s chemistry to create more alkaline conditions. This process allows seawater to capture and safely store carbon, helping to combat ocean acidification. The agreement begins with an initial removal of 1,333 tons, with options for Microsoft to purchase additional credits. Microsoft’s Brian Marrs emphasized the ocean’s role in the carbon cycle and its potential for large-scale carbon removal. Ebb is collaborating with the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for its pilot project. Despite challenges in verifying carbon removal in oceanic contexts, the approach is seen as having a greater potential for scalability compared to land-based methods. Microsoft is committed to ambitious climate goals while navigating the increasing energy demands of AI technologies. (Geekwire)

MATHEMATICIAN UNCOVERS NEW INSIGHTS INTO RAMANUJAN’S WORK

In January 2011, mathematician Hussein Mourtada celebrated a breakthrough related to singularities—special points in curves—realizing he could prove their deep structure, linked to mysterious mathematical statements by Srinivasa Ramanujan. Ramanujan, a self-taught genius from India, discovered partition identities—ways to break numbers into smaller parts—while living in poverty. Despite facing obstacles in his education, he communicated his findings to mathematicians, eventually leading to a fellowship with G.H. Hardy in England. Ramanujan’s identities have since revealed connections across diverse mathematical fields, including algebraic geometry, number theory, and statistical mechanics. Mourtada and his team explored these connections further, uncovering new identities related to singularities. Collaborating with postdoctoral researcher Pooneh Afsharijoo, they expanded Ramanujan’s original identity and utilized graph theory to find additional novel partition identities. Their discoveries demonstrate the intricate unity within mathematics and how Ramanujan’s legacy continues to inspire new breakthroughs. (Quanta Magazine)

ANCIENT CICADAS EVOLVED FASTER WINGS DUE TO BIRDS

A study published in Science Advances reveals that an aerial arms race occurred 145 million years ago between ancient giant cicadas and early birds, influencing the evolution of cicada wing shapes. Researchers, led by palaeoentomologist Bo Wang, examined fossilized remains of 73 ancient cicada species from the family Palaeontinidae, which thrived from the Triassic to the late Cretaceous periods. They found that earlier cicadas had wide, rounded forewings, while later specimens had more triangular wings resembling modern cicadas. These changes allowed Cretaceous cicadas to fly nearly 40% faster and use 26% less energy. The study suggests that these adaptations were a response to the emergence of agile birds as predators, although other competitive factors may have also played a role. Experts encourage further research into the flight evolution of other extinct insects to gain a broader understanding of how modern flying insects evolved. (Science)

NASA ASTRONAUT HOSPITALIZED AFTER RETURN FROM SPACE MISSION

A NASA astronaut was hospitalized for an undisclosed medical issue following a nearly eight-month mission at the International Space Station, which was extended due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule and Hurricane Milton. A SpaceX capsule carrying three Americans—Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps—and Russian astronaut Alexander Grebenkin splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after undocking mid-week. While all four astronauts underwent routine medical checks aboard the recovery ship, one NASA astronaut experienced a medical issue shortly after splashdown, prompting their transport to a Pensacola hospital for further evaluation as a precaution. NASA stated that the astronaut, whose identity was not disclosed, was in stable condition. The other three were discharged and returned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Their return was delayed by safety concerns with the Starliner and adverse weather, but the space station is now back to a normal crew size of seven. (AP)

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

WORDS: The Biology Guy.