SCIENTISTS TO TRANSPORT ANTIMATTER ACROSS EUROPE IN LORRY
Researchers are preparing to transport antimatter in a lorry across Europe, a groundbreaking scientific first. Antimatter, which costs trillions of dollars per gram and can only be produced in particle physics labs like CERN, is extremely difficult to handle. If it contacts normal matter, both are annihilated, releasing powerful radiation. To store antimatter safely, scientists use powerful electric and magnetic fields. The transport of antimatter, though it echoes a fictional plot from *Angels & Demons*, is not dangerous on the proposed scale. Scientists hope studying antimatter will help explain why the universe is made of matter, despite the Big Bang producing equal amounts of both matter and antimatter. The researchers will measure the properties of antiprotons in a new experiment, comparing them with protons. The antimatter will be transported in specialized containers to allow for more precise measurements, potentially providing answers to fundamental questions about the universe’s composition. (The Guardian)
EPA BANS TOXIC SOLVENTS LINKED TO CANCER AND DAMAGE
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned two toxic solvents, trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (Perc), which have been linked to serious health issues such as cancer and organ damage. TCE, found in cleaners and lubricants, is known to cause liver and kidney cancer, and Perc, used in dry-cleaning, can cause similar health problems. The ban, enacted under the Toxic Substances Control Act, is part of a push to eliminate cancer-causing chemicals, with safer alternatives available. While TCE’s ban is complete, Perc remains allowed in certain industrial settings, like aviation, with strict worker protections. The move was welcomed by environmental advocates, including families affected by TCE contamination. However, industry groups argue that the ban could negatively impact businesses. Critics are concerned that the incoming Trump administration may try to reverse the decision, citing past regulatory rollbacks, though public opposition to the ban’s reversal could be significant. (New York Times)
NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT SHIFTS FUNDING AWAY FROM HUMANITIES
This week, New Zealand’s center-right government announced a major shift in the allocation of the Marsden Fund, the country’s primary source for fundamental scientific research. Half of the NZ$75 million fund will now be directed towards research with economic benefits, excluding social sciences and humanities, which will no longer be supported. Universities New Zealand and several academic groups, including sociologist Paul Spoonley, condemned the decision, calling it “astonishing” and warning it would harm important research, especially in Māori communities. Spoonley argued that understanding societal issues like extremism is crucial for New Zealand’s future. Critics argue that the decision undermines New Zealand’s policy of interdisciplinary research and that commercial research often relies on fundamental science discoveries. The cuts come as New Zealand debates broader reforms to its science sector and universities. Many fear these changes will disproportionately impact Māori researchers and defund valuable humanities and social science work. (Science)
2024 SET TO BE HOTTEST YEAR WITH RECORD TEMPERATURES
Earth experienced its second-warmest November on record, making 2024 likely to be the hottest year ever recorded, according to Copernicus, Europe’s climate service. The 2024 global average temperature through November was 0.14°C higher than last year, which was the hottest on record. November’s global temperature averaged 14.10°C, just slightly below 2023’s 14.98°C. This year marks the first in which temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a threshold set by the Paris Agreement to avoid severe climate impacts. Scientists warn that the rapid pace of warming is devastating to ecosystems, causing species extinctions, agricultural challenges, and rising sea levels. The record temperatures are partly due to heatwaves, ocean warming, and loss of reflective sea ice, with Antarctic sea ice at a record low. Experts are puzzled as the usual cooling phase after El Nino didn’t occur, further accelerating global warming and intensifying the urgency for climate action. (AP)
TEENAGER MAKES $50K CREATING AND SELLING MEMECOINS
On November 19, art adviser Adam Biesk discovered that his teenage son had made over $50,000 by creating and selling cryptocurrency coins on Pump.Fun, a platform for memecoins. The teenager launched 1 billion units of a coin called Gen Z Quant, purchased a portion for himself, and promoted it through a livestream. Within minutes, the coin’s value soared, allowing him to sell and cash out. However, the price soon crashed, leading to backlash from angry traders who accused him of a “soft rug pull,” a practice where creators sell off their holdings quickly, causing the price to plummet. Despite the criticism, Biesk’s son continued to profit, later launching additional coins. The incident sparked debate about the ethical and legal implications of such actions, as the memecoin market operates in a legal gray area. Though the family faced online harassment, Biesk was impressed by his son’s entrepreneurial skills and digital savviness. (Ars Technica)
TOKYO RESEARCHERS DEVELOP METHOD TO CULTIVATE SALT-TOLERANT PLANT
Researchers at Meiji University in Tokyo have developed a new method for cultivating the salt-tolerant glasswort (Salicornia europaea), offering hope for farmers in regions with salt-damaged soils. The plant, known for thriving in saline environments, has been difficult to mass-produce due to its delicate germination process. The new method involves grafting glasswort cuttings and soaking them in a salt-nutrient mixture, allowing roots to sprout in just 12 days with over 90% success. This simpler and more efficient technique could lead to widespread cultivation, especially in developing countries. Glasswort has potential applications in removing salt from farmland and producing biofuels and cancer-fighting drugs. The research team used plants imported from Israel and later obtained local seeds with government permission. Glasswort, also known as sea asparagus, is sold in Europe but is protected as an endangered species in Japan. The breakthrough offers significant commercial and environmental benefits. (Asahi Shinbun)
CAMBRIDGE TEAM CHALLENGES THEORY OF VENUS HAVING OCEANS
A team of astronomers from the University of Cambridge has challenged the long-held belief that Venus may have once had oceans, suggesting instead that the planet may have never been hospitable to life. Their study, published in *Nature Astronomy*, suggests that Venus’ interior is too dry to have supported oceans. By analyzing the planet’s unchanging atmosphere, the team found that Venus’ volcanic eruptions release very little water vapor—only 6 percent, compared to over 60 percent on Earth. This implies that Venus’ interior is dry, aligning with the theory that the planet never had oceans and remained hot and inhospitable. This finding reshapes the search for extraterrestrial life, as Venus-like planets are no longer seen as likely candidates for Earth-like conditions. Although the study challenges the “wet” theory of Venus’ past, scientists hope that NASA’s upcoming DaVINCI mission in 2030 will provide more definitive answers. (Smithsonian)
Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.