Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
In a potential landmark discovery, scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have obtained what they call the strongest signs yet of possible life beyond our solar system, detecting in an alien planet's atmosphere the chemical fingerprints of gases that on Earth are produced only by biological processes. The two gases - dimethyl sulphide, or DMS, and dimethyl disulphide, or DMDS - involved in Webb's observations of the planet named K2-18 b are generated on Earth by living organisms, primarily microbial life such as marine phytoplankton - algae. Located about 124 light-years from Earth, K2-18 b is 8.6 times as massive as Earth and has a diameter about 2.6 times as large as our planet.
A new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health suggests a changing climate threatens the continuous availability of safe blood across the world. The findings suggest climate change may impact some infectious diseases (mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus and Malaria) that can be transmitted via blood and can prevent people from donating. We could also face greater difficulty in finding the right blood for patients. With rising sea levels increasing migration rates, it's essential to have more donors from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and to increase the number of people who give blood, the study revealed. The researchers recommend governments and blood services can prepare with critical tools such as early warning systems, disease surveillance, flexible approaches to donor eligibility and blood transport in emergencies, hospital preparation, and expanding collection services so donations can be relocated quickly.
(Credit: Instagram/@New Scientist)
In a breathtaking deep-sea discovery, marine scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor, during an expedition between the waters of Argentina and Antarctica, have captured the world's first footage of a colossal squid swimming freely in its natural habitat - nearly a century after the species was first identified. The juvenile squid - measuring around 30 cm - was filmed near the South Sandwich Islands at a depth of approximately 600 metres using a remotely operated underwater vehicle. The species, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, also known as the colossal squid, had previously only been known through remains found in the stomachs of whales or as dying specimens pulled up by fishing vessels. One of the most distinctive features of the colossal squid is the presence of rotating hooks on its arms, distinguishing it from other glass squid species.
Climate change may significantly impact arsenic levels in paddy rice, a staple food for millions across Asia, reveals a new study from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. The research shows that increased temperatures above 2°C, coupled with rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, lead to higher concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in rice, potentially raising lifetime health risks for populations in Asia by 2050. The higher arsenic levels are likely due to climate-related changes in soil chemistry that favour arsenic that can more easily be absorbed into rice grain. The study revealed that this increase in arsenic levels could significantly elevate the incidence of heart disease, diabetes, and other health effects.
