Scientists have discovered that predicting the motion of stars orbiting the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at the center of the Milky Way is exasperatingly difficult. While a computer program developed in 2018 allows for confident predictions of the movements of solar system objects for 12 million years, predictions for the 27 stars orbiting Sagittarius A* can only be made for a mere 462 years. The chaos around Sagittarius A* is attributed to the fact that the area is populated with stellar-mass objects rather than smaller planetary bodies, making it 30,000 times more chaotic. The mutual gravitational influence of these stars affects their orbits and pushes on the black hole, thus impacting the entire cluster.
Anthropogenic Climate Effects in the Atlantic
A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science reveals that climate change and weather patterns in the Atlantic are predominantly caused by two primary factors: human activities and volcanic activity. Through a grand ensemble simulation technique, researchers combined the averages of 400 worldwide climate model simulations to demonstrate the impact of human aerosol emissions on hurricane activity and rainfall in the Sahel desert. The reduction in human-induced aerosol emissions since the 1980s has led to heightened hurricane activity in the Atlantic and increased rainfall in West Africa.
Potential Quantum Therapy for Glioblastoma
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a groundbreaking approach to treat glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Although the therapy is still years away from human trials, it represents the first quantum therapeutic for glioblastoma. Using gold nanoparticles called bio-nanoantennae, which are functionalized with electron acceptor-donor species, the researchers were able to selectively trigger apoptosis (cell death) in glioblastoma cells through remote electrical stimulation. This approach has the potential to target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
Threats to Koala Bears
Koala bears, beloved for their cuddly appearance, are facing numerous threats to their survival. Researchers at the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science analyzed data from KoalaBASE to identify the leading causes of koala bear death in southeast Queensland, Australia. The study found that the main causes of koala deaths were car accidents (52%), chlamydia (34%), and dog attacks (14%). The researchers hope that policymakers can utilize this information to develop interventions and reduce the number of koala deaths, allowing for increased attention to be focused on less adorable endangered species.
Sources:
– Phys.org: https://phys.org/news/2023-09-saturday-citations-helmet-supermassive-black.html