Made from reclaimed cedar wood, these coasters are designed with a bicycle motif that is hand burnished into each coaster. Read more These upcycled cedar wood coasters are truly unique because they are made from hand-selected cedar planks reclaimed from mid-century Chinese dwellings. The uniqueness of each coaster is derived from the grain, lines and knots of the salvaged cedar wood, making each coaster one-of-a-kind. Cedar wood is extraordinarily lightweight. Use coasters to protect your table surfaces from hot mugs and capture the condensation from cold beverages. These coasters make a great addition to any coffee table and are perfect for gifts! Features &amp; Benefits: Set of 4 coasters with bicycle motif Made from reclaimed cedar wood Hand finished with natural food safe oil Smooth base protects surfaces Size: 3 3/4 inches

Reclaimed Cedar Wood Coasters - Set of 4

price

Made from reclaimed cedar wood, these coasters are designed with...

The noises of everyday life might be stirring more than just your eardrums. Recent findings suggest that certain vibrations affect living cells in unexpected ways. 



In an effort to see if cells truly respond to sound, researchers developed specialized setups that send mild pressure waves into cell cultures.



After extensive tests, Masahiro Kumeta from <a href="https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyoto University</a> emerged as a leading voice in this field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cells-detect-and-respond-to-sound">Cells detect and respond to sound</h2>



Cells typically rely on chemical signals and mechanical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-people-are-born-to-enjoy-music-more-than-others/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cues</a> to regulate their growth. The notion that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4659753/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">audible frequencies</a> might play a role in shaping cell functions has intrigued scientists for years.



“To investigate the effect of sound on cellular activities, we designed a system to bathe cultured cells in acoustic waves,” said Kumeta. 



The researchers noted that subtle compressions could alter how cells communicate and function.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-cells-sense-pressure">When cells sense pressure</h2>



One pivotal outcome was the identification of over 100 genes that seemed sensitive to specific sound conditions. 



Different frequencies and intensities triggered varied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-has-the-power-to-change-the-mood-of-our-memories/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responses</a>, hinting at a surprisingly sophisticated cellular awareness.



“Since sound is non-material, acoustic stimulation is a tool that is non-invasive, safe, and immediate, and will likely benefit medicine and healthcare,” said Kumeta. 



Observations <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11089525/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suggested</a> that mechanical receptors on cell surfaces might be picking up sound-related pressure changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sound-affects-fat-development">Sound affects fat development</h2>



The research also uncovered a link between vibrations and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/adipocyte" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adipocyte</a> development. Cells destined to become fat cells showed reduced differentiation when exposed to tailored sound signals.



This effect was partly explained by increased levels of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/prostaglandin-e2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PGE2</a>, a molecule known to influence fat cell growth. The findings add weight to ongoing discussions about non-invasive ways to manage tissue health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-everyday-noise-impacts-cell-health">Everyday noise impacts cell health</h2>



These discoveries raise questions about the relationship between environmental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/live-music-connects-people-emotionally-and-physically/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noise</a> and cellular health. Future investigations might shed light on whether day-to-day soundscapes carry hidden effects for humans.



Such possibilities could open new therapeutic avenues to address metabolic issues or support tissue regeneration. 



Learning more about how cells detect acoustic cues might guide clinicians toward safer treatment strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sound-can-control-cell-activity">Sound can control cell activity</h2>



Researchers are keen to explore how mechanical waves can be tuned to different cell types. This tuning could help maintain specific cell behaviors without using invasive procedures.



Understanding these mechanisms might also improve regenerative medicine by providing a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/upright-walking-may-have-sparked-human-creativity-and-music/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tool</a> that supports healing tissues. 



Though the science is still expanding, the conversation around everyday sound’s potential influence on cellular well-being is gaining traction.



The idea that your cells respond to invisible shifts in pressure challenges traditional views of sensory biology. Investigations promise to reveal more about how we can harness acoustic signals in gentle yet meaningful ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vibrations-shift-gene-activity">Vibrations shift gene activity</h2>



Mechanobiology extends to how tissues interpret various physical forces. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5763187/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Studies</a> suggest that subtle vibrations might shift gene expression in skeletal and smooth muscle.



Research into <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234245/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neurotoxins</a> and other complex biological processes also shows that cells often respond to unexpected sound cues in their environment. 



Low-intensity pulses can trigger molecular changes that were once thought impossible through conventional means.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-noise-pollution-may-harm-cells">Noise pollution may harm cells</h2>



Efforts are underway to design experiments that separate normal mechanical stress from sound-induced signals. If those tests confirm unique responses, the results could open new doors in cell therapy.



Scientists are also curious about whether long-term exposure to mild acoustic environments might steer cells toward different fates.



Communities around the globe deal with noise pollution daily, so these results could change how we think about public health. It raises the possibility certain sound frequencies might either help or hinder basic cellular functions.



Finding a balance between beneficial and disruptive sound levels could become an unexpected health frontier. Communities might one day explore acoustic monitoring alongside typical environmental checks.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-07969-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Communications Biology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Our cells react to sounds we can't even hear

The noises of everyday life might be stirring more than...

Greenland’s ice-covered landscape looks like an immovable block on satellite maps. Yet the story locked beneath its center suggests a very different past, one that places future coastal cities in a tight spot. 



During the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-were-likely-the-leading-cause-of-megafauna-extinctions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pleistocene</a> - the geologic chapter that began about 2.7 million years ago and ran through innumerable swings between cold and mild - the island’s ice waxed and waned in tune with global climate. 



New evidence hints that those swings were more dramatic than scientists once believed.



In 1993, drillers hauled a two‑mile‑deep ice core up from the island’s highest point and stowed the entire column in a Colorado freezer. 



The surprise awaited in the bottom three inches of sediment: perfectly preserved traces of a tundra ecosystem. 



That sliver of soil, shielded for ages by roughly 1.9 miles (3 km) of ice, now refocuses the conversation about future sea level and the stability of polar ice in a warming world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tundra-hidden-beneath-greenland-s-ice">Tundra hidden beneath Greenland's ice</h2>



Once the drill broke through that 1.9‑mile roof of ice, the researchers retrieved those three inches of till. 



“These fossils are beautiful,” says Paul Bierman, a scientist at the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a> who co‑led the new study with UVM graduate student Halley Mastro and nine other researchers.



“But, yes, we go from bad to worse,” Bierman added, referring to what this finding implies about the impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indisputable-evidence-of-human-caused-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human‑caused climate change</a> on melting of the Greenland ice sheet.



The till holds poppy, spike‑moss, woody willow tissue, fungal sclerotia, insect parts, and a band of soil capped by about 16 inches of erratic boulders. 



This is clear evidence that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drones-reveal-hidden-details-about-greenlands-melting-ice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">central Greenland</a> once lay ice‑free under a cold, dry sky where late‑lying snow lingered through early summer.



Because the material sits undisturbed, the team is confident it was not swept in from elsewhere as ice advanced.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inside-a-deep-greenland-ice-core">Inside a deep Greenland ice core</h2>



“Once we made the discovery at Camp Century, we thought, ‘Hey, what's at the bottom of GISP2?’” Bierman recalled.



High‑energy isotope ratios show that the summit last saw open air within the past 1.1 million years, while argon trapped in overlying clear ice indicates at least 250,000 years of continuous cover since then. Basal ice at another drilling site about 19 miles away is roughly 1 million years old. 



A separate core from Camp Century <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-under-the-ice-secret-base-camp-found-in-greenland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">near the coast</a> yielded plant remains no older than 416,000 years, underscoring the ice sheet’s flickering presence across the Pleistocene. 



These findings draw on material that had been stored at the National Science Foundation <a href="https://icecores.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ice Core Facility</a> in Lakewood, Colorado, for three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossils-divulge-a-warmer-greenland">Fossils divulge a warmer Greenland</h2>



Under the microscope, what had looked like no more than specks floating on the surface of the melted core sample was, in fact, a window into a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-transformation-ice-melt-plant-growth-vegetation-cascading-effects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tundra landscape</a>. 



“It was amazing,” Mastro exclaimed. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greenland_soil-sample_fossils_recently-melted-ice_credit-UVermont_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/greenland_soil-sample_fossils_recently-melted-ice_credit-UVermont_1s.webp" alt="Willow bud scale, arctic poppy seed, fungal bodies, and rock spikemoss megaspores found in the GISP2 soil sample viewed under a microscope at the University of Vermont. Credit: Halley Mastro/University of Vermont" class="wp-image-1966471"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Willow bud scale, arctic poppy seed, fungal bodies, and rock spikemoss megaspores found in the GISP2 soil sample viewed under a microscope at the University of Vermont. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Halley Mastro/University of Vermont</figcaption></figure>



Mastro and colleagues picked out spores of spike‑moss, the bud scale of a young willow, and the compound eye of an insect - life‑forms adapted to chilly air and long summer daylight.



“And then we found Arctic poppy - just one seed of it. That is a tiny flower that's really good at adapting to the cold. It lets us know that Greenland's ice melted and there was soil, because poppies don't grow on top of miles of ice,” Mastro continued.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-level-risks-for-global-coasts">Sea‑level risks for global coasts</h2>



Sea level today is rising more than an inch each decade. “And it's getting faster and faster,” said&nbsp;Bierman. The extra water comes from a warming ocean that expands as well as from melting glaciers worldwide.



Near‑complete melting of Greenland’s ice over the next centuries to a few millennia would lead to some 23 feet of sea‑level rise. 



“Look at Boston, New York, Miami, Mumbai, or any other coastal city around the world, and add 20‑plus feet of sea level. It goes underwater. Don't buy a beach house," Bierman advised.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-much-did-sea-levels-rise-after-the-last-ice-age-alarming-new-clues-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sea level</a> is likely to be several feet higher by the end of this century, when today’s children are grandparents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-greenland-s-fragile-ice-fortress">Greenland's fragile ice fortress</h2>



Richard Alley, a leading climate scientist at Penn State, reviewed the new research.



“This new study confirms, and expands upon earlier evidence, that significant sea‑level rise occurred at a time when the causes of warming were not especially extreme, providing a warning of the damage we might cause if we continue to warm the climate," Alley noted.



“We now have direct evidence that not only was the ice gone, but that plants and insects were living there,” Bierman concluded. “And that's unassailable. You don't have to rely on calculations or models.” 



The fossil soil at Greenland’s summit, locked beneath nearly two miles of ice, speaks plainly: polar ice sheets can retreat far and fast when the climate tips, and the coastlines of the future will trace that story in real time. 



Whether that warning is heeded remains a decision for policy makers and citizens alike.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2407465121#supplementary-materials" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Greenland fossil discovery stuns and worries scientists: "Don't buy a beach house"

Greenland’s ice-covered landscape looks like an immovable block on satellite...

Researchers have long studied quantum entanglement to understand how photons appear to influence each other instantaneously.



This peculiar link first emerged when Albert Einstein pointed to what he called “spooky action at a distance,” suggesting that this peculiar behavior contradicted intuitive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/google-claims-commercial-quantum-computing-is-just-five-years-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">views</a> of cause and effect.



The conversation around these phenomena has evolved through the decades. 



Ph.D. student <a href="https://phys.technion.ac.il/en/component/adm/person/1189" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amit Kam</a> and <a href="https://scholar.google.co.il/citations?user=Jf5cMM8AAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Shai Tsesses</a> from <a href="https://www.technion.ac.il/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technion</a> are now adding a twist to this story by exploring surprising effects in photons that occupy incredibly tight spaces.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-quantum-entanglement">Understanding quantum entanglement</h2>



Quantum entanglement is a strange but very real phenomenon where two particles become linked in such a way that their states depend on each other, even when separated by huge distances. 



Imagine you take a pair of gloves, put one in a box, and send it to the other side of the universe. The moment you open the box and see a left glove, you instantly know the other box has the right one. 



With entangled particles, it’s like that, but much weirder. The twist is, unlike gloves that had a clear identity from the start, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-speed-is-measured-first-time-too-fast-for-humans-minds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">entangled particles</a> don’t “decide” their state until someone measures them. And once one does, the other reacts instantly, no matter how far away it is.



Einstein was never fully onboard with quantum entanglement because it seems to break the rule that nothing can travel faster than light. 



But time and again, experiments have shown it’s real. No hidden signals. No delay. Just instant correlation. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-origins-of-entanglement">The origins of entanglement</h2>



Einstein’s <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qt-epr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collaboration</a> with Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen produced a classic puzzle that challenged existing ideas. 



Their EPR paper helped spark deeper inquiries into how one <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microsoft-announces-giant-leap-in-quantum-computing-majorana-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">particle</a> can instantly affect another across vast distances, a phenomenon that puzzled even seasoned physicists.



Years later, the idea reached practical horizons with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.70.1895" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum teleportation</a>, which was conceptualized by Charles Bennett, Gilles Brassard, and Asher Peres. 



This opened the door to quantum communication protocols that rely on bizarre correlations only possible in the quantum world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-photon-spaces-are-revealing">Tiny photon spaces are revealing</h2>



The push to miniaturize devices is not just about saving space. Scaling down light-based components can strengthen the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baffling-quantum-entanglement-statistics-puzzle-finally-solved-advanced-technologies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interaction</a> between photons and nearby materials, which may lead to applications that larger-scale systems cannot achieve.



Photons in <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsanm.3c04950" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nanoscale</a> environments showcase new combinations of properties. Instead of seeing separate spin and orbital components, scientists are dealing with <a href="https://faculty.washington.edu/seattle/physics541/12text.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">total angular momentum</a>, which merges these features into one quantity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strange-photon-actions-in-small-spaces">Strange photon actions in small spaces</h2>



Most people imagine light beams spreading out freely, but these experiments <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-dance-entangled-photons-wave-functions-captured-real-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">confine photons</a> into structures tinier than a thousandth the thickness of a human hair.



That restriction forces angular components of light to overlap in unexpected ways, altering how each photon can carry information.



These observations may hold promise for new kinds of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radical-theory-unites-gravity-spacetime-and-the-quantum-realm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum</a> devices. 



Researchers propose that total angular momentum entanglement might enable more compact hardware for quantum computing or communication links than previously thought possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-kind-of-quantum-entanglement">Different kind of quantum entanglement</h2>



Several forms of entanglement in photons involve separate characteristics such as direction, frequency, or polarization. In contrast, total angular momentum combines many properties into a single description.



Evidence for this new structure only surfaced when <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08761-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> tested how photon pairs behave once they pass through carefully designed nanoscale channels. 



The outcomes hinted at correlations that do not resemble conventional entanglement structures in larger settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-this-matter">Why does this matter?</h2>



Those studying photon-based technologies aim to construct more efficient equipment that harnesses quantum <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-phase-superradiant-phase-transition-srpt-observed-in-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">effects</a> for faster computations or stealthy message exchanges. 



Smaller components can pack more operations onto a single chip, much like the ongoing trend in electronics.



While some quantum methods focus on established particle attributes, this work suggests that total angular momentum could be an untapped resource. 



The miniature systems explored by Technion scientists might offer fresh ways to encode and process data without taking up a lot of space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-photon-control-and-next-steps">Photon control and next steps</h2>



Entangled photons, even in conventional systems, are notoriously sensitive to environmental disturbances. 



Confining light in tiny spaces can amplify those effects, so the engineering behind these setups must address potential losses or interference.



Researchers also want to confirm whether total angular momentum entanglement behaves reliably in real-world conditions. 



Investigations into materials and device architectures are underway, guided by the new data from these nanoscale experiments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-this-links-back-to-einstein">How this links back to Einstein</h2>



Einstein’s skepticism about instant influence did not stop the scientific community from uncovering new frontiers in quantum theory. 



The <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2022/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2022 Nobel Prize in Physics</a> recognized key contributions that shaped how we measure and interpret entanglement.



Today, the focus has turned toward next-generation experiments that push these correlations into ever-smaller spaces. 



By compressing photons into structures below their typical wavelength, scientists hope to uncover possibilities beyond familiar optical behaviors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



Each step in quantum research sparks questions about how nature encodes information. 



The notion of merging spin and orbit into a single total angular momentum points to a shift in the thinking about light, especially when devices must stay small.



Further studies may translate these findings into commercial products. 



Many experts foresee a path where photons replace electrons in computing tasks, leading to faster speeds and less heat dissipation. This new entanglement feature could become an essential piece of that puzzle.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08761-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

New type of quantum entanglement will transform real-world technology

Researchers have long studied quantum entanglement to understand how photons appear...

For centuries, the universe has offered humanity glimpses of unimaginable galaxies and structures. Some shine brightly, others hide behind veils of gas and dust.



The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, or Messier 83 (M83), seemed like one of the latter. Its vibrant spiral arms and starburst activity have dazzled astronomers. Yet, deep in its luminous center, something powerful remained unseen - until now.



Recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>) may have uncovered long-sought evidence of a supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evidence-of-massive-early-universe-black-hole-stuns-astronomers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a> at the galaxy's core.



This finding, driven by the telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), marks a major shift in our understanding of M83 and other galaxies that were once thought to be starburst-only systems. The results open a new chapter in extragalactic astronomy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-hole-hiding-in-a-starburst-galaxy">Black hole hiding in a starburst galaxy</h2>



M83 lies just 4.6 million parsecs away - relatively close on the cosmic scale. Its classification as a barred spiral galaxy with intense star-forming activity placed it under frequent scrutiny.



Yet, despite decades of detailed study, researchers failed to detect signs of a central <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monster-in-the-shadows-giant-black-hole-emerges-from-cosmic-dust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">active galactic nucleus</a> (AGN), which is typically expected in galaxies of its size and structure.



Older optical and near-infrared observations suggested a complex nuclear region. Past efforts even revealed multiple candidate centers - each differing slightly in location and properties.



Still, none of these zones produced evidence strong enough to confirm AGN activity. If the galaxy held a supermassive black hole, it had to be dormant, hidden, or incredibly faint.



Astronomers suspected that thick dust may obscure faint AGN signals, especially in the galaxy’s nuclear starburst zone. Webb’s mid-infrared sensitivity changed that. With MIRI, researchers now see what previous instruments could not.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neon-signals-point-to-mystery">Neon signals point to mystery</h2>



The new study, led by Svea Hernandez, reported clear detections of highly ionized [Ne v] (14.3 μm) and [Ne vi] (7.7 μm) emission in the nucleus of M83.



These lines require photon energies of 97 and 126 electron volts, respectively, which are far higher than typical stellar processes can generate.



“Our discovery of highly ionized neon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-active-black-holes-discovered-where-it-was-believed-they-couldnt-exist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emission</a> in the nucleus of M83 was unexpected,” said Hernandez. “These signatures require large amounts of energy to be produced - more than what normal stars can generate. This strongly suggests the presence of an AGN that has been elusive until now.”



The emission appeared in distinct regions, including a point-like structure about 140 parsecs south of the optical nucleus, named P3. The structure measures less than 18 parsecs across and shows low obscuration, contrasting with the highly dust-shrouded core. This difference adds weight to the AGN scenario.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gas-flows-hinted-at-a-black-hole">Gas flows hinted at a black hole</h2>



Velocity maps from JWST show [Ne v] distributed in a clumpy, north-to-south alignment, with different regions exhibiting distinct kinematic signatures. 



P3’s [Ne vi] emission, for instance, shows a velocity of +80 km/s, slightly offset from the local [Ne v] velocity. Other zones closer to the nucleus display negative velocity offsets, hinting at motion that may trace outflow or turbulence.



The researchers compared the profiles of various ionized lines, from low to high energy. At P3, the high-ionization lines like [Ne v] and [Ne vi] are narrower than the lower-ionization lines.



This suggests that the gas producing these emissions may originate from a different physical process, possibly linked to AGN activity or compact shock-driven regions.



“Before Webb, we simply did not have the tools to detect such faint and highly ionised gas signatures in M83’s nucleus,” Svea added. “Now, with its incredible mid-infrared sensitivity, we are finally able to explore these hidden depths of the galaxy and uncover what was once invisible.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-radiative-shocks-the-culprit">Are radiative shocks the culprit?</h2>



To explain the origin of these extreme neon lines, the researchers tested several scenarios. Fast radiative shocks were one possibility.



These shocks occur when turbulent gas, such as that from a supernova or stellar wind, moves at supersonic speeds and compresses surrounding material. The resulting heat can produce high-energy radiation.



Shock models did reproduce the observed line ratios - but only under extreme assumptions. Specifically, the preshock density had to be a mere 0.01 cm⁻³, which is much lower than what is typically found in star-forming galaxies.



The observed postshock densities were also much higher, exceeding 1000 cm⁻³. This discrepancy challenges the idea that shocks alone could explain the data.



Energetic shocks are also known to destroy PAH molecules. Interestingly, P3 - the only region with [Ne vi] - shows the weakest PAH features in its spectrum. This matches the shock hypothesis, yet the unusual density mismatch casts doubt on this explanation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-hole-models-explain-galaxy-emissions">Black hole models explain galaxy emissions</h2>



The researchers then tested tailored photoionization models built around a low-luminosity AGN.



The models used a two-zone structure: one zone optically thin to ionizing radiation to generate high-energy lines like [Ne v], and another zone optically thick to generate lower-ionisation lines. This method reproduced the observed line strengths and ratios well.



The models assumed hydrogen column densities and metallicities consistent with M83’s central environment. They also used realistic ionisation parameters and densities. The best-fitting model places P3’s emission well within AGN-dominated zones on classic diagnostic plots.



“Webb is revolutionizing our understanding of galaxies,” said study co-author Linda Smith. “For years, astronomers have searched for a black hole in M83 without success. Now, we finally have a compelling clue that suggests one may be present.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ruling-out-other-extreme-sources">Ruling out other extreme sources</h2>



Could other compact objects be responsible? High-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) can produce hard radiation, though usually at lower levels. 



Past X-ray surveys of M83 revealed several sources, including a bright object coinciding with the optical nucleus. But P3, where [Ne vi] was detected, shows no corresponding X-ray source.



Starburst activity alone cannot easily explain these ionized lines either. Models based on massive stars, including Wolf–Rayet populations, typically fail to reproduce the observed [Ne v] and [Ne vi] strengths. These limitations, combined with the success of the AGN models, make the AGN scenario more likely.



“This discovery showcases how Webb is making unexpected breakthroughs,” noted Smith. “Astronomers thought they had ruled out an AGN in M83, but now we have fresh evidence that challenges past assumptions and opens new avenues for exploration.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-m83-may-not-be-so-pure-after-all">M83 may not be so pure after all</h2>



For decades, M83 stood as a textbook example of a starburst galaxy. Optical data showed little hint of a central <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-turn-into-white-holes-and-blast-out-matter-and-time-runs-backwards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black hole</a>, but the discovery of high-ionization neon lines shifts this picture. Mid-infrared diagnostics, less hindered by dust, reveal what optical instruments missed.



Line ratio plots now place M83’s nuclear regions alongside hybrid AGN-starburst systems. In particular, P3 falls between the domains of purely star-forming galaxies and low-luminosity AGNs. This blend suggests that more such “pure” galaxies may indeed harbor faint AGNs.



The study urges astronomers to rethink what defines a starburst galaxy. With JWST, similar hidden cores may soon be uncovered in other nearby systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-confirming-the-galaxy-s-black-hole">Confirming the galaxy’s black hole</h2>



The Webb team has laid the groundwork, but the mystery isn't solved yet. Future observations with ALMA and the Very Large Telescope will help test whether the neon emission truly comes from an AGN or another exotic source. These studies will probe gas motion, composition, and geometry more precisely.



Simulations with more complex geometries may also provide better answers. For now, M83’s hidden giant remains a strong candidate - but not a confirmed one.



Still, this work shows the power of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exoplanet-k2-18b-strongest-evidence-yet-of-extraterrestrial-life-discovered-webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Webb</a>. Where previous telescopes saw only dust and star formation in some galaxies, JWST has potentially opened a new window into spotting black holes and other hidden structures.



The study is published in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/adba5d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a>. 



Image Credit: ESA



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Black hole found hiding in a 'pure' starburst galaxy

For centuries, the universe has offered humanity glimpses of unimaginable...

River deltas hold a record of climate history. On Earth, coastlines mark where land and sea constantly interact. Here, rivers meet oceans. Materials from land gather in deltas. These areas store vital clues about tectonics, climate, and planetary evolution.



Scientists apply that same logic to Titan, Saturn’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/titan-may-harbor-life-but-it-will-be-difficult-to-find/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">largest moon</a>. Titan has active rivers and vast seas, but its coastlines don’t behave like those on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-titan-has-rivers-with-no-deltas">Titan has rivers with no deltas</h2>



Titan is the only body in the solar system, besides Earth, known to have stable liquid on its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-disturbance-the-mystery-of-titans-shifting-orbit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface</a>. 



Titan has clouds, rain, rivers, lakes, and seas. But the liquid is not water. It is replaced by methane and ethane, which remain liquid under Titan’s frigid atmospheric conditions. These features make it a rare and valuable analog to Earth.



If coastlines on Earth can store records of climate and tectonic change, then Titan’s might hold the same promise - offering a chance to study an alien hydrological system that’s still active today.



Yet there’s a mystery at Titan’s shores. Even though Titan has broad rivers and large lakes, river deltas appear to be almost entirely missing. This caught the attention of Sam Birch, an assistant professor at <a href="https://www.brown.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brown University</a>.



“It’s kind of disappointing as a geomorphologist because deltas should preserve so much of Titan’s history,” Birch said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-deltas-just-hidden-from-view">Are deltas just hidden from view?</h2>



Back in 2006, NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cassini</a> spacecraft gave scientists their first clear view of Titan’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturns-moon-titan-has-shorelines-shaped-by-waves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface</a>. Its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) pierced Titan’s thick, hazy atmosphere and revealed flowing channels and dark, flat seas. 



But even at the mouths of Titan’s largest rivers, Cassini’s radar showed no clear signs of deltas. Scientists wondered - were these deltas hidden or missing altogether?



To answer that question, Birch and his team created a model. They simulated what Earth’s coastlines would look like through Titan’s radar conditions. In their model, Earth’s water was swapped for methane, mimicking Titan’s fluids, which absorb and reflect radar differently. 



The idea was simple: if Earth’s large deltas remain visible in these synthetic SAR images, then Cassini should have seen Titan’s deltas - if they existed.



“We basically made synthetic SAR images of Earth that assume properties of Titan’s liquid instead of Earth’s,” Birch explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-should-detect-titan-s-deltas">Cassini should detect Titan's deltas</h2>



The model worked. Earth’s major coastal features - like the Mississippi River delta and barrier islands along the Gulf Coast - remained visible in the altered radar images.



This proved that Cassini should have been capable of detecting large deltas on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragonfly-space-mission-saturn-moon-titan-gets-greenlight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Titan</a>. With this in mind, the researchers returned to Titan’s SAR data and re-examined its coastlines.



“If there are deltas the size of the one at the mouth of the Mississippi River, we should be able to see it,” Birch said.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/titan_cassini-radar_earth-deltas_credit-Brown-University_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/titan_cassini-radar_earth-deltas_credit-Brown-University_1s.webp" alt="Earth, as seen by Cassini's radar. In order to understand what landforms on Titan could be seen by Cassini's radar, researchers looked at well-known Earth landforms through Cassini's perspective. The bottom image is how the U.S. Gulf Coast would have looked to Cassini. Credit: Birch Lab / Brown University" class="wp-image-1966464"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Earth, as seen by Cassini's radar. In order to understand what landforms on Titan could be seen by Cassini's radar, researchers looked at well-known Earth landforms through Cassini's perspective. The bottom image is how the U.S. Gulf Coast would have looked to Cassini. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Birch Lab / Brown University</figcaption></figure>



But after carefully reviewing the data, they found that deltas were indeed rare. Aside from two likely deltas near the south pole, most large rivers on Titan showed no signs of delta formation. 



Only about 1.3% of the moon’s coastal rivers ended in deltas. By comparison, nearly every major river on Earth forms a delta at its mouth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-seas-may-erase-titan-s-river-deltas">Shifting seas may erase Titan's river deltas</h2>



On Earth, coastlines are dynamic boundaries. Materials eroded from mountains travel down rivers and settle into sedimentary structures. 



These interactions produce a range of landforms that help scientists trace environmental evolution. Coastal areas are also shaped by tides, storms, and long-term sea-level changes. 



Titan, with its unique climate system, is no exception. It too hosts coastlines where energy and materials interact - just with different ingredients and under different rules.



But Titan’s liquids are transparent to microwave radiation. This means Cassini’s radar can’t always distinguish where the coastline ends and where the sea floor begins. 



While that poses challenges, the team’s modeling showed that large features are still detectable - provided there is enough contrast between land and submerged surfaces.



The findings confirmed what many had suspected: Titan truly lacks deltas, and it’s not because of poor visibility. Something else is preventing these sediment-rich features from forming or surviving.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-clues-beneath-titan-s-seas">Hidden clues beneath Titan’s seas</h2>



The new radar analysis also uncovered something unexpected. On Titan’s sea floors, the team found submerged river channels and deep pits of unknown origin.



These features suggest that sea levels may rise and fall frequently, eroding or dispersing any deltas before they have time to build up. 



The researchers also suspect that winds and underwater flows might redistribute sediment, flattening coastlines before deltas can grow.



These discoveries hint at a much more dynamic Titan than previously assumed. Active coastal processes - shaped by tides, climate shifts, and even currents beneath the seas - may constantly reshape the landscape.



“It’s a playground for studying processes we thought we understood,” said Birch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-dynamic-alien-coastline">A dynamic alien coastline</h2>



The absence of deltas and presence of submerged features offer a new window into Titan’s climate and geological behavior. Birch and his colleagues have proposed several preliminary hypotheses.



Sea-level cycling, strong coastal winds, and sub-aqueous flows could all contribute to the vanishing deltas. But more data is needed to understand these interactions fully.



“This is really not what we expected,” Birch said. “But Titan does this to us a lot. I think that’s what makes it such an engaging place to study.”



The study also reinforces the value of improving future instruments. A better imaging system could reveal Titan’s river networks and coasts in greater detail, uncovering hidden patterns and explaining current mysteries.



Such improvements wouldn’t just benefit research on Titan. They could also refine how scientists observe Earth’s own changing coasts in the face of sea-level rise and erosion.



The study is published in the <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024JE008737" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Geophysical Research Planets</a>. 



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Why does Saturn's moon, Titan, have rivers but not deltas? Scientists have an idea

River deltas hold a record of climate history. On Earth,...

For most of Earth’s first three billion years, oceans brimmed with single‑celled microbes that shuffled along at a slow biochemical pace -- life, but not complex. 



It lacked ample phosphorus, the nutrient every cell needs for DNA assembly, membrane stability, and ATP energy swaps. Rivers dripped only trace amounts of phosphorus into seawater, holding biology to pint‑size proportions and throttling evolutionary experiments in body size.



Evidence for that long famine sits in ancient mudstones, which contain scant phosphate minerals compared with younger rocks. 



Productivity lagged; oxygen production stayed low; food chains hid in microscopic layers. When phosphorus finally surged, life gained the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-ingredients-building-blocks-of-life-found-in-asteroid-bennu-dust-sample/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">building blocks</a> to try larger, more complex designs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanic-chaos-and-complex-life">Volcanic chaos and complex life</h2>



About 2.1 billion years ago, the Congo and São Francisco continental blocks slammed together. 



Their collision squeezed faults, stirred magma, and unleashed underwater volcanoes across a shallow inland sea now preserved as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franceville_basin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Francevillian sub‑basin</a> in Gabon. 



Eruptions pumped phosphorus‑rich fluids straight into the water and walled the basin off from the wider ocean.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-fuels-toxic-algae-and-alters-carbon-cycling-in-lakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cyanobacteria</a> thrived in this enclosed lagoon, releasing oxygen and burying carbon as fast as nutrients arrived. 



The chemical bloom raised local energy budgets many times over, creating conditions that favored bigger bodies and cooperative cell assemblies rather than lone bacterial drifters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-discovery-challenges-timeline">Fossil discovery challenges timeline</h2>



Black shales from the basin hold disc‑shaped, ribbon‑shaped, and leaf‑shaped impressions up to six inches long - giants for their day. 



Their regular outlines and clustering hint at biological growth rather than odd mineral concretions. They appear in the same sedimentary layers that show the phosphorus spike, linking anatomy to chemistry.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/earth_complex-life_began-much-earlier_lobate-macrofossils_credit-UPoitiers_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/earth_complex-life_began-much-earlier_lobate-macrofossils_credit-UPoitiers_1s.webp" alt="The team’s research provides strong validation for the biological affinity of the lobate macrofossils whose validity has been widely debated in the scientific community. Credit: Professor Abderrazzak El Albani of the University of Poitiers, France" class="wp-image-1966454"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The team’s research provides strong validation for the biological affinity of the lobate macrofossils whose validity has been widely debated in the scientific community. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Professor Abderrazzak El Albani of the University of Poitiers, France</figcaption></figure>



If these forms truly represent multicellular life, they push the arrival of complex organisms back by roughly 1.5 billion years. 



That jump rewrites the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/timeline-of-life-ice-ages-gave-evolution-a-kick-start/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary timeline</a>, showing that animals were not the first to test large size; earlier prototypes surfaced when nutrients and oxygen briefly aligned.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemistry-meets-biology">Chemistry meets biology</h2>



The new work, led by <a href="https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cardiff University</a> geobiologist Dr. Ernest Chi Fru, pairs detailed rock chemistry with fossil mapping. 



“The availability of phosphorus in the environment is thought to be a key component in the evolution of life on Earth, especially in the transition from simple single‑celled organisms to complex organisms like animals and plants," Dr. Chi Fru explained.



“We already know that increases in marine phosphorus and seawater oxygen concentrations are linked to an episode of biological evolution around 635 million years ago. Our study adds another, much earlier episode into the record, 2.1 billion years ago.”



Digging into the basin’s history, Dr. Chi Fru explained that the volcanic activity following the collision of continental blocks likely isolated the basin from the global ocean, creating a nutrient-rich inland sea. 



This stable environment supported abundant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-was-once-a-green-marble-before-its-oceans-turned-blue/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cyanobacterial photosynthesis</a>, which in turn oxygenated the water and generated enough energy to support larger, more complex life forms like those seen in the fossils from the period.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-the-complex-life-experiment-stalled">Why the complex life experiment stalled</h2>



Outside the Francevillian lagoon, oceans still lacked phosphorus and carried little oxygen. Larger creatures would have struggled in those harsh surroundings. 



The basin’s shoreline barrier turned the ecosystem into a biological bubble; when volcanic vents cooled and nutrient flow faded, conditions reverted and the macro‑organisms vanished.



Their failure to spread shows that evolution tests possibilities whenever resources allow, but those trials can fizzle if the wider planet remains hostile. 



Complexity needs both innovation and the freedom to roam - something the early <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/timeline-of-lifes-evolution-extended-by-nearly-1-5-billion-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proterozoic world</a> could not yet provide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-steps-to-modern-animals">Two steps to modern animals</h2>



Researchers see a “two‑step” path. The Francevillian pulse marks step one, following the first known rise in atmospheric oxygen. 



Step two arrived nearly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/luca-last-universal-common-ancestor-progenitor-all-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1.5 billion years later</a>, when another oxygen surge met a more sustained supply of nutrients during the Ediacaran period. 



That tandem lifted complex life beyond isolated pockets, setting the stage for the Cambrian explosion and the diverse animals that populate Earth now.



The record hints that ample phosphorus may be as critical as oxygen for forging ecosystems full of active, energy‑demanding organisms. Without both factors in play, biology tends to stay microscopic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



Astrobiologists comb <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/building-blocks-of-life-found-on-the-dwarf-planet-ceres/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanet atmospheres</a> for oxygen because it signals possible photosynthesis. The Francevillian story suggests they should also weigh a planet’s phosphorus cycle. 



A world awash in oxygen but starved of phosphate could linger in a microbial phase for eons. Conversely, tectonic quirks that sprinkle oceans with phosphate might jump‑start evolutionary leaps.



Phosphorus, then, is more than fertilizer for terrestrial crops. It is a potential cosmic throttle on complexity, deciding whether life remains small or reaches for new biological heights.



-----



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301926824001669?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Precambrian Research</a>.



Image Credit: Professor Abderrazzak El Albani of the University of Poitiers, France



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Is this a fossil? If so, complex life on Earth emerged 1.5 billion years earlier

For most of Earth’s first three billion years, oceans brimmed...

A shapeless liquid form is something we usually take for granted. We expect fluids to spread and assume the shape of the container in which they are held. But nature sometimes defies our intuition.



In a recent study, a curious liquid refused to remain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-appears-to-have-a-secret-liquid-phase/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chaotic</a> after being shaken and instead settled into a smooth, outlined shape reminiscent of a piece of classic pottery.



This strange finding was uncovered by a team that includes graduate student <a href="https://www.umass.edu/polymer-science/about/directory/anthony-raykh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Raykh</a> at the <a href="https://www.umass.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Massachusetts Amherst</a>. The group had been experimenting with oil and water when they noticed a shape they had never seen before.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-shape-recovering-liquids">Understanding shape-recovering liquids</h2>



Some substances pull themselves together in neat ways. Others spread out in a disorderly manner.



For centuries, <a href="https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/system/files/file_attachments/basic_thermo.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thermodynamics</a> has helped predict these behaviors by setting rules about energy and equilibrium. 



Typically, adding particles to an oil-water mixture encourages the two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drones-reveal-hidden-details-about-greenlands-melting-ice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">liquids</a> to combine more readily and form new structures.



This phenomenon is known as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/emulsification" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emulsification</a>, and it is vital in the production of foods, cosmetics, and many other commercial products. The usual theory says that those particles should lessen the tension between oil and water.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-magnetism-matters">Why magnetism matters</h2>



Raykh decided to use magnetized nickel particles in his mixture. He shook things up, and something uncanny happened.



“... in a complete surprise, the mixture formed this beautiful, pristine urn-shape,” said Raykh. He tried shaking harder, but the fluid returned to the same outline.



Lab tests hinted that strong magnetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wave-ripples-discovered-mars-surface-indicate-liquid-water-present-4-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interactions</a> were the reason. These metallic bits were powerful enough to throw a wrench into the fluid's normal behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magnetic-forces-and-liquid-shape">Magnetic forces and liquid shape</h2>



Scientists often rely on known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-inner-core-proven-to-be-rapidly-changing-and-now-rotating-backwards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interactions</a> to guide their experiments. Imposing magnetic forces adds another layer of complexity.



“When you look very closely at the individual nanoparticles of magnetized nickel that form the boundary between the water and oil, you can get extremely detailed information on how different forms assemble,” said <a href="https://www.umass.edu/natural-sciences/about/directory/david-hoagland" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">David Hoagland</a>, professor of polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/liquid_shape-recovering_breaks-laws-thermodynamics_Credit-UMassAmherst_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/liquid_shape-recovering_breaks-laws-thermodynamics_Credit-UMassAmherst_1s.webp" alt="Raykh and his colleagues discovered that strongly magnetized particles can bend the laws of thermodynamics. Credit: Anthony Raykh/UMass Amherst" class="wp-image-1964865"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Raykh and his colleagues discovered that strongly magnetized particles can bend the laws of thermodynamics. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Anthony Raykh/UMass Amherst</figcaption></figure>



No one expected this intense attraction to stiffen the boundary so much that the liquids would create a neat form.



Researchers found that these <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0143720818304157" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dipolar pulls</a> can drive up the tension between oil and water. This stands in contrast to what most textbooks tell us should happen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



A single exception to well-known rules might inspire more questions on these types of liquid forms. The next challenge is figuring out the deeper mechanisms behind these robust fluid contours.



“Imagine your favorite Italian salad dressing. It’s made up of oil, water, and spices, and before you pour it onto your salad, you shake it up so that all the ingredients mix,” said <a href="https://www.umass.edu/polymer-science/about/directory/thomas-russell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thomas Russell</a>, Silvio O. Conte distinguished professor of polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.



He compared his everyday culinary example to the surprising phenomenon in the lab.



The urn-like outline is stable enough to tease scientists with new ideas. Explorations of these forces could lead to fresh theories about soft materials and how they behave under powerful <a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Introduction+to+Magnetic+Materials%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9780471477419" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnetic</a> influences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-it-means-for-the-laws-of-physics">What it means for the laws of physics</h2>



This discovery doesn’t mean thermodynamics is broken. But it does suggest that, under specific conditions, there may be edge cases where the traditional models don’t fully apply. 



Scientists call these scenarios “exceptions” rather than violations, and they help sharpen our understanding of how physical laws behave under extreme or unusual circumstances.



It’s a reminder that physical laws are models of reality, not reality itself. They hold true across vast numbers of conditions - but surprises like this urn-shaped liquid reveal that even well-tested theories can be stretched in new and useful ways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-liquid-shape-and-future-applications">Liquid shape and future applications</h2>



This experiment opens the door to unexpected applications in fields that involve finely tuned liquids. 



Medical formulations might someday use this kind of shape control to ensure more precise delivery of components.



Researchers are now looking into how strongly magnetized particles might alter other standard chemical processes.



Scientists remain cautious about declaring any new technology from this peculiar mixture. Even so, this discovery proves that our understanding of fluid behavior can still be surprised by odd twists.



-----



Click here to <a href="https://youtu.be/H02E7YTTFGQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch a video of this phenomenon...</a>



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-025-02865-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Physics</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

'Shape-recovering liquid' accidentally created by student breaks the laws of thermodynamics

A shapeless liquid form is something we usually take for...

Bite-sized chunks of lab-grown chicken are gaining attention these days. They offer a texture similar to the meat of everyday grocery store chicken.



Shoji Takeuchi from <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The University of Tokyo</a> is at the center of this work. He and his collaborators have brought forward a process involving the use of semipermeable hollow fibers that act like tiny delivery channels for nutrients and oxygen to reach developing cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-fibers-improve-lab-grown-chicken">How fibers improve lab-grown chicken</h2>



Researchers are mimicking the steady flow of nutrients and oxygen to cells by using these narrow fibers, which are similar to those used in <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8236/2/4/50" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dialysis machines</a>. This setup helps the cells stay active as they grow into chicken muscle.



The cells are placed in a collagen-based mixture that sits around the fibers. Once the culture starts, the cells grow together and develop a structure that feels and appears like small pieces of real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotic-residue-in-meat-what-experts-discovered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chicken</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fibers-boost-chicken-flavor-and-texture">Fibers boost chicken flavor and texture</h2>



Texture is linked to how tightly these cells pack and bind. Scientists rely on <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016777992500085X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">myosin heavy chain markers</a> to spot proper muscle formation. With better distribution of nutrients, the muscle fibers show stronger alignment, making the final product denser.



Taste is about more than spices or seasonings. Investigations show that <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4935284/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">free amino acids</a> influence flavor. The new system seems to produce a higher fraction of these flavor molecules, so the bite is more appealing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solving-old-problems-in-the-lab">Solving old problems in the lab</h2>



The method stands out because regular diffusion alone can’t keep large tissues alive. Traditional <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-020-0112-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">approaches</a> struggle once the tissue goes beyond about half an inch (1.3 centimeters) thick, and cells in the middle often lose oxygen. 



The new system fixes that issue by pumping nutrients and oxygen along the tiny channels into the developing tissue.



The technique creates structured <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-phase-superradiant-phase-transition-srpt-observed-in-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meats</a> that are thicker, juicier, and have the resilience you expect from a store-bought cut. By limiting the need for multiple small batches that might fall short on consistency, the new method will also reduce waste. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-automation-could-scale-lab-grown-chicken">Automation could scale lab-grown chicken</h2>



Large-scale <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meat-protein-boosts-survival-but-plants-boost-longevity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">production</a> depends on reliable hardware and robotic assistance. Researchers have created automated ways to line up the fibers, so they can pack a lot of them in a small space. This leads to consistent distribution of cells, and it cuts back on wasted time.



More improvements are possible. Edible fibers might simplify the final steps, so there’s no need to remove them. There are also conversations about lowering costs by moving away from animal-based growth media, but that will take more research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-applications-of-the-technology">Broader applications of the technology</h2>



The process may have applications beyond lab-grown chicken. It could be applied to other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-people-are-willing-to-switch-to-plant-based-food-to-save-the-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meats</a>, tissues for regenerative medicine, and even muscle-based soft robotics. Cells are adaptable, so the possibilities stretch into several branches of biological engineering.



Even so, tasks like oxygen delivery in bigger cuts of meat remain a puzzle. Some scientists point to synthetic blood or special carrier molecules for better oxygen transport. Others feel the entire pipeline might benefit from advanced monitoring tools that track vital cell conditions in real time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-harm-to-animals">Reducing harm to animals</h2>



Curiosity about <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-022-00658-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">immortalized fibroblast cells</a> keeps growing because they skip the need to harvest cells from live animals. This might ease ethical concerns linked to routine animal tissue collection. 



The technology also reduces the time needed to scale, since these cells can keep dividing in large numbers.



“This system enables cell distribution, alignment, contractility, and improved food-related properties,” said Takeuchi.



He sees a future where this method can help meet the demand for large amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/people-will-switch-to-plant-based-meat-if-it-is-cheaper-than-real-meat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chicken</a> muscle without the same environmental footprint as traditional livestock.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-meat-production">The future of meat production </h2>



As the concept becomes more refined, public perception and policy will play a big role. People want to know if it’s safe, tasty, and made in a cost-effective way. 



While there’s a way to go before it’s commonplace on dinner plates, the progress hints at changing times in how chicken and other meats can be produced.



Fiber-grown chicken isn’t just a nod to environmental or ethical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-based-meat-less-protein-lacks-certain-nutrients/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">goals</a>. It’s also about exploring newer technologies in tissue growth. 



The arrival of high-density fiber networks is a sign that these efforts may step beyond small samples and head toward a broader range of culinary experiences.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S016777992500085X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trends in Biotechnology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Lab-grown chicken just got a flavor and texture boost

Bite-sized chunks of lab-grown chicken are gaining attention these days....

Man,Pointing,North,In,A,Spiral,Star,Trail

A new analysis suggests that the universe could be spinning at a speed so gentle it has escaped our notice. This proposal may offer a way to explain why researchers get conflicting numbers when measuring how quickly space has been expanding.



One of the scientists exploring the rotation theory is István Szapudi, a researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi <a href="https://www.ifa.hawaii.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute for Astronomy</a>. In a recent study, Szapudi analyzed subtle changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zhulong-torch-dragon-the-oldest-known-spiral-galaxy-in-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic</a> expansion that might be tied to an extremely slow turn of all known matter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-century-old-puzzle-about-cosmic-expansion">Century-old puzzle about cosmic expansion</h2>



Most astronomers accept the current models that say the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-galaxies-discovery-would-upend-current-understanding-of-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> expands evenly in all directions, with no sign of rotation. 



They have known about cosmic expansion for nearly a century, but there has been a lingering discrepancy called the <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ab2f73" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble tension</a>.



This puzzle stems from comparing two ways of measuring the expansion rate of the universe. One method relies on supernovae in faraway galaxies to track distances, while the other depends on the <a href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2020/09/aa33910-18/aa33910-18.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic microwave background</a>, which is the afterglow from the universe’s earliest days.



In theory, both methods should give the same overall growth speed. However, they do not always match, and experts have been trying to explain this discrepancy for years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expansion-rate-of-a-spinning-universe">Expansion rate of a spinning universe </h2>



A new approach suggests that a tiny spin of the universe throughout <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-baby-pictures-of-the-very-early-universe-cosmic-microwave-background/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">space</a> might reconcile those conflicting numbers. If the entire cosmos had even a small swirl, it could influence how distances stretch over time.



“Much to our surprise, we found that our model with rotation resolves the paradox without contradicting current astronomical measurements,” noted Szapudi.



Scientists who favor this rotating model believe the rate of spin is much too slow to detect with current methods. 



One possible estimate is that the universe completes one full turn every 500 billion years, so it would be nearly impossible to see from our vantage point.



“Therefore, perhaps, everything really does turn,” said Szapudi. They say this slight swirl could finally close the gap between our local measurements and what is observed when we look back almost 13 billion years in time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-universe-spin-may-fit-known-physics">Universe spin may fit known physics </h2>



No known laws of physics would prohibit such a phenomenon. Planets, stars, galaxies, and even black holes all rotate, so the idea of everything sharing a unified spin is not far-fetched in cosmic terms.



If a slow turning is factored into the equations of cosmic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-found-something-strange-at-core-of-milky-way-galaxy-webb-meerkat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expansion</a>, it could account for the mismatched data about how fast space has been stretching. 



The findings fit within current understanding, as the rate of this twist would remain far below anything that might distort familiar observations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-cosmic-spin-with-new-models">Testing cosmic spin with new models</h2>



The next steps involve transforming these early calculations into a detailed computer model. Researchers will also look for subtle signatures in the large-scale structure of the universe that might hint at a gradual rotation.



If future observations confirm any sign of this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-matter-if-it-exists-has-a-strictly-limited-lifetime-new-study-says/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic</a> turn, it would clear up one of astronomy’s biggest disagreements. 



Confirmation of a spinning universe might also open up a new way of thinking about how time and matter behave on the largest possible scales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-all-of-this-mean">What does all of this mean?</h2>



Going forward, experts are eager to determine whether a slowly spinning universe theory would provide better agreement between local and distant measurements of expansion.



Some feel it could refine how we study everything from galaxy formation to <a href="https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/ESSAYS/Fairall/fairall.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the layout of superclusters</a>.



Others are cautious because many proposed <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ac5c5b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solutions</a> to the Hubble tension have come and gone. Regardless, this swirling scenario stands out as a creative effort that does not break existing theories.



Space often surprises us with discoveries that stretch our imagination. A rotating universe may add another layer of wonder to how we see our cosmic neighborhood.



It is not often that an everyday motion like spinning could clarify a problem that has puzzled researchers for years. That element of surprise keeps scientists excited about searching the skies for new answers.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/538/4/3038/8090496?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Cosmic twist: The entire universe might be spinning

A new analysis suggests that the universe could be spinning...

3d,Illustration,Of,Beautiful,Planet,Jupiter,Floating,In,Space

Striking images from NASA’s Juno spacecraft have revealed unexpected activity deep in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Slushy hail, made of water and ammonia, may form during lightning-packed storms, giving researchers fresh clues about what lurks beneath the planet’s colorful cloud tops.



Chris Moeckel of <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Berkeley</a> suspects that these hailstones, known as mushballs, play an outsized role in Jupiter’s weather and chemistry. He believes this phenomenon might also extend to other large <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprising-shapes-discovered-in-jupiters-atmosphere-near-great-red-spot/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planets</a> in our solar system and beyond.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lightning-storms-create-slushy-hail">Lightning storms create slushy hail </h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-about-jupiters-clouds-not-ammonia-ice-leaves-astronomers-astonished/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jupiter</a>’s storms can be fierce, with fast-rising currents and bursts of lightning. Conditions high above the cloud decks may allow water ice and ammonia to combine into slushy spheres. 



These mushballs, shaped by strong updrafts, could carry ammonia-rich material far deeper than regular rain can manage.



“There’s no way in the world this is true,” said Moeckel, who spent years testing every possible alternative. 



Many scientists once doubted such a process, but new data seem to confirm that ammonia is being drawn out of the upper layers by these icy hailstones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mushballs-change-what-we-know">Mushballs change what we know </h2>



The gas giants Jupiter and Saturn are dominated by <a href="https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/h/hydrogen.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hydrogen</a> and <a href="https://periodic-table.rsc.org/element/2/helium" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">helium</a>, unlike Earth, that has an atmosphere rich in nitrogen and oxygen.



Researchers want to know how storms and hail shape planetary weather when there is no solid ground to stop the rain. 



Because mushballs might carry icy material into warmer inner regions, they could shed light on how giant planets move heat and chemicals around inside their deep tropospheres.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/jupiter_mushballs_troposphere_cross-section_credit-Chris-Moeckel-UCBerkeley_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/jupiter_mushballs_troposphere_cross-section_credit-Chris-Moeckel-UCBerkeley_1s.webp" alt="A cross section of the upper atmosphere, or troposphere, of Jupiter, showing the depth of storms in a north-south swath that crosses the planet’s equator, or equatorial zone (EZ). Blue and red represent, respectively, higher and lower than normal abundances of ammonia gas. The pressure at various depths is indicated in bars, equivalent to one atmosphere of pressure on Earth. Credit: Chris Moeckel, UC Berkeley" class="wp-image-1966441"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A cross section of the upper atmosphere, or troposphere, of Jupiter, showing the depth of storms in a north-south swath that crosses the planet’s equator, or equatorial zone (EZ). Blue and red represent, respectively, higher and lower than normal abundances of ammonia gas. The pressure at various depths is indicated in bars, equivalent to one atmosphere of pressure on Earth. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Chris Moeckel, UC Berkeley</figcaption></figure>



Studies of Jupiter can also help us better understand <a href="https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exoplanets</a>, which often resemble our solar system’s biggest worlds. 



When astronomers observe distant atmospheres, they typically only see the highest layers. Learning that hail can mask ammonia or other molecules gives a fresh perspective when we measure exoplanet cloud tops.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-lightning-in-jupiter-s-storms">Role of lightning in Jupiter's storms</h2>



Lightning remains a crucial part of these hail-making storms on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-jupiter-discovered-in-the-great-bear-constellation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jupiter</a>. It can form when charged ice particles collide, releasing bursts of energy that reshape cloud chemistry. 



On Jupiter, these flashes occur in regions with thick clouds and substantial water content.



According to some models, intense lightning helps bind water and ammonia into slush. That same lightning may also guide scientists searching for stormy spots across the planet’s belts and zones.



When these violent updrafts weaken, the heavy slush falls. Without a solid surface below, the pellets keep sinking until they reach layers too warm for the ammonia-and-water mix to stay frozen. 



In that way, the hail removes ammonia from the visible clouds and drops it far beneath, out of view.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jupiter-s-storms-show-earth-like-patterns">Jupiter’s storms show Earth-like patterns</h2>



Although Earth’s storms are powered by <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/977" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxygen</a> and <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Nitrogen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen</a>, rather than by Jupiter's hydrogen-rich mix, certain parallels might still apply. Lightning can fuse ice into hail, and strong currents can grow hailstones until they become too heavy.



Our world has updrafts that rise for only a few miles. Jupiter’s weather extends much farther, so hail may have a long, slushy ride down.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/jupiter_mushball_ammonia-storm_graphic_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/jupiter_mushball_ammonia-storm_graphic_ASA_1s.webp" alt="An illustration depicting how violent storms on Jupiter — and likely other gas giants — generate mushballs and shallow lightning. The mushballs are created by thunderstorm clouds that form about 40 miles beneath the cloud tops and fuel a strong updraft that carries water ice upward to extreme altitudes, occasionally above the visible cloud layer. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/CNRS" class="wp-image-1966438"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An illustration depicting how violent storms on Jupiter - and likely other gas giants - generate mushballs and shallow lightning. The mushballs are created by thunderstorm clouds that form about 40 miles beneath the cloud tops and fuel a strong updraft that carries water ice upward to extreme altitudes, occasionally above the visible cloud layer. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/CNRS</figcaption></figure>



Unlike on Earth, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-jupiters-radiation-revealed-by-juno/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jupiter</a>’s hailstones never strike a surface. Instead, they melt into droplets that down through the gas giant's denser layers.



This process repeats in other storms, giving the giant planet a dynamic atmosphere where storms appear and vanish, sometimes leaving behind chemical clues for researchers to trace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mushballs-and-disappearing-ammonia">Mushballs and disappearing ammonia</h2>



Scientists searching for ammonia in Jupiter’s clouds noticed puzzling gaps where it seemed to disappear. One explanation is that mushballs yank it downward. 



Some observers used radio telescopes to map ammonia levels, while Juno’s instruments probed deeper under the visible cloud tops. 



Together, these readings hinted at a hail-based mechanism. If that mechanism holds on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-finds-glass-smooth-lake-of-cooling-lava-on-jupiters-moon-io/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jupiter</a>, it could happen on Saturn and beyond.



No two gas giants are alike, though. Uranus and Neptune have different compositions, with <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Methane" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">methane</a> giving them a bluish tint, so their hail processes may take a different form. 



Still, the principle of heavy ice clumps sinking in a deep gaseous atmosphere might not be unique to Jupiter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-juno-and-data-on-earth">Using Juno and data on Earth</h2>



Working with colleagues, Moeckel examined the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/juno/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Juno Mission</a>'s troves of data to rule out simpler explanations. He concluded that these icy slush pellets could explain why certain of Jupiter's layers show less ammonia than anticipated.



Specialized radio maps and lightning observations gave a three-dimensional look, suggesting that large storms drive powerful updrafts and carry hail to surprising depths.



This theory also highlights the value of coordinated research. Telescopes on Earth, instruments aboard Juno, and lab-based experiments all come together to paint a more complete picture of Jupiter’s stormy weather.



Each storm event reveals how big planets can shuffle chemicals around without any hard surface in sight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-future-missions">Implications for future missions</h2>



With more spacecraft on the horizon, scientists are eager to learn whether Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune also brew unusual hail.



<a href="https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Missions</a> to these outer worlds might carry advanced instruments to track ammonia signatures, detect lightning, or chart clouds at multiple depths. Answers about Jupiter could help plan these explorations, from robotic flybys to dedicated orbiters.



Observations of Jupiter’s swirling patterns hint at both shallow weather and deeper pockets of activity. 



Now, mushballs stand as a possible explanation for how clouds lose ammonia and how water stays hidden away. Each new storm captured by Juno reaffirms that gas giants are far more active than we once assumed.



Jupiter’s hail-making storms may sound unbelievable, but that sense of wonder drives planetary science. Researchers push to confirm these findings, eager to refine weather models that apply across the outer solar system and perhaps beyond.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ado9779" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Jupiter storms are made of 'slushee-like' hailstones and lightning

Striking images from NASA’s Juno spacecraft have revealed unexpected activity...

High blood pressure touches the lives of millions and remains a top trigger for heart problems. It’s often labeled the number one contributor to coronary heart disease and stroke, causing many to search for practical ways to keep it under control.



Experts frequently warn us to curb sodium consumption. Yet a recent <a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajprenal.00222.2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">investigation</a> highlights that a better ratio of potassium to sodium may have a greater effect on blood <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/relaxation-techniques-can-lower-high-blood-pressure-at-least-temporarily/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pressure</a> than dropping salt alone. 



Anita Layton from the <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Waterloo</a> emphasizes the need to think beyond the usual advice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potassium-helps-control-blood-pressure">Potassium helps control blood pressure</h2>



Potassium is a vital electrolyte that helps the body maintain balance. It cooperates with sodium to regulate fluid volume and supports normal nerve function.



When people consume more processed meals, they often ignore this important nutrient. This disrupts the potassium-sodium balance, which can add to rising blood <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-linked-to-high-blood-pressure-and-heart-problems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pressure</a> levels.



A new mathematical tool demonstrates how shifting the focus toward potassium intake offers clear advantages. The model points to higher potassium intake as a method that may help steady blood <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-gold-the-vitamin-packed-fruit-that-regulates-blood-sugar-and-blood-pressure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pressure</a> when sodium is also in the mix.



“Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt. Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/banana-apocalypse-can-science-save-our-favorite-fruit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bananas</a> or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/broccoli-sprouts-have-more-nutritional-value-than-mature-broccoli/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">broccoli</a>, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium,” said Layton. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-diets-lack-potassium">Modern diets lack potassium</h2>



Populations in past generations took in a high level of fruits and vegetables. These foods naturally supplied more potassium relative to sodium.



Modern eating patterns favor salt-packed items and sugary snacks. That change in routine can lead to constant high sodium intake, low potassium consumption, and heightened chances of developing elevated blood <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleeping-less-than-seven-hours-high-blood-pressure-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pressure</a>.



The study reveals that pre-menopausal women have a naturally lower tendency toward high blood pressure. It suggests that men usually face a higher risk, although men may also respond well to a potassium boost in their meals.



Variation in hormone levels and kidney function might account for these differences. The research links these findings to biological processes in which women excrete sodium more effectively before menopause.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-blood-pressure">Balancing blood pressure</h2>



Health advice often focuses on slashing salt, and that approach helps in many cases. Still, data from the University of Waterloo suggests that potassium is a key ally for balancing sodium.



Melissa Stadt is a PhD candidate in Waterloo's Department of Applied Mathematics and the study's lead author.



“Early humans ate lots of fruits and vegetables, and as a result, our body's regulatory systems may have evolved to work best with a high potassium, low sodium diet,” said Stadt. 



She noted that modern societies, by prioritizing convenience foods, might have steered away from this natural ratio.



Bananas are an accessible source of potassium and can be incorporated into snacks or breakfasts. Legumes, leafy greens, avocados, and certain fish varieties deliver a helpful potassium lift too.



Broccoli is another candidate that can fit into balanced meals. Adding these items in place of heavily processed foods takes you closer to a healthier ratio of potassium to sodium.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potassium-linked-to-fewer-heart-problems">Potassium linked to fewer heart problems</h2>



Scientific <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1311889" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reviews</a> show that a balanced dietary pattern with ample potassium is associated with improved cardiovascular health. 



One large <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK109565/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> found that a shift toward higher potassium intake lowered the odds of strokes and cardiac events in many participants.



Public health campaigns keep pushing for sodium reduction. Researchers hope the new focus on the potassium-sodium relationship gains the same amount of attention.



Sticking to a better potassium-to-sodium proportion may do more than protect the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-smell-control-your-blood-pressure-new-research-says-yes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart</a>. Kidneys also rely on healthy sodium and potassium levels for normal function.



Individuals with persistently high blood pressure risk complications like chronic kidney disease or irregular heartbeat. Increasing potassium-rich produce could ease that threat while providing vitamins and fiber.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-awareness-may-prevent-high-blood-pressure">Awareness may prevent high blood pressure</h2>



Many strategies exist for controlling high blood pressure, but the potassium conversation is less common. Greater awareness might encourage those with mild hypertension to shift their meal plans in a simple, budget-friendly way.



Researchers remain optimistic that this knowledge can spark interest in broader nutritional guidelines. They also anticipate deeper investigation into how body systems manage electrolytes across genders and various life stages.



This modeling work clarifies how biological factors respond to dietary changes. Clinicians may lean on such findings to create guidelines that highlight both cutting sodium and adding potassium.



While more in-depth clinical studies could confirm best practices, the message seems consistent. More bananas and vegetables on the plate could help make high blood pressure less of a threat for many.



The study is published in the <a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajprenal.00222.2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Trying to lower your blood pressure? This common nutrient can help

High blood pressure touches the lives of millions and remains...

Back,View,Of,African,Male,Guest,Of,Art,Gallery,Standing

Art is often linked with creativity and expression. Many people consider it purely decorative, but new findings suggest that looking at paintings, sculptures, or photographs may hold genuine benefits for personal growth and meaning in life.



Researchers have examined how passive engagement with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-can-instantly-recognize-trees-even-in-abstract-art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visual artworks</a> helps individuals feel a stronger sense of purpose. 



The team conducted a systematic review focusing on the effects of art observation on eudemonic well-being, which includes a person’s sense of meaning and fulfillment in daily life.&nbsp;



The study was led by MacKenzie Trupp from the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a> and the <a href="https://www.ru.nl/en/donders-institute" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donders Institute</a>, along with collaborators from Trinity College Dublin and Humboldt University of Berlin.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viewing-art-supports-well-being">Viewing art supports well-being </h2>



“People often think of art as a luxury, but our research suggests that viewing art - whether as a hobby or as a targeted health intervention - can meaningfully support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arts-and-crafts-can-greatly-improve-public-well-being/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">well-being</a>,” remarked Trupp.



These positive effects arise when people actively notice color, detail, and imagery, rather than breezing by an artwork without pausing to interpret it.



Early <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29440307/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">investigations</a> show how painting viewings spark emotional responses that can add depth to everyday experiences. 



Some participants report feeling encouraged to reflect on personal memories, suggesting that the right piece of art can nudge us toward greater self-awareness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-at-art-builds-stronger-connections">Looking at art builds stronger connections</h2>



Social aspects appear to play a meaningful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-reveals-new-details-about-centuries-old-painting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">role</a>. Observing art with others, whether in a gallery or an online group setting, provides a chance to chat about impressions and spark deeper conversations.



Sharing interpretations can lead to subtle bonding moments. People find themselves opening up more when they encounter powerful images <a href="https://new.censusatschool.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/restorative-benefits-of-nature.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">together</a>, which strengthens ties and sometimes reduces feelings of isolation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-better-study-designs">Need for better study designs</h2>



The researchers also discovered inconsistencies in how these studies were structured. Some projects used short viewing intervals in controlled labs, while others involved hospital programs or digital platforms.



To tackle these differences, the team developed Receptive Art Activity Research Reporting Guidelines, often called <a href="https://osf.io/qjg72/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RAARR</a>, aiming to standardize future trials.



This guideline set encourages a detailed record of how people <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/acoustic-echoes-may-have-inspired-prehistoric-rock-art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interact</a> with artwork, so future results can be measured and compared more reliably.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visual-art-and-emotional-relief">Visual art and emotional relief</h2>



“While the mental health benefits of creating art have been widely explored, the impact of viewing art has been under-researched and undervalued. Yet visual art is present and accessible in everyday spaces - museums, galleries, hospitals, and at home,” said Claire Howlin, professor at <a href="https://www.tcd.ie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trinity College Dublin</a>.



Leading organizations now recommend incorporating the arts into health plans as a worthwhile, low-cost strategy to promote well-being. Recognizing art as a public health resource gives people an easy outlet for emotional relief and a handy way to find hope in challenging times.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-art-programs-improve-well-being">Simple art programs improve well-being </h2>



This growing evidence may inspire hospitals, senior centers, and community groups to install or rotate art collections. By adopting user-friendly approaches, such as interactive discussions or online displays, more people can unlock art’s potential to reduce tension.



Setting aside a few minutes to study the brushstrokes of a painting or the structure of a sculpture might sound simple. 



Even so, it gives individuals a chance to pause and reassess how they see the world around them, which can enrich their sense of life’s purpose.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-passive-enjoyment-of-artwork">Passive enjoyment of artwork </h2>



The research points to clear opportunities for integrating these resources. Because passive enjoyment of artwork is easy for most people, the path to better well-being might be just a painting away.



Researchers hope that consistent methods, larger-scale studies, and robust control conditions will clarify how and why these art-viewing programs work. 



The end goal is to ensure that people across many communities can benefit from accessible experiences in clinics, care homes, or local cultural sites.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-as-a-powerful-force">Art as a powerful force</h2>



Expanding knowledge in this area may also change how mental health professionals structure interventions. If simply absorbing a piece of art encourages meaningful reflection, then therapy plans could add curated viewings as an extra tool for developing resilience.



By fine-tuning how and where art is displayed, specialists may zero in on strategies that meet personal or group needs. This includes everything from digital sessions for homebound individuals to tranquil waiting-room exhibits.



These ideas reinforce the notion that art is more than a decorative choice. It can become part of everyday life, shaping emotional balance and reinforcing one’s sense of identity.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17439760.2025.2481041" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Journal of Positive Psychology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Simply looking at art can improve your well-being

Art is often linked with creativity and expression. Many people...

A recent study has offered an in-depth look at an exoplanet called TOI-270 d, located just 73 light-years away from Earth. 



Although it’s between Earth and Neptune in size, models suggest this alien world is a hot rocky planet with a thick atmosphere. It may not be the watery, hydrogen-rich “Hycean” planet some scientists originally envisioned.



This study, led by the <a href="https://www.swri.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southwest Research Institute</a> (SwRI), may help researchers unravel the mystery of sub-Neptunes.



“The nature of sub-Neptunes is one of the hottest topics in exoplanetary science,” said lead author Christopher Glein, an astronomer at SwRI. 



“These sub-Neptunes are the most abundant size range of planets in the galaxy, yet none exist in our solar system. They are exotic. Temperate sub-Neptunes are of even higher interest because some could be habitable.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mystery-of-sub-neptune-planets">The mystery of sub-Neptune planets</h2>



Ever since scientists began detecting exoplanets en masse, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-planets-may-be-the-place-to-look-for-extraterrestrial-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planets</a> between Earth and Neptune in size have stood out as particularly puzzling. Since these sub-Neptune planets are common in surveys but absent in our solar system, researchers created new theories about their formation and composition.



One popular proposal is that some sub-Neptunes orbiting in a star’s habitable zone might be massive ocean worlds. These planets could have hydrogen-rich atmospheres, leading to the term “Hycean” (short for hydrogen-ocean) worlds.



However, observations of TOI-270 d with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-captured-on-neptune-for-the-first-time-thanks-to-the-webb-telescope/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Webb Space Telescope</a> (JWST) suggest a simpler composition. Instead of being swathed in a relatively thin hydrogen atmosphere over a deep ocean, this planet appears to have a superheated rocky interior enclosed within a thick, hot atmosphere.



“The search for habitable worlds continues! The JWST data on TOI-270 d collected by Björn Benneke and his team are revolutionary,” Glein said.&nbsp;



“I was shocked by the level of detail they extracted from such a small exoplanet’s atmosphere, which provides an incredible opportunity to learn the story of a totally alien planet. With molecules like carbon dioxide, methane, and water detected, we could start doing some geochemistry to learn how this unusual world formed.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-paths-of-planetary-evolution">New paths of planetary evolution</h2>



Based on JWST’s measurements, the atmospheric temperatures on TOI-270 d exceed 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit - much hotter than anything Earth-like. This finding helps explain why the planet likely lacks the expansive oceans once suggested by the Hycean hypothesis.



Instead, the new geochemical model shows how gases could undergo high-temperature reactions at the molten surface, then rise into cooler atmospheric layers for JWST to detect.



“While it is a bit disappointing to find that TOI-270 d is unlikely to be habitable, this planet still offers a fantastic opportunity to explore alternative paths of planetary origins and evolution,” Glein said. “We are learning much more about the crazy configurations of planets that nature comes up with.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The curious case of missing ammonia</h2>



One puzzle within the sub-Neptune class has been the absence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-green-tech-ammonia-fertilizer-production-using-earths-natural-forces/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ammonia</a> in many atmospheres, despite theoretical models suggesting that thick, hydrogen-rich environments should produce it.



In their integrated perspective on TOI-270 d, Glein’s team illustrates how multiple processes could combine to deplete ammonia. These include nitrogen gas produced at high temperatures and ammonia dissolving in a molten rock ocean. A nitrogen shortage in the planet’s building blocks also contributes.



“I see a lot of parallels between planetary science and biology,” Glein said. “A core set of building blocks and rules for interactions result in an explosion of diverse forms. We’re starting to see some of that diversity come through in compositional signatures from JWST.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-molecules-on-scorching-planets">Molecules on scorching planets</h2>



The study exemplifies how methods traditionally used to explore our own solar system are now being applied to exoplanets. Researchers can detect molecules such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor and piece together how those elements and compounds interact on scorching exoplanets.



With technological advances like JWST, exoplanetary geochemistry is rapidly approaching the sophistication once reserved for spacecraft missions to local worlds like Venus or Mars.



The team says these studies reveal magma oceans, atmospheric temperatures, and how planetary atmospheres form and evolve. By examining TOI-270 d, scientists learn more about the possibilities for sub-Neptune formation and the diversity of planetary outcomes.



“We wanted to paint a more complete picture of the inner workings and history of an exoplanet by approaching the problem in multiple ways,” Glein explained. “Last time I checked, we have discovered over 5,800 confirmed exoplanets. TOI-270 d is just one of them. It’s going to be very interesting to see what the next exoplanet has in store for us.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clues-to-abundant-exoplanets">Clues to abundant exoplanets</h2>



TOI-270 d’s status as a “Rosetta Stone” could help decode a class of exoplanets that dominates our galaxy but defies easy categorization. Just 73 light years away, this rocky world shows how alien planetary systems can differ greatly from our own Sun’s.



Through precise observations and advanced modeling, scientists are learning to identify exoplanetary signatures of chemical and geologic processes. These processes may appear alien compared to those found on Earth.



Each new exoplanet studied brings scientists closer to understanding where habitable environments might emerge in the cosmos.



The <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.09752" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> has been accepted for publication in <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/0004-637X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal</a>.



Image Credit: NASA



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Scorching world offers clues to planetary evolution

A recent study has offered an in-depth look at an...

You walk into a room and see a long, slender object lying on a table. Is it a pen you need for a meeting? Or a thermometer you left out after checking your fever? The object hasn’t changed. But depending on why you walked in, your&nbsp;vision - guided by your brain - may classify it entirely differently.



This subtle shift in meaning, which is tied to context and intention, has long intrigued scientists. Traditionally, the belief was simple: your eyes gather data and your brain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">processes</a> it like a computer. The early visual areas were thought to pass along raw details - shape, color, motion - to higher brain centers, which then made decisions.



But a new study, published on in Nature Communications, offers a striking update to that view. 



Led by Professor Nuttida Rungratsameetaweemana of Columbia Engineering, the research shows that the visual cortex itself helps decide what something is. And it does so by reinterpreting the very same image, depending on what you’re trying to do.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-visual-system-that-thinks-ahead">A visual system that thinks ahead</h2>



This work challenges the idea of the visual cortex as a passive recording device. Instead, it appears to function more like an active participant in interpretation. Before you’re even aware of what you’re seeing, your visual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-mapping-research-mouse-neurons-revolutionary-advance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">system</a> starts shaping that image based on your current goal.



“Our findings challenge the traditional view that early sensory areas in the brain are simply ‘looking’ or ‘recording’ visual input. In fact, the human brain’s visual system actively reshapes how it represents the exact same object depending on what you’re trying to do,” noted Professor Rungratsameetaweemana.



This means that vision isn't only about light hitting the retina. It’s about purpose. The brain’s early sensory regions are tuned to your tasks, and adjusts their processing in real-time. You don't just see a shape - you see a meaning attached to it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-shapes-vision-to-match-the-task">Brain shapes vision to match the task</h2>



To test this, the research team designed a clever experiment. They created abstract shapes that varied along two dimensions. During fMRI scanning, participants had to sort these shapes into categories. But here’s the twist: the rules kept changing.



Sometimes the category boundary was linear and straightforward. Other times, it curved in complex ways across the visual space. The same shape might belong to one group in one task, and a completely different group in another. Participants had to adapt fast.



This shifting rule environment allowed the researchers to track how the brain responded when the same visual input had to be interpreted differently. 



The experts found that early visual areas in the brain - like V1 and V2 - adjusted their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fueling-the-mind-new-map-reveals-where-the-brain-gets-its-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">activity</a> depending on which rule was active, even though the shapes themselves didn’t change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-sharpens-vision-for-difficult-choices">Brain sharpens vision for difficult choices </h2>



The most dramatic shifts in visual cortex activity occurred when shapes fell near a category boundary. These were the toughest decisions - when shapes looked ambiguous and could easily belong to more than one group. In those moments, the brain sharpened its distinctions.



Classifier accuracy, a machine learning measure used in the study, was highest in early visual areas for shapes near decision boundaries. This accuracy aligned with task performance. When the brain’s patterns were clearer, participants were more likely to choose correctly.



In short, the visual system wasn’t just observing. It was helping to solve the problem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-all-tasks-are-created-equal">Not all tasks are created equal</h2>



The study used three task types: Linear-1, Linear-2, and Nonlinear. Participants found the Nonlinear task most difficult, both in speed and accuracy. That difference played out in the brain as well.



For Linear-2 tasks, representations in the visual cortex were more distinctive and aligned with the active category boundary. This was especially evident in trials where shapes were hard to classify. It suggests that the brain prioritizes clarity where it’s most needed.



“We saw that the brain responds differently depending on what categories our participants were sorting the shapes into,” noted Professor Rungratsameetaweemana.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-adapts-based-on-the-task">Brain adapts based on the task </h2>



The team believes that feature-based attention may explain these effects. That’s the brain’s ability to enhance the processing of specific features — like edges, curvature, or symmetry — based on what's currently relevant.



In this study, attention may have been dynamically allocated to combinations of features needed for each specific rule. This allowed early visual areas to tweak how they represented each shape, making decision-making more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-diet-may-protect-cognitive-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">efficient</a> and responsive.



This type of attention wasn’t cued explicitly. Participants weren’t told what features to look at. Instead, they learned to shift their mental focus based on the task at hand. Their brains adapted quietly but powerfully.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-ai-and-mental-health">Implications for AI and mental health</h2>



The ability to adapt to new goals is a cornerstone of human intelligence. Yet even advanced AI systems struggle with this kind of flexible reclassification. Most treat perception and decision-making as separate stages.



This study shows that perception itself is fluid. It bends to the task, allowing seamless transitions between rules, even when the input stays constant. That insight could inspire new designs in AI systems that need to operate in unpredictable environments.



It may also help us understand cognitive disorders where flexibility breaks down. Conditions like ADHD or autism often involve difficulty shifting mental sets. If brain sensory areas involved in&nbsp;vision&nbsp;contribute to these shifts, future treatments might target them to improve adaptability.



“Flexible cognition is a hallmark of human cognition, and even state-of-the-art AI systems currently still struggle with flexible task performance. It’s also a reminder of how remarkable and efficient our brains are, even at the earliest stages of processing,” said Professor Rungratsameetaweemana.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-single-neurons-handle-changing-goals">Single neurons handle changing goals</h2>



What happens beneath the surface of these visual adjustments? The team’s next phase will record from neurons inside the skull to understand how individual cells respond to changing goals. They want to uncover the wiring that supports these fast switches in meaning.



They also hope to apply what they find to artificial systems. Today’s models often fail when task goals shift mid-stream. But the human brain handles such transitions smoothly. By mimicking this biological flexibility, AI could become more adaptive and useful.



“We’re hoping that what we’re learning from the human brain can help us design models that adapt more fluidly, not just to new inputs, but to new contexts,” said Professor Rungratsameetaweemana.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-redefining-the-role-of-sight">Redefining the role of sight</h2>



It may no longer be true to say that seeing is believing. This research transforms how we understand the brain and its relation to our vision. The eye may be the entry point, but interpretation begins almost immediately, long before conscious thought. 



It turns out that seeing is not just about gathering information. It’s about aligning perception with purpose.



When you walk into a room and glance at that object on the table, your brain is already deciding what it means based on why you’re there. The pen and the thermometer are the same shape - but they are not the same thing.



Thanks to this study, we now know that your brain’s visual system is helping you choose, adapt, and act -even before you realize what you’re looking at.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58707-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications.</a>



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Rethinking vision: The brain sees what it wants to see

You walk into a room and see a long, slender...

Science is transforming how we see our DNA information and what they can tell us about our bodies. Many researchers now worry that hackers might find holes in these advanced tools and aim for our most personal details.



Experts warn that next-generation DNA sequencing (<a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/sequencing/sequencing-learning-center/next-generation-sequencing-information/ngs-basics/what-is-next-generation-sequencing.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NGS</a>) might be a new target for cybercriminals who wish to break into or manipulate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/everyday-dna-damage-requires-constant-repair-by-cells-to-prevent-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetic</a> data.



After carefully looking at every step involved, Dr. Nasreen Anjum from the <a href="https://www.port.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Portsmouth</a>’s School of Computing and her collaborators have offered ways to strengthen data security.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-dna-information-powers-medicine">How DNA information powers medicine</h2>



NGS allows scientists to decode huge chunks of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-changes-supercharged-the-human-brain-but-at-a-cost/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA</a> very quickly. It has helped in cancer analyses, specialized treatments, and identifying microbiologist findings. Many labs benefit from high-tech tools that read DNA to discover gene variants and spot disease markers.



Patients rely on these instruments in clinical settings to decide what treatments they need. Companies and universities also lean on these methods to design new medicines. If this data gets <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrg3723" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stolen</a> or tampered with, real harm can happen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-hackers-misuse-genetic-data">How hackers misuse genetic data</h2>



“Genomic data is one of the most personal forms of data we have,” stated Dr. Mahreen-Ul-Hassan from the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, who co-authored the study.



DNA information is extremely private. Attackers can use it to infer family ties or even link data to specific people.&nbsp;



Open-access databases often share large volumes of sequences online. Hackers can slip in <a href="https://www.usenix.org/conference/usenixsecurity17/technical-sessions/presentation/ney" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cyber-biosecurity</a> exploits by uploading corrupted files or by intercepting data on unsecured <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/subtle-dna-changes-shaped-human-brain-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">networks</a>. 



Subtle changes in the data might mislead researchers or hide real patient risks, and that can have serious consequences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-samples-can-carry-malware">DNA samples can carry malware</h2>



Some specialists have experimented with <a href="https://incsnow.com/cyberbiosecurity-computers-make-malicious-modification-of-dna-as-easy-as-editing-text/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA-encoded malware</a> that lurks in the code attached to genetic samples. 



If a lab’s system reads the code without proper checks, it can give criminals control. Once inside the network, they might alter or steal sensitive files, or break critical machines.



Industry watchers have also pointed out that many labs use older devices or software. These systems can get infected by trojans hiding in routine updates or from incorrectly set up firewalls. 



Even a small data breach in such labs can expose personal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-chapter-in-human-evolution-revealed-through-genetics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">information</a> or cripple ongoing studies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-information-at-risk">DNA information at risk</h2>



Though labs are filled with brilliant minds, not everyone knows how to recognize or stop a cyber infiltration. 



Attackers may spot a random “plugged-in” device, an unsecured network share, or a weak password. Sometimes, staff are tricked with phishing emails that appear official, so they click a malicious link.



Insider threats are also a concern. Employees with access to genetic data may decide to profit from it, or they might make a mistake that leaves doors open for attackers. A single slip can let outsiders capture reams of important data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ideas-for-stronger-security">Ideas for stronger security</h2>



“Our work is a wake-up call,” stated Dr. Anjum. She encourages labs and governments to think carefully about the entire NGS process. This means shielding hardware, software, and any data streams between labs.



Encryption can block prying eyes, but some hackers access computers with DNA information and edit it directly.



Better staff training, better oversight, and thorough testing of each system step should be mandatory. This stops threats before they strike.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-dna-information">Protecting DNA information</h2>



The researchers noted that <a href="https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Genomic-Data-Science" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genomic data</a> is too big for a single fix. Engineers, biologists, and IT specialists must join forces to create updated rules and new ways to handle data securely. This teamwork helps labs share vulnerabilities and solutions without fear.



Funding bodies also have a role. If they prioritize cyber-biosecurity efforts, labs can upgrade defenses, run safety drills, and share lessons learned. An international network of experts can reduce confusion and missteps in fast-paced research centers.



As we learn more about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/luca-last-universal-common-ancestor-progenitor-all-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetics</a>, criminals also sharpen their tools. The researchers believe that we must stay ahead by constantly reviewing our technology and testing for weaknesses. This could guard personal and clinical details, especially for those seeking precision medicine.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10930454" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IEEE Access</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Is your DNA information safe? Scientists warn of cyber threats

Science is transforming how we see our DNA information and...

Lily Cups are a new generation in period protection: ultra-soft, environmentally friendly reusable menstrual cups made of 100% body-safe medical-grade silicone. Compact and collapsible to bring with you anywhere. Read more Overview Lily Cups are a new generation in period protection: ultra-soft, reusable menstrual cups made of medical-grade silicone. Collecting rather than absorbing menstrual flow, they respect your intimate balance and don't cause the dryness often associated with tampons. Lily Cups are perfectly shaped to fit your body for total comfort, covering the lightest to heaviest flows for up to 12 hours. The Lily Cup Compact is the world's first collapsible menstrual cup! Get the best of the Lily Cup in a compact, go-anywhere design. The Lily Cup Compact collapses flat into its protective case, which fits into your pocket or small purse. When you need it, simply pop it open for 10 hours of protection. Features & Benefits: Made from 100% body-safe medical-grade silicone Compact and collapses flat into its protective case to take with you anywhere Hypoallergenic, no irritation Environmentally friendly, lasts for years and is reusable; does the job of 1625 tampons! Protects intimate balance, doesn't absorb moisture, no dryness, fibers or odors No strings or padding, soft and flexible, forget you are wearing it Up to 12 hours of protection Can be worn all night long, worry-free Zero toxins; no link whatsoever to Toxic Shock Syndrome Easy grip stem for removal The only cup that can be rolled as thin as a tampon Instructions included in each box Comes in Size A and Size B (see below for size guide) Comes with convenient protective case Best for light to medium flow How to Use the Lily Cup Compact Using your lily cup is easy, and will become second-nature after a few uses. Simply expand, fold, insert, wear for up to 10 hours, remove, clean and collapse or re-use. Watch the video on the side bar of the product page for further information on how to use the cup, for folding options and tips. Instructions are also included in the box! Why Medical-Grade Silicone? Safe and healthy Medical-grade silicone is an ultra-safe, inert material that is developed especially for medical purposes. It is hypoallergenic, latex-free, phthalate-free, and contains zero toxins. Silicone is non-absorbent, so it respects pH and flora balance. Soft and comfortable The silicone used to make Lily Cups is super thin and flexible so that they can be folded very small. When inserted, they pop open easily and stay in place to keep you protected all day. The silicone of each Lily Cup has an incredibly soft and smooth finish; you don't even feel your cup when you're wearing it. Hygienic and easy to clean Silicone is non-porous so it inhibits bacterial growth, making it extra hygienic. The smooth surface of the cup makes it easy to clean with warm water and soap, and silicone is heat resistant so a Lily Cup can even be boiled for extra peace of mind. Choose the Best Size for You: Size A (Small) I have not given birth I have given birth by caesarean Size B (Large) I have given birth naturally I have a weaker pelvic floor Factors to Consider When Choosing Size Anatomy: This is a very important deciding factor when choosing your size. We recommend women with a smaller vaginal canal to use size A and those with a larger vaginal canal to use size B, regardless of age or menstrual flow. Pregnancy: Childbirth can often affect the shape of the vagina and weaken pelvic floor tone, size B is recommended to all women who have given birth naturally. Pelvic Floor Tone: The pelvic floor muscles, also known as vaginal muscles, play an important role when wearing a menstrual cup because they are the muscles which hold the cup in place. Like any other muscle group, aw we age they lose elasticity, often through pregnancy or hormonal changes. If you have been diagnosed with a weak pelvic floor or with a pelvic floor disorder such as incontinence, we recommend that you use size B. Virginity: We recommend that those who have not engaged in sexual intercourse to use size A. For those concerned about the hymen, please consult with your medical practitioner prior to use.

Intimina Lily Cup Compact Menstrual Cup

Lily Cups are a new generation in period protection: ultra-soft,...

Lily Cups are a new generation in period protection: ultra-soft, environmentally friendly reusable menstrual cups made of 100% body- safe medical-grade silicone. They are perfectly shaped to fit your body for total comfort, covering the lightest to heaviest flows for up to 12 hours. Read more Overview Lily Cups are a new generation in period protection: ultra-soft, reusable menstrual cups made of medical-grade silicone. Collecting rather than absorbing menstrual flow, they respect your intimate balance and don't cause the dryness often associated with tampons. Features & Benefits: Made from 100% body-safe medical-grade silicone Hypoallergenic, no irritation Environmentally friendly, lasts for years and is reusable; does the job of 1625 tampons! Protects intimate balance, doesn't absorb moisture, no dryness, fibers or odors No strings or padding, soft and flexible, forget you are wearing it Up to 12 hours of protection Can be worn all night long, worry-free Zero toxins; no link whatsoever to Toxic Shock Syndrome No-spill rim makes removal a breeze Easy grip stem for removal Invisible easy-insert 'spines' add rigidity for easy insertion The only cup that can be rolled as thin as a tampon Instructions included in each box Comes in Size A and Size B (see below for size guide) Comes with convenient carry pouch Best for light to heavy flow How to Use the Lily Cup Compact Using your lily cup is easy, and will become second-nature after a few uses. Simply fold, insert, wear for up to 12 hours, remove, clean and re-use. Watch the video on the side bar of the product page for further information on how to use the cup, for folding options and tips. Instructions are also included in the box! Why Medical-Grade Silicone? Safe and healthy Medical-grade silicone is an ultra-safe, inert material that is developed especially for medical purposes. It is hypoallergenic, latex-free, phthalate-free, and contains zero toxins. Silicone is non-absorbent, so it respects pH and flora balance. Soft and comfortable The silicone used to make Lily Cups is super thin and flexible so that they can be folded very small. When inserted, they pop open easily and stay in place to keep you protected all day. The silicone of each Lily Cup has an incredibly soft and smooth finish; you don't even feel your cup when you're wearing it. Hygienic and easy to clean Silicone is non-porous so it inhibits bacterial growth, making it extra hygienic. The smooth surface of the cup makes it easy to clean with warm water and soap, and silicone is heat resistant so a Lily Cup can even be boiled for extra peace of mind. Choose the Best Size for You: Size A (Small) I have not given birth I have given birth by caesarean Size B (Large) I have given birth naturally I have a weaker pelvic floor Factors to Consider When Choosing Size Anatomy: This is a very important deciding factor when choosing your size. We recommend women with a smaller vaginal canal to use size A and those with a larger vaginal canal to use size B, regardless of age or menstrual flow. Pregnancy: Childbirth can often affect the shape of the vagina and weaken pelvic floor tone, size B is recommended to all women who have given birth naturally. Pelvic Floor Tone: The pelvic floor muscles, also known as vaginal muscles, play an important role when wearing a menstrual cup because they are the muscles which hold the cup in place. Like any other muscle group, aw we age they lose elasticity, often through pregnancy or hormonal changes. If you have been diagnosed with a weak pelvic floor or with a pelvic floor disorder such as incontinence, we recommend that you use size B. Virginity: We recommend that those who have not engaged in sexual intercourse to use size A. For those concerned about the hymen, please consult with your medical practitioner prior to use.

Intimina Lily Cup Menstrual Cup

These elegant ivory tapers are hand dipped in 100% pure beeswax, creating long and even burning candles. This comes in a set of two. Read more Overview Each pair of ivory tapers has been hand dipped at least 20 times into vats of naturally filtered molten beeswax. This time-honored process creates dripless, smokeless, long burning tapers. Each candle burns for over 12 hours. Made from the nectar of flowers by industrious honeybees, pure beeswax emits a subtle honey-like fragrance. These tapers are natural and free of paraffin and other toxins. The wicks are made from 100% cotton and contain no lead or metal. Dimensions: 12" x 7/8".

Ivory Beeswax Tapers - Set of 2

These elegant ivory tapers are hand dipped in 100% pure...

A useful set of bamboo utensils - oval spoon, round spoon and spatula, perfectly sized for little hands! They are also an ideal size for camping and traveling. Read more Make dinner fun with your kids by inviting them to help prepare the meal. This set of utensils is sized right for smaller hands. Use the round spoon to mix cookies or cake batter, the spatula to turn eggs, and the oval spoon to stir soup or sauce. These utensils are also great for playtime. Features & Benefits: Set of 3 includes rounded spoon, oval spoon, and spatula Made from USDA certified organic bamboo Lightweight and stronger than wood Natural food-safe oil finish (no glues or lacquer) Hand wash for longer life Recommended for ages 3+ Size: 9 inches You can use Bamboo Goo to keep your cedar serving tray looking new for years to come.

Kids in the Kitchen Utensils Set

A useful set of bamboo utensils - oval spoon, round...

The Kill A Watt Edge Power Monitor measures the energy consumption and operating costs of your electronics to help you save energy and money over time. Read more Overview The Kill A Watt Edge has all the measuring capabilities of the original Kill A Watt electricity monitor, plus some new functions and user-friendly features. This advanced electricity monitor can calculate the consumption and cost of your devices when left in standby mode. Once you are familiar with these costs, they can be controlled with a programmable motion sensor, which turns off your items when you're not in the room. Over time, it will learn your consumption habits and tell you how much you saved by turning devices to "off mode". The Kill A Watt Edge is easy to read thanks to a tether that allows you to perch your meter nearby the item you are measuring without having to bend over or unplug the device to view data. Features & Benefits: Shows you the operating cost of your electronics Eliminates wasted power, both vampire & standby Calculates carbon footprint savings Built-in motion sensor Programmable and easy to use Dual display shows multiple lines of information at once 4.5 foot long cord for hard-to-reach plugs Overcurrent protected

Kill A Watt Edge

The Kill A Watt Edge Power Monitor measures the energy...

Use the Kill A Watt to monitor energy consumption of appliances around your home. Learn how much they cost to run, and then work to minimize their use. Read more Overview How much electricity does your computer use if you leave it on overnight? How much power does your TV use when on stand-by? A new energy efficient appliance may be able to pay for itself in lower electricity costs, but how will you know? Simply plug the Kill A Watt into a wall outlet and then connect your appliances to the monitor to find out how efficient or wasteful they really are. On the screen you will be able to monitor the kilowatt hour consumption of an item to learn how much it costs to run. You can determine your electrical expenses by day, week, or month. You may cycle through displays including voltage (volt), amperage (amp), wattage (watt), line frequency (Hz), and power factor (VA). Features: Large LCD display Cumulative Kilowatt-Hour Monitor Forecast your costs Also displays Volts, Amps, Watts, Hz, VA 0.2% Accuracy Specifications: Operative Voltage: 115 VAC Max Voltage: 125 VAC Max Current: 15 A Max Power: 1875 VA Weight: 5 oz. Approvals: ETL (c), ETL (us)

Kill A Watt Electricity Monitor

Use the Kill A Watt to monitor energy consumption of...

The King-Size Wool Comforter is hand-made using organic cotton fabric and Premium Eco-Wool. Each comforter measures 100" x 86" and is available in three distinct weights, for temperature regulation and breathability. Read more Overview These wool comforters are available in three distinct temperature weights: Cool Comfort, Perfect Comfort, or Extra Warmth. Most people choose the Perfect Comfort, unless they live in a very hot or cold climate, or if their body temperature tends to run hot or cold. Each comforter is hand stitched around the perimeter, and hand tufted in the middle to keep the wool in place and enable washing. Features & Benefits: Premium Eco-Wool batting Organic cotton sateen fabric cover Machine washable (gentle with special instructions) King size: 100 x 86 inches Handmade in the USA Wool Weight Options: Cool Comfort (3.75 lbs.) Perfect Comfort (5.2 lbs.) Extra Warmth (8.1 lbs.) How Much Warmth Do I Need? Cool Comfort: This temperature weight is best suited for: a hot natured person, a hot climate, or to be used in climates with mild winters where you can use this blanket in combination with others. Perfect Comfort: The most popular comforter weight, it can be used year round in most climates. You may want to add an extra blanket in the heart of winter, if needed. This comforter is ideal for partner sleeping. Extra Warmth: This temperature weight is best suited for those who tend to get cold. Great for people who sleep by themselves and tend to like a lot of covers.

King-Size Wool Comforter

The King-Size Wool Comforter is hand-made using organic cotton fabric...

The KitchenStone cleaning block offers safe and powerful cleaning of tough messes on kitchen surfaces. Made in the USA from 100% recycled glass bottles. Read more Overview The KitchenStone is an environmentally friendly cleaning block that provides non-toxic cleaning of baked-on messes in your kitchen. KitchenStone works great on hot and cold surfaces, and it can be safely used on most kitchenware including grills and ovens, stove burners, enamel and ceramic cookware, porcelain, tempered glass, bakeware, stoneware, tile and grout, and more. Completely chemical-free, the KitchenStone is a fast way to scrub away burnt food, grease, rust and stains. It won't clog or absorb odor-causing bacteria like sponges and scrubbers. Not recommended for use on stainless steel sinks and teflon coated, aluminum or copper cookware.

KitchenStone Cleaning Block

The KitchenStone cleaning block offers safe and powerful cleaning of...