Researchers identify cause of decline in blue whale vocalizations
This reduction in singing is attributed to the disappearance of their main food source, krill, caused by a marine heatwave dubbed 'The Blob'.
Originating in 2013, 'The Blob' was a dense pool of warm water that significantly raised Pacific Ocean temperatures, in some places by over 4.5 Fahrenheit.
The elevated temperatures fostered toxic algae blooms, which decimated krill populations and other marine life.
Scientists suggest blue whales ceased singing due to the immense stress of spending all their energy searching for food, a situation exacerbated by climate change.
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Medical News Today
13 hours ago
- Medical News Today
Study finds turning point when body starts aging rapidly
Past studies show that human aging doesn't necessarily happen at the same pace throughout our life. There is still much to discover about the aging process, especially when it comes to how it impacts the body's organs.A new study found that by focusing on aging-related protein changes in the body, there is an acceleration in aging of organs and tissues around the age of 50. And of these proteins, scientists found that expressions of 48 of them linked to diseases increased with age, such as cardiovascular and liver disease. While we can try to slow it down, human aging is something we currently can't stop from happening. However, past studies show that aging doesn't necessarily happen at the same pace throughout our life. Instead, there are certain ages when a person's body may experience a burst of aging. Previous studies show that the body may undergo rapid aging around the ages of 44 and there is still much to discover about the aging process, especially when it comes to how it impacts the body's organs. 'Aging, as a systemic, degenerative process that spans multiple organs and biological strata, remains one of the most profound unresolved questions in the life sciences,' Guang-Hui Liu, PhD, regenerative medicine researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained to Medical News Today.'Throughout the extended human lifespan, two fundamental issues persist: Do all organ systems adhere to a unified aging rhythm? Does a molecular spatiotemporal hub exist that orchestrates organism-wide senescence? Despite their centrality to understanding the essence of aging, these questions have long lacked systematic, empirical resolution.'Liu is the corresponding author of a new study recently published in the journal Cell that has found that by focusing on aging-related protein changes in the body, they can get a clearer picture of how the body's organs and tissues age over time, including an aging acceleration around the age of 50. And of these proteins, scientists found that expressions of 48 of them related to diseases — such as cardiovascular disease and fatty liver disease — increased with age. Creating an aging 'atlas'For this study, researchers analyzed 516 samples of 13 types of human tissues collected from 76 organ donors between the ages of 14 and 68 who had passed away from traumatic brain injury. The tissue samples included cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, endocrine, and musculoskeletal samples, as well as immune system, skin, and blood samples. Next, researchers documented the types of proteins found in the organ and tissue samples, allowing them to create what Liu called 'a proteomic aging atlas' that spans 50 years of human life. 'Covering seven physiological systems and thirteen pivotal tissues, the atlas presents a panoramic, dynamic portrait of organismal aging from a protein-centric perspective,' Liu explained. 'The more than 20,000 proteins encoded by the genome serve as the structural bedrock of cells; their dynamic networks exquisitely orchestrate physiological homeostasis and act as the principal executors of virtually every biological process.' 'Consequently, systematically charting a panoramic, lifespan-wide atlas of proteomic dynamics and dissecting the reprogramming rules of protein networks at organ- and system-level scales are pivotal for accurately identifying the core drivers of aging and for establishing precise intervention targets,' he added. Body aging accelerates around age 50At the study's conclusion, researchers found that the biggest aging changes in the body's organs and tissues seems to occur around age 50. The critical aging window'Ages 45–55 are identified as a landmark inflection point: most organ proteomes undergo a 'molecular cascade storm,' with differentially expressed proteins surging explosively, marking this interval as the critical biological transition window for systemic, multi-organ aging.' — Guang-Hui Liu, PhD'Notably, the aortic proteome is reshaped most dramatically; its secretome and the circulating plasma proteome evolve in tight concordance, indicating that senescence-associated secreted factors (senokines) may serve as the hub mechanism broadcasting aging signals throughout the body,' Liu explained. Additionally, Liu and his team found that expressions of 48 of the proteins linked to diseases, including cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, tissue fibrosis, and liver-related tumors, increased with age. 'Organ aging is the essence of human chronic disease; each geriatric illness is merely a specific manifestation of this underlying organ aging,' Liu added. Aging causes biochemical changes in the bodyMNT had the opportunity to speak with Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, about this study. 'This study found that protein changes in the body associated with aging seem to accelerate roughly around age 50, depending on the type of body tissue. This is an interesting finding that helps us better understand the types of biochemical changes that underlie aging and potentially provide targets for therapy at different stages of someone's life.' — Cheng-Han Chen, MD'Science is only beginning to understand the biological mechanisms involved in aging,' Chen said. 'Studies like this help us to identify the basis of normal aging, and in turn provides insight into how deviations in normal biology lead to diseases such as cardiovascular disease and fatty liver disease. Ultimately, this will help us understand how to keep our patients healthy and aging well. It may also help us to develop new therapies for diseases that result from accelerated aging.' 'Future research should attempt to expand on these findings in more diverse demographic groups and as well as in other important organs such as the brain and kidneys,' he added. Transforming medicine from reactive to proactiveMNT also talked to Manisha Parulekar, MD, chief of the Division of Geriatrics at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this research. How aging affects the whole body'The idea that our cells lose the ability to maintain a healthy and functional proteome (the collection of proteins) is a cornerstone of modern aging theory. The accumulation of misfolded proteins, like amyloids, is the classic example, best known in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. This study's finding of widespread amyloid accumulation across many tissues confirms that this isn't just a brain-specific problem but a systemic feature of aging.'— Manisha Parulekar, MD'This research is about transforming medicine from a reactive, disease-focused model to a proactive, health-focused one,' she continued. 'By understanding the what and the when of aging, we can develop the tools to compress morbidity — allowing people to live not just longer, but healthier and more vibrant lives.' 'A longitudinal study, following the same individuals over decades will be helpful,' Parulekar added when asked what she would like to see as next steps for this research. 'This would track their personal proteomic changes over time, allowing us to study genetic and lifestyle differences between people and providing additional confirmation for the 'age 50 inflection point'.'
Telegraph
16 hours ago
- Telegraph
Iran sends surviving nuclear scientists into deep hiding
Iran has sent its surviving nuclear scientists into deep hiding after Israel killed more than 30 researchers, The Telegraph can reveal. Most are no longer living in their homes or teaching at universities, and have been moved to secure locations in Tehran or northern coastal cities, where they live in villas with their families, a senior Iranian official said. The Telegraph has been shown the names of more than 15 of these surviving scientists, on a list of about 100 held by Israel, whom the Israelis say must now decide whether to continue their work and risk further strikes or find a new career. 'Most of them are no longer living in their houses – they are either moved to safe houses in Tehran or to the north,' the Iranian official said. He added: 'Those who were teaching at universities are replaced with people who have no connection with the nuclear programme.' The move comes amid concern, fuelled by Israeli briefings, that further assassinations are in the offing and the execution, by Iran, of one of its own nuclear scientists this week. Roozbeh Vadi had worked at one of the country's most sensitive and important nuclear sites and was hanged on Wednesday over allegations he had facilitated the assassination of his colleagues during the 12-day war in June by passing information to Israel. Israeli experts say a new generation of Iranian nuclear scientists now stand poised to take over the work of those already killed and have described them as 'dead men walking', despite the increased security that includes safe houses and round-the-clock protection. They say Iran structured its nuclear research programme with each key player having at least one deputy, working in pods of two to three to ensure redundancy in case of attack. Israeli sources fear some of the surviving scientists have replaced their dead colleagues at Iran's nuclear weaponisation programme at the Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, known by its Persian acronym, SPND. They are said to include scientists with expertise in explosives, neutron physics and warhead design. Israeli intelligence and defence analyst, Ronen Solomon, told The Telegraph: 'The figures who remain have worked on adapting Shahab-3 missiles for nuclear warheads, and are critical to Iran's ability to deploy nuclear weapons. 'While the eliminated scientists focused more on warhead design, the expertise in delivery systems makes those who remain equally strategic targets for Israel, as Israel's June 2025 strikes also targeted ballistic missile infrastructure.' According to Israeli intelligence, the knowledge that drives Iran's nuclear programme is deeply embedded in the country's universities and academic systems, leading to strikes last month on Shahid Beheshti University and Imam Hossein University, both in Tehran and both associated with Iran's military and nuclear programmes. Iran has always denied running a nuclear weapons programme, claiming that its nuclear capabilities and expertise was for civilian use only. Much like Israel's own nuclear programme, which relied heavily on research conducted at sites including the Weizmann Institute of Science (itself targeted by Iran in June), Iran's nuclear programme is broad-based on the academic side with much of the work having dual application. Danny Citrinowicz, the former head of the Iranian strategic desk in Israeli Defense Intelligence, a branch of the Israeli military, said the remaining Iranian experts faced a clear choice. 'They saw what happened to their colleagues, and as we learned from 2010 when we eliminated the other scientists, it's not changing their way of thinking in terms of their willingness to support the regime. 'Those who are left will be at the forefront of any Iranian attempt to reach a nuclear bomb, hence they will automatically become targets for Israel as Israel has shown in the past. I have no doubt about it. Any scientist that deals with the nuclear issue will be eliminated or will be threatened with elimination.' Iran has raced to restructure its protection arrangements for scientists since the June war with Israel, in which the US attacked Iran's nuclear facilities with bunker bombs and Tehran hit back with missile attacks on Israel. Previously, a single Revolutionary Guard unit handled their security, but multiple agencies now coordinate protection due to trust concerns, the Iranian official told The Telegraph. 'They were all asked if they still trust their bodyguards – some said no and were provided with new ones,' he said. The killings in June prompted widespread calls in Iran for increased protection of surviving scientists and their families – and calls to reverse officially stated policy and pursue a nuclear bomb. The brother of an Iranian scientist killed in Israeli strikes called for Iran to revise its nuclear doctrine to better protect its scientists. Seyed Alireza Sadighi Saber, speaking at a funeral for victims of Israel's June attacks, said Iran should withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and reconsider its nuclear weapons taboo. 'If Iran had the will to build nuclear weapons, it would certainly have achieved it within two years, but because the peaceful path was chosen, the enemy began successive assassinations of scientists, commanders and elites to stop scientific progress,' he said. 'These individuals had no military activities and their scientific projects were completely under IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] supervision and within the framework of peaceful nuclear programmes,' he said. He called on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and others to urgently revise policies for protecting the country's scientists and researchers, saying it was time to move beyond slogans of 'Death to America and Israel' and make fundamental decisions. His brother, university faculty member Mohammad Reza Sadighi Saber, was killed along with his family in the Israeli strikes. The victims included his daughter Fateme, 19, son Hamidreza, 17, and eight-year-old daughter Mohia. Several prominent scientists and researchers, many specialising in nuclear physics and radiopharmaceuticals, were also killed in Israel's June 13 attacks. Amir Hossein Faghi emerged as one of Iran's leading figures in radiopharmaceutical development. Faghi led research into medical applications of nuclear energy and appeared on state television in 2022 discussing radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment. Colleagues compared his work to assassinated nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari, killed in 2010. The strikes targeted Iran's academic and scientific infrastructure, degrading expertise built over decades in nuclear physics, radiopharmaceuticals, and related fields.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
New evidence of giant gas planet around ‘Earth's closest solar twin'
Astronomers have found strong evidence of a giant gas planet orbiting a star in a solar system close to our own sun. Four light-years away from Earth, the Alpha Centauri triple-star system has long been a compelling target for scientists to search for worlds outside our solar system. Now, scientists have found a lifeless planet which could be a close neighbour to Earth in astronomical terms, and could even have moons that sustain life. The potential planet, detected last year, disappeared in follow-up observations. But astronomers found new signs using NASA 's powerful James Webb Space Telescope. If confirmed, the planet would be the closest to Earth that orbits in the habitable zone of a sun-like star. "Four years is a long way but in galaxy terms, it's very close - it's in our neighbourhood," Dr Carly Howett, associate professor of space instrumentation at the University of Oxford, told the BBC. "It is around a star that is sun-like and about the same temperature and brightness. That's really important if we want to think about habitable worlds.' However, because the planet candidate is a gas giant, scientists say it would not support life as we know it. Charles Beichman, from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute at Caltech's IPAC astronomy center, said: 'With this system being so close to us, any exoplanets found would offer our best opportunity to collect data on planetary systems other than our own. 'Yet, these are incredibly challenging observations to make, even with the world's most powerful space telescope, because these stars are so bright, close, and move across the sky quickly,' he added. The stars create huge amounts of bright light which can block out nearby objects, which might explain why the potential planet appeared to disappear. Mr Beichman added: 'Webb was designed and optimised to find the most distant galaxies in the universe. The operations team at the Space Telescope Science Institute had to come up with a custom observing sequence just for this target, and their extra effort paid off spectacularly.' Confirmation of the potential planet would mark a new milestone for exoplanet imaging efforts, as it would be the closest to its star to be seen so far. 'It's also the most similar in temperature and age to the giant planets in our solar system, and nearest to our home, Earth," said PhD student Aniket Sanghi of Caltech, a co-first author on the two papers covering the team's research. "Its very existence in a system of two closely separated stars would challenge our understanding of how planets form, survive, and evolve in chaotic environments." Astronomers hope to use a new telescope, NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is set to launch by May 2027, equipped with dedicated hardware to test new technologies in the search for new life.
