Latest news with #UniversityofSãoPaulo
Metro
14 hours ago
- Science
- Metro
Six asteroids 'dangerous to Earth' discovered - but could they really hit us?
Astronomers have discovered six asteroids that are 'potentially dangerous to Earth'. But is there a reason to panic? Venus, our celestial next-door neighbour, is hiding possibly hundreds of unpredictable and hard-to-see asteroids, according to a new study. These space rocks are 'co-orbitals', so orbit the Sun in line with Venus from a safe distance. The researchers wrote in a paper that while there's a slim chance the asteroids will collide with Venus, them being co-orbitals 'does not protect them from encountering Earth'. Of the six 'invisible threats', three named 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1 'have a severe risk of collision' as their orbits allow them to approach Earth within 0.05 astronomical units (about 4,650,000 miles). While that sounds far, that's close enough for them to be considered potentially hazardous asteroids. Two of the asteroids, 2020 SB, 524522, are up to 1,500 feet in diameter, about the same size as a football field, while 2020 CL1 is nearly 2,000 feet. This means they're about the same size as the 'city killer' asteroid that space officials briefly believed could smack Earth in 2032. An asteroid of this size smashing into the planet would be the equivalent of 'millions of nuclear bombs', experts previously told Metro, flattening the impact site and causing countless earthquakes and tsunamis. But experts doubt the 'city-killer' asteroid, named 2024 YR4, will come at all close to hitting the Earth. One reason is because the asteroid has a path so clear scientists can even predict what time it will come close to Earth. Valerio Carruba from the University of São Paulo in Brazil, who led the study, says the Venus asteroids are too unpredictable with only a small gravitational change or other force enough to nudge them towards Earth. The brightness and glare of the Sun make anything whizzing around Venus hard to see through a telescope. The Rubin Observatory in Chile would have about four weeks to spot them. The authors added: 'Low-e [low eccentricity] Venus co-orbitals pose a unique challenge because of the difficulties in detecting and following these objects from Earth.' Eccentricity refers to how round an orbit is, with a perfectly circular one having an eccentricity of zero. The smaller the orbit, the trickier they are to see. What doesn't help is their 'highly chaotic' orbits, 'with Lyapunov times of the order of 150 years', the authors said. Lyapunov time is how long an object's orbit takes to become completely unpredictable – so looking at the asteroids today won't tell us much about what its orbit will look like in 150 years. The researchers got around this by 'cloning' the rocks onto a simulated solar system and seeing where they wound up after 36,000 years. They said: 'There is a range of orbits with eccentricity <0.38, larger at lower inclinations, for which Venus' co-orbitals can pose a collisional hazard to Earth.' Chris Lintott, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford, would be the first to admit this all sounds scary. Speaking to Metro, he said: 'There's absolutely no need to panic – these asteroids are safely in their orbits millions of miles away and pose no imminent threat to Earth.' The odds that a city-destroying asteroid will hit Earth is about 1% per century, while no rocks larger than a kilometre are expected to get anywhere near us for at least the next 1,000 years. Planetary defence and space officials have plans in place in the event an asteroid does pose a threat, including smashing a spacecraft into it or shooting a pulse of radiation. More Trending Every close call with these titanic rocks, however scary, gives officials more data to work with to keep us safe. In the last year, 154 asteroids larger than a kilometre drifted closer to Earth than the Moon, according to Nasa. Linott added: 'We are getting better at understanding where asteroids that do hit the Earth come from though, and with new telescopes we're more likely than ever to have advanced notice of a threat. 'Despite these new ideas, you've never been safer from an asteroid dropping on you than you are now.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Twist in search for mysterious 'Planet Nine' in the dark depths of our solar system MORE: Saturn in Aries for the first time since 1999 will impact these five star signs most MORE: Nasa warns of huge solar flares that could cause blackouts on Earth
New York Post
a day ago
- Health
- New York Post
61.7% of insomniacs have this personality trait — and what that means for treatment
Exhausted all options for better sleep? You're not alone. About 12% of Americans experience chronic insomnia, defined as trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or returning to sleep after waking up in the night. Another 30% report occasionally struggling with insomnia. Researchers have identified the '3 Ps' of insomnia — factors believed to trigger and prolong habitual sleeplessness. Advertisement 4 About 12% of Americans experience chronic insomnia, defined as trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or returning to sleep after waking up in the night. Getty Images/iStockphoto These include predisposing factors like medical conditions, age and family history, precipitating factors like stressful events and mental health challenges and perpetuating factors like poor sleep habits, which feed the cycle of insomnia. A new study from the University of São Paulo in Brazil explored how personality traits influence insomnia, tying one trait in particular to 61.7% of cases. Advertisement 'We decided to study the influence of personality traits on insomnia because it's an extremely common disorder that has negative health consequences, such as an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, anxiety and depression,' said sleep psychologist Bárbara Araújo Conway. 'These different physical and mental health conditions lead to a poorer quality of life in general.' Conway's team utilized the Big Five theory, which describes personality as consisting of openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. Advertisement Researchers divided 595 participants, 18 to 59 years old, into two groups — insomniacs and a control group of people who didn't have trouble sleeping. Each participant filled out a 60-question survey to determine their personality type. 4 Researchers can't say that insomniacs are more introverted or extroverted. Getty Images/iStockphoto The analysis found that: Advertisement 61.7% of insomniacs had high levels of neuroticism versus 32% of the control group. 40.7% of insomniacs had low levels of openness versus 23% of the control group. 37.7% of insomniacs had low levels of conscientiousness versus 24.1% of the control group. 31.5% of insomniacs had low levels of agreeableness versus 23.2% of the control group. Extroversion didn't show a significant difference. 'Neuroticism was the trait that stood out the most, with insomniacs having a much higher rate,' Conway said. 'But we can't say that insomniacs are more introverted.' The link between neuroticism and insomnia seems to be anxiety. 4 Anxiety may be fueling your insomnia, so researchers recommend seeking treatment for anxiety and insomnia. Getty Images/iStockphoto Neurotics are more likely to experience anxiety, worry, fear and irritability. Anxiety can trigger racing thoughts, an elevated heart rate and muscle tension, making it hard to fall asleep. Depression did not seem to fit into this relationship, Conway said. The findings, recently published in the Journal of Sleep Research, suggest the need for treating anxiety along with insomnia. Advertisement 'We know that most insomniacs are highly neurotic,' Conway said. 'These patients deserve to have their anxiety assessed and treated so that their insomnia also improves,' she continued. 'Sometimes this involves different therapies and medications, so it's important to take a broader look at each individual's history and specifics.' 4 'These results contribute to the development of new, more personalized psychological and behavioral protocols for the treatment of insomnia,' the study author said. Getty Images Insomnia treatment can include prescription sleep meds and non-drug options such as relaxation techniques and better sleep routines. Advertisement One popular route is cognitive-behavioral therapy, which involves identifying and modifying negative patterns that interfere with sleep. 'We already have a non-pharmacological treatment for insomnia, but just as we don't have a drug that will be effective for all patients, a single therapy approach may not work for everyone,' Conway said. 'These results contribute to the development of new, more personalized psychological and behavioral protocols for the treatment of insomnia.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Scientists Discover Molecule That Blocks Aging And Dementia in Mice
Scientists are looking at ways to tackle Alzheimer's and dementia from all kinds of angles, and a new study has identified the molecule hevin (or SPARCL-1) as a potential way of preventing cognitive decline. Hevin is a protein naturally produced in the brain by cells called astrocytes. These support-worker cells look after the connections or synapses between neurons, and it's thought that hevin plays a role in this essential work. In this new study, researchers from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the University of São Paulo in Brazil boosted hevin production in the brains of both healthy mice and those with an Alzheimer's-like disease. That hevin overload worked wonders: over six months of testing, the treated mice demonstrated better memory and learning capability than untreated animals, while brain scans showed improved neuron communication across synapses. "Hevin is a well-known molecule involved in neural plasticity," says neurobiologist Flávia Alcantara Gomes from UFRJ. "We found that the overproduction of hevin is capable of reversing cognitive deficits in aged animals by improving the quality of synapses in these rodents." Further analysis showed that the additional hevin in the mouse brains was triggering the production of other proteins related to synapse health. It seems hevin isn't working alone when it comes to maintaining neuron connectivity. The research team also looked at the wider context, digging into publicly available health data to find that hevin levels in the brains of Alzheimer's patients were lower than normal. That suggests hevin and astrocytes do have a role to play in the disease. "The originality lies in understanding the role of the astrocyte in this process," says Gomes. "We've taken the focus away from neurons, shedding light on the role of astrocytes, which we've shown could also be a target for new treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment." It will take a significant amount of time to go from lab tests in mice to actual treatments that people with dementia are able to take, of course, but it's a promising start – and eventually, treatments based on these findings could complement other drugs. Many of the treatments currently being explored for Alzheimer's look to tackle the toxic protein clumps that build up in the brain, but those protein bundles aren't targeted by hevin. In fact, the new research showed hevin had no impact on plaque build-up, which could support the emerging idea that they aren't a 'cause'. "Although there's still no consensus among researchers, I work with the hypothesis that the formation of beta-amyloid plaques isn't the cause of Alzheimer's," says Felipe Cabral-Miranda, biomedical scientist at UFRJ. "And the results of the study, by providing proof of concept for a molecule that can reverse cognitive decline without affecting beta-amyloid plaques, support the hypothesis that these, although involved in the mechanisms of the pathology, aren't enough to cause Alzheimer's." It's a complex picture, and while we're still not sure how Alzheimer's disease gets started in the brain, it's probable that numerous factors are involved. That means any potential treatment or prevention is going to need to be complex as well. "Of course, in the future it'll be possible to develop drugs that have the same effect as hevin," says Gomes. "For now, however, the fundamental benefit of this work is a deeper understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and the aging process." The research has been published in Aging Cell. Your Coffee May Not Even Need Caffeine to Wake You Up Your Stress Could Be a Hidden Trigger For Future Dementia Over 2 Million Americans Went 'Missing' During 2020 And 2021
Arabian Post
5 days ago
- General
- Arabian Post
Sebastião Salgado, Master of Monochrome, Dies at 81
Sebastião Salgado, the Brazilian photographer whose haunting black-and-white images chronicled the human condition and environmental fragility, died on 23 May 2025 in Paris at the age of 81. His death was attributed to leukaemia, a condition linked to malaria he contracted during a 2010 assignment in Indonesia. Born on 8 February 1944 in Aimorés, Minas Gerais, Salgado initially pursued a career in economics, earning a master's degree from the University of São Paulo. His trajectory shifted in the early 1970s when, while working for the International Coffee Organization, he began photographing coffee plantations in Africa. This experience ignited a passion for photography that led him to abandon economics and dedicate himself fully to documenting global social issues. Salgado's work is distinguished by its profound empathy and meticulous composition. Over five decades, he travelled to more than 130 countries, capturing images that highlighted the dignity and resilience of people facing adversity. His seminal projects include 'Workers' , a tribute to manual labourers worldwide; 'Exodus' , documenting mass migrations and displacements; and 'Genesis' , a visual homage to the planet's pristine landscapes and indigenous cultures. ADVERTISEMENT His commitment to long-term projects allowed him to delve deeply into his subjects, often spending years on a single series. This approach garnered both acclaim and criticism; while many praised the aesthetic and emotional power of his images, some argued that his portrayal of suffering risked romanticising hardship. Salgado defended his methodology, asserting that his intent was to bear witness and provoke reflection. In the 1990s, after witnessing the horrors of the Rwandan genocide, Salgado experienced a period of profound personal crisis. He withdrew from photography and returned to Brazil, where he and his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, embarked on an ambitious reforestation project on his family's degraded farmland. This endeavour led to the founding of Instituto Terra in 1998, a non-profit organisation dedicated to environmental restoration and education. Over the years, the institute has planted millions of trees, revitalising the Atlantic Forest and serving as a model for sustainable development. Salgado's contributions to photography and environmentalism earned him numerous accolades, including the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund Grant, the Royal Photographic Society's Centenary Medal, and the Praemium Imperiale. He was also a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts and an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2014, his life and work were chronicled in the documentary 'The Salt of the Earth,' co-directed by his son Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and filmmaker Wim Wenders. In his later years, Salgado turned his lens towards the natural world, producing images that celebrated the planet's biodiversity and underscored the urgency of conservation. His 'Amazônia' project, published in 2021, is a testament to this shift, featuring photographs of the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous inhabitants. This body of work reflects his belief that humanity's fate is inextricably linked to the health of the environment.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sebastião Salgado, the Brazilian photographer who rebuilt forests and froze history and injustice in frames, died at 81
Sebastião Salgado , the acclaimed Brazilian photographer known for his powerful black and white images documenting social injustices and environmental issues, has died at the age of 81. His death was confirmed on May 23, 2025, by Instituto Terra , the environmental organization he co-founded with his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado. Salgado passed away in Paris due to complications from leukemia, which was linked to a malaria infection he contracted in 2010 during his "Genesis" project. Also Read: Billy Joel cancels 17-stop tour due to brain disorder, apologizes to fans as refunds begin by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Amazing Japanese all-in-one gel for blemish removal YUKINOUE雪之上 Learn More Undo Born in 1944 in Aimorés, Brazil, Salgado initially pursued a career in economics. He earned degrees from the University of São Paulo and the University of Paris. His work as an economist took him to Africa, where he developed an interest in photography. In the 1970s, he transitioned to photojournalism, eventually working with renowned agencies like Magnum Photos. Over a more than five-decade career, Salgado traveled to over 130 countries, documenting the lives of marginalized communities, refugees, and workers. His notable projects include "Workers," "Exodus," and "Genesis," each highlighting the dignity and struggles of people worldwide. His later work portrayed the need for environmental conservation of the Amazon rainforest and the habitats of Indigenous populations. Live Events In 1998, Salgado and his wife established Instituto Terra to restore a portion of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Their efforts led to the reforestation of thousands of hectares, a successful biodiversity and environmental education mission. Salgado's contributions to photography and humanitarian causes earned him numerous accolades, including the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in 1998 and multiple World Press Photo awards. He was also a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts since 2016. He is survived by his wife, Lélia, and their two sons. Salgado , one of Brazil's most famous and recognized artists, always maintained that he was a photographer first. His life and work were featured in the documentary film The Salt of the Earth (2014), which was co-directed by his son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, and Wim Wenders.
