The Nature Podcast highlights of 2024
Nature Podcast
Deep Dive
How is melting polar ice affecting global timekeeping?
Melting polar ice is slowing down Earth's rotation by redistributing water towards the equator, making the planet flatter. This effect, akin to an ice skater extending their arms, counteracts the speeding up caused by changes in Earth's core. As a result, the need for a negative leap second, where a second is removed from atomic time, is being delayed. Without this effect, a negative leap second might have been needed by 2026 instead of the projected 2029.
What are the challenges of implementing a negative leap second?
A negative leap second, which has never been implemented before, poses significant challenges for global computing systems. Synchronizing computers across the world is critical, especially in financial markets where timing is measured in thousandths of a second. Most computers are programmed to handle positive leap seconds but not negative ones, leading to potential disruptions in timing infrastructure.
Why are sex and gender discussions important in science?
Sex and gender discussions are crucial because they address understudied and misunderstood aspects of human health. Misinformation and political weaponization of these topics can lead to suffering and exclusion. Scientists aim to create inclusive healthcare systems that consider diverse identities, including trans, non-binary, and intersex individuals, by understanding the biological and social complexities of sex and gender.
How did researchers train crocodiles to avoid poisonous toads?
Researchers trained freshwater crocodiles to avoid poisonous cane toads by creating bait toads. They removed the poison glands and injected the toads with nausea-inducing chemicals. Over five days, crocodiles developed an aversion to the toads, reducing mortality by 95% at one test site. This method could help save declining crocodile populations.
What is the significance of the frog saunas in combating chytrid fungus?
Frog saunas, made from black-painted bricks and greenhouses, provide warm refuges that help frogs combat the deadly chytrid fungus. The fungus struggles in high temperatures, and the saunas allow frogs to self-regulate their body heat, reducing infection rates by 10 to 100 times. This low-cost, practical solution could help endangered frog populations survive and develop resistance to future infections.
How does psilocybin affect the brain?
Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, desynchronizes neural networks, particularly in the default mode network, which governs self-awareness and time perception. This disruption makes the brain more malleable, potentially helping individuals with rigid neural patterns, such as those with depression, to rebuild healthier neural pathways. The effect is most pronounced when the brain is not engaged in active tasks.
Why was NASA's mission to drill for ice on the Moon canceled?
NASA canceled its mission to drill for ice on the Moon due to rising costs and delays. The mission, which included the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), faced a $176 million cost increase and a launch delay to 2025. NASA decided to reallocate its budget to other missions amid a constrained financial environment, leaving the completed rover in search of a new partner.
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