Today: October 12, 2024
Today: October 12, 2024

Latest From The Los Angeles Post

Technology

Space junk in Earth orbit and on the Moon will increase with future missions − but nobody's in charge of cleaning it up

An artist’s rendering of debris floating through Earth’s orbit. Petrovich9/iStock via Getty Images There’s a lot of trash on the Moon right now – including nearly 100 bags of human waste – and with countries around the globe traveling to the Moon, there’s going to be a lot more, both on the lunar surface and in Earth’s orbit. In August 2023, Russia’s Luna-25 probe crashed into the Moon’s surface, while India’s Chandrayann-3 mission successfully landed in the southern polar region, making India the fourth country to land on the Moon. India’s Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully touched down on the south pole

Space junk in Earth orbit and on the Moon will increase with future missions − but nobody's in charge of cleaning it up
Technology

Why are my Fingers Wrinkled after a Swim or Bath?

Those puckered prints show up after a while in the water. MarijaRadovic/iStock via Getty Images Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]. Why do fingers and toes get wrinkly and change color after a dip in a pool or a bath? – Raymond Y., age 12, Bothell, Washington Skin is an awesome and weird organ. As the body’s biggest organ, it does a lot to look after you, protecting you from the outside world of sunlight, harsh chemicals, nasty germs and severe

Why are my Fingers Wrinkled after a Swim or Bath?
Technology

The US and China may be ending an agreement on science and technology cooperation − a policy expert explains what this means for research

A decades-old science and technology cooperative agreement between the United States and China expires on Aug. 27, 2023. On the surface, an expiring diplomatic agreement may not seem significant. But unless it’s renewed, the quiet end to a cooperative era may have consequences for scientific research and technological innovation. The possible lapse comes after U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., led a congressional group warning the U.S. State Department in July 2023 to beware of cooperation with China. This group recommended to let the agreement expire without renewal, claiming China has gained a military advantage through its scientific and technological ties

The US and China may be ending an agreement on science and technology cooperation − a policy expert explains what this means for research
Technology|WrittenByLAPost

From Prints to Pixels: Breathing Life into the Past

This may seem like a sad story because it begins with a boy with few memories of his father, who died when he was 7 years old. It’s why Mitch Goldstone cherishes his only picture with his dad — a snapshot at Disneyland taken during the late 1960s, when the concept of people reflexively reaching for smartphone cameras in their pockets could only happen in Tomorrowland. But this story, and the personal stories that follow, aren’t sad at all. And a half-century later and more, Goldstone has done something with that memory. He is pursuing a career focused on the

From Prints to Pixels: Breathing Life into the Past
Technology

India's Chandrayaan-3 landed on the south pole of the Moon − a space policy expert explains what this means for India and the global race to the Moon

India’s Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully touched down on the south pole of the Moon on Aug. 23, 2023, sparking celebrations across the country. AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi India made history as the first country to land near the south pole of the Moon with its Chandrayaan-3 lander on Aug. 23, 2023. This also makes it the first country to land on the Moon since China in 2020. India is one of several countries — including the U.S. with its Artemis program — endeavoring to land on the Moon. The south pole of the Moon is of particular interest, as its surface, marked

India's Chandrayaan-3 landed on the south pole of the Moon − a space policy expert explains what this means for India and the global race to the Moon
Technology

Seeing what the naked eye can't − 4 essential reads on how scientists bring the microscopic world into plain sight

This microscopy image shows the retina of a mouse, laid flat and made fluorescent. Kenyoung Kim, Wonkyu Ju and Mark Ellisman/National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California, San Diego via Flickr, CC BY-NC The microscope is an iconic symbol of the life sciences – and for good reason. From the discovery of the existence of cells to the structure of DNA, microscopy has been a quintessential tool of the field, unlocking new dimensions of the living world not only for scientists but also for the general public. For the life sciences, where understanding the function of a

Seeing what the naked eye can't − 4 essential reads on how scientists bring the microscopic world into plain sight
Technology

Online gaming communities could provide a lifeline for isolated young men − new research

Many gamers discuss deeply personal and sensitive topics with each other. gorodenkoff/iStock via Getty Images Plus Online gaming communities could be a vital lifeline for young men struggling silently with mental health issues, according to new research. My colleagues and I analyzed an all-male online football gaming community over the course of a year. We discovered that members who reported more depressive symptoms and less real-life support were roughly 40% more likely to form and maintain social ties with fellow gamers compared with those reporting more real-life support. This finding suggests the chat and community features of online games might

Online gaming communities could provide a lifeline for isolated young men − new research
Technology

Online gaming communities could provide a lifeline for isolated young men − new research

Many gamers discuss deeply personal and sensitive topics with each other. gorodenkoff/iStock via Getty Images Plus Online gaming communities could be a vital lifeline for young men struggling silently with mental health issues, according to new research. My colleagues and I analyzed an all-male online football gaming community over the course of a year. We discovered that members who reported more depressive symptoms and less real-life support were roughly 40% more likely to form and maintain social ties with fellow gamers compared with those reporting more real-life support. This finding suggests the chat and community features of online games might

Online gaming communities could provide a lifeline for isolated young men − new research
Technology

Policy framework for coexisting with wolves, bears and mountain lions could benefit both people and the environment

A federal policy could reduce instances of conflict between people and carnivores, like coyotes. Jason Klassi/iStock via Getty Images A video showing a close encounter between a hiker in Utah and a mountain lion defending her cubs went viral in 2020. The video, during which the hiker remained calm as the mountain lion followed him for several minutes, served as a visceral reminder that sharing the land with carnivores can be a complicated affair. For conservation scientists like me, it also underscored that Americans have a fraught relationship with large carnivores like wolves, bears and mountain lions. My colleagues and

Policy framework for coexisting with wolves, bears and mountain lions could benefit both people and the environment
Technology

Social media algorithms warp how people learn from each other, research shows

Social media pushes evolutionary buttons. AP Photo/Manish Swarup People’s daily interactions with online algorithms affect how they learn from others, with negative consequences including social misperceptions, conflict and the spread of misinformation, my colleagues and I have found. People are increasingly interacting with others in social media environments where algorithms control the flow of social information they see. Algorithms determine in part which messages, which people and which ideas social media users see. On social media platforms, algorithms are mainly designed to amplify information that sustains engagement, meaning they keep people clicking on content and coming back to the platforms.

Social media algorithms warp how people learn from each other, research shows
Technology

The Power of AI is Redefining the Modern Political Campaign. How its taking deception to the next level.

There are real fears that AI will make politics more deceptive than it already is. Westend61/Getty Images Political campaign ads and donor solicitations have long been deceptive. In 2004, for example, U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry, a Democrat, aired an ad stating that Republican opponent George W. Bush “says sending jobs overseas ‘makes sense’ for America.” Bush never said such a thing. The next day Bush responded by releasing an ad saying Kerry “supported higher taxes over 350 times.” This too was a false claim. These days, the internet has gone wild with deceptive political ads. Ads often pose as

The Power of AI is Redefining the Modern Political Campaign. How its taking deception to the next level.
Science

As US East Coast ramps up offshore wind power projects, much remains unknown

As the U.S. races to build offshore wind power projects, transforming coastlines from Maine to South Carolina, much remains unknown about how the facilities could affect the environment. And that worries some people, particularly those who depend on the sea for their livelihoods. “We don’t have the science to know what the impact will be,” said Jim Hutchinson, managing editor of The Fisherman magazine in New Jersey. “The attitude has been, ‘Build it and we’ll figure it out.’” The wind power industry disputes such claims, citing years of studies. So far, four offshore wind

As US East Coast ramps up offshore wind power projects, much remains unknown
Science

Fukushima nuclear plant's operator says the first round of wastewater release is complete

The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant said Monday that it has safely completed the first release of treated radioactive water from the plant into the sea and will inspect and clean the facility before starting the second round in a few weeks. The Fukushima Daiichi plant began discharging the treated and diluted wastewater into the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 24. The water has accumulated since the plant was damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, and the start of its release is a milestone in the plant’s decommissioning. The discharge, which is

Fukushima nuclear plant's operator says the first round of wastewater release is complete
Science

What to know about the Morocco earthquake and the efforts to help

An earthquake has sown destruction and devastation in Morocco, where death and injury counts continue to rise as rescue crews dig out people both alive and dead in villages that were reduced to rubble. Law enforcement and aid workers — both Moroccan and international — have arrived in the region south of Marrakech that was hardest hit by the magnitude-6.8 tremor Friday night and several aftershocks. Residents await food, water and electricity, and giant boulders now block steep mountain roads. Here’s what you need to know: WHAT ARE THE AREAS MOST AFFECTED? The epicenter was high in the Atlas Mountains

What to know about the Morocco earthquake and the efforts to help
Science

G20 countries agree to increase clean energy but reach no deal on phasing out fossil fuels

G20 leaders agreed Saturday to triple renewable energy and try to increase the funds for climate change-related disasters but maintained the status quo with regards to phasing out carbon spewing coal. At a news conference shortly after the leaders of the Group of 20 of the world’s biggest economies — which also emit 80% of all planet-warming gases — announced the agreement, Amitabh Kant, a senior Indian government official leading some of the G20 negotiations, called it “probably the most vibrant, dynamic and ambitious document on climate action.” While most climate and energy experts were not

G20 countries agree to increase clean energy but reach no deal on phasing out fossil fuels
Science

Hurricane Lee is charting a new course in weather and could signal more monster storms

Hurricane Lee is rewriting old rules of meteorology, leaving experts astonished at how rapidly it grew into a goliath Category 5 hurricane. Lee could also be a dreadful harbinger of what is to come as ocean temperatures climb, spawning fast-growing major hurricanes that could threaten communities farther north and farther inland, experts say. “Hurricanes are getting stronger at higher latitudes,” said Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgia’s Atmospheric Sciences Program and a past president of the American Meteorological Society. “If that trend continues, that brings into play places like Washington, D.C., New York and Boston.”

Hurricane Lee is charting a new course in weather and could signal more monster storms
Science

UN report says the world is way off track to curb global warming, but offers ways to fix that

With the world far off track on its 2015 pledge to curb global warming, a new United Nations report central to upcoming climate negotiations details how quickly and deeply energy and financial systems must change to get back on a safer path. “The window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable for future for all is rapidly closing,” Friday’s report warned. The globe has to cut its emissions of heat-trapping gases by 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, and 60% by 2035, the report said. To get there, the report said, “the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels is

UN report says the world is way off track to curb global warming, but offers ways to fix that
Science

SpaceX can't launch its giant rocket again until fixes are made, FAA says

SpaceX must take a series of steps before it can launch its mega rocket again after its debut ended in an explosion, federal regulators said Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration said it closed its investigation into SpaceX’s failed debut of Starship, the world’s biggest rocket. The agency is requiring SpaceX to take 63 corrective actions and to apply for a modified FAA license before launching again. FAA official said multiple problems led to the April launch explosion, which sent pieces of concrete and metal hurtling for thousands of feet (meters) and created a plume of

SpaceX can't launch its giant rocket again until fixes are made, FAA says
Science

Residents and fishermen file a lawsuit demanding a halt to the release of Fukushima wastewater

Fishermen and residents of Fukushima and five other prefectures along Japan’s northeastern coast filed a lawsuit Friday demanding a halt to the ongoing release of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. In the lawsuit filed with Fukushima District Court, the 151 plaintiffs, two-thirds from Fukushima and the rest from Tokyo and four other prefectures, say the discharge damages the livelihoods of the fishing community and violates residents’ right to live peacefully, their lawyers said. The release of the treated and diluted wastewater into the ocean, which began Aug. 24 and is

Residents and fishermen file a lawsuit demanding a halt to the release of Fukushima wastewater
Science

Puerto Rico's public schools clamor for air conditioning to get relief from record-breaking heat

Public school teacher Ángel Muñiz grabbed a thermometer and thrust it into the camera as someone recorded him inside his classroom this week. “It is about 99 degrees (37 C),” he said in a video posted on social media as seven fans whirred noisily around him. It wasn’t even noon yet, and an advisory that day warned of a heat index of up to 111 F (43.8 C). Students and teachers are sweltering in public schools across Puerto Rico that lack air conditioning and are demanding government action as the U.S. Caribbean territory struggles

Puerto Rico's public schools clamor for air conditioning to get relief from record-breaking heat
Science

The UK is rejoining the European Union's science research program as post-Brexit relations thaw

Britain is rejoining the European Union’s $100 billion science-sharing program Horizon Europe, the two sides announced Thursday, more than two years after the country’s membership became a casualty of Brexit. British scientists expressed relief at the decision, the latest sign of thawing relations between the EU and its former member nation. After months of negotiations, the British government said the country was becoming a “fully associated member” of the research collaboration body U.K.-based scientists can bid for Horizon funding starting Thursday and will be able to lead Horizon-backed science projects starting in 2024. Britain is also rejoining

The UK is rejoining the European Union's science research program as post-Brexit relations thaw
Science

Tropical Storm Lee strengthens into a hurricane as it churns across Atlantic toward Caribbean

Tropical Storm Lee strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday as it churned through the open waters of the Atlantic on a path that would take it near the northeast Caribbean. The hurricane was located about 1,130 miles (1,815 kilometers) east of the northern Leeward Islands. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 14 mph (22 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center. Current projections show it not making landfall but passing just northeast of the British Virgin Islands, which is still recovering from hurricanes Maria and

Tropical Storm Lee strengthens into a hurricane as it churns across Atlantic toward Caribbean
Science

Across the Northern Hemisphere, now's the time to catch a new comet before it vanishes for 400 years

A newly discovered comet is swinging through our cosmic neighborhood for the first time in more than 400 years. Stargazers across the Northern Hemisphere should catch a glimpse as soon as possible — either this week or early next — because it will be another 400 years before the wandering ice ball returns. The comet, which is kilometer-sized (1/2-mile), will sweep safely past Earth on Sept. 12, passing within 78 million miles (125 million kilometers). Early risers should look toward the northeastern horizon about 1 1/2 hours before dawn — to be specific, less than

Across the Northern Hemisphere, now's the time to catch a new comet before it vanishes for 400 years
Science

The Great Salt Lake is shrinking rapidly and Utah has failed to stop it, a new lawsuit says

Utah state government officials have pushed the Great Salt Lake to the brink of an ecological collapse by decades of allowing upstream water to be diverted away from the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River and primarily to farmers growing alfalfa, hay and other crops, says a new lawsuit filed Wednesday by a coalition of environmental groups. The lake first hit a record low in the summer of 2021, fueling renewed attention from Utah’s Republican-led Legislature. But lawmakers’ actions have not been enough to assuage the concerns of a coalition that includes Earthjustice, the Utah Rivers Council and

The Great Salt Lake is shrinking rapidly and Utah has failed to stop it, a new lawsuit says
Science

4 exceptionally preserved Roman swords discovered in a Dead Sea cave in Israel

Four Roman-era swords, their wooden and leather hilts and scabbards and steel blades exquisitely preserved after 1,900 years in a desert cave, surfaced in a recent excavation by Israeli archaeologists near the Dead Sea, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday. The cache of exceptionally intact artifacts was found about two months ago and tells a story of empire and rebellion, of long-distance conquest and local insurrection. Researchers, who published the preliminary findings in a newly released book, propose that the arms — four swords and the head of a javelin, known as a pilum — were stashed

4 exceptionally preserved Roman swords discovered in a Dead Sea cave in Israel

Follow