Networks Ponder: Is it 1972 All Over Again?

Making biscuits‚ purring‚ the little headbutts‚ that chirping noise they sometimes make these are just some of the many perks of having a cat in your life. Spraying their pungent-smelling pee? Not so much. But why does it smell so much worse than normal litterbox pee? You ask the questions a new study from scientists in Japan has the answers.The origin of the powerful aroma of cat spray has occupied researchers for some time. Twenty years ago‚ project leader Professor Masao Miyazaki discovered that cat urine contains a large quantity of a protein called cauxin (a name that comes from the Japanese word for curiosity)‚ which contributes to its distinctive smell.But ask just about any cat owner‚ and theyll tell you that smell is very different depending on whether the urine is contained within the litterbox or sprayed against a wall in the garden. One suggestion thats been put forward is that sprayed urine may contain extra chemicals‚ possibly secreted from the anal sac.Miyazaki and colleagues investigated this by collecting different urine samples‚ but found no evidence to support the hypothesis. Samples of spray and normal urine from the same cat had a high degree of similarity‚ suggesting they both originated solely from the bladder.That still doesnt explain why the human nose perceives these two types of pee as distinct from each other. However‚ an observation made while they were analyzing the samples pushed the teams investigation in a new direction. They noticed that the cat urine was sticking to the inside of the plastic syringes they were using‚ a property chemists refer to as wettability.Generally‚ the wettability of a liquid on solid surface increases as the surface tension decreases‚ explained first author Reiko Uenoyama in a statement. Based on this knowledge‚ we hypothesized that the high protein concentration in cat urine might reduce the surface tension of cat urine‚ enhancing the emission of urinary volatile compounds from the large vertical surface area that [the urine was spread over].The key appears to be the protein Miyazaki identified all those years ago: cauxin. Experiments showed that a solution of cauxin had higher wettability than a similar solution containing the mammalian blood protein albumin. Cat urine with high cauxin levels had significantly lower surface tension than urine with the proteins removed‚ and more readily adhered to a vertical glass surface.The team then set up two artificial gardens. In one‚ a brick was sprayed with tomcat pee. In the other‚ the same pee was poured onto the soil and covered up. That oh-so-familiar kitty smell was only detectable from the sprayed sample.The difference in environmental odors between the two gardens‚ despite using the same urine sample‚ can be explained by most of the urinary volatile chemicals being trapped in the porous structure of the sandy soil. This phenomenon did not occur in the urine adhering to the surface of the block‚ Miyazaki explained.Additionally‚ liquid droplets of sprayed urine can easily dry on the surface of the block‚ resulting in greater emissions of volatile chemicals from the scent mark rapidly as compared to from normal urine.So‚ there you have it. Spray is just the same pee that cats usually bury under soil or litter. Its the act of spraying itself‚ facilitated by the high levels of cauxin‚ that gives unsuspecting humans such a malodorous experience.Theyre weird and sometimes stinky little guys but we still cant get enough of em.The study is published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology.

Ancient hunter-gatherers in South America may have kept foxes as pets before domestic dogs arrived on the continent. Evidence for this unexpected alliance comes from a 1‚500-year-old burial site in Patagonia‚ Argentina‚ where a human skeleton appears to have been buried alongside a fox‚ suggesting that the pair may have shared a special bond during their lifetimes.Originally discovered in 1991‚ the archaeological site of Caada Seca contains the remains of at least 24 members of a hunter-gatherer community. Within one of the burial pits‚ researchers identified the bones of an unknown canid‚ although the relationship between the animal and its human grave-mate remained uncertain until now.To clear up the mystery‚ the authors of a new study conducted in-depth genetic‚ morphological‚ and isotopic analyses of the ancient bones. This enabled them to reveal that the fox belonged to a now-extinct species known as Dusicyon avus - which roamed South America until around 500 years ago - and not a gray fox‚ as had previously been speculated.More significantly‚ however‚ the results of the study have illuminated the social context of this peculiar multi-species burial. Previously‚ it had been difficult to interpret the meaning of this discovery since the human and fox bones were commingled‚ thus giving few clues as to whether or not the arrangement was deliberate or coincidental.However‚ after studying the carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the fox bones‚ the study authors were able to confirm that the animal survived on a human-like diet‚ consisting of considerably more vegetation and less meat than a wild fox would typically consume. According to the researchers‚ this finding is suggestive of systematic feeding‚ indicating that the fox was probably a companion or a pet for the hunter-gatherers during the late Holocene.Its strong bond with human individuals during its life would have been the primary factor for its placement as a grave good after the death of its owners or the people with whom it interacted‚ write the study authors. Such a conclusion is further strengthened by previous radiocarbon dating of the animals bones‚ which revealed that it was buried at around the same time as the associated human.Delving deeper into the foxs genome‚ the study authors sought to determine the cause of this long-lost canids extinction. According to one hypothesis‚ the species may have disappeared as it bred with domestic dogs‚ creating a hybrid lineage that eventually became genetically assimilated into the dog bloodline.However‚ the genetic divergence between D. avus and modern dogs turned out to be significant enough that the two would probably not have been able to produce viable hybrid offspring‚ thus ruling this out as the main driver of the foxs extinction. Instead‚ the study authors suggest that the animals disappearance was probably due to a combination of climate change and human meddling.The study has been published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

In a landmark case‚ the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that authorities in Switzerland have violated the human rights of a group of Swiss women by not doing enough to stop climate change.April 9 saw rulings on three climate change cases in the court‚ expedited through the process after being considered as urgent. Two of the cases one brought by a former French mayor against France and the other by a group of Portuguese youths against Portugal and 32 other European governments were thrown out.But KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz (Senior Women for Climate Protection)‚ a group of older Swiss women‚ many of whom are over the age of 70‚ saw success. Theyd been arguing that Swiss authorities werent taking enough action to tackle climate change‚ and in doing so‚ were violating their human rights by leaving them vulnerable to the effects of climate change-induced heatwaves.Members of KlimaSeniorinnen protesting outside the European Court of Human Rights in March 2023.Image credit: Hadrian/Shutterstock.comThe ECHR agreed‚ ruling that the Swiss Confederation had failed to comply with its duties under the Convention concerning climate change and had violated the right to respect for private and family life under the European Convention of Human Rights.Though the ruling doesnt seem to have gone down particularly well with Switzerlands largest political party‚ its safe to say members of KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz seem pretty happy. As reported by Reuters‚ one of the groups leaders‚ Rosmarie Wydler-Waelti‚ said: ";We still can';t really believe it. We keep asking our lawyers‚ ';is that right?'; And they tell us it';s the most you could have had. The biggest victory possible.";President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd responded to the ruling: ";I would like to know what the grounds for it are. Sustainability is very important to Switzerland‚ biodiversity is very important to Switzerland‚ the net zero target is very important to Switzerland. We are working on those and will continue to work on them with all our strength. This ruling does nothing to change that.";In somewhat coincidental timing‚ a statement released a day after the ruling announced that Switzerland will be renewing its contribution to the Green Climate Fund‚ a fund thats part of a United Nations initiative to mitigate climate change in developing countries.Whilst its a momentous case for the ECHR‚ this isnt the first time people have attempted to bring authorities to justice for climate inaction and won.Last summer‚ a group of young activists arguing that the state of Montana had violated their right to a clean and healthy environment won the first ever case finding a US state guilty of breaking its constitution over climate impacts.The results of more climate change cases involving constitutional and human rights violations are likely to be seen in the future. According to Climate Case Chart‚ a website that keeps a database of climate change litigation‚ there have been 146 suits against governments outside of the US concerning climate change and human rights‚ many of which are still pending a decision.Only time will tell if the ECHRs ruling will have a trickle-down effect or make big waves in such cases.

Well‚ the world didnt end (yay)‚ so lets talk about Mondays total solar eclipse and those strange pink spots around its periphery. If you were lucky enough to snap a pic of the eclipse yourself‚ or have seen some of the incredible photos taken by others‚ you may have noticed bright pink‚ red‚ and orange coming off of the Sun like streamers. These are called solar prominences but what are they?What is a solar prominence?According to NASA‚ a solar prominence is a large‚ bright feature extending outward from the Suns surface. Formed of plasma‚ prominences are anchored in the Suns photosphere and extend into its outer atmosphere‚ or corona.Prominences can vary in size and shape. Usually‚ they are longer than the diameter of the Earth some have even extended for millions of kilometers and most often one end is tethered to the Sun‚ creating a streamer effect. But sometimes‚ they occur as an arch‚ with both ends anchored to sunspot regions.A solar prominence in 2010.Image credit: NASA Solar Dynamics ObservatoryThe glowing appendages form as plasma flows along a tangled and twisted structure of magnetic fields generated by the suns internal dynamo‚ explains NASA. When it becomes unstable‚ it erupts outward and creates the spots we see in the pictures.Also known as filaments‚ prominences form over the course of about a day and can last for several months.Their rosy color comes from electrically charged hydrogen and helium in the plasma. Prominences emit light in the red part of the spectrum as hydrogen fluoresces during the hydrogen alpha transition. However‚ when combined with white light from ordinary thermal emissions‚ it can produce a pink effect‚ as seen here:Pink solar prominences could be seen around Monday';s eclipse.Image credit: NASA HQ PHOTO via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Why was this visible during the eclipse?Mondays eclipse happened very close to solar maximum when the Sun is at its most active and the chances of flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are highest.Solar maximum is a product of the 22-year cycle of the Suns magnetic field‚ during which two peaks occur around 11 years apart. When the cycle reaches its peak‚ as it is now‚ the magnetic field becomes tangled‚ which means weve been treated to all sorts of phenomena of late‚ including sunspots‚ flares‚ and the CMEs that cause auroras.Even when solar activity is at a minimum‚ prominences can be seen around the edge of the Sun but during solar maximum‚ theyre even more abundant‚ which is why theyve popped up in so many eclipse photos.Solar prominences werent the only phenomena we witnessed on Monday. We also saw the rare light effect known as Bailys beads‚ which occurs when light from the Sun can be glimpsed at the Moons jagged edges‚ looking a little like beads.Baily';s beads seen just before totality on April 8.Image credit: NASA HQ PHOTO via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Unfortunately‚ those in the US will have to wait until 2044 for the next total solar eclipse‚ but as the Sun heads toward its peak of activity‚ expect to see plenty more spectacles from our star in the coming months.All explainer articles are confirmed byfact checkersto be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.

A fish tanker truck transporting around 102‚000 young Chinook salmon smolts overturned on the way to the Imnaha River on March 29. While you might think that that would be the end of all of the salmon on board‚ the fish did something rather extraordinary and began leaping into the nearby creek.The truck‚ which was 16 meters (53 feet) long‚ overturned after going around a sharp turn and skidding‚ causing it to hit a rocky embankment and roll onto its roof. The driver received minor injuries according to a statement by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). However‚ the salmon were the real survivors of the accident‚ with 77‚000 leaping and flapping their way into the nearby Lookingglass Creek.The spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were being transported to the Imnaha River for sport harvest and to supplement the wild population. They are the largest of all the Pacific salmon types and were raised by the Lookingglass Hatchery.Salmon have an extraordinary life‚ with young salmon hatching in freshwater streams before eventually swimming out to the saltwater ocean. After a few years at sea‚ the salmon will return to the streams in which they hatched to spawn and then die. The salmon on the tanker were about 18 months old and were due to be introduced to the streams before beginning their 1‚046-kilometer (650-mile) journey to the Pacific‚ the New York Times reports.After three years at sea‚ these salmon will return to the same rivers to breed. They kind of smell their way back‚ Andrew Gibbs‚ the ODFW';s fish hatchery coordinator for eastern Oregon‚ told the New York Times. Its an incredible life history.The ODFW think that around 20 percent of the total smolts on the truck were lost in the accident‚ while approximately 77‚000 leapt into the nearby Lookingglass Creek‚ a tributary of the Grande Ronde River‚ when the tanker fell.Some of the fish were fitted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags‚ an internal microchip that was able to be read by the team‚ helping them to collect and count the smolts that did not survive.But the silver lining for me is 77‚000 did make it into the creek and did not perish‚ said Gibbs. They hit the water running.While the loss of these fish is tragic‚ in 2021 a container of hagfish came loose and unleashed its contents onto the highway‚ not only releasing the hagfish themselves but their very slimy defence mechanism.

Elsewhere on the Internet‚ you may have read of a ";mystery"; object photographed orbiting the Moon‚ which has been identified by NASA.The photos‚ which are real‚ show a thin dark streak above the lunar surface‚ moving at an apparent great speed. The image was captured by NASA';s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) but despite media reports of mysterious ";surfboards"; flying above the Moon‚ there is no great mystery as to what the object is‚ and there never has been.The LRO';s camera (LROC) was poised and ready to capture the image‚ which they needed to be as the object beneath it was traveling at relative velocities of over 3.2 kilometers per second (2 miles per second).";Due to the fast relative velocities between the two spacecraft (about 7‚200 miles‚ or 11‚500 kilometers‚ per hour)‚ the LRO operations team at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt‚ Maryland‚ needed exquisite timing in pointing LROC to the right place at the right time to catch a glimpse of Danuri‚ the Republic of Koreas first spacecraft at the Moon‚"; NASA explained in a statement.During three orbits that happened to be close enough to Danuri‚ the LRO captured images from up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) above it.Danuri captured from 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) above.Image credit: NASA/Goddard/Arizona State UniversityCapturing the image required split-second timing and fast shutter speeds‚ but despite this blurring was still inevitable. ";Although LROs camera exposure time was very short‚ only 0.338 milliseconds‚ Danuri still appears smeared to 10 times its size in the opposite direction of travel because of the relative high travel velocities between the two spacecraft‚"; NASA explained.The South Korean spacecraft is also capable of taking photographs. Using the NASA-funded instrument ShadowCam‚ the orbiter captured an image of LRO in April 2023.The orbiter‚ passing overhead.Image credit: NASA/KARI/Arizona State UniversityNow‚ thanks to excellent timing from NASA‚ we have both views.

An African leopard hunting yellow baboons at night is the dramatic scene that kicks off Mammals‚ the latest series from Sir David Attenborough and the BBC. The world-first footage demonstrates how these animals incredible sight adaptations have enabled them to proficiently stalk and kill prey under the cover of darkness‚ even when they';re 20 meters (66 feet) up a tree.Yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) are active during the day and when night falls‚ they clamber into the trees to rest in a sleeping grove thats usually located at the center of their territory. The advantage of being off the ground is that theyre safer from terrestrial predators‚ but as the world-first clip demonstrates‚ few places are safe when youre dealing with African leopards.Leopards vision is specialized for hunting at night‚ as they have a reflective layer behind the retina called a tapetum that can amplify the smallest amount of light. The first episode‚ Dark‚ is all about showcasing the remarkable ways wildlife have evolved to be active at night time‚ and the African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the real poster animal when it comes to getting things done in the dark.I have to say it is the most astonishing thing to witness‚ said Stuart Armstrong‚ producer for the episode. In complete darkness‚ all you can see is the screen of your camera and spotting scopes which we use to highlight to the cameraman what';s going on.Diurnal prey are generally easier to sneak up on at night. That is‚ until they go and roost in a bloody tree.Image credit: screen grab‚ BBC StudiosThe leopards only hunt on the darkest night. If the moon is half full‚ they wait for it to set‚ so they have the advantage. They can see in what to me is pitch black. But they';re not just seeing in pitch black; they are also running around in the canopy and jumping from branch to branch. They can judge distance in order to get their dinner.That took my breath away.Sir David AttenboroughThe team successfully captured the moment a yellow baboon became that dinner‚ in a moment Armstrong said was Pretty gruesome. Even though it';s black and white‚ you can see the blood dripping down the branch.The sequence even shocked the master of natural history filmmaking himself.When it comes to natural history‚ it takes a lot to knock the socks off Sir David Attenborough.Image credit: BBC Studios / Alex BoardThat took my breath away‚ said Sir David Attenborough at a preview of Mammals. How you saw that at night it was just breathtaking‚ and exciting for me.Much of the episode focuses on how some species have adapted to be active at night in response to a predator thats extremely active during the day us. Our impact is further studied in the episode The New Wild‚ which includes world-first coverage of a group of wolves that have been able to claim a patch of land humans dont want by somehow working out where all the landmines are buried.Youll also see the ";splooting"; spectacle of heat-dumping Harris antelope squirrels‚ chimps digging for honey (and refusing to share)‚ and orcas kidnapping a humpback whale calf using slipstream. Turns out we mammals really are amazing‚ and you can catch all of this and more on BBC One and iPlayer.

In the dimly lit corners of a bustling restaurant‚ amidst the clinking of glasses and the murmur of conversation‚ a mans laughter rises above the din. Its not the laughter of joy or amusement‚ but rather an uncontrollable‚ jarring cackle that draws uneasy glances from nearby diners. This is the daily reality for individuals like Scott Lotan from Virginia Beach‚ who live with Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) a neurological condition characterized by involuntary and inappropriate outbursts of laughter or crying.The condition‚ which affects countless individuals worldwide‚ has recently been thrust into the limelight by the portrayal of Arthur Fleck‚ the titular character in the popular movie Joker and its anticipated sequel. Played by Joaquin Phoenix‚ Flecks struggles with PBA become a central theme in the narrative‚ resonating with those who experience similar symptoms in real life.For Scott Lotan‚ PBA is more than just a plot device; its a formidable challenge that complicates the simplest of daily activities. His experiences‚ such as being refused service at restaurants or inadvertently provoking confrontations‚ highlight the social stigma and misunderstandings surrounding the condition. The publics perception of PBA is often mired in confusion‚ with many mistaking the laughter for mockery or insensitivity.I have had issues with not being served at restaurants and been asked to leave because waitstaff were uncomfortable‚ he previously told LadBible. Many times if I am out for a drink with friends‚ there is someone with low self-esteem that believes I am laughing at them and they will try and start a fight.The condition gained further attention when Lotan recounted the harrowing experience of uncontrollable laughter at the scene of a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of his mother and fiance. I remember being at the scene laughing and being questioned by police‚ he said.The incident‚ which occurred in 2003‚ underscores the profound impact PBA can have on personal tragedies‚ often leaving those affected feeling isolated in their grief.At the wakes for both my mother and my fiancee I would have to separate myself from everyone as I would burst into laughter at times.PBA is typically associated with other neurological conditions‚ such as brain injuries‚ multiple sclerosis‚ and stroke. It arises from disruptions in the neural pathways that regulate emotional expression‚ leading to episodes that are incongruent with the individuals actual feelings. While treatment options‚ including medication and therapy‚ can help manage symptoms‚ there is currently no cure for PBA.The portrayal of PBA in Joker has opened a dialogue about the condition‚ offering a rare opportunity for awareness and understanding. As the sequel to Joker approaches‚ it is hoped that the conversation around PBA and similar conditions will continue‚ fostering empathy and support for those like Scott Lotan‚ who navigate life with laughter in the shadows.The post Real-life Joker: Scott Lotan‚ a man who suffers from uncontrollable laughter appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Another day‚ another dead New York City police officer‚ another grieving widow.The familiarity of these incidents should breed more than contempt. Instead‚ we get meaningless condemnations from politicians who are responsible for putting district attorneys in office that do not protect the public. Too many of them release career criminals‚ some of whom commit new crimes‚ including the murder of cops.The latest‚ but likely not the last if things dont change‚ is the widow of slain New York City cop Jonathan Diller. Officer Diller was gunned down by a criminal with a lengthy rap sheet. Dillers widow‚ Stephanie Diller‚ 28‚asked a questionthat has been asked by other widows of murdered officers: How many more police officers and how many more families (she and her husband have a one-year-old son) have to make the ultimate sacrifice before we start protecting them? Good question. And the answer is? (see below).In 2022‚ thewidowof another slain NYPD officer‚Dominique Luzuriaga(her husband was Jason Rivera) spoke during his memorial service: The system continues to fail us. We are not safe anymore. Not even the members of the service.Who is responsible for the system? Its not only the people mishandling it‚ though they deserve plenty of blame. System members include New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Bragg seems more concerned with getting Donald Trump rather than keeping dangerous criminals off the streets so New Yorkers feel safe and protected. Other big cities with woke prosecutors are experiencing similar tragedies and disrespect for law enforcement in the wake of the defund the police movement.In Los Angeles‚George Gasconis another failed DA who regularly gives get-out-of-jail-free cards to violentcriminalsand other dregs of society. There are others. Some of their campaigns were financed by billionaire lefty George Soros‚ who seems to have bought the view that criminals are unfortunates who havent had good breaks in life. Most people who might be said to have had bad breaks have not turned to crime‚ so that is a weak argument.The ultimate responsibility (and therefore they have blood on their hands)‚ are the people who vote for governors and district attorneys who believe that criminals are victims of (name your excuse) and deserve second‚ third‚ even fourth chances. Too many use those multiple chances in ways any rational person could predict.What are voters thinking‚ especially when they have the power to change things by voting for law-and-order candidates? If Republican Lee Zeldin had won the last New York governors race it is likely he would have ousted Bragg and others who coddle criminals. Too many people vote for a party label and not the policies of the candidate best positioned to fight crime. If voters dont like what is happening‚ they should try something else. Otherwise‚ the blame is on them.We now have whatC.S. Lewiscalled a humanitarian theory of punishment in which the criminal is treated better than the victim and the victims widow and children. The fundraising campaigns‚ while helpful‚ can never make up for the loss of a husband and father no matter how much is raised.These women should not be widows. Their husbands should be home with them and their children. They might not be widows if the criminals were in jail and people felt the streets (and subways) were safe as they once were under previous governors‚ mayors‚ and prosecutors.Every Republican should make replacing soft-on-crime prosecutors‚ mayors‚ and governors a top issue in the November election. If not‚ expect more widows and fatherless children.