North Atlantic right whales – a critically endangered species – are shrinking. According to new research‚ this reduction in body size‚ induced in part by stressors such as climate change‚ is impacting their ability to reproduce. It’s not good news for a species already at risk of extinction.Measuring up to 16 meters (52 feet) in length and weighing as much as 63‚500 kilograms (140‚000 pounds)‚ these are some large beasts – even their testicles weigh an actual ton. However‚ research published in 2021 revealed that they’re getting smaller. "On average‚ a whale born today is expected to reach a total length about a meter [3.3 feet] shorter than a whale born in 1980‚" Joshua Stewart of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a statement at the time. That’s an average reduction of around 7 percent.In the new study‚ researchers set out to investigate whether this drop in size was associated with lower reproductive output. In other words: were these smaller whales having fewer babies?Unfortunately for the species‚ the answer appears to be yes. After reviewing data from the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium collected between 1970 and 2020‚ the researchers conclude that the results "provide strong evidence that the body size of a female right whale is closely associated with the probability of giving birth to a calf.”For example‚ they found that a 14-meter (46-foot) female had a 56 percent chance of giving birth‚ whereas an 11-meter (36-foot) whale had just a 14 percent likelihood.The reduction in size was also found to have exacerbated the declining health of right whales‚ which is evident in both this and previous research.“The effects of decreasing mean body size on reproductive performance are another concerning indication of the worsening prospects for this species and many others affected by environmental change‚” the team write in their study.North Atlantic right whales are one of the most endangered of all large whale species. Hunted to the brink of extinction in the late 19th century‚ their population has never recovered. According to NOAA Fisheries‚ only around 360 individuals remain today‚ including fewer than 70 reproductively active females.As well as climate change‚ the species faces threats from entanglement in fishing gear‚ habitat degradation‚ ocean noise‚ and vessel strikes.The team behind the latest study urge that direct threats to their survival be removed as a much-needed first step toward protecting the whales‚ and that long-term management policies prioritizing female health and growth be instigated to allow the population to recover.The study is published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

If you're wondering what it's like to come back to Earth from space‚ but don’t want to put yourself through the training that astronauts do‚ we've got the next best thing. Varda Space Industries’  W-1 spacecraft successfully landed back on Earth after many months in space. And it has filmed its descent back to Earth in glorious detail.The capsule separated from the satellite bus which was its home in orbit since it was launched on it back in June 2023. Over the 27 minutes of raw footage‚ the capsule separates and moves towards its reentry trajectory before experiencing the flames of atmospheric friction as the 90-centimeter (3-foot) capsule flies through the atmosphere. And you follow the journey along all the way back to touch down.    IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.It landed back on Earth last week‚ on February 21. The selected landing spot was the Utah Test and Training Range‚ the same location chosen for OSIRIS-REx last year. The cargo couldn’t be different‚ though – not material from a pristine asteroid‚ but rather manufactured drugs. W-1 was a test capsule for the production of drugs in microgravity. Inside the capsule‚ the company produced crystals of the antiretroviral drug Ritonavir‚ an antiviral drug that can be used in the treatment of HIV‚ hepatitis C‚ and even COVID-19. It was originally developed to work on its own but is now prescribed alongside other antiretroviral drugs to treat these conditions.    Its time in space was spent on the Rocket Lab Photon spacecraft – it provided power‚ communications‚ ground control‚ and attitude control to Varda’s capsule in orbit for over eight months. “This mission was a phenomenal feat and impressive display of teamwork between the Rocket Lab and Varda teams to develop a unique and highly capable spacecraft‚ successfully demonstrate in-space manufacturing‚ and bring back the capsule and finished pharmaceutical product – all on the first attempt‚” Peter Beck‚ Rocket Lab founder and CEO‚ said in a press release.The capsule has been transported back to California. Flight data from the reentry will be shared with NASA and the U.S. Air Force and the pharmaceutical sample of ritonavir has been shipped to Improved Pharma for analysis.

A romantic walk along the coast or an intense sandcastle-building contest might be how most people spend time near the waves. You might even be lucky enough to spot a dolphin from the water's edge – but what should you do if you come across a stranded one? Advice from the Institute For Marine Mammal Studies suggests it might be the opposite of your first instinct. What should you do?The advice from all of the major authorities suggests calling a helpline in the case of finding a stranded dolphin‚ regardless of whether the animal is alive or dead. The numbers may vary depending on where you live and the species that you are likely to encounter. For those in the USA‚ the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lists a map showing different organizations to ring based on your area‚ there is also an app available for Apple cellphones. In the UK‚ the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit (CRRU) recommends calling the nearest police station as they should know the number of the marine mammal rescue unit. It helps to estimate how long the animal is and look for any identifying marks or patterns that can help the rescue unit. Most authorities recommend keeping dogs and other pets away from the animal and keeping other members of the public away to avoid further stress. They also recommend keeping a distance of around 45 meters (150 feet) away from the animal while you wait for help to arrive. What not to doIf the animal is alive‚ the Institute For Marine Mammal Studies and CRRU both suggest not attempting to move the dolphin back into the water. However‚ they recommend keeping the dolphin wet with sea water if possible and being very careful not to get any water down the blowhole of the animal.While it might seem unusual‚ returning an animal that is sick or injured to the water could be doing more harm than good. British Divers Marine Life Rescue suggest looking for signs of injury and even trying to count how many breaths per minute the animal is doing as this could help the rescuers to aid the animal when they arrive. The advice also strongly recommends prioritizing your own safety and not attempting to handle the animal by the tail or fins. Even stranded dolphins are strong‚ powerful animals and could cause injury even when in distress. The International Fund For Animal Welfare state that the coast around Cape Cod sees more whale and dolphin strandings than anywhere else on Earth. This is partially because of strong tidal change‚ though they stress that animals can strand for a myriad of different reasons. Take home pointsCall for helpKeep pets and people away from the animalDo not move the animalKeep the dolphin wet but do not pour water down the blowholeKeep yourself safe

Being part of a small hunter-gatherer tribe can really limit your options when it comes to finding a mate‚ especially if most of the people in your clan are your own brothers and sisters. According to the results of a new genetic study‚ Europe’s last Stone Age foragers got around this problem by making sure to mingle with non-related hunter-gatherers‚ thus preventing inbreeding while also keeping clear of the growing Neolithic farmer population.Researchers sequenced the genomes of 10 skeletons found at the iconic Stone Age sites of Hoedic‚ Téviec‚ and Champigny‚ in France. According to the study authors‚ these ancient settlements are known for their “unusually well-preserved and rich burials.” Radiocarbon dating of the collagen in the bones confirmed that all of the skeletons were roughly 6‚700 years old‚ and therefore hailed from the period when the Mesolithic gave way to the Neolithic‚ as hunter-gatherer groups were replaced by farming communities. “These circumstances could have cornered these groups into severe genetic drift due to extremely small population size‚ leaving no alternative to consanguinity and its deleterious consequences‚” write the researchers.This grim prospect is strengthened by the fact that all three sites contain shared graves‚ with multiple individuals buried alongside one another. Such a practice was unusual for this period of the Stone Age and has previously been interpreted as evidence that these people were blood relatives.Contradicting this narrative‚ however‚ study author Dr Amélie Vialet explained in a statement‚ "Our results show that in many cases – even in the case of women and children in the same grave – the individuals were not related. This suggests that there were strong social bonds that had nothing to do with biological kinship and that these relationships remained important even after death.”Isotopic data was then used to confirm that the inhabitants of each site existed as distinct groups. For instance‚ higher levels of marine proteins in the bones from Hoedic indicates that the subsistence and dietary practices of these individuals differed from those of Téviec and Champigny.Based on this isotopic data‚ the study authors determined that some of the women at Hoedic were raised on terrestrial proteins before switching to a more heavily marine diet later in life. This suggests that women were exchanged between different hunter-gatherer groups‚ probably as a means of preventing inbreeding."Our genomic analyses show that although these groups were made up of few individuals‚ they were generally not closely related‚” said study author Luciana G. Simões. “Furthermore‚ there were no signs of inbreeding.” “However‚ we know that there were distinct social units – with different dietary habits – and a pattern of groups emerges that was probably part of a strategy to avoid inbreeding‚" Simões added.Previously‚ it had been suggested that some of the women buried at these sites were actually raised in farming settlements – where they would have consumed more terrestrial animals – before later being assimilated into hunter-gatherer groups. However‚ based on their genetic analysis‚ the researchers confirm that “these females [...] did not come from Neolithic populations‚ as they are within the [hunter-gatherer] genetic variation and show no traces of Neolithic farmer-related ancestry.” “Hence‚ contrary to previous conclusions based on stable isotope data from the same sites‚ the Late Mesolithic forager community was limited in mate-exchange to neighboring hunter-gatherer groups‚ to the exclusion of Neolithic farmers‚” they write.In accordance with these results‚ the researchers are able to present a more accurate picture of the interactions between the last hunter-gatherers and first farmers to occupy western Europe. More specifically‚ they show that any gene flow that may have occurred between the two groups was “unidirectional and resulted from individuals with [hunter-gatherer] ancestry joining farmer groups and not the other way around”.The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

We’ve got a message for the dogs out there: you may no longer be the cutest animal to play fetch. Cats could be coming for your crown‚ as animal behavior psychologists have revealed that our feline friends also love a game of fetch – and they’re the ones dictating the rules. Researchers from the University of Sussex and Northumbria University surveyed 924 cat owners who had reported fetching behaviors in 1‚154 cats‚ asking questions such as when and how fetching first started‚ how often the cats did it per month‚ the cats’ preferred fetching toys‚ and whether the cat or their human started or ended the game.The results revealed that fetching in cats appears to be an instinctive behavior – it started in 60.7 percent of cats before they turned a year old‚ and nearly 95 percent of cats that played fetch began without any training. For cat owners looking for a simple way to entertain their pets‚ this makes fetch seem ideal.But don’t be mistaken‚ the cats are the ones in charge of the game – and of you.“Our findings show that cats dictate this behavior to directly influence how their human owners respond‚” said lead author Jenna Forman in a statement. For example‚ some cats would only play under certain circumstances. One owner reported bringing their cat a larger pom pom to play with‚ only for it to be rejected; only a specific size of pom pom was acceptable. Others would only play in certain rooms‚ or with certain people. That might seem a bit fussy‚ but if you’ve ever owned a cat‚ it’s probably thoroughly unsurprising.    The researchers also made an interesting finding when it came to who started the game of fetch‚ Forman explained. “Cats who initiated their fetching sessions played more enthusiastically with more retrievals and more fetching sessions per month. This perceived sense of control from the cat’s perspective may be beneficial for the cat’s welfare and the cat-owner relationship.”Cats also enjoyed playing with a whole range of different objects‚ even though some of them were a bit picky about the specifics. The most popular objects were toys. But if you’re worried about a fussy feline overlord running down your bank account to play fetch‚ don’t worry – things you might already have lying around the house‚ like crumpled balls of paper‚ hair ties‚ and socks‚ were also deemed acceptable.The overall message from the researchers? It’s best for both you and the cat to let the cat take the reins when it comes to a game of fetch.“I’d encourage owners to be receptive to the needs of their cat by responding to their preferences for play – not all cats will want to play fetch‚ but if they do‚ it’s likely that they will have their own particular way of doing so!”The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Today is Leap Day. Every four years‚ an extra day is added to the Gregorian calendar (other‚ better calendars are available)‚ making February 29 days long.This hasn't always been the case‚ of course‚ as calendars have changed a lot over the years and across cultures. Before Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar in 45 BC‚ and with it leap days every four years‚ the Roman calendar had just 354 days. In order to keep the calendar lined up with the passage of the Earth around the Sun‚ this calendar had to introduce a whole new month every four years."[Legendary king of Rome Numa Pompilius] Numa‚ [calculated] the difference between the lunar and the solar year at eleven days‚ for that the moon completed her anniversary course in three hundred and fifty-four days‚ and the sun in three hundred and sixty-five‚" Plutarch wrote in the Life of Numa around the beginning of the second century CE. “To remedy this incongruity [Numa] doubled the eleven days‚ and every other year added an intercalary month‚ to follow February‚ consisting of twenty-two days‚ and called by the Romans the month Mercedinus. This amendment‚ however‚ itself‚ in course of time‚ came to need other amendments.”The Julian calendar was a vast improvement on having to add an extra month every four years‚ given that it changed to merely adding a day. However‚ it wasn't perfect.In order to try and link the calendar up to the solar year (the time it takes for Earth to revolve around the Sun)‚ the Julian calendar had a leap year every four years‚ in which an extra day was added. The problem was that since the actual solar year is 365.24219 days‚ the Julian calendar quickly (and by quickly‚ we mean incredibly slowly) gains a day every 314 years. While this may not sound like much‚ by the time the Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582‚ the year had drifted by 13 days. Adopters of the calendar tried to make up for this‚ but due to a miscalculation‚ only skipped 10 days instead of 13. To stop further drift‚ the Gregorian calendar continued with leap years every four years‚ but now skips them when the year is divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400.Leap days and months are there to make up for our calendars not quite matching up with the solar year. As you have probably guessed‚ the main consequence of not having a leap year is that the days begin to drift. This animation from astronomer Dr James O'Donoghue neatly shows how that drift occurs.        IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.This wouldn't have many real-world consequences‚ although it might be a pain for anyone whose work depends on the seasons (such as farmers) rather than arbitrarily setting dates for projects. It could also‚ as it did before the Gregorian calendar was introduced‚ really mess around with religious festivals. The Gregorian calendar was introduced after Easter began to drift away from the vernal equinox. Enough time without leap years‚ and you might find that Northern Hemisphere Christmas is in the middle of summer.

What if I told you there was a wireless‚ carbon-neutral technology that could prevent pregnancy without the use of synthetic xenoestrogens that turn women into lesbians? What if I told you that this same technology could help you achieve pregnancy virtually on demand. Check those dystopian body horrors – freezing your eggs‚ your embryos‚ and your soul – at the door! Was this frizzy-haired boomer feminist in Seattle actually going to have anything of value to say to me‚ a proto-Catholic tradwife? She probably had faded Coexist and I’m Still with Her bumper stickers on her 2010 Prius. She looked like the proud mother to many cats. Did I really want her advice on getting pregnant? That’s right‚ folks! Step right up and try the magical‚ mysterious fertility machine! Here’s the good news: if you’re a person with a uterus‚ you already own one. Best of all‚ it’s free! I found out about my own fertility machine after I experienced a crushing miscarriage in my first pregnancy. As soon as I stopped crying‚ I decided the only cure was to become pregnant again immediately. But I didn’t want to become Matthew Broderick’s wife in "Election." You know the scene I’m talking about. Luckily‚ before my poor husband was forced into house arrest‚ an ankle monitor strapped to his leg so he couldn’t get too far‚ a friend intervened. She was one of those weirdos who is “in touch with her cycle.” I was not. But she told me about a remarkable book called "Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control‚ Pregnancy Achievement‚ and Reproductive Health‚" by Toni Weschler. Apparently it’s a classic‚ but from Ms. Weschler’s author photo‚ I was skeptical. Was this frizzy-haired boomer feminist in Seattle actually going to have anything of value to say to me‚ a proto-Catholic tradwife? She probably had faded Coexist and I’m Still with Her bumper stickers on her 2010 Prius. She looked like the proud mother to many cats. Did I really want her advice on getting pregnant? Yes. Yes‚ I did. Using the book’s simple‚ intuitive charts and natural tracking tools‚ I could actually pinpoint the precise days of the month that I would be able to conceive and act accordingly. Instead of throwing darts blindly at the wall for thirty days‚ I suddenly could direct laser-guided missiles that could strike their target with close to 100% accuracy every time. These are the odds you want when you are in “I need me a baby” mode. And for those of you trying to actively avoid baby mode‚ I suggest you give chastity a whack (no pun intended). But if you are simply looking to space out your next pregnancy‚ or avoid pregnancy for good reasons like illness or other urgent life circumstances‚ this book is also for you! Once you learn what days are “safe” and what days are not‚ for whatever your intentions are‚ you actually do feel like you have taken charge of a mysterious and powerful machine you didn’t quite know you had. You are finally harnessing your fertility’s power and bending it to your will! It works for you now‚ instead of the other way around. Toss out your disease-inducing‚ water-table-poisoning xenoestrogen pills‚ ladies. Have those barbaric IUDs removed and the OB who talked you into one sued for malpractice and for making you gain weight. Catholics call “taking charge of your fertility” Natural Family Planning. But there is nothing in this book that a Catholic would object to – in fact‚ if anything it is actually somewhat anti-doctor and against the overmedicalization of women. Pregnancy is not a disease and does not require preventive medical intervention. Once you learn how your body works‚ you’re left with a profound sense of awe that you – yes‚ you! – are endowed with this spectacular‚ miraculous power. What other book ends with you delivering a real baby? Toni Weschler has written her own version of "The Neverending Story‚" but it is up to the readers to write their own happy ending. Use it wisely. Now go forth and multiply!

It must be hard to launch a wired gaming mouse in 2024‚ given that the market trend is light and wireless. Corsair knows this because it also just released the M75 Air and M75 Wireless. Still‚ the standard Corsair M75 gaming mouse exists not just as a wired alternative‚ but as a damn good gaming mouse that is also more accessible than its wireless counterparts.  Easily one of the best gaming mice still to be bound by a traditional wire‚ the Corsair M75 is technically the budget option of the M75 range. The reality is that its only sacrifice is the lack of wireless connection‚ with most aspects of its performance and design being on par with‚ or beating‚ the M75 Wireless‚ which isn’t bad for a mouse that costs $50 less. Continue reading Corsair M75 review – a new standard for wired gaming mice MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Corsair HS80 Max headset review‚ Corsair M75 Air mouse review‚ Best gaming keyboard

Corsair is adding to its M75 gaming mouse line with the M75 Wireless‚ a mid-tier gaming mouse that is designed to be light‚ responsive‚ and accessible. I’ve found that it’s certainly one of the better gaming mice released in recent years but looking at the slate of upcoming mice in 2024‚ its face-value features are behind the trends. A few years ago‚ the Corsair M75 Wireless would be an easy pick as one of the best gaming mouse options on the market‚ but in 2024‚ when gamers demand a sub-65g weight and polling rates are rising rapidly despite their currently limited appeal‚ I fear the M75 Wireless may get lost in the shuffle‚ despite its quality. Continue reading Corsair M75 Wireless review – a fantastic but short-sighted mouse MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Corsair HS80 Max headset review‚ Corsair M75 Air mouse review‚ Best gaming keyboard

If you know anything about Japanese role-playing games‚ or even if you don't‚ you will likely know the name Persona. This beloved series is one of the most popular videogame franchises to emerge from Japan‚ mixing intricate storytelling‚ satisfying turn-based combat‚ and immersive life-simulation elements to create a potent mix that has captivated fans worldwide. Continue reading Meet the S.E.E.S. in Persona 3 Reload MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Persona 3 Reload review‚ Best RPG games‚ Best anime games