Traces of dust particles in Antarctic ice are 2.3-2.7 million years old‚ analysis suggests. This would make them the oldest legacy of an airburst: an asteroid that exploded in the atmosphere‚ rather than hitting the ground while large enough to leave a mark. The discovery could be the first step on a path that enables us to assess the danger of these events in future.Asteroids or comets that leave giant impact craters when they hit the Earth can change the course of history‚ but airbursts are more common. As the Chelyabinsk explosion revealed‚ airbursts can do a fair bit of damage to those nearby – and the Tunguska event would have been far more destructive if it had hit an inhabited area. Indeed‚ according to some calculations‚ the cumulative threat to life from the many airbursts the Earth experiences is greater than from the much larger‚ but also much rarer‚ crater-forming events.“All the energy is released in the atmosphere in the form of shock waves and thermal radiation‚” study author Dr Matthias van Ginneken of the University of Kent told ScienceNews. Airbursts must have been happening since the Earth first gained an atmosphere‚ but their legacy is erased far more quickly than craters‚ some of which last billions of years. In most circumstances‚ rain‚ other sources of dust‚ and biological activity quickly remove our capacity to identify ancient airbursts. Ice can act as a preserver‚ but alpine glaciers usually carry the remnants away even where they don’t melt. This makes Antarctica – particularly parts where snow builds up slowly – the best and possibly only chance to find such evidence. Two sets of debris have been found in Antarctica that are thought to be from airbursts 430 and 480 thousand years ago. Now‚ a team led by van Ginneken have presented evidence particles more than five times as old were from a similar event.The dust field known as BIT-58 was first found 30 years ago in Antarctica’s Allan Hills‚ site of the famous Martian meteorite‚ once thought to carry evidence of life. Around 90 percent of the particles are chondritic (coming from unmodified stony meteorites)‚ so it was not hard to see that this was the remnant of a visitor from space‚ rather than a volcanic eruption. This prompted the extraction of around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of dust-laden ice and its transfer to McMurdo Station for analysis.What was not clear when this was initially done was whether the spherules of meteoritic material came from an impact whose crater we had not yet found‚ or if they were the product of an airburst.Hundreds of dust particles were found in the ice. After removing terrestrial contamination‚ the team studied 116 of them with an electron probe micro analyzer and an ion beam. Around 30 percent were found to be perfectly spherical‚ as is often the case for particles produced in atmospheric impacts.Meteoritic spherules found in Antarctica's Allan Hills. Chemical analysis suggests they are consistent with a type of asteroid known as an ordinary chondrite that broke up in the atmosphereImage Courtesy of Matthias van GinnekenThe authors note the absence of microtektites that form when the heat of impact melts Earthly material‚ or the translucent microkrystites that condense from the impact plume. Instead‚ the composition matches that from “touchdown scenarios” where the jet of superheated gas‚ produced by parts of the asteroid vaporizing‚ maintains momentum until reaching the ground. Van Ginneken told ScienceNews that touchdowns are like; “A huge torch touching the ground and vaporizing everything.” One of the two younger Antarctic events also appears to have been a touchdown scenario.“I think that my work is the first essential step to understand what residues of large airbursts look like in the geological record‚” van Ginneken told IFLScience. “The next step will be to find more examples of such events‚ particularly in other environments (e.g.‚ lower latitudes). This would allow us to establish a protocol to identify airburst residues with a high degree of confidence and‚ eventually‚ help us determine the frequency of such events in the past.”Van Ginneken added; “We could try and include the spherules we already have in numerical models of airbursts‚ which could potentially help understand their formation and geographical distribution. This could help us figure out a link between specific properties of spherules (e.g.‚ size range) and size of airbursts and‚ thus‚ their destructive potential.”The study is published open access in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Data from more than 20‚000 people has revealed an intriguing link between depression and body temperature – specifically‚ those with depression recorded slightly higher temperatures. Although there are more questions to be answered‚ the research raises the possibility of introducing heat-based treatments to mental health care in the future.The study lasted for seven months‚ beginning in early 2020‚ and included volunteers from 106 countries. Participants tracked their body temperature data using an Oura wearable smart ring‚ a commercially available fitness tracker. The main purpose of the study‚ called TemPredict‚ was to assess whether temperature tracking could be a useful means of early detection of COVID-19‚ results that were reported back in 2022.  As well as logging their body temperature once a day‚ the participants completed a monthly survey that included a diagnostic questionnaire about depression symptoms.Exploration of the data has now revealed that those with higher levels of depression symptom severity tended to have higher body temperature readings. There was also a trend towards more severe depression in people whose body temperature stayed more stable over a 24-hour period‚ but this finding was not statistically significant.Average self-reported (A) and wearable-assessed (B) body temperatures by depression symptom scores (red indicates the most severe depression symptoms).Image credit: Mason et al.‚ Scientific Reports‚ 2024 (CC BY 4.0)It’s not the first time that depression and body temperature have been linked‚ albeit tentatively‚ but figuring out the cause of some of the observed differences has proved more challenging. While this large study undoubtedly helps add more pieces to the puzzle‚ it’s still not possible to say for sure whether depression raises body temperature‚ or whether a higher-than-average body temperature is a risk factor for depression.We also don’t know whether the higher temperatures recorded in depressed people are down to their bodies generating more heat than usual‚ or because their ability to regulate their temperature is impaired.It’s this that the study’s lead author Ashley Mason‚ an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences‚ is interested in exploring further. A small body of evidence suggests a potential benefit for heat-based treatment for depression‚ such as saunas or hot yoga. It could be that artificially raising someone’s temperature kick-starts the body into triggering self-cooling mechanisms‚ like sweating.“Ironically‚ heating people up actually can lead to rebound body temperature lowering that lasts longer than simply cooling people down directly‚ as through an ice bath‚” Mason explained in a statement. “What if we can track the body temperature of people with depression to time heat-based treatments well?”Depression is a common problem‚ with an estimated one in five US adults having been diagnosed with the condition. Consequently‚ the use of antidepressant drugs has reached all-time highs in some regions‚ but these are not effective for everyone and can come with troubling side-effects.The scientific quest to develop new and better treatments for depression is ongoing‚ encompassing research into psychedelics‚ drugs like ketamine‚ and alternative therapies like sensory deprivation. Perhaps‚ the authors suggest‚ heat treatments could one day form part of that package.“To our knowledge‚ this is the largest study to date to examine the association between body temperature – assessed using both self-report methods and wearable sensors – and depressive symptoms in a geographically broad sample‚” said Mason.“Given the climbing rates of depression in the United States‚ we’re excited by the possibilities of a new avenue for treatment.”The study is published in Scientific Reports.

On January 19 I had the privilege of attending the 51st annual March for Life in Washington‚ D.C.‚ with some of my fellow students at Liberty University. Being a part of the thousands of people celebrating life in the womb and calling for its protection was incredibly gratifying and moving and is something I can't recommend highly enough. That said‚ getting the most out of the march requires preparation. For those planning on going to future marches‚ I've compiled a few tips I picked up from my experience. Phoenix Painter Planning the trip When planning your trip to Washington‚ look for an organization that is taking students. There might even be one at your college. For example‚ the Standing for Freedom Center at Liberty University took about 1‚000 Liberty students to the March for Life in 2024. The center completely covered the cost of the travel‚ breakfast‚ lunch‚ water‚ and a Liberty-branded beanie. Not a bad deal. If you choose to go without an organization‚ keep in mind that getting there can be a challenge. Road closures will make the already bad traffic even worse‚ so the Metro may be preferable to your own car or an Uber. Give yourself extra time to get to the march‚ especially if you want to attend the rally beforehand. More information on travel‚ lodging‚ and the schedule of events can be found on the March's official site. Phoenix Painter What to bring/how to dress January in Washington is COLD‚ typically ranging from the mid-20s to the mid-40s F. Check the forecast‚ but I would layer no matter what the weather report says‚ a lesson I learned the hard way. Along the same lines‚ wear weatherproof shoes. Don’t be the guy who shows up to walk in miles of sludge and snow in tennis shoes. There were many such cases this year — and I bet they regretted it! Phoenix Painter Are you thinking about bringing a homemade sign? You absolutely can! There is something so invigorating about marching for a cause with a sign that you took time to make — complete with your favorite slogan. However‚ if you come empty-handed‚ there are plenty of pro-life organizations eager to supply you with an Instagram-worthy placard. If you’re wearing a bag‚ make sure it’s crossbody. While the March is a safe event with a good police presence‚ Washington is still a big city with a notable crime rate. Also‚ water isn’t readily available‚ so carrying a water bottle or two is a great idea. How to prepare mentally We didn't encounter much in the way of counterprotests‚ and apparently that's how it is every year. So you can tell your parents not to worry. Still‚ it can't hurt to choose this occasion as an excuse to beef up your pro-life apologetics.The March for Life organization has a wealth of information at your disposal‚ while the Standing for Freedom Center offers a Christian refutation of the ten most common pro-abortion arguments. Live Action also has a plethora of articles and facts to help you better articulate your position. Standing for Freedom Center While honing your debate skills‚ don't neglect prayer‚ which pairs extremely well with marching. My school had us covered with a pamphlet detailing how to pray for unborn babies‚ mothers and fathers‚ the church and pro-life ministries‚ and the governing authorities. Prayer is powerful. It’s best to get your heart right with the Lord before attempting change in the world. I hope this information serves you well should you decide to go to next year's March — and I hope you do! In the words of my Liberty classmate Grant May‚ who attended the March with the Standing for Freedom Center‚ "A third of my generation is missing today because of abortion‚ and so it is critical that we step up and speak out for those that cannot speak out for themselves. The March was incredibly high-energy and yet sobering at the same time. We were letting our elected leaders know that it’s far past time to put the pagan practice of infant sacrifice behind us and return to a time when everyone has equal protection under law regardless of what stage of life they are in.”

Is Skull and Bones crossplay? To start with‚ the pirate life can be a lonely one‚ especially when you’ve recently washed up on a strange shore following a shipwreck. Alone‚ penniless‚ and a nobody‚ it’s going to take some work to make it as a fearsome pirate‚ so you’re going to need a talented crew. These shipmates can be found all across Sainte-Anne‚ across various Skull and Bones dens and outposts‚ but you’re more likely to find them in your gaming friends who also want to earn their riches in gold and rum in the pirate game. Some of these budding crewmates might not be playing Skull and Bones on the same platform as you‚ though‚ so here’s what you need to know about Skull and Bones crossplay - whether you want to team up with others or get rid of the competition. Continue reading Skull and Bones crossplay and crossplatform play MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best pirate games‚ Skull and Bones release date‚ Skull and Bones system requirements

Atmosphere is a difficult thing to maintain in a videogame. When you’ve got the player‚ this wilful little nuisance figure doing and going wherever they want‚ the pace‚ rhythm‚ and consistency of whatever you’re trying to create inevitably become unpredictable. A new Steam horror game‚ created by a single developer‚ manages to build a rich‚ dystopian world‚ and a dark‚ oppressive mood in just a few minutes. Combining the sci-fi bleakness of Cyberpunk 2077‚ the classic‚ fixed-camera style of Resident Evil‚ and the haunted environments of Silent Hill‚ this is one of the best demos available at Steam Next Fest‚ and one you’ll want to play right now. Continue reading Cyberpunk 2077 meets Resident Evil in new horror game you can play now MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best horror games‚ Best indie games‚ Best survival games

What are the newest Black Desert Online codes? Since its graphical overhaul‚ BDO has seen a new lease of life. Not only does it have one of the best character creators for an MMO‚ its fantasy world is a thrill to explore‚ and it's full of complex mechanics for combat‚ trading‚ and diplomacy. This can be intimidating for new players‚ but there's a way to get a head start. If you want helpful rewards for Black Desert Online‚ one of the longest-running MMO games‚ then you've come to the right place. These BDO codes give rewards such as Memory Fragments‚ Cron Stones‚ Enhancement Kits‚ and more. All of these items are handy for your next session‚ so we've also detailed ways you can redeem them without being logged into the game. Continue reading Black Desert Online codes February 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Desert Online guide

How do you harvest Acacia in Skull and Bones? You'll need this wood type in order to complete the Tools of the Trade contract in Ubisoft's new pirate adventure‚ but where can you find Acacia‚ and how do you harvest it? After jumping into Skull and Bones‚ you might want to make sure you've got a qualifying stream on to earn some Skull and Bones Twitch Drops on the side. With the Skull and Bones release date upon us‚ harvesting Acacia will soon be something you'll need to know how to do. Luckily‚ we've got all you need to know. Continue reading How to harvest Acacia in Skull and Bones MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best pirate games‚ Skull and Bones release date‚ Skull and Bones system requirements

If you’re finding the wait for Hollow Knight Silksong unbearable‚ the Tales of Kenzera: Zau Steam Next Fest demo is the perfect remedy. Out soon‚ this Metroidvania was shown off heavily at The Game Awards‚ and‚ despite some jank when I played it earlier this week‚ all I can think is what comes next. Continue reading Fill the Hollow Knight Silksong gap with this new Steam Next Fest demo

A few weeks after the president delivered the Gettysburg Address‚ he called on Congress to welcome immigrants as a "source of national wealth and strength"