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How China Is Rewriting the History of Hong Kong's Democracy Protests

JWST's gift to us all this holiday season: an even better view of Uranus. Following a spectacular image taken earlier this year‚ the space telescope has been taking many observations of the distant ice giant planet. A new image released to mark the winter holidays reveals many previously unseen details.JWST has snapped details of the dim inner and outer rings of Uranus‚ including the elusive Zeta ring. This is the extremely faint and diffuse ring closest to the planet. In the wide field view‚ the image shows at least 14 moons‚ more than half of the planet’s 27 known natural satellites. In the close-up version‚ you can see that some of the moons are within the rings.If moons and rings were not spectacular enough for your liking‚ how about some atmospheric features? In visible light‚ Uranus is fairly featureless. The observations from Voyager 2 in the 1980s show it as a smooth aquamarine-colored sphere. In infrared light‚ things are different. There are storms visible as bright dots on Uranus. You can also see the full polar cap.Uranus‚ its rings‚ and many of its moons‚ as captured by JWST.Image Credit: NASA‚ ESA‚ CSA‚ STScIThe reason why we can see the whole pole is that Uranus orbits on its side. Its axis has a whopping 98-degree tilt compared to its orbit. This is believed to have been caused by a colossal collision billions of years ago. Uranus is approaching its solstice in 2028‚ and then the axis will be pointing right at the Sun. The seasonal effects create the white dome seen in this photo‚ and JWST observations will help disentangle these effects from different meteorological phenomena.Uranus has complexities not seen on other planets so the work carried out by planetary scientists with the help of JWST will be fundamental in building a more accurate picture of what goes on inside this fascinating world.

Off the coast of Greece‚ an individual striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) has been spotted. While this is not unusual in itself‚ the reason this dolphin is making waves (pun intended) is due to a rather strange variation in the appearance of its flippers. The flippers on both sides of the animal look hooked‚ giving the appearance of thumbs.Researchers from the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute have seen the dolphin engaging in normal behaviors with its pod in the Gulf of Corinth‚ within the Ionian Sea between mainland Greece and the Peloponnese peninsula. Striped dolphins are a fairly common species‚ with males typically 2.7 meters (9 feet) long and weighing around 158 kilograms (350 pounds)‚ while females are 2.4 meters (8 feet) and 150 kilograms (330 pounds). They are a very social species and travel in large groups of as many as 100 individuals‚ known as pods. They are energetic‚ fast‚ and nimble through the water‚ and will even leap as high as 6 meters (20 feet) above the surface‚ according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."It was the very first time we saw this surprising flipper morphology in 30 years of surveys in the open sea and also in studies while monitoring all the stranded dolphins along the coasts of Greece for 30 years‚" Alexandros Frantzis‚ the scientific coordinator and president of the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute‚ told Live Science.                  As for the cause of the unusual flipper‚ it is most likely a problem that arose during the genetic development of the dolphin in the womb. Human and dolphin anatomy is remarkably similar when it comes to the wrists and hands. “Dolphins‚ their ends are exactly like ours‚ they have segments that compose the wrists‚ the segment that composes the metacarpal bone and the segments that compose our fingers‚” said Professor Bruno Cozzi‚ author of Anatomy of Dolphins and veterinary anatomy specialist‚ during an interview with IFLScience. “Their fingers come together in a unique order‚ with very tough connective tissue. In this case‚ one of the buds‚ instead of sticking together with the other ones‚ has remained separate‚ and this probably happens in the first to second month of fetal life. It is difficult to say which part without an X-ray‚” continued Cozzi. "Some abnormality has happened during development‚ one in a million". Dolphins have remarkably similar hand structures to humans.Image credit: VectorMine/Shutterstock.comCozzi is confident that the cause of the flipper variation is not a result of injury. “It’s genetic. How can I tell? Because with a trauma or injury it would only be on one side to cause the variation. It is on both sides‚ bilaterally on the dolphin‚ so it’s genetic.”Cozzi wonders if the genetic trait will be passed on to any offspring the dolphin might have‚ but thinks it is unlikely: “It is most likely a recessive [trait]‚ it's not dominant.” However if you were to see the same variation in the flippers [in the offspring]‚ it would mean that a [trait] that has been buried by evolution as useless is coming back again‚ but it's absolutely not likely”.The experts think this happened during fetal development‚ and not injury or trauma to the flippers.Image courtesy of Alexandros Frantzis / Pelagos Cetacean Research InstituteFortunately‚ Cozzi does not think the dolphin will suffer negative consequences as a result of the variation in flipper appearance. “Since they are not using their flippers in a prehensile way‚ [it] won’t affect the dolphin too much. Maybe slightly less performance in swimming.”On a positive note the dolphin has been seen "swimming‚ leaping‚ bow-riding‚ playing" according to Frantzis‚ so is likely living a normal dolphin lifestyle and is not affected by its unusual flippers. 

Everybody’s talking about “shallowing”‚ the new sex act guaranteed to increase Pleasure For Her! But what is this technique? Is it really as orgasmic as they say? Should we be worried? Or is this just another “fluid bonding” situation? Don’t worry you crazy kids; we’ve got your answers.The term “shallowing” doesn’t have a long history behind it – it was first named in the literature just two years ago. But far from being some newfangled futuristic sex maneuver‚ it’s likely something you’re already intimately familiar with. After all‚ the report that brought it to the world’s attention – a survey of thousands of women from around the world and within the US – found that about six out of every seven respondents already used the technique to make sex and masturbation more fun.So‚ what does it involve? Well‚ the name is actually pretty descriptive: the idea is to keep penetrative touch to the entrance‚ and just inside‚ of the vagina‚ rather than going further in. You can use fingers‚ a toy‚ a penis‚ a tongue – whatever gets you off‚ literally – just as long as you don’t go too deep.“If you practice penetrative sex‚ you might have already found it pleasurable when the head of the penis creates pressure at the vaginal entrance before or at the very beginning of penetration‚” she said. “[It’s the] same with a toy or fingers‚” Cecile Gasnault‚ brand director of sex toy company SmileMakers‚ told Glamour magazine last year.“The idea is to go in only by a few centimeters‚” she said.While “less is more” doesn’t always apply when it comes to sexy times – and what is and is not erotic is of course notoriously subjective – there’s some good science backing up shallowing for pleasure. While much has been made of the extraordinary sensitivity of the clitoris‚ the vulva – that is‚ the external female genitalia (because no‚ you cannot see a person’s vagina from the outside unless something has gone seriously wrong) – is also packed with nerve endings. As a comparison for our penis-endowed pals‚ it’s thought that the amount of sensation felt by the vulva is roughly the same as the scrotum‚ and we all know how squeamish you get about that.“[The vulva] actually contains 90 percent of the vagina's nerve endings‚” Gasnault explained‚ “which is why its stimulation can feel very pleasurable – be it with a partner or solo. So it's worth paying some attention to it.”But the advantages to shallowing aren’t confined to just exploiting those nerve endings. Experts recommend using the technique slowly‚ as “[it] can be a great way to get more in touch with your nerve endings and how they pertain to your pleasure in your body‚” Marla Renee Stewart‚ sexologist and sexual wellness expert for sex toy company Lovers‚ told Well+Good.Other benefits include increased anticipation and excitement when having sex with a partner‚ sex therapist and licensed clinical social worker Chanta Blue told Well+Good – and it’s a boon for when deeper penetration “isn't pleasurable‚ comfortable‚ or possible‚” she added.So: shallowing. Give it a go! Or don’t‚ we’re not your sex boss. Unless…

Ever been watching a scary movie and wished you could shield your eyes from what’s on the Big Screen without the shame of actually having to shield your eyes? For some people‚ not seeing what’s in front of them is a simple case of relaxing the ciliary muscle‚ but not everyone can blur their vision on command.The ciliary muscles help your eyes to focus by changing the shape of the lens. When it’s relaxed‚ it pulls on fibers that cause the lens to flatten and thin out. When they contract‚ the opposite happens‚ releasing tension on the lens so it becomes fatter and rounder. Our focusing power is strongest when the lens is spherical rather than flat because it’s better able to bend and refract light so that it’s focused on the retina‚ meaning contraction of the ciliary muscle improves the clarity of our vision. When it’s relaxed‚ things get a bit blurry.Curiously‚ some people appear to be able to voluntarily relax the ciliary muscle so that their vision becomes unfocused. It’s a skill Dr Karan Raj describes as “the world’s most useless superpower‚" but not everyone has it. Excuse us while we enroll in Godolkin University. IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.And to make it even more useless‚ it seems doing it too often can get you in trouble.“Excessive unfocusing can lead to visual strain and fatigue‚” says Raj. “Constantly shifting between focused and unfocused states might overstimulate the ciliary muscle and the eye’s focusing mechanism. Repeating this divergent squint too often could disrupt your normal binocular vision‚ coordination between the eyes‚ and eye alignment.”Voluntary relaxation of the ciliary muscle isn’t the only visual phenomenon that’s not shared by everyone. About 76 percent of all non-visually impaired people experience something known as "floaters". These appear as moving structures‚ like little worms‚ that sometimes appear in your field of vision if you are staring at something bright and uniform such as the sky‚ snow‚ or a white screen.Their scientific name is Muscae volitantes‚ or "flying flies" – but they are not insects. As an excellent TED-Ed video explains‚ they are tiny objects within your eyes. They could be bits of tissue‚ red blood cells‚ or protein clumps floating in the vitreous humor. This is the gel-like substance between the lens and the retina that keeps the eye in shape.It’s a reminder that there are all sorts of subtle ways in which our perceptions of the world around us can vary. And when it comes to interpreting those perceptions? Well‚ don’t even get us started on aphantasia.

In the realm of human imagination‚ the boundaries between fiction and reality have often blurred‚ giving rise to remarkable technological leaps.From the futuristic visions of video calls in Star Trek becoming the cornerstone of modern communication‚ to the notion of voice-activated assistants akin to science fiction's digital companions‚ our world has consistently drawn inspiration from the creative musings of storytellers. Take‚ for example‚ HAL 9000‚ the iconic AI from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey‚ known for its cold‚ calculating demeanor and unnerving calmness. And how could we forget its murderous intentions?Contrast that with Holly‚ the quirky and eccentric ship's computer in the British sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf‚ with their witty banter and endearing personality. These contrasting personalities have left an interesting mark on our perception of AI and voice-activated systems in the real world‚ shaping our expectations and aspirations for the technology. Science fiction has envisaged concepts from space travel to artificial intelligence long before they materialized.These intersections between science fiction and reality continue to shape the future‚ with each innovative step forging a connection between the fantastic and the factual.British author Malorie Blackman explored the idea of xenotransplantation in her book Pig Heart Boy. Xenotransplantation involves grafting or transplanting organs‚ tissues‚ or cells from one species into another. The story follows Cameron‚ a boy with heart failure who receives a transplant from a genetically modified pig. While Blackman's book imagined a futuristic concept‚ it eerily foreshadowed the real-life work scientists are doing today with animal-to-human organ donation.Pig hearts: the future of organ transplantation?  In groundbreaking new research‚ doctors have successfully transplanted pig kidneys into human participants. These pioneering procedures were once only imagined in science fiction stories.Yet the concept of using animal organs to save human lives has now become a reality.The recent achievements in xenotransplantation show how quickly fictional concepts can leap from the page to the lab.While research into using primate organs for humans began in the 1960s‚ immunological rejection posed a major barrier. Pigs have become the focus for their anatomical similarity to humans and ability to be bred specifically for donation. Still‚ differences between pig and human tissues can lead to rejection. Scientists are using gene editing to remove sugars on the surface of pig cells that trigger this immune response in humans. Other approaches involve knocking out genes for pig proteins that can activate clotting and inflammation. Pharmaceuticals and genetic modifications help control the recipient's immune system to prevent it from attacking the foreign organ.These efforts paid off in several recent milestones.In September 2021‚ NYU Langone Health researchers accomplished a successful kidney transplant from a genetically engineered pig to a brain-dead human patient‚ with no rejection issues.In January 2022‚ the University of Maryland School of Medicine performed the first-ever pig heart transplant in a living human‚ resulting in the patient surviving for 2 months.In 2022‚ surgeons at NYU Langone Health successfully transplanted pig hearts into two brain-dead people‚ followed by another xenotransplantation trial in 2023 that transplanted pig kidneys into two brain-dead recipients.After running this recent study‚ co-author Dr Jayme E. Locke‚ professor of surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine‚ explained to IFLScience that this research “allowed us to demonstrate the life-sustaining renal function of genetically edited pig kidneys in an adult human.”Dr Locke pointed out that the biggest hurdle to xenotransplantation evolving in the future is the regulatory approvals needed to move to clinical trials‚ however‚ the development “has the potential to completely solve the organ shortage crisis.”While xenotransplantation provides hope for saving lives with animal organs‚ it also raises ethical questions.Is xenotransplantation ethical – for humans and animals?  Evan Thornburg‚ a bioethicist who explains ethical concepts under the username @gaygtownbae on TikTok‚ pointed out that we must consider the ethical treatment of both animals and human recipients. The ethical considerations surrounding the use of animals in transplantation and related research can be categorized into two key areas.First‚ there are concerns related to animal ethics‚ encompassing aspects such as their treatment‚ rearing‚ living conditions‚ sentience‚ and potential harm‚ with implications for communities like vegans‚ vegetarians‚ or Buddhists.Second‚ there are ethical dimensions related to the human recipient‚ including beliefs about the process of using animals for transplantation‚ sustaining one's life through another's tissue‚ access to treatment‚ sustainability of treatments‚ and the manner in which informed and enthusiastic consent is obtained.These ethical considerations are vital in shaping the discourse surrounding animal-based transplantation and research. Broader preemptive public education is crucial‚ particularly on medical and scientific concepts‚ as most people encounter these topics only during a medical crisis.With limited health literacy‚ it is important to integrate health science information into education systems early to enable informed consent during critical healthcare decisions.Thornburg noted to IFLScience that “a huge component of bioethics as it pertains to clinical care and treatment involves thinking critically (and respectfully) about belief systems and religious doctrine that followers utilize as their moral and decision guidance.”“With existing new medical research‚ scientists that make up research teams do not always consider this element‚ and how necessary to respect it is‚” Thornburg said.“Coming up with viable alternatives or more accessible care options‚ especially for the ongoing crisis that is transplant and tissue-related medical care‚ is absolutely necessary because of how much life is lost due to unmet supply and demand.”It’s important to note‚ however‚ that ‘fixing’ the organ shortage issue via a method such as xenotransplantation may result in growing disparity between populations who agree to treatment and those who oppose or cannot consent due to their beliefs.Thornburg highlights that we should focus on promoting healthcare options aligned with these beliefs and engage in education and dialogue with religious communities‚ potentially influencing religious leaders to incorporate these treatments into their principles.Dr Cat Henstridge‚ a veterinary surgeon and star of CBBC’s The Pet Factor‚ told IFLScience that while we still have a journey ahead before xenotransplants become a standard choice for recipients‚ this research presents encouraging findings and may signify a significant advancement for patients dealing with organ failure.Dr Henstridge also commented on the ethical considerations‚ emphasizing that as a veterinarian‚ her stance on this matter aligns with the treatment of any other animal employed for human benefit.If they have lived a life meeting their welfare requirements‚ allowing them to exhibit natural behaviors‚ and ensuring they have been free from pain‚ discomfort‚ and distress‚ followed by surgery and euthanasia carried out in a gentle‚ compassionate‚ and painless manner‚ then there may be limited reservations about utilizing them as organ donors for human recipients.Addressing the fear of animal-to-human transplantsExperts agree that there must be a wider public debate‚ if animal-to-human transplants are to be accepted more widely. For example‚ concerns regarding the transmission of diseases from animals to humans must be addressed. Ensuring the safety of xenotransplants is essential to prevent potential public health crises and garner public support.The ethical questions surrounding the treatment of animals and the potential exploitation of animal donors that must be addressed through rigorous regulations and ethical frameworks.There are economic and logistical challenges associated with xenotransplants‚ including the cost of breeding and maintaining donor animals.Further research will be crucial to foster transparency‚ establish ethical guidelines and pave the way for a more widespread acceptance.Thornburg said that “one of the issues that affects consent is foundational knowledge/understanding of medicine and science‚ with most people being introduced to a medical concept‚ treatment‚ or possibility only when they are enduring a medical crisis that requires decision-making.”“Between the emotional duress of a diagnosis and prognosis along with the average (American) health literacy level being around a 6th grade reading level (this is even lower is places with high poverty‚ high youth populations) enthusiastic‚ informed consent really requires having some general or starting familiarity with health sciences and treatment possibilities.”Thornburg also highlighted how the scientific community “does the general population a large disservice by not embedding this kind of information into our educational systems early.”“Especially since at any time‚ any day‚ at any point in a person's life they could end up in care or in need of an aggressive or complicated treatment that they don't understand and deeply fear.”The recent milestones in xenotransplantation showcase how science fiction concepts can translate into real innovations.Writers and artists have long been trailblazers envisioning possibilities that drive science and technology forward. As researchers continue making strides in cross-species organ transplantation‚ they turn the imagination of authors like Malorie Blackman into life-saving medical therapy.Xenotransplantation is an example of the important relationship between creativity and discovery. And it leaves us wondering – what other futuristic ideas from today's great science fiction will become tomorrow's reality?

Imagine being a stray dog in a shelter‚ longing for a forever home. Now‚ picture being an older dog in that situation. Sadly‚ the demand for senior dogs like these isn’t high‚ even though they’re brimming with love from years of waiting for that special someone to come along. This story is about Maple‚ a... The post Young couple sees elderly beagle being given away ‘for free’ online and run to rescue her appeared first on Animal Channel.

When Amanda Killen and her partner‚ Phil‚ decided to add an older dog to their family‚ they had no idea what awaited them. Their journey led them to Sakari‚ a husky who had spent most of her life in a cramped kennel with 40 other dogs‚ sold to a notorious breeder as a puppy. View... The post Dad builds outstanding snow forts for family’s rescue Husky that absolutely adores the snow appeared first on Animal Channel.

The Joe Scarborough Scare-a-Thon surges on! On today's Morning Joe‚ Scarborough flatly declared that if Trump is elected:  "One year from now‚ it can be over. American democracy can be over.  A year from now‚ it can all be over. The American experiment—at an end. [Pounds desk] One. Year. From. Now." And file this Scarborough statement under: We Hate Media Critics. Somehow‚ sites like NewsBusters are attacking MSNBC for "reporting this‚" and not for wildly exaggerating and pounding tables and screaming "democracy is over unless you vote for Biden!" "I am still shocked by the clowns who claim to be media critics out there‚ just absolute clowns‚ that attack the media for reporting this . . . [Quoting critics] You have to understand‚ you're actually helping him by focusing on‚ you know‚ saying he is fascist."  As readers know‚ we have often‚ as here‚ documented Scarborough's fascination with that f-for-fascist word when it comes to describing Trump. Jon Meacham repeated his theme that the American people are on trial‚ especially the 15 or 20 percent of Republicans who “know better‚” but “cannot bring themselves to ending this‚ to voting against this fascistic force.” Note that in addition to seeking to scaremonger voters‚ Scarborough also trained his tirade at the Biden campaign itself. He demanded to know when the campaign workers will leave the White House and get out on the campaign trail. And Scarborough blasted the campaign for going around singing‚ "Don't Worry‚ Be Happy"—when American democracy is on the line. Joe and Mika prefaced Scarborough's rant by airing a montage of Trump's statements at a recent campaign stop in which he had kind words for autocrats Putin‚ Xi‚ and Kim Jong Un. We don't dig that talk. That helps the Scarboroughs and the Meachams feel superior. But he did have four years in the White House -- and American democracy is still going strong.  Here's a transcript. MSNBC Morning Joe 12/18/23 6:04 am ET JOE SCARBOROUGH: It's getting more explicit. It's getting worse. I am still shocked by the clowns who claim to be media critics out there‚ just absolute clowns‚ that‚ that attack the media for reporting this. And some of them say‚ you just don't get it. You don't understand hi connection with the audience. You just have to understand that you're actually helping him by focusing on‚ you know‚ saying he's fascist.  . . .  It's getting more explicit. And the fact that fools that are covering the horse race would somehow attack writers‚ journalists‚ for‚ for recording this‚ and putting it to the readers without an explanation‚ "Oh‚ but he's also talking about economics that they related to‚" seems to somehow -- talk about missing the much bigger point. We're in a fight for American democracy‚ and he's becoming more and more explicit on how he wants to take American democracy down!  . . .  Yeah. Jonathan Lemire‚ let me ask you‚ though‚ you know‚ one year from now‚ it can be over. American democracy can be over. Donald Trump one year from now could win. He's told us what he's going to do. So when I say American democracy is going to be over‚ I haven't said this. Donald Trump's the guy that said it. He's the one talking about executing generals that are not loyal enough to him. Or a guy that's talking about terminating the Constitution if it gets in the way of his power. He's a guy that's talking about taking off news networks that he disagrees with. He's the guy that's talking about prosecuting and putting in jail people who disagree with him. He's the one saying that.  So a year from now‚ it can all be over. The American experiment at an end. [Pounds table] One. Year. From. Now. So let me ask you‚ with that being the case‚ and with Joe Biden's poll numbers getting worse‚ why is the White House going around singing‚ "Don't Worry‚ Be Happy?" Because that's basically what they're saying.  Why does Joe Biden still have all of his campaign people inside the White House? When are they going to go out and start working on the campaign? Not of his lifetime—of our lifetime? When are they going to start acting like American democracy is on the line‚ and stop telling everybody to not worry?