This week, Earth experienced a breathtaking celestial spectacle — a total lunar eclipse — the first of its kind since 2022. Skywatchers were treated to an awe-inspiring view of our lunar neighbor, which transformed into a magnificent shade of red, commonly referred to as a blood moon. This striking coloration occurs during a total lunar eclipse due to a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering, where certain wavelengths of light scatter more than others.
During a total lunar eclipse, Earth completely obstructs the sun's rays. However, some light bends around the edges of our planet and passes through the atmosphere. In this process, particles scatter the shorter wavelengths of blue light, allowing the longer wavelengths of orange and red to dominate, enveloping the moon in a distinctive hue. If you missed out on this stunning sight, you may have another opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse later this year, on September 7-8. Unfortunately, the best views will primarily be in Asia, with North America likely to have limited visibility.
In the meantime, enjoy the captivating blood moon photos captured during this week's event, or take our moon quiz to test your knowledge about our celestial companion.
A recent study has shed light on the intriguing case of a 'pregnant' ancient Egyptian mummy that was initially believed to have been afflicted by cancer. Discovered in the Egyptian city of Luxor (ancient Thebes) and moved to the University of Warsaw in 1826, this first-century-B.C. mummy, known as the Mysterious Lady, was thought to be a male priest. However, researchers have now concluded that this mummy was actually a woman in her 20s, who was 6.5 to 7.5 months pregnant.
Initially, experts believed she was suffering from a potentially fatal nasopharyngeal cancer in her skull. Yet, recent analysis of over 1,300 raw CT scans of the mummy has brought new clarity to the situation. The research team found that the object previously thought to be a pickled fetus was, in fact, a component of the embalming process. Furthermore, there was no definitive evidence of cancer present in the mummy. Instead, the damage observed in her skull likely occurred during the embalming procedure, which involved the use of a curved metal tool to extract the brain through the nostrils.
How do we know that pi is an irrational number? Defined as the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, pi — represented by the Greek letter π — is prevalent across various fields of mathematics and the sciences, including chemistry and medicine. Pi is classified as an irrational number, meaning it has an infinite number of non-repeating digits and cannot be expressed as a simple fraction.
Scientists have calculated pi to an astounding 105 trillion digits, although many are familiar with the approximate value of 3.14. If you're curious to learn more about this fascinating number, check out our Pi Day quiz to see how much you truly know about pi.
In recent research, scientists have made significant strides in understanding how metformin, a widely used medication for type 2 diabetes, lowers blood sugar levels. Since its introduction in the 1990s, the exact mechanism of metformin has puzzled researchers. The latest study reveals that metformin prompts the body to expel glucose from the bloodstream and directs it to the intestines. Here, bacteria consume the carbohydrates to produce compounds that assist in regulating blood sugar levels.
While this mechanism might explain part of metformin's therapeutic effects, scientists believe that it is only one aspect of how the drug works. For more health-related news, explore our articles on various topics, including the implications of epigenetic 'scars' and rare POLG diseases.
This week also brought intriguing updates in the realm of science, including a polar vortex reversal that could lead to unexpected springtime snow across the U.S. Additionally, scientists have mapped 52-foot-high 'megaripples' from the asteroid that caused the dinosaurs' extinction deep beneath Louisiana, and have observed water molecules flipping just before they split, a discovery that holds promise for producing cheaper hydrogen fuel.
In a monumental achievement, NASA successfully launched the SPHEREx telescope, an infrared observatory designed to complement the capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope. Once operational, SPHEREx will conduct four comprehensive scans of the night sky using 102 infrared sensors, collecting data from over 450 million galaxies during its two-year mission. This extensive dataset aims to provide critical insights into significant cosmological questions, such as the evolution of galaxies and the origins of water in the universe.
If you're in search of engaging content for the weekend, consider diving into these long reads, book excerpts, and interviews published this week. Topics include the critical examination of USAID's dismantling, fascinating facts about dinosaurs, and lessons learned from the 1970 measles outbreak in Texarkana.
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