An active rift in the African continent has reached a “critical threshold” and will break apart soon. "We found that rifting in this zone is more advanced, and the crust is thinner, than anyone had recognized," says Christian Rowan, a geoscientist at Columbia University. Here’s more from @ScienceAlert, including just how soon “soon” means:
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sciencedesk@flipboard.social
@sciencedesk@flipboard.social
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An active rift in the African continent has reached a “critical threshold” and will break apart soon. -
City birds appear to be more afraid of women than men, and scientists have no idea why.City birds appear to be more afraid of women than men, and scientists have no idea why.
From @SciAm: "I fully believe our results, that urban birds react differently based on the sex of the person approaching them,” said a co-author of a study that made this finding, “but I can’t explain them right now."
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Tiny organs are about to hit the big time.Tiny organs are about to hit the big time. @BeGiant2026 talks to Professor Milica Radisic, who leads a lab that creates microscopic hearts, kidneys and lungs that can then be used to test new drugs.
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One thing about America: No modern city has ever run out of water.One thing about America: No modern city has ever run out of water. That could be changing in Texas. The reservoirs of Corpus Christi, a city with a population of around 317,000, are on track to completely dry up by next year. @InsideClimate has more:
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Scientists trace latest interstellar comet’s home to a cold, isolated corner of the Milky Way.Scientists trace latest interstellar comet’s home to a cold, isolated corner of the Milky Way.
@AssociatedPress reports: "Comet 3I/Atlas is only the third interstellar visitor to be confirmed and quite possibly the oldest."
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It might seem like people who’ve had near-death experiences would be left feeling distraught.It might seem like people who’ve had near-death experiences would be left feeling distraught. In fact, NDEs tend to leave people happier and less afraid of dying. How does that work? @sciencefocus explains:
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Transplants save lives, but there just aren't enough organs to help the 100,000 patients waiting in the U.S.Transplants save lives, but there just aren't enough organs to help the 100,000 patients waiting in the U.S. Joshua D. Mezrich, a transplant surgeon, writes for MIT Press about how pigs and CRISPR gene editing could change everything.
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Climate scientist Kate Marvel became one of more than 10,000 professionals with doctoral degrees in the sciences to leave the federal workforce when she resigned from her position at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies last month.Climate scientist Kate Marvel became one of more than 10,000 professionals with doctoral degrees in the sciences to leave the federal workforce when she resigned from her position at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies last month. “I’m leaving because I want to tell the truth,” her resignation letter declared. @Grist sat down with Marvel to discuss, among many things, whether scientists’ work is being censored under the Trump administration:
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One in three people will get shingles in their lifetime, and it can be an agonizing experience with potentially serious consequences.One in three people will get shingles in their lifetime, and it can be an agonizing experience with potentially serious consequences. @WIRED takes a look into it, and encourages everyone eligible to get vaccinated.
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Autoimmune diseases occur when your own immune system attacks your body instead of protecting it.Autoimmune diseases occur when your own immune system attacks your body instead of protecting it. They impact a patient's joints, muscles, digestive system and much more. They’re a literal pain. For a 47-year-old German woman suffering from three such diseases, relief finally came after an immune system reset. @ScienceAlert has more on the treatment that significantly improved the quality of her life:
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By Sunday afternoon, the Artemis II crew had traveled 218,012 miles from Earth.By Sunday afternoon, the Artemis II crew had traveled 218,012 miles from Earth. That means the spacecraft was a mere 60,000 miles from the Moon, with a lunar flyby set for Monday, April 6. The crew will get as close at 4,000 miles from the lunar surface as they swing around the far side, becoming the first humans to see it from that perspective (at least as far as we know
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Something very strange is happening to tornadoes across the U.S.Something very strange is happening to tornadoes across the U.S. And scientists are baffled.
From @sciencefocus: "After another explosive start to tornado season, twisters are cropping up in unexpected places – and the big picture isn’t looking any clearer."