Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
New Evidence Suggests Earth’s Water Originated From a Primitive Asteroid
A new study has revealed that liquid water once flowed through the asteroid
that gave rise to near-Earth asteroid Ryugu, more than a billion years after it first formed. The discovery, made by a team including researchers at the University of Tokyo, is based on microscopic rock fragments returned by Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft and challenges long-held assumptions about when water activity occurred on asteroids. Traditionally, scientists believed that asteroids only experienced water-related processes during the earliest stages of the solar system’s history. But the Ryugu samples show evidence that fluids moved through the asteroid’s rocks far later than expected. One key implication is that carbon-rich asteroids may have preserved ice for billions of years, potentially delivering much more water to early Earth than standard models suggest.
Scientists Map 85 Newly Found Lakes Under Antarctica’s Ice
Researchers have identified 85 previously unknown subglacial lakes beneath Antarctica’s thick ice, raising the count of known active lakes to 231. Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study highlights the significance of these hidden lakes in influencing glacier movement and the stability of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, with implications for future sea level rise. The new lakes are located several kilometres beneath the surface near the South Pole. By analysing a decade of height data from the European Space Agency’s CryoSat satellite, scientists detected subtle changes as the lakes filled and drained, offering rare insight into Antarctica’s concealed hydrological systems.
No Refuge Left: Insects Are Disappearing Everywhere
A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows that insect populations are rapidly declining even in relatively undisturbed landscapes, raising concerns about the health of ecosystems that depend on them. Scientists discovered an average annual decline of 6.6% in insect abundance, amounting to a 72.4% drop over the 20-year period. The study also found that this steep decline is associated with rising summer temperatures. The findings address a critical gap in global insect research. While many reports of insect declines focus on habitats altered by human activity, few examine populations in relatively pristine areas. This study demonstrates that dramatic losses can occur even where direct human impacts are minimal, suggesting climate change may be a key driver.
From Toys to Trouble: Childhood Plastics Tied to Obesity & Asthma
Childhood exposure to chemicals used to make plastic household items presents growing health risks that can extend long into adulthood, experts from NYU Langone Health report. In their report, the authors outline decades of evidence that substances often added to industrial and household goods may contribute to disease and disability, particularly when they are encountered early in life. The review focuses on three classes of chemical -- phthalates used to make plastic flexible, bisphenols, which provide rigidity, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which help materials resist heat and repel water. The chemicals are found in a range of items, such as food packaging, cosmetics, and paper receipts. Experts have found that as plastics are used, heated, or chemically treated, microplastic and nanoparticles are released and become ingested.
