This week in science news includes a breakthrough discovery of a “missing” mass of water in the Atlantic Ocean, the unearthing of an immense stash of centuries-old coins in Japan, and the elucidation of the reason behind a species of bat with an oddly large penis.
Starting with oceanic findings, scientists have found a massive body of water in the Atlantic Ocean that spans from the tip of Brazil to the Gulf of Guinea, solving a puzzle that dates back to 1942. Additionally, a seamount twice the size of the world’s tallest building has been discovered off the coast of Guatemala, and researchers propose that a water leak in Earth’s mantle may have created a mysterious layer responsible for generating crystals.
Moving onto the animal world, there have been exciting discoveries including great white sharks inhabiting the twilight zone, the retrieval of a mammoth jaw from a Florida riverbed, and rare footage of mini mola swimming together off Canada’s Pacific coast.
In archaeology, an incredible hoard of over 100,000 coins found in Japan suggests they may have been buried by warriors centuries ago, while DNA analysis of baboon mummies indicates the location of the mysterious port city of Punt. Furthermore, DNA reveals that Indigenous people in what is now Mexico migrated to California 5,200 years ago and likely brought their languages with them.
In space, the James Webb Space Telescope has observed a “cosmic vine” of 20 connected galaxies and discovered cosmic “peanut” and “fluff ball”, among the four oldest galaxies in the known universe. Meanwhile, the “devil comet” has lost its iconic horns, making it appear less spooky now.
For those interested in chemistry, why some people get the dreaded “red wine headache” remains a mystery that scientists are working to solve. Lastly, a rather awkward discovery was made about male serotine bats and their overly large penis, making mating a challenging endeavor for the species.
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In addition, the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recently approved the world’s first treatment that uses CRISPR gene-editing technology to treat sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia, marking a groundbreaking development in gene therapy. However, there are still questions about the treatment’s long-term safety and affordability that need to be addressed. Stay tuned for more updates on this historic decision.
