Welcome to Overnight News Digest- Saturday Science. Since 2007 the OND has been a regular community feature on Daily Kos, consisting of science stories from around the world, sometimes coupled with a daily theme, original research or commentary. Editors of OND impart their own presentation styles and content choices, typically publishing each day near 12:00 AM Eastern Time.
Topics in this edition include:
- Script found on Easter Island predates European colonization
- Atlantic currents headed toward a tipping point
- Twelve-year-old constructs workable model of Archimedes’ death ray
- Early childhood experiences connected to cognitive ability
- How did earth become frozen 700 million years ago?
- Oldest forest found in Upstate New York
- Create a certified wildlife habitat
- Bring a little permaculture into your life
Greek Reporter
by Abdul Moeed
Undeciphered Script Found on Easter Island Predates European Colonization
New research published on February 2nd in the journal Scientific Reports reveals an ancient wooden tablet found on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. This tablet contains mysterious writings known as the “rongorongo” script. What’s intriguing is that this tablet predates the arrival of Europeans on the island by more than two hundred years.
Experts believe this discovery strengthens the idea that the rongorongo script could be one of the few writing systems invented independently. The wooden tablet, along with three others, is part of a collection in Rome.
Analysis shows that the wood dates back to between 1493 and 1509. This finding pushes back the timeline significantly, considering Europeans didn’t set foot on Easter Island until the 1720s.
Or they were using old wood…
Inside Climate News
by Bob Berwyn
Extreme Climate Impacts From Collapse of a Key Atlantic Ocean Current Could be Worse Than Expected, a New Study Warns
A new study affirms that a critical system of Atlantic Ocean currents that shunt warm and cold water between the poles is “on course” to a tipping point. If the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation [AMOC] fails because of increasing freshwater inflows from melting ice sheets and rivers swelled by global warming, the authors said it would disrupt the climate globally, shifting Asian monsoon rainfall patterns and even reversing the rainy and dry seasons in the Amazon.
“It’s a global shift,” said Utrecht University climate and physics researcher René van Westen, co-author of the research published today in Science Advances. Along with changes in rain distribution, an AMOC collapse could also make some other related ocean currents in the Atlantic, like the Gulf Stream, “partly vanish,” he said.
“This leads to a lot of dynamic sea level rise, up to a meter in the North Atlantic under an AMOC collapse,” he said. “And you need to add that on top of the sea level rise already caused by global warming. So the problems are really severe.”
IFL Science
by Ben Taub
12-Year-Old Builds Replica Of Archimedes’ Death Ray - And It Works
A grade eight student from Ontario, Canada has helped to settle a long-standing historical debate by proving that a so-called “death ray” designed by the Ancient Greek polymath Archimedes could really have worked. The weapon - which supposedly harnessed the sun’s rays in order to incinerate enemy ships - is reported to have been deployed against the Roman Navy with deadly consequences, yet researchers have yet to discern whether the ancient contraption really existed.
To help resolve the dispute, 12-year-old Brenden Sener built a scaled-down version of it, and ultimately concluded that the concept works and could plausibly have been used in battle.
The original death ray is said to have been used against the invading Romans during the Siege of Syracuse, which lasted from 213 to 212 BCE. As warships advanced on the Hellenistic city - which is located on the island of Sicily - local defenders turned to Archimedes’ inventions to help keep the enemy at bay.
The Brighter Side
by Joseph Shavit
[Infant] Height differences are connected to cognitive ability, study finds
Groundbreaking research led by Professor John Spencer at the University of East Anglia, and Assistant Professor Samuel Forbes from the distinguished Psychology Department, has unveiled a crucial link—affecting infants as young as six months old—between the physical stature of an infant and their cognitive abilities, tied to brain function.
PHYS.org
by University of Sidney
What turned Earth into a giant snowball 700 million years ago? Scientists now have an answer
Australian geologists have used plate tectonic modeling to determine what most likely caused an extreme ice-age climate in Earth's history, more than 700 million years ago.
The study, published in
Geology, helps our understanding of the functioning of the Earth's built-in thermostat that prevents the Earth from getting stuck in overheating mode. It also shows how sensitive global climate is to atmospheric carbon concentration.
"Imagine the Earth almost completely frozen over," said the study's lead author, ARC Future Fellow Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz. "That's just what happened about 700 million years ago; the planet was blanketed in ice from poles to equator and temperatures plunged. However, just what caused this has been an open question.
"We now think we have cracked the mystery: historically low volcanic carbon dioxide emissions, aided by weathering of a large pile of volcanic rocks in what is now Canada; a process that absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide."
Science news from my neck of the woods.
New York Upstate
by Sunny Hernandez
‘Oldest forest in the world’ found in Upstate NY, revealing over 380 million years of history
An ancient forest in Upstate New York has left behind big impressions, causing scientists to declare it the “world’s oldest forest.”
According to
Binghamton University, the forest is located in Cairo, New York and was first discovered in 2009 by Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the
New York State Museum.
Found at the bottom of an abandoned municipal highway department quarry in the
Catskills, traces of roots belonging to the oldest trees in the world were found beneath a ridge and forest pool 387 million years ago. This recorded evidence meant that the site in Cairo is two million years older than the Gilboa fossil forest, just down the road.
Sunset
by Kristin Guy
Creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat Is Easier Than You Think
What if I told you that any outdoor space can be transformed into a buzzing life-filled habitat by implementing just a few simple changes? Yes, even small patios, tricky front yards, and parking strips can be maximized to offer resources for our beneficial wildlife. Struggling with HOA rules? Fear not! Your yard won’t have to look like a big ol’ pile of twigs, because being mindful doesn’t equal being messy. Plus, if you do qualify for official certification, you’ll get a nifty sign to put up in your front yard to let your neighbors know you care… and that maybe they should, too.
There really isn’t an excuse not to turn your space into a certified wildlife habitat. With organic gardening products and native plants becoming more readily available, one stop at your local nursery can put you on your way to creating a more sustainable and wildlife-friendly environment. Ready to get certified!? I’m going to walk you through each step to qualification while offering a simple stylish solution that will bring joy to you and the ecosystem waiting to burst into life around you.
One Green Planet
by Emma Gallagher
15 Ways to Bring a Little Permaculture into Your Life
What attracts many people to permaculture is the homesteading and sustainable agricultural side of things, but as it is practiced more and interest dives deeper, folks start to see a whole permaculture world reveal itself before them.
Permaculture was developed out of recognition of failing food production methods, environmental disregard, and a growing population. Bill Mollison and David Holmgren developed twelve principles of growth that would ensure the well-being of human, animal, and environmental growth and health.
That is surely permaculture in a tiny nutshell. If you want to delve deeper, take a look a these OGP articles written by a certified and ever-practicing plant-based permaculturist.
This is an open thread where everyone is welcome, especially night owls and early birds, to share and discuss the science news of the day. Please share your articles and stories in the comments.