The Discovery of The Promachocrinus Fragarius

 

Marine biology discovered a new organism. Antarctica is home to a sea based species known as promachocrinus fragaris. The recent detection reveals there is more work to be done in the fields of zoology and marine biology. The common name for this creature is the Antarctic  strawberry feather star.  Promachocrinus fragaris has what appears to be 20 tentacle like structures. Zoologists sometimes call them arms.  The nubs on its body do resemble fruit in shape. Hence why it was given the name. The morphology of this organism has evolved for ocean floor travel. The body of this organism contains cirri. The cirri are circular like bumps on its body. The structures have small claws which enable promachocrinus fragaris to grip to the seafloor. The sea lifeform falls under the class Crinoidea. Starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sand dollars are a part of this class. The unusual aspect of the organisms morphology is the number of appendages. Most feather stars have 10, while  promachocrinus fragaris has 10 more. The reason it took so long to detect this animal was due to location. The promachocrinus fragaris was found 1.7 km (3, 840 ft)  below the surface. According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography finding new species is common. The challenge is classifying them correctly and giving formal names. The ocean remains a mystery and the nature of the seafloor is more complex than previously thought. Various types of fish, starfish, and completely different organisms could reside on the seafloor. Barriers prevent humankind from fully reaching that area. The possibility does remain that new species are emerging, but have not been discovered. The promachocrinus fragaris is an invertebrate, but little is known about its physiology. Overtime, more information will be collected allowing for a deeper understanding of deep sea lifeforms. 

Albert Einstein Explains Mass-Energy Equivalence

 

Mass and energy are the same entity. This is known as mass-energy equivalence. Albert Einstein explains in this video clip the concept. Mass-energy equivalence can best be described as energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. The equation    has become recognizable to the general public. Mathematics is used in theoretical physics to express natural phenomenon. Mass-energy equivalence emerged out of the special theory of relativity. A diminutive amount of mass can be converted into a large amount of energy. Experimental confirmation of this was achieved in 1932. Mass-energy equivalence  was used to develop new technologies. Nuclear power plants. particle accelerators,  and nuclear weapons are the reason the idea connects to applied science. Relativistic mechanics were required to explain the physics of the subatomic world and the universe. Considerations have to be made in terms of frame of reference, relativistic mass, and relativistic energy. Newtonian mechanics was limited by describing physics in terms of the absolute.  

Astronomers Detect One of The Largest Cosmic Explosions

 

Astronomers have detected one of the largest cosmic explosions. The announcement came from Dr. Phillip Wiseman who led the observations. The observations were conducted by Southampton University. The cause of the explosion is thought to be the result of gas being sucked into a supermassive black hole. Space is a strange and exciting place with new objects to be discovered. The size of the explosion was about 100 times the Solar System. The explosion has been given an official name. Astronomers refer to it as AT2021lwx. The light that comes from the explosion allows astronomers on Earth to detect it. AT2021lwx is still emitting energy. The event could either be the product of a supernova or tidal disruption event. This refers to when a star gets too close to a black hole and gets damaged in the process. Technically, AT2021lwx was detected in 2020 by the Zwicky Transient Facility. However, astronomers needed to collect more data for confirmation. Calculating the brightness required knowing the distance. The distance was determined to be 8 billion light years away. The fact that AT2021lwx is so bright for this long only adds to the mystery. A supernova or tidal disruption event's brightness only lasts a few months. It is unknown when AT202llwx will fade away. Over the next few years astronomers are going to find more cosmic explosions. Examining these occurrences might provide more information on the attributes of black holes.

The Earth's Core Activity

 

The Earth's core activity has gotten the attention of scientists. The core might have stopped spinning or is going in reverse. The Earth's core contains a liquid outer section and a solid part in the middle. The recent detection was done by analyzing seismic wave data. The data was collection from over the past 60 years. According to researchers at Peking University, the core could have stopped around 2009. Only now has it resumed its rotation, but in an opposite direction. The core tends to rotate counter-clock wise. There might be a pattern for which scientists do not know the reason for. Knowledge of the Earth's core is difficult to acquire. Getting equipment to the core for examination would require advanced engineering. The immense pressure would destroy any camera that could go there.  The outer core contains nickel and liquid iron. What core activity  demonstrates is more must be  discovered about Earth. Just below the surface is a unique environment. The change in core activity is nothing to cause alarm. There are no disturbances on the surface related to ecological systems. Rotation change according to the study occurred in the 1970s. Based on the models it is predicted another will happen in the 2040s. The information is of use to geology and geophysics. The Earth has certain movement cycles related to its core. The mystery is what is the purpose of changes in rotation. Seismologists are attempting to provide an answer. The technological limitations and gaps in knowledge remain obstacles.   

The Subarachnoidal Lymphatic-like Membrane Has Been Discovered

 

An incredible discovery has been made in neuroanatomy. A new structure known as the subarachnoidal lymphatic-like membrane was detected. The previously unknown anatomical structure was discovered through neuro-imagining and techniques developed by microbiology. The structures function most likely acts as a protective barrier. The area can be a place in which immune cells monitor the brain from infections and inflammation. The discovery was made through research by the University of Rochester and University of Copenhagen. The new information reveals much about the connection between cerebrospinal fluid and immune system response. The brain has a method of waste disposal and protection. The common understanding was that the meningeal layer had only three layers. Those layers included the dura, arachnoid, and pia layers. The new layer is located between the arachnoid and pia layers.   The newly discovered membrane is similar to mesothelium. These membranes are designed to protect organs in the body. The subarachnoidal lymphatic-like membrane is a much thinner membrane, but still very selective about what molecules pass through to get access to cerebrospinal fluid. The discovery can be utilized to have a greater understanding of diseases of the brain. Abnormalities in the membrane could have a role in multiple sclerosis, dementia, and severe central nervous system infections. The clue given was that a larger amount of immune cell gather in the SLYM during inflammation. This also happens during aging. The brain does change with age. Knowing more about the brain can ensure the best methods of maintaining cognitive health. More information can also aid in treating traumatic brain injuries.  The subarachnoidal lymphatic-like membrane contains its own central nervous system immune cells. The discovery of this anatomical structure demonstrates there is much more to learn about immune system response and the nervous system.