Each formation is likely hundreds of millions of years old. Credit: Deposit PhotosShareMany seismologists and researchers have long believed the Earth possesses a fast flowing and well-mixed mantle. But that theory may require some revisions according to new findings from researchers at the Netherlands Utrecht University. Their evidence comes from a pair of sunken, continent-sized out of tune geological islands located inside a tectonic plate graveyard 1,800-feet-below the planets surface.Their study, published on January 22nd in the journal Nature, relies on the tones generated during large earthquakes that cause the Earth to vibrate like a giant bell. As an accompanying university announcement explains, seismologists study the planets interior by analyzing these oscillations acoustic signatures. Experts can also then identify anomalies based on whether regions are out of tune, or if their volume is dampened.Over 25 years ago, researchers discovered that some of these deep Earth reverberations pointed to the existence of two underground super-continents hundreds of miles beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. At the time, scientists werent sure if these formations near the boundary between Earths mantle and core were a temporary phenomenon, or if they had existed there for millions or billions of years. What they did know, however, was what encased the pair of mysteries.Schematic representation of the process of subduction of tectonic plates and of a mantle plume rising from an LLSVP. In the latter, the mineral grains are larger than those in the subducted plates. Credit: Utrecht University These two large islands are surrounded by a graveyard of tectonic plates which have been transported there by a process called subduction, study co-author and Utrecht University seismologist Arwen Deuss explained in Thursdays announcement. During subduction, a tectonic plate shifts beneath another one, forcing it from the Earths surface down as far as nearly 1,900 feet.The two sub-continents, as well as any other areas causing seismic waves to slow, are known as Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces, or LLSVPs. One of the principal reasons why acoustic slowdowns occur is due to a LLSVPs hotter temperature compared to its surrounding environment. Duess and collaborators focused on the LLSVPs ability to damp seismic waves, referring to the energy loss that occurs as waves travel through the planet. They paid particular attention to where tones became out of tune, but also how loud or quiet they became during their journeys.Against our expectations, we found little damping in the LLSVP, which made the tones sound very loud there, explained study co-author Sujania Talavera-Soza. But we did find a lot of damping in the cold slab graveyard, where the tones sounded very soft.This contrasted with readings collected from the upper mantle that looked as expecteddamped waves due to hotter temperatures. Talavera-Soza likened the difference to going for a run in hot or cold weather. When its hotter, runners tend to slow down and tire more easily than when temperatures are much cooler.Colleagues suggested moving beyond examining temperatures to investigating an LSVPs mineral composition, particularly the individual grain sizes. According to Duess, grain size proved much more important.Location of the LLSVPs and a schematic representation of the Earths cross-section for speed and damping of the seismic waves. Credit: Utrecht University Deuss explained the slab graveyards LLSVPs are made of small grains that formed after the minerals recrystallize during each formations downward trip into the planet. Smaller grains mean a far greater number of them, as well as a larger number of the tiny gaps between them. Any acoustic waves traveling through these formations lose energy while passing through the many grain boundaries, leading to more damping. But because the two LLSVPs gave off very little damping, their grain sizes must be much larger.Bigger grains also imply these LLSVPs are much more ancient than researchers first hypothesizedat least 500-millionyears-old, but perhaps even reaching past 1 billion years. These mineral grains are also much more rigid, making them capable of resisting the flow of Earths mantle, called mantle convection.After all, the LLSVPs must be able to survive mantle convection one way or another, said Talavera-Soza. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.The recent discoveries contradict the descriptions of a very fluid and well-mixed mantle found in most geology textbooks. Such a potentially major seismological revision reverberates far beyond LLSVP composition, age, or movement. Understanding how these massive formations grow in size and interact with their surroundings helps better illuminate Earths planetary evolution. It also has implications for the inner workings of volcanoes and mountains.The Earths mantle is the engine that drives all these phenomena, said Duess, who offered mantle plumes as an example. These large pockets of molten material rise through the Earth from deep inside its interior, much like the movement in a lava lamp. Once near the surface, these plumes help to cause volcanic eruptions.[W]e think that those mantle plumes originate at the edges of the LLSVPs, said Duess.

TK Credit: d3sign/Moment via Getty ImagesSharePFAS, more commonly referred to as forever chemicals, are everywhere. Studies have detected the harmful compounds in a plethora of everyday objects, from popular nonstick pans to waterproof clothing and just about anything in between. Now, a new class action lawsuit alleges some of those harmful chemicals are present in several Apple Watch wristbands at worrying levels. The suit was filed in the Northern District of California this week and first spotted by The Register. If true, the complaint only further confirms just how difficult it is to avoid contact with PFAS in everyday life.The suit specifically sets its sights on three Apple Watch band models: The sports band that comes with most devices, the Ocean Band, and the Nike-branded sports band. Each of these, the suit alleges, includes harmful levels of PFAS that are used to make the bands resistant to sweat and skin oil. Lawyers cite a recent study which determined several smartwatch bands had median levels of detectable perfluorohexanoic acid, (773 ng/g,) a PFAS, in much higher levels than found in previous analyzing cosmetics (199 ng/g). Its possible Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) may pass through skin at different levels with wearables than much finer cosmetics. Scientists also have not established clear guidelines on safe levels of PFHxA exposure, though federal agencies do regulate the amount of the compound that can be detected in drinking water. The suit claims Apple could have achieved similar performance with alternative compounds like silicone, but instead opted for PFAS to drive down cost. These choices were made, the suit claims, despite widespread public knowledge of the potential health risks associated with PFAS. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.[Apple] advertises these Products as designed to support and further human health and wellness, environmentally sustainable, and suitable for everyday use and wear, the suit alleges. However, in truth, they contain excessive levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are toxic to human health and the environment.Apple did not immediately respond to Popular Sciences request for comment.What are forever chemicals?So-called forever chemical refers to a collection of more than 9,000 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances called PFAS. The substances trace their origin to 1938 with the creation of Teflon. Since then, variations have been used in everything from fertilizer and stain-resistant fabrics to popcorn bags. PFAS are valuable because they bond carbon and fluorine atoms in a way that makes them uniquely resistant to heat, water, and grease. They are also essentially indestructible. That means trace amounts of these chemicals build up in the environment and can take more than a thousand years to fully break down.But PFAS arent just bad for the environment. Small portions of these chemicals seep into soil and drinking water which then inevitably makes its way into human bodies. Their presence has become pervasive. Studies have shown a trace of PFAS detectable in 97% of humans. Studies have also linked PFAS exposure to various health risks including liver and immune system damage, impaired fertility, and low birth weight or birth defects in babies. Other research has associated PFAS with increased rates of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.Suit claims Apple engaged in fraudThe lawsuit bases its allegations primarily on a study published in December in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters. There, researchers from the University of Notre Dame U conducted an analysis of 22 smartwatch bands from multiple brands and various price points. The team tested samples using particle-induced gamma-ray emission ion beam analysis and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to detect signs of PFAS. Nine of 22 samples were reportedly found to have elevated levels of a PFAS called perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). Though the study did not specify which brand of strap were implicated, the findings were most prevalent in higher-priced watchbands over $15.The most remarkable thing we found in this study was the very high concentrations of just one PFASthere were some samples above 1,000 parts per billion of PFHxA, which is much higher than most PFAS we have seen in consumer products, study co-author and University of Notre Dame professor Graham Peaslee said in a statement.Peaslee has previously found PFAS in other consumer products like cosmetics, fast food wrappers, contact lenses, and dental floss, among others. Researchers say chemicals in these products can migrate from the material into humans through multiple paths of exposure including inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption.In the Apple case, lawyers representing the plaintiffs allege Apple should have known not to include harmful PFAS and taken steps to remove them from their products. The suit suggests possible health risks associated with PFAS might be more pronounced in this case because consumers are encouraged to keep wearable devices on throughout the day, often for long stretches of time. The complaints allege Apple engaged in fraud, fraudulent inducement, concealment, misrepresentation, negligence, and unjust enrichment. It seeks an injunction to halt the sale of the product as well as monetary penalties.PFAS use isnt unique to Apple. Companies across various industries have made efforts to remove PFAS from their products in recent years. Clothing brands like L.L. Bean and Columbia Sportswear have reportedly spent years testing for PFAS and have announced new lines of products free of the substances. Others like The North Face and Vans have pledged to totally eliminate PFAS by 2026. Several states, like New York and California, have enacted laws banning the sale of new clothes found to include so-called forever chemicals. Though there are fewer public examples of consumer tech companies explicitly removing PFAS from wearable products, the lawsuit points to the Google Pixel Watch and FitBit Sport bands, made respectively of recycled yarn and silicone, as examples of competitors using non-PFAS materials.Even if the allegations made in the Apple lawsuit are true, the unfortunate reality is simply removing a smartwatch wont eliminate your risk of interacting with a PFAS. In fact, the most common source of PFAS exposure isnt through tech or clothes; its through the water we drink. A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis detected PFAS in almost half of the nations tap water. Typical faucet filtration devices arent always effective at removing these chemicals. More sophisticated, under-the-sink reverse osmosis machines are more effective, but studies show they also wont catch all forever chemicals. Luckily, newly enacted EPA rules, at least for now, require local utilities to have PFAS in drinking water down to near-zero levels. But completely avoiding PFAS in a world inundated with cheap, disposable goods is still much easier said than done. Win the Holidays with PopSci's Gift GuidesShopping for, well, anyone? The PopSci teams holiday gift recommendations mean youll never need to buy another last-minute gift card.SEE GIFT GUIDES

Nature, Published online: 23 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00129-9Myostatin, which blocks muscle development, unexpectedly has an effect on ovulation in female mice.

Nature, Published online: 22 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08330-yVan der Waals (Cr,Bi)2Te3, synthesized by non-equilibrium molecular beam epitaxy, is characterized by magnetotransport measurements and shown to be a semimetallic Weyl ferromagnet, with Fermi surface composed of two Weyl points and no irrelevant electronic states.

Storm owyn is about to hit the U.K. and Ireland as forecasters warn the explosive "bomb cyclone" will bring snow, rain and potentially deadly superfast winds.

Iceberg A23a is fast approaching the remote British island of South Georgia and the Sandwich islands

submitted by /u/MarcelDeneuve [link] [comments]

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition $60 Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at GameStop Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Target Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is less than two months away. The highly anticipated upgraded edition of the beloved 2015 Wii U RPG is slated to release on March 20. Much like the first game's upgraded edition for Switch, the upcoming remaster features overhauled graphics and quality-of-life improvements. The physical version of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is available to preorder at multiple major retailers, and you can secure an exclusive Xenoblade collectible at Best Buy or in-game content at GameStop. If you already placed your preorder, you will get these bonuses added to your order retroactively.Xenoblade Chronicles X Best Buy-exclusive Mini Metal PosterPreorders of Xenoblade Chronicles X at Best Buy include an exclusive Mini Metal Poster with a display stand (shown above). If you preorder a physical or digital edition from GameStop or directly from Nintendo, you'll receive the Exploration Support Package, which features the following in-game content:100,000 Credits (in-game currency)Advanced Iron KnifeAdvanced Storm Assault RifleSurvival Armor6 Weapon Augments5 Armor AugmentsThe Exploration Support Package is an early purchase bonus on the eShop and will be available until April 6.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Season 2 kicks off soonCall of Duty: Black Ops 6's Season 2 kicks off on January 28. The new season delivers a host of new content to the game, including more multiplayer maps and a handful of new and returning modes.Five new maps for Season 2 have been announced, and in this gallery, we're running through all of them and explaining what they're all about.Not all of the maps are totally new, however, as Season 2 delivers a remastered version of the Black Ops II map, Grind, which is set in a skate park.Of the five maps for Season 2, three are coming at launch, with two more coming during the season. This type of phased rollout is typical for Call of Duty.All of the Black Ops 6 multiplayer maps are free for all players. This has been common practice in recent years, but it wasn't always this way. Activision used to charge for individual map packs, and this was criticized for fracturing the playerbase.As for the new and returning modes, players can look forward to a souped-up version of Team Deathmatch called Overdrive as well as the return of the always-fun Gun Game. There are two new Valentine's Day-themed multiplayer modes coming as well.Click through the images in the gallery below to find out everything you need to know about the new Black Ops 6 multiplayer maps and modes for Season 2. Bounty A brand-new map for 6v6 modes, Bounty is a medium-sized multiplayer map set on top of a skyscraper. The lore of the map is that the Rogue faction are visiting the penthouse to celebrate previous victories, and the space is indeed themed around opulence. Players will find a gold-plated nightclub and a lounge with top-shelf booze. Bounty Activision says the "party is in the front, but business is in the back," referring to an office in the back room that is actually a place where a crime lord would torture his victims. This room is filled with "unpleasant evidence" of that. "Race over the tarp and battle between the unfinished walls or move out to the Rooftop for a tactical breath of fresh air. Shoot the glass out from underneath your enemys feet on the Skylight, or race along the outer Ledge, jumping over the top of a neon sight to reach the other side, as Bounty has plenty of routes to learn if you aren't scared of heights," reads a line from the map's description. Dealership Another brand-new, medium-sized Black Ops 6 map coming for the Season 2 launch is called Dealership. This is a car dealership that is actually a front for black market criminal activity. DealershipThe Dealership map has a car lot and a showroom, along with sliding doors that players can use to slow down oncoming enemies. Snipers are in for a treat, too, as the map as an administrative office with two windows that serves as a sniper nest. There is also a floor vent, which Activision said can be used to surprise enemies with an RC-XD. Lifeline Lifeline is a brand-new, small-sized map that will be available at launch for Season 2. It takes place in the middle of the ocean on a yacht named Lifeline. The ship is on fire, though, leading to some dangerous scenarios. Lifeline Lifeline is a very small map, so players can expect the lanes to funnel combatants together very quickly. The yacht has a gambling table, a disco room, and a bar. BulletBullet is a brand-new, small-sized multiplayer map coming to Black Ops 6 in the middle of Season 2. The map takes place on a fast-moving bullet train, so expect tight quarters and lots of action. Bullet Again, this is a very small map, so players should expect fast and frenetic encounters. Each car has automatic sliding doors, and cars include a first-class lounge and a dining car. There is a rooftop hatch, too, but Activision warns that players need to stay alert or they'll run the risk of getting jettisoned off the train. Grind Finally, Black Ops 6's remaster map, Grind, takes players back to the environment first seen in Black Ops 2. This map, which is coming sometime during Season 2 and not at launch, takes place in a skatepark, and it features both indoor and outdoor areas. GrindGrind features a massive skate bowl and half-pipe in the outdoor sections, along with lots of ramps. Finally, Activision teased that players can expect "an additional surprise related to this map, later in the season," so fans will have to wait to see what that is.

Assassin's Creed games are known for their top-of-the-line stealth-based gameplay and rich, historical narratives that truly center players in the game's time period. The upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows is no exception, transporting players to Japan's conflict-ridden Azuchi-Momoyama period as they follow the dual journeys of samurai Yasuke and shinobi Naoe. Assassin's Creed Shadows utilizes its Japanese setting to tell a story of honor, political conflict, family legacy, and the juxtaposition between samurai standing on the front lines of battle and shinobi working from the shadows.