A trip to Mars may be in the books for future astronauts, but current propulsion technology will have them floating in a spacecraft bound for the Red Planet for roughly six to nine months. Considering how spaceflight affects the human body, thats not ideal. A rocket company in Russia may have developed a solution to travel through the cosmos at much faster speeds using a new type of rocket engine. Scientists at Russias state-owned Rosatom corporation have developed a prototype of a plasma electric rocket engine that could reach Mars in just 30 to 60 days, Russian media reported. The rocket, which uses hydrogen as fuel, has the potential to revolutionize spaceflight, but it is very early in its development phase and will likely take several years before it can be used for a human mission to Mars. Still, this new kind of technology may be whats needed to leave dusty footprints on the Martian surface. In most rocket engines, liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer are pumped into a combustion chamber, where they ignite and produce hot exhaust to propel the rocket. A plasma rocket, on the other hand, is a type of electric propulsion system that uses two electrodes. When charged particles are moved between the electrodes, and a high voltage is applied, the current creates a magnetic field that pushes the particles out of the engine. The plasma receives a directed motion and creates thrust as a result, Egor Biriulin, a junior researcher at Rosatoms scientific institute in Troitsk, told Russian newspaper Izvestia. Using regular fuel combustion, rockets have a maximum matter flow velocity of roughly 2.7 miles per second (4.5 kilometers per second), but the plasma engine is capable of accelerating charged particles to a speed of 62 miles per second (100 kilometers per second), according to the researchers. At those speeds, a rocket trip to Mars could take a month or two. The rocket engine prototype is currently being tested in a chamber that simulates the conditions of space. Although the rocket will use traditional chemical propulsion to launch, it will switch to electric propulsion once it reaches orbit.Russia isnt the only spacefaring nation hoping to reach Mars with speedier rockets. NASA recently announced a collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to demonstrate a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space to reduce transit time for human missions to the Red Planet. Meanwhile, SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk has proposed using the companys Starship rocket to launch uncrewed missions to Mars in 2026, followed by the first human mission in around four years time. The new space age is about to witness a heated race to reach the dusty Martian surface.

After two weeks of open voting in the 16th edition of the Building of the Year Awards, our readers have meticulously narrowed down a pool of almost 4,000 projects to a select group of 75 finalists spanning 15 categories. This year's awards honor the pinnacle of design, innovation, and sustainability on a global scale, showcasing an exceptional range of projects within the shortlist. As a crowdsourced award, we take pride in affirming that your selections authentically mirror the current state of architecture, and the caliber of this year's finalists further underscores the excellence and diversity prevalent in the field.

Why Do Modernist Principles Still Underpin Design Education in Brazil? Five Professors Share Their PerspectivesSave this picture!Palcio da Alvorada / Oscar Niemeyer Joana FranaThe complex relationship between architectural education and modernist principles in Brazil raises important questions about contemporary architectural practice. To explore this topic, we invited five professors from different Brazilian universities to share their perspectives: Eduardo Lopes (Universidade do Vale do Itaja), Eduardo Westphal (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina), Fbio Mosaner (Universidade Federal de Pernambuco), Marta Boga (Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Universidade de So Paulo), and Rodrigo Bastos (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina). Their insights highlight modernism's lasting influence on architectural education while raising key questions for the current architectural debate. Eduardo Lopes, Universidade do Vale do ItajaModernism remains deeply embedded in Brazilian architecture schools for several reasons: it shaped iconic buildings and cities, with Braslia as its greatest symbol; many professors were trained during the movement's height or by its leading figures; and well-established research groups continue to study its impact. While modernism contributed significantly to architectural history and retains relevant principles, such as construction rationalization, it also had shortcomings. Its urban planning strategies often failed, leading to fragmented public spaces, blind facades facing the streets, and vast empty urban areas that disrupted city life. Related Article Is Apprenticeship the Way That Architectural Education Stays Relevant? "I notice a challenge in presenting modernism to students as an important historical chapter and a legacy to be understood, rather than a model to be followed indiscriminately."Save this picture!Contemporary architecture requires an approach that responds to present-day needs and prioritizes urban vitalitya challenge modernism often struggled to address.Eduardo Westphal, Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaModernist principles no longer form the sole foundation of design education in Brazil. Instead, they persist alongside other historically established approaches. Teaching and learning design are inherently complex and exist in a constant state of tension. In the early 20th century, architectural education shifted from an academicist approach, focused on replicating styles, to one incorporating technological and functionalist concerns. However, the core learning methodlearning by doinghas remained largely unchanged. A key figure in this transition was Lucio Costa, who moved Brazilian architectural education away from the beaux-arts tradition and toward a new framework. His work led to Brazil's first standardized architecture curriculum, reflecting his broader reflections on Brazilian modernity. Although institutions vary, Brazilian architectural education was shaped by a distinct national interpretation of modernism.At the same time, contemporary curricula incorporate disciplines such as urban planning and sociology, fostering a more context-sensitive design process. By the 1960s, Lina Bo Bardi had already taken steps toward a uniquely Brazilian architectural perspective, integrating popular knowledge and local character into her work and writings. However, her contributions were only fully recognized later.Save this picture!"More recently, albeit slowly, design education has begun incorporating Indigenous architecture and participatory design processes. This shift is gaining momentum, opening new possibilities for education and practice while moving away from the authoritarian tendencies often associated with modernism."Save this picture!Modernism also provided valuable contributions, particularly in industrialized construction. Architect Lel adapted these principles to create high-quality architecture suited to its sociocultural context while maintaining dignity throughout the production chain. Design education should integrate these lessons, combining technology, industrialization, compositional and typological orders, place-based experience, and real-life constraints. In design studios, students apply knowledge they may not even realize they possess, and it is through reflecting on their work that they uncover new questions. This educational process begins in architecture school and continues throughout their professional careers. Fbio Mosaner, Universidade Federal de PernambucoThe assumption that modernist principles still serve as the foundation of design education in Brazil requires scrutiny. With over a thousand architecture programs in the country, significant variations exist. Furthermore, various scholars argue that modernism should not be seen as a single movement but as multiple modernisms."A more suitable question might be: 'To what extent do modernist principles still underpin design education today?' Historiographical critiques of modernism are well established, and modernist urbanism has faced substantial criticism, influencing urban-scale design education."To advance this discussion, lets acknowledge that modernist principles still influence architectural education while recognizing their evolution. Some key factors contributing to this ongoing influence include: 1. The successful adaptation of European modernism in Brazil, generating high-quality architecture that reinterpreted local traditions and gained international recognition; 2. The National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN), led by modernist intellectuals, shaped the historiographical narrative of Brazilian modern architecture, framing it as an extension of the Portuguese-Brazilian tradition rather than a rupture, as seen in European modernism.Save this picture!Many examples illustrate this, such as several modern architecture works being designated as heritage sites shortly after their inauguration, including the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) Buildingnow the Palcio Gustavo Capanemain Rio de Janeiro and the Pampulha complex in Belo Horizonte. 3. The establishment of architecture programs in Brazil was strongly influenced by the ideals of Brazilian modernism, as previously mentioned, and was implemented consistently across major capitals, including Rio de Janeiro, So Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Salvador, and Recife. Most of these programs were offered at public universities and served as models for later programs, reinforcing modernisms dominance in architectural education. 4. Although modernist discourse waned after the construction of Braslia, modernist architectural production remained highly active and influential.Even though modernist discourse lost traction in the 1980s and 1990s due to postmodernist critiques, architects who identified with modernism continued producing significant work. Figures such as Lina Bo Bardi, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, and Joo Figueiras Lima (Lel) gained national and international recognition, shaping contemporary Brazilian architecture.Save this picture!Academic design exercises interact with contemporary practice, reinforcing modernisms legacy in education. However, modernist principles continue to evolve, incorporating contemporary concerns such as climate emergencies, as seen in Lels work, and heritage conservation, as reflected in the work of Lina Bo Bardi and Paulo Mendes da Rocha. Marta Boga, Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Universidade de So PauloIt is essential to distinguish modernism from modernity. Modernity represents a broader worldview rather than a mere stylistic category. Many aspects of modernity remain relevant today. For instance, Robert Venturis 1966 book Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture operated within modernitys framework while challenging its core beliefs. Rather than reducing modernism to a single set of traits, we must acknowledge its complexities. The architectural field still operates within modernist processes, particularly in industrial production.Save this picture!Learning about serialization, modularity, and prefabrication remains crucial. However, as we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution and embrace new technologies, we risk overlooking modernisms valuable lessons. The productivity-driven, fast-paced world we inhabit is a direct consequenceand distortionof modernist thinking. The 19th-century expectation that industrialization would lead to shorter work hours remains unfulfilled. A critical approach to modernity provides a valuable framework for architectural education, but only if we remain aware of our current realities and identities."The foundation of design education is life itself. No style or historical period should take precedence over this fundamental principle. Knowledge, memories, and values must be shared, incorporated, and reinterpreted. Teaching and learning should be self-regulating, non-hierarchical, and collaborative, shaped by the experiences of everyone involved, including the professor."In todays rapidly changing world, where values constantly shift, the exchange between students and teachers can redefine and enrich architectural principles through interaction and collaboration. Rodrigo Bastos, Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaThis relationship needs to be carefully analyzed, and I greatly commend the initiative to address it. However, I wouldnt fully assume that modernist principles still form the foundation of architectural design education in our universities. Many architects and professors in design studios and related courses across Brazil take a critical stance on both architectural education and the modern design experience, which makes the statement feel somewhat too assertive. A more in-depth investigation is needed to assess the extent to which modernist theoretical foundations, principles, and postulates remain dominant in architectural education. Still, based on the texts we read, the discussions we follow at conferences, and our daily experiences in architecture schoolsthrough teaching and exchanging ideas with colleaguesit is clear that both architectural design practice and education in Brazil continue to be shaped by certain modernist principles. Notable examples include the enduring authority of "function" in defining programmatic needs, the conception of "space" as both an objective and an aesthetic quality in architecture, and the idea of "architectural party as a guiding strategy in the design process.Save this picture!At the same time, since the 1960sand increasingly in the following decadescriticisms of modernist principles have shaped architectural design education, fostering the integration of new concepts, aesthetics, and approaches. These shifts introduced a broader understanding of "place" and context, including landscape; a deeper focus on the body's experience in architecture; greater attention to sensory perception, memory, and identity; the influence of expanded artistic and architectural fields; and the incorporation of diverse social agendas. Rooted in phenomenology, post-structuralism, materialist critique, and the poetic explorations of postmodern and contemporary architects, these perspectives have gradually redefined the foundations of architectural teaching.Save this picture!The very concept of design, especially in more participatory contexts, has challenged the modernist notion of the architect as an original "creator," shifting towards a collective design approach that involves communities. Without a deeper study of the process, I see architectural education in Brazil as an "accumulation of principles"diverse and multifacetedreflecting the complexities of our time. This diversity can be a positive aspect, allowing for a broad range of influences without rigid adherence to any single epistemology, school of thought, aesthetic, or artistic movement.This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: 100 Years of Modernism. Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and architecture projects. We invite you to learn more about our ArchDaily Topics. And, as always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorCamilla GhisleniAuthorCite: Ghisleni, Camilla. "Why Do Modernist Principles Still Underpin Design Education in Brazil? Five Professors Share Their Perspectives" [Por que os princpios do modernismo ainda so a base do ensino de projeto no Brasil? Cinco professores compartilham suas perspectivas sobre o tema] 12 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. (Trans. Simes, Diogo) Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026639/why-do-modernist-principles-still-underpin-design-education-in-brazil-five-professors-share-their-perspectives&gt ISSN 0719-8884More interviews from ourYouTube ChannelSave!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Web Raiders Unleash Global Brute Force Attacks From 2.8M IP AddressesBy John P. Mello Jr.February 12, 2025 5:00 AM PT ADVERTISEMENTAchieve Financial Clarity with SettleGetting accurate product cost data is crucial for growth. Settle unifies invoices, payments, and inventory to help e-commerce operators uncover true costs and boost margins -- all in one platform. Get Started Today! A weeks-long brute force attack campaign by malicious actors has reached mammoth proportions, according to a non-profit security organization.The Shadowserver Foundation reports that the campaign, which has been ongoing since January, involves as many as 2.8 million IP addresses daily, targeting VPN devices, firewalls, and gateways from vendors like Palo Alto Networks, Ivanti, and SonicWall.The recent wave of brute force attacks targeting edge security devices, as reported by Shadowserver, is a serious concern for cybersecurity teams, said Brent Maynard, senior director for security technology and strategy at Akamai Technologies, a content delivery network service provider, in Cambridge, Mass.What makes this attack stand out is both its scale millions of unique IPs attempting access daily and the fact that its hitting critical security infrastructure like firewalls, VPNs, and secure gateways, Maynard told TechNewsWorld.These arent just any devices. Theyre the frontline defenses that protect organizations from external threats. If an attacker gains control over them, they can bypass security controls entirely, leading to data breaches, espionage, or even destructive attacks.In a brute force attack, waves of passwords and usernames inundate a login target in an attempt to discover valid login credentials. Compromised devices may be used for data theft, botnet integration, or illegal network access.Massive Botnet Threat EscalatesThis type of botnet activity is not new. However, the scale is worrisome, observed Thomas Richards, a network and red team practice director at Black Duck Software, an applications security company in Burlington, Mass.Depending on the type of device compromised, the attackers could leverage their access to disable internet access to the organization, disrupt networks communicating or facilitate their own access inside the network, Richards told TechNewsWorld. The attack, even if unsuccessful in gaining access to the devices, can cause harm by attempting too many login attempts and having valid accounts locked out.Patrick Tiquet, vice president for security and architecture at Keeper Security, a Chicago-based password management and online storage company, explained that brute force attacks are significant because they exploit weak or reused passwords, one of the most persistent vulnerabilities in cybersecurity. Beyond immediate data loss, these breaches can disrupt operations, damage an organizations reputation, and erode customer trust leading to long-term financial and security consequences, he told TechNewsWorld.Erich Kron, a security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Fla., added that the source of these attacks is millions of smaller devices spread around the globe, making them extremely difficult to defend against.Many consumers have old and outdated devices in their homes connecting to the internet, Kron told TechNewsWorld. These vulnerable devices are being exploited and used to drive cyberattacks like this.Traditional approaches such as geoblocking and disallowing large blocks of IP addresses could actually block legitimate web traffic, costing some organizations sales and appearing as if the website is down to potential customers, he said.Credential-Based Attacks Overwhelm DefensesKris Bondi, CEO and co-founder of Mimoto, a threat detection and response company in San Francisco, asserted that the campaign exposed by Shadowserver highlights the vulnerability of credentials, even at security and infrastructure organizations.Brute force attacks are automated, so theyre implemented at scale, Bondi told TechNewsWorld. Its not a question of if they can get in with this approach. The question is how many times the organization will be penetrated this way, and will the security team know when it happens.Akamais Maynard explained: Attackers no longer need to sit at a keyboard guessing passwords. They deploy massive botnets that can test thousands of credentials in minutes.Using an attack called password spraying, attackers can use a known username or email address and pair it with tens of thousands of the most common passwords with software that will then try to log into various exposed devices, added KnowBe4s Kron. With several million devices available to be attempting these logins, the success rate is liable to be high. Bondi noted that the number and size of brute force attacks are rising. Automation and generative AI have made it easier to implement this type of attack, she said.They are hitting the large vulnerability that credentials represent, she continued. The attackers know that if they send enough attacks, some percentage will get through. In the meantime, security teams are overwhelmed and arent able to address all the attacks in real time, particularly without additional context.The explosion of internet-connected devices and the continued use of weak credentials also contribute to increased brute force attacks.With remote work, smart devices, and cloud adoption, more organizations rely on edge security devices that must be accessible from the internet, Maynard said. This makes them natural targets.Despite years of warnings, he added, many companies still use default or weak passwords, especially on infrastructure devices.AIs Role in Cyberattack Defense and PreventionWhile artificial intelligence contributes to the rise in brute force attacks, it may also foil them. AI has the potential to be a game-changer in defending against brute force and credential stuffing attacks, Maynard said.He noted that security teams are using AI-driven solutions to detect anomalies, analyze behavior, and automate responses to attacks.AI is very good at spotting anomalies and patterns. Therefore, AI can be very useful at looking at attempted logins, finding a pattern, and hopefully suggesting ways to filter the traffic, Kron explained.Jason Soroko, senior vice president of product at Sectigo, a global digital certificate provider, acknowledged that AI could help defenses by detecting anomalous login patterns and throttling suspicious activity in real time, but advised that strong authentication be prioritized first. While strong authentication needs identity management to scale and digital certificates and other strong asymmetric form factors need provisioning and lifecycle management, they can yield very strong security benefits, Soroko told TechNewsWorld.However, Bondi predicted AI will eventually vacate the need for credentials. AI enables combining anomaly detection with advanced pattern matching to recognize specific people, not credentials, with significantly lower rates of false positives, she said.AI can also help deliver context with alerts, which will enable security teams to prioritize and respond faster to true alerts while reducing false positives, she added.The expectation is that in the near future, AI will also be able to help predict intent based on specific actions and techniques of an attack, Bondi observed. While LLMs arent capable of this yet, they could be within a few quarters.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.Related StoriesMore by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Cybersecurity

Michael Saylor, a vocal Bitcoin advocate and Executive Chairman of Strategy, expresses his strong belief in a coming Bitcoin halving and bull run, potentially fueled by factors like the approval of a Spot Bitcoin ETF. For some proponents of cryptocurrency, the halving underscores Bitcoin's value as an increasingly scarce asset. Nakamoto had stipulated a finite supply of 21 million tokens for Bitcoin.Such a scenario holds transformative potential, particularly among the younger generation, who may increasingly view Bitcoin as a modern-day store of value akin to how preceding generations regarded gold. This shift in perception could fundamentally reshape investment attitudes and strategies for years to come.#BTC #Bitcoin #Strategy #BTCPrediction #CryptoNews #BitcoinNews #Crypto #CryptocurrencyFind usbitcoin,crypto news,bitcoin news,btc,cryptocurrency,bitcoin live,bitcoin price,bitcoin price prediction,bitcoin news today,bitcoin mining,crypto news today,bitcoin etf,bitcoin prediction,btc price,btc news,cryptocurrency news,btc price prediction,btc live,buy bitcoin,bitcoin analysis,bitcoin trading,bitcoin today,crypto,btc prediction,bitcoin halving,etf,michael saylor,michael saylor interview,michael saylor bitcoin,upcoming bitcoin,mstr stock

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The human body is, on average, 60 percent water. So it makes sense that water is doing something important in there. And indeed, water is necessary for almost all physiological processes.In the past few years, research on hydration has shifted from studying the role of hydration in athletic performance to waters role in overall health. And scientists are finding some interesting connections.Water Is Essential to the BodyThere is evidence that insufficient hydration can cause inflammation, stiffen arteries, and interfere with blood pressure control (causing blood pressure to swing wildly from too high to too low). According to a study published in 2022 in the European Heart Journal, staying well-hydrated during middle age can reduce the risk of heart problems later in life.The brain needs water, too. While the research on the cognitive effects of mild dehydration is still sparse and somewhat inconsistent, an increasing amount of evidence shows that the bodys hydration level influences cognitive performance, working memory, and mood.Adam Seal, a scientist who studies hydration physiology and diabetes biomarkers at California Polytechnic, is one of the researchers working to understand how water or a lack of it affects our health.If you dont drink enough water, your blood volume decreases, and the concentration of your blood, specifically your plasma, increases. Your brain responds by secreting the hormone vasopressin. Vasopressin, sometimes called antidiuretic hormone (ADH), helps regulate the amount of water in your body. Vasopressin, he explains, has a lot of downstream effects.Seal and colleagues are discovering that, among other things, vasopressin may act on the liver and the pancreas, setting off a cascade of events leading to problems with glucose regulation.Were certainly not saying that drinking water is going to cure diabetes, he says. But its a low-cost and easy lifestyle change that could potentially have an effect.When you add that to keeping your heart strong, your emotions steady, and your memory sharp, who doesnt want to make sure they get enough water? But how much is enough?How Much Water Do You Need?You may have heard that you need to drink eight glasses of water a day. But that advice is kind of meaningless. Whats the definition of a glass? Fortunately, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) offers more specific recommendations.According to NAM, on average, men need about three liters of water a day, and women need about two. Thats for plain water, explains Seal. But some of your water comes from food. Melons, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, and spinach are all high-water foods that also offer other important nutrients.Does coffee count toward your fluid intake? After all, its mostly water. The surprising, happy answer is yes! Caffeine is a diuretic, explains Seal. But, his research has shown that it takes much more caffeine than you get in a typical cup of coffee to disturb your fluid balance.Alcohol is another known diuretic. But again, though alcohol does have a dehydrating effect, The good news is that a beer, say, still has a high water content, says Seal, so that offsets some of the dehydration effect. Alcohol is not likely to dehydrate you as long as you dont overdrink.How Do You Know If Youre Getting Enough Water?A good indicator that youre getting enough water is the color of your urine. When youre dehydrated, your urine will be darker. If its clear or pale yellow, then youre probably doing just fine. Another good indicator is how often you urinate. More water, more trips to the loo. And thats a good thing!Generally, thirst is a reliable indicator of when you need to drink, says Seal. However, when youre exercising, that doesnt work so well. Seals research has found that were pretty lousy at estimating how much we need to drink during exercise. So when youre at the gym, on the field, or on the courts, make sure to take regular water breaks, even if you dont feel like you need to. The same goes for any time youre out in the heat.So, do your body a favor. Go, drink some water, and why not have a juicy salad to go with it?Read More: Can Drinking Water Really Help You Lose Weight?Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:National Academy of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and SulfateAdam Seal, Assistant Professor at California PolytechnicEuropean Heart Journal. Middle age serum sodium levels in the upper part of normal range and risk of heart failureNutrients. Hydration Status and Cardiovascular FunctionMedical News Today. What is the average percentage of water in the human body?Avery Hurt is a freelance science journalist. In addition to writing for Discover, she writes regularly for a variety of outlets, both print and online, including National Geographic, Science News Explores, Medscape, and WebMD. Shes the author of Bullet With Your Name on It: What You Will Probably Die From and What You Can Do About It, Clerisy Press 2007, as well as several books for young readers. Avery got her start in journalism while attending university, writing for the school newspaper and editing the student non-fiction magazine. Though she writes about all areas of science, she is particularly interested in neuroscience, the science of consciousness, and AIinterests she developed while earning a degree in philosophy.

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Why do so many American hockey players sound like fake Canadians?Credit: DepositPhotos ShareWhats the weirdest thing you learned this week? Well, whatever it is, we promise youll have an even weirder answer if you listen to PopScis hit podcast. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week hits Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere else you listen to podcasts every-other Wednesday morning. Its your new favorite source for the strangest science-adjacent facts, figures, and Wikipedia spirals the editors of Popular Science can muster. If you like the stories in this post, we guarantee youll love the show.FACT: Hockey players really do sound more CanadianIn this weeks episode, I dive into a fascinating linguistic quirk of the sports worldwhy do so many American hockey players sound like fake Canadians?My obsession with this topic started with research from linguist Andrew Bray. He noticed the phenomenon of fake Canadian accents while studying hockey lingo. While he originally set out to analyze hockey slang for its own sake (e.g. biscuit for puck or celly for celebration), he found himself asking an even bigger question: Why do American players seem to take on Canadian-esque speech?Bray recorded his conversations with players, analyzing their vowel shifts and pronunciation. He confirmed that many American hockey players adopt features of Canadian English, but not quite enough to pass as actually Canadian. Instead, they end up in this uncanny valley: they sound just Canadian enough for other people to notice, but not enough to blend in. This could be a case of linguistic mirroring, which is when people unconsciously adjust their speech to fit into a social group. Since hockey has such a strong Canadian identity, American players may be picking up on those speech patterns as part of the sports culture.Bray isnt the only person out there studying Hockey English. In fact, one study suggests that even Canadian players are accused of sounding more Canadian than theyre supposed to.Along the way, we chat about our own relationships with hockey, regional accents, and how our voices shift depending on where we are and who were with (and yes, we talk about Madonnas infamous British phase).FACT: We finally know why plants go toward the lightBy Riley BlackScientists finally figured out how plants know where the light is coming from! I had to hustle to include this as a last-minute addition to my book when I learned about it.Weve known for ages that plants are phototropic, which means they bend toward sunlight. You probably remember doing simple experiments with seedlings in school that showed this is the case. But until 2023, we didnt know how they did it.The answer came from an accidental discovery. Researchers found that plants with a mutation in a protein transporter (ABCG5) couldnt follow the light. As it turns out, plants rely on tiny air pockets inside them to scatter sunlight and create a gradient, telling them which way to grow. No air pockets? No phototropism.I love discoveries like thissomething we all assume is understood, but where science is still catching up!You can learn about the evolutionary romance between plants and animals in my new book, When the Earth Was Green.FACT: With enough pans of lasagna, you could theoretically power anythingBy Amanda ReedEver pulled foil off leftovers and found weird black spots? Congrats, youve made a lasagna cell! It happens when you store salty, moist foodlike lasagnain a steel pan covered with aluminum foil.Basically, youve unintentionally built a battery: the aluminum foil acts as the anode, the steel pan as the cathode, and the salty food as the electrolyte. Over time, the foil corrodes where it touches the food, thanks to galvanic corrosion. This reaction breaks down the foil, leaving behind aluminum salts. Those arent harmful, but theyre not exactly appetizing either. Acidic foods like vinegar-heavy dishes can speed up that particular effect, even without the full battery setup.The American Chemical Society whipped up a tasty little experiment showing that lasagna cells really do produce power. You can check that out here.

Like rolling into a gas station during a road trip, whale sharks use oil and gas rigs as a pit stop during their migrations of thousands of kilometers across the oceans. The human-made structures attract marine life including the sharks favorite snack: plankton. But experts worry that this lure could put the endangered behemoths at risk of ship strike or chemical pollution.Satellite tracking of whale sharks off the coast of western Australia shows how oil and gas platforms influence the movements of these gentle giants, marine ecologist Ben DAntonio and colleagues report January 18 in Diversity and Distributions. As they migrate across the ocean, they are stopping over and moving between features to presumably grab an easy meal before continuing with their migration, says DAntonio, of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) andUniversity of Western Australia in Perth.The biggest fish on the planet (Rhincodon typus) reaching up to 18 meters long munch through 20 kilograms of plankton daily. Oil and gas rigs act like artificial reefs, creating plenty of prey to draw the sharks in.Think of seafloor features like a truck stop on a highway, DAntonio says. On a family vacation, we often pull into truck stops to fuel up and grab a quick bite before [heading] to our final destination. Whale sharks seem to be using seafloor features in a similar way.The most massive fish on Earth, whale sharks are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.Ben DAntonioOver 14 years, the researchers tagged 78 whale sharks, tracked their movements and cross-checked the location of geomorphological features to see how these affect the sharks routes. While natural pinnacles, canyons and seamounts also act as pit stops, this lure towards oil rigs possibly bolstered by planktons attraction to the platforms beams of light could put the huge filter feeders at risk of being hit by a ship or pollution from oil spills or discharges. Its impossible to know exactly how many are being killed by vessels because their bodies sink without a traceThe authors hope this finding will help decision makers managing marine protected areas and raise awareness of the potential impact on marine life when human-made platforms are decommissioned or new structures, like offshore wind turbines, are built. This will become more relevant as developments for renewable energy begin to add additional structure to many areas along continental margins, DAntonio says.