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First Post
2 days ago
- Science
- First Post
Is Africa cracking open? How Earth's ‘heartbeat' is tearing the continent apart, forming a new ocean
A group of researchers from across the world has found that a steady, rhythmic pulse deep beneath Ethiopia's Afar region, much like a human heartbeat, is gradually tearing the continent apart. Their study of the crust and mantle beneath the region suggests that this underground activity could eventually lead to the formation of a new ocean read more The pulse is caused by molten magma pushing against the Earth's crust from below. AI Generated/Representational Image A strong, steady pulse has been found deep beneath Africa, moving like a heartbeat. This slow movement is gradually pulling the continent apart and could one day lead to the birth of a new ocean. That is what a group of researchers from around the world have said after studying the crust and mantle beneath Ethiopia's Afar region. ALSO READ | First glimpse of Sun's south pole captured: Why this is a big deal STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In areas where tectonic plates pull away from each other, the land stretches and becomes thinner. Over millions of years, it can break apart and form a new ocean basin. More from Explainers Pee power: How scientists have used urine to make dental implants In this explainer, we look at what the new study shows, what the researchers found, and how this could change the continent. What does the study say? Researchers from the University of Southampton have found a steady, rhythmic pulse deep under Ethiopia's Afar region, similar to a human heartbeat. This pulse is caused by molten magma pushing against the Earth's crust from below. Over time, this is slowly splitting the continent, and could eventually lead to the formation of a new ocean. To understand this process, the team collected over 130 samples of volcanic rock from the Afar region and the Main Ethiopian Rift. They also used existing data and advanced statistical models to study the crust and mantle beneath the surface. Active lava spilling out of the Erta Ale volcano in Afar. Image: Dr Derek Keir, University of Southampton/University of Florence For a long time, geologists believed that a hot column of rising material known as a mantle plume lay beneath Afar, helping pull the crust apart. But until now, the structure of this plume and how it behaves during rifting was not clearly understood. Emma Watts, lead author of the study and a geologist who worked on the research while at the University of Southampton, explained: 'We found that the mantle beneath Afar is not uniform or stationary—it pulses—and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These ascending pulses of partially molten mantle are channelled by the rifting plates above. That's important for how we think about the interaction between Earth's interior and its surface." The study showed that the mantle plume under Afar contains chemical bands that repeat across the rift system, like a geological barcode. The spacing of these bands changes depending on the conditions in each section of the rift. The research was a joint effort by experts from 10 institutions, including the University of Southampton, Swansea University, Lancaster University, the Universities of Florence and Pisa, GEOMAR in Germany, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Addis Ababa University, and the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. Professor Tom Gernon, a co-author of the study and Earth Science expert at the University of Southampton, said: 'The chemical striping suggests the plume is pulsing, like a heartbeat.' He added that the way these pulses behave depends on how thick the crust is and how quickly it is moving apart. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The findings show that the plume under Afar is not fixed but reacts to the movement of the tectonic plates above. Microscope image of a thin sliver of one of the volcanic rocks from Afar. Image: Dr Emma Watts, University of Southampton/Swansea University The study, published in Nature Geoscience on June 25, explains how these plates affect the upward flow of hot mantle material. As the continent continues to split, a new ocean basin is taking shape, with seafloor spreading expected to continue along the entire rift over millions of years. With the first phase of research complete, the team will now focus on studying how the mantle is flowing beneath the surface and how fast it is moving. Is the continent splitting faster than expected? In January, Ken Macdonald, a professor at the University of California, said that the continent appeared to be breaking apart more quickly than previously thought. According to him, Somalia, along with parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, could eventually separate from the rest of Africa, forming a new landmass with its own coastline. 'What might happen is that the waters of the Indian Ocean would come in and flood what is now the East African Rift Valley,' Professor Macdonald told DailyMail. Although cracks are already visible along the rift, scientists believe it will still take several million years before the continent completely splits apart. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Magma 'Heartbeat' Is Tearing Continent Apart, Geologists Discover
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A plume of molten rock rising from the depths of the Earth in heartbeat-like pulses is slowly tearing Africa apart—and will one day create a new ocean. This is the conclusion of an international team of researchers who have been studying the crust and mantle beneath the Afar region of Ethiopia. Afar is one of those rare places on Earth where three tectonic rifts meet—specifically, the Ethiopian, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Rifts. As tectonic plates are pulled apart at such rift zones, they stretch out and thin until they break, forming a new ocean basin over the course of millions of years. Geologists have long suspected that Afar is underlain by a mantle plume, a pillar of upwelling hot material that is helping to drive apart the overlying crust. Until now, however, little was known about the structure of this plume, or how such phenomena behave under rifting plates. "We found that the mantle beneath Afar is not uniform or stationary—it pulses—and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures," said lead author and geologist Emma Watts, who undertook the research while based at the University of Southampton, in a statement. "These ascending pulses of partially molten mantle are channeled by the rifting plates above. That's important for how we think about the interaction between Earth's interior and its surface." Lava erupting from the Erta Ale volcano in the Afar region of Ethiopia. Lava erupting from the Erta Ale volcano in the Afar region of Ethiopia. Dr Derek Keir, University of Southampton/ University of Florence In their study, the researchers collected more than 130 samples of volcanic rock from across both the Afar region and the Main Ethiopian Rift. They combined their analysis of these samples with existing data and statistical modeling to explore the structure of Earth's crust and mantle beneath Afar. The team found that the mantle plume underneath the Afar region has distinct chemical bands that repeat across the rift system. This forms a sort of geological barcode, the spacings of which vary depending on the specific conditions in each arm of the rift. "The chemical striping suggests the plume is pulsing, like a heartbeat," said paper co-author and Southampton Earth Science professor Tom Gernon in a statement. "These pulses appear to behave differently depending on the thickness of the plate and how fast it's pulling apart. "In faster-spreading rifts like the Red Sea, the pulses travel more efficiently and regularly like a pulse through a narrow artery." The team's findings reveal that the mantle plume beneath Afar is not a static phenomenon, but one that responds dynamically to the tectonic plate above it. Professor Tom Gernon studies volcanic deposits from Boset Volcano in the Main Ethiopian Rift. Professor Tom Gernon studies volcanic deposits from Boset Volcano in the Main Ethiopian Rift. Prof Thomas Gernon, University of Southampton "We have found that the evolution of deep mantle upwellings is intimately tied to the motion of the plates above," said paper co-author and Southampton geophysicist Derek Keir in a statement. "This has profound implications for how we interpret surface volcanism, earthquake activity and the process of continental breakup. "The work shows that deep mantle upwellings can flow beneath the base of tectonic plates and help to focus volcanic activity to where the tectonic plate is thinnest." With their initial study complete, the researchers are now moving to investigate how—and how fast—the mantle is flowing beneath the overlying tectonic plates. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about geology? Let us know via science@ Reference Watts, E. J., Rees, R., Jonathan, P., Keir, D., Taylor, R. N., Siegburg, M., Chambers, E. L., Pagli, C., Cooper, M. J., Michalik, A., Milton, J. A., Hincks, T. K., Gebru, E. F., Ayele, A., Abebe, B., & Gernon, T. M. (2025). Mantle upwelling at Afar triple junction shaped by overriding plate dynamics. Nature Geoscience.
Medscape
04-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Adapting Diet to Chronotype Boosts Weight Loss, Gut Health
Among patients with overweight/obesity, a diet adapted to an individual's chronotype was more effective in promoting weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health and gut microbiota (GM) than a conventional low-calorie diet. 'Emerging evidence suggests that aligning dietary patterns with an individual's circadian rhythm, or chronotype, may optimize metabolic processes and gut microbiota (GM) composition and function,' the study authors wrote. 'Given the burden of obesity, a chronotype-adapted diet — aligning meal timing with biological rhythms — could be an innovative approach to weight management.' The study, presented at NUTRITION 2025 in Orlando, Florida, showed that, overall, fat percentages decreased significantly in the intervention group, while the control group showed no significant change. In addition, a GM analysis revealed greater production of anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intervention group than in the control group. For clinicians, considering a patient's chronotype during dietary counseling would be 'a practical and feasible starting point,' principal author Monica Dinu, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Florence, Florence, Italy, told Medscape Medical News . 'This can be done easily with a simple [tool] like the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ).' Aligning Meals With Chronotype Researchers conducted a 4-month, open-label, randomized controlled trial. A total of 140 adults with overweight/obesity were assigned to either a chronotype-adapted, low-calorie diet with meal timing tailored to their metabolic peaks (morning vs evening chronotype) or a standardized low-calorie eating plan. Chronotype was determined using the MEQ, which offers 'a practical, noninvasive method that can be easily applied in both research and ambulatory settings,' Dinu noted. The team did not impose strict time windows for meals, she said. 'Rather, the intervention was based on the distribution of energy intake throughout the day. Morning chronotypes consumed approximately 80% of their daily energy intake in the earlier part of the day (including lunch), whereas evening chronotypes consumed the majority in the later part (also including lunch).' 'The dietary intervention adhered to the principles of the Mediterranean diet, and we did not recommend any fasting periods,' she added. 'Our focus was on aligning meal timing with individual chronotype rather than restricting eating windows.' Both diets had an equivalent daily calorie content, adjusted according to gender and starting weight. The primary outcome was weight change. Secondary outcomes were changes in body composition, biochemical markers, GM composition, and SCFAs. Which Chronotype Worked Better? A total of 117 participants (84%; mean age 49 years) completed the study (57 in the intervention group and 60 in the control group). While participants in both intervention groups experienced significant weight loss, reductions were greater in evening chronotypes (−3.7 kg) than in morning chronotypes (−3.2 kg) and control participants (−2.5 kg). Fat mass percentages decreased significantly in the intervention groups (−2.8% in evening and −1.6% in morning chronotypes), whereas the control group showed no significant change (−0.5%). Both the intervention groups showed reductions in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, but only morning chronotypes showed a significant decrease in glucose levels (−2.9 mg/dL). A GM analysis revealed enrichment of SCFA-producing bacteria, such as Clostridiales vadin BB60 , and a reduction in Nitrososphaeraceae in the intervention groups, accompanied by an increased production of anti-inflammatory SCFAs compared with the control group: Isobutyric acid, +0.42% vs −0.25%; 2-methylbutyric acid, +0.43% vs −0.44%). The team concluded that a chronotype-adapted diet may be more effective than a standard low-calorie diet in improving body composition, metabolic risk profile, and GM in individuals with overweight/obesity — particularly among evening chronotypes. 'Evening chronotypes also experienced greater weight loss and reported reduced hunger despite consuming more calories later in the day, a timing typically discouraged,' Dinu noted. 'For individuals with an evening chronotype, adjusting the distribution of energy intake to better match their biological rhythms may lead to more effective and sustainable weight management,' she added. 'While further research is needed, these findings support the potential of chronotype-based strategies as part of a personalized approach to dietary intervention.' The research received no specific grant. No conflicts of interest were declared.
Int'l Business Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Romania Presidential Election Re-run Under Trump Shadow
Five months after the shock scrapping of presidential elections, Romanians go back to the polls on Sunday -- with a key far-right contender excluded and criticism by the US administration looming over the tense vote. Thousands in Romania have protested against the vote annulment and subsequent barring of European Union and NATO critic Calin Georgescu, who topped the first round of voting in November before it was annulled. The moves -- following claims of Russian meddling and a "massive" social media promotion of Georgescu -- have also drawn the ire of senior officials in US President Donald Trump's administration, with Vice President JD Vance and advisor Elon Musk chastising the eastern European country. Eleven contenders are in the May 4 re-run with the far-right expected to enter a second round on May 18 in a tight battle. The campaign has been stirred up by "indirect pressure" fuelled by US officials' comments, Sorina Soare, a political scientist at the University of Florence, told AFP. With the NATO member hosting more than 1,700 US troops, Romania "cannot afford to enter into confrontation with its American ally over economic and security issues", she said. Vance criticised the vote annulment "based on the flimsy suspicions of an intelligence agency and enormous pressure from its continental neighbours". "If your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasn't very strong to begin with," he said. Tycoon Musk has also intervened repeatedly on his social network X to criticise the decisions of the Romanian authorities. Several of the candidates have expressed their admiration for Trump or touted their ties to him. Soare noted a "zeitgeist very influenced by Washington politics, with an almost complete migration of all candidates to traditional conservative themes". George Simion, leader of the far-right party AUR who is expected to win the first round, is an avowed Trump fan often wearing a cap with his idol's name or the slogan "Make America Great Again" on it. After the Brussels critic, 38, came fourth in the November 24 first round, he threw his support behind Georgescu, who has also said he is "ultra pro" Trump. With Georgescu barred, Simion -- who continues to defend his former rival -- is expected to take up at least part of his votes. Former Social Democrats prime minister Victor Ponta has also boasted -- holding a red cap in hand -- of being invited to Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida in December. But weakened by controversial statements during the campaign, he seems to have lost ground to two pro-European candidates: Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan and the ruling coalition's candidate Crin Antonescu. One of these two is expected to reach the second round to face off against Simion, who is currently tipped to lose that round -- though the gap is narrowing, according to polls. A "very large number of undecided voters" and a large European diaspora seen as favourable to the far-right factor in to make the race tight, according to Soare. While the post is largely ceremonial, the president holds an influential role in foreign policy, and the election in the NATO member bordering war-torn Ukraine is being closely watched abroad. The vote "is important especially in the context of the cancelled elections. All that tension is still being felt now," Diana Maftei, a 24-year-old accountant, told AFP in the streets of the capital Bucharest. Her partner Bogdan Badaluta, 27, a digital artist, said he is relieved that Georgescu has been sidelined. "We're two young people trying to build a future, and you find yourself realising suddenly everything you worked for might be lost," he said, adding the new elections gave them fresh "hope". Others remain disillusioned in one of Europe's poorest nations burdened with high inflation and with a political class seen as corrupt. Smaranda Tache, a 68-year-old retiree, said she would not vote on Sunday, saying "whoever wins is pretty much the same". "They're fighting for themselves. All this masquerade... There is nothing for us," she said. "It's always the same thing. The country doesn't get better so that you can see some change. Not at all." Far-right leader George Simion is expected to win the first round AFP Analysts predict a tight race AFP
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Discovered a 1,700-Year-Old Statue of Hercules—Without His Head
Archaeologists discovered a 1,700-year-old 20-inch statue of Hercules in Florence, Italy. A student with a pickaxe discovered the miniature marble statue in three fragments. The fragments all fit together, allowing the statue to piece together, minus that pesky head, of course. Archaeologists excavating a private property in Florence, Italy, discovered a 20-inch statue of Hercules missing its head, though not altogether headless. Despite no cranium on the Greek hero, the statue included details from Hercules' mythic 12 labors, including the skin of the Nemean lion and the severed head of the Cretan bull. Archaeologists from Valdelsa Fiorentina and the University of Florence discovered the statue in the town of Montaione in the province of Florence and has been dubbed the Hercules of Valdelsa. 'It's a discovery that excites us and reminds us how archaeology constantly surprises us with new objects and insights,' Antonella Ranaldi, superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Florence, said in a statement provided by Cornell University. The professional archaeologists got an assist from archaeology majors from Cornell, including senior Alexander Cooper-Bohler. 'Thankfully, I noticed the strange shape of the statue's abdomen before my pick could cleave it in half,' Cooper-Bohler said. 'I spent the rest of the day carefully removing the dirt from around the statue with dental tools. It is the first statue found in over a decade of excavations at the site and made the weeks of digging in the hot Tuscan summer worth it!' The statue was dated to between the middle and late Imperial age from the third to fourth centuries, A.D., according to a translated report from Italian media, making it a roughly 1,700 find. The diminutive statue depicts a nude Hercules leaning to his right on his club, adorned with the trophies from his labors. According to Greek mythology, the Oracle of Delphi advised Hercules to travel to Tiryns to serve his cousin, King Eurystheus of Mycenae, for 12 years, for which he would be rewarded with immortality. In addition to the two beasts included on the statue, other labors included retrieving a golden apple from the edge of the world, capturing the multi-headed dog Cerberus, cleaning the stables of King Augeas, and more. Hercules was often depicted with the Nemean lion skin in statues and art, along with a variety of his unique weapons, but experts said finding art showing him capturing the bull is rare. 'The statuette is nearly complete, made of three fitting pieces,' Ranaldi said, 'and the bull at Hercules' feet is an unusual and fascinating detail.' 'Uncovering this statue reminded me of one of the things that drew me to archaeology in the first place,' said Cooper-Bohler, 'which is the thrill of discovery and the excitement of never knowing what you'll find.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
