As US forces step up their bombardment of Iranian defences, the battered regime appears to have found a counter to one of America's most feared weapons.

Iran's military claims to have hit an F–35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet with anti–aircraft artillery.

This would be the very first time that an American F–35 has been struck in combat by enemy fire.

Now, experts reveal that the $100million state–of–the–art fighter jet might not be as invisible as the US would like to think.

US Central Command confirmed that the fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing while 'flying a combat mission over Iran.'

'The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,' Captain Tim Hawkins said. It is unclear if the pilot, who landed at a US base in the Middle East, was injured.

The F–35's stealth technology should render it all but undetectable by conventional military radar systems, making the hit enormously unlikely. 

However, researchers say that Iranian air defences aren't relying on radar alone to keep tabs on America's invisible fighters – with a 'passive infrared' system also being used.

Iran's military claims to have scored a direct hit on a US F–35 Lightning II stealth fighter, marking the first time an American F–35 has been hit by enemy fire  

The F–35 (pictured) should be all but undetectable by conventional military radar systems, but experts claim it is not entirely 'invisible' 

What gives the F–35 its stealth ability?

The F–35 Lightning II is a fifth–generation stealth fighter jet developed by Lockheed Martin and used extensively by the United States and Israel.

What makes this long–range fighter so deadly is its ability to avoid or confound enemy radar systems, letting it strike targets without being hit back.

Radar systems work by sending out bursts of electromagnetic signals and listening carefully for how those waves bounce back – like a bat hunting by echolocation.

To avoid detection, the F–35 is specially shaped so that radar signals deflect off its surface like light on a slanted mirror.

The fighter also has the capacity to keep its weapons inside the body of the plane, safely protected by its radar–baffling panels. 

This breaks up the plane's radar signature, making it significantly harder for enemy systems to spot.

To further enhance this effect, the entire plane is coated with a radar–absorbing material that soaks up incoming electromagnetic signals rather than bouncing them back.

The F–35's specially shaped panels and radar–absorbing coating mean that it only has the radar cross section of a small bird, making it extremely hard to detect and hit 

Although the F–35's physical wingspan is 35 feet (10.7 metres), its radar cross–section is about the size of a small bird.

How invisible is the F–35?

Although stealth technology is often compared to an 'invisibility cloak', this greatly exaggerates the F–35's abilities.

Dr Can Kasapoğlu, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told the Daily Mail: 'The F–35 is not invisible; it is low observable. 

'It is designed to delay detection, degrade tracking, and avoid engagement zones rather than eliminate detection entirely.'

Dr Kasapoğlu adds: 'Any aircraft can be detected under the right conditions; the key issue is when and with what quality.'

Certain types of radar, such as very–high frequency (VHF) and ultra–high frequency (UHF) systems, can beat most stealth systems.

However, the key is that these detections aren't 'weapons grade' – meaning they aren't high enough quality to guide a missile to impact.

Even as early as 2023, Iran claimed it had the capacity to detect American F–35s flying over the Gulf. 

However, this doesn't mean that Iran had the ability to shoot down American stealth fighters, only to roughly know where they are.

A more plausible explanation for the reported hit on an F–35 is that the Iranian military was using a 'passive infrared' system.

Instead of actively sending out radar signals to spot jets, infrared systems scan the sky for the telltale heat signature of a fighter's engine.

Even though the F–35's engine is specially designed to reduce its infrared signature, it isn't enough to prevent short–range detection.

This means that the Iranian attack was more likely to have been an opportunistic close–range ambush rather than a deliberate long–range strike.

Dr Kasapoğlu suggests that the Iranian 358 loitering munition is a 'natural culprit'.

This nine–feet–long (2.7 m) surface–to–air missile flies slowly in a figure of eight over the battlefield, waiting to spot a target with its infrared detector.

Experts say the F–35 might have been hit by an Iranian 358 loitering munition (pictured). These missiles use a passive infrared detection system rather than radar, allowing them to beat the F–35's stealth technology at short range

If an F–35 had got close enough, it could have been struck with almost no warning as the 358 locked on to its engine signature. 

In Yemen last year, Houthi rebels demonstrated how even relatively crude infrared systems could be used to great effect to counter stealth technology.

US F–35s flying against Houthi air defences were forced to take evasive actions to avoid being hit by surface–to–air missiles, with one pilot reportedly dodging several attacks.

However, Dr Kasapoğlu maintains that this is a one–off, unattributed case that doesn't require the US to radically change its strategy.

If passive infrared detectors are being used, they are likely part of a 'layered detection approach' rather than a standalone capacity.

This means the F–35's ability to strike targets long before it is detected will still be a valuable asset.

'No fundamental shift is required for now. It reinforces the need for disciplined mission planning and continuous suppression of enemy air defences in complex environments,' Dr Kasapoğlu says.

'The F–35 remains a reliable fifth–generation platform and a cornerstone of US airpower.'

RELATED VIDEOS

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/index.html }

As US forces step up their bombardment of Iranian defences, the battered regime appears to have found a counter to one of America's most feared weapons.

Iran's military claims to have hit an F–35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet with anti–aircraft artillery.

This would be the very first time that an American F–35 has been struck in combat by enemy fire.

Now, experts reveal that the $100million state–of–the–art fighter jet might not be as invisible as the US would like to think.

US Central Command confirmed that the fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing while 'flying a combat mission over Iran.'

'The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,' Captain Tim Hawkins said. It is unclear if the pilot, who landed at a US base in the Middle East, was injured.

The F–35's stealth technology should render it all but undetectable by conventional military radar systems, making the hit enormously unlikely. 

However, researchers say that Iranian air defences aren't relying on radar alone to keep tabs on America's invisible fighters – with a 'passive infrared' system also being used.

Iran's military claims to have scored a direct hit on a US F–35 Lightning II stealth fighter, marking the first time an American F–35 has been hit by enemy fire  

The F–35 (pictured) should be all but undetectable by conventional military radar systems, but experts claim it is not entirely 'invisible' 

What gives the F–35 its stealth ability?

The F–35 Lightning II is a fifth–generation stealth fighter jet developed by Lockheed Martin and used extensively by the United States and Israel.

What makes this long–range fighter so deadly is its ability to avoid or confound enemy radar systems, letting it strike targets without being hit back.

Radar systems work by sending out bursts of electromagnetic signals and listening carefully for how those waves bounce back – like a bat hunting by echolocation.

To avoid detection, the F–35 is specially shaped so that radar signals deflect off its surface like light on a slanted mirror.

The fighter also has the capacity to keep its weapons inside the body of the plane, safely protected by its radar–baffling panels. 

This breaks up the plane's radar signature, making it significantly harder for enemy systems to spot.

To further enhance this effect, the entire plane is coated with a radar–absorbing material that soaks up incoming electromagnetic signals rather than bouncing them back.

The F–35's specially shaped panels and radar–absorbing coating mean that it only has the radar cross section of a small bird, making it extremely hard to detect and hit 

Although the F–35's physical wingspan is 35 feet (10.7 metres), its radar cross–section is about the size of a small bird.

How invisible is the F–35?

Although stealth technology is often compared to an 'invisibility cloak', this greatly exaggerates the F–35's abilities.

Dr Can Kasapoğlu, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told the Daily Mail: 'The F–35 is not invisible; it is low observable. 

'It is designed to delay detection, degrade tracking, and avoid engagement zones rather than eliminate detection entirely.'

Dr Kasapoğlu adds: 'Any aircraft can be detected under the right conditions; the key issue is when and with what quality.'

Certain types of radar, such as very–high frequency (VHF) and ultra–high frequency (UHF) systems, can beat most stealth systems.

However, the key is that these detections aren't 'weapons grade' – meaning they aren't high enough quality to guide a missile to impact.

Even as early as 2023, Iran claimed it had the capacity to detect American F–35s flying over the Gulf. 

However, this doesn't mean that Iran had the ability to shoot down American stealth fighters, only to roughly know where they are.

A more plausible explanation for the reported hit on an F–35 is that the Iranian military was using a 'passive infrared' system.

Instead of actively sending out radar signals to spot jets, infrared systems scan the sky for the telltale heat signature of a fighter's engine.

Even though the F–35's engine is specially designed to reduce its infrared signature, it isn't enough to prevent short–range detection.

This means that the Iranian attack was more likely to have been an opportunistic close–range ambush rather than a deliberate long–range strike.

Dr Kasapoğlu suggests that the Iranian 358 loitering munition is a 'natural culprit'.

This nine–feet–long (2.7 m) surface–to–air missile flies slowly in a figure of eight over the battlefield, waiting to spot a target with its infrared detector.

Experts say the F–35 might have been hit by an Iranian 358 loitering munition (pictured). These missiles use a passive infrared detection system rather than radar, allowing them to beat the F–35's stealth technology at short range

If an F–35 had got close enough, it could have been struck with almost no warning as the 358 locked on to its engine signature. 

In Yemen last year, Houthi rebels demonstrated how even relatively crude infrared systems could be used to great effect to counter stealth technology.

US F–35s flying against Houthi air defences were forced to take evasive actions to avoid being hit by surface–to–air missiles, with one pilot reportedly dodging several attacks.

However, Dr Kasapoğlu maintains that this is a one–off, unattributed case that doesn't require the US to radically change its strategy.

If passive infrared detectors are being used, they are likely part of a 'layered detection approach' rather than a standalone capacity.

This means the F–35's ability to strike targets long before it is detected will still be a valuable asset.

'No fundamental shift is required for now. It reinforces the need for disciplined mission planning and continuous suppression of enemy air defences in complex environments,' Dr Kasapoğlu says.

'The F–35 remains a reliable fifth–generation platform and a cornerstone of US airpower.'

RELATED VIDEOS

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/index.html }

Terrifying study predicts exactly how many people will DIE by 2050 if we don’t take urgent action to curb climate change

• READ MORE: The ominous sign the Gulf Stream is nearing COLLAPSE

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

A terrifying study has predicted exactly how many people will die by 2050 if we don't take urgent action to curb climate change. 

Researchers from the Catholic University of Argentina set out to understand how rising temperatures will affect physical activity – and as a result, premature deaths. 

The team analysed data from 156 countries between 2000 and 2022, and used it to predict what the coming decades will look like.

Worryingly, their findings suggest that by 2050, each additional month with an average temperature above 27.8°C will increase physical inactivity by 1.5 per cent globally. 

This translates to a predicted 470,000 to 700,000 additional premature deaths every year – and up to $3.68 billion in productivity losses.

Based on the findings, the researchers are calling for urgent action. 

'Rising temperatures are projected to increase the prevalence of physical inactivity, translating into additional premature deaths and productivity losses, especially in tropical regions,' they said. 

'Prioritising heat–adaptive urban design, subsidised climate–controlled exercise facilities, and targeted heat–risk communication is essential to mitigate these emerging health and economic burdens, in addition to ambitious emissions reductions.'

The team analysed data from 156 countries between 2000 and 2022, and used it to predict what the coming decades will look like

Climate change is making the world hotter, with the last three years confirmed to be the hottest on record. 

As a result, exercising in many parts of the world is becoming more difficult. 

Writing in their study, published in The Lancet Global Health, the researchers, led by Christian García–Witulski, explained: 'Heat exposure imposes physiological constraints through elevated cardiovascular strain and heightened perceived exertion, creating substantial barriers to outdoor physical activity.'

To understand how rising temperatures might impact the ability to exercise, the team analysed data from 156 countries from 2000 to 2022. 

Their results paint a bleak picture of what's to come – particularly in low– and middle–income countries. 

By 2050, each additional month with an average temperature above 27.8°C will increase physical inactivity by 1.5 per cent globally, and by 1.85 per cent in low– and middle–income countries, but with no clear impact in high–income countries.

Unsurprisingly, the biggest increase in inactivity will be in hotter regions, according to the researchers. 

This includes Central America, the Caribbean, Eastern Sub–Saharan Africa, and Equitorial Southeast Asia – where inactivity could increase by as much as four per cent per  month spent above 27.8°C.

Unsurprisingly, the biggest increase in inactivity will be in hotter regions, according to the researchers

'The implications for global health are immediate,' the researchers wrote. 

'Without stronger mitigation, rising temperatures alone could undermine – or even reverse – a substantial share of WHO's target of cutting global physical inactivity by 15% by 2030, while simultaneously slowing economic growth through heatrelated drops in worker productivity.' 

The researchers also provide several ideas for measures that could be taken to ease the impact of rising temperatures.

Heat–risk messages could be integrated into exercise guidelines, they suggest, while money could be funneled towards cooler exercise facilities. 

'Treating physical activity as a climate–sensitive necessity – rather than a discretionary lifestyle choice – will be essential to prevent a heat–driven sedentary transition and its accompanying surge in cardiometabolic diseases and economic losses,' they concluded. 

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/index.html }

See stunning photos of the Atacama Desert — the driest on Earth — blooming in winter for 1st time in a decade

For the first time in a decade, plants in the Atacama Desert have started flowering in the middle of winter, covering a portion of the driest desert on the planet in white and violet hues. 

The rare bloom is the result of rain in northern Chile during the Southern Hemisphere's fall. About 0.4 inches (11 millimeters) fell in mid-April, which combined with the morning fog known locally as "camanchaca" to activate vegetation that can remain dormant for up to 15 years. 

Two of the first species to color the landscape this year were the "pata de guanaco" (Cistanthe grandiflora), with its bright fuchsia-colored flowers, and the white "sighs of the field" (Nolana baccata).

Rare dusting of snow covers one of the driest place on Earth and shuts down massive radio telescope

China turns desert into carbon sink, a viking giant in a mass grave, real-life inception, and a Valentine's gift idea from nature

China has planted so many trees around the Taklamakan Desert that it's turned this 'biological void' into a carbon sink

The flowering has occurred in an area covering between 115 and 155 square miles (300 to 400 square kilometers), said César Pizarro, head of the Biodiversity Conservation section and Scientific Research at the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) in Atacama. A full flowering desert, which occurs in spring (September to October) due to winter rains, can extend over about 5,800 square miles (15,000 square km), with more than 200 species in bloom.

Typically, the desert flowers bloom in spring in years when at least 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain falls between June, July and August. This is related to the El Niño phenomenon — which increases precipitations in Chile above average.

Related: 

• Rainforest of super trees descended from lost supercontinent Gondwana being created in Australia

A photo shows a rare winter bloom in the Atacama, with fuschia "pata de guanaco" (Cistanthe grandiflora) dotting the landscape. (Image credit: César Esteban Pizarro Gacitúa)

The bloom happened in the Southern Hemisphere's winter thanks to a strong El Niño in April. (Image credit: César Esteban Pizarro Gacitúa)

A lizard crawls along the desert floor during the rare winter bloom. (Image credit: César Esteban Pizarro Gacitúa)

In 2015, the rains fell in March, activating the vegetation in winter, just as is happening now. 

That year it also rained in July and August, causing the desert to explode with flowers in spring. 

But it's unclear if the same thing will occur this time. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast indicates that current ENSO-neutral conditions — a period when neither El Niño or La Niña are happening — will likely persist for one more month before transitioning to La Niña . This means that the drought will return, and the Atacama Desert will not have enough humidity to reactivate the vegetation during the cycle.

If precipitation occurs in the coming weeks, atmospheric humidity would be higher than normal, potentially causing a flowering desert in September. However, this is not forecast.

A lone yellow flower rises above the brush, thanks to the increased autumn rainfall fueled by the El Niño weather pattern. (Image credit: César Esteban Pizarro Gacitúa)

A closeup of a yellow flower dotted with water. (Image credit: César Esteban Pizarro Gacitúa)

A cactus blooming in the Atacama this summer, which is the Southern Hemisphere's winter. (Image credit: César Esteban Pizarro Gacitúa)

Alternatively, if La Niña occurs soon, the flower patches blooming this winter are probably the last ones that will be seen this decade (because of the El Niño, La Niña cycles), and there will not be a huge flowering next spring, Francisco Squeo, president of the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) and researcher in the Department of Biology at the University of La Serena, told Live Science.

The rare winter flowering of the Atacama Desert is not without problems. The main one, according to María Fernanda Pérez, associate professor of ecology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile , is that pollinators do not arrive as quickly as the plants react to rain. "If the seeds germinate and flower but the pollinators do not arrive, the seeds run out," she told Live Science.

This is likely happening now, as there are currently no bees, moths, beetles or other pollinators present due to low temperatures, according to Pizarro. Only mites and a few reptiles, birds and mammals have been seen.

Herbaceous plants — like those flowering in the Atacama Desert — have a self-pollination mechanism that activates if a pollinator does not arrive in a given year. But this backup occurs late in flowering. 

A major scientific unknown is what happens if this decoupling between flowering and pollinators caused by anomalous events , persists over time, as no seeds would be added to the reserve of those that remain dormant for the next reactivation.

"This very arid soil houses a treasure. [A] seed bank that has been resilient," she said.

With climate change, anomalous events like this year's winter bloom could become more frequent, potentially meaning annual plants do not reproduce. The flowering desert would only be left with bulbous plants, drastically reducing its diversity, or leaving room for invasive species, Pizarro said.

RELATED VIDEOS

{ https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth }

Al het complexe leven op aarde deelt een gemeenschappelijke oorsprong. Maar hoe meercellig leven exact is ontstaan uit eencelligen, was lange tijd een raadsel.

Diep in de zee leven microscopisch kleine organismen die Asgard-archaea heten. De beestjes zijn vernoemd naar de mythologische wereld van de Noorse goden. Deze oeroude microben zijn de verre voorouders van alle complexe levensvormen, inclusief wijzelf. Wetenschappers van de Universiteit van Texas hebben deze microben bestudeerd en hebben zo een oeroude vraag beantwoord.

Hoe werden twee onverenigbare microben één?

Neem even een stap terug. Alle planten, dieren en schimmels (wetenschappelijk samengevat als eukaryoten, alle organismen waarvan de cellen een celkern hebben) zijn vermoedelijk ontstaan doordat twee totaal verschillende microben samensmolten. Eén daarvan was een Asgard-archaeon, de andere een bacterie. Die bacterie leefde uiteindelijk verder als het mitochondrium, vandaag de dag het mini-orgaantje in onze cellen dat energie aanmaakt.

Het grote probleem waar wetenschappers hun hersenen over kraakten was dat de Asgard-archaea altijd werden gevonden op plekken zonder zuurstof, bijvoorbeeld op de bodem van de diepe oceaan. De bacterie waarmee ze samensmolten had echter zuurstof nodig om te overleven. Hoe kwamen die twee dan ooit bij elkaar?

“De oorsprong van eukaryoten is een van de langlopende mysteries binnen de biologie”, vertelt Kathryn Appler, postdoctoraal onderzoeker aan het Institut Pasteur in Parijs en medeauteur van de studie, aan Scientias.nl. “Welke microbiële afstammingslijnen betrokken waren, wat hun samenwerking op gang bracht en waar dit precies plaatsvond: dat waren allemaal nog openstaande vragen.”

Een verrassende vondst

Voor het onderzoek verzamelde het team enorme hoeveelheden genetisch materiaal van microben uit allerlei omgevingen. Uit die data konden ze meer dan 13.000 nieuwe microbiële genomen in kaart brengen. Een genoom is de complete genetische blauwdruk van een organisme. Daarmee konden ze het aantal bekende Asgard-genomen bijna verdubbelden.

En uit de data bleek iets onverwachts: de Asgard-archaea die het nauwst verwant zijn aan eukaryoten en dus het meest op onze gemeenschappelijke voorouder lijken, werden aangetroffen in ondiepe kustgebieden, waar wél zuurstof aanwezig is dus. Sterker nog, hun genen wijzen erop dat ze zuurstof actief kunnen gebruiken bij hun stofwisseling.

“We waren verrast dat een meerderheid van de genomen uit bepaalde Asgard-groepen afkomstig was uit ondiepe kustomgevingen”, zegt Appler. “De meeste eerdere studies suggereerden dat Asgard-archaea geen zuurstof verdroegen.”

Zuurstof als sleutel tot complex leven?

De timing van deze bevinding sluit aan op wat geologen al wisten. Zo’n 1,7 miljard jaar geleden maakte de aardatmosfeer een radicale omslag door: zuurstofniveaus schoten toen omhoog. Kort daarna verschenen de eerste sporen van eukaryoten in het fossielenarchief. Dat is geen toeval, zo blijkt nu.

Appler is voorzichtig in haar conclusies: “Het is mogelijk dat zuurstof de omgeving vormgaf waarin eukaryoten ontstonden. Ik kijk uit naar verdere gesprekken met geologen terwijl we de omgevingscontext van deze cruciale evolutionaire stap verder ontrafelen.”

Wat mogen we hier wel en niet uit concluderen?

De studie lost misschien een belangrijk raadsel op, maar Appler zegt wel dat voorzichtigheid geboden blijft. “Het is belangrijk te benadrukken dat het om moderne nakomelingen gaat en dat wij als wetenschappelijke gemeenschap proberen een gebeurtenis te reconstrueren die miljarden jaren geleden plaatsvond.” En dat vergt de nodige bescheidenheid.

We schreven vaker over dit onderwerp, lees bijvoorbeeld ook Eerste meercellige dieren ontstonden heel anders dan gedacht en Stokoude biologische sporen onthullen vroegste leven op aarde meer dan 3 miljard jaar geleden. Of lees dit artikel: Hoe nagemaakt ruimtepuin ons iets vertelt over het ontstaan van het leven op aarde.

Uitgelezen? Luister ook eens naar de Scientias Podcast: 

{https://scientias.nl/nieuws/astronomie-ruimtevaart/ }

China's AI kung fu robots and physicists' re-creation of the Big Bang soup were two of this week's top science stories.  (Image credit: Unitree | Jose-Luis Olivares, MIT)

This week's science news was filled with some astonishing — and creepy — displays of technology's accelerating progress.

Top of the bill was a stunning demonstration of Chinese company Unitree Robotics' humanoid robots, which somersaulted, flipped and kicked in a kung fu performance at this year's Lunar New Year festival. The robots' eerily fluid movements were a sight to behold on their own. But compare them with the stiff and cumbersome moves by similar robots just a year earlier, and it's clear how much the tech — has advanced, thanks to better algorithms and cluster control platforms.

Also in China, the world's first megawatt-class flying wind turbine produced enough power to electrify a house for two weeks. And elsewhere, Microsoft made waves with a laser breakthrough that could see terabytes of data stored on ordinary glassware for up to 10,000 years.

Physicists make a Big Bang soup

• Physicists recreated the first millisecond after the Big Bang — and found it was surprisingly soupy

In the most ambitious instance of experimental home cooking we covered this week, physicists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) recreated the primordial state of the early universe and found it was more like soup than first thought.

The discovery comes from the LHC's Compact Muon Solenoid, which smashed together two heavy atomic nuclei at near light speed to create an extremely short-lived quark-gluon plasma, believed to be the stuff of our universe in the first microseconds following the Big Bang.

The findings could have enormous implications for how our cosmos, and the stuff it's made of, first formed.

• Solar flares may be triggering earthquakes, controversial study claims
• Saturn's largest moon may actually be 2 moons in 1 — and helped birth the planet's iconic rings
• Bungled Boeing Starliner mission was the highest order of mishap that put stranded astronauts at risk, report says

Life's Little Mysteries

• What is rigor mortis, and why does it happen?

Not long after death, a sea change takes hold within the human body — a sequence of natural, cellular-level steps that result in a process called rigor mortis. But what are these steps? And why does rigor mortis happen to nearly all human bodies?

• If you enjoyed this, sign up for our Life's Little Mysteries newsletter

Teenager buried with her father's bones

• 5,500 years ago, a teenage girl was buried with her father's bones on her chest, new DNA study reveals

Archaeologists who performed a DNA analysis of skeletons excavated from a Neolithic cemetery in Sweden have uncovered some surprising family burial practices this week, showing that some of Europe's last hunter-gatherers had detailed knowledge of their family lineages.

The society, called the Pitted Ware culture, was a hunter-gatherer community that lived on the western Swedish island of Gotland 5,500 years ago. Evidence of burials and reburials, with graves shared by up to third-degree relatives, suggests people of this culture paid scrupulous attention to their social connections and honored them long after death.

Discover more archaeology news

• 2,500-year-old 'primitive prosthetic' found on jaw of mummified Scythian woman who survived complex jaw surgery
• 'Absolute surprise': Homo erectus skulls found in China are almost 1.8 million years old — the oldest evidence of the ancient human relatives in East Asia
• Research group claims preeclampsia doomed the Neanderthals, but experts say it's just a 'thought experiment'

Also in science news this week

• The biggest trees in the Peruvian Amazon store the most carbon — and they also face the greatest threat from humans
• Diagnostic dilemma: 83-year-old man's unusual form of syphilis had an 'uncertain' source
• Our adorable, noodle-like ancestor had 4 eyes, half-a-billion-year-old fossils reveal
• Vanishing lakes in Tibet may have triggered earthquakes by awakening faults in Earth's crust
• In a 'race against time,' archaeologists uncovered Roman-era footprints from a Scottish beach before the tide washed them away

Science long read

• 'Proof by intimidation': AI is confidently solving 'impossible' math problems. But can it convince the world's top mathematicians?

At a secret meeting in Berkeley, California, last year, some of the world's leading mathematicians gathered to discuss the fate of their profession. The agenda was clear: Was artificial intelligence (AI) on the precipice of taking their jobs? And would the best math no longer be produced by humans?

Yet during the discussion, an even more troubling question appeared. In the past, confidence and a good argument were signs a proof was right, as only the best would be convincing to the rest of the field. Now, however, AI is spewing out hundreds of proofs that could be flawed but are too complex to verify. In this long read, Live Science investigated mathematicians' fight to figure out if the machines are right.

Something for the weekend

If you're looking for something a little longer to read over the weekend, here are some of the best analyses, opinions and crosswords published this week.

• Missing megaflood: How did the Mediterranean transform from a salt-filled bowl to a deep sea if it wasn't a cataclysmic deluge? [Analysis]
• New tech allows parents to 'score' IVF embryos for desirable traits — and it's in desperate need of regulation [Opinion]
• Live Science crossword puzzle #30: Brightest star in the night sky — 5 down [Crossword]

Science news in pictures

• City-size, cold-volcano comet transforms into a glowing 'snail shell' after major explosive outburst

This photo shows Comet29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, an ice ball three times the length of Manhattan, erupting into a cosmic snail shell as it circles the inner solar system.

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is an example of a cryovolcanic comet, which explodes after its icy shell soaks up too much solar radiation. This causes the icy gas and dust on its surface to sublimate outward, forming a fuzzy cloud.

{ https://www.livescience.com/technology }

Laboratory tests of defrosted strains of  5,000-year-old ancient bacteria recovered from the Scarisoara Ice Cave in Romania revealed one strain resistant to several modern antibiotics used to treat a wide range of infections.

Although the ancient samples of the resistant strain, dubbed Psychrobacter SC65A.3, were retrieved from a frozen ice deposit deep in a Romanian cave, the research team behind the discovery said there is a real threat that melting ice could lead to these infectious organisms entering the modern environment, where they could pass along some of their antibiotic resistance genes to modern-day bacteria.

The 5,000-year-old strains also showed the ability to inhibit the growth of other antibiotic-resistant bacteria, suggesting their genetic profiles could be used to develop therapies to combat modern, drug-resistant strains and offer new insights into how antibiotic resistance spreads.

“Studying microbes such as Psychrobacter SC65A.3 retrieved from millennia-old cave ice deposits reveals how antibiotic resistance evolved naturally in the environment, long before modern antibiotics were ever used,” explained Dr. Cristina Purcarea, a senior scientist at the Institute of Biology Bucharest of the Romanian Academy and a senior author of the study detailing the discovery.

Scarisoara Ice Cave in Romania. Image Credit:
Paun V.I.

Scarisoara Ice Cave holds one of the world’s largest underground glaciers, with ice estimated to be more than 10,000 years old.

(flickr/Florina) / Others

5,000-Year-Old Ancient Bacteria Retrieved from Deep Inside an Ice Cave

According to a statement, Dr. Purcarea and colleagues drilled a 25-meter ice core into the frozen floor of a section of the ice cave known as the Great Hall. Collecting samples from this depth enabled the team to study ice deposited over the past 13,000 years.

The team drilled a 25-meter ice core from the area of the cave known as the Great Hall.

Credit: Itcus C.

Next, the team placed the ice core samples in labeled, sterile bags to avoid contamination. While remaining frozen, the ice core samples were transported back to the lab for examination.

During their initial analysis, the researchers isolated various bacterial strains and sequenced their individual genomes. Along with revealing the genetic identity of each strain, the research team said sequencing the genomes of bacteria that survive in these extreme climates also helped identify which genes confer low-temperature survivability.

During this process, the team identified the presence of Psychrobacter SC65A.3, a bacterial genus known for its adaptation to cold environments. Notably, some Psychrobacter strains cause infections in animals and humans.

Ancient Psychrobacter Strain Demonstrates Resistance to 10 Modern Antibiotics

In a series of tests designed to measure the resistance of the SC65A strain to commonly used modern-day antibiotics, the team selected 28 antibiotics from 10 classes used to treat bacterial infections. According to the team, several of those antibiotics “have previously been identified to possess resistance genes or mutations that give them the ability to resist drug effects.”

After running a series of tests using the Psychrobacter strains collected from the Romanian Ice cave, the team found that the ancient bacteria appeared to successfully resist 10 of the 28 tested modern-day antibiotics. This data was consistent with the genetic analysis, which identified several genes associated with antibiotic resistance.

“The Psychrobacter SC65A.3 bacterial strain isolated from Scarisoara Ice Cave, despite its ancient origin, shows resistance to multiple modern antibiotics and carries over 100 resistance-related genes,” Purcarea explained.

The researcher also noted that the 10 antibiotics are widely used “to treat a range of serious bacterial infections in clinical practice.” For example, the tests revealed resistance to rifampicin, vancomycin, and ciprofloxacin, which are used to treat diseases such as tuberculosis, colitis, and UTIs.

The ancient, 5,000-year-old bacteria also showed resistance to trimethoprim, clindamycin, and metronidazole, which are used to treat infections of the lungs, skin, or blood, and the reproductive system. The researchers note that SC65A.3 is the first Psychrobacter strain to show resistance to these three antibiotics.

If Melting Ice Releases These Microbes, These Genes Could Spread

When discussing the significance of the team’s findings, Dr. Purcarea said their ability to resist modern antibiotics could represent a potential health risk, especially if they were allowed to share genetic material with modern bacteria.

“If melting ice releases these microbes, these genes could spread to modern bacteria, adding to the global challenge of antibiotic resistance,” the researcher explained.

Conversely, the researchers found several potential benefits in the ancient Psychrobacter strain. For example, they found 11 specific genes that may stop or even kill the growth of other bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Purcarea said this strain produces “unique enzymes and antimicrobial compounds” that could lead to the development of new antibiotics, industrial enzymes, and other biotechnological innovations.

“It can also inhibit the growth of several major antibiotic-resistant ‘superbugs’ and showed important enzymatic activities with important biotechnological potential,” Purcarea explained.

During the genetic analysis, the team found nearly 600 genes they described as having “unknown functions.” Given the organisms stron resistance profile, they said these uncharacterized genes could represent an “untapped source” for discovering novel biological mechanisms that could be exploited.

“These ancient bacteria are essential for science and medicine,” Purcarea concluded, “but careful handling and safety measures in the lab are essential to mitigate the risk of uncontrolled spread.”

The study “First genome sequence and functional profiling of Psychrobacter SC65A.3 preserved in 5,000-year-old cave ice: insights into ancient resistome, antimicrobial potential, and enzymatic activities” was published in Frontiers in Microbiology.

• Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

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Prehistoric killer superbug discovered in 5,000–year–old ice is resistant to 10 modern antibiotics, study warns

• READ MORE: Microbes trapped in permafrost AWAKEN after 40,000 years

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

The next pandemic could come from an ancient underground ice cave, scientists have warned. 

Researchers from the Romanian Academy have discovered a bacterial strain that has been frozen in Romania's Scarisoara Ice Cave for 5,000 years. 

Carefully extracting a sample, the researchers tested it against 10 common antibiotics, including those used to treat tuberculosis, colitis, and UTIs.

Their results showed that, despite dating back five millenia, the strain is already resistant to all 10 antibiotics. 

Worryingly, the researchers predict the bacteria will wreak havoc if it manages to escape the ice. 

And as global temperatures continue to rise, this terrifying prospect becomes more realistic by the day.  

'The Psychrobacter SC65A.3 bacterial strain isolated from Scarisoara Ice Cave, despite its ancient origin, shows resistance to multiple modern antibiotics and carries over 100 resistance–related genes,' said study author Dr Cristina Purcarea.

'If melting ice releases these microbes, these genes could spread to modern bacteria, adding to the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.'

Researchers from the Romanian Academy have discovered a bacterial strain that has been frozen in Romania's Scarisoara Ice Cave for 5,000 years

The researchers sequenced the bacteria's genome, and found 11 genes that are potentially able to kill or stop the growth of other bacteria, fungi, and viruses. In addition, they uncovered almost 600 genes with unknown functions

From the International Space Station to the acidic soil around volcanoes, bacteria have evolved to surive just about anywhere. 

Worryingly, the bacteria was found to be resistant to all 10 – including trimethoprim, clindamycin, and metronidazole. 

These antibiotics are routinely given to patients to treat UTIs, infections of lungs, skin, blood or the reproductive system.  

'The 10 antibiotics we found resistance to are widely used in oral and injectable therapies used to treat a range of serious bacterial infections in clinical practice,' Dr Purcarea said. 

The researchers then sequenced the bacteria's genome, and found 11 genes that are potentially able to kill or stop the growth of other bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

In addition, they uncovered almost 600 genes with unknown functions. 

According to the experts, this suggests the superbug uses a 'yet untapped source for discovering novel biological mechanisms'. 

While most pandemics have been caused by viruses, scientists have previously warned that the next one could be sparked by an antibiotic-resistant bacteria like this one.  

'These ancient bacteria are essential for science and medicine, but careful handling and safety measures in the lab are essential to mitigate the risk of uncontrolled spread,' Dr Purcarea concluded. 

KILLER VIRUSES COULD BE RELEASED FROM MELTING ICE IN THE ARCTIC, STUDY WARNS 

Glaciers that are melting amid rising global temperatures could be the cause of the next deathly pandemic, a study said. 

Scientists investigated how climate change may affect the risk of 'spillover' – a virus jumping to another species – by examining samples from Lake Hazen in the Arctic. 

Lake Hazen, seen from above in this NASA image, is the largest High Arctic freshwater lake in the world

They found that the chance of a spillover event increases with the melting of glaciers, as the meltwater can transport pathogens to new hosts. 

A warming climate could bring viruses in the Arctic into contact with new environments and hosts, increasing the risk of this 'viral spillover', the experts warn. 

'Spillover risk increases with runoff from glacier melt, a proxy for climate change,' say the researchers in their paper, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 

'Should climate change also shift species range of potential viral vectors and reservoirs northwards, the High Arctic could become fertile ground for emerging pandemics.' 

Psychrobacter SC65A.3 is a 5,000-year-old cold-adapted bacte ..

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