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https://www.livescience.com Wed, 15 May 2024 00:02:07 +0000 en The sun has just spat out the strongest solar flare of the current solar cycle, which began in 2019, according to a breaking report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center . The monster flare is a category X8.7, making it considerably stronger than the X2.2 flare that erupted from the sun last week — triggering radio blackouts and widespread auroras on Earth that were visible as far south as Mexico. However, the latest flare is unlikely to result in any geomagnetic storms or aurora activity, as the sunspot group responsible for the blast is located at the very edge of the visible side of the sun , according to NOAA. However, high-frequency radio blackouts are still likely on Earth. If the flare produces any coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — gigantic, high-speed plumes of charged solar particles — they are not likely to impact Earth directly, as was the case during last weekend's vibrant display of auroras. That said, the same monster group of sunspots — which is called active sunspot region 3664 and measures more than 15 Earths wide — is responsible for both last week's X2.2 flare and today's X8.7 flare, NOAA reported. The grouping has spat out numerous other X-class flares over the past several days, but it will soon be entirely out of view of our planet. Related: No, you didn't see a solar flare during the total eclipse — but you may have seen something just as special Solar flares are powerful bursts of electromagnetic radiation that result from magnetic disturbances on the sun. They occur when magnetic field lines in the sun's atmosphere tangle and snap, releasing large amounts of excess energy, including powerful X-rays and ultraviolet radiation. These twisted lines emerge from sunspots — darker, cooler regions on the sun's surface that form when magnetic fields from deep within our star push up to the surface. CORRECTION to previous post:Flare magnitude 8.7, not 8.8. pic.twitter.com/NSdmhTWIYH May 14, 2024 See more related stories — Solar flares created in the lab for 1st time — Mysterious 'sparks' on the sun could help scientists predict solar flares — What if the Carrington Event, the largest solar storm ever recorded, happened today? Solar flares can also launch CMEs outward into space, hitting any planets, satellites or other objects in their path. CMEs that hit Earth trigger geomagnetic storms, which can result in auroras, as well as negative effects such as power grid failures and satellite malfunctions. All of these extreme solar phenomena — solar flares, sunspots and CMEs — become more common during the peak of the sun's 11-year activity cycle, known as solar maximum. The current cycle, solar cycle 25, began in 2019, and scientists suspect that the sun may soon enter its solar maximum phase , if it hasn't already. Only after the maximum ends, and solar activity dies down again, will scientists know for sure when it peaked. The sun hasn't spat out any flares stronger than X8.7 since September 2017, when it emitted an X11.8 and X13.3 flare within a few days of each other, according to spaceweatherlive.com . ]] https://www.livescience.com/space/the-sun/sun-launches-strongest-solar-flare-of-current-cycle-in-monster-x87-class-eruption YDGPbhydQRMPNYnhCKQwY3 Tue, 14 May 2024 20:37:54 +0000 High levels of heavy metals detected in Ludwig van Beethoven's hair reveal that he may have had lead poisoning, possibly contributing to his deafness and other illnesses, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed DNA in two authenticated locks of the German composer's hair and discovered that they contained alarmingly high concentrations of lead , as well as high levels of arsenic and mercury, according to a study published May 6 in the journal Clinical Chemistry . For example, one lock contained 380 micrograms of lead per gram of hair, while the second had 258 micrograms per gram of hair. (Normal levels today would be closer to 4 micrograms or less.) His hair also contained 13 times the normal level of arsenic and four times the typical level of mercury. "These are the highest values in hair I've ever seen," study co-author Paul Jannetto , a pathologist at the Mayo Clinic, told The New York Times . "We get samples from around the world, and these values are an order of magnitude higher." The high levels of these toxic metals could partly explain why Beethoven experienced a number of illnesses, the study authors noted. He started losing his hearing in his 20s, was completely deaf by his late 40s, had gastrointestinal issues and experienced at least two episodes of jaundice, a symptom of liver disease. Related: 'You probably didn't inherit any DNA from Charlemagne': What it means when your DNA 'matches' a historic person's While high lead levels are associated with gastrointestinal and liver problems, as well as with decreased hearing, it's unlikely that the levels were high enough to be the "sole cause of death" for the composer, the researchers said. However, his high level of lead exposure "may have contributed to the documented ailments that plagued him most of his life," the researchers wrote in the study. The study authors didn't comment on how higher arsenic and mercury levels would have affected his health. An earlier study of Beethoven's hair also found high levels of lead, but this research was later debunked when it was discovered that the locks belonged to an Ashkenazi Jewish woman . However, a recent DNA examination of verified locks of his hair determined that Beethoven, who was born in 1770 and lived to be 56, was infected with hepatitis B and had a high risk of liver disease , which may have contributed to his death. There are a few possibilities for what caused Beethoven to have so many contaminants in his system. RELATED STORIES — Nearly 170 genes determine hair, skin and eye color, CRISPR study reveals — Neanderthal DNA may shape how sensitive you are to pain, genetic analysis shows — More than 275 million never-before-seen gene variants uncovered in US population One theory involves his penchant for wine; he often consumed an entire bottle in a single day. It wasn't uncommon during that time for wine producers to include lead acetate in their concoctions as a preservative and sweetener. Back then, glass bottles also contained traces of lead. The "Fifth Symphony" composer also ate a lot of fish caught in the Danube, which was known for containing arsenic and mercury, CNN reported. In Beethoven's day, it was common for people to take snippets of hair from loved ones or celebrities. Now, this hair is shedding light on the possible causes of Beethoven's illnesses, which he failed to identify during his lifetime. "We believe this is an important piece of a complex puzzle and will enable historians, physicians and scientists to better understand the medical history of the great composer," the researchers wrote. ]] https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/heavy-metals-in-beethovens-hair-may-explain-his-deafness-study-finds tDkY63K8eUujYmEsqWDaZE Tue, 14 May 2024 19:26:14 +0000 A new version of ChatGPT can read facial expressions, mimic human voice patterns and have near real-time conversations, its creators have revealed. OpenAI demonstrated the upcoming version of the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, called GPT-4o, in an apparently real-time presentation on Monday (May 13). The chatbot, which spoke out loud with presenters through a phone, appeared to have an eerie command of human conversation and its subtle emotional cues — switching between robotic and singing voices upon command, adapting to interruptions and visually processing the facial expressions and surroundings of its conversational partners. During the demonstration, the AI voice assistant showcased its skills by completing...