Oxford University Posthumously Honours Māori Scholar Mākereti Papakura, A Century After Her Studies
Oxford, UK – In a moving
Potential for Life Increases as Scientists Detect Atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1 Planets
Washington D.C. – A new study suggests several planets orbiting the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 possess atmospheres, bolstering the possibility these distant worlds could harbor life. The findings represent a important step forward in understanding the habitability of planets beyond our solar system, notably those circling red dwarf stars - the most common type of star in the universe.
The research focuses on TRAPPIST-1, a system roughly 40 light-years from Earth, known to host seven Earth-sized planets. Determining whether these planets retain atmospheres has been a central challenge for scientists, as red dwarfs emit strong flares that can strip away planetary atmospheres. This latest evidence indicates at least some of the TRAPPIST-1 planets have managed to hold onto their gaseous envelopes, potentially creating conditions suitable for liquid water and, conceivably, life.
“TRAPPIST-1 remains one of the most engaging livable zone planets for us, and this new result takes us one step closer to know what the world is like,” stated Sara Seager, Professor of Planet Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a co-author of the study. The atmospheres detected appear to be rich in nitrogen, resembling both Earth and SaturnS moon Titan.
Researchers acknowledge the atmospheric composition could also be similar to those of Venus and Mars, but emphasize this discovery narrows the range of possibilities and focuses future investigation. Further observations, potentially utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope, could search for specific chemical signatures – such as methane - indicative of biological activity.
“Confirmation of the existence of the atmosphere in Trappist-1 will be a big breakthrough,” explained study author Espinoza. “That will complete the current large debate about whether the red dwarf star system can maintain the atmosphere or not.” The implications extend far beyond TRAPPIST-1, as a confirmed atmosphere around planets orbiting a red dwarf suggests habitability may be more widespread throughout the galaxy than previously thought. “The red dwarf star is actually the majority of stars in the universe. So, if that can happen there, it can happen anywhere. The possibility of life is increasing,” Espinoza concluded.
A Resilient Ocean: New Insights into Mass Extinction Recovery
The Earth has experienced five major mass extinction events, periods of catastrophic species loss driven by global change. Scientists now believe we are on the precipice of a sixth. Understanding how ecosystems rebound from such devastation is therefore critical, and a recent study led by David Jablonski at the University of Chicago is challenging long-held assumptions about the recovery process following the most recent extinction - the end of the Cretaceous period.
This event, famous for wiping out the dinosaurs, eliminated over three-quarters of all species. Jablonski’s team focused on marine mollusks – shellfish, oysters, and others – due to the excellent fossil record provided by their durable shells. By meticulously reconstructing the ecological landscape before the extinction and comparing it to the species present afterward, they uncovered a surprising result: despite the massive loss of life, the fundamental ecological structure of the marine environment remained remarkably intact.
“If 75% of all species are extinct, you would expect that at least a few ways of life would be entirely lost, leaving only one or two species to fill those roles,” explains Katie Collins of the London Natural History Museum. ”But that’s not what we see.”
This finding contradicts previous theories about extinction recovery. For decades, some scientists believed mass extinctions simply accelerated pre-existing evolutionary trends – dinosaurs were destined to be replaced by mammals, and the asteroid impact merely sped up the process. Others proposed that extinctions acted as a selective pressure, favoring species capable of evolving to fill newly available niches.
Jablonski’s research doesn’t support either of these ideas. He views the results as a warning,highlighting a gap in our understanding of how biodiversity loss impacts ecological function. “we do not understand how the loss of functional groups relates to the loss of biodiversity,” he states.
further complicating the picture, the study revealed that the species which did survive didn’t necessarily thrive in a predictable manner. Contrary to expectations,survivors didn’t uniformly capitalize on opportunities and rapidly diversify. While this pattern might hold true for mammals, Jablonski found it wasn’t the case in marine ecosystems, with recovery appearing more random.
This research has meaningful implications for modern ocean conservation. With the seas facing threats like acidification, pollution, and overfishing, understanding how ecosystems respond to large-scale disruption is paramount. Jablonski emphasizes the need to consider the broader ecological structure, not just individual species, when developing management policies and establishing marine reserves. ”This is something we really want to understand if we want to discuss modern extinction and recovery in the ocean, as well as how to manage it,” he explains. “Billions of people depend on the sea for food, and we can see that nature reserves and management policies need to consider the wider biota ecological structure, not just individual species.”
The study,published in Science Advances on May 21,2025,is titled “The end-Cretaceous mass extinction restructured functional diversity but failed to configure the modern marine biota.”
(Original Content)
octopus DNA Reveals Troubling Truth About Antarctic Ice Sheet Stability
Australian scientists have unlocked a critical piece of the puzzle surrounding the stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet,using the genetic makeup of a unique octopus species. A team lead by molecular biologist Jan Strunell from James Cook University (JCU) analyzed the genetic profile of Octopus turquet,found on the opposite side of the West Antarctic ice layer,revealing a connection to populations existing 120,000 years ago. This connection proves the ocean was connected during that period, indicating a significant melt event occurred then.
The findings, published in the journal Science, suggest the West Antarctic ice sheet is far more vulnerable to collapse than previously understood. “This is important, because it understands how much ice in Antarctica during this last interglacial period, when the condition is very similar to today, it is very important to understand what will happen in the future,” explained Professor Strunell.
The West Antarctic ice sheet is a major contributor to global sea level rise, and it’s total collapse could raise sea levels by three to five meters. Worryingly, the research indicates this collapse could occur even with successful climate change mitigation efforts and only a slight increase in global temperatures.
This research builds on previous work by professor Strunell’s team, published in Nature Science last august, which already identified the ice sheet as being at high risk of collapse without immediate and drastic reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions.
“This should be very worried about all of us. We really need to reduce carbon emissions, because this is the only thing that will stop the collapse of the ice layer, and an increase in sea level as high as three meters will have a very large impact on many cities in Australia,” Professor Strunell warned.
The team was able to compile “DNA time capsules” using modern genomic techniques and samples collected from around Antarctica over the past 40 years. Professor Strunell emphasized the collaborative nature of the research, stating, “Science is really about standing on the shoulders of the giants. It takes a multidisciplinary team to achieve this,which we are very proud of,and truly remarkable can work with geologists and oceanographers,museum scientists,genomic experts,and bioinformatics experts.” He added, ”Hopefully our study really shows the power to unite people from various fields, international collaboration that unites a strong data collection that can answer critically important questions for physics.”
Kim McKay, Director of the Australian Museum, highlighted the significance of the findings, noting that the research – a 2023 eureka Prize winner – underscores the urgent need to support and invest in Australian scientific achievements. “Australian research needs to be supported and funded so that scientists can continue to develop practical solutions for global challenges,” she said. McKay also pointed to the increasing recognition of the vital role marine ecosystems play in climate resilience and biodiversity conservation, emphasizing the importance of research focused on these systems.
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HONG KONG - A growing number of mainland Chinese citizens who relocated to Hong Kong are expressing regret over obtaining Hong Kong citizenship,citing escalating economic pressures and diminished opportunities,according to a recent report by ezone.com.hk published on September 6,2025. The shift in sentiment reveals deepening anxieties about Hong KongS future viability as a place to live and work, particularly for those who migrated seeking improved prospects.
The disillusionment stems from four primary concerns: a challenging job market, high living costs, limited career advancement, and a perceived decline in Hong Kong’s overall quality of life. These factors are leading some former mainland residents to question whether the benefits of Hong Kong citizenship outweigh the difficulties they now face.The trend underscores a broader debate about Hong Kong’s economic trajectory following political changes in recent years and its continued appeal as a global hub.
ezone’s report details accounts from mainland-born Hong Kong citizens who report difficulties integrating into the local workforce despite possessing qualifications and experience.Competition for jobs is fierce, and some individuals feel thier mainland backgrounds hinder their progress. Together, the cost of housing, education, and daily expenses in Hong Kong remains exceptionally high, placing a meaningful financial burden on newcomers.One individual, identified only as “A,” shared with ezone that the initial optimism surrounding their move to Hong Kong has faded, stating the city is “no longer suitable for survival.” Others echoed similar sentiments, expressing frustration over limited opportunities for professional growth and a sense of alienation within the community. The report indicates a growing perception that the economic advantages previously associated with Hong Kong are diminishing, prompting a reevaluation of life choices among this demographic.
Facebook data tracking, integrated into the ezone report via the Facebook JavaScript SDK (appId 134643510061773, version v2.9), recorded user interactions related to the article, including “like” and “unlike” events, triggering dataLayer pushes for analytics purposes. These events were logged as ‘uleventtrigger’ with categories such as ’Facebook_like’ and actions ‘Click’ for both positive and negative reactions.
Lenovo Legion go 2 spotted with AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme Processor at Innovation World 2025
SHANGHAI – september 6, 2025 – A successor to Lenovo’s popular handheld gaming device, the Legion Go 2, has been observed at Lenovo Innovation World 2025, and early indications suggest a notable performance boost powered by the AMD ryzen Z2 Extreme processor. The unveiling signals Lenovo’s continued commitment to the portable gaming market and positions the Legion Go 2 as a potential leader in the evolving handheld PC space.
The emergence of the Legion Go 2 is notably noteworthy as demand for dedicated handheld gaming devices continues to rise, offering PC gaming experiences unconstrained by traditional desktop or laptop setups. The original Legion Go, released in late 2023, garnered attention for its large screen and modular design. The anticipated upgrade to the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor promises enhanced processing power and improved efficiency, possibly addressing some user feedback regarding battery life and sustained performance.
Details revealed at the event confirm the Legion Go 2 will utilize the AMD Ryzen Z2 extreme, a processor known for its high clock speeds and integrated Radeon graphics. This upgrade is expected to deliver a ample leap in gaming performance compared to the original Legion Go’s AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor.While specific specifications and release dates remain undisclosed, the demonstration at Innovation World 2025 strongly suggests a launch timeframe within the first half of 2026. Lenovo has not yet commented on pricing, but industry analysts predict a price point competitive with other high-end handheld gaming PCs.