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The hunt for mysterious 'Planet Nine' offers up a surprise

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-mysterious-planet.html

It's an evocative idea that has long bedeviled scientists: a huge and mysterious planet is lurking in the darkness at the edge of our solar system, evading all our efforts to spot it.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-mysterious-planet.html

'Stealthy' lipid nanoparticles give mRNA vaccines a makeover

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-stealthy-lipid-nanoparticles-mrna-vaccines.html

A new material developed at Cornell University could significantly improve the delivery and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines by replacing a commonly used ingredient that may trigger unwanted immune responses in some people.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-stealthy-lipid-nanoparticles-mrna-vaccines.html

Report suggests future-proofing crops will require urgent and consistent effort

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-future-proofing-crops-require-urgent.html

In a review in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, Stephen Long, a professor of crop sciences and of plant biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, describes research efforts to "future-proof" the crops that are essential to feeding a hungry world in a changing climate. Long, who has spent decades studying the process of photosynthesis and finding ways to improve it, provides an overview of key scientific findings that offer a ray of hope.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-future-proofing-crops-require-urgent.html

Give Me That Old Time Religion?

Will Disclosure- the revelation that "aliens" are "real"- destroy religion?

I'm inclined to think so.

But a guy I was listening to yesterday- who happens to be a minister of the Unitarian church- thinks it'll prove a bonanza for the churches (and the mosques, synagogues, temples etc....) A lot of people are going to be shocked to the core and will flock to the faith of their fathers for comfort and reassurance.

Well, we'll see....

Could 'pausing' cell death be the final frontier in medicine on Earth and beyond?

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-cell-death-frontier-medicine-earth.html

The process of necrosis, a form of cell death, may represent one of the most promising ways to change the course of human aging, disease and even space travel, according to a new study by researchers at UCL, drug discovery company LinkGevity and the European Space Agency (ESA).

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-cell-death-frontier-medicine-earth.html

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dreamwidth: community thursdays

Community Thursday

Community Thursday challenge: every Thursday, try to make an effort to engage with a community on Dreamwidth, whether that's posting, commenting, promoting, etc.

Over the last week...

Vigilantes chit-chat on

bnha_fans, and a comment on

booknook!

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Weather and Climate Livestream

There's so many bad things going on requiring our attention that the cuts/firing in the meteorology and climate science communities gets less attention, but having a fully staffed NOAA is an important issue. Right now, there is a 100-hour livestream going on to call attention to how vital these services are, especially as hurricane season is upon us. I have it on in the background right now.

What can we do? Watch the livestream, call our Representatives, and go to 5 Calls for sample script/letters.

Info and schedule: The Weather and Climate Livestream

Direct YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rG4ePBqD-E

Sharks rarely seen together peacefully co-feed: Observation could help scientists understand shark e

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-sharks-rarely-peacefully-scientists-shark.html

Many sharks, particularly those that live in the open oceans, are hunters rather than scavengers. Despite this, a small portion of their diet comes from scavenging, a behavior they may engage in when the opportunity arises.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-sharks-rarely-peacefully-scientists-shark.html

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fandom: music

Music Wednesday

Watch on YouTube

Gender seems to be occurring.

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garden,
my life

(no subject)

The “put up a new fence” boys are here and have just about finished the job. Looks good. And I discovered my neighbor has a cherry tree. I am envious. I am out in the yard every day for about an hour or two. But the weeds and bushes are on a at least eight hour day and they’re racing ahead of me.

I took my first bath here last night. As opposed to the shower. I wanted to pumice stone my feet which are very hard skinned on the heels. The tub isn’t big but then I am not tall. I enjoyed it.

The Park has told me that I am on the list to have the very large, very dead tree in my backyard removed, at their expense. Later this summer. That will leave another stump but my plan involves having whatever I can afford ground down, in the future.

Entry tags:

format: big bang/reverse big bang

Innocence: A D.Gray-Man Big Bang Update

( You're about to view content that a community administrator has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

Current Mood: anxious
Current Location: the home office
Current Music: Kingdom: Legendary War

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Dept. of Kitchen Work

Orange Cake and Daily Tasks

Very quickly, because I'm busily rewatching a Korean music group challenge show (because of course I am), I wanted to announce to a waiting world that the second time I baked this particular orange cake, it was just as good as the first time. I am satisfied.

Today was supposed to be the first day that I gathered up all the paperwork we need to prepare Bob's Canadian permanent residence application. I ended up dealing with other things, but I hope it wasn't just a case of me trying to avoid a tough job. It's undoubtedly not nearly as tough as my fears make it seem. I'm going to do my best tomorrow to get the job done. Then Bob and I will figure out the following day's tasks wrt the application. We figured that we'd try to tackle one job each every day, and we're going to try to stick to that.

Well, except for me, obviously. Sigh.

Wish us both luck tomorrow.

(no subject)

My Lens came in. I won't be able to use it until after the wedding.

My trench coat came in. It is in my favorite color blue.

Tried on my dress. It looks okay. Dad said I looked fat. Thanks. I know. Funny, I only feel good in my Renn Faire garb.

watched my Aunt and stroke cousin tonight so the other cousins could go out tonight with friends.

Stroke cousin is moving around better. She still can't get out of bed on her own. They think things will be better after they remove a blockage in her carotid artery . I hope so.

The other great wall? Exploring Asia's Medieval Wall System

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-great-wall-exploring-asia-medieval.html

Archaeologists have excavated a medieval frontier garrison in Mongolia, suggesting some monumental walls on the Eurasian steppe were not built to defend against enemy attack, but rather to control the movement of people and display dynastic power.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-great-wall-exploring-asia-medieval.html

(no subject)

Just when you think things are going along okay for you...

My "new" tv died yesterday.
From what I can figure out the backlight went out.
I went and talked to the "famous" Geek Squad at Best Buy and their first suggestion, Buy a new tv.
Seriously, it's only, maybe two years old. :o
Otherwise I can pay them $150 to come pick it up and take it to their repair facility and who knows how much to actually fix it.
I asked, Don't you do in home repairs?
Oh no, we only set things up for you.
WORTHLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At the moment I am watching things on my Nook tablet.
I am thinking about getting a Roku device to put on my other tv.
Then decide about dishing out for another new tv. UGH...
I did a google search for tv repairs in this area, and something like only two places came up. :o
One was Best Buy, and that's not happening, and the other place had a rating of 1 star, so that's questionable.

So I guess "smart" tvs are being built to be replaced like "smart" phones, every couple of years. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Filtered car emissions still turn toxic after sunlight exposure, study reveals

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-filtered-car-emissions-toxic-sunlight.html

A new international study led by Helmholtz Munich and the University of Rostock reveals that emissions from modern gasoline cars—despite meeting the currently strictest European emission standards EURO 6d—can become significantly more harmful after being released into the atmosphere. The findings, published in Science Advances, challenge the assumption that filtered exhaust from EURO 6d-compliant vehicles is inherently safe.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-filtered-car-emissions-toxic-sunlight.html

Coastal Alaska wolves exposed to high mercury concentrations from eating sea otters

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-coastal-alaska-wolves-exposed-high.html

In late 2020, a female coastal wolf collared for a study on predation patterns unexpectedly died in southeastern Alaska.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-coastal-alaska-wolves-exposed-high.html

A new pathogenic fungus is threatening bats

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-pathogenic-fungus-threatening.html

One fungus, two species, millions of dead bats: A study published in the journal Nature has analyzed 5,000 samples of a fungus that is responsible for the largest recorded pathogen-caused mortality in mammals. An international team of researchers, led by a doctoral candidate at the University of Greifswald, produced the study in collaboration with partners from France, Bulgaria, Finland and Ukraine and several hundred volunteers.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-pathogenic-fungus-threatening.html

Ancient DNA uncovers unknown group near Americas' land bridge 6,000 years ago

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-ancient-dna-uncovers-unknown-group.html

Scientists have identified a new pod of ancient hunter-gatherers who lived near the land bridge between North America and South America about 6,000 years ago.

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-ancient-dna-uncovers-unknown-group.html