🧠 What Science Stories Made My Summer Unforgettable
Hey there, it’s been a while! First off, a big thank you for sticking with me despite the recent lack of updates—I really appreciate your patience. The good news? I’ve got loads of stories lined up, and you can expect this newsletter to become more regular.
In this issue, I’m excited to share some of the major scientific discoveries that inspired me over the summer of 2024.
Before we continue, though, let me fill you in on why I’ve been off the radar lately. I’ve been deep into a new project called Urbi Atlas, collaborating with a brilliant team of data experts. Together, we’re creating striking visuals, detailed maps, and in-depth analytics to explore trends in city sustainability—think building emissions, compact city designs, and more. Be sure to check out our first features!
Now, let’s jump into the remarkable scientific discoveries that recently caught my eye.
Environment
Extreme rainfall can harm urban economies, but cities with more green space are better equipped to handle the impact. According to researchers, greening 25 per cent of urban areas could have saved $6.5 billion, a 19 per cent reduction in losses. This shows that adding green spaces can help cities better handle heavy rain and protect their economies.
Human alterations to the environment can also have unexpected effects on urban ecosystems. A study in Beijing found that streetlights make tree leaves tougher and less appealing to insects. Artificial light at night also changes leaf nutrients. It could disrupt the food chain, potentially harming insects, birds, and overall urban biodiversity.
Climate change can affect the way we communicate. A recent study found that extreme heat can reduce the language complexity of politicians. By analysing over seven million parliamentary speeches from eight countries and matching them with daily weather data, researchers discovered that hot days lead to simpler language, particularly among older politicians, while cold days showed no significant effect.
But the influence of climate change doesn’t stop there. It could also be driving the evolution of dangerous fungal pathogens. Scientists discovered a new species, Rhodosporidiobolus fluvialis, which becomes more virulent and drug-resistant when exposed to warm temperatures. This fungus can resist major antifungals, posing a serious threat to public health.
The climate crisis is even affecting the very rhythm of our planet. As polar ice melts and redistributes mass across the globe, each day becomes slightly longer. Research using observations and computer models found that from 1900 to 2000, the length of the day slowed by 0.3 to 1.0 milliseconds per century. However, since 2000, the accelerated pace of ice melting has increased this rate to 1.3 milliseconds per century, subtly reshaping time itself.
When it comes to public attention, not all species are equal. Fish with larger ranges and those that look attractive in aquariums tend to attract the most interest, while scientific research often prioritises species important to fisheries. Unfortunately, the fish at the highest risk of extinction and those most vulnerable to climate change receive the least attention. The real survival skill in the ocean is being camera-ready!
New Frontiers
Geophysicists have discovered a huge hidden ocean beneath Mars’ surface, and it might even support life. Using data from NASA’s InSight Lander, they found enough liquid to cover the whole planet with 1 to 2 kilometres of water. But there’s a catch—it’s trapped 11.5 to 20 kilometres deep in fractured rock, far beyond the reach of current drilling technology.
While we uncover secrets beneath Mars, challenges on Earth’s surface continue. The giant fusion reactor ITER, often hailed as a game-changer for clean energy, won’t turn on until 2034—nine years later than planned. Energy-producing reactions are expected in 2039, but only briefly, due to safety regulations in France, where ITER is being built. The delays are attributed to manufacturing issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the immense complexity of the project.
In the realm of materials science, goldene is making waves. This new cousin of graphene—first discovered in 2004—is a single-atom-thick sheet of gold. Goldene is roughly 400 times thinner than the finest commercial gold leaf, and it could revolutionise technologies as a catalyst or in light-sensing devices.
Shifting gears to artificial intelligence, a recent study has highlighted a curious flaw: training AI models on AI-generated text rapidly leads to nonsensical output. This degradation happens because each new model learns from its predecessor’s interpretation of reality rather than reality itself, causing errors to multiply over time. It’s the digital equivalent of copying homework from someone who didn’t do theirs.
Scientific One-Liners
Scientists have discovered the remnants of over 1,700 viruses deep within a glacier in western China, most of which are entirely new to science.
The last universal common ancestor (LUCA) of all life lived around 4.2 billion years ago and likely had an early form of an immune system.
Replacing two 50-car trains with a single 100-car train increases the odds of derailment by 11 per cent.
Nearly 40 per cent of the dirty money in the world is laundered in the City of London and other crown dependencies.
As China’s big cities continue to grow, they’re also sinking. About 16 per cent of these cities are subsiding by more than 10 millimetres annually, and nearly half are sinking by over 3 millimetres each year.
By studying data from the past 125 years, scientists discovered that rainfall volatility has increased, with daily fluctuations growing by about 1.2 per cent per decade.
Over 47,000 Europeans died from heat-related causes in 2023, the hottest year on record globally.
In Finland, there are 5.5 million people and three million saunas.
People with high levels of mental resilience may live much longer lives.
Health
Imagine living nearly two years longer just by breathing cleaner air. Reducing fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) to meet the WHO guidelines could add 1.9 years to the average person’s life expectancy, translating into 14.9 billion life-years saved globally.
In the fight against diseases, scientists have developed a promising new approach to tackle HIV: a molecular mimic that sneaks into cells and robs the virus of key proteins it needs to survive. In a recent study, this “viral thief” effectively stopped HIV from multiplying in monkeys, offering a potential breakthrough.
Meanwhile, middle age emerges as a pivotal period for brain health, drawing attention to the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The brain starts to shrink in the 30s and 40s, with the pace accelerating after 60 as it prunes unnecessary synapses. This natural process can slow down memory retrieval, making it harder to recall specifics like names or movie titles.
On a brighter note, the digital world offers some unexpected health benefits. A global study of 2.4 million people found that Internet use can significantly improve well-being, enhancing life satisfaction and a sense of purpose. On average, Internet users reported an 8 per cent higher score in life satisfaction and social contentment than non-users, likely due to engaging activities like learning and socialising online—similar to the benefits of spending time in nature. The secret to happiness has been in your browser history all this time.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed Hypertextual, don’t forget to hit like and share it with some friends. See you next time!
Elia Kabanov is a science writer covering the past, present, and future of technology (@metkere).
Illustrations: Elia Kabanov feat. MidJourney.