DAILY DOSE: China poised to set up lunar surveillance state; Lessons learned from Flaco the owl's death.

scientificinquirer

March 5

CHINA EXTENDS SKYNET TO THE MOON FOR SURVEILLANCE.

China is launching an ambitious plan to extend its massive surveillance network, known as Skynet, to the moon, aiming to safeguard its forthcoming lunar base. Drawing on the extensive video surveillance system that spans China with over 600 million cameras, the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and other key Chinese space and scientific institutions are applying this experience to develop an optical surveillance system for their lunar research station. The lunar Skynet will consist of lightweight, high-performance security cameras with AI capabilities for independent target identification and tracking. These cameras will connect automatically upon deployment, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the lunar station, which is larger than a Disney theme park and includes a variety of scientific and support facilities. This initiative aims not only to enhance the station's security and operational efficiency but also to underscore China's leadership in space exploration. Despite potential challenges related to data management and environmental resilience, the project draws from China's terrestrial Skynet's advanced data transmission and processing technologies. However, this extension of Skynet raises concerns about privacy and human rights, echoing criticisms of its Earth-based counterpart. (SCMP)

THERE ARE IMPORTANT TAKE-AWAYS FROM FLACO THE OWL'S DEATH.

Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who famously escaped from the Central Park Zoo and survived a year in Manhattan, has died, sparking widespread grief and disbelief akin to that felt at an unexpected human death. Despite being an apex predator unaccustomed to hunting, Flaco adapted to urban life, capturing the hearts of New Yorkers and a global audience through social media. However, the hazards of city living, such as poisoned rats and misleading window reflections, posed fatal risks to him. Flaco's death, initially attributed to "acute traumatic injury," remains shrouded in mystery, with various potential causes including poison, disease, or collision. This incident highlights the broader issue of human impact on wildlife, stressing the need for measures to mitigate human-animal conflict and promote safer urban environments for wildlife. Proposed solutions include bird-safe building designs, reduced lighting, and alternatives to rodenticides. Flaco's story is a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of humans and wildlife, urging a reevaluation of our relationship with urban fauna. (New York Times)

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TRUMP SUPPORTERS SPREAD AI-GENERATED FAKE IMAGES TARGETING BLACK VOTERS.

Supporters of Donald Trump have been generating and disseminating AI-created fake images of African Americans endorsing the former president to attract black voters towards the Republican side. BBC Panorama identified numerous deepfakes aimed at portraying Trump as popular within the black community, a crucial demographic in Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. While there's no direct evidence linking these manipulations to Trump's campaign, the images serve a strategic narrative to sway black voters. Notably, the content creators, including a conservative radio show in Florida, acknowledge the images' inaccuracy but utilize them to influence perceptions. These actions represent a shift in disinformation tactics from foreign interventions in 2016 to domestically produced falsehoods, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and highlighting the need for vigilance against such manipulations in future elections. The spread of these deepfakes underscores evolving challenges in combating misinformation and emphasizes the potential for both domestic and foreign actors to exploit these technologies to affect election outcomes. (BBC)

LARGEST GENOME STUDY UNVEILS INDIA'S RICH GENETIC HISTORY.

The largest modern whole-genome analysis from South Asia, involving over 2700 genomes, has provided new insights into the region's complex demographic history. This study confirms that most Indians descend from a mix of three ancestral populations: ancient hunter-gatherers, Iranian farmers who arrived between 4700 and 3000 B.C.E., and herders from the central Eurasian steppe around 3000 B.C.E. Significantly, it also highlights an unexpected diversity in genes from Neanderthals and Denisovans, despite the absence of their fossils in India. This rich genetic tapestry suggests that ancient humans in India might have interbred with a diverse group of Neanderthals and Denisovans or that India's unique social practices helped preserve a wide variety of these archaic genes. Additionally, the research points to interconnected societies in prehistoric times, with evidence of cultural and genetic exchanges between ancient agricultural communities in what is now Tajikistan and India. This groundbreaking study not only deepens our understanding of India's genetic diversity but also underscores the interconnectedness of ancient societies and the complex processes of human migration and interaction. (Science)

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OLDEST ANIMAL SEX CHROMOSOME FOUND IN OCTOPUSES.

Researchers have identified the oldest known sex chromosome in animals, the Z chromosome, in octopuses, dating back to an ancestor approximately 380 million years ago. This discovery, made by evolutionary geneticist Andrew Kern and his team, sheds light on the previously unclear mechanism of sex determination in cephalopods, including squids and octopuses. By comparing the genomes of male and female California two-spot octopuses, they found that males possess two copies of chromosome 17 (suggesting ZZ sex chromosomes), while females have one (indicating ZO, with "O" representing the absence of a W chromosome). This finding contrasts with the common XX/XY sex determination system in mammals and reveals that sex determination in cephalopods is genetically based, rather than environmentally influenced as previously thought. The Z chromosome is highly conserved across various octopus and squid species, marking a significant evolution in sex chromosomes among animals and plants, and highlighting the complexity and diversity of genetic sex determination mechanisms in nature. (Nature)

SOLITARY KILLER WHALE STUNS SCIENTISTS WITH SHARK HUNT.

In an extraordinary display of predatory skill, a solitary killer whale was filmed hunting and killing a great white shark off South Africa's coast, a behavior considered "unprecedented" by scientists. This event, detailed in the African Journal of Marine Science by Dr. Alison Towner and colleagues, showcases the killer whale's ability to isolate and consume the shark's liver in under two minutes. Previously, in 2022, two male orcas named Port and Starboard were observed collaborating to hunt sharks, specifically targeting their livers. However, the recent solo hunt by Starboard highlights the advanced hunting techniques of orcas, including evasion of the shark's defenses. This behavior raises questions about the impact on shark populations and the broader marine ecosystem, considering the pressures from human activities like climate change and industrial fishing. The incident also underscores the intricate balance of apex predators in the ocean and the potential consequences of their interactions, including on endangered species. (BBC)

INDONESIA'S AMBITIOUS MOVE: BUILDING FUTURE CAPITAL ON BORNEO.

Indonesia is constructing its future capital, Nusantara, on Borneo, moving away from the congested, polluted, and sinking Jakarta. This ambitious project, envisioned since 1945, aims to centralize the country's administration more equitably among its vast archipelago. Spearheaded by President Joko Widodo, the initiative seeks to establish a green, high-tech city of 2 million people, emphasizing renewable energy, efficient public transportation, and sustainable living. Despite its visionary goals, the project, estimated to cost $38 billion, faces challenges, including securing sufficient private investment and concerns over environmental impact and displacement of local communities. As Widodo's term concludes, the completion of Nusantara becomes a testament to his legacy, though its success and acceptance remain uncertain amidst skepticism over its necessity and feasibility. The project highlights the complexities of balancing development, environmental conservation, and social equity in creating a new capital. (Der Spiegel)

MOROCCO'S ANCIENT DUNE REVEALS SURPRISINGLY YOUNG FORMATION.

Researchers, including those from Aberystwyth University in Wales and the University of London, have studied the age and movement of a star dune named Lala Lallia in Morocco's Erg Chebbi desert. Using luminescence dating techniques, they discovered the base of this 100-metre high and 700-metre wide dune is about 13,000 years old, while its upper parts formed within the last 1,000 years. This finding indicates parts of the dune are younger than expected. The dune's formation is attributed to opposing wind directions, with a consistent east wind slowly shifting the dune westward at a rate of 50cm per year. This movement has implications for infrastructure planning in such regions. The study utilized innovative methods to date sand grains by measuring the light they emit, which reveals the last time they were exposed to sunlight. These findings contribute to our understanding of desert landscapes and are published in the journal Scientific Reports. (The Guardian)

NEW INSIGHTS INTO DENISOVANS' RESILIENCE AND GENETIC LEGACY.

Despite the extinction of Denisovans, a human group distinct from Neanderthals, thousands of years ago, recent research has significantly expanded our understanding of these ancient humans. With only a few fossil remains identified as Denisovan since their discovery in 2010, scientists rely heavily on genetic evidence to study their history and interaction with modern humans. This sparse fossil record includes parts of a jaw, a finger bone, a skull fragment, teeth, and bone chips, mostly found in Denisova Cave in Siberia. However, genetic analyses reveal that Denisovans were incredibly resilient, living in diverse environments ranging from cold Siberia to high-altitude Tibet and possibly the rainforests of New Guinea and the Philippines. This adaptability suggests they were much more like modern humans than previously thought. Interbreeding between Denisovans and modern humans has left a genetic legacy that benefits people today, such as genes aiding survival at high altitudes in Tibet or fighting infections in New Guinea. Despite the challenges in finding more Denisovan fossils due to humid conditions that deter preservation, the ongoing research underscores their significant impact on human evolution and our understanding of ancient human diversity. (New York Times)

Thanks for reading. Let's be careful out there.

WORDS: The Biology Guy.