From ancient acts of cannibalism to the existence of stars composed of dark matter, 2023 presented several scientific assertions that have the potential to revolutionize their respective fields — provided they prove to be accurate.
One of these claims involves the role of giant volcanic eruptions in supporting early life on Earth. Reexamining debris from eruptions that occurred millions of years ago, researchers found a significant presence of nitrate formed in the atmosphere. This discovery suggests that these eruptions might have induced intense lightning, breaking down molecular nitrogen and releasing nitrogen atoms. These freed atoms could then bond with other elements, forming molecules essential for life, such as nitrate. Some scientists propose that a similar process occurred billions of years ago, generating crucial ingredients for the emergence of early life. However, further research will be necessary to consider the distinct chemical composition of the early Earth’s atmosphere in supporting this hypothesis.
Researchers assert that purported tool marks on a fossilized leg, dating back 1.45 million years, provide the earliest indication of cannibalism among ancient human relatives (SN: 8/12/23, p. 10). Found in Kenya, the marks on the bone are believed to have been created by an unidentified hominid using a stone tool to remove muscle from the shin of another hominid. However, some paleoanthropologists caution that a few bone nicks may not necessarily confirm evidence of cannibalism.
Data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope indicate that a few galaxies from the early universe are unexpectedly up to 100 times more massive than previously anticipated (SN: 3/25/23, p. 14). This discovery challenges the prevailing notion that matter gradually aggregated over the universe’s lifespan and suggests the existence of an unknown mechanism for accelerating galaxy formation. However, further confirmation of the galaxies’ weights and distances requires more in-depth analysis of their light before astronomers can consider revising our understanding of cosmic history.
Contrary to previous beliefs, the thymus, an immune system organ located between the lungs, may have more significance for adult health than initially thought (SN: 8/26/23, p. 7). While the thymus is most active in childhood and tends to diminish with age, often deemed expendable in adulthood, a study involving over 2,000 adults who underwent chest surgery revealed that the removal of the thymus gland was linked to elevated rates of death and cancer within the subsequent years. The reasons behind the potential harm caused by thymus removal remain unclear.
Challenging previous assumptions, researchers argue that the act of honoring the dead may extend beyond big-brained hominids like Homo sapiens and Neandertals. Homo naledi, characterized by its small, orange-sized brain and contemporaneous existence with early H. sapiens, is suggested to have intentionally buried bodies in an underground South African cave (SN: 7/1/23, p. 6). However, skepticism persists among other experts. Critics propose that the bodies, believed to be intentionally buried, could have fallen through cave shafts or been carried by water into natural depressions in cave floors, casting doubt on the burial interpretation.
Geologists’ understanding of Earth’s core is being significantly challenged by two separate studies based on earthquake data. Contrary to previous notions, the solid inner core is not only found to rotate but also appears to change its rotation direction in relation to the mantle and crust every few decades (SN: 2/25/23, p. 7). Additionally, there is speculation about the presence of a concealed chamber within the inner core (SN: 4/8/23, p. 17). However, conflicting data suggests that the inner core may reverse its rotation every few years or may not rotate at all. The purported identification of the innermost core relies on a specific type of seismic wave that traverses Earth’s interior, gradually weakening and becoming more challenging to detect with each bounce. Fortunately, whatever dynamic processes are occurring beneath the surface do not seem to pose a threat to life on the Earth’s surface.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) may have detected stars composed of dark matter, the enigmatic substance constituting the majority of matter in the cosmos (SN: 8/26/23, p. 8). While the existence of these so-called dark stars is currently speculative, the JWST observed three objects emitting light consistent with what would be expected from such stars. If confirmed, dark stars could provide valuable insights into star formation and the characteristics of dark matter. However, the points of light in the JWST’s field of view could also originate from conventional stars, necessitating more detailed data for astronomers to ascertain the true nature of these objects.
