James Webb telescope finds potential signature of life on Jupiter’s icy moon Europa

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed homemade carbon dioxide on Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, raising the possibility that the frigid waterworld could host life.

Europa, which is a little bit smaller than Earth’s moon, is covered with a crust of water ice enveloping a saltwater ocean. The presence of liquid water makes Europa an intriguing object of exploration for scientists interested in extraterrestrial life. But until now, no one had shown that the ocean contained the proper molecules, particularly carbon, which is a fundamental building block of life on Earth.

The new detection by JWST is intriguing because the carbon dioxide does not seem to have been carried by a meteorite or asteroid, and it appears in a geologically young region of the moon called Tara Regio, suggesting the gas may have formed within the moon itself.

“Previous observations from the Hubble Space Telescope show evidence for ocean-derived salt in Tara Regio,” Cornell University planetary scientist Samantha Trumbo said in a statement. “Now we’re seeing that carbon dioxide is heavily concentrated there as well. We think this implies that the carbon probably has its ultimate origin in the internal ocean.”

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Elite Race Denialism Continues, But New Study Shows the Walls Are Closing In

The Race Denialists are at it again. Black academic Tyler Austin Harper [Email him] (right) has attacked Richard Hanania’s new book The Origins of Woke as an “intellectual and moral failure,” in part because it has highlighted black-white differences in IQ [An Intellectual and a Moral FailureThe Atlantic, September 18, 2023]. It was the elite Leftist magazine’s second attack on Hanania: staff writer Adam Serwer (black and Jewish) targeted him three days earlier in a broadside against The Young Conservatives Trying to Make Eugenics Respectable Again. But as VDARE.com’s Steve Sailer has observed, the black-white IQ gap is probably “the best documented finding in US social science.”

Now a new study from A Genetic Hypothesis for American Race/Ethnic Differences in Mean g [Mankind Quarterly, June 2023] proves again that it really matters.

The term “g” stands for “general intelligence,” which underlies verbal, spatial and mathematical intelligence. It explains why people who score highly in one kind of intelligence test usually score highly on the others. It is strongly genetic.

The study was published in the “controversial” Mankind Quarterly—likely, in part, because the better-known journals have been hijacked by Woke activists pretending to be scholars.

Drawing upon the “Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study,” which sampled more than 10,000 Americans, the authors carefully examined the relationship between self/parental-identified race or ethnicity (called SIRE in the jargon) and key variables. These included the intelligence test administered as part of cognitive study. The authors also explored race differences in many other brain-related measures.

To say that the authors refuted the claims that “race is a social construct,” or that “race differences in IQ score are environmental” is almost too charitable. They annihilated those claims, and showed that the cognitive differences between the races are strongly genetic.

There was “measurement invariance” across the different groups in its sample of diverse European ancestries. In statistics, this means that the same trait—such as intelligence—was measured in all of the European-ancestry samples. Cultural differences could have played no role in making the test unfair to one group but not another.

The authors’ key finding: The more genetic European admixture a non-white had, the more intelligent they tended to be, and these intelligence differences were on g.

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One thing about the claims made in the article is all the wrangling between races, tribes and ethnicities is going to disappear as soon as we start having large numbers of digital babies—that is, babies whose parents have selected a large proportion of their genes, a proportion large enough to guarantee high intelligence among many other desirable traits. When this tech is widely available, some parents may still opt for Darwinian chance evolution for their offspring but most will not.

Given the choice of having a genetically super fit and intelligent child for sure or a Darwinian coin-toss kid, most will want the guaranteed smart and healthy one. This constitutes beneficent and beneficial eugenics. No one will be forced to go either way, but the consequences of choosing Darwinian evolution over controlled eugenics will become obvious within a single generation.

Of course human-controlled eugenic evolution could turn out badly, as is true for all new technologies. But there is no doubt we will see enormous improvements in what humans can do in this area within the next few decades. Within 100 years and probably much less, off-body gestation of digital babies will change the entire landscape of human tribalism, pride, competition and so on. I believe there is a very good chance highly intelligent humans produced by voluntary eugenics will look back on us and our concerns today as the last gasps of their selfish, violent, and often grotesque human ancestry. ABN

Unnatural evolutionary processes of SARS-CoV-2 variants and possibility of deliberate natural selection

Over the past three years, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has repeatedly caused pandemics, generating various mutated variants ranging from Alpha to Omicron. In this study, we aimed to clarify the evolutionary processes leading to the formation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants, focusing on Omicron variants with many amino acid mutations in the spike protein among SARS-CoV-2 isolates. To determine the order of mutations leading to the formation of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants, we compared the sequences of 129 Omicron BA.1-related, 141 BA.1.1-related, and 122 BA.2-related isolates, and attempted to clarify the evolutionary processes of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants, including the order of mutations leading to their formation and the occurrence of homologous recombination. As a result, we concluded that the formation of a part of Omicron isolates BA.1, BA.1.1, and BA.2 was not the product of genome evolution, as is commonly observed in nature, such as the accumulation of mutations and homologous recombinations. Furthermore, the study of 35 recombinant isolates of Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 confirmed that Omicron variants were already present in 2020. The analysis showed that Omicron variants were formed by an entirely new mechanism that cannot be explained by previous biology, and knowing how the SARS-CoV-2 variants were formed prompts a reconsideration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

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This preprint has found evidence indicating that ‘the Omicron variants were artificially synthesized rather than naturally occurring.’ ABN

Huge progress made in the race to resurrect extinct species

In a groundbreaking new study, scientists have sequenced RNA from a Tasmanian tiger specimen that is over a century old, bringing the goal of resurrecting extinct species closer to reality.

The specimen, preserved at room temperature in the Swedish Museum of Natural History, has allowed researchers to reconstruct the skin and skeletal muscle transcriptomes from this extinct species, marking a first in the scientific community.

The Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, stands as a symbol of human-induced extinction. This carnivorous marsupial, once reigning as an apex predator across Australia and the island of Tasmania, faced its downfall post-European colonization.

Deemed an agricultural nuisance, the government set bounties on these creatures in the late 19th century. This resulted in their rapid decline. The last recorded thylacine died in captivity in 1936, but its memory still haunts the conservationist community.

Emilio Mármol, the lead author of the study, highlights the challenges of de-extinction, stating, “Resurrecting the Tasmanian tiger or the woolly mammoth requires a deep knowledge of both the genome and transcriptome regulation.” This sentiment underscores the significance of their research, published in the Genome Research journal, as they’ve provided the first detailed look into the Tasmanian tiger’s RNA.

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Temperature causes rise in CO2, not the other way around

Abstract

The scientific and wider interest in the relationship between atmospheric temperature (T) and concentration of carbon dioxide ([CO2]) has been enormous. According to the commonly assumed causality link, increased [CO2] causes a rise in T. However, recent developments cast doubts on this assumption by showing that this relationship is of the hen-or-egg type, or even unidirectional but opposite in direction to the commonly assumed one. These developments include an advanced theoretical framework for testing causality based on the stochastic evaluation of a potentially causal link between two processes via the notion of the impulse response function. Using, on the one hand, this framework and further expanding it and, on the other hand, the longest available modern time series of globally averaged T and [CO2], we shed light on the potential causality between these two processes. All evidence resulting from the analyses suggests a unidirectional, potentially causal link with T as the cause and [CO2] as the effect. That link is not represented in climate models, whose outputs are also examined using the same framework, resulting in a link opposite the one found when the real measurements are used.

On Hens, Eggs, Temperatures and CO2: Causal Links in Earth’s Atmosphere

Clinical Trials for Artificial Wombs: A New Era in Neonatal Care

Artificial Wombs Could be Coming Soon

Medical advancements continually push the boundaries of what’s possible, the conception of an artificial womb capable of nurturing a human life has transitioned from the realm of science fiction to a tangible reality. Aided by intricate technology and years of dedicated research, these groundbreaking innovations promise to revolutionize neonatal care, especially for infants born prematurely. However, as with any transformative discovery, the journey of artificial wombs intertwines with a myriad of regulatory, ethical, and societal challenges. As regulators, scientists, and the public grapple with the potential implications, the horizon seems to herald an era where the lines between natural and artificial gestation might blur, bringing forth profound changes in our understanding of birth and life itself.

The Science Behind Artificial Wombs

Evolution of the Technology

The endeavor to create an environment mimicking the human womb outside the female body isn’t a novel concept. Historically, the aspiration has been influenced by both medical necessity and human curiosity. The primary motivation behind the pursuit is the challenge faced by neonatal units across the globe: the care for infants born severely premature. While advancements in neonatal care have significantly improved survival rates, long-term health complications among these infants remain a poignant concern.

Amidst this backdrop, the past decade has witnessed considerable strides in the field of artificial womb technology. Grounded in meticulous research and bolstered by advancements in biomedical engineering, the journey has evolved from rudimentary prototypes to sophisticated systems that can potentially sustain life. Key to this progression has been the rigorous testing on animal models, primarily lambs, given their physiological similarities to human infants in terms of lung development and other essential parameters.

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UPDATE: As this tech evolves and merges with digital manipulation of gametes and zygotes, an era of post-Darwinian human evolution will begin. A healthy, compassionate, non-harming eugenics will not only vastly improve the human race but also make race, ethnicity, and lineage obsolete. Parents will be able to choose the traits of their offspring without coercion and rear them conveniently in artificial wombs. I can definitely see all kinds of things going wrong with this but the progeny of this process will be extremely intelligent, far more intelligent than anyone who has ever lived. Will those people be totalitarian maniacs? Will they allow parasites to rise to the top of the food chain and topple their societies as we are allowing today? I doubt it. Eugenics of this sort will remove all mutations from individuals and bad genes from the gene pool. Humans have had great success breeding dogs, horses and many other animals. I am much more hopeful than not about the future when I view it in this way. ABN

Scientific study finds Swedes stupid; most intelligent are quickest to take covid vax

Abstract

We examine the relationship between cognitive ability and prompt COVID-19 vaccination using individual-level data on more than 700,000 individuals in Sweden. We find a strong positive association between cognitive ability and swift vaccination, which remains even after controlling for confounding variables with a twin-design. The results suggest that the complexity of the vaccination decision may make it difficult for individuals with lower cognitive abilities to understand the benefits of vaccination. Consistent with this, we show that simplifying the vaccination decision through pre-booked vaccination appointments alleviates almost all of the inequality in vaccination behavior.

Cognitive ability, health policy, and the dynamics of COVID-19 vaccination

A confounding factor could be the tests they use for cognitive ability in Sweden were made by people dumber than the people taking them, or the most intelligent Swedes deliberately make mistakes on these tests because they know the whole charade is ridiculous, deserving only mockery, which is kinda how I feel about this study which does not even ask if the vaxxes cause long-term harm. ABN

I’ve studied thousands of near-death experiences and have become convinced there’s an afterlife

…Through his decades of research, Dr Long has concluded that about 45 percent of near-death experiences include a sense of being out-of-body, in which people’s consciousness is separated from their physical being.

About three-quarters of those who experience this reported wanting to stay in the afterlife because of the immense love and joy that overtook them. More than half report seeing a ‘heavenly’ realm and around a quarter of them are enveloped in light or mist.

This also means, he added, that nearly 100 percent of those who have a brush with death no longer fear it.

His research has permanently altered the way that Dr Long cares for his patients. Previously, he would not mention his research into this particular field, but if his patients want to talk about it, he does not hold back.

Dr Long said: ‘I tell them that based on my research, I’m very confident that there’s a wonderful afterlife for all of us and that we will be reunited with our deceased loved ones. And that’s profoundly reassuring to them. To me it’s a blessing to be able to share that with them.’

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Tropical forests nearing critical temperatures thresholds

A tiny percentage of upper canopy leaves have already crossed that threshold, reaching temperatures so high — above 47 degrees Celsius — as to prevent photosynthesis, the study published in Nature reported.

Currently, some leaves exceed such critical temperatures only 0.01 percent of the time, but impacts could quickly scale up because leaves warm faster than air, the researchers said.

“You heat the air by two to three degrees and the actual upper temperature of these leaves goes up by eight degrees,” lead author Christopher Doughty of Northern Arizona University told journalists.

If tropical forest’s average surface temperature warms 4C above current levels — widely considered a worst-case scenario — “we’re predicting possible total leaf death,” he said.

The new research suggests that leaf death could become a new factor in the predicted “tipping point” whereby tropical forests transition due to climate change and deforestation into savannah-like landscapes.

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‘Hatred of Anglos Is a Core Feature of Multicultural Ideology in Anglosphere Societies’ — Kevin MacDonald

Anglophobia: The Unrecognized Hatred, by Harry Richardson and Frank Salter, is an excellent exposition of the hatred and dispossession of native White populations that is sweeping Western societies. Focusing particularly on Australia as a prime example, it is a valuable contribution to the effort to both inform European-descended peoples of the danger and injustice of the present situation and to motivate them to action on behalf of their legitimate interests.

Focusing on Anglos may be off-putting to some because it may seem to exclude European-descended groups not descended from the British Isles. However, the authors apply the term widely, to “people descended from the indigenous population of the British Isles in Australia and overseas as well as those who have assimilated into those populations. It can include people of European descent and western civilization as a whole” (5). Anglophobia, then, is hatred or mistrust directed at those populations. As they document in detail, Anglophobia is rife throughout the Western world, and often emanates from prominent figures in the elite media and academic world. Clearly Anglos and their interests are being systematically compromised.

As noted, this is a highly readable book, but it is also intellectually rigorous. Chapter 5, “Psychological and Biological Dimensions of Racism” notes that ethnocentrism is a biological universal that evolved for group living—likely in small groups of close kin. However, ethnocentrism spans a spectrum of variation, and “Anglos are among the world’s most individualist and least collectivist (in other words, non ‘racist’) cultures.” (16) Indeed, Western individualism is unique among the cultures of the world. But that doesn’t imply that Westerners have no tendency toward ethnocentrism at all, only that it is less central to Anglo cultures and more difficult to arouse. And when allegiance to the group is aroused, it is less likely to be directed at a group of co-ethnics, as we see with the phenomenon of civic nationalism—perhaps a fatal flaw in today’s multicultural West.

Underlying the theoretical basis of the book is Salter’s theory of ethnic genetic interests—that genetic diversity creates conflicts of interest between people and hence between people organized into ethnic groups, with the result that multiethnic, multicultural societies are prone to conflict: “As ethno-religious diversity increases, cohesion falls and conflict rises. Most people choose to live among their own people and to marry and make friends among them [as noted in their discussion of J. Philippe Rushton’s Genetic Similarity Theory]. Ethnic identity is adaptive because it allows people to defend their ethnic cultural and genetic interests” (22).

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UPDATE: This is an excellent review, very clearly stated. Everyone should read and understand it fully. One major topic that MacDonald in his work and the authors under review have consistently left out of their analyses of the decline and fall of the West is the widespread, decades-long violence that has weakened the West the way picadors weaken bulls in bullfights, preparing them with many small stabbing wound in their neck muscles till they can no longer hold their heads high. It is probable that intellectuals like MacDonald do not understand this sort of violence because intellectuals are often that way, far removed from the rawest and most brutal outcomes of their otherwise well-reasoned analyses. The violence I am talking about is clandestine, secret, hidden from view. It is focused against individuals, typically promising white boys and young men. It is done with poison, psychosurgery and other kinds of sensory or cognitive damage that render victims incapable of living normal lives. Victims, who are targeted for their strength and leadership abilities, become instead physical and emotional invalids. They still ‘lead’ those around them to some extent, but now they lead them into despair, incompetence, sadness, defeatism, even suicide. This side of the West’s downfall must be recognized and understood if there is ever going to be an effective response. We are facing a much worse situation than an intellectual puzzle. The violence described above and in other comments I have made is accompanied by also promoting weak white males. This is why our institutions are filled with incompetents and the infiltrators who are leading them and us. ABN