The Top Science News

The latest from The Porthole and the wider world of science. [View in browser](| [Join Nautilus]( Did a friend forward this? [Subscribe here.]( This Tuesday, check out the top science news—and the latest short sharp looks at science from The Porthole [READ NAUTILUS]( DISCOVERIES The Top Science News This Week [Could Our Sun Harbor a Tiny Black Hole?]( Stephen Hawking thought it was possible. A black hole like that wouldn’t even have a planet’s mass, and would basically be as old as the universe. [The Astrophysical Journal→]( [Scientists Precisely Date Some of World’s Oldest Fossils]( Five hundred million years before the death of the dinosaurs, animals were just getting started. [Journal of the Geological Society→]( [Where the Genetic Risk for Developing Multiple Sclerosis Arose]( Why evolution favored a brain disease. [Nature→]( [The Russian War in Ukraine Increased Ukrainian Language Use on Social Media]( Why did many Russian-speaking Ukrainian citizens switch from communicating in Russian to Ukrainian online? [Communications Psychology→]( [Cave Preserves the Oldest-Known Fossilized Skin]( The skin casts look like they could belong to modern crocodiles. [Current Biology→]( [This Distant Planet Has a 350,000-Mile-Long Comet-Like Tail]( The stream of helium trailing WASP-69b, a “Hot Jupiter,” allows astronomers to study how planets lose their atmospheres. [The New York Times→]( [The First US Lunar Lander to Launch in Over 50 Years Is Headed for a Fiery End]( Here’s what it got done in space. [CNN→]( [The “Oxygen Bottleneck” May Leave Aliens Stuck with Primitive Technology]( Fire was crucial to the evolution of human technology. That's why alien species stuck in the "oxygen bottleneck" may be forever primitive. [Big Think→]( [Pique Your Curiosity]( The [Curiosity Box]( is the perfect subscription for deep thinkers. Satiate your curiosity with premium science toys, engaging experiments, and limited-edition collectibles delivered straight to your door four times per year. [Enjoy 30% off your first Curiosity Box]( with the code MERRY. [SHOP NOW]( WE ARE CURIOUS TO KNOW... What’s a habit you’ve changed after seeing its unintended effects? Let us know! Reply to this newsletter with your response, briefly explaining your choice, and we’ll reveal the top answers. (This question was inspired by [“There’s Even Plastic in Clouds”]() Top Answers to Our Previous Question (On What Gets You Thinking Clearly and Creatively) - I am always mentally problem solving. This is an introspective activity that requires creativity, yet can also block it. To stir the creative juices I try to clear my mind and focus on being present and aware of what’s going on around me. Lights, sounds, movements—without analysis. That gives my head room for new things – John E. - I research the subject from every angle I can think of, gathering diverse opinions, print out the most interesting offerings, and spread them out on the floor of my studio clustered in themes and best conclusions. The tortuous part is synthesizing all that information. – John R. From The Porthole—short sharp looks at science ENVIRONMENT [There’s Even Plastic in Clouds]( Five new places scientists have uncovered plastics. BY KATHARINE GAMMON On the top of Mount Everest, in the Mariana Trench, in the human placenta, and babies’ feces: Plastics are everywhere. They are built to last, and last they do: A plastic bag can endure for 20 years in the environment, and a disposable diaper, soiled or not, up to 200. [Keep on reading]( Apply to be a 2024 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer The [World Economic]( Forum will select 100 leading technology start-ups to bring their cutting-edge insights to critical global discussions with business and government leaders. Applications for the 2024 Technology Pioneers Community cohort are [now open]( until January 31, 2024. [SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION]( Your free story this Tuesday! ZOOLOGY [The Machiavellians of the Animal Kingdom]( Want to see a power play in a group? Behold the mongoose. BY LEE ALAN DUGATKIN When it comes to power plays, humans are not alone. [Continue reading for free→]( EXCLUSIVE MEMBER CONTENT | [Explore Memberships→]( We Want to Reward YOU for Being a Nautilus Reader Starting today, you can earn money just by sharing the stories you already love and helping to grow our subscriber community. When you [sign up for our new affiliate program](, you’ll get a unique tracking link you can share with anyone. Anytime someone clicks that link and subscribes to Nautilus, you’ll get paid up to $50. It’s as easy as that. Join us, and start earning today. [JOIN THE NAUTILUS AFFILIATE PROGRAM]( P.S. The Argentine ant, an invasive species worldwide that causes ecological trouble, is a hard pest to control, partly because the ants can learn to evade poisoned bait, choosing to abandon it, [new research finds](. Lee Alan Dugatkin mentioned the insects in his story, “The Machiavellians of the Animal Kingdom,” where he wrote, “Power plays out at the group level in feral dogs in India, dolphins in Australia, capuchin monkeys in Panama, Argentine ants in California, red-tailed monkeys in Uganda. But it’s [groups of power-hungry mongooses]( who steal the show in the animal kingdom.” Today’s newsletter was written by Brian Gallagher Thanks for reading.[Tell us](mailto:brian.gallagher@nautil.us?subject=&body=) your thoughts on today’s note. Plus, [browse our archive]( of past print issues, and inspire a friend to sign up for [the Nautilus newsletter](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( Copyright © 2023 NautilusNext, All rights reserved.You were subscribed to the newsletter from [nautil.us](. Our mailing address is: NautilusNext360 W 36th Street, 7S,New York, NY 10018 Don't want to hear from us anymore? [Unsubscribe](