Even smaller tropical cyclones are getting supercharged

+ Hawaii's volcanic plumbing; vitamin B12 deficiency US Edition - Today's top story: Even weak tropical cyclones have grown more intense worldwide – we tracked 30 years of them using currents [View in browser]( US Edition | 30 November 2022 [The Conversation]( This year’s Atlantic hurricane season officially comes to an end today, and every year it seems people become more aware that a warming planet raises the risks of severe storms. A new study published in the journal Nature finds that climate change is affecting even the weakest storms, such as tropical storms and category 1 hurricanes, and not only powerful tropical cyclones, like this year’s Hurricane Ian. Using special floating sensors known as drifters to measure ocean currents, the paper’s authors were able to show a [15% to 21% increase in tropical cyclone intensity]( across the globe over the past 30 years. A study published this morning uses new DNA technology to illuminate the history of Jews in Europe. Two scientists involved in the study explain the entire process, which became possible because a construction project in Erfurt, Germany, disturbed a 15th-century Jewish cemetery. By analyzing medieval DNA data, and combining it with other sources of historical information, they were able to [gain insight into the origins of today’s Ashkenazi Jewish population]( which, from a genetic perspective, is relatively homogenous. The annual series “Shark Week” is a popular way for people to see dramatic footage of sharks in action. But many shark scientists see it as a lost opportunity – or worse. Arizona State University marine biologist David Shiffman participated in a peer-reviewed study to watch and assess more than 200 episodes of Shark Week programming, and [the findings were not pretty](. “The episodes that we reviewed were full of incorrect information and provided a wildly misleading picture of the field of shark research,” he writes. Also in this week’s science news: - [How Atlantic hurricanes have changed over millennia]( - [Spotting and treating vitamin B12 deficiency]( - [Graphene is touted a wonder material – why hasn’t it taken off?]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters Hurricane Nicole was a Category 1 storm, but it caused extensive damage to Florida in 2022. Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory [Even weak tropical cyclones have grown more intense worldwide – we tracked 30 years of them using currents]( Wei Mei, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Shang-Ping Xie, University of California, San Diego Research shows storms that might have caused minimal damage a few decades ago are becoming stronger and more destructive as the planet warms. Partial layout of the graves discovered during the excavation at the medieval Jewish cemetery of Erfurt. Thuringian State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology/Karin Sczech + Katharina Bielefeld [Ancient DNA from the teeth of 14th-century Ashkenazi Jews in Germany already included genetic variations common in modern Jews]( Shai Carmi, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; David Reich, Harvard University A German town needed to relocate a medieval graveyard to build a parking garage. A positive side effect: scientists got to sequence the DNA of Ashkenazi Jews who lived more than 600 years ago. Hammerhead sharks schooling near Costa Rica’s Cocos Island. John Voo/Flickr [Beware of ‘Shark Week’: Scientists watched 202 episodes and found them filled with junk science, misinformation and white male ‘experts’ named Mike]( David Shiffman, Arizona State University A recent study offers evidence that marine biology’s biggest stage is broken, and suggests ways to fix it. [Where Mauna Loa’s lava comes from – and why Hawaii’s volcanoes are different from most]( Gabi Laske, University of California, San Diego A scientist who led one of the first projects to map the Hawaiian Islands’ deep volcanic plumbing explains what’s going on under the surface as Mauna Loa erupts. [Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common health problem that can have serious consequences – but doctors often overlook it]( Diane Cress, Wayne State University The symptoms of B12 deficiency resemble a lot of other health problems, putting millions of Americans at risk of a misdiagnosis. [Is China ready to lead on protecting nature? At the upcoming UN biodiversity conference, it will preside and set the tone]( Vanessa Hull, University of Florida China has rich natural resources and is seeking to play a leadership role in global conservation, but its economic goals often take priority over protecting lands and wildlife. [Pregnancy is a genetic battlefield – how conflicts of interest pit mom’s and dad’s genes against each other]( Jessica D. Ayers, Boise State University Genetic conflict may play a role in pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, as well as developmental disorders. [We’re decoding ancient hurricanes’ traces on the sea floor – and evidence from millennia of Atlantic storms is not good news for the coast]( Tyler Winkler, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution As an unusual 2022 hurricane season ends on Nov. 30, a look back at hurricane history suggests we may be significantly underestimating future risks. [Fatherhood changes men’s brains, according to before-and-after MRI scans]( Darby Saxbe, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Magdalena Martínez García, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón IiSGM Neuroscientists know that pregnant mothers’ brains change in ways that appear to help with caring for a baby. Now researchers have identified changes in new fathers’ brains, too. - [Graphene is a proven supermaterial, but manufacturing the versatile form of carbon at usable scales remains a challenge]( Kevin Wyss, Rice University Graphene is superstrong and superconductive, and it has applications in everything from construction to electronics. But to date there have been almost no commercial uses of the material. - [Doctors often miss depression symptoms for certain groups – a routine screening policy for all adult primary care patients could significantly reduce the gap]( Maria Garcia, University of California, San Francisco Men, older adults, people with language barriers and racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to be screened for depression. - [Flexible AI computer chips promise wearable health monitors that protect privacy]( Sihong Wang, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering A type of computer chip that mimics both the skin and brain could pave the way for wearable devices that monitor and analyze health data using AI right on the body. - Like this newsletter? 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