Doctors at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong were at a loss after examining an 84-year-old man admitted for complications relating to an enlarged prostate. But medical experts weren’t perplexed by his prostate issues—they were surprised at the patient’s unnaturally silver skin, fingernails, and even whites of his eyes.

A subsequent skin biopsy revealed gray granules in the man’s blood vessels, sweat gland membranes, hair follicles, and skin fibers. Further blood tests confirmed the hospital staff’s suspicion: a silver concentration of 423 nmol/L, over 40 times the normal amount. The octogenarian was suffering from a rare case of generalized argyria, an oftenpermanent condition caused by a buildup of silver in the body.

As Ars Technica explains, the New England Journal of Medicine’s recent case report, argyria occurs after a person ingests large quantities of silver over a prolonged period, during which time the metal particulates travel in their ionic form into the bloodstream. Eventually, the silver winds up in the tissues of the muscles, organs, skin, and possibly even the brain.

Ingesting the silver isn’t noticeable on its own. But after exposure to ultraviolet light (something that happens everyday thanks to the Sun), the metal ions turn into atomic silver and begin to oxidize into silver selenide and silver sulfide. This is what gives argyria patients their telltale blue-gray coloration. Their skin may darken even further thanks to silver’s tendency to stimulate melanin production.

Alternative medicine practitioners (and at least one cult) have long promoted taking doses of silver, either in capsule form or suspended in liquid known as “colloidal silver.” Doctors even sometimes prescribed it prior to the arrival of antibiotics. But as it stands today, there is no reliable evidence supporting the ingestion of silver to treat any health condition. If anything, too much silver can poison you and cause irreparable harm to your liver, kidneys, and bone marrow. In some cases, it can kill you.

In the case of the octogenarian in Hong Kong, however, the cause of his argyria remains a mystery. He reportedly only took the finasteride prescribed to him by doctors for his prostate, and did not admit to regularly or purposely ingesting silver. And because he spent a career waiting tables, job-related exposure seemed unlikely, as well. No one else in his apartment building displayed similar symptoms, either. Doctors eventually discharged the mysteriously silver man from the facility with a referral for additional toxicological tests.

But whether or not anyone ever gets to the bottom of his malady, at least let it serve as a valuable reminder to never take silver home remedies.

The post Mysterious silver poisoning turned an 84-year-old gray for good appeared first on Popular Science.

The classic Italian dish known as cacio e pepe only requires three primary ingredients, but achieving its celebrated, creamy consistency is notoriously difficult. Researchers at Germany’s Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems even go so far as to describe the dish as possessing “problematic aspects” requiring “extra care” in their Soft Condensed Matter preprint study. But thanks to recent analysis using a physics concept called phase separation, the team believes they have achieved a “scientifically optimized recipe” for cacio e pepe. And it’s one anyone can use in their own kitchen.

Cacio e pepe (“cheese and pepper”) originated in the Lazio region of central Italy during the 18th or 19th century. The meal likely came from shepherds living in the area, whose long distance travels required them to pack ingredients that were both shelf stable and calorically dense. Cacio e pepe in its most basic form needs just three components—pecorino cheese, black pepper, and spaghetti pasta—but the complications arrive in its preparation. After boiling the pasta, a hungry cook must then mix just the right amount of grated pecorino into some of the leftover pasta water. The resultant cream sauce can then be poured over the noodles, garnished with the ground pepper, and enjoyed.

[ Related: Scientists figured out the optimal cup of coffee. ]

But there’s a catch: if the water is too hot, or if the correct ratio of cheese-to-starch isn’t achieved, then the cacio e pepe sauce turns into a thin liquid filled with congealed globs of curds. Physicists led by Italian-born Ivan Di Terlizzi designated this undesirable outcome the “Mozzeralla Phase” that results from “extreme protein aggregation upon heating.” Given how varied cheese-to-starch ratio can be, this means many-a-ruined cacio e pepe over the years have found their way into trashcans instead of onto plates.

Di Terlizzi and his colleagues wanted to end this centuries-old culinary frustration. The team experimented with hundreds of recipe iterations using different amounts of ingredients. After blending varying proportions of cheese, starch, and water, they then heated each version in a pan using a warm water bath method known as a sous vide cooker. After each mixture reached a designated temperature between 122-203 degrees Fahrenheit, the researchers next photographed a sample placed on a Petri dish. They then arranged these pictures into what’s known as a phase diagram—a way to help chart a subject’s potential states depending on changes in various conditions. In the case of cacio e pepe, these included factors such as temperature and starch level.

[ Related: How to fix common cooking mistakes. ]

Di Terlizzi identified a clear relation between the sauce’s protein level and its temperature when its overall starch level remained constant—one that formed a U-shaped curve when graphed. Both extremely low and high levels of the pecorino-derived protein avoided the Mozzarella Phase at a higher minimum temperature. According to researchers, this means that cacio e pepe’s starch concentration is “the key factor influencing sauce stability.” More specifically, a creamy sauce requires a starch level of 2-3 percent.

But, for practical purposes, there was a problem—one that may help explain why making cacio e pepe can be so frustrating: pasta water usually only retains a starch level of about one percent after cooking. Luckily, the physicists found a simple solution. To remedy the issue researchers used a tried-and-true shortcut: cornstarch.

And so, without further ado, here is the Di Terlizzi team’s “scientifically optimized recipe” for a “consistently flawless execution” of cacio e pepe:

For two servings:

• Pasta (240 g)
• Pecorino cheese (160 g)
• Cornstarch (4 g)
• Water (40 mL)
• Whole black peppercorns, to taste

Toast peppercorns in a pan until fragrant, then grind them. Mix cornstarch into water while heating until it forms a gel. After the gel cools, combine with pecorino and desired amount of ground black pepper in a blender. Boil pasta, then reserve some of the starchy water before draining it. Mix pasta into the source, adding the pasta water as needed until desired consistency is reached.

But nothing is ever perfect in the culinary world. Although confident of their “scientifically optimized” cacio e pepe, the physicists note in their study that future investigations could explore the relationship between starch and sauce viscosity, as well as the “potential role of peppercorns… as aggregation nuclei.” Until then, buon appetito.

The post Physicists figure out the perfect Cacio e Pepe recipe appeared first on Popular Science.

The planet’s birds make a lot of different sounds communicating a wide variety of messages. The petite Black-capped chickadee emits a high noise that tells predators to scram. Hungry Pileated Woodpecker chicks will often make a buzzy sound when they are waiting for food. Numerous different species use special songs to find mates and warblers are known to just sing for fun.

While ornithologists, citizen scientists, and birders alike are familiar with this large repertoire, some of the environmental conditions that contribute to these sounds are less understood. To help, a team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently used over 100,000 audio recordings from around the world to study some of the factors that influence bird sounds. They found some patterns of how habitat, latitude, beak size, body size, and the landscapes can influence birds to create certain noises and at what frequencies. The findings are detailed in a study recently published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Local to global

Previously, hypotheses regarding the role that beak shape, geography, body size, relationships, and habitat play in bird sounds have been tested at smaller scales. In this new study, the team sought to test these hypotheses and see if they hold up at a global scale. The team analyzed audio recordings of bird sounds that were taken by participants around the world and submitted to an online nature sound repository called xeno-canto. The recordings represented about 77 percent of known bird species. 

Habitat and latitude

The team found that habitat appears to influence the frequency of the sound the bird makes in some unexpected ways. In ecosystems where there is a lot of rushing water, there is a near constant level of white noise that occurs at a lower frequency. Here, the team found that birds tend to create sounds at a higher frequency so that the water does not drown out their sounds. 

Additionally, bird species that live at the same latitudes make similar sounds. According to the team, observing this pattern at a larger and global scale is a crucial piece of the puzzle of how bird sounds evolved. 

[ Related: Scientists simulate calls of ‘future finches.’  ]

Matters of size

Both beak shape and body mass are also important. In general, smaller birds generate higher frequency sounds, with larger birds creating lower frequency sounds. This new analysis proved that this hypothesis is correct, but it also added some additional data about the nature of the relationship between sound, beak shape, and body mass. 

Globally, smaller bird species tend to have a wider range of frequencies. They use these sounds as a protection mechanism and smaller and more vulnerable birds can benefit from having such a range of sounds. The higher frequencies can help them communicate with fellow birds of the same species. The lower frequencies can act like a bit of camouflage, potentially tricking predators into thinking that the birds are larger and more formidable than they actually are.

Surrounded by noise

The study also added to a better understanding of the planet’s soundscapes. These make up all of the sounds that can be heard in a particular area of land or sea. Soundscapes are often used in conservation studies, but we still don’t know much about what environmental forces govern them.

[ Related: Why are there so many birds? ]

“In the tropics and all over the world, larger birds tend to be hunted for meat,” study co-author and UW-Madison doctoral student H.S. Sathya Chandra Sagar said in a statement. “Larger birds [tend] to call at a low frequency, and if we don’t find any sound in the lower frequency, we could [conclude] there may be more hunting in this landscape.”

Sagar hopes that this study can be used as a platform for future studies to monitor the health of an ecosystem through soundscapes. He plans to use 24-hour soundscape recordings to understand if some birds will modify both the timing and frequencies of their songs to communicate with their peers in a landscape crowded with noise. 

The post Why do birds make so many different sounds? 100,000 audio recordings offer clues. appeared first on Popular Science.

Please do not pilot your drones over the deadly wildfires raging across portions of Southern California. None of the footage is worth grounding emergency response planes—or the potential jail time.

The Federal Aviation Administration was forced to issue a reminder on January 9th, shortly after an unidentified civilian drone collided with a Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper at approximately 1PM PST over the Palisades firestorm.

“Anyone who interferes with emergency response operations may face severe fines and criminal prosecution,” the FAA also posted on Thursday evening to social media. “If you fly, emergency responders can’t,” they added, echoing a similar motto from the US Forestry Department.

The resulting impact reportedly made a “football-sized hole” in one of the plane’s wings, forcing its pilots to end their response efforts and land nearby. No one aboard was injured during the emergency, but the Super Scooper on loan from Canada is now reportedly out-of-commission indefinitely.

PHOTO: Firefighting aircraft damaged after colliding with drone over the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California.

The plane landed safety and is grounded because of the damage. Officials are investigating. pic.twitter.com/UDAjalGyxR

— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) January
10, 2025

“So whose house is not going to get that water to protect it?” a California Fire Department spokesperson told The New York Times on Friday.

[Related: This crowdsourcing app is a lifeline for Californians tracking wildfires.]

Manufactured by De Havilland Aircraft in Canada, the CL-415 Super Scooper is specifically designed to fly low over disaster zones and dump as much as 1,600 gallons of water at a time. What makes it particularly crucial in such emergencies is its ability to refill its water container in just 5-10 minutes. According to The War Zone, there are only two of these amphibious turboprop aircraft capable of handling such situations in Los Angeles.

The FAA’s temporary flight restriction (TFL) over the Los Angeles wildfires is currently in effect until at least January 23rd. A TFL applies not only to commercial airplanes, but amateur drone hobbyists, as well.

Do not fly your drone near or around areas affected by the LA wildfires. Anyone who interferes with emergency response operations may face severe fines and criminal prosecution. If you fly, emergency responders can’t. pic.twitter.com/UE5wqAlR1O

— The FAA :airplane: (@FAANews) January
10, 2025

“It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,” the FAA reminded the public on Thursday, adding anyone convicted can also expect up to $75,000 in fines.

“The FAA treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift enforcement action for these offenses. The FAA has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the TFRs,” the administration explained.

Such steep penalties are apparently necessary to curb such incidents. Between 2014-2019, the US Forestry Dept. documented 165 drone incursions over wildfires. Aerial firefighting efforts were affected at least nine times alone in 2019.

The Palisades fire has burned over 20,000 acres at the time of writing—roughly the same area as Manhattan. At least 10 people have died as a result of the Los Angeles wildfires. Secret Los Angeles has compiled a list of resources to help emergency responders and evacuees.

The post Civilian drone grounds LA firefighting plane appeared first on Popular Science.

What if you could turn your everyday snapshots into jaw-dropping works of art with just a few clicks? That’s exactly what Luminar Neo does—and right now, you can get lifetime access to this award-winning photo editing software for just $144.97 (regularly $752). Plus, you’ll get a ton of exclusive add-ons that’ll elevate your photography game from amateur to absolutely on point.

Luminar Neo is not your average photo editor. It’s AI-powered, intuitive, and packed with state-of-the-art tools that make even the most complex edits feel effortless. Whether you’re a pro photographer, content creator, or just love tinkering with your travel pics, Luminar Neo’s tools—like Sky for instant sky replacements and Relight to adjust lighting like a pro—make magic happen.

And the best part? It’s easy to use. You don’t need a degree in graphic design to navigate Luminar Neo’s sleek, user-friendly interface. It’s built to be accessible to everyone, so you can focus on creating instead of getting lost in complicated menus.

Have you ever wished you could fix a drab sky, remove unwanted objects, or make your portraits pop? Luminar Neo makes it all possible. The AI-driven tools do the heavy lifting—you just click and watch your photos transform.

With new extensions like Panorama Stitching and Magic Light, you’ll have even more ways to get creative. Want to make your holiday lights look like they’re sparkling? There’s a tool for that. Need to enhance an old, grainy photo? Luminar Neo’s Noiseless keeps all the details intact.

And because it works as a standalone app or a plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom, it fits seamlessly into your workflow, whether you’re editing from your laptop at home or polishing a portfolio piece for a client.

Plus, there’s a Creative Photo Editing Techniques course, Color Harmony LUTs, and dreamy sky overlays to take your edits to the next level.

With continuous updates, you’ll never be stuck with outdated tools. Luminar Neo keeps evolving, meaning your editing skills will always stay ahead of the curve.

Pick up this Luminar Neo Bundle today for just $144.97 (regularly $752).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

 

The Award-Winning Luminar Neo Lifetime Bundle – $144.97

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The post Lifetime access to AI-powered photo editing is just $144.97 appeared first on Popular Science.

Batteries that power electric cars are tested rigorously in the lab and in real-world conditions before the electric vehicle hits the market. At Nissan’s technical center near Detroit, that process includes a steel chamber capable of reaching temperatures ranging from -40 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Ansu Jammeh, an engineer on Nissan’s Zero Emissions team, donned a full-on snowsuit and heavy gloves to measure the Ariya EV’s performance in extreme cold. At the start of a 24-hour “cold soak” (at -4°F) in the chamber, the team parked an Ariya with a 17 percent battery charge. Left unplugged and bypassing its battery heater for this test, the EV came through with the same percentage and started right up. 

While some are skeptical about EVs as a good choice for drivers in cold weather states, Jammeh points out that the Ariya is all-wheel drive and its cabin heats up quickly. That said, sliding behind the wheel of an icy car that has been sitting in the equivalent of a giant air conditioning compressor for a full day is not pleasant. This part of Jammeh’s job may be no picnic, but he takes it in stride. 

“My favorite animal is the penguin,” he jokes. 

Extreme testing

The Ariya is available with a standard-range 66-kWh battery or 91-kWh long-range battery. That’s larger than the battery in Nissan’s original EV, the Leaf, which comes with a choice of a 40-kWh battery pack or a 62-kWh battery pack. The first Leaf owners were early adopters, and the Ariya emerged during a period of higher EV adoption overall. In either case, Leaf and Ariya owners seem to gravitate toward pushing their cars to the edge to see how they perform. 

For that reason, the engineering team has to stay a step or two ahead of its customers by testing the vehicles not just in simulation but in the real world. Vehicles spend time on the dyno, or dynamometer, a device that measures power and force. They’re also subject to extreme weather testing like Nissan conducted with the new Kicks, chasing blizzards in Colorado to ensure the compact SUV could hold its own in the snow. 

“Looking at our social media channels, we see a lot of customers who are brave,” Jammeh says. “They’re hypermilers, pushing their vehicles to the limits even in the extreme cold.” 

Take, for instance, a British couple who drove a Nissan Ariya 30,000 kilometers (nearly 19,000 miles) from the 1823 Magnetic North Pole on the Arctic Ocean all the way to the South Pole in Antarctica. While they did outfit the EV with 39-inch snow tires and raised the suspension, the Ariya retained its original battery and powertrain.

Nissan’s testing chamber is made of insulated steel, operated with a control pad on the outside. While it kind of sounds like a device a movie villain might use to detain a superhero, don’t worry: the chamber has big double doors that push right open. It takes about an hour to go from ambient temperature to -40 F, and it can also replicate a solar load to evaluate how the paint, exterior, and performance components hold up. 

Recipe for success: preheat

EV range isn’t a simple, all-purpose measurement, Jammeh says. Weather, terrain, elevation, speed, traffic, cargo, passengers, and climate settings all make an impact. 

“I do want to touch on one thing,” he comments. “Some customers think they’ll lose energy in the winter, and that’s not inherently true. What’s happening is that since the battery is cold, it takes more energy to get the same output. But the same energy is still there.” 

Nissan’s EV allows drivers to “precondition” the battery for best results; owners can even set a timer for it to start at the same time so they can climb into a cozy car. The ideal scenario is for the EV to start preconditioning inside a garage while it’s still plugged in, so it’s using power from the grid and not the vehicle’s battery. 

The Department of Energy agrees with preconditioning. “All vehicles—EVs included—perform best in cold weather when they’re warmed up first. [Preconditioning] is best executed while the car is still charging to ensure the battery is sufficiently charged and the cabin is sufficiently warmed to optimize performance.” 

“More heat means better electron flow, and better electron flow speeds up the battery’s chemical reactions,” Jammeh points out. “If you get into a cold car, you’re going to use a lot more energy to heat that car up, so you’ll want to use the preconditioning feature to get the cabin to the appropriate temperature at home. Then when you’re ready to leave, you’re using less energy to sustain that temperature than you would going from a cold start.” 

The car, in other words, is like a person in that way: it’s more difficult to get out of bed and get going when it’s cold.

The post Inside Nissan’s extreme weather testing facility appeared first on Popular Science.

In an era where data is the backbone of every organization, cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leaving businesses across Germany—particularly in Frankfurt—vulnerable to attacks. Recent GDPR statistics reveal a troubling surge in data breaches, with nearly 40% of small to medium businesses (SMBs) in Hessen reporting cybersecurity incidents in the past year. Frankfurt, a hub for finance and technology, finds itself at the epicenter of this growing crisis.

As businesses digitize at unprecedented rates, their exposure to cyber threats escalates. The costs of inaction—including reputational damage, operational disruptions, and compliance fines—are too high to ignore. Thankfully, IT services offer robust solutions to mitigate these risks, serving as the first line of defense for businesses of all sizes.

Why Frankfurt Is a Target for Cybercriminals

Frankfurt’s prominence as a financial and technological hub makes it a lucrative target for cybercriminals. The city’s infrastructure supports thousands of SMBs, multinational corporations, and financial institutions—all prime targets for ransomware, phishing attacks, and data breaches.

1. High-Value Data

Frankfurt’s businesses manage sensitive customer and financial data, making them attractive to attackers seeking to exploit or sell this information.

2. Increasing Digital Dependency

With businesses accelerating their adoption of cloud services, IoT devices, and remote work solutions, the attack surface has expanded significantly. Many organizations lack adequate measures to secure these technologies, leaving gaps in their defenses.

3. Evolving Threat Landscape

GDPR has raised the stakes for businesses. Non-compliance in the wake of a breach can result in hefty fines, compounding the financial and reputational impact of cyberattacks.

The Cost of Data Breaches

According to a recent IBM study, the average cost of a data breach in Germany has reached €4.85 million, a figure that continues to climb. Beyond direct costs, businesses also face:

• Downtime and Lost Revenue: Operational disruptions can halt productivity for days or even weeks.
• Customer Attrition: Loss of trust often leads to clients taking their business elsewhere.
• Legal and Regulatory Fines: GDPR mandates strict reporting and remediation measures, with fines reaching up to €20 million or 4% of global revenue.

These risks underscore the urgency of adopting comprehensive IT solutions to safeguard sensitive data and maintain business continuity.

How IT Services Can Fortify Your Business

To counter the escalating threat of cyberattacks, businesses in Frankfurt must embrace proactive and scalable IT solutions. Below are the critical areas where IT services can make a significant impact:

Employee Training: Your Human Firewall

Human error remains a leading cause of data breaches, with phishing emails accounting for 91% of cyberattacks globally. Training employees to recognize and respond to potential threats is essential.

• Simulated Phishing Attacks: These exercises help employees identify malicious emails in real-time.
• Cybersecurity Awareness Programs: Regular training ensures staff stay informed about evolving threats and best practices.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): A Simple Yet Powerful Tool

MFA adds an extra layer of security to account logins by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple factors, such as a one-time password or biometric scan. This approach drastically reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if passwords are compromised.

• Case Study: A Frankfurt-based accounting firm implemented MFA across its systems, preventing a ransomware attack despite hackers breaching an employee’s email account.

Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR): Prepare for the Worst

Backing up data is no longer optional; it’s a critical safety net. Modern BDR solutions ensure businesses can recover quickly from breaches or system failures.

• Cloud Backups: Offsite storage protects data from local disasters and hardware failures.
• Disaster Recovery Plans: Ensure business continuity by switching to backup systems seamlessly during outages.

Regular Software Updates: Stay Ahead of Vulnerabilities

Outdated software often serves as an entry point for cyberattacks. Implementing regular updates and patch management ensures vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.

• Automated Updates: Use tools to schedule updates without disrupting workflows.
• Security Patches: Address critical vulnerabilities that hackers frequently exploit.

Network Monitoring: Proactive Threat Detection

Real-time network monitoring tools can detect unusual activity and prevent breaches before they escalate. By identifying threats early, businesses can mitigate potential damage.

• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Monitor traffic for suspicious patterns.
• Proactive Alerts: Receive real-time notifications to address risks immediately.

Practical Steps for SMBs in Frankfurt

Adopting IT services doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some actionable steps to enhance your cybersecurity posture:

Step 1: Conduct a Security Audit. Work with IT professionals to identify vulnerabilities in your systems. A thorough audit highlights weak points, from outdated software to unsecured networks.

Step 2: Implement Endpoint Protection. Advanced endpoint security solutions protect devices like laptops and smartphones from malware and phishing attacks. Tools like Sophos Intercept X are particularly effective.

Step 3: Establish a Cybersecurity Policy. Create clear guidelines for employees, covering:

• Password management (e.g., regular updates and complexity requirements).
• Safe internet usage practices.
• Reporting suspicious activity promptly.

Step 4: Partner with a Trusted IT Provider. You should only choose the best and most reliable IT services, and one company that offers this is ORTIT, a trusted provider of IT support in Frankfurt. ORTIT delivers tailored solutions like real-time monitoring, threat detection, and proactive maintenance, helping businesses stay ahead of cyber threats without the need for in-house expertise.

Real-World Success Stories

Case Study: Preventing a Phishing Attack

A logistics company in Frankfurt worked with an IT provider to improve its cybersecurity measures. Within three months:

• Employee training reduced phishing email click-through rates by 85%.
• MFA implementation secured remote access for employees working from home.
• Regular audits identified and patched vulnerabilities in their network.

These measures prevented a major breach attempt, saving the company an estimated €150,000 in potential losses.

The Road Ahead: Staying Resilient in a Digital World

The rise in data breaches is a stark reminder that cybersecurity is no longer optional; it’s a business imperative. For companies in Frankfurt, proactive investment in IT services can mean the difference between resilience and ruin.

By investing in employee training, implementing advanced security measures, and leveraging professional IT support, businesses can safeguard their operations against emerging threats.

The post Data Breaches Surge in Frankfurt: Why IT Services Are The First Line of Defense appeared first on Popular Science.

A Japanese Yakuza leader pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday for attempting to traffic military-grade weapons and roughly 1,100 lbs of narcotics. Those charges alone will get someone locked up for quite a long time—throw in another conviction for trying to offload thousands of pounds of uranium and weapons-grade plutonium, and it’s unlikely Takeshi Ebisawa will ever leave prison.

It’s hard to pick the most damning evidence on display in the Department of Justice’s court filings. There’s an undercover agent’s photograph of Ebisawa brandishing a stolen US Army rocket launcher. There’s also a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation between Ebisawa and a co-conspirator showing images of lab-confirmed heroin, the co-conspirator asking, “Is this the correct packages [sic] you gave to my guys?” followed by Ebisawa responding, “Yes.” Then there’s audio of the Yakuza boss discussing nuclear weapons-grade material sales with an undercover agent he believed was a general in the Iranian army.

“Ebisawa unwittingly introduced [agents]… to Ebisawa’s international network of criminal associates, which spanned Japan, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the United States, among other places, for the purpose of arranging large-scale narcotics and weapons transactions,” the DOJ’s January 7 announcement explains. If completed, these sales would have helped fund and supply multiple armed militant groups in Burma, as well as distribute drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin across New York.

Apart from the narcotics and stolen munitions, Ebisawa reportedly worked for years to facilitate deals involving “a large quantity of nuclear materials,” according to the DOJ. To prove he possessed them, the Yakuza leader offered undercover authorities multiple pictures of “rocky substances” next to Geiger counters indicating their radiation levels. These were accompanied by supposed paper records confirming it to be thorium and uranium. During later meetings with undercover officers, Ebisawa later offered up 220 lbs of uranium concentrate powder—commonly referred to as “yellowcake”— for sale. He also told an agent posing as an Iranian general that he could supply him “better” and more “powerful” plutonium for the country’s nuclear weapons program.

Ebisawa wasn’t wrong about the plutonium from a technical standpoint. Modern thermonuclear weapons rely on what is called a plutonium pit. This core component contains a gas such as deuterium and tritium that is encased in chemical explosives. Once detonated, the explosives condense the plutonium surrounding the case so intensely that it triggers a fission reaction. The transition from “atomic” to “thermonuclear” designation occurs when a warhead’s uranium core combines to generate a fusion reaction. This crucial detail is what boosts a weapon of mass destruction on the order of a few dozen kilotons to something like Castle Bravo, the first US thermonuclear bomb test. Although initially estimated in 1959 to generate a blast equivalent to six megatons of TNT, the device yielded a 15 megaton explosion—allegedly the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated by the US.

Ebisawa’s access to plutonium went beyond its potential for devastation. Plutonium occurs much more rarely in nature than uranium, meaning it generally requires sophisticated and expensive laboratory and manufacturing facilities. Buying the product outright likely would have allowed bad actors to skip more than a few steps while saving them quite a lot of cash. According to court documents, a nuclear forensic laboratory confirmed Ebisawa’s plutonium was weapons-grade material “suitable for use in a nuclear weapon.”

Ebisawa pleaded guilty to a total of six counts: conspiracy to commit international trafficking of nuclear materials, international trafficking of nuclear materials, two counts of narcotics importation conspiracy, conspiracy to possess firearms, and money laundering.

Nuclear material trafficking convictions are  comparatively rare, given the industry’s stringent regulations. The International Atomic Energy Agency cites only 4,243 incidents involving the illegal handling of nuclear material since 1993. Of those, however, only an estimated eight percent related to “trafficking or malicious use.”

The post Yakuza boss tried to traffic nuclear weapons-grade plutonium appeared first on Popular Science.

The BepiColombo spacecraft has sent back some incredibly detailed images of Mercury’s north pole. The snapshots were collected during its closest ever flyby of our solar system’s smallest planet. You can check out the awe-inspiring images below. 

On January 8, the robotic explorer operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) came as close as 183 miles above Mercury. The newly released images show permanently dark craters spotting the surface of the planet closest to our Sun. Nearby volcanic plains and the largest impact cater on Mercury–over 930 miles wide–are also visible.

The spacecraft launched in 2018 and has completed five previous flybys. This most recent approach puts BepiColombo on a course to enter orbit around Mercury in late 2026. It holds one orbiter for Europe and one for Japan that will circle the planet’s northern and southern poles.

“BepiColombo’s main mission phase may only start two years from now, but all six of its flybys of Mercury have given us invaluable new information about the little-explored planet,” Geraint Jones, BepiColombo’s Project Scientist at ESA, said in a statement. “In the next few weeks, the BepiColombo team will work hard to unravel as many of Mercury’s mysteries with the data from this flyby as we can.”

The post Mercury stuns in incredibly detailed new images appeared first on Popular Science.

Just before Christmas, two backyard birders in Michigan were in for the ultimate surprise–a yellow Northern Cardinal. Arlene and John McDaniel spotted the incredibly rare bird in their backyard in Bath, Michigan near East Lansing.

“I really couldn’t believe it,” Arlene tells Popular Science. “We do get a lot of cardinals. There’s always a lot here. The males are just a stunningly beautiful red and females are more orangey, But when we saw this yellow one, the thing that really made it distinctive, other than its feathers, is that its beak is also yellow.”

Both musicians, John says they named the bird Donovan in homage to the folk musician. His catchy tune “Mellow Yellow” reached the number two slot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.

Here’s what you should know about these beautiful birds. 

How rare are yellow Northern Cardinals?

While previous sightings of these birds have garnered the phrase, “one in a million,” there is no solid data on just how rare these canary-colored cardinals are in the wild. 

“It is hard to get a sense of just how rare yellow Northern Cardinals are, and there does not seem to be any study that estimates the frequency of this plumage aberration in the general population of cardinals,” Cornell University ornithologist Shawn Billerman tells Popular Science. “But, given that I’ve been birding for close to 30 years and have never seen a yellow Northern Cardinal, it is safe to say they are pretty rare.”

Why aren’t they red?

Genetic mutations that alter pigments in an animal’s feathers, scales, or hair are typically behind strange colorings in animals. Sometimes these pigments are either not expressed or are overexpressed, which results in some rare changes in the color.  

“We do not seem to know the exact genetic mutation that causes yellow-pigmented Northern Cardinals, but whatever the mutation is affects the bird’s ability to produce red carotenoid pigments,” explains Billerman. “All carotenoid pigments, most of the bright yellows, reds, and oranges that we see in birds plumage, including those of the Northern Cardinal, come from the diet, but the red pigments in a cardinal’s plumage are metabolically derived and synthesized from the carotenoids they acquire from their diet.”

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A 2003 study analyzed the feathers of an individual yellow Northern Cardinal. This specific bird lacked all of these reg pigments that were derived from what it had eaten. The authors believed that the unknown genetic mutation present in this bird disrupted the metabolic pathway that helps the body synthesize red carotenoids. The enzyme that converts the carotenoids from the birds’ diet into the red that is seen on feathers was likely not present. 

“At least in the individual they studied, they also identified some yellow pigments that were metabolically altered, so the bird did not lose all carotenoid metabolic functionality, but it was just unable to create the red pigments typical of the species,” says Billerman.

How are they different from other cardinals?

While ornithologists are still learning about yellow Northern Cardinals, it does not appear that they differ from more typical red cardinals. However, Billerman says that the mutation that prevents them from synthesizing red pigments might affect others aspects of their lives. 

Some evidence does suggest that the redder and brighter male Northern Cardinals have both greater reproductive success and held larger territories. 

“If red coloration is indeed an important factor in mate choice or breeding success, it may be possible that this yellow Northern Cardinal has a harder time finding a mate,” says Billerman. 

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