This week in science, researchers uncovered an astonishing “spider megacity” in a sulfur cave on the Albania-Greece border, prompting some experts to jokingly suggest relocation. Simultaneously, economic experts are scrutinizing the possibility of a “trillion-dollar AI bubble” collapse. A new study also highlights a connection between physical activity and a lower risk of digestive system cancers.
Beyond these developments, astronomers have documented the most powerful and distant black hole flare ever observed, while neuroscientists are shedding light on why emotional memories are particularly vivid. Finally, researchers at the European Space Agency (ESA) are revisiting the possibility of using farmed insects as a sustainable food source, especially for long-duration space missions.
Massive Black Hole Flare: A Cosmic Event
Good news for those wary of falling into a black hole: the odds of being flung across the universe as pure energy are significantly higher than vanishing entirely. While black holes do consume matter, it’s a surprisingly difficult process, likened to someone clumsily knocking food off a table. When a black hole does succeed in “eating,” it results in a dramatic burst of energy called a black hole flare.
A recent study from the California Institute of Technology, analyzing data from the Zwicky Transient Facility, has identified the most powerful and distant black hole flare ever recorded. This event emanated from a supermassive black hole, estimated to be 500 million times the mass of the sun. Notably, this is the first instance of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) observed consuming a supermassive star.
At its peak, the flare radiated the equivalent light of 10 trillion suns. Due to the extreme distance – 10 billion light-years – and the gravitational time dilation effect of such massive objects, astronomers are carefully observing the slow-dimming flare at one-quarter speed.
Why Emotional Memories Stick with Us
It’re a common experience: emotional events tend to be remembered far more vividly than neutral ones. However, the underlying brain mechanisms driving this phenomenon have remained somewhat mysterious. New research from the University of Chicago has begun to unravel this puzzle, suggesting that emotional experiences increase communication between different brain networks.
Researchers creatively reanalyzed existing datasets from previous studies, leveraging available functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain activity recordings of participants watching movies and listening to stories. Researchers used behavioral ratings, pupil size, and even AI models to assess the emotional intensity of each scene, noting that moments like a character’s failed attempt to hide a dead body often elicited strong reactions.
Their findings reveal that emotional memories aren’t the product of a single brain network operating in isolation, but rather emerge from the coordinated interaction of multiple systems – a sort of “orchestra” where arousal acts as the conductor, coordinating activity and facilitating communication between different regions. As senior author Yuan Chang Leong puts it, “Whether we remember an emotional memory depends not only on the strength of activity in any single region, but also on how effectively different systems communicate and share information.”
Insects: A Sustainable Food Source for the Future?
For years, science writing has touted insects as the “food source of the future”—a proclamation that often prompts immediate comparisons to Joe Rogan’s “Fear Factor” challenges. However, putting aside any initial squeamishness, a pragmatic look at resource limitations suggests that insects are a viable option for sustenance. The European Space Agency (ESA) is now exploring the possibility of incorporating farmed insects into the diets of astronauts on extended interplanetary missions.
Insects are nutrient-dense, easily cultivated, and, crucially, effective at converting materials unsuitable for human consumption into growth and nutritious food. Åsa Berggren, professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, explains that “Insects seem to cope quite well in space environments. They have a good ability to withstand physical stresses…” The idea is not to consume whole roasted insects, but rather to utilize insect-derived ingredients like protein-rich flour in processed foods.
The recent findings across astronomy, neuroscience, and food science offer fascinating insights into the universe and our own minds, while also prompting consideration of novel solutions for sustainable living both on Earth and beyond
