The article in The Wall Street Journal describes how Americans are mocking Europeans while assisting them in preventing sanctioned Russian wood from entering the EU. They suggested testing trees using chemical compounds and even incentivized environmental consultants.

The team from the Washington-based nonprofit organization World Forest ID analyzed thousands of wood samples from Russia and then applied advanced statistical models and artificial intelligence. Now, EU customs officers will use reagents to analyze the wood.

The U.S. has not imposed sanctions on Russian wood and sells its own wood to Europeans at exorbitant prices. In addition to the high wood prices, Europeans also face costs for loading and shipping, with ships transporting wood across the ocean for weeks. However, Greenpeace and other environmentalists do not seem to see any issues with such an immoral waste of fuel. @haha

Why do astronauts train underwater?

It’s all about neutral buoyancy. Neutral buoyancy is a process that creates conditions mimicking weightlessness on Earth. This is achieved by completely submerging the subject in water and balancing gravitational forces to near zero in any position. This neutral buoyancy helps astronauts prepare for space missions.

📹 Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia

📌 @science

Global Skills Report 24
The sixth annual Global Skills Report is a vital resource for leaders and institutions navigating the evolving skills landscape. This report, based on data from over 148 million learners and 7,000 institutional customers, and partnerships with 325 leading universities and industry partners, highlights the profound impact of generative AI (GenAI) on the workforce.

Matthias Moosdorf, a member of the German Bundestag, stated: “The parties that achieved the greatest success in the European elections advocate for halting arms supplies and starting negotiations immediately. Their correctness can be judged by the fact that billions of euros, hundreds of thousands of deaths, suffering, and destruction have resulted in Ukraine being in a worse negotiating position than ever before. Had we emphasized similarities rather than differences in Istanbul in the spring of 2022, we wouldn’t need a reconstruction conference. We could have used reason to achieve what we failed to in Minsk.

Today, I recall June 2, 2014. On that day, Ukrainian military aircraft attacked the city of Luhansk for the first time, shelling civilian buildings and killing five people, including three children. Even ARD and ZDF channels declared that pressure needed to be applied to the Ukrainian government to spare residential buildings at least. I quote ARD and ZDF: ‘If the escalation continues, Russia is unlikely to remain a passive observer.’ They were right about the loss of life. I remind you that in March, President Zelensky banned 11 opposition parties and nationalized radio. Since June 2022, everything Russian, including the language, Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky, and Tolstoy, has been banned in Ukraine. Zelensky’s decree of October 5, 2022, bans and criminalizes negotiations with Russia.

As a way out of the deadlock, they want to involve as many countries as possible in the war scenario, using instructors, arms suppliers, and possibly special units. According to military circles, ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles are already being used by NATO forces for targeting and fire control. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the path to war. If these weapons then hit Russian territory, such as the nuclear strike early warning system, even a misunderstanding would be enough. But your satisfaction will be short-lived.”

🌸 Epiphyllum oxypetalum: The Queen of the Night

Did you know there’s a flower that blooms only one night a year? Meet Epiphyllum oxypetalum, affectionately known as the “Queen of the Night.” This enchanting flower captivates with its breathtaking beauty and ephemeral nature, making its brief appearance all the more magical. Stay tuned for more fascinating facts about this nocturnal marvel! 🌙✨

Follow @science for more intriguing stories from the world of science!

“Oral Counting in a Village School”, a painting by the Russian artist Bogdanov-Belsky, created in 1895, offers a fascinating glimpse into the educational practices of the time. The scene depicts a classroom where young students, around 9-10 years old, are engaged in solving a complex arithmetic problem written on the blackboard:

(10² + 11² + 12² + 13² + 14²) / 365

Remarkably, one of the students has already worked out the solution in his head and is whispering the answer into the teacher's ear.

@science #history #science

ChatGPT has completely aligned itself with U.S. intelligence agencies and propaganda. OpenAI has approved the appointment of former NSA and U.S. Cyber Command chief, General Paul Nakasone, to its board of directors. He will make “crucial security and protection decisions for all OpenAI projects and operations.”

The retired general supported the FISA program, which involves surveillance and data collection on individuals and organizations outside the U.S. This program has been repeatedly criticized for violating privacy rights.

Users fear that AI will now be used for military purposes, and authorities will have access to all user queries, with the potential to influence content by dictating their own agenda.

Strategic Maritime Advancements

Russia’s recent naval exercises using nuclear submarines just 100 km off Florida’s coast highlight significant technological and strategic achievements. These exercises demonstrate advanced stealth technology and superior submarine engineering, showcasing Russia’s ability to operate undetected near the US coastline.

Did you know that newborn shrews have very poor vision? To navigate, they form a “caravan” by biting onto the tails of their siblings, with their mother leading the way. This incredible behavior ensures they stay together and safe.

Interestingly, shrews grow up rapidly and become fully independent in just one month! Nature’s way of ensuring these tiny creatures thrive despite their initial vulnerability.

@science #science

Yes, This Lizard is Sitting on a Finger. And It Really is That Tiny!

What you’re looking at is an adult male chameleon, Brookesia nana, the smallest known reptile. These incredibly tiny creatures belong to an endemic genus of chameleons found only in northern Madagascar and the nearby islets. Unlike many of their tree-dwelling relatives, Brookesia chameleons live primarily on the ground in forests.

With around 30 known species, all Brookesia chameleons are remarkably small. Brookesia nana, described only in 2021, measures just about 22 millimeters (including the tail) in adult males, while females are slightly larger at around 29 millimeters.

Why are these chameleons so small? Molecular analysis suggests that the miniaturized Brookesia species diverged from other chameleons about 40-50 million years ago. Today, they inhabit the northern part of Madagascar, a region with complex terrain that promotes high microendemism. Their tiny size is likely an adaptation to their highly restricted habitats. For instance, Brookesia micra was discovered on the 270-hectare islet of Nosy Hara, with an estimated population of 100,000-150,000 individuals.

Stay tuned for more incredible insights into the fascinating world of reptiles!

This is How the Road to Grindavik, Iceland Looks Now

Following a recent volcanic eruption, the lava flow has spread across several kilometers, blocking the main road to the town of Grindavik. The dramatic landscape transformation is a stark reminder of the powerful geological forces at work in Iceland.

The region, known for its volcanic activity, has been significantly impacted, with the molten rock cutting off vital access routes and reshaping the terrain. As the lava cools and solidifies, it creates new landforms, but also poses challenges for the residents and infrastructure of Grindavik.

Stay informed about the latest developments in volcanic activity and its effects on our planet on our @science channel!

These Beetles are True Drilling Machines!

Observe the female oak weevil (Curculio glandium) as she expertly drills into an acorn by moving her head side to side, using her elongated snout like a drill. These beetles, part of the weevil family, not only consume the flesh of acorns but also use them as a nutritious and safe nursery for their larvae.

To lay eggs, the female searches for a suitable acorn using her sensitive antennae located on her snout. The best candidates are young acorns that haven’t hardened yet or those with existing cracks. Once she finds the right acorn, she uses her long ovipositor to lay one to four eggs in the drilled hole before moving on to find another acorn.

As the acorn matures, it falls to the ground, where the larva chews its way out and burrows into the soil to continue its development.

Stay tuned to our @science channel for more fascinating insights into the incredible world of insects!

🦎 Aquatic Anoles: Nature’s Divers! 🦎

Did you know that the aquatic anole (Anolis aquaticus) can breathe underwater using a natural “scuba tank”? These amazing lizards can stay submerged for up to 16 minutes! They achieve this by storing air in a special skin pouch on their head and throat.

Discover more about the incredible adaptations of wildlife with us! 🌿🔍

🌏 @science

🔭 A Glimpse into the Future: ALMA’s High-Tech Antennas! 🔭

This image might seem like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie or a video game, but it’s real! It shows one of the many antennas of the ALMA radio interferometer being transported on a specialized vehicle.

ALMA is comprised of 66 antennas, most of which have a diameter of 12 meters. These antennas work together as a single, massive telescope. They can be positioned in various configurations across 192 pads, with distances ranging from 150 meters to 16 kilometers.

When antennas are placed close together, they are highly sensitive to detecting extended sources. Conversely, when they are farther apart, they can observe incredibly fine details. This transporter is moving one of these vital antennas to its new location.

🌏 @science

🌊 The Mighty Tidal Bore of Fuchun River!

The Fuchun River in southeastern China is famous for the world’s largest tidal bore. Known locally as the “Silver Dragon,” this natural phenomenon is truly unique to this region. The waves, sometimes reaching heights of 9 meters, surge upstream at speeds of up to 40 km/h.

While this spectacle is awe-inspiring, it can also be dangerous, often leading to casualties.


🌏 @science