🌼🐿️ℳ𝒾𝒸𝒽ℯ𝓁𝓁ℯ 𝒩𝒶𝓉𝓊𝓇ℯ & 𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊ℊ𝒽𝓉𝓈 ✒️

When we engage in an #internalmonologue, we generally try to do so discreetly and silently. But what happens if we lose control over our lips and end up #speaking out loud #toourselves? Does this have an #impact on our #brain, and if so, what kind? A #research team has published findings in the journal Brain Sciences indicating that talking to oneself has a positive effect on the #regulation of #emotions. H.-J. Jo et al. (2024) investigated how the brain processes emotional sentences presented to participants, either in their #ownvoice (previously recorded and #synthesized) or in the voices of others. The study also evaluated whether the specific #method of #emotionalregulation, #selfaffirmation versus #cognitivedefusion, makes a difference. Self-affirmation aims to bolster positive aspects, such as one’s goals, strengths, and self-worth. Cognitive defusion, by contrast, serves to create #psychologicaldistance from a thought, thereby reducing its emotional power. The results indicate that the brain distinguishes between one’s own voice and the voices of others, suggesting that using one’s own voice during self-talk can facilitate emotional regulation. Furthermore, the brain differentiates between the two aforementioned strategies when they are expressed through one’s own voice. Post-hoc tests revealed that, compared to self-affirmation, cognitive defusion triggered greater activity in specific regions of the right #temporallobe: the superior temporal sulcus (#STS), the middle temporal lobe, and the #parahippocampal #cortex. These regions are involved in language and auditory processing, as well as in #autobiographicalmemory. The study demonstrates that engaging in self-talk using one’s own voice shifts our auditory and memory-related neural networks into a state of heightened activity. Moreover, it shows that the brain is particularly sensitive to the recognizable quality of one’s own voice when we employ cognitive defusion to distance ourselves from difficult emotions. © #StefanFWirth, October 2026, Berlin Please support my science communication and artistic illustration efforts: ko-fi.com/sfwirth Reference: H.-J. Jo et al. (2024): doi.org/10.3390/brainsci1407… #Illustrations: 1) – 3) An actor works on gaining better control over various emotional strategies in his own voice; © Stefan F. Wirth, AI-assisted #artisticillustration based on my hand-drawn sketches, manually edited, October 2026, Berlin

A new #study is the first comprehensive #comparativeinvestigation into the energy efficiency of #birdflight. It is common knowledge that different bird species exhibit varying degrees of grace in flight; however, the actual energy efficiency of avian flight had not previously been studied empirically in the wild. One might for example assume that the Andean #condor #Vultur #gryphus and the #trumpeter #swan #Cygnus #buccinator (like the mute swan Cygnus #olor) would require roughly the same amount of #energy to fly, given their similar #size and #weight. Yet, the study by M. Scacco et al. (2026) reveals that this is not the case. Data analysis from observations of 50 bird and bat species in the wild shows that e.g. the Andean condor is significantly more #energyefficient in flight than the trumpeter swan than previously expected. This is because the condor can exploit #updrafts, spending the vast majority of its time #gliding. The trumpeter swan, by contrast, is unable to utilize such updrafts and must instead rely on #speed and #wingflapping. While the study focuses on #atmosphericdynamics and empirical #energyexpenditure, I summarize the basic fundamental reasons why a swan cannot utilize thermal updrafts like a condor based on general #biomechanics and #aerodynamics in the following paragraph. The explanation for these differences, and the reason why the swan cannot utilize updrafts, lies in the #wingloading variation. Wing loading refers to the ratio of a bird's body weight to the surface area of ​​its wings (weight divided by wing area). Because the swan has undergone significant morphological #adaptations for life as a #waterfowl, it possesses a barrel-shaped body, heavy bones, and massive pectoral muscles. Relative to its weight of approximately 12 kilograms, its wings are quite short and narrow. Consequently, the bird experiences high wing loading during flight, which prevents it from utilizing updrafts to transition into a gliding phase. If a swan stops flapping its wings, it falls to the ground. Its high wing loading requires it to maintain a consistently high speed and powerful wing beats. The Andean condor, by contrast, possesses enormous, broad wings (with a span of up to three meters) and features extensions at the wingtips, resembling "fingertips", that help minimize air turbulence. The difference in flight behavior can be illustrated by comparing a swan to a passenger aircraft, such as an Airbus A320, and a condor to a glider-airplane. Just as an Airbus requires a long runway to generate sufficient airflow for lift, a swan must paddle across the surface of the water for a considerable distance, flapping its wings vigorously, before it can finally take flight. Generally, according to the authors, the flight modi in birds can be divided into gliders and flapping fliers. For their research, the scientists analyzed a wealth of GPS and radar data, leading them to conclude that natural airflows serve as a vital energy subsidy for many species. Traditional laboratory settings, such as wind tunnels or treadmills, fail to capture these dynamic environmental interactions, which is why the authors recognize bird flight in the wild the most energy-efficient locomotion style even before #swimming. In this context, the authors also note that understanding the relationship between bird flight and atmospheric dynamics is particularly significant in light of the changes brought about by #globalwarming. For when the composition the Earth's atmosphere changes, this also affects avian #migratoryroutes, which can contribute to alterations in #ecosystems. © #StefanFWirth, October 2026, Berlin Please support my science communication and photography: ko-fi.com/sfwirth reference M. Scacco et al. (2026): doi.org/10.1126/science.aee6… #photos: © Stefan F. Wirth, #artistic #blackandwhite #photography of mute swans during their feather cleaning, important to be ready to fly, at #Tegelersee, #Berlin

What causes the slight #changes in #Earth's #rotationspeed that lead to minor fluctuations in the length of days? Earth consists of a solid #innercore, composed primarily of iron, situated within a liquid #outercore. The inner and outer #mantle layers are made of silicate #rock. The inner core is free to #rotate within the liquid outer core. According to authors H. Zhang and M. Dumberry (2026), this gives rise to complex #interactions between #forces acting on the core and mantle, resulting in minute variations in day lengths, on the order of just a few milliseconds. Essentially, the authors identified a tug-of-war between forces influencing Earth's rotation. Three types of forces have longer been recognized as significant. A mechanical torque arises when the liquid outer core pushes against protrusions in the inner mantle (core-mantle-boundary). Another force is also generated by the #flow of the outer core; this flow creates a magnetic field that attracts iron-rich components of the mantle, thereby producing an #electromagnetictorque. The third force is related to #gravity, causing particularly dense regions within the inner core to be drawn toward especially dense areas of the mantle. The researchers mentioned above used a #model to determine which of the forces involved is dominant and how the three forces interact. They found that the #gravitationalforce is the dominant factor, while the other forces counteract this effect, creating a sort of tug-of-war between them. The models used by the authors to analyze the force interactions between Earth's core and mantle "also point to a low-#viscosity inner core that deforms within a few years." To reconstruct the balance of forces within Earth's interior, the authors utilized, among other sources, #seismicdata from #earthquakes; this data had previously been used to determine the inner core's rotational speed relative to the rest of the planet. © #StefanF.Wirth, September 2026, Berlin Please support my science communication and illustration work with a small contribution. My freelance livelihood depends heavily on this: Ko-fi 👇 link in my first reply. #Reference: H. Zhang & M. Dumberry (2026) in #Nature: DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10999-2 👇 link in my first reply. #Illustrations: © Stefan F. Wirth; AI-assisted artistic illustrations based on my hand-drawn sketches, manually edited; September 2026, Berlin. The illustrations offer views into the inner layers of our planet.

Regarding NASA's planned #Dragonfly #spacemission to #Saturn's #moon #Titan, aimed at discovering signs of potential #precursorstolife. Based on current knowledge, Saturn has at least 293 moons. The largest of these is Titan, which has a diameter of 5,150 km. Among the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, it is one of the candidates viewed as potential sites for #life, or its #precursors, due to its #water and ice deposits, its #atmosphere and its #methanelakes. Titan possesses a complex atmosphere composed primarily of #nitrogen; in this respect, it is the only #celestialbody in our solar system other than #Earth to share such a characteristic. However, its atmosphere extends roughly ten times farther into space than Earth's. Titan itself consists mainly of a water-ice #mantle and a #core of #silicaterock. Its surface is composed predominantly of dune landscapes and, especially in the polar regions, open methane lakes situated amidst those dunes. Both the methane lakes and the atmosphere are considered potential locations where precursors to life might exist. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that genuine water-based life could exist in #liquidwater #oceans beneath the moon's #icysurfacecrust. Researchers currently posit the existence of two putative distinct #biologicalrealms operating independently of one another. According to hypotheses, #methanebased life would originate when #organicmolecules formed in the atmosphere, known as #tholins, rain down into the methane lakes and combine with structures called "#azotosomes." Azotosomes are #celllike #membranes mainly made of #nitrogencompounds (#Acrylnitril (C3H3N) that could serve as physical shells for cells requiring methane, and not liquid water, as a solvent. "Conventional" water-based life could exist in the liquid oceans deep within the moon, beneath its icy crust, where the water is in contact with Titan's #rockycore. There, #hydrothermalvents, like those on Earth, could have contributed to an #evolutionoflife, similar to earth. The authors T. H. Vu et al. (2026) addressed the "azotosome hypothesis" in the context of Titan’s lake fluids. Researchers K. E. Miller et al. (2026) investigated the potential for water-based life in the oceans in their study "Titan’s refractory core evolution: Implications for #organics in its #subsurfaceocean." #NASA is currently preparing the "Dragonfly" space mission, which involves deploying an #octocopter-style #drone onto the surface of Titan. The drone will be capable of #flying to various distant targets to investigate #astrobiological and #chemical questions. Key objectives include gaining an understanding of #prebioticchemistry in the atmosphere and the #methanecycle on Titan, the moon's equivalent to Earth's water cycle. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2028 and land in 2034 in the #ShangriLaregion near Titan's equator. The drone is expected to remain active for a period of approximately two years. © StefanFWirth, September 2026, Berlin Please support my science communication and illustration efforts; even the smallest coffee donation is greatly appreciated: ko-fi 👇 link in my first reply References: T. H. Vu et al. (2026) DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aed1426 K. E. Miller et al. (2026) DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2026.116961 NASA dragonfly multimedia 👇 The three links in my first reply #Illustrations: AI-assisted #artisticillustrations based on my hand-drawn sketches, manually edited; © Stefan F. Wirth, September 2026, Berlin. 1) Titan in front of Saturn (left), artistic reconstruction of methane lakes and dunes near the polar region 2) Titan and Saturn 3) Artistic illustration of the potential appearance of methane lakes, partly with ice cover, and dunes in Titan's northern regions

New research findings indicate a link between #tomato-derived #lycopene and #enhanced #brainfunction in #human test persons. According to R. López-Solís et al. (2026), healthy adult test persons who consumed #tomatopaste daily in a defined time period demonstrated improved #cognitivebrainfunction. A randomized, two-phase #crossoverstudy was conducted involving 47 persons aged 40–55. Assessments included validated #neuropsychological tests (d2-R, Face-Name Associative Memory Exam, Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test), measurements of #plasmalycopene and brain-derived #neurotrophicfactor (#BDNF), and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (#fMRI). #Selectiveattention and #associativememory improved; additionally, plasma BDNF levels rose, and positive changes in brain #networkactivity were observed. Consequently, the authors suggest that tomato consumption can enhance cognitive performance. This relationship is explained by the hypothesis that lycopene from tomatoes crosses the #bloodbrainbarrier and exerts its effect as a potent #antioxidant within the brain. One neurotrophic effect of this process is an increase in BDNF concentration. BDNF is a #protein belonging to the neurotrophin family that supports #neuroprotection, #synapticplasticity, and #neurogenesis; among other things, it promotes gene expression associated with new synapses and #neuronallearning. The direct physiological link between tomato-derived lycopene and improved cognitive performance remains not yet fully understood. However, since lycopene reduces #oxidativestress, and oxidative stress is known to inhibit BDNF production, it is reasonable to assume that the cellular environment improved by lycopene fosters higher levels of BDNF synthesis. Lycene thus acts as a biochemical shield and #modulator, apparently enabling the body's own BDNF-TrkB signaling cascade to function more efficiently. © #StefanFWirth, September 2026, Berlin please buy me a coffee to support my freelance science communication and illustration efforts: ko-fi 👇link in my first comment reference: R. López-Solís et al. (2026): DOI:10.3390/antiox15050644 👇link in my first comment #photo: #macrophotography of one of my still-unripe cherry tomatoes, © Stefan F. Wirth, September 2026, Berlin #illustrations: 2+3) AI-assisted artistic still-lifes featuring a giant tomato, 4) chemical structure of lycopene arranged as a stilllife, based on my hand-drawn sketches and manually edited, © Stefan F. Wirth, September 2026, Berlin

The 2026 #solareclipse in #Germany, featuring high solar #coverage, along with an explanation of how solar eclipses occur and a look at current research into their effects on the behavior of #plants, #animals, and #microbes. The solar eclipse of #August 12, 2026 photographed from #Drachenberg, one of #Berlin's highest #hills. But first, what is a solar eclipse, and how does it occur? When the Earth, Moon, and #Sun align in a straight line during a #newmoon, the Moon's shadow falls upon the Earth. Observers within the #umbra (the darkest part of the shadow) see a #totalsolareclipse, while those in the #penumbra (the lighter outer shadow) witness a #partialeclipse. The reason solar eclipses are relatively rare events, and do not occur during every new moon, is that the #Moon's #orbit around the #Earth is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to the ecliptic (Earth's #orbitalplane). When the Earth darkens during the day due to a solar eclipse, the planet's organisms often react strongly. #Crepuscular animals, such as certain #birds, become active, while #diurnal animals settle down to rest. Plants that normally shift their blossoms into a resting position at evening will do so #prematurely during a solar eclipse. For instance, #bacterialcolonies can briefly lose their original population density due to die-off events. The impact on oceanic #zooplankton is also striking: they rise prematurely from the depths to the #ocean surface. Yet, what distinguishes the darkening effect of a #thunderstorm from that of a solar eclipse, and what impact does this have on the organisms involved? Organisms respond differently to a thunderstorm front compared to a solar eclipse. This is because a thunderstorm front, with its associated signs such as rolling thunder, electrostatic atmospheric charge, and uneven darkening, is perceived as a #meteorologicalchange; in contrast, a solar eclipse simulates the onset of evening and night. Here are some examples of studies about solar eclipse and responding specific organisms. L. A. Aguilar et al. (2025) studied #birdsongs in response to a solar eclipse in the USA in April 2024, utilizing #communityscience data. An analysis of over 10,000 avian observations, combined with AI-assisted processing of nearly 100,000 bird vocalizations, revealed that more than 50 percent of the birds altered their normal #biologicalrhythms. Many of these birds responded to the end of the eclipse with #dawnlikesinging. A. Shriyan et al. (2011) investigated the effects of a 2010 solar eclipse in India on #microorganisms. The study focused on microbes isolated from clinical samples, such as #Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., #Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The eclipse had a significant impact, primarily resulting in #morphologicalchanges. According to A. Chiolerio et al. (2025), plants also respond to solar eclipses. They examined the effects of the October 2022 eclipse in the Dolomites (Italy) on the Norway #spruce (#Picea #abies), documenting both individual and collective #bioelectricresponses across several trees in reaction to the celestial event. The results indicate that the spruce trees had physiologically adapted to the darkness accompanying the solar eclipse. The authors emphasize that their research approach also serves as a test of how adaptable organisms, in this case, trees, are when responding to unexpected, sudden changes, particularly in the context of increasing human-induced interventions in natural cycles. © #StefanFWirth, August 2026 Please support my photography and science writing on ko-fi. 👇Link in my first answer References: L. A. Aguilar et al. (2025) DOI: 10.1126/science.adx3025 👇Link in my first answer A. Shriyan et al. (2011) DOI: 10.4103/0975-7406.76498 👇 A. Chiolerio et al. (2025) DOI: 10.1098/rsos.241786 👇 #Photos: Details of the solar eclipse and people's reactions on August 12, 2026, viewed from the #Teufelsberg area (Drachenberg viewpoint), © S. F. Wirth, Berlin

Researchers have discovered #geoglyphs in the #Amazonregion using #LiDAR #technology. These geoglyphs cover approximately 50 hectares and appear to belong to a previously #unknownculture. LiDAR (#LightDetectionandRanging) technology allows researchers to #visualize #structures on the #groundsurface from the distance of an #aircraft, even when they are obscured by dense vegetation that would otherwise remain hidden. This is achieved by emitting invisible #laserbeams in the infrared range, the reflection of which is then analyzed. This process produces millimeter-precise images of the landscape under investigation. By applying this technology in the Amazon region, M. Pärssinen et al. (2026) discovered geoglyphs in the southwestern Amazon area. These geoglyphs exhibit symmetrical forms and cover an area of ​​approximately half a million square meters. The researchers thus discovered about 400 previously unknown structures in present-day #Brazil, which they attribute to a formerly unknown civilization. In their research article published in the #journalNature, they refer to this culture as the #Aquiry #culture. The structures apparently served ritual and political purposes. The population lived by clearing land through #slashandburn #agriculture and by cultivating crops such as #maize and #squash, as well as #fruittrees like peach palms. The area was settled over a period of approximately 1,500 years, between 600 BC and 800 AD. The #archaeologists estimate that around 3 million people may have lived in the Aquiry area. Considering the entire Amazonas region and the other ancient cultures inhabiting it besides the Aquiry, the total population could have been in the tens of millions. Like the Aquiry, these cultures must have possessed highly developed skills in land cultivation, as building monumental structures in the rainforest requires logistical, geometric, and organizational expertise. The new findings demonstrate that the Amazon region has apparently been shaped by #historicalhumanactivity to a significantly greater extent than previously assumed. © #StefanF.Wirth, July 2026, Berlin Please support my science communication efforts with a small donation; it is an important part of my meager income: ko-fi.com/sfwirth Reference: M. Pärssinen et al. (2026): doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-1… #Figure: Diverse #earthworktypes with their #topographicalcontexts. a, Piloto. b, D. Schaan. c, Fazenda Atlântica. d, amag34/Lid24_05_43a. e, Lid24_05_44a. f, Lid24_09_1b. Hillshading and colors are applied to #digitalterrainmodels; Numbers in italics indicate relative elevation (metres above sea level) derived from those models. Figure from M. Pärssinen et al. (2026), licensed under creativecommons.org/licenses…