Today in Science: Solar plasma will fly by Earth

Science meets inbox July 19, 2023: Time ticked more slowly at the beginning of the universe, the importance of safe and healthy childhoods and plasma blobs from the sun. Enjoy! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor TOP STORIES Slow, Deep Time Astronomers have found that events during the early days of the universe, when it was a mere one billion years old (less than a tenth of its present age), appear to have unfolded at a pace five times slower than normal. The researchers looked at 190 quasars and found that those in faraway galaxies ticked slower than ones born in the later, nearby universe. Those most distant clocked in at a glacial one fifth of the standard speed. Why this is so cool: This finding confirms Einstein's prediction of time dilation, that the light in the dense, early universe must travel faster across an ever-expanding space. This effect stretches time in the early universe. What the experts say: Accurate timestamping of ancient quasars might also prove useful for further exploring the nature of dark energy, the mysterious force thought responsible for a surprising acceleration in the universe's expansion, says Geraint Lewis, an astrophysicist at the University of Sydney. Lasting Brain Effects Researchers recently examined the brains of patients born with congenital blindness who had their vision restored surgically. Despite many years of having their sight back, these individuals had a visual cortex that more closely resembled the corresponding visual areas of individuals with permanent blindness. Why this matters: These findings suggest that harsh experiences or environments early in life can result in irreversible structural changes in multiple regions of the brain. Poverty and adversity (abuse or neglect) have often been found to have a widespread effect across the brain, and extrapolating from this vision study, experts expect permanent neurological changes resulting from harsh early experiences, write Cordula Hölig, Brigitte Röder and Ramesh Kekunnaya, cognitive neuroscientists and an ophthalmologist, respectively, who are the study's lead authors. What the experts say: "Poverty and adversity can cause changes in brain development. …Ensuring access to safe environments, affordable health care, healthy food and appropriate education gives children the opportunity to develop and stay physically and mentally healthy," write the study authors. TODAY'S NEWS • Inflammatory bowel disease affects millions and scientists have discovered the brain pathways that trigger it. Most important: Those pathways are activated by stress. | 9 min listen • Far-right politicians and groups are distorting the plan for building sustainable cities (called 15-minute cities) to resemble a police state policy that infringes on personal freedoms. | 7 min read • The monoclonal antibody to treat Alzheimer's called donanemab can stop disease progression among people who started taking it at the earliest stages of the disease. | 4 min read • Late July 17 and early July 18, the sun let off three M-class solar flares, causing a moderate solar radiation storm in Earth's atmosphere. One flare ejected solar plasma that will barely graze Earth's atmosphere in the coming days. | 2 min read Credit: NASA/SDO More News EXPERT PERSPECTIVES • People can form emotional attachments to AI chatbots with whom they may share secrets or other sensitive information. This is especially problematic for individuals who have government security clearance, writes Remaya M. Campbell, an intelligence analyst. "Common user inputs are a veritable gold mine for any foreign or malicious actor that sees chatbots as an opportunity to target state secrets," she writes. | 5 min read More Opinion WHAT WE'RE READING • Geodesic dome houses are gaining more attention for their ability to withstand disastrous weather. | The New York Times • The 2023 Comedy Pet Photography shortlist entries. You're welcome.  | The Guardian • A gossipy recounting of the scientific feud between physicists J. Robert Oppenheimer and John Archibald Wheeler. | The Last Word on Nothing Activity on the surface of the sun is ramping up as it nears its solar maximum, so expect to hear more news about flares and plasma blobs in the coming months. But, as we wrote earlier this year, most solar flares are not dangerous, and even the most severe in recent history have had relatively subdued effects. This newsletter is always evolving! Email me anytime to suggest improvements: newsletters@sciam.com. See you tomorrow! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters here. Scientific American One New York Plaza, New York, NY, 10004   Support our mission, subscribe to Scientific American here   Unsubscribe Email Preferences