​This is a simple reason why we haven’t found life on Mars yet ● Why do we stop listening to music as we get older? ● Unanticipated benefits of a four-day work week

That would be a simple reason why we haven’t found life on Mars yet

I pray that there are basically two of them, most importantly that there is never any life there. But, in order not to appear negative, several researchers from the Autonomous University of Chile started with the idea that there was indeed possible life on Mars, and the fact that we did not find traces of it comes from another reason, just as simple. as possible Accordingly, we do not have the necessary tools.

In their study, published in Nature Communications, Chilean experts gave the example of the Atacama Desert, where there are traces of a prehistoric delta called the Red Stone. Interestingly, geologically, the region in question is remarkably similar to the Red Planet, which is why astrobiologists everywhere have used it in countless tests and studies on Mars exploration.

After analyzing several rock samples from the mentioned delta, with the help of the latest technologies in this field, the researchers from Chile received a surprise. In particular, they used a technology called NGA (Next Generation Sequencing), which allows them to identify DNA and RNA samples in soil and rocks with much greater precision than before. The result was that 9% of the genetic sequences obtained in this way did not fit into any known category, while 40% could only be classified vaguely taxonomically.

Thus, the term “dark microbiome” was proposed, a category that includes all microorganisms whose genomes could not be precisely mapped. And the situation on Mars may be similar to that in the Atacama Desert.

Now that we have the technology with which we can detect such genetic sequences of microorganisms without a counterpart, the problem will be different. And it’s all about technique. In short, no Mars mission to date has intended to return to Earth. And without rock samples for “live” analysis, it is more difficult to implement what the Chileans offer.

But, as they themselves say, the chances that such a round-trip mission will become possible by 2030-2040 are really high. And until then, the technology of observing samples can become even more effective. So from this point of view only good news.

Why do we stop listening to music as we age?

It is a well-known fact that when the years begin to add up, people are no longer as inclined to listen to music as, for example, in their teenage years. And a study conducted 10 years ago on 250,000 people showed this trend as clearly as possible. According to a related study, time devoted to music drops from 20% in adolescence to a maximum of 13% in adulthood. One of the most common hypotheses indicates the acuity of hearing and the ability to tolerate high sounds. As they decrease with age, so does a person’s interest in music.

Another relates to the amount of time an adult can afford to listen to music compared to a teenager. This and other hypotheses claim that the rigidity of age makes adults less receptive to new music. It so happens that people remain faithful to those songs that they liked to listen to in childhood.

The most recent explanation suggests that, in fact, the above assumptions are mostly false, and adults’ interest in music will last throughout life. The difference is that when people reach maturity, they no longer have the patience to explore new genres of music, to discover new things, but these aspects can be corrected with willpower and patience. In short, you have a fragment of your teenage years left, it’s just that you want to bring it to light.

The unexpected benefits of a four-day work week

2,900 UK employees from 61 companies volunteered to take part in a trial to see the effect of just four working days on sleep. It turned out that 40% of subjects mostly got rid of insomnia and other sleep disorders. 45% did not feel any significant changes, and 15% said that their situation worsened.

Confirmed by earlier studies in Sweden, the USA, France or Great Britain, which showed that a five-day work week negatively affects the sleep of employees, the benefits of reducing working hours are becoming obvious.

Experts claim that due to the reduction of working hours, employees feel less stress, get less tired, and their productivity increases significantly. Moreover, 57% of those who wanted to change jobs abandoned the idea, reducing the schedule to just four working days.

In summary, here’s what you need to do. Sleep more, work less, and health and success will come by themselves!

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