Northwest Africa 16788: The Largest Known Individual Martian Meteorite—A New Olivine Microgabbroic Shergottite and Its Implications for Martian Magmatism

We present a comprehensive study of a new Martian meteorite, Northwest Africa (NWA) 16788, found in the Sahara Desert in July 2023. This specimen constitutes the largest known individual meteorite of Martian origin, with a total weight of ⁓25 kg. A detailed mineralogical and geochemical investigation identifies NWA 16788 as an enriched olivine microgabbroic shergottite. Petrographic analysis reveals a millimeter-sized cumulate texture, which is intermediate between poikilitic and gabbroic shergottites, primarily composed of pyroxene (⁓61 vol.%), maskelynite (shocked plagioclase, ⁓21 vol.%), and olivine (⁓15 vol.%). Pyroxene grains exhibit a distinctive zoning pattern, placing NWA 16788 within a small group of Martian meteorites and lunar samples that record unique cooling histories, suggesting that similar samples may be more prevalent within the Martian igneous rocks than previously recognized. High-precision analyses of bulk 143Nd/144Nd and 87Sr/86Sr isotopic composition, combined with trace element abundance, indicate that NWA 16788 originated from the partial melting of an enriched Martian mantle source. Electron backscatter diffraction analysis reveals a unimodal distribution of olivine grain misorientation, averaging ⁓4.6°, consistent with a high-energy single-impact event. Moreover, visible and near-infrared spectroscopy data acquired on NWA 16788 could aid in identifying potential locations of analogous igneous rocks on the Martian surface. Finally, this study proposes refinements to the current classification scheme of Martian meteorites, aiming to reduce taxonomic ambiguity and improve the alignment between Martian meteorites and Martian igneous rocks, based on data from Mars rovers

From the chaotic debris of experience, we select fragments... arguing with lived experience of the criminal justice system and taking lessons for convict criminology

Recognition of connections between personal experience, our lives and our work as academics, is not exactly new. In this paper I explore a fairly basic question: Are there examples of experiential insight or lived experience radically shifting or challenging a conventional discourse in criminology or anywhere else? By identifying brief case studies in sociology, working class studies, history, feminism, critical race theory, post-colonial studies and post-structuralism where an academic’s lived experience demonstrably informed their academic contributions, I suggest there might be

The ADHD Survival Guide: Gut-Checks, Collaboration, and Saying No

ADHD can feel like a mental swing: one moment you’re soaring with ten new ventures before breakfast, the next you’re stuck in restorative stillness. In this candid guide, Poppy Gibson shares gut-check questions, the power of teaming up, and the courage to say no—so you can channel restless creativity into work that has value, fits your resources, and genuinely brings you joy

Peri- and postnatal high fat feeding have differential effects on executive function and associated neurobiology in aged male and female mic

Almost half of pregnant women globally are currently estimated to be overweight or obese. Rates of childhood obesity are also on the rise, in part because of increased consumption of dietary saturated fats. However, the long-term effect of peri- and postnatal high fat (HF) feeding on cognitive function and neuronal expression has not yet been investigated. Male and female C57BL/6J mice born to dams fed a control (C) or high fat (HF) diet were themselves fed either the C or HF diet, generating four experimental groups: C/C, C/HF, HF/C and HF/HF, representing the peri- and postnatal diets, respectively. Offspring underwent evaluation of executive function using the two-choice paired visual discrimination reversal (PVDR) task at 6- and 12-months of age. Brain tissues were then processed for markers of serotonin, GABA, glutamate and acetylcholine using RT-qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. At 6-months of age, C/HF and HF/HF mice performed significantly worse on the PDVR task compared to C/C and HF/C offspring. Perinatal diet did not affect performance at this age. However, 12-month-old HF/C males reached criteria more quickly than C/C male mice, suggested improved cognitive performance. Levels of NeuN were increased in the prefrontal cortex of HF/C animals, alongside a selective increased in markers of acetylcholine. These results suggest that postnatal HF feeding negatively impacts executive function in both adult and aged mice, but consumption of the same diet during the perinatal period only may be beneficial in older age, possibly due to increased cholinergic innervation of the prefrontal cortex

Associations between diabetes and depressive symptoms across European countries

Background We examined the potential role of several macro- and micro-sociodemographic factors in moderating the longitudinal bi-directional association between depressive symptom severity and diabetes across European countries. This submission summarizes the results of two empirical studies and workshop-based group discussions with people living with diabetes. Methods We analyzed data from three prospective cohort studies - the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing, the Irish Longitudinal study on Ageing, and the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. We examined possible country-level and individual-level sociodemographic factors of diabetes, including healthcare quality and expenditure, wealth inequalities, and health behaviors, as moderators of the relationship between newly developed diabetes and depressive symptoms. Lived experience of diabetes reports were collected via two public workshops in Ireland. Results Depressive symptoms were a risk factor for diabetes (HR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.10;1.18]), and vice versa (HR = 1.48, 95% CI [1.37;1.61]), and the hazard ratios were stable across European geographical regions. All sociodemographic factors significantly (all p's >.01) predicted both the risk of diabetes and the incidence of elevated depressive symptoms but, except for BMI, did not moderate the strength of their association (all p's Conclusions The relationship between depressive symptoms and diabetes was consistent, regardless of most individual- or country-level factors. Because of this, international policies on managing depression-diabetes comorbidity might be applicable across European countries. In Ireland, healthcare practitioners should be better informed about the characteristics of daily living with diabetes. Key messages • The relationship between diabetes and depressive symptoms is stable across Europe, suggesting the same robust underlying mechanism of their mutual interaction • Healthcare practitioners and public health decision makers in Ireland should be more aware of the challenges to mental health which are associated with diabetes diagnosis

Understanding Representation in Young Adult Literature Through the Voices of Young People

Fictional characters and worlds depicted in Young Adult (YA) literature help young people understand the world and their place within it. This paper explores secondary students’ perspectives on popular YA literature framed by Bishop’s mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors metaphor. Focus groups with 16 secondary students suggested that mirrors were familiar contexts and daily practices; windows were books featuring others’ experiences and personal challenges; and sliding glass doors were books allowing students to consider the hypothetical. The metaphor could help librarians to develop students’ critical thinking skills and foster an ability to imagine different ways of being and living

Prepare for the unexpected: design with a non-linear payoff function

Products are often optimized for “most likely” conditions, but unexpected variations can render designs ineffective. Using examples from engineering systems, this paper explores the benefits of leveraging non-linear “payoff functions,” where small changes in conditions lead to disproportionate outcomes. By analyzing the direction and curvature of these functions near observed boundaries, designers could gain an understanding of behavior beyond expected ranges. Non-linear modeling can aid in assessing design margins, especially in long-lived systems. Integrating this approach into design processes can be helpful and effective in considering the “preparedness” of a system in the face of unexpected events of different natures