Earth's Oceans Were Once Green, Study Reveals Insights into Historical Climate Change

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A recent study by scientists at Nagoya University, Japan, suggests that Earth's ancient oceans were predominantly green for billions of years, largely due to the prevalence of cyanobacteria. The findings, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, indicate that evolutionary pressures and the light absorption characteristics of early oceanic compounds contributed to this color shift.

The researchers found that the iron hydroxide in the oceans absorbed blue light, while red light was absorbed by water, creating a "green light window." Cyanobacteria, which photosynthesize using chlorophyll, reflect green light, resulting in a greenish hue being evident in these early oceans. Lead author Taro Matsuro highlighted that these conditions likely favored the growth of cyanobacteria with pigments that absorbed red and green light.

Interestingly, rising ocean temperatures leading to increases in phytoplankton populations have caused 56% of the oceans to turn green over the last 20 years, according to a 2023 follow-up study. Matthews noted that if current trends continue, the planets' oceans may revert to their historical green hue.

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Japanese Taxi Driver Arrested for Drugging and Assaulting 50 Women with Evidence of 3,000 Videos

A 54-year-old former taxi driver in Japan has been arrested on charges of drugging and raping multiple female passengers, with police recovering nearly 3,000 videos and images of the assaults. The suspect, identified as Satoshi Tanaka, was taken into custody following an incident where he allegedly gave sleeping pills to a woman in her twenties, resulting in her losing consciousness during a taxi ride. According to The Yomiuri Shimbun, Tanaka then transported her to his home, where he reportedly filmed the sexual assault. A Tokyo police spokesman confirmed the charges include non-consensual sexual intercourse and violations related to filming intimate acts. Traces of sleeping pills were reportedly found in the victim's hair. Tanaka's alleged crimes date back to 2008, as police continue to investigate the vast amount of disturbing footage found on his devices. He was previously arrested in October for drugging another woman and robbing her of approximately $270 (or 40,000 yen), but was released before being apprehended again for this latest series of offenses.
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Japanese Taxi Driver Arrested for Drugging and Assaulting 50 Women

A 54-year-old former taxi driver in Japan, Satoshi Tanaka, has been arrested on charges of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple female passengers. According to reports from The Yomiuri Shimbun and Jiji Press, police discovered nearly 3,000 videos and images depicting Tanaka's assaults on around 50 women, which were recorded in his taxi and home. The arrest followed an incident where Tanaka allegedly gave sleeping pills to a woman in her twenties in 2024, causing her to lose consciousness before he assaulted her and filmed the act. "The man got a woman... to take sleeping pills, which caused her to lose consciousness... and committed an indecent act," a Tokyo police spokesman stated. This is not Tanaka's first brush with the law; he was arrested previously for allegedly drugging another woman and stealing approximately 40,000 yen (around $370). Media reports indicate that traces of sleeping pills were found in the victim's hair, further supporting claims against Tanaka.
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Japan Unveils Advanced Railgun to Counter Hypersonic Missiles

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