
<p>In a stark update on the deteriorating condition of our planet, an international assembly of climate experts has reported that the Earth’s vital signs have declined to levels never before witnessed in human history. This critical state threatens the very fabric of life on our planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-scientific-consensus">Unprecedented scientific consensus</h2>



<p>Led by William Ripple, a prominent figure from the Oregon State University <a href="https://www.forestry.oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Forestry</a>, and Christopher Wolf, formerly associated with OSU, a team comprising 12 scientists has delivered a grim prognosis on Earth&#8217;s vital signs in their paper published in <em><a href="https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/biosci/biad080" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BioScience</a></em>. </p>



<p>Titled &#8220;The 2023 State of the climate report: Entering uncharted territory,&#8221; the study underscores that a staggering 20 out of 35 planetary vital signs used as barometers for climate health have hit record extremes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-on-the-brink">World on the brink</h2>



<p>&#8220;Without decisive steps to address the fundamental issue of humanity&#8217;s overconsumption of the Earth&#8217;s resources, we are navigating towards the potential disintegration of natural and socioeconomic systems,&#8221; Wolf stated, painting a picture of a future marred by intolerable heat, food scarcity, and water shortages.</p>



<p>The authors highlight alarming data from 2023, pointing out that numerous records related to climate and Earth&#8217;s vital signs have been shattered &#8220;by enormous margins.&#8221; This includes unprecedented ocean temperatures, drastic reductions in sea ice, and an extraordinary Canadian wildfire season contributing to record levels of carbon dioxide emissions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-echoes-of-past-warnings">Echoes of past warnings</h2>



<p>This report is not the first of its kind. It follows a significant &#8220;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-pushed-earth-to-code-red/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency</a>&#8221; published four years ago, where Ripple, alongside other collaborators, received support from over 15,000 scientists from 161 countries. </p>



<p>Despite these earlier calls to action, little progress has been made, with Ripple emphasizing, &#8220;Life on our planet is unmistakably under assault.&#8221;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-climate-health-statistics">Alarming climate health statistics</h2>



<p>The report lays bare several shocking statistics that outline why Earth&#8217;s vital signs are at an all-time low.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-chief-fossil-fuel-era-must-end-for-humanitys-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fossil fuel</a> subsidies saw a staggering increase from $531 billion to over $1 trillion between 2021 and 2022, incentivizing harmful emissions.<br></li>



<li><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-amplify-risks-for-socially-vulnerable-populations-in-western-states/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wildfires</a> in Canada alone have already contributed more than 1 gigaton of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in 2023, surpassing the nation&#8217;s total greenhouse gas emissions the previous year.<br></li>



<li>A concerning trend in global temperature rise, with 38 days already recorded where temperatures were more than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1.5 degrees Celsius</a> above pre-industrial levels.<br></li>



<li>July experienced the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/july-was-earths-hottest-month-in-120000-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highest average</a> Earth surface temperature on record, likely the most extreme in the last 100,000 years.</li>
</ul>



<p>Wolf expressed deep concern, stating, &#8220;As scientists, the sudden escalation in the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters is deeply unsettling.&#8221;</p>



<p>The study cautions that these disasters&#8217; frequency and intensity might even be accelerating faster than temperature rises. The paper forecasts a dire future, where 3 to 6 billion people will find themselves in uninhabitable conditions by the end of this century.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-vital-signs-need-transformative-policies">Earth&#8217;s vital signs need transformative policies</h2>



<p>The scientific community is advocating for policies that address &#8220;ecological overshoot,&#8221; a scenario where humanity&#8217;s demands exceed the Earth&#8217;s capacity, resulting in numerous environmental crises, including a decline in biodiversity.</p>



<p>They argue that solutions focusing solely on carbon or climate will fall short of repairing Earth&#8217;s vital signs unless the overarching pressures on global systems are alleviated. As Ripple puts it, the scientific community has a &#8220;moral duty&#8221; to guide humanity away from potential existential threats and lead action-driven dialogues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steering-towards-a-just-sustainable-future">Steering towards a just, sustainable future</h2>



<p>The paper calls for a comprehensive overhaul of global economic practices. The authors of the study urge a transition that foregrounds human well-being, curtails excessive consumption, and drastically reduces affluent populations&#8217; emissions.</p>



<p>Key policy recommendations to reverse the decline of Earth&#8217;s vital signs include:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies.<br></li>



<li>Encouraging shifts towards plant-based diets.<br></li>



<li>Amplifying efforts to protect global forest areas.<br></li>



<li>Establishing international treaties focused on eliminating coal and preventing new fossil fuel exploration.</li>
</ul>



<p>The authors underscore the necessity for equity and social justice in all climate-related decisions. They clearly recognize the disproportionate impact of climate calamities on the world&#8217;s most impoverished populations, who have the smallest carbon footprints.</p>



<p>In a world where climate-related disasters are becoming the norm rather than the exception, this clarion call from the scientific community is more urgent than ever. It implores global leaders, decision-makers, and individuals alike to embark on a more sustainable path, with the understanding that the very future of life on Earth hinges on the actions humanity takes now.</p>



<p>&#8212;</p>



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Life under siege: Earth’s vital signs reach an all-time low

<p>Science has been chasing a single rulebook for nature ever since people realized the same laws that guide apples also steer planets. Three of the four known forces - electromagnetism, the strong force, and the weak force - comfortably share pages in that quantum physics manual. </p>



<p>Gravity, though vital to everything from tides to timekeeping, insists on speaking a different dialect inspired by Einstein’s theory of general relativity.</p>



<p>That mismatch keeps physicists up at night. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-form-of-quantum-entanglement-discovered-will-transform-next-gen-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quantum ideas</a> describe particles and fields in tiny, jumpy packages, while general relativity paints gravity as smooth curves in space‑time. </p>



<p>Fit those viewpoints together, and the math usually blows up into useless infinities. A fresh effort now claims to tame those infinities without bending the facts we already trust.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bridging-gravity-and-quantum-forces">Bridging gravity and quantum forces</h2>



<p>Researchers Mikko Partanen and Jukka Tulkki at <a href="https://www.aalto.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aalto University</a> believe they have found common ground. They place gravity inside a type of gauge theory, the same broad framework that lets photons mediate light and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atomic-nucleus-made-of-quarks-and-gluons-reproduced-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gluons glue quarks</a>. </p>



<p>“If this turns out to lead to a complete quantum field theory of gravity, then eventually it will give answers to the very difficult problems of understanding singularities in black holes and the Big Bang,” he says. </p>



<p>The pair argue that the payoff could stretch far beyond pure curiosity; without <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-glitch-in-gravity-expands-the-theory-of-general-relativity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Einstein’s gravity</a>, for instance, GPS satellites would drift miles off course in a day.</p>



<p>Their proposal, published in <em>Reports on Progress in Physics</em>, introduces an eight‑dimensional mathematical space that hosts gravity alongside the other forces. </p>



<p>In everyday life we move through three dimensions plus time, yet the extra four directions allow the equations to behave properly. </p>



<p>By choosing a symmetry that mirrors the Standard Model, they avoid clashing with proven particle physics. The plan looks daring, but the researchers are convinced it keeps both feet on solid ground.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spinors-and-symmetry">Spinors and symmetry</h2>



<p>Inside the eight‑dimensional arena, spinors - exotic objects that keep track of how particles twist - carry gravity’s information. </p>



<p>“The main idea is to have a gravity gauge theory with a symmetry that is similar to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-entanglement-spooky-action-at-a-distance-persists-between-top-quarks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Standard Model</a> symmetries, instead of basing the theory on the very different kind of spacetime symmetry of general relativity,” says Partanen, the study’s lead author. </p>



<p>Using a shared symmetry lets gravity slot into the same style of equations that already explain how electrons interact with light.</p>



<p>That symmetry also dictates a new kind of gravitational field. </p>



<p>“The most familiar gauge field is the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invisible-electric-field-discovered-surrounding-earth-nasa-says-its-as-crucial-as-gravity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electromagnetic field</a>. When electrically charged particles interact with each other, they interact through the electromagnetic field, which is the pertinent gauge field,” explains Tulkki. </p>



<p>“So when we have particles which have energy, the interactions they have just because they have energy would happen through the gravitational field.” </p>



<p>In short, energy - not mass alone - becomes the charge that gravity responds to in this setup.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-space-time-dimension-field">Space‑time dimension field</h2>



<p>Extra dimensions sound abstract, yet the theory never asks anyone to live in them. Instead it builds a “space‑time dimension field” that quietly translates eight‑dimensional math into the four‑dimensional universe people occupy. </p>



<p>That bridge preserves the equivalence principle, the observation that a feather and a hammer fall together in a vacuum, even though the calculations chug away behind the curtain in higher‑dimensional space.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/gravity-quantum-field_theory-of-everything_illustration_credit-Aalto-University_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/gravity-quantum-field_theory-of-everything_illustration_credit-Aalto-University_1s.webp" alt="The gravity quantum field is calculated in flat spacetime. The curved classical metric is calculated using the expectation value of the gravity quantum field. Credit: Aalto University" class="wp-image-1968436"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The gravity quantum field is calculated in flat spacetime. The curved classical metric is calculated using the expectation value of the gravity quantum field. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Aalto University</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Because the field emerges from strict symmetry rules, the resulting gravity still pulls objects along the familiar paths predicted by Einstein, at least in calm conditions like those near Earth. </p>



<p>Where things heat up - think black‑hole edges or the newborn universe - the new math starts to reveal effects that classical relativity misses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quantum-gravity-and-renormalization">Quantum gravity and renormalization</h2>



<p>Previous attempts to quantize gravity ran aground when higher‑order calculations spiraled into infinite answers. The Aalto approach leans on a tool called renormalization, which systematically sweeps those infinities into measurable constants. </p>



<p>“If renormalization doesn’t work for higher order terms, you’ll get infinite results. So it’s vital to show that this renormalization continues to work,” explains Tulkki. So far, first‑order checks look solid; the team is pushing deeper to prove the pattern holds.</p>



<p>Keeping infinities in line would let physicists compute reliable probabilities for violent cosmic events. It also means gravity can be treated with the same respect as the other forces - in short, no more special exemptions that break the rules when the math gets messy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-holes-big-bangs-quantum-gravity">Black holes, big bangs, quantum gravity</h2>



<p>“A quantum theory of gravity is needed to understand what kind of phenomena there are in cases where there’s a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unraveling-gravity-quantum-nature-entanglement-mechanics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravitational field</a> and high energies,” says Partanen. </p>



<p>Such conditions prevail near the edges of black holes and during the first instants after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-than-one-big-bang-may-explain-cosmic-expansion-without-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Bang</a>, places where current theories shrug. </p>



<p>A working quantum gravity model could clarify whether singularities truly exist or whether new physics softens the infinities predicted by Einstein’s equations.</p>



<p>Deeper still, the theory might speak to nagging puzzles about why <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/higgs-boson-god-particle-still-remains-quantum-mystery-after-12-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">matter outnumbers antimatter</a>. </p>



<p>“A theory that coherently describes all fundamental forces of nature is often called the Theory of Everything,” says Partanen, although he doesn’t like to use the term himself. </p>



<p>“Some fundamental questions of physics still remain unanswered. For example, the present theories do not yet explain why there is more matter than antimatter in the observable universe.” Unifying gravity could offer fresh angles on that imbalance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h2>



<p>Partanen and Tulkki openly admit the work is not finished. They must prove the renormalization machinery survives every level of the calculation and make sure no hidden contradictions lurk in the symmetry choices. </p>



<p>Independent teams will also test whether the new gravity predicts subtle deviations - tiny shifts in particle behavior or cosmic signals - that future experiments can check.</p>



<p>For now, the duo have invited the wider community to kick the tires. </p>



<p>“Like quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity before it, we hope our theory will open countless avenues for scientists to explore,” Partanen concludes. </p>



<p>Success would finally let gravity pull its weight in the quantum club, tightening the threads that tie the universe together.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6633/adc82e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reports on Progress in Physics</a></em>.</p>



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Quantum gravity discovery brings us one step closer to a unified 'Theory of Everything'

Science has been chasing a single rulebook for nature ever...

<p>A new study shows that essays drafted by ChatGPT read smoothly, yet feel distant. AI essays lack the subtle devices that pull readers in. </p>



<p>This gap may help teachers separate genuine coursework from machine writing. The finding urges stronger critical literacy in an age of rapid text generation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-ai-write-better-than-a-student">Can AI write better than a student?</h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of East Anglia</a>, with a collaborator from <a href="https://www.jlu.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jilin University</a>, worked on the comparison. They judged 145 student essays and the same number created by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chatgpts-carbon-footprint-is-astronomical-and-not-sustainable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ChatGPT</a>, scanning each for cues that invite a reader to engage.</p>



<p>The scientists hope the results will aid teachers and exam boards worldwide in flagging suspicious assignments. Software detectors still generate false positives, so human judgment remains vital.</p>



<p>By learning the discourse habits most students use, markers can notice when a script drops the personal edge that usually colors undergraduate prose. This knowledge supports fair grading and helps preserve academic integrity in classrooms already flooded with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gen-ai-and-social-media-divert-peoples-attention-from-climate-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">generative tools</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-students-and-the-rise-of-ai">Students and the rise of AI</h2>



<p>Professor Ken Hyland of UEA’s School of Education and Lifelong Learning voiced the worry driving the project. </p>



<p>“Since its public release, ChatGPT has created considerable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-microbes-have-an-unexpected-link-to-anxiety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anxiety</a> among teachers worried that students will use it to write their assignments,” said Hyland, who warned of wider harm. </p>



<p>“The fear is that ChatGPT and other AI writing tools potentially facilitate cheating and may weaken core <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/handwriting-practice-leads-to-better-literacy-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">literacy</a> and critical thinking skills. This is especially the case as we don't yet have tools to reliably detect AI-created texts.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-writing-is-less-engaging">AI writing is less engaging </h2>



<p>The researchers searched for questions, personal asides, direct appeals, and other “engagement markers.” </p>



<p>“We were particularly interested in looking at what we called 'engagement markers' like questions and personal commentary,” Hyland said.</p>



<p>“We found that the essays written by real students consistently featured a rich array of engagement strategies, making them more interactive and persuasive.” </p>



<p>Human writers sprinkled their work with moments that addressed the reader, building a sense of dialogue.</p>



<p>“They were full of rhetorical questions, personal asides, and direct appeals to the reader - all techniques that enhance clarity, connection, and produce a strong argument.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-lacks-the-personal-touch">AI lacks the personal touch</h2>



<p>“The ChatGPT essays, on the other hand, while linguistically fluent, were more impersonal. The AI essays mimicked academic writing conventions but they were unable to inject text with a personal touch or to demonstrate a clear stance,” Hayland explained. </p>



<p>Without questions or vivid commentary, the machine output felt flat. “They tended to avoid questions and limited personal commentary. Overall, they were less engaging, less persuasive, and there was no strong perspective on a topic.”</p>



<p>“This reflects the nature of its training data and statistical learning methods, which prioritize coherence over conversational nuance,” noted Hyland.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-classroom-uses-not-shortcuts">Classroom uses, not shortcuts</h2>



<p>Even so, the authors do not reject AI tools. They see them as potential tutors when used openly. </p>



<p>“When students come to school, college or university, we're not just teaching them how to write, we're teaching them how to think - and that's something no <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-algorithms-can-increase-ocean-plastic-cleanup-efficiency/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">algorithm</a> can replicate,” said Hyland.</p>



<p>The researchers urge teachers to design process‑based tasks that require drafts and reflection - steps no chatbot can provide. Training students to spot engagement markers, they add, will sharpen both writing and detection skills.</p>



<p>The study lands as detection software races to catch up with generative models. Commercial tools still stumble on hybrid texts that mix human and machine sentences. </p>



<p>For now, stylistic clues give teachers a slim but useful edge, though the target may shift as AI absorbs more conversational cues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preserving-honest-student-voices">Preserving honest student voices</h2>



<p>Coursework must remain proof of independent thought. If essays lose that role to AI, qualification systems wobble. </p>



<p>By showing where AI still falters, the study offers data to shape new safeguards while keeping space for honest, imaginative student voices.</p>



<p>The authors place the project within a wider push for digital literacy. Students meet machine text in news feeds, search results, and chat apps long before they step into lecture halls. </p>



<p>Teaching them to ask who wrote a sentence and why it was written is now central to education. Writing with a visible stance trains that habit. It also makes learners less willing to accept anonymous prose at face value.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/97952/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Written Communication</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<p>-----</p>



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Man vs. machine: Why students still write better than AI

A new study shows that essays drafted by ChatGPT read smoothly,...

Close,Up,View,Of,A,Sea,Otter,(enhydra,Lutris),Who

<p>When ochre sea stars began dissolving along the Pacific coast in 2013, marine biologists feared a domino effect in the rocky intertidal zone. The orange-and-purple <em>Pisaster ochraceus</em> is a classic “keystone” predator - remove it, and the tightly knit ecological web can unravel. </p>



<p>What no one predicted was that the die-off would reverberate far beyond the tide pools, ultimately reshaping the menu - and the numbers - of sea otters hunting in adjacent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-kelp-forests-existed-32-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kelp forests</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-falling-sea-stars-and-rising-mussels">Falling sea stars and rising mussels</h2>



<p>Sea-star wasting syndrome swept from Alaska to Baja California with unprecedented speed, leaving many local <em>Pisaster</em> populations functionally extinct in a matter of months. </p>



<p>On the Monterey Peninsula, field teams led by the <a href="https://marine.ucsc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network</a> (MARINe) watched decades-old monitoring plots lose nearly every visible star by late 2013.</p>



<p>Without those relentless predators to keep them in check, California <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-mussels-are-ideal-for-ecosystem-restoration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mussels</a> began carpeting the rocks. Within three years, mussel cover tripled, climbing from roughly five percent of available surface to more than eighteen percent.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fewer-sea-stars-more-otters">Fewer sea stars, more otters</h2>



<p>That population explosion did not go unnoticed by the region’s most charismatic marine mammal. <a href="https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monterey Bay Aquarium</a> scientists had already logged tens of thousands of hours observing southern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-otters-help-kelp-forests-recover-but-theres-more-to-the-story/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea otters</a> as they surfaced with prey.</p>



<p>Before 2013, mussels represented a minor side dish - less than seven percent of the typical otter diet. By 2016, the proportion had leapt to nearly eighteen percent, effectively pushing mussels into staple territory. </p>



<p>“Our research shows that the loss of a predator in one ecosystem can send shockwaves into another,” said lead author Joshua Smith, a research scientist at Monterey Bay Aquarium. </p>



<p>Mussel abundance appears to have acted like an all-you-can-eat buffet. The local otter census, which had hovered around 373 animals through 2012, rose to an average of 535 between 2014 and 2024. </p>



<p>Because otters consume prey at the surface, scientists could verify that many of those extra calories were coming directly from the burgeoning mussel beds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-tide-pools-and-kelp-forests">Linking tide pools and kelp forests</h2>



<p>The experts coined the term “keystone interdependence” to describe the phenomenon: the fate of a key predator in one habitat alters food webs - and potentially population dynamics - in an adjoining habitat. In this case, a tide pool predator’s collapse reshaped the foraging landscape of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-kelp-forests-existed-32-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kelp forest</a> hunter.</p>



<p>“It’s an example of how ecosystems are connected through keystone predation in ways that we haven't understood before,” Smith noted. Long-term MARINe records were crucial for pinning down that connection. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/otters_sea-stars_Pisaster-ochraceus_linked_credit-MBA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/otters_sea-stars_Pisaster-ochraceus_linked_credit-MBA_1s.webp" alt="Monterey Bay Aquarium led reserach published in the journal Science Advances shows that a mass die-off of ochre sea stars (often called Pisaster ochraceus) due to a sea star wasting event created a mussel boom – offering sea otters an unexpected prey buffet. Click image to enlarge. Credit: MBA" class="wp-image-1968424"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Monterey Bay Aquarium led reserach published in the journal Science Advances shows that a mass die-off of ochre sea stars (often called Pisaster ochraceus) due to a sea star wasting event created a mussel boom – offering sea otters an unexpected prey buffet. Click image to enlarge. Credit: MBA</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Four intertidal sites around the peninsula have been surveyed regularly for decades, yielding counts of <em>Pisaster</em>, estimates of mussel coverage, and precise measurements of bed expansion toward the sea. </p>



<p>When those data were matched with the aquarium’s otter-foraging database, the correlation between star loss, mussel gain, and otter diet shift became unmistakable.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-short-lived-reward-for-otters">Short-lived reward for otters</h2>



<p>While the loss of sea stars- and subsequent mussel windfall - has helped otters, researchers caution that the benefit may be short-lived. </p>



<p>With no predators to prune them, mussels are now reaching sizes that recovering sea stars cannot easily handle.</p>



<p>Even if sea stars populations rebound, it may take years for size structures - and the prior equilibrium - to return. Scientists suspect the otters will eventually pivot again, either as mussels dwindle or as other prey become more profitable.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-heat-of-2024-triggered-a-surge-in-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate</a> variability complicates the forecast. The sea-star collapse overlapped with the northeast Pacific’s record-breaking 2014-2016 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-warn-of-an-alarming-rise-in-marine-heatwaves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine heatwave</a>.</p>



<p>Warmer water stressed kelp forests, sea-urchin numbers exploded, and otters temporarily targeted urchins to protect their kelp refuge. </p>



<p>Once the mussel bonanza emerged, the mammals switched menus again, underscoring their role as flexible generalists in a rapidly changing ocean.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predators-and-resilient-ecosystems">Predators and resilient ecosystems</h2>



<p>“Predators like sea stars and sea otters are essential to maintaining resilient ecosystems. When these predators are removed, everything crumbles,” Smith said. </p>



<p>Study co-author April Ridlon, director of U.S. and California science at the aquarium, noted that the findings challenge conventional single-habitat conservation planning.</p>



<p>“The findings of this study show that predators are important for enabling ecological resilience, and that when predators decline in one ecosystem, the consequences may be manifest in another,” she explained.</p>



<p>Senior sea otter biologist Leilani Konrad added that protecting predators in one realm can inadvertently bolster resilience in the next. </p>



<p>“Our findings of keystone interdependence reveal that conservation of predators in one ecosystem can enhance resilience that transcends ecosystems and protects biodiversity," said Konrad.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fragile-ecosystems-with-missing-links">Fragile ecosystems with missing links</h2>



<p>As marine heatwaves and disease outbreaks become more frequent under climate change, scientists expect further surprises in how coastal food webs respond. </p>



<p>The Monterey Bay team is now using drone surveys, time-series photography, and genetic tools to track whether young sea stars can gain a foothold amid shells too large to crack.</p>



<p>The researchers are also watching for the day when otters - having trimmed the largest mussels - adjust their diet yet again, perhaps returning their focus to urchins if kelp forests rebound. </p>



<p>For now, the study offers a rare silver lining: one group’s misfortune has provided temporary relief to another threatened species.</p>



<p>Yet it also sounds a cautionary note about the fragility of such balances. The intertwined stories of stars, mussels, and otters illustrate that in nature, no ecosystem stands alone - and that losing a single link can tug on threads stretching far beyond our initial field of view.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu1028" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science Advances</em></a>.</p>



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Sea otter populations thrive when sea stars vanish from an area, but why?

When ochre sea stars began dissolving along the Pacific coast...

<p>A rarely seen shark that spends its life in the darkest waters has been thrust into the spotlight by a surprising new predator. Recent reports indicate that killer whales have been captured on camera going after a prickly shark nearly 3,600 feet down, marking the first documented attack of its kind.</p>



<p>This footage offers new insight into the behavior of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orcas-rely-only-on-one-breath-between-dives-to-conserve-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apex hunters</a> and the quiet giants lurking along the ocean floor. </p>



<p>Researchers find the event both curious and concerning, given how little is known about the slow-moving prickly shark, the status of which is officially given as “data deficient.”</p>



<p>“The sighting of the rare prickly shark aggregating on Panama’s seamounts is a momentous find,” said <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefanie-Kaiser-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stefanie Kaiser</a> from the <a href="https://www.senckenberg.de/en/institutes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Senckenberg Research Institute</a> and Natural History Museum. She highlighted the importance of these sightings. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-prickly-shark">Understanding the prickly shark</h2>



<p>Prickly sharks (<em><a href="https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/prickly-shark-echinorhinus-cookei-pietschmann-1928/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Echinorhinus cookei</a></em>) spend much of their lives away from human view, tucked below 100 feet (30 meters) and down as deep as 3,600 feet (1,097 meters) in tropical and temperate waters. </p>



<p>They have a bulky form and multiple, thorn-like denticles along their skin, which act as a tough shield.</p>



<p>Each shark can grow to about 13 feet (4 meters) in length. They move slowly, which may make them vulnerable if a skilled hunter manages to get close enough for a strike.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-orcas-matter-here">Why orcas matter here</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-orca-day-the-crucial-role-of-the-oceans-apex-predator/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Killer whales</a>, also known as orcas (<em>Orcinus orca</em>), are considered apex predators. They are highly social mammals with strong group coordination, and they can weigh anything between 8 and 11 short tons.</p>



<p>In many regions, their prey includes seals, rays, and sometimes large sharks. </p>



<p>A prickly shark poses a challenge because of its spiny hide, yet the event captured in the Gulf of California suggests orcas can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sign-of-the-times-solitary-orcas-are-hunting-great-whites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adapt to unexpected prey</a> when the situation calls for it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaborative-sightings-and-research">Collaborative sightings and research</h2>



<p>Local fishers, tourist operators, and scientists joined forces to share observations that shed light on this under-studied shark species. </p>



<p>In one notable discovery, a camera positioned about 50 feet (15 meters) away recorded a group of orcas closing in on a solitary prickly shark, while employing coordinated tail slaps and strategic teamwork.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/killer-whale_attacks_spiny-shark_first-time_credit-Frontiers-in-Science_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/killer-whale_attacks_spiny-shark_first-time_credit-Frontiers-in-Science_1s.webp" alt="(A) A prickly shark with a bite from orcas; (B) Orcas swimming near a prickly shark; (C) Orca tearing a prickly shark apart. Photos from Frontiers in Fish Science" class="wp-image-1968418"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>(A) A prickly shark with a bite from orcas; (B) Orcas swimming near a prickly shark; (C) Orca tearing a prickly shark apart. Click image to enlarge. Photos from Frontiers in Fish Science</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>“These images, along with personal accounts, confirm unusual feeding behavior in a deep-sea environment,” reported the team behind this finding. </p>



<p>They consider this coordinated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orcas-have-hunting-and-eating-habits-that-we-never-imagined/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orca strategy</a> a sign of how flexible these whales can be when scouring for scarce food sources.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-links-to-human-activity">Links to human activity</h2>



<p>Some observers believe industrial fishing may be leaving an ecological vacuum. <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.energy.31.020105.100235" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Overexploitation</a> of top predators in many coastal zones pressures orcas to roam different waters in search of sustenance. They appear ready to exploit new feeding options, including bottom-dwelling species.</p>



<p>Although official records remain sparse, fishers near the southwestern Gulf of California say the prickly shark is occasionally brought up as bycatch on deep-set gear. </p>



<p>Such reports highlight the urgency of learning more about its life cycle and movement patterns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prickly-shark-conservation">Prickly shark conservation</h2>



<p>Management plans for deep-sea creatures face an uphill battle when so little data exist. Conservationists seek more thorough tracking of fishing activities, and enforcement in protected zones.</p>



<p>“Some of the best ways to reinforce the protection of the Marine Protected Area is by keeping the satellite monitoring program of fishing vessels in the area operational 24/7,” said <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefanie-Kaiser-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaiser</a>. </p>



<p>She and others want to detect unlawful practices that may jeopardize seldom-seen marine life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seamounts-as-hidden-havens">Seamounts as hidden havens</h2>



<p>Certain rocky structures under the sea - often called seamounts - are teeming with exotic species that gather there for food or mating. </p>



<p>Sharks rely on these areas for improved feeding opportunities and cooler waters, whether cruising just a few hundred feet below the surface or descending thousands of feet.</p>



<p>Prickly sharks spotted in these locales reinforce the idea that seamounts act like underwater oases for biodiversity. </p>



<p>Since orcas can be flexible, they might turn their attention to these zones, heightening the need for stricter oversight of fishing vessels around them.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-science-goes-next">Where science goes next</h2>



<p>Researchers want to learn whether prickly sharks rely on these depths for most of their life stages or whether they only make seasonal journeys. </p>



<p>They also hope to reveal how often killer whales target them. Updates to industrial fishing policies may arise if these predatory interactions influence shark populations across the eastern Pacific.</p>



<p>More advanced tagging, underwater surveys, and ongoing input from local communities will help paint a clearer picture. </p>



<p>Experts consider each fresh glimpse into the life of spiny sharks a critical step toward protecting a creature whose future remains uncertain.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/fish-science/articles/10.3389/frish.2025.1437507/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Frontiers in Fish Science</em></a>.</p>



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Deep-sea photos capture killer whales attacking a rare prickly shark for the first time ever

A rarely seen shark that spends its life in the...

<p>In January 2022, the underwater Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano erupted with astonishing force. Unlike many well-known eruptions on land, this one happened underwater. That single difference led many scientists to underestimate its impact initially.</p>



<p>But new research has revealed a startling truth: submarine volcanoes, like Hunga, can unleash forces powerful enough to cool hemispheres and reshape the upper atmosphere.</p>



<p>Led by researchers from the <a href="https://international.auckland.ac.nz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Auckland</a> and Tonga, a recent study shows that Hunga’s eruption had far-reaching effects. It injected vast amounts of steam into the sky and reshaped what we know about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-orbit-may-trigger-massive-volcanic-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanic</a> climate influence.</p>



<p>Submarine eruptions were once seen as secondary players in climate dynamics. Now, Hunga is changing that narrative entirely.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hunga-s-impact-was-underestimated">Hunga’s impact was underestimated</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/axial-seamount-large-underwater-volcano-off-us-coast-will-likely-erupt-in-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Volcanoes</a> influence the climate by injecting gases and particles into the atmosphere. Until now, sulfur dioxide was considered the major player in determining the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions.</p>



<p>Land-based eruptions, like Mount Pinatubo in 1991, released large amounts of it, forming reflective aerosols that reduced sunlight and lowered global temperatures.</p>



<p>But the underwater Hunga volcano didn’t behave like those eruptions. It released far less sulfur dioxide than expected. That led some to believe its climate influence would be minor. Yet the opposite has turned out to be true.</p>



<p>This underwater volcano's impact has now been linked to measurable cooling across the Southern Hemisphere as well as other unusual atmospheric changes.</p>



<p>"Submarine volcanism has previously been overlooked in global climate studies, because there is typically not much atmospheric sulfur dioxide released," said Professor Shane Cronin, co-lead author of the study.</p>



<p>Alongside postdoctoral fellow Dr. Jie Wu, Cronin’s work challenges the traditional view that sulfur dioxide is the sole metric for climate risk.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-billion-tons-of-water-vapor">Three billion tons of water vapor </h2>



<p>Instead of relying on sulfur alone, Hunga took a different path. It injected up to 3 billion tons of water vapor into the sky in just one hour. </p>



<p>That vapor didn’t just stay in the lower atmosphere. It rose all the way to the stratosphere and mesosphere - layers of the atmosphere that are rarely touched by earthly forces.</p>



<p>Water vapor in these upper layers can trap heat and affect weather patterns in complex ways. This eruption showed that submarine volcanoes can influence the climate not just by what they emit, but by how high they can push that material.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tonga-Hunga_eruption-model_credit-Nature-Geoscience_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Tonga-Hunga_eruption-model_credit-Nature-Geoscience_1s.webp" alt="Conceptual Hunga eruption model and S and H2O budget. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Nature Geoscience (2025)" class="wp-image-1968413"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Conceptual Hunga eruption model and S and H2O budget. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Nature Geoscience (2025)</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>"The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-next-big-volcano-eruption-will-cause-global-chaos-climate-impact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eruption</a> has been shown by several recently published studies to have cooled the Southern Hemisphere and caused a range of other atmospheric and climate impacts that we are still discovering," noted Cronin.</p>



<p>These ongoing discoveries are forcing a re-evaluation of the role underwater eruptions play in Earth’s climate balance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-did-the-sulfur-go">Where did the sulfur go?</h2>



<p>While the eruption had the potential to unleash a large amount of sulfur dioxide, satellite data initially reported only modest levels. That seemed odd for an eruption of Hunga’s scale. Further investigation, however, revealed a hidden story.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-connection-unites-the-largest-volcanoes-in-the-pacific/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Volcanic</a> ash samples collected from the eruption helped solve the mystery. Researchers found that the magma stored deep below the ocean surface - between 2.1 and over 5.6 kilometers down - was rich in sulfur.</p>



<p>But when it exploded, the eruption happened between 400 and 1,000 meters below sea level. At those depths, over 93% of the sulfur never reached the air. It dissolved straight into the ocean waters.</p>



<p>The team estimated a total release of 9.4 teragrams of sulfur. Yet almost all of it bypassed the sky entirely. This means that traditional monitoring tools, like satellite sulfur tracking and even polar ice-core analysis, missed the true extent of the event. The sulfur was there - it just took a different path.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underwater-volcano-s-magma-rose-rapidly">Underwater volcano’s magma rose rapidly</h2>



<p>The eruption wasn’t just powerful; it was also incredibly fast. Magma surged upward from the deep reservoir to the ocean floor in under three minutes. </p>



<p>That rapid ascent preserved microscopic chemical features. Researchers discovered magmatic mingling with sharp contrasts - about 1% differences - in water content between magma types. This revealed that complex storage and mixing processes occurred just before the blast.</p>



<p>The eruption lasted 11 hours in total. During that time, it released 319 teragrams of magmatic water. But even that number paled in comparison to the water that was created through the interaction between magma and seawater.</p>



<p>Less than 10% of the total water vapor came from the magma itself. The vast majority resulted from seawater flashing into steam - enough to transform the sky above.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-but-influential">Invisible but influential</h2>



<p>Because most of the sulfur entered the ocean, the eruption left only a faint trace in the atmosphere. This poses a major challenge for climate science. </p>



<p>Many global records of past eruptions rely on atmospheric sulfur data, especially from satellite sensors or ice cores. If eruptions like Hunga leave no clear signal in these tools, how many have been missed?</p>



<p>These findings raise serious concerns. Submarine eruptions may be more common - and more climate-relevant - than previously believed. Yet, without visible sulfur clouds, they go uncounted in climate histories and models.</p>



<p>This could mean that volcanic influence has been underestimated in past centuries or misjudged in terms of future risks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underwater-volcano-poses-wider-risks">Underwater volcano poses wider risks</h2>



<p>Beyond climate, the eruption highlighted other dangers. Submarine explosions can trigger massive tsunamis, damage undersea communication cables, and reshape coastal environments. </p>



<p>Cronin and his team, including researchers now based at the <a href="https://www.otago.ac.nz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Otago</a>, continue to work with Tongan partners to understand the long-term effects.</p>



<p>"We are striving to understand the broader hazards of submarine volcanism, including tsunami and damage to shorelines and internet data cables, as well as how these eruptions affect our environment and climate," explained Cronin.</p>



<p>This collaboration is helping Pacific nations prepare for future eruptions. It’s also drawing attention to gaps in global monitoring systems. If a submarine eruption can impact the climate and infrastructure without much warning, scientists and policymakers will need to rethink how they track and respond to these events.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-the-way-we-read-the-earth">Changing the way we read the Earth</h2>



<p>The Hunga eruption has done more than shake the ocean floor - it has shaken the assumptions of climate science.</p>



<p>It showed that water vapor can drive climate shifts. It proved that sulfur can vanish into the sea, where it can remain hidden from satellites and ice. And it confirmed that submarine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-ice-in-antarctica-could-wake-sleeping-volcanoes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanoes</a> deserve far more attention than they’ve received.</p>



<p>As researchers continue to explore Hunga’s aftermath, one thing becomes clear: the deep sea holds more than secrets. It holds the power to shape the air above us, shift global temperatures, and quietly rewrite Earth’s climate story.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01691-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a></em>.</p>



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Tonga volcanic eruption had a much more devastating impact than we knew

In January 2022, the underwater Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano erupted...

<p>Invisible industrial pollutants called PFAS are chemicals steadily building up in polar bears, seals, seabirds, and in humans who depend on Arctic wildlife for food. </p>



<p>A new investigation reports concentrations high enough to endanger hormone balance, immunity, and long‑term survival across the Far North.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-chemical-spread-in-the-arctic">Tracking chemical spread in the Arctic</h2>



<p>The work follows per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-microbes-discovered-destroys-pfas-forever-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PFAS</a>) as they ride winds and currents from distant factories to the polar ice. </p>



<p>Researchers from the United States, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Denmark, Canada, Norway, and the United Arab Emirates combined field data with computer models to trace the chemicals’ spread.</p>



<p>“The research highlights how PFAS can affect reproduction, immune systems, and even increase <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forever-chemicals-in-tap-water-increase-cancer-risk-by-up-to-33/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer risk</a> in both humans and animals,” said co‑author Khaled Abass, an associate professor at the <a href="https://www.sharjah.ac.ae/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sharjah</a>.</p>



<p>“Alarmingly, people living in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-alters-the-atmosphere-in-the-remote-arctic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> who rely on traditional foods such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/these-marine-mammals-killer-whales-dolphins-permanently-lost-ability-to-ever-walk-again/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine mammals</a> are also exposed to these chemicals,” Abass said.</p>



<p>Hunters who prize seal, whale, or walrus now face a dilemma between cultural practice and safety. Because PFAS accumulate in fatty tissue as they climb the food web, a single meal can deliver a substantial dose.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-arctic-chemicals-affect-humans">How Arctic chemicals affect humans</h2>



<p>“The long‑range transport of PFAS reminds us that environmental problems don’t respect borders - what we release in one part of the world eventually ends up in another,” said co‑author  Elsie M. Sunderland, a professor of environmental chemistry at <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard University</a>.</p>



<p>Once dissolved in seawater or attached to airborne dust, the molecules drift northward year after year, freezing into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-is-losing-its-cooling-power-making-the-earth-even-warmer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice</a> or settling in snow. </p>



<p>“Physiological, endocrine, and reproductive effects linked to PFAS exposure were largely similar among humans, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/polar-bears-are-suffering-from-an-energy-deficit-due-to-lack-of-food-access/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polar bears</a>, and Arctic seabirds,” wrote the study authors.</p>



<p>“For most polar bear subpopulations across the Arctic, modeled serum concentrations exceeded PFOS levels in human populations, several of which already exceeded the established immunotoxic thresholds for the most severe risk category.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shared-health-risks-across-species"><a></a>Shared health risks across species</h2>



<p>“The similarities in health effects across species - humans, animals, and birds - are deeply concerning and underscore the interconnectedness of environmental and human health,” said lead author Rainer Lohmann of the <a href="https://www.uri.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Rhode Island</a>.</p>



<p>“The Arctic acts like a mirror - what we find here reflects the global scale and persistence of PFAS pollution. It’s a warning signal we cannot ignore,” noted study senior author Pál Weihe of the <a href="https://www.setur.fo/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of the Faroe Islands</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vulnerable-humans-and-animals">Vulnerable humans and animals</h2>



<p>Even the remote pack ice cannot block the spread. “Even in the most remote corners of our planet, industrial pollution finds its way into the bodies of animals and people. PFAS are persistent, mobile, and harmful - we need a global solution,”  Abass said.</p>



<p>Field surveys back his concern. “The Arctic is uniquely vulnerable, and both legacy (old) and emerging PFAS continue to be detected at concerning levels,” he noted.</p>



<p>“For most polar bear subpopulations across the Arctic, modeled serum concentrations exceeded PFOS levels in human populations, several of which already exceeded the established immunotoxic thresholds for the most severe risk category.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-variants-keep-appearing">New variants keep appearing</h2>



<p>Rules have removed some early PFAS from commerce, yet factories keep releasing substitutes. “Increasing trends of certain long‑chain PFCAs (C9–C20), including PFNA, are observed in the Arctic, highlighting the persistence and ongoing threat of these contaminants,” the authors explained.</p>



<p>“Communities that rely on traditional diets face significantly higher PFAS concentrations than those relying more on market foods. In fact, similar results can even be found in industrialized countries, showing that Arctic Indigenous communities involuntarily serve as sentinels of contamination concerns.</p>



<p>“PFAS contamination poses challenges to food security and sovereignty as well as to multiple species’ health across the Arctic.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-action-needed-to-protect-the-arctic">Action needed to protect the Arctic</h2>



<p>The project grew from the <a href="https://www.amap.no/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program</a> and has already reached ministries in Denmark, Canada, and elsewhere.</p>



<p>“While specific industry engagement is not highlighted, the work directly informs global policy discussions and regulations affecting chemical manufacturers and environmental health bodies,” Abass said.</p>



<p>The team urges tougher international standards, faster phase‑outs, and investment in safer substitutes. Only global cooperation, they argue, can prevent “forever chemicals” from undermining Arctic ecosystems - and the communities that depend on them - for generations to come.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724064301?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science of The Total Environment</em></a>.</p>



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Forever chemicals threaten Arctic wildlife and human health

Invisible industrial pollutants called PFAS are chemicals steadily building up...

<p>Plants perched high on mountain slopes often seem untouchable. Many people picture these hardy survivors persisting no matter what the world throws at them.</p>



<p>Jill Anderson from the University of Georgia (<a href="https://www.uga.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UGA</a>) led a nine-year study that tracked more than 100,000 <a href="https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/flowering-plants/drummonds-rock-cress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Drummond’s rockcress</a> plants (also known as <em>Boechera stricta</em>), which are short-lived and grow in the mountains of North America. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr1010" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">findings</a> show that climate change is accelerating so quickly that natural processes struggle to keep up, putting even these widely distributed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-future-climate-conditions-will-transform-plant-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> at risk.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mountain-plants-face-unexpected-threats">Mountain plants face unexpected threats</h2>



<p>Some assume that cool alpine air insulates species in higher elevations. Yet these peaks are not immune to changing weather patterns, which shift temperatures and snowpack conditions.</p>



<p>Scientists use the term <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">montane</a> to describe mountainous regions where cold temperatures shape <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-our-power-our-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant</a> and animal communities. In these settings, species must cope with short growing seasons and sudden weather swings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-adaptation-under-threat">Local adaptation under threat</h2>



<p>Many species across large geographic ranges show <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982222001105" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">local adaptation</a>, meaning each population is especially fit for its specific climate. A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-could-soon-talk-to-farmers-and-listen-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant</a> growing at one elevation may thrive in cooler settings, while relatives at lower altitudes prefer warmer days.</p>



<p>When warming speeds up faster than these populations can adjust, their specialized genetic traits can become a burden. </p>



<p>Scientists have <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31061126/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warned</a> that climate change may shrink viable habitats before plant populations can produce new traits or spread existing genes to more favorable locations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gene-flow-in-the-wrong-direction">Gene flow in the wrong direction </h2>



<p>Natural <a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/natural-selection-genetic-drift-and-gene-flow-15186648/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gene flow</a> is the mixing of genetic material between populations when seeds or pollen move across different areas. In mountain landscapes, genes often travel downslope, which can be a problem when populations uphill need genes adapted to warmer conditions.</p>



<p>Once temperatures ramp up, plants at higher elevations may lag behind in acquiring the beneficial traits found at lower sites. Many experts believe that if gene flow continues to flow in the wrong direction, certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2025-what-were-really-fighting-for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">populations</a> will lose out.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-mountain-plants-are-not-safe">Local mountain plants are not safe</h2>



<p>Many mountain plants live in narrow climate zones. Even small temperature changes can force them to move if suitable conditions shift uphill.</p>



<p>Furthermore, relocation can be slow. Limited seed dispersal and competition for newly available terrain make uphill migration a difficult gamble.</p>



<p>In the Colorado Rockies, researchers tested how these plants fare when the snowpack is manipulated to reflect varying future scenarios. Conditions mimicked both historical climates and predicted warmer settings.</p>



<p>Their data showed that populations already adapted to local sites were not safe just because they fell within the broader species range. As the weather changed, those local advantages vanished.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-gene-flow-alone-is-not-enough">Why gene flow alone is not enough</h2>



<p>If some high-altitude plants cannot access the genetic diversity they need, their survival chances drop. Rising temperatures also move faster than seeds can scatter uphill.</p>



<p>It is possible that downhill gene exchange will leave upper populations stuck with less-suitable traits. Over time, that mismatch poses a real problem for any species in a fast-warming world.</p>



<p>Researchers suggest <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-research-shows-first-successful-demonstration-assisted-gene-flow-corals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">assisted gene flow</a>, which involves moving seeds or plants from warmer-adapted locations to cooler zones. The aim is to insert heat-tolerant genes into colder populations before it is too late.</p>



<p>Such action requires careful planning to avoid harming the resident community. It can help maintain enough genetic variation for future climate scenarios.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mountain-plants-may-not-adapt-in-time">Mountain plants may not adapt in time</h2>



<p>Sally Aitken, a professor at the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of British Columbia</a>, elaborated on the research in a related perspective.</p>



<p>"The lessons from Anderson et al. are sobering with respect to the ability of natural populations to adapt to, and persist under, rapid global warming,” she wrote. </p>



<p>This warning echoes broader concerns that standard models often miss how real populations respond. Simple range maps do not reveal the underlying genetic limits that influence whether plants can hang on.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-conservation">Implications for conservation</h2>



<p>Some protected areas might not serve as reliable safe havens if warming outpaces adaptation. That’s especially worrisome for species already confined to mountaintops, where there is nowhere higher to go.</p>



<p>Those who manage conservation efforts might include assisted gene flow when other approaches are too slow. But balancing interventions with natural processes is tricky business.</p>



<p>Plants form the backbone of many mountain ecosystems. If they fade away, pollinators and seed-eating animals lose vital resources.</p>



<p>Such ripple effects can spread downhill, affecting everyone relying on mountain watersheds for irrigation and drinking water. Decreased plant cover can alter soil stability, which influences runoff and erosion patterns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-species-will-need-a-helping-hand">Some species will need a helping hand</h2>



<p>There is no universal fix. Solutions must address local challenges and take into account how quickly climates are shifting uphill.</p>



<p>Short-lived species can adapt quickly under the right conditions, but only if gene flow and the environment align. That makes thoughtful conservation choices even more urgent.</p>



<p>Some plants will persist if we reduce greenhouse gas emissions and give them time to adjust. Others may need a helping hand when relocation or genetic mixing becomes their best option.</p>



<p>Experts believe that mountain environments could lose more species if assistance does not arrive. Adaptive capacity has its limits when conditions change too fast.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr1010" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>.</p>



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Mountain plants are not safe from rapid climate change

Plants perched high on mountain slopes often seem untouchable. Many...

<p>Landscapes in southwest Europe are losing their knack for soaking up carbon dioxide. A string of hotter, drier summers is shrinking the margin between what plants absorb during growth and what they release back to the air, affecting Europe's natural carbon sinks.</p>



<p>When the weather turns extreme, that slender gain can vanish, turning once helpful forests and fields into temporary carbon sources. The warning comes from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (<a href="https://portalrecerca.uab.cat/en/organisations/institut-de-ci%C3%A8ncia-i-tecnologia-ambientals-icta-uab" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICTA‑UAB</a>) and partner groups.</p>



<p>The study combines satellite light measurements, ground‑level carbon‑flux towers, and a revamped vegetation model that now tracks soil moisture. It covers Portugal, Spain, southern France, and Italy from 2001 to 2022.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-plants-act-like-living-lungs">How plants act like living lungs</h2>



<p>Plants pull carbon from the atmosphere during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/revealing-the-secrets-of-photosynthesis-through-pep/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a> and lock much of it into wood, leaves, and roots. At the same time, they respire - sending part of that carbon back out as gas.</p>



<p>The net balance - called net ecosystem exchange - shows whether a landscape acts as a carbon sink or a source. In a stable climate, Europe’s lush spring and mild autumns keep that balance on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-carbon-sinks-are-being-pushed-to-their-limits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sink side</a>.</p>



<p>Warmer springs now arrive earlier. Autumn frosts come later. That extra time boosts raw photosynthesis by roughly three to six grams of carbon per square meter each year across the study area.</p>



<p>The catch is that respiration grows almost as fast because heat speeds up plant metabolism and powers soil microbes that digest dead matter. On average the net annual gain is less than one gram. A single <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-made-heatwaves-more-deadly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat wave</a> can erase it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historic-temperature-records">Historic temperature records</h2>



<p>The summer of 2022 set historic temperature records and followed months of scant rain. Soil dried out through winter, spring, and into the next autumn. </p>



<p>Across the region, net carbon uptake fell by more than one‑quarter compared with the long‑term average.</p>



<p>Researchers calculated that, during those scorching months, vegetation failed to absorb more carbon than the nation of Spain emitted in the entire year. That demonstrates how a single season can upend national climate budgets.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soil-and-plants-depend-on-rain">Soil and plants depend on rain</h2>



<p>The team’s updated model points to soil moisture as the hidden lever. In humid Atlantic and continental belts, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-release-carbon-faster-than-we-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> depend on steady rainfall. When a drought strikes, these regions see the sharpest drop in photosynthesis and the steepest rise in respiration.</p>



<p>By contrast, Mediterranean woodlands expect short summer dry spells. They cope better until dryness arrives earlier in spring or drags on longer into autumn.</p>



<p>Fields in France’s Central Massif already appear to have crossed from sink to source. Long‑term drying means they now release more carbon than they lock away. Other lowland farms and even some mixed forests may follow if groundwater drops or irrigation fails.</p>



<p>Mountain zones such as the Alps and the Apennines still gain carbon because winters warm just enough to spur extra spring growth, but their soils are also drying. The cushion is thinning everywhere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-natural-carbon-sinks">Protecting natural carbon sinks</h2>



<p>Protecting the region’s natural sink starts with water. Land managers can slow runoff by planting ground cover, restoring <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wetlands-are-a-hidden-source-of-rising-methane-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wetlands</a>, and shading soils to cut evaporation. Adding organic mulch helps soils hold moisture far into summer.</p>



<p>Moreover, farmers can switch to drought‑tolerant crop varieties and trim deep ploughing that exposes moist earth to hot air. Finally, forest stewards can thin overcrowded stands to reduce water stress and leave coarse wood on the ground to shade roots.</p>



<p>Rapid monitoring matters too. The study shows that satellite‑based fluorescence - a faint glow released by chlorophyll - drops as soon as leaves shut down. </p>



<p>Agencies can use that signal to flag stressed regions days or weeks before carbon losses peak. Early warnings allow water‑saving rules and firefighting plans to kick in sooner.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-emissions-targets">Importance of emissions targets</h2>



<p>Policy makers should also revise emissions targets with smaller natural offsets in mind. The assumption that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/older-forests-do-not-necessarily-store-more-carbon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forests</a> will always pick up humanity’s slack no longer holds in a warming, drying climate.</p>



<p>Cutting fossil‑fuel use remains the safest path, while adaptation keeps ecosystems functioning as long as possible.</p>



<p>The lesson for the wider world is clear. Southwest Europe still stores more carbon than it emits most years, but the buffer is razor‑thin.</p>



<p>As heat waves and droughts grow more common, that buffer can disappear in one bad summer. Keeping soils damp, canopies green, and emissions low gives nature its best shot at staying on the sink side of the carbon ledger.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GB008163" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Global Biogeochemical Cycles</em></a>.</p>



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Natural carbon sinks are threatened by droughts and heat waves

Landscapes in southwest Europe are losing their knack for soaking...

<p>A groundbreaking new study has produced the most complete evolutionary tree of birds ever assembled.</p>



<p>The researchers combined decades of genetic and ecological data to trace how every known bird species is connected, creating a powerful resource for understanding the history of bird evolution and offering a foundation for future research.</p>



<p>The study was led by Professor Emily Jane McTavish and her team at the <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a>. They worked to gather and organize data on 9,239 bird species, pulling from nearly 300 published studies released between 1990 and 2024.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-evolutionary-map-for-birds">An evolutionary map for birds</h2>



<p>In addition to this, the data covered another 1,000 species, bringing together a vast pool of information. This effort resulted in a single, unified <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-evolution-timeline-pushed-back-20-million-years-by-baminornis-zhenghensis-discovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary tree</a> that can easily be updated and shared as more studies are published in the future.</p>



<p>“People love birds, and a lot of people work on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-declining-fastest-where-they-were-once-common/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a>. People publish scientific papers about birds' evolutionary relationships all the time,” McTavish said. “We synthesized all the data to have unified information all in one place.”</p>



<p>The team noted that this synthesis tree has the potential to support a wide range of research projects. It can help scientists explore key questions about bird evolution, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-wings-have-a-surprising-effect-on-island-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>, and ecology. </p>



<p>Even more importantly, the same methods used to construct this tree could be applied to other groups of animals and plants, making it a valuable tool far beyond ornithology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-bird-evolutionary-tree-is-formed">A bird evolutionary tree is formed</h2>



<p>The idea for this massive undertaking first took shape about four years ago. Eliot Miller, who was then working at the Cornell Lab, reached out to McTavish with the proposal. At the time, McTavish had already been involved for nearly a decade with software development for the <a href="https://tree.opentreeoflife.org/opentree/argus/opentree15.1@ott93302" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open Tree of Life</a> (OpenTree) project, which is designed to map how all living species are related.</p>



<p>“Many dozens of bird phylogenies (studies of evolutionary histories using genetics) get published every year, yet their findings - with implications for everything from taxonomy to our understanding of ancestral characters - aren't necessarily being used for downstream research,” Miller said.</p>



<p>“Our project should help to close this research loop so that these studies and their findings are better incorporated into follow-up research."</p>



<p>McTavish noted that even though she and Miller had not worked together before, the collaboration felt natural and productive.</p>



<p>“Eliot is really into birds, and the lab is full of bird experts, and they also develop birding apps such as Merlin and Ebird, so that was their side of it," said McTavish. "And I've been working on this software to combine evolutionary trees, so that was my side of it."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-all-species-on-earth">Linking all species on Earth</h2>



<p>The OpenTree project is a large-scale collaboration between evolutionary biologists and taxonomy specialists who aim to construct an accurate and comprehensive evolutionary tree. This tree seeks to describe how every named species on Earth is related to all others. </p>



<p>The platform functions like a wiki, where users can upload data manually to update relationships between species.</p>



<p>McTavish explained that as new studies and data reshape our understanding of how species are connected, users can add this updated information to the Tree of Life. This process ensures that the tree remains as current as possible, reflecting the latest scientific insights.</p>



<p>Today, the Open Tree of Life includes over 2.5 million species, and its coverage is continually expanding. Advances in genome sequencing have provided a flood of new data, helping to fill in the many gaps that remain in our understanding of life’s evolutionary history.</p>



<p>McTavish, who works as a biologist in the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at the School of Natural Sciences, has been developing software that can automatically integrate this steady flow of data into the OpenTree. The recent synthesis of bird species adds another critical piece to the global puzzle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead-to-future-discoveries"><a></a>Looking ahead to future discoveries</h2>



<p>The creation of this comprehensive bird evolutionary tree is more than just an academic exercise. It provides a practical, accessible framework that other scientists can use to answer new questions.</p>



<p>By offering a clear picture of how bird species are related, researchers can better explore patterns of adaptation, speciation, and ecological interaction across the avian world. Moreover, the methods developed through this work are not limited to birds. </p>



<p>They can be applied to a wide range of other life forms, helping scientists to construct equally detailed evolutionary maps for plants, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammalian-tree-of-life-traces-evolution-of-mammals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammals</a>, insects, reptiles, and more. This opens the door to broad, cross-species research that could reveal large-scale patterns and processes shaping life on Earth.</p>



<p>By building tools that automatically update as new data emerges, the OpenTree project also ensures that researchers can work with the most current knowledge available. This dynamic, living map of life’s connections has the potential to reshape not only how we understand evolution, but also how we study the world’s biodiversity.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2409658122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a>.</p>



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All birds, one tree: Complete evolutionary map reveals hidden links

A groundbreaking new study has produced the most complete evolutionary...

<p>It is not every day that an owl sporting a vivid orange hue appears in the wild. Bird enthusiasts have been left wide-eyed by this unusual discovery, which hints at a puzzle hidden in the bird’s genetic blueprint.</p>



<p><a href="https://natsci.msu.edu/news/2024-03-msu-welcome-kevin-mcgraw.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin McGraw</a>, biology professor at Michigan State University (<a href="https://msu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MSU</a>), became intrigued by this rare coloration once photos surfaced. </p>



<p>He notes that many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-living-in-cities-are-usually-more-colorful-and-less-brown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">color variations in birds</a> can be inherited through genes that affect pigment production or be caused by environmental factors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-color-that-defied-the-norm">The color that defied the norm</h2>



<p>“I went home feeling on cloud nine because I worked so hard and put so many hours into this owl,” said wildlife photographer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/exposingnaturethroughmylens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julie Maggert</a>, who spent days patiently trying to capture a still image. </p>



<p>Orange is not a shade people typically associate with the snowy owl, a bird usually clad in white with subtle dark bars.</p>



<p>Some scientists point to genetic quirks called mutations as possible triggers for its unexpected look. Genes involved in melanin pathways usually shape plumage color, but rare glitches can flip that script.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hints-of-an-environmental-influence">Hints of an environmental influence</h2>



<p>“This animal got exposed probably to something unique. But I would say we can’t be too, too sure. It could have happened to mom, and mom could have passed that on to the young,” stated Kevin McGraw at the end of his observation. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/rare-orange-snowy-owl-genetic-mutation.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orange feathers raise questions</a> about toxins or pollutants in the owl’s habitat. </p>



<p>Experts in avian genetics argue that stressors such as chemicals can upset normal pigment formation. These disturbances may lead to unexpected hues that stand out in stark contrast to a snowy background.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-melanin-and-color-shifts">A closer look at melanin and color shifts</h2>



<p>The orange coloration likely stems from altered production of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/pheomelanin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pheomelanin</a>, a pigment that usually creates rusty or reddish hues in birds. </p>



<p>Unlike <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/eumelanin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eumelanin</a>, which gives feathers black or brown tones, pheomelanin can become more prominent when environmental stressors disrupt the balance between pigment pathways.</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/112/5/395/6272461">studi</a><a href="https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/112/5/395/6272461" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">e</a><a href="https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/112/5/395/6272461">s</a> on bird pigmentation, pollutants or oxidative stress may flip genetic switches that normally suppress pheomelanin in snowy owls. When these controls fail, colors that are typically hidden can appear in full view.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-for-wildlife-fans">Significance for wildlife fans</h2>



<p>Seeing a bird so far removed from its typical colors prompts both awe and curiosity. People wonder if this color shift impacts the owl’s camouflage or interactions with fellow owls.</p>



<p>“It may be a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Maggert at the end of an interview. Bird-watchers remain excited to add such a one-of-a-kind sighting to their logs.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-orange-feathers-might-cost-the-owl">What orange feathers might cost the owl</h2>



<p>Researchers believe the owl’s bright orange coloring might do more than turn heads - it could make survival harder. </p>



<p>With its natural winter-white camouflage disrupted, the bird may be more visible to predators and less effective at sneaking up on prey.</p>



<p>“This animal might find it harder to forage or avoid being targeted,” noted Kevin McGraw. While striking to humans, the unusual hue could come at a price in the wild.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bigger-genetic-picture">The bigger genetic picture</h2>



<p>Researchers have long analyzed the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-birds-one-tree-complete-evolutionary-map-reveals-hidden-links/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genotype to phenotype</a> connection in birds to understand how coloring evolves. </p>



<p>This orange snowy owl highlights how a single event - like a genetic glitch - can make plumage stray from tradition.</p>



<p>Observing exotic colors can also broaden our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-and-why-tropical-birds-are-so-strikingly-colorful-and-iridescent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grasp of color variation</a> in other species. Similar anomalies, such as white orcas and blue lobsters, remind us that nature often defies straightforward expectations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-bird-science">What this means for bird science</h2>



<p>Creamsicle’s discovery is sparking new interest in studying color mutations in wild bird populations. </p>



<p>Researchers now have a fresh reason to investigate how often these mutations occur and whether environmental triggers like pollution play a recurring role.</p>



<p>Some scientists suggest this bird might help uncover links between pigment genes and external stressors in cold-climate species. It’s a reminder that rare sightings can push science to ask better questions and dig deeper into nature’s surprises.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-birders-can-help-scientists">How birders can help scientists</h2>



<p>Amateur photographers and bird-watchers often <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-birds-use-biofluorescence-glowing-brightly-to-attract-mates-birds-of-paradise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spot rare traits</a> before scientists do. Maggert’s dedication shows how community observations can lead to important discoveries in wildlife biology.</p>



<p>Researchers encourage birders to document odd sightings with clear photos, dates, and locations. These field notes, when shared responsibly, can become useful data points in long-term studies on bird health and genetics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead">Looking ahead</h2>



<p>Scientists will continue to test feathers for chemical signatures or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-cuckoo-colors-provide-evolutionary-advantages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unusual pigment pathways</a>. They aim to confirm whether external pollutants sparked the change or if it is purely genetic.</p>



<p>Either way, the orange snowy owl underscores how slight genetic changes can produce big surprises. As curiosity grows, so does our desire to preserve habitats that allow such remarkable birds to thrive.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp7710" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>.</p>



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Photographer captures a rare snowy owl that intrigues scientists because of its genetic mutation

It is not every day that an owl sporting a...

<p>Humans have marveled at fossils for centuries. Yet many people still wonder why some animals leave beautifully preserved remains, while others fade without a hint of their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-modern-fossils-will-be-the-most-surprising-to-future-explorers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">existence</a>.</p>



<p>Scientists have tackled this question head-on at the University of Lausanne (<a href="https://www.unil.ch/unil/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNIL</a>). Shortly after conducting their experiments, lead researcher Nora Corthésy emerged with fascinating <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59372-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insights</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-some-animals-become-fossils">Why some animals become fossils</h2>



<p>Fossils are not just <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-ever-marine-reptile-ichthyotitan-severnensis-discovered-by-11-year-old-girl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bones</a>. They can include muscle impressions and even traces of internal organs.</p>



<p>Preservation can seem chaotic because not every creature is equally likely to become part of the rock record. </p>



<p>When Farid Saleh, Swiss National Science Foundation Ambizione Fellow at UNIL, and his team looked at why this happens, they found that the chemical properties within a carcass help determine if it will eventually fossilize.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals-alter-their-surroundings">Animals alter their surroundings</h2>



<p>During decay, certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shell-fossils-lapworthella-fasciculata-reveal-ancient-predator-prey-battle-517-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remains</a> spark rapid changes in oxygen levels around the body. Bigger carcasses and those packed with more proteins seem to lower local oxygen supply.</p>



<p>“This means that, in nature, two animals buried side by side could have vastly different fates as fossils, simply because of differences in size or body chemistry,” said Corthésy.<br><br>“One might vanish entirely, while the other could be immortalized in stone” noted Saleh.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decaying-animals-control-fossil-formation">Decaying animals control fossil formation</h2>



<p>Some <a href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993Pbio...19..107B/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> have observed that proteins break down more swiftly than lipids. This quick decay can reduce oxygen around the carcass faster, shielding the body from further breakdown.</p>



<p>When oxygen is scarce, different bacteria thrive by using <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/24839" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alternative elements</a> for energy. This sets the stage for a chemical environment that can swap original tissues with durable minerals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-conditions-shape-what-endures">Chemical conditions shape what endures</h2>



<p>Scientists have linked extremely low <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59372-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">redox potential</a> to the formation of minerals like pyrite or calcium phosphate, which capture fine details of once-living organisms. </p>



<p>A large, protein-rich animal can slip into this state more easily, leading to a better chance of fossilization.</p>



<p>Smaller creatures that do not rapidly reduce oxygen might disappear completely. That difference could explain why many fossil <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-ground-dwellers-survived-the-asteroid-impact-that-killed-the-dinosaurs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deposits</a> from hundreds of millions of years ago feature arthropods more than worms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soft-tissue-chemistry-and-fossil-survival">Soft tissue chemistry and fossil survival</h2>



<p>Fossilization isn’t just about having hard shells or bones. The chemical composition of soft tissues - especially the amount of protein - plays a big role in what gets preserved.</p>



<p>This shifts the focus from structure to substance. A jelly-like creature with high protein could fossilize more readily than a tougher animal low in protein, depending on how the surrounding chemistry reacts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals-leave-different-fossil-traces">Animals leave different fossil traces</h2>



<p>Even when animals are buried in the same spot at the same time, their bodies don’t decay the same way. A shrimp and a planarian lying inches apart can leave completely different chemical signatures in the sediment.</p>



<p>This means some fossil beds might look biased toward certain species, not because others weren’t there, but because their remains didn’t alter the environment enough to trigger fossilization.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-for-paleontology">Why this matters for paleontology</h2>



<p>Understanding how size and body chemistry influence fossilization changes how paleontologists interpret ancient ecosystems. It helps separate the absence of fossils due to true extinction from those missing due to poor preservation.</p>



<p>This distinction matters when reconstructing evolutionary history. If some animals never had a chance to fossilize, their role in the ecosystem could be underestimated or completely overlooked.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-animals-we-ll-never-know">The animals we’ll never know</h2>



<p>Some organisms may have lived and died without leaving any physical trace behind. If their bodies decayed quickly and didn’t create the chemical conditions needed for preservation, they might have vanished entirely from the fossil record.</p>



<p>This means the fossil record isn’t a complete history - it’s more like a selective snapshot. Animals with soft bodies and low protein content, such as some early worms, may have existed in abundance, but we’ll likely never find their remains.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-fossil-formation">Understanding fossil formation</h2>



<p>Different climates and <a href="https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicators-salinity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">salinity</a> can affect how proteins and lipids degrade. There may be times when tiny animals end up preserved, but scientists believe that size and body composition often tip the odds in favor of bigger, protein-loaded species.</p>



<p>Although modern labs cannot precisely recreate ancient seabeds or swampy shorelines, today’s experiments are bringing us closer to grasping how our planet’s story is written in stone.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59372-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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Why some animals become fossils, while others just disappear

Humans have marveled at fossils for centuries. Yet many people...

<p>New research suggests that certain animals have a built-in way to reduce tick populations in nature. The discovery focuses on how animals develop immunity after being bitten, possibly paving the way for advanced tick vaccines.</p>



<p>The research was led by Jeb Owen, an associate professor of entomology at <a href="https://wsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington State University</a>. The findings could help ranchers, wildlife managers, and families dealing with the troubles that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tick-bites-can-trigger-lifelong-red-meat-allergies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ticks</a> bring.</p>



<p>Disease concerns drive a lot of interest in what makes these arachnids flourish in some places and practically vanish in others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fewer-ticks-mean-safer-animals">Fewer ticks mean safer animals </h2>



<p>Ticks feed on blood at different life stages and can pass infections to people, pets, and livestock. Diseases such as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/about/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rocky Mountain spotted fever</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lyme disease</a> hinge on tick abundance in a given setting, which has made scientists eager to find methods that bring numbers under control.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ticks-are-hitchhiking-on-birds-to-spread-diseases-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ticks</a> can also irritate cattle and wildlife. These animals lose energy when they spend time licking, scratching, or rubbing to find relief from tick bites. </p>



<p>A further complication is the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">red-meat allergy</a>, linked to certain tick species, that can trigger severe problems after eating beef or pork.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals-build-immunity-after-tick-bites">Animals build immunity after tick bites</h2>



<p>In this study, the scientists observed that deer mice, rabbits, and cattle gained protection once they were exposed to ticks.</p>



<p>After a first round of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-legged-ticks-are-naturally-repelled-by-ant-pheromones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bites</a>, the immune system began identifying key compounds in tick saliva, resulting in a faster response during future bites.</p>



<p>The researchers noted a crucial drop in ticks that successfully fed on hosts with prior exposure. On average, 23% fewer ticks reached adulthood, and adult females produced 32% fewer larvae once a host’s defenses were active.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immunity-reduces-ticks-across-generations">Immunity reduces ticks across generations</h2>



<p>As part of the analysis, the team used computer simulations to predict how that reduction might play out in the real world. Their model indicated that the average growth of a tick population could drop by 68% once a host community acquired resistance.</p>



<p>Such resistance was found in the lab even when only a single round of tick <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-bacteria-help-plants-balance-growth-and-immunity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exposure</a> had occurred. Still, major questions remain about how quickly that protection develops in nature and how long it might last if contact with ticks decreases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-animals-show-strong-tick-resistance">Some animals show strong tick resistance</h2>



<p>Past studies focused heavily on rodents in a lab environment, but ticks in the wild latch onto many different creatures. Cattle appeared to develop strong defenses, leading some ticks to fail at feeding or reproduce less effectively.</p>



<p>It is not just smaller animals that benefit. Larger hosts can face blood loss and general stress from persistent tick bites, so fewer successful tick feedings may carry big advantages for farm and ranch operations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hope-for-improved-vaccines">Hope for improved vaccines</h2>



<p>The data could give vaccine developers new ideas about how to spark these host responses in a controlled way. Scientists have worked on anti-tick shots for years, though most efforts center on single-host ticks that stay on one animal throughout their life cycle.</p>



<p>“Cumulatively, across the life cycle, the impacts are very large. This gives us new insight into why tick populations go up and down,” said Owen, emphasizing its broader potential.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-studies-on-immunity-triggers">Future studies on immunity triggers</h2>



<p>Even with this encouraging news, the researchers highlight the need to learn more about the exact signals that set off resistance. Current data show that <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/resource-library-abiotic-factor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">abiotic</a> variables like temperature and humidity still play a critical role in tick survival and spread.</p>



<p>More studies may explore if a single bite can trigger protection or if it takes repeated exposure to trigger significant resistance. </p>



<p>That knowledge might clarify how often livestock need boosting, or whether wild animals can sustain protective immunity from one tick season to the next.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals-with-tick-resistance">Animals with tick resistance</h2>



<p>Some experts suggest that wildlife conservation efforts could include ways to enhance natural defenses in certain species. </p>



<p>It is unclear if such approaches will ever become a practical tool, but the idea has gained traction now that a range of animals seem capable of blocking ticks.</p>



<p>Others see potential for disease control, since fewer ticks mean fewer infection paths for people and animals. A next step might involve field trials that check how well these resistant responses stand up under unpredictable outdoor conditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-basic-tick-safety-still-matters">Basic tick safety still matters</h2>



<p>While vaccines show promise, the usual advice still holds. Personal protection measures like wearing protective clothing and checking for ticks remain central in many parts of the United States. Keeping landscapes trimmed can also help reduce tick-friendly habitats.</p>



<p>Farmers and wildlife managers could benefit from this natural phenomenon if they find ways to promote or enhance the defense within their herds or local animal populations. The long-term impact might hinge on variables like environment, breed differences, and tick species.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X2500024X?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases</em></a>.</p>



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Animals develop natural immunity to ticks after being bitten once

New research suggests that certain animals have a built-in way...

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