<span style="font-weight: 400;">The variety of noises that the animal kingdom produces is astonishing. Some of these sounds are so closely tied to the animal that makes them that they share the same name.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"> Think about the rattle of a cobra, the roar of a lion, or the bark of a dog. While these noises are among the most distinct, what about the less obvious ones? What are the strangest animal sounds? Before we dive into specific noises, let’s understand why animals vocalize.</span>
<h2></h2>
&nbsp;
<h2>Strange Sounds</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">While the sound and volume of different animal noises vary greatly, they all have one thing in common: <strong>communication</strong>. Whatever the noise is, the animal that makes it vocalizes for a specific reason. What are those reasons?</span>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mating: Mating calls accomplish exactly what they sound like: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parasite-galapagos-finch-mating-calls/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">attracting a mate</a>. While mating calls can originate from either sex, published literature heavily favors male-originated mating calls. Some of the most common mating calls come from birds. Depending on the species, females may be looking for specific </span><a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/a-beginners-guide-common-bird-sounds-and-what-they-mean" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">speeds, frequencies, and tonalities</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of the mating calls.</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Communication: Just like humans, other animals need to communicate with members of their species about location, food, and predators. On lakes in North America, Loons give off </span><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Loon/sounds" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">haunting calls</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> near dusk to help find their mates. Elephants have developed a </span><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/unforgettable-elephants-crack-the-code-of-elephant-communication/5885/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vast and unique array of calls</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and roars to communicate about everything from where their calves are to where the herd should move the next day. </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Warning: Animals also will make noise to let other individuals know to stay away. The vibrations of a rattlesnake and the hiss of a territorial otter are perfect examples. These animals don’t want to engage and are letting any passersby know. </span></li>
</ul>
<h2></h2>
&nbsp;
<h2>Weird Noises</h2>
<h3></h3>
<h3>Cheetas: Chirping</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The cheetah (</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Acinonyx jubatus</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">) is one of 41 species present in family </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Felidae</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. It lives mostly in southern Africa but has many of the same tendencies as a domesticated house cat (</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Felis catus</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">). Their young roughhouse and cheetahs even </span><a href="https://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/catspurr.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">purr</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. One of the biggest differences is in their very distinct noise: a chirp. The noise the emanates from the cheetah sounds like the call that comes from a distressed chickling, definitely one of the strangest animal sounds. Cheetahs will typically issue this call during distress or to locate their young, but have been observed making the call in all sorts of scenarios. </span>

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSickcDomwo[/embed]
<h3></h3>
&nbsp;
<h3>Giraffes: Silence</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">What sound does a giraffe (</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cervus camelopardalis</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">) make? Until recently, research suggested that the answer was either no sound or one </span><a href="https://time.com/4043387/giraffes-sound-hum/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">that was inaudible to humans</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Evidence published in </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">BMC Research Notes </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">suggests that giraffes ‘hum’ at night to communicate with each other. These humming noises are extremely low frequency - about 92 Hz - and are barely audible to humans. The researchers concluded, “These results show that giraffes do produce vocalizations, which, based on their acoustic structure, might have the potential to function as communicative signals to convey information about the physical and motivational attributes of the caller.”</span>
<h3></h3>
&nbsp;
<h3>Desert Rain Frog: Squeak</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The desert rain frog (</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Breviceps macrops</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">) is a solitary frog that lives exclusively on the western coast of South Africa and Namibia. When provoked, the frog makes one of the strangest animal sounds: an angry squeaking sound that sounds almost exactly like a squeaky toy. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">B.macrops </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">has an extremely small habitat - only about 2,000 square kilometers - that is greatly threatened by habitat loss. </span>

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBxn56l9WcU[/embed]
<h3></h3>
&nbsp;
<h3>Snapping Shrimp: Underwater Cannon</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Snapping shrimp (also known as pistol shrimp) are all part of the family </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alpheidae</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, within which there are about 1,000 species. One thing that many of these species have in common is the presence of a large front claw that can grow to be almost half the size of its body. The shrimp can use this claw not to grab its prey, but to kill them with the noise it makes. Snapping shrimp are capable of snapping their claw shut so quickly and vigorously that it generates a shock wave as it moves away from the animal. The sound of the snap has been measured </span><a href="http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160331-the-worlds-loudest-animal-might-surprise-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">at over 200 dB</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, louder than a 12-gauge shotgun (165 dB) or a jet engine (140 dB).</span>
<h3></h3>
&nbsp;
<h3>Piranha: Barking</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dogs aren’t the only animals that bark! Piranhas are all part of the family </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serrasalmidae</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and there are over 30 recognized species. When angered - or when feeling aggressive - piranhas will let out a </span><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/10/111012-piranhas-bark-science-get-away/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">low, recognizable bark</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This typically serves as a warning to other fish in the area that the piranha is hunting or claiming territory. While the piranhas do vocalize, they don’t exactly have the largest vocabulary. Researchers say they are able to link ‘three distinct sounds to three aggressive piranha behaviors.’</span>
<h2></h2>
&nbsp;
<h2>Saving Sounds</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether animals bark, squeak, purr, or trumpet, it is irrefutable that the natural world has produced a mosaic of noises. But just like the desert rain frog, many of the species and families on this list are at risk of habitat loss, and at worse, extinction. Consider supporting organizations today that help to protect these interesting noises!</span>

&nbsp;

Top 5 Strangest Animal Sounds

The variety of noises that the animal kingdom produces is...

With eight legs, multiple eyes, and fangs that can inject venom, spiders are a terrifying sight for some. Despite their menacing appearance, these little critters are important components to every ecosystem they’re found in. Many people refer to spiders and other creepy-crawly things as insects. They do have lots in common with insects, and they even look and behave a lot like our six-legged friends. But, are spiders insects?

Technically speaking, <strong>spiders are not insects</strong>! Why aren’t they exactly? We’ll look into a few main reasons why spiders and insects are so different. But first, let’s break down what spiders and insects have in common, which is actually quite a bit.

To understand the similarities and differences between spiders and insects, we have to cover a bit of taxonomy. Taxonomy is the science of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-classify-life-taxonomy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">classifying all living things</a>. Spiders, insects, fish, birds, and humans all fall into the Kingdom Animalia. Pretty much every animal is able to breathe and move, unlike plants and fungi. Additionally, animals are multicellular, unlike bacteria. Let’s dive deeper into the world of taxonomy and discover more about the classification of spiders and insects.

[caption id="attachment_1875952" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="wp-image-1875952 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jumping-spider-feeding-on-fruitfly-jeff-burcher-flicker-1024x819.jpg" alt="are spiders insects, jumping spider" width="1024" height="819" /> Photo by Jeff Burcher[/caption]
<h2>Spiders and Insects Are Arthropods</h2>
Getting more specific, we move into the Phylum of Arthropoda. Spiders and insects are still together in this group, as are crustaceans, centipedes, and the <a href="https://www.fossilera.com/pages/about-trilobites" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">famous extinct Trilobite</a>. Arthropods are an incredibly successful group of animals and can thrive in the deep ocean, wet forests, and extremely hot deserts. But what makes an arthropod an arthropod?

First of all, arthropods are invertebrates. Unlike mammals, birds, and reptiles, they lack a spinal column. Instead, arthropods have super hard exoskeletons on the outside of their body, made up of stuff called chitin. Chitin is actually very similar to the material that makes up our very own hair and fingernails! In order to grow, an arthropod must shed its exoskeleton and create a new one. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw1MFdlmWyA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Here's an awesome video</a> of a cicada shedding its exoskeleton.

Another defining characteristic of an arthropod is having segmented legs. In fact, that’s exactly where the name arthropod comes from. <strong>Arthro means jointed, and pod means leg</strong>. There are a few other more technical characteristics of arthropods, but we won’t worry about those.

[caption id="attachment_1875950" align="alignnone" width="1300"]<img class="wp-image-1875950 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Spider-characteristics.png" alt="Are spiders insects, Spider anatomy" width="1300" height="996" /> (1) Four pairs of legs, (2) cephalothorax, and (3) abdomen[/caption]
<h2>Spiders Are Not Insects!</h2>
The next taxonomic level down is where spiders and insects lose their similarities. Spiders are in a class of animals known as arachnids. Spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks are all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arachnids-spiders-scorpions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">different kinds of arachnids</a>. Perhaps the biggest difference between arachnids and insects are the number of legs they have. One of the defining characteristics of spiders and other arachnids is that they have 8 legs. Insects, on the other hand, only have 6. This difference may not seem that significant, but it’s one of the most important things that separate these two classes of animals!

Next up is the number of body segments. Spiders have two segments - the abdomen, and the cephalothorax (which is a combination of a head and thorax). Insects boast three distinct segments - an abdomen, a thorax, and a head. Although they serve essentially the same functions, the body segments are another characteristic that spiders and insects do not have in common.

On the topic of body parts, insects have developed <a href="https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/insect-flight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wings for flight</a>. Nearly all insect species are capable of flight - even ants, although it’s usually just the queen who's able to. Spiders and other arachnids are not able to fly. Which is good for us, because if they could, they would be about a thousand times scarier.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1875954 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/golden-orb-spider-281142_1280.jpg" alt="Are spiders insects, golden orb weaver" width="1280" height="851" />

Of course, the differences between spiders and insects don't stop there. They have very different roles in their ecosystems as well. Mainly, spiders are carnivores and hunt for their food, usually by using webs made of silk. Many insects (<a href="https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/7-things-you-never-knew-about-dragonflies" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">but not all of them!</a>) are herbivores and are often a tasty snack for other animals, including spiders.

So, now you know! Contrary to what many people believe, spiders are not insects. We’ll leave you with this super cool video of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/peacock-spiders-mating-displays/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">peacock spider</a> dancing to attract a mate.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_yYC5r8xMI[/embed]

Are Spiders Insects?

With eight legs, multiple eyes, and fangs that can inject...

<div>
<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49"><script src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
What Are Stem Cells? They are unique cells with the great ability to become various types of cells. The  cells can continue to divide for extended periods of time, but specifically, here are 3 unique properties.</div>
First of all, most cells, such as skin cells, cannot replicate themselves after time. Also they are different. You will also notice they are self-sustaining by replicating themselves for a much longer period of time. They are present both during embryonic development as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/embryonic-sharks-will-struggle-to-survive-in-a-warmer-ocean/">embryonic</a> stem cells, and in the adult body as adult cell.

Secondly, they are non-specialized. Specialized cells have specific capabilities that allow them to perform certain tasks.

For example, a red blood cell contains hemoglobin that allows it to carry <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=oxygen&amp;cvid=3f5e305e913541728ef383e89cea6d39&amp;aqs=edge.0.0l7.1433j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">oxygen</a>. The cells have non-specialized capability and do not have tissue-specific structures to perform specialized functions.

Finally, stem cells can give rise to specialized cells. Although they go through a process called differentiation and create special types of cells. Muscle cells versus skin cells or nerve skins and on and on.

Embryonic cells are the cells within the protective layer of the blastocyst. They are pluripotent, which means they can develop into any of the cells of the adult body. Researchers believe that, because they are pluripotent, and easy to grow, they have the best potential for replacing damaged or lost tissue or body parts.

Also known as progenitor cells or somatic stem cells, adult stem cells are located, in small quantities, throughout the body and generate specialized cells for the area they are located. These cells do not renew themselves as well as embryonic cells. Still, if these cells are put in a different environment, they may produce a different type of cells from the originating cell.

Stem cell research is an active area of inquiry and scientists are discovering new characteristics of stem cells every day. Recent research indicated that multipotent stem cells from one type of tissue, in this case, "blood", might actually have the ability to generate cells for a different type of tissue-like "nerves."

Scientists worldwide are continuing to search for new sources of adult stem cells. Some of the locations where stem cells have been located include bone marrow, skin, liver, blood, and the brain. Some adult stem cells, which have already been used to treat illnesses,
include hematopoietic cells and umbilical cord blood stem cells.

Hematopoietic cells, however, are located in the bone marrow and form blood cells. They have been successfully used to treat blood disorders for younger patients. Umbilical cord blood cells are located in the blood of the umbilical cord after birth. Umbilical cord cells are similar to hematopeitetic cells in adults, but they are less mature and have much more potential to differentiate into various types of cells.

&nbsp;

Credit (not for audio!):

We respectfully credit: stemcells.nih.gov and CK12.org.

Those who provide Open Source, educational information need your support!

What Are Stem Cells?

What Are Stem Cells? They are unique cells with the...

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Humans and bacteria have coexisted for millions of years. Many of these microbes are necessary to our lives on earth. For example, the bacteria </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lactobacillus acidophilus </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">aids in the digestion of food <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-microbiome-promotes-healthier-aging/">in our gut.</a> </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Streptococcus thermophilus</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a starting culture for yogurt and some cheese. While these bacteria are helpful, others, known as pathogenic, are capable of causing disease. What are some of the most deadly diseases caused by bacteria? First, let’s understand more about microbes. </span>
<h2>What are Bacteria?</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/the-strange-shapes-of-bacteria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bacteria</a> are </span><a href="https://www.biology.iupui.edu/biocourses/N100/2k23domain.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">one of the three domains of life</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - along with eukarya and archaea. They are characterized by several key features:</span>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Single-cell: all bacteria are single-celled organisms. This means that each cell must be capable of accomplishing every function that an entire multi-celled organism is capable of. </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Size: bacteria are much smaller than human cells. A typical bacterial cell is the same size as a human mitochondrion. This is about ten times smaller than a typical human cell.</span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Organelles: Human cells have a whole host of membrane-bound organelles, including nuclei and lysosomes. Bacterial cells, on the other hand, have no membrane-bound organelles. </span></li>
</ul>
<h2><img class="alignnone wp-image-1875760 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/bacteria-62993_1280.jpg" alt="diseases caused by bacteria cluster" width="1280" height="930" /></h2>
<h2>How Bacteria Make Us Sick</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The first phase of sickness from a bacterial infection isn’t the bacteria itself. Instead, it is </span><a href="http://needtoknow.nas.edu/id/infection/how-pathogens-make-us-sick/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">our body’s response to the bacteria</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Our immune system recognizes that there is an invader and attempts to get rid of the foreign bacteria. Many of the initial symptoms - fever, rash, headache - are simply our innate immune response to infection. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Some of the most deadly diseases are caused by the actual effects of the bacteria. These can manifest themselves in many different ways. For example, some bacteria multiply so quickly that they crowd our tissues and organs. This often disrupts normal functions or stops them entirely. Others release toxins that can damage cells and disrupt immune responses. Consequently, while the effects of pathogenic bacteria vary widely from species to species, the effects are always negative. </span>
<h2>Deadly Diseases</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Now that we understand what bacteria are and how they cause disease, let’s take a look at some of the most deadly diseases caused by microbes. </span>
<h3>Bubonic Plague</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The term ‘plague’ is oftentimes used to describe any disease outbreak. While it is commonly used to describe any disease that is especially nasty, this is incorrect. In fact, a </span><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plague/symptoms-causes/syc-20351291" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">plague</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a specific disease caused by the bacterium</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and it has three variations. The first variation is one that appears in history books: the bubonic plague. This version of plague infects the lymph nodes, causing them to swell. This triggers an immune reaction causing the victim to experience flu-like symptoms. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The bubonic plague pandemic of the 14th century was the most devastating disease outbreak in recorded human history. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Y. pestis </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">is estimated to have killed a third of Europe’s population at the time - </span><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-diseases/the-plague/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">roughly 25 million people</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. However, even with modern medicine the bubonic plague still has a mortality rate of 10%. Most of these reported cases originate in Africa. </span>
<h3>Anthrax</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">In popular culture, anthrax manifests itself in the form of a white powder that can cause disease. In reality, anthrax is the disease caused by the bacterium </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacillus anthracis</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and it causes a whole host of nasty problems. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">B. anthracis </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">originates in soil, plants, and water, but it is usually transmitted to humans via infected livestock like cattle or sheep. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Symptoms of anthrax are </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/basics/symptoms.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">similar to symptoms of the worst flu</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. An infected individual may experience nausea, vomiting, sweats, confusion, diarrhea, and blisters or small bumps on the skin. Serious cases of exposure require hospitalization, often requiring aggressive treatment of ventilation and fluid drainage. Left untreated, the bacteria will produce toxins that can be deadly to humans.</span>
<h3>Botulism</h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Botulism is usually caused by the bacterium </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clostridium botulinum.</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> It</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can be the result of improperly stored foods - like home-made canned goods. The symptoms of botulism can appear extremely rapidly - </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/symptoms.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sometimes as soon as six hours post-infection</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. If those symptoms do manifest, they are not fun. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">First, victims will have a hard time controlling their minor muscle movements. For example,  they may struggle to open their eyes, swallow, breath, and experience generalized weakness. All of these symptoms are the result of the chief problem with botulism: paralysis. The toxins released by </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">C. botulinum </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">cause paralysis, which, if left untreated, can stop the victim’s breathing eventually causing death. </span>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1875758 size-full" style="font-size: 16px;" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/pill-1884775_1920.jpg" alt="diseases caused by bacteria pills and antiobiotics " width="1920" height="1152" /></span></h3>
<h2>Disease Cures</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Each of these diseases can, in theory, be treated with the proper course of antibiotics. The rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of various bacteria has complicated this option. This increase is directly related to an increase in the prescription of antibiotics. In 2015 alone, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clostridioides difficile </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">killed</span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/testing-treatment.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 15,000 people</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> due to a lack of effective antibiotics. In the future, we will have to develop new and innovative means of treating these deadly diseases. </span>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Most Deadly Diseases Caused by Bacteria

Humans and bacteria have coexisted for millions of years. Many...

<div itemprop="video" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/VideoObject"><div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49"  >    <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5c59bca5367f6d77f7258c2f/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?"></script></div>    <meta itemprop="name"content="Can dogs be used to detect malaria?" />    <meta itemprop="duration" content="T4M1S" />    <meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://img.vidible.tv/prod/2019-02/05/5c59bca5367f6d77f7258c2f/5c59be896658930001d3303c_1280x720_FES_v1.jpg" />    <meta itemprop="embedUrl" content="https://delivery.vidible.tv/htmlembed/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.html?vid=5c59bca5367f6d77f7258c2f" />    <meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="2019-02-05T16:41:09Z" />    <meta itemprop="expires" content="" />    <meta itemprop="description" content="" />    <meta itemprop="height" content="720" />    <meta itemprop="width" content="1,280" /></div>
&nbsp;

Researchers at Durham University are reporting that dogs could be trained to sniff out malaria in people. While investigating ways to prevent the spread of the deadly disease, the experts found that dogs could identify the scent of malaria in samples of socks worn by infected children.

The findings could ultimately lead to the first rapid, non-invasive test for malaria.

“There is no test diagnostic that is 100% effective,” Professor Steve Lindsay, study lead investigator, exclusively told Earth.com. “The best we have is Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays which can be used to identify very low densities of parasites, but this requires blood to be taken. It is too early to give costs for the dogs. But we see the dogs being used in malaria-free countries to help reduce the number of people carrying malaria parasites into the country. The cost of a malaria resurgence in a country that was once malaria-free is huge.”

Even though the research is in its early stages, the scientists hope that trained sniffer dogs can help pinpoint infected people faster so that they can be treated more quickly, which would also help to keep malaria from spreading to other countries.

“While our findings are at an early stage, in principle we have shown that dogs could be trained to detect malaria-infected people by their odor with a credible degree of accuracy,” explained study lead investigator Professor Steve Lindsay.

“This could provide a non-invasive way of screening for the disease at ports of entry in a similar way to how sniffer dogs are routinely used to detect fruit and vegetables or drugs at airports.”

“This could help prevent the spread of malaria to countries that have been declared malaria-free and also ensure that people, many of whom might be unaware that they are infected with the malaria parasite, receive antimalarial drug treatment for the disease.”

For the study, the researchers used nylon socks to collect foot odor samples from seemingly healthy children between the ages of 5 and 14 in the Upper River Region of The Gambia in West Africa. The children were also tested for the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in their blood.

Using the sock samples, a Labrador-Golden Retriever and a Labrador at the Medical Detection Dogs (MDD) charity were trained to distinguish between the scent of children infected with malaria parasites and those who were uninfected.

Overall, there were 30 sock samples from malaria-positive children and 145 samples from uninfected children. The dogs were able to correctly identify 70 percent of the malaria-infected samples, as well as 90 percent of the samples without malaria parasites.

Study co-author Dr. Claire Guest is the Chief Executive Officer of Medical Detection Dogs, located in Milton Keynes, UK.

“MDD have had positive results training dogs to detect diseases including cancer and diabetes sugar changes by odor. This is the first time we have trained dogs to detect a parasite infection and we are delighted by these early results,” said Dr. Claire.

“The possible potential to train dogs to detect tropical diseases where diagnostics are poor, such as leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis is huge. I believe that this study indicates that dogs have an excellent ability to detect malaria and if presented within an individual infected with the parasite or a piece of recently worn clothing, their accuracy levels will be extremely high. This is a reliable, non-invasive test and is extremely exciting for the future.”

Study co-author Professor James Logan is the Head of the Department of Disease Control at the London School of Hygiene &amp; Tropical Medicine.

“Worryingly, our progress on the control of malaria has stalled in recent years, so we desperately need innovative new tools to help in the fight against malaria,” said Professor Logan. “Our results show that sniffer dogs could be a serious way of making a diagnosis of people who don’t show any symptoms, but are still infectious, quicker and easier.”

The research, which was funded by the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, was presented at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Can Dogs Be Used to Detect Malaria?

&nbsp; Researchers at Durham University are reporting that dogs could...

<div>
<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49"><script src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
What Is the Scientific Method? Just like Dr. Wernher Von Braun studying and applying the laws of propulsion, or Sir Isaac Newton pondering on the apple that fell on his head, any person who is a scientist begins with a question about the universe.

</div>
The Scientific Method provides a 6 step process to answer questions with a controlled experiment.

The first step? Make an observation. For this video, let’s pretend that we have a picture we would like to print from our computer on our printer. We choose “print” from our computer, but we observe the printer doesn’t print. Our observation? It’s simple: the printer does not print.

That leads us to step two: asking a question.

For us that question is: Why won’t the printer print?

Now that we have a question to answer, we then proceed to step three: proposing a hypothesis. According to <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=arizona&amp;cvid=a8ef98a08d204e598081dc4356e61cd8&amp;aqs=edge.0.0l4j69i60j69i61j69i60.1244j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Arizona</a> State University, the hypothesis is a clear statement of what is intended to be investigated. For our printer problem, let’s use the following hypothesis:

The printer is not printing because it is not powered on.

A hypothesis isn’t necessarily the correct explanation, but it is an explanation we can test.

Once we have a hypothesis, we then are ready for step four: make a prediction. Here we will declare what the outcome will be if the hypothesis is correct. For this step, we will make the following prediction: pressing the power button on the printer will turn it on and cause the printer to print our picture.

That leads us to step five: testing the prediction. Here we need to make an observation or perform an experiment in line with the prediction. For this instance, we need to visit the computer and see if it is indeed powered up, and if not, press the power button.

If the power button indicates the printer is indeed powered up, but our printer is not printing, then our hypothesis is not supported and is probably incorrect. However, if we find the printer is off and turning it on causes the printer to print our picture, then the hypothesis is supported and is likely correct. Unless our test was flawed, the unsupported hypothesis means that we can eliminate our hypothesis and begin with a new hypothesis.

The sixth and final step? That would be to report all of your findings from your testing. For our printer experiment, what happened when you visited the computer? Was the power off and did powering the printer on print your picture? Was the power on yet the printer wasn’t printing and now you need another hypothesis for why your printer isn’t working? This reporting step should discuss your data collection as well as any other observations you might have, including possible alternative hypothesis.

And that is it! The six steps of the scientific method. Now get out there, and start asking those questions!

&nbsp;

Credit:

Arizona State University

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

What Is the Scientific Method?

What Is the Scientific Method? Just like Dr. Wernher Von...

A relative of the catfish, the swai fish has become one of the most common whitefish in the United States. Even if you have never heard of swai fish, you have probably eaten it. At around two dollars per pound, this fish is one of the cheapest edible fish (compared with $10-20 per pound for many other common species of edible fish).

Swai fish is <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/01/what-the-heck-is-swai/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">native to the Mekong river in Southeast Asia</a>. However, most swai fish comes from Vietnam, where they are farmed in the Mekong Delta. These fish farms are poorly regulated, leading to various issues. The mass production of these fish not only has environmental consequences, but may be detrimental to your health.

This fish goes by many different names. It was originally marketed as “Asian catfish.” The swai fish (<i>Pangasius hypophthalmus</i>) is a close relative of the American catfish (in the family <i>Ictaluridae</i>). However, it is in a different family than American catfish. In 2003, the US FDA passed a law that “catfish” only refers to members of the family <i>Ictaluridae. </i>This has led to a wide variety of names for swai, and some confusion as to what exactly swai is.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_1874564" align="alignnone" width="624"]<img class="wp-image-1874564 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Mekong_delta.jpg" alt="An aerial photo of the Mekong delta." width="624" height="624" /> The Mekong Delta in Vietnam.[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2>A Fish With Many Names</h2>
The reclassification of “Asian catfish” has made identifying swai more complex. Stores sell <a href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2014/10/22/5-things-you-didnt-know-swai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> swai under many different names</a>, including iridescent shark, basa, tra, and sutchi. These names are misleading since swai is not a shark or a true basa fish. Many of these names are also used for other related species of fish.

Swai also goes by the far more generic name of “fish.” Many restaurants that serve dishes simply described as “fish” such as fish sandwiches or fish tacos may be serving swai. Swai is a white fish, like cod and halibut, but costs a fraction of the price. For this reason, swai is one of the most common food fish in the United States. In <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713516300172" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one study</a>, 67% of dishes containing unspecified fish contained swai.

The many different names for this fish, as well as the overlap with other species, makes it difficult to know exactly what you are getting, even when they are marketed honestly. However, honest marketing isn’t always a certainty either.

&nbsp;
<h2>These Are Not The Fish You Are Looking For</h2>
Adding to the confusion caused by Swai’s many names are intentionally mislabeled fish. Because swai is so cheap, passing it off as another fish is very profitable. The many steps from fish farms in Vietnam to your table make it difficult to know with certainty that your fish is what it is sold as.

A Virginia company marketed $15.5 million of swai as sole, grouper, and flounder. Though <a href="https://draxe.com/swai-fish/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the owner received a 5-year jail sentence</a>, other companies may also be misleading customers.

&nbsp;
<h2>Is Swai Safe to Eat?</h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1874565" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/catfish-1798834.jpg" alt="A catfish filet" width="1920" height="931" />

People have many concerns about the safety of eating swai fish. The industrial farming of this fish and the lack of regulation in this industry has serious consequences. Raising fish in dense pools causes many sanitation and health issues. In addition, the industrial processes involved expose the fish to toxins. Though some argue <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farming-fish-food-security/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">farmed fish prevent overfishing</a>, most of their diet comes from small wild fish. In addition, fish farming in the Mekong delta disrupts the local ecosystem. The added food, waste, and chemicals are detrimental to the delta's natural ecology.

&nbsp;
<h3>Food Poisoning</h3>
The most direct threat from poor-quality food is food poisoning. This term refers to a wide <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/most-common-types-of-food-poisoning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">variety of infections that can be transmitted by food</a>. The severity of food poisoning varies, but it is never a good time.

Farmed swai has a greater risk of causing food poisoning due to their dense farming conditions. Just like in all species, living in close quarters increases the risk of infectious disease. In one study, researchers found <i>Vibrio </i>bacteria contaminating <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25907121" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">70-80% of tested swai imports</a>. This form of food poisoning causes severe gastrointestinal distress.

&nbsp;
<h3>Antibiotics</h3>
Pharmaceuticals and disinfectants are used to combat the risks associated with farming fish. Because of the infections that these farms are prone to, large doses of de-wormers, antibiotics and other drugs are fed to the fish. Though this decreases the amount of bacteria, it also exposes the consumer to these drugs. Many of these compounds are not approved for use in humans.

Far more dangerously, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antimicrobial-resistance-policies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">uncontrolled use of antibiotics</a> poses an existential threat to humanity. Bacteria evolve very quickly and are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antimicrobial-resistance-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">becoming immune to our antibiotics</a>. The more antibiotics that are used, the more quickly these pathogens become resistant. Letting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-polluted-antibiotics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">antibiotics leach into rivers</a> just multiplies this problem.

Antibiotics changed the face of medicine and made many previously terminal illnesses easily treatable. Since this time, the world population has more than tripled and cities have become far denser. A large, antibiotic-resistant epidemic in our globalized world would be deadly on an unimaginable scale.

&nbsp;

To sum things up, swai fish is an extremely affordable edible fish. It has become increasingly common in the United States. However, the farming of these fish in Vietnam involves some questionable practices. The exposure of these fish to pharmaceuticals and bacteria may make their low price a bad deal in the long-run.

&nbsp;

What Is a Swai Fish?

A relative of the catfish, the swai fish has become...

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Amphibians evolved from lobe-finned fish roughly 370 million years ago and have exploded in diversity since then. There are now over </span><a href="https://amphibiaweb.org/amphibian/speciesnums.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">8,000 known species</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of amphibians, and more are discovered each year. How do they regulate their body temperature? Are amphibians cold-blooded? Before we can answer these questions, let's first learn what an amphibian is.</span>

&nbsp;
<h2>Amphibian Anatomy</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Many characteristics set amphibians apart from other classes of animals. Let’s look at some of the distinctions between amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. </span>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Skin:</strong> one of the biggest visual differences between amphibians and reptiles is the presence or absence of scales. Reptiles have a hard skin composed of scales, like snakes, lizards, and </span><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crocodile-distribution-past-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">crocodiles</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. They rely on these scales for protection from UV rays, their environment, and moisture loss. Amphibians, on the other hand, have no such outer protective layer. Instead, their skin is much softer and typically always moist. </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Habitat:</strong> reptiles and mammals can exist surprisingly far away from a constant water source. The </span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sahara-desert-Africa/Animal-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">desert horned viper</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> lives in the Saraha desert! Amphibians are not adept at living in the desert. Because they lack a good system to prevent water loss, they need to constantly be around a source of water. That’s why you’ll most likely find them near streams, rivers, lakes, and the </span><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/10-largest-rainforests/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rain forest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Life cycle:</strong> most amphibians go through a process known as metamorphosis during their life cycle. Most people are most familiar with this process in the context of caterpillars becoming butterflies and tadpoles becoming frogs. All of these transitions represent significant changes in body shape and types and are all called metamorphosis.</span></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1874582" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/fire-salamander-293324_1280-1024x768.jpg" alt="fire salamander" width="1024" height="768" />

&nbsp;
<h2>Types of Amphibians</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Amphibians are a class of animals, representing the third highest biological classification. As a group, they are referred to as </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amphibia. </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">All modern amphibians can be grouped into the subclass </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lissamphibia. </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beyond this subclass, there are three orders of amphibians that represent all of the species.</span>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Anura:</strong> Anura comes from the Greek roots of ‘without’ and ‘tail’. This order includes frogs and toads. Generally, frogs are classified by their smooth skin, whereas toads are classified by their warty skin. Anura represents over 90% of all amphibians, and they live everywhere on the globe except for the poles. </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Caudata:</strong> This order’s name comes from the Latin term for ‘tail’, and includes all of the salamanders. While they look like lizards they are almost nothing alike. Caudata also varies widely in their body size. Many salamanders only reach about 3 cm (1 inch) in length, but the </span><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chinese-giant-salamanders-endangered/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chinese giant salamander</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrias davidianus</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">) can grow to be upwards of 180 cm (5.9 ft) in length. </span></li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Gymnophiona:</strong> these amphibians name comes from the Greek word ‘gymnos’ meaning naked and ‘ophis’ which translates to serpent. This order of amphibia is likely the least known to the general public as it comprises the caecilians. Visually, they look very similar to some species of snakes and worms, although they only possess rudimentary eyes covered by skin. They vary in length from a few centimeters to over 150 cm (4.9 feet).</span></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1874583" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/frog-3509388_1920-1024x514.jpg" alt="frog swimming" width="1024" height="514" />

&nbsp;
<h2>Are Amphibians Cold Blooded?</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Yes, Amphibians are cold-blooded. The difference between cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals lies in how species control their core body temperature.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Cold-blooded animals (known as ectotherms) are at the mercy of their environment. These animals do not have the same mechanisms as endotherms to regulate their core body temperature - like sweating, shivering, or heat production. Instead, they move to different locations during the day to catch the sun or shade, depending on what the organism needs. This is why snakes and other reptiles can often be seen sunbathing on rocks in the morning but are often hiding once the temperature gets too hot. They are attempting to regulate their body temperature by moving from warm to cool areas. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Animals that are warm-blooded (also known as endotherms), like humans, maintain a fairly constant internal body temperature. That temperature can </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/animal-body-temperature" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vary drastically</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from animal to animal, but endotherms use the energy they derive from the food they eat to maintain homeostasis -  a set of constant internal conditions. </span>

&nbsp;
<h2>Ectothermic Amphibians</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">All members of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amphibia </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">are cold-blooded. Frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians all need to utilize the sun and shade balance to regulate their internal temperature. Due to the </span><a href="https://armi.usgs.gov/national_amphibian_atlas.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">habitat of most amphibians</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, this typically isn’t a difficult task. Because they usually live so close to water, they are capable of cooling down very quickly, and the climate in which amphibians live is typically one that is very hot. In places like the Amazon rain forest, living on the banks of a small stream in such hot, humid conditions provides the perfect environment for these animals to survive and thrive. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">That being said, amphibians are one of the most vulnerable classes of animals on planet earth. Over </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829317/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">70% of the world’s amphibian species</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are in decline due to habitat loss, global warming, and other human activities. If you appreciate the diverse and interesting world of amphibia, consider </span><a href="https://www.earth.com/take-action-save-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">donating to organizations</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that fight to save their habitats today!</span>

&nbsp;

Are Amphibians Cold Blooded?

Amphibians evolved from lobe-finned fish roughly 370 million years ago...

<div itemprop="video" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/VideoObject"><div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49"  >    <script type="text/javascript" src="https://delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5cb12d18d21f1a29f26ecb95/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?"></script></div>    <meta itemprop="name"content="What is a Hypothesis?" />    <meta itemprop="duration" content="T4M20S" />    <meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://img.vidible.tv/prod/2019-04/13/5cb12d18d21f1a29f26ecb95/5cb12ece30925c00019b0cbd_1280x720_FES_v1.jpg" />    <meta itemprop="embedUrl" content="https://delivery.vidible.tv/htmlembed/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.html?vid=5cb12d18d21f1a29f26ecb95" />    <meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="2019-04-13T00:35:00Z" />    <meta itemprop="expires" content="" />    <meta itemprop="description" content="" />    <meta itemprop="height" content="720" />    <meta itemprop="width" content="1,280" /></div>
&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What is a hypothesis?  A hypothesis is a clear statement of what is intended to be investigated. It is a tentative prediction about the nature of the relationship between two or more variables.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A hypothesis can be tested.  They are verifiable or falsifiable, and a prediction of certain outcomes.  A hypothesis is considered valuable even if it has been proven false.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">A hypothesis is NEVER a moral or ethical question.  Those questions are a lot of fun, but belong in the philosophy department.  </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">To better understand how to develop a proper hypothesis, consider this situation:</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">You are a nutritionist working in a zoo, and one of your responsibilities is to develop a menu </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">plan for the group of monkeys. In order to get the nutrition they need, the monkeys have </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">to be given fresh leaves as part of their diet. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">You must choose leaves from the following species: (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D and (e) E. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Your research has shown that in the wild the monkeys eat mainly B leaves, but you suspect that this could be because they feel safest feeding in B trees.  Your assumption is that eating leaves from the other four trees would make them vulnerable to predators.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">You design an experiment to find out which type of leaf the monkeys like best: You offer the monkeys all five types of leaves in equal quantities, and observe what they eat.  </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">From studying the popularity of these different leaves, there are many correct experimental hypotheses you could create.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">For example:</span>

&nbsp;

<b>When offered all five types of leaves, the monkeys will eat more of the leaves from tree B.</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This statement satisfies both criteria for experimental hypotheses because it is a prediction of what will be learned after the experiment and it is testable, that is, once you have collected and evaluated your observations of what the monkeys eat when all five types of leaves are offered, you know whether or not they ate more B leaves than the other types. </span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s look at some incorrect hypothesis to better understand how to form a correct hypothesis.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Incorrect hypotheses would include:</span>

&nbsp;

<b>When offered all five types of leaves, the monkeys will preferentially eat the type they like best.</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This statement certainly sounds predictive, but it does not satisfy the second criterion: there is no way you can test whether it is true once you have the results of your study. Your data will show you whether the monkeys preferred one type of leaf, but not WHY they liked it best. In fact, the above statement is an assumption that is inherent in the design of this experiment rather than a hypothesis.</span>

&nbsp;

<b>When offered all five types of leaves, the monkeys will preferentially eat B leaves because they can eat these safely in their natural habitat.</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This statement is problematic because the second part of the statement “because they can eat these safely in their natural habitat” also fails to satisfy the criterion of testability. You can tell whether the monkeys preferentially eat certain leaves, but the results of this experiment cannot tell you why. </span>

&nbsp;

<b>In their natural habitat, howler monkeys that feed in B trees are less vulnerable to predation than monkeys that feed on A, C, D, or E.</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a perfectly good experimental hypothesis, but not for the experiment described in</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">the question. You could use this hypothesis if you did a study in the wild looking at how</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">many howler monkeys get are attacked by predators whilst feeding on the leaves of certain trees. However, for the experimental feeding study in the zoo, it is neither a prediction nor testable. </span>

&nbsp;

<b>When offered all five types of leaves, which type will the monkeys eat preferentially?</b>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a question, and questions fail to satisfy criterion number one.  Questions are not predictive statements, and therefore, a question is not a hypothesis.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Creating a proper hypothesis takes some practice, but remember: a proper hypothesis is formed based on knowledge of other relationships as well as observation so get out there and explore your universe!</span>

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Credit: Arizona State University</span>

What Is a Hypothesis?

&nbsp; What is a hypothesis?  A hypothesis is a clear...

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Not all of us have a green thumb, but some plants are so ubiquitous that you can’t help but encounter them in everyday life. Mint is one of those plants. It’s probably in your toothpaste, or in a pot nearby as you walk down the street. There are a lot of reasons you might want to get to know this plant. Even if you’re a person who can’t tell the difference between a dandelion and daisy, you can still learn about mint plant uses - it’ll be sure to benefit you in one way or another.</span>

&nbsp;

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1873891" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mint-1500452__480.jpg" alt="mint" width="907" height="480" />

&nbsp;
<h2><strong>Mint Plant Botany </strong></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Also known as Mentha, mint is of the</span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070617160248/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4091/is_200501/ai_n9474312" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Lamiaceae</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> family. Somewhere between</span><a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aspt/sb/2004/00000029/00000004/art00014;jsessionid=md037lf9xq0r.x-ic-live-02" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> thirteen and eighteen species of mint exist</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, including bergamot mint, spearmint, pennyroyal, and peppermint. Part of what makes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/patchouli-origins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">these species</a> so hard to categorize is that there is a fair amount of natural hybridization. The species is distributed in regions across Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America. Mint is an aromatic, perennial herb. Most species grow best in wet, damp environments. The leaves grow in opposite pairs. Often, their edges are serrated or fuzzy. There is variety in coloring. Often, the best way to know if you are looking at a mint plant is to smell it. Its flowers range from white to purple. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As this plant grows in your garden, you can harvest the leaves at any time. Mint can make a good companion plant if kept under control.</span>

&nbsp;

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1873894" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/peppermint-2326541_1280-1024x682.jpg" alt="mint leaf" width="1024" height="682" />

&nbsp;
<h2><strong>Mint Taste and Digestion </strong></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Traditionally, people used mint to treat </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874114001937?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">upset stomachs and chest pain</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Today it is used to help alleviate nausea post-surgery. It is also used in aromatherapy as a smell that facilitates relaxation and cleanliness. With such an aromatic, fresh taste, the leaves and oil are also used to improve taste in culinary dishes, mouthwash, and toothpaste. It is a popular addition to lamb dishes in the middle east. It is popularly paired with chocolate as a treat.  </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">For a refreshing summer salad, try chopping up some watermelon and cucumber into a bowl. Take fresh sprigs of mint and finely cut and mix them into the bowl. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Wondering why toothpaste is so often mint flavored? <strong>Menthol, which is derived from mint, is able to override the bitter tastes of the chemicals used to clean our teeth.</strong> Mint does help to fight germs and over time, society has come to associate the smell of mint with </span><a href="https://mintdentalar.com/blog/why-mint-herb-of-choice-dental-products/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">a clean mouth. </span></a>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Some people do have </span><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/mint-allergy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span style="font-weight: 400;">allergies to mint</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, so be sure to ask when offering to share your mint-infused culinary creations with a friend.</span>

&nbsp;

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1873895" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/toothpaste-3067569_1280-1024x682.jpg" alt="toothbrush" width="1024" height="682" />

&nbsp;
<h2><strong>A Healthy Garden</strong></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Mint is a great addition to the garden. It attracts <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-existed-long-before-flowers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">beneficial pollinators</a> like bees, wasps, hoverflies, and tachinid flies. The smell of this plant comes in handy once again in that its pungent presence can help repel house flies, squash bugs, mosquitoes, and mice. You can take clippings from the garden and place them in vases around your abode for a refreshing, bug-repelling effect. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Mint grows well in the shade, so it can be a good option if you need to prioritize the sunny spots of your yard, porch or window for more needy herbs and veggies. It can provide beneficial protection to other plants as well. Try planting your mint near squash, bell peppers, peas, and beets. Mint can help to repel bugs and it is also regarded as improving the flavor of the food as it grows. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>An important note:</strong> if you are growing mint in your garden, strongly consider planting it in a container. Mint will likely take over any area where it grows. Many people consider it to be invasive. However, you plan to cultivate it, know that it will spread indefinitely.</span>

&nbsp;

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1873892" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/mint-1433826__480.jpg" alt="mint" width="720" height="480" />

&nbsp;
<h2><strong>Skin Care </strong></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Mint also has a cooling, <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/5-great-anti-inflammatory-herbs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">anti-inflammatory</a> effect. On a hot summer day, it can provide the sweet relief you need to continue to function well. You can make a paste of the leaves to ease burnt skin. You can use it to treat bug bites. It has strong antibacterial properties and can help to treat acne in some cases. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you are not allergic to mint, try taking a handful of (washed) mint leaves, a slice of a cucumber and a half tablespoon of honey. Blend the ingredients together and then apply the paste to your face - and voila! You’ve got a fresh face mask. Leave it on for twenty minutes before rinsing it off with cool water. You can do this every week and reap the benefits of this helpful herb.</span>

&nbsp;

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1873893" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/leaf-3070153_1280-1024x684.jpg" alt="mint oil" width="1024" height="684" />

&nbsp;

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As you familiarize with mint plant uses, you can be creative with how you incorporate it into your daily routines in the kitchen and bathroom as well as how it can best benefit your gardening endeavors. Have you had success with growing mint in the past? What did you end up using it for? Any tips for how best to harvest it? We’d love to hear in the comments below. </span>

&nbsp;

Intro to the Mint Plant (and the Top Mint Plant Uses)

Not all of us have a green thumb, but some...

To help answer the question, what is the hadal zone? let's first looks to where its name comes from. In Greek mythology, the god Hades rules over the dark underworld, where the dead spend eternity. This world is hostile and remote, guarded by the Three-Headed-Hound of Hades, Cerberus. The river Styx surrounds Hades. Entering Hades is an irreversible move.

In the myth of <em>Orpheus and Eurydice</em>, the living Orpheus enters Hades in an attempt to save his lover, Eurydice. He makes it out with his life, thanks to his beautiful music, but is unable to save Eurydice.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_1874302" align="alignnone" width="1256"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1874302" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Watts_George_Frederic_Orpheus_And_Eurydice.jpg" alt="A painting of Orpheus looking back at Eurydice in Hades" width="1256" height="900" /> Watts George Frederic - Orpheus And Eurydice[/caption]

&nbsp;

The myth of Hades has many parallels with the deepest reaches of our oceans. They are both extremely remote and dark. Only three people in history have seen them in person. Marine biologists hope to save these depths from destruction before it is too late. Much like Orpheus, they are seeking to save something precious that has been beyond the reach of humanity. Modern technology is just now beginning to enable us to truly understand and try to protect these rare Hadal habitats. With dedicated conservation, humanity may be able to prevent this story from ending like that of Orpheus and Eurydice.

&nbsp;
<h2>The Hadal Zone Is the Deepest Reaches of the Ocean</h2>
This imagery of a remote dark world deep beneath the surface makes Hades a perfect analogy for the deepest reaches of the ocean. The open (pelagic) ocean is divided up <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/how-deep-is-the-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">into five zones, based upon depth</a>. In each zone, less sunlight from the surface filters through. In the third zone, <a href="http://www.seasky.org/deep-sea/ocean-layers.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the bathyal zone</a>, no light penetrates except for rare exceptions. It is also called the midnight zone, or the dark zone. This stretches from one to four kilometers (3,300-13,000 ft) below the surface of the ocean.

The hadal zone (separated from the bathyal by the even darker abyssal zone) starts at the ocean floor, around six kilometers below sea level. It consists only of trenches formed by the movements of the earth’s tectonic plates. At the deepest (in the Mariana trench) these stretch to 11km below sea level.

This final 5 km of the depths of the ocean represents 45% of the ocean's depth. Though these areas small, isolated regions, the life in them is unique from the rest of the ocean.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_1874301" align="alignnone" width="1624"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1874301" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Earth_seafloor_crust_age_1996_-_2.jpg" alt="A map of the seafloor showing the age of differnt parts of the Earth's crust" width="1624" height="1020" /> The age of the seafloor crust. Newer regions are red.[/caption]

&nbsp;

There are 46 trenches in the ocean that make up the entire hadal zone. <a href="https://web.whoi.edu/hades/all-about-trenches/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">84% of these are found in the Pacific Ocean</a>. The tectonic activity of the so-called “ring of fire” formed by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/slow-earthquakes-tsunami-generation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">subduction zone of the Pacific and Eurasian continental plates</a> allows for these deep cuts in the ocean to form.

&nbsp;
<h2>Life in the Dark</h2>
Though it was once believed that life without light was impossible, it is now clear that even the hadal zone is full of life. Many unique and unusual creatures fill these extreme depths. Humans have never seen many of these species. They defy the odds by living in a hostile environment, under extreme pressure, near-freezing waters with few nutrients and absolute darkness.

Though much of the life in the deep sea remains unknown, our understanding of this unique biome is growing. Many unique groups of species have been identified at these depths. A few groups dominate life in these depths.

Amphipods are crustaceans similar to shrimp and lobsters. They feed on detritus, the material that slowly floats down from species dying in the water above. These species <a href="https://sciencing.com/deep-ocean-plants-13427770.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">have been found as deep as 9.1 km</a> (about 30,000 feet) below the surface.

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_1874303" align="alignnone" width="1280"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1874303" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Catalogue_of_the_Indian_decapod_Crustacea_in_the_collection_of_the_Indian_museum_.._1901-_20394565419.jpg" alt="Drawingd of decapods from early scientific descriptions" width="1280" height="711" /> A decapod[/caption]

&nbsp;

Predators also venture into the depths. Scientists have found Decapods, another group of crustaceans, as deep as 7 km (23,000 feet.) This group includes crayfish, shrimp and crabs. At these depths, a <a href="https://nerc.ukri.org/planetearth/stories/179/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rare species, <i>Benthescymus crenatus</i></a> dominates these communities. They hunt the Amphipods that live here.

Even in these depths, there are select species of fish. Researchers have seen the hadal snailfish <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia/animal/pseudoliparis-amblystomopsis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i>Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis</i></a> as deep as 8 km (27,000 feet) below the surface. These <a href="http://lakeerieimprovement.org/2018/10/26/knowing-whats-underneath-10-facts-about-the-hadal-zone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">observations were made in the Japan Trench by the Hakuho-Maru submersible</a>. Below this, <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/what-is-proteomics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">essential proteins</a> for fish cannot function, so no fish can survive.

Our understanding of the ecology of the hadal zone is still in its infancy. Scientists have made very few observations, and it is likely that they will find new species.

&nbsp;
<h2>Exploration of the Hadal Zone</h2>
The deepest points of the ocean are hostile not only to life, but also to technology. These extreme depths are extremely difficult to study. <strong>Fewer people have seen these depths than have been to the surface of the moon!</strong>

Humans have reached the deepest known point in the ocean, the Challenger Deep, only twice. In 1960 Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh made the first trip. <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120325-james-cameron-mariana-trench-challenger-deep-deepest-science-sub/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canadian director James Cameron completed the second trip in 2012</a>.

New research using remote submersibles is now possible using advanced technology. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute developed the Nereus remotely operated vehicle. This submersible is enabling <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/expeditions/to-hades-and-back-exploring-the-deepest-part-of-the-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the first broad survey of life</a> in these hadal trenches.

&nbsp;
<h2>Islands Below the Sea</h2>
The ecology of hadal trenches is unique for many reasons. It’s remoteness and extreme conditions are inhospitable to all but a few rare and specialized species, seen nowhere else on earth. The borders of these trenches create something like an island. Almost no species can move between these trenches.

We see this sort of isolation in other ecosystems. For example, islands and mountain tops are similarly isolated. Because of this, the species that inhabit them are unique. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-galapagos-islands/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Galapagos islands</a> that Darwin studies are an example of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-species-two-generations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rapid evolution that this allows</a>. The isolation of hadal trenches <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/46310608/Hadal_trenches_the_ecology_of_the_deepes20160607-12333-14nb77i.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">leads to the same type of reproductive isolation</a>. This means that understanding the diversity and ecology of these ecosystems requires a more exhaustive search than the few isolated snapshots we have.

&nbsp;
<h2>Human Impacts on the Hadal Zone</h2>
&nbsp;
<h2><img class="size-full wp-image-1874304 alignnone" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Beach_trash_30870156434.jpg" alt="Trash on a beach" width="1800" height="1200" /></h2>
&nbsp;

Despite its extreme remoteness, even these depths are not immune to human waste. Everything from beer cans and microplastics slowly settles from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clean-ocean-plastic-threaten-species/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">islands of trash on the surface</a>. The legacy of nuclear testing is apparent in the form of <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/bomb-carbon-found-ocean-trench" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">carbon-14 isotopes in deep-sea organisms</a>. This reveals how quickly pollutants enter deep sea organisms through the food-web.

These ecosystems are delicate, unknown, and extremely unique. Protecting them from human activity is essential to ensuring that we can at the very least identify the species that live there before they go extinct. With more knowledge comes the power to protect these ecosystems. It may now be impossible to know what these environments would have looked like without human impacts. We can, however, slow this damage through a global commitment to minimizing the pollution of our oceans.

&nbsp;

What Is the Hadal Zone?

To help answer the question, what is the hadal zone?...

The History of Earth in Exactly 2000 Words

The history of Earth is obviously a ginormous topic. Really,...

The vast expanse of space is filled with unimaginably surreal and humbling sights. Light-year wide towers of glowing gas, exploding stars, and entire galaxies colliding are just a few examples of the incredible images of the cosmos. Since the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-history-overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">inception of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958</a>, they have collected thousands of photos of celestial bodies. These star pictures are awe-inspiring testaments to the technological progress of space exploration over the last 60 years. From the first photos of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/images/apollo_image_12.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon</a> to the Hubble Telescope’s photos of the edges of the galaxy, NASA’s images reveal the incredible beauty of the universe and our planet.

NASA’s work is extremely important. They allow us to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-confirms-global-warming-trends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">track global warming</a>, develop <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/americans-asteroid-protection-lunar-base/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">protection from asteroids</a>, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/quake-aftershock-damage-seen-by-nasa-satellite/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">observe and learn from natural disasters</a>. The images taken by NASA provide insight into the structure and functions of our galaxy.

Here we have collected a few of our favorite star pictures from NASA. Selected from the large array of beautiful <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">photos from space available from NASA,</a> these images highlight the incredible complexity and scale of our universe. Though this short collection of pictures barely scratches the surface, it includes some beautiful and cool images of space.

Take a look at <a href="https://www.earth.com/image-category/images-of-the-day/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">earth.com’s images of the day</a> for more incredible photos of our planet and universe. NASA’s <a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> also provides impressive photos of space.

&nbsp;
<h2>Hubble Ultra Deep Field</h2>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1875571 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/UltraDeepField.jpg" alt="Hubble Ultra Deep Field Star Pictures" width="2000" height="2000" />

The <a href="https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic0611b/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hubble Ultra Deep Field</a> image is an iconic photo. It is focused on one of the darkest regions of the night sky. Though from the earth this would appear to be an empty void of space, it is in fact filled with galaxies. In 2004 the Hubble Telescope took this image to provide the<a href="https://www.spacetelescope.org/science/deep_fields/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> deepest view of space</a> ever seen. It shows galaxies that came into existence soon after the big bang. These galaxies are so distant that their light has been traveling for billions of years.

This photo gives an amazing view of just how vast our universe is, and how little we know.

&nbsp;
<h2>The Crab Nebula</h2>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1875572 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CrabNebula.jpg" alt="Star Pictures crab nebula" width="1800" height="1790" />

<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/messier-1-the-crab-nebula" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The crab nebula (or messier 1) </a>was first seen by Chinese astronomers in 1054. These astronomers saw a temporary star that was visible in the daytime sky for a month. This was the explosion of a supernova that has left a 6 light-year-wide nebula in its place. It is 6,500 light-years away from the earth. As a result, it can be seen from earth with only a small telescope.

The Hubble Telescope took this image over a period of three months. It is actually a composite of 24 separate images. Researchers stitched together these images to create one of the <a href="https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic0515a/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">largest photos ever taken by the Hubble Telescope</a>.

&nbsp;
<h2>Westerlund 2</h2>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1875573 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Westerlund2.jpg" alt="Star Pictures cluster" width="1280" height="959" />

NASA released this image of the <a href="https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic1509a/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Westerlund 2</a> cluster on the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope’s launch. It combines multiple star pictures taken in the visual spectrum with near-infrared images.

This picture shows a cluster that is 2000 light-years away in the constellation Carina.

&nbsp;
<h2>The Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635)</h2>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1875574 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Bubble-Nebula.jpg" alt="Star Pictures bubble nebulae" width="1280" height="1216" />

<a href="https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic1608a/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Bubble Nebula</a> has a unique appearance that gave it its name. It is a uniquely cool and stunning stellar object. At the center of this strange nebula is an enormous star. This <a href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002AJ....124.3313M" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“O-type” star</a> is 45 times more massive than the sun. The fierce solar winds of this giant are responsible for the bubble of gas seen here.

It is 7 light-years across, 8,000 light-years away and located in the constellation Cassiopeia.

&nbsp;
<h2>Sombrero Galaxy (Messier 104)</h2>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1875575 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/SombreroGalaxy.jpg" alt="sombrero galaxy Star Pictures" width="1280" height="717" />

<a href="https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/opo0328a/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Sombrero Galaxy</a> is an extremely photogenic galaxy. This spiral galaxy is tilted just 6 degrees as seen from earth. This subtle tilt gives it the appearance of a wide-brimmed hat like a sombrero.

This galaxy is 30 million light-years away, located in the constellation Virgo. It stretches across an astounding 50,000 light-years. It contains a mass equivalent to 800 billion suns.
<h2>The Butterfly of a Dying Star (NGC 6302)</h2>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1875576 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Buttlerfly.jpg" alt="Star Pictures butterfly " width="1280" height="1024" />

This image shows <a href="https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic0910h/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the death of a star</a>. Though it may appear to be a beautiful, cloudy butterfly, it is, in fact, a violent explosion. The wings of this butterfly are 20,000-degree celsius gas shooting out of the dying star at 950,000 kilometers per hour. As the star explodes, it releases ultraviolet radiation that causes it to glow.

This star is 3,800 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. It has been expelling gas for 2,200 years. The cloud of gas stretches for nearly 2 light-years.

&nbsp;
<h2>Field of Stars (Messier 107)</h2>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-1875577 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/StarField.jpg" alt="Star Pictures cluster near milky way" width="1280" height="1307" />

This image shows a <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2321.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">collection of stars</a> that have shone for billions of years. There are hundreds of thousands of stars in this image. These stars cluster in globe shapes on the outskirts of the Milky Way galaxy. There are over 150 of these clusters, though their origins are not well understood.

This cluster is 20,000 light-years away in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was first seen in 1782 by William Herschel.

These star pictures are just a small selection of the amazing images of our universe taken by NASA. These images provide perspective to the significance of our world. Seeing the vastness of the universe surrounding us highlights our need to protect the only safe-haven we know of, the planet Earth.

&nbsp;

Coolest Star Pictures by NASA

The vast expanse of space is filled with unimaginably surreal...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



<p>Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-rebound-process-through-climate-change">Geological rebound process through climate change</h2>



<p>The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-monitoring-networks">Scientific monitoring networks</h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.</p>



<p>The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-transformation">Coastal Transformation</h2>



<p>This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.</p>



<p>The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.</p>



<p>The full study was recently published in <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a></em>.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Like what you saw and read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>—–</p>



<p>Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.</p>



<p>—–</p>

Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



<p>Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-widespread-ai-anxiety-crisis-among-us">Addressing the widespread 'AI anxiety' crisis among us</h2>



<p>A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.</p>



<p>Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.</p>



<p>Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents".  In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively.   MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.</p>



<p>MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization.  The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-productivity-through-focused-learning">Revolutionary productivity through focused learning</h2>



<p>Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.</p>



<p>Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-well-being-benefits-through-ai-competence">Psychological well-being benefits through AI competence</h2>



<p>The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-replacement-anxiety-to-partnership-confidence">From 'replacement anxiety' to 'partnership confidence'</h2>



<p>Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.</p>



<p>This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-benefits-of-increased-retention">Financial benefits of increased retention</h2>



<p>The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.</p>



<p>PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research documents 20% to 30% improvements in productivity, market speed, and revenue in organizations that attempt systematic AI adoption through comprehensive training.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-advantages-of-ai-enabled-teams">Environmental advantages of AI-enabled teams</h2>



<p>AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.</p>



<p>In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-organizational-advantages">Cumulative organizational advantages</h2>



<p>The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.</p>



<p>As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.</p>



<p>For more on MindStudio's free AI training for companies, visit the website's of MindStudio and Dominnus from the links below.</p>



<p>The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.</p>



<p id="block-9bd989d6-2fd3-4580-957f-6cacce134f08">-----</p>



<p id="block-eff5dea3-a9bb-40b5-a923-e5a9978bc0e2">Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p id="block-43e218f4-0391-477c-8396-eb777c8c80a3">Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



<p id="block-1f9a227a-ec37-4140-81b8-ffa4a7cc6689">-----</p>



<p>MindStudio.AI: <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.mindstudio.ai</a></p>



<p>Dominnus: <a href="https://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.dominnus.com</a></p>

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



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



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward">The path forward</h2>



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Some children read facial expressions when making food choices.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-people-s-reactions-influence-children-s-eating-habits">Other people's reactions influence children's eating habits</h2>



<p>Many children are finicky eaters, but research explains how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-learned-why-so-many-kids-dislike-vegetables/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watching others eat and social modeling</a> influence the eating habits of children.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Study Methodology Demonstrates Social Learning Impact</h2>



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/school-of-psychology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aston University School of Psychology</a> have published findings in Frontiers in Psychology that illuminate the neurobiological foundations of food preference development through observational learning. The investigation employed controlled video stimuli featuring adults consuming raw broccoli while displaying systematically varied facial expressions to measure participant responses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Asymmetrical Response Patterns Identified</h2>



<p>The research, conducted with 204 female participants, revealed a pronounced asymmetry in social modeling effects. Negative facial expressions during vegetable consumption significantly diminished observer food preference ratings, while positive expressions failed to produce corresponding increases in vegetable appeal. This finding challenges conventional assumptions about the bidirectional nature of social influence in dietary behavior formation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evolutionary Psychology Framework Applied</h2>



<p>Dr. Katie Edwards and her research team propose that these results reflect adaptive mechanisms developed through evolutionary processes. The heightened sensitivity to disgust expressions likely functions as a protective system, enabling individuals to identify potentially harmful foods through social cues without direct risk exposure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clinical and Educational Implications</h2>



<p>These findings carry substantial implications for pediatric nutrition interventions and family meal dynamics. The research suggests that parental expressions of distaste during vegetable consumption may inadvertently reinforce children's existing food aversions through unconscious social transmission pathways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future Research Directions</h2>



<p>The study establishes a foundation for expanded investigation into real-time social modeling effects and cross-demographic applicability. Researchers emphasize the necessity for longitudinal studies examining actual consumption behaviors rather than preference ratings alone, particularly within family contexts where social learning occurs most frequently.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc Some children read facial expressions when making food choices....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-causing-protein-bound-and-blocked">Cancer-causing protein bound and blocked</h2>



<p>In a discovery that can one day revolutionize cancer treatment, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Riverside</a> have successfully developed a means of controlling MYC, a notoriously slippery protein that causes approximately <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chaotic-protein-that-fuels-75-of-cancers-can-be-controlled/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">75% of all cancers in humans</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-myc-different">What makes MYC different</h2>



<p>MYC presents a unique challenge when studying cancer. Normally, this protein plays a vital role in healthy cells. It carefully controls transcription - the process that converts genetic information from DNA and RNA into proteins.</p>



<p>However, cancer changes everything. In cancer cells, MYC becomes a destructive force. It operates in overdrive mode with no regulation whatsoever.</p>



<p>Professor Min Xue, who led the research team, explains it simply: "MYC is less like food for cancer cells and more like a steroid. It drives cancer's aggressive growth." This superactive behavior makes MYC involved in three out of every four cancer cases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-myc-is-hard-to-target">Why MYC is hard to target</h2>



<p>Despite its clear role in cancer, targeting MYC has been one of medicine's biggest challenges. The main problem lies in MYC's unusual structure - or rather, its complete lack of structure.</p>



<p>Professor Xue describes the protein as "basically a glob of randomness." This means conventional drug discovery methods don't work. These traditional approaches rely on sharply defined protein structures. MYC simply doesn't have one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A New Approach to Fighting MYC</h2>



<p>The UCR research team developed a clever solution. They designed a special peptide molecule that could selectively bind to MYC. More importantly, this peptide could block MYC's destructive activity.</p>



<p>The key was fine-tuning two specific features: the peptide's stiffness and its shape. Through careful adjustments, researchers achieved something remarkable. They reached "sub-micro-molar affinity" - meaning their peptide binds as strongly as antibodies do.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-results">Breakthrough results</h2>



<p>This accomplishment represents a major leap beyond previous attempts. The researchers enhanced their peptide's binding strength by two orders of magnitude. This dramatic improvement brings the work significantly closer to practical drug development goals.</p>



<p>The research opens new possibilities for treating the vast majority of cancers where MYC plays a destructive role.</p>



<p>The researchers are presently optimizing peptide-delivery systems based on lipid nanoparticles that deliver the peptide effectively into cancer cells. The<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> National Institutes of Health</a> and the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Defense</a> funded the study, which appeared in the Journal of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Chemical Society</a>.<br>This research offers renewed hope against cancer, and it can potentially open a door to more effective cancer therapies for most cancer patients worldwide.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

The protein that fuels 3 out of 4 cancers has been controlled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



<p>On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.</p>



<p>This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.</p>



<p>Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.</p>



<p>The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators.  Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas.  These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.</p>



<p>Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



<p>Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.</p>



<p>Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



<p>385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.</p>



<p>The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.</p>



<p>Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



<p>The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."</p>



<p>This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a></em> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.</p>



<p>Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet <em>Archaeopteris</em>: the first modern tree</h2>



<p>The star of this ancient forest is <em>Archaeopteris</em> – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur <em>Archaeopteryx</em>. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.</p>



<p>William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.</p>



<p>Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



<p>These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.</p>



<p>This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



<p>The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified <em>Eospermatopteris</em>, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.</p>



<p>All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



<p>Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.</p>



<p>Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."</p>



<p>The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



<p>In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.</p>



<p>Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



<p>Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.</p>



<p>Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.</p>



<p>These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.</p>



<p>The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em>Current Biology</em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-map-exact-ages-when-your-body-rapidly-ages">Scientists Map Exact Ages When Your Body Rapidly Ages</h2>



<p>Scientists have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-bodies-begin-breaking-down-two-very-precise-ages/#google_vignette">discovered that aging</a> isn't the gradual, steady process many assume it to be. Instead, researchers from Stanford Medicine have found that our bodies undergo dramatic molecular changes at two specific ages: 44 and 60. This research, published in Nature Aging, reveals that aging happens in sudden bursts rather than smooth transitions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-waves-of-rapid-aging">Two waves of rapid aging</h2>



<p>The Stanford study tracked over 135,000 different molecules and microbes in 108 participants aged 25 to 75 over several years. Results showed that 81% of all molecules studied exhibited non-linear changes, meaning they shifted dramatically at certain ages rather than changing gradually over time.</p>



<p>Michael Snyder, chair of genetics at Stanford School of Medicine and the study's senior author, noted significant findings. "We're not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes. It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s. And that's true no matter what class of molecules you look at."</p>



<p>The first wave of changes occurs around age 44, affecting molecules related to alcohol metabolism, caffeine processing, lipid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/age-related-changes-in-metabolism-dont-match-our-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>, and skin and muscle function. The second wave hits around age 60, involving changes in carbohydrate metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, and again cardiovascular and muscle health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-during-these-aging-bursts">What happens during these aging bursts</h2>



<p>During the mid-40s transformation, researchers observed significant changes in how the body processes alcohol and fats. This period often coincides with increased stress levels in many people's lives, potentially contributing to lifestyle factors that accelerate these molecular shifts.</p>



<p>"It's possible some of these changes could be tied to lifestyle or behavioral factors that cluster at these age groups, rather than being driven by biological factors," Snyder explained. For instance, alcohol metabolism dysfunction might result from increased consumption during the typically stressful mid-40s period.</p>



<p>The changes at age 60 are perhaps less surprising, as this is when many age-related diseases begin to manifest more prominently. The molecular shifts affect immune function and kidney health, both critical for maintaining overall wellness as we enter our senior years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-latest-research-confirms-aging-patterns">Latest research confirms aging patterns</h2>



<p>Recent 2025 studies have validated these findings. Research examining tissue samples from 76 people found similar aging patterns, noting an "inflection point" between ages 45 and 55.</p>



<p>Scientists discovered that blood vessels, particularly the aorta, age fastest among all body tissues. This vascular aging may drive aging in other body parts, highlighting cardiovascular health's central role in the aging process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cellular-changes-and-microbiome-shifts">Cellular changes and microbiome shifts</h2>



<p>The Stanford research revealed that these aging bursts affect our microbiome – the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in and on our bodies. These microbial communities undergo substantial shifts during both aging periods, potentially affecting everything from digestion to immune function.</p>



<p>Additionally, researchers found that protein production and gene expression begin to fall out of sync as we age. This breakdown in cellular communication becomes especially pronounced during the two aging waves, contributing to the accumulation of damaged proteins associated with diseases such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-brain-disorder-important-data-was-fabricated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer's</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-implications-and-longevity-considerations">Health implications and longevity considerations</h2>



<p>Understanding these aging patterns has important implications for healthcare strategies. Research suggests that people should pay particular attention to their health during their 40s and 60s, when these dramatic molecular changes occur.</p>



<p>Snyder emphasized the importance of proactive health measures. "I'm a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we're still healthy," he noted. This might include increasing exercise to protect heart health and maintain muscle mass, or reducing alcohol consumption in the 40s as the body's ability to metabolize it declines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-approaches-to-anti-aging-treatment">New approaches to anti-aging treatment</h2>



<p>Aging research has seen notable advances in 2025. Harvard Medical School scientists developed chemical cocktails that reverse cellular aging without genetic modification. These six combinations restored aged cells to youthfulness in under a week, offering safer alternatives to gene therapy.</p>



<p>Researchers identified new biomarkers like "InflammAge," a saliva-based test measuring chronic inflammation associated with aging. This non-invasive approach could change how we monitor aging and intervention.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-directions-in-aging-research">Future directions in aging research</h2>



<p>Emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cellular reprogramming, and senolytic therapies, are opening new possibilities for extending healthspan. Companies develop treatments targeting aging's fundamental mechanisms rather than just managing age-related diseases.</p>



<p>The Stanford findings provide a roadmap for implementing preventive measures. Rather than waiting for symptoms, people can prepare for and potentially mitigate these predictable aging waves.</p>



<p>As aging understanding evolves, one thing becomes clear: aging isn't inevitable decline, but specific biological events we may learn to prevent or reverse. The key is recognizing when these transitions occur and taking proactive health steps during vulnerable periods.</p>



<p>The study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/nataging" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Aging</a></em>.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Scientists discover we age in bursts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hidden science behind tickling.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-discover-the-brain-s-tickling-command-center">Scientists discover the brain's 'tickling command center'</h2>



<p>Researchers have finally solved one of humanity's most enduring mysteries: why we can't <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/after-centuries-of-debate-we-still-dont-know-how-tickling-works/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tickle</a> ourselves and what makes some people incredibly ticklish while others barely react? Recent scientific discoveries are revolutionizing our understanding of this peculiar human behavior.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-discovery-in-the-brain">Breakthrough discovery in the brain</h2>



<p>In 2023, Dr. Michael Brecht's team at <a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humboldt University</a>-<a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berlin</a> made a major discovery published in the <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(22)01991-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">journal <em>Neuron</em></a>. They identified the brain's actual "tickling command center" – specific neurons in a region called the periaqueductal gray that control both tickling responses and play behavior.</p>



<p>When researchers used cutting-edge optogenetic technology to shut down these neurons in laboratory rats, something remarkable happened. The animals completely lost their ability to be tickled or engage in playful behavior.</p>



<p>"We found that global blockade of the rat periaqueductal gray with either muscimol or lidocaine interfered with ticklishness and play," the research team reported in their study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-types-of-tickling-revealed">Two types of tickling revealed</h2>



<p>What we call "tickling" is two completely different phenomena, according to the latest research. Light tickling – that feathery sensation that makes you want to scratch – is essentially your body's sophisticated bug detection system. This alerts you to potential insects or parasites on your skin.</p>



<p>Deep tickling – the kind that makes you laugh uncontrollably – involves complex brain circuits and is fundamentally social. You literally cannot tickle yourself with this type of stimulation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-self-tickling-is-impossible">Why self-tickling is impossible</h2>



<p>Your cerebellum acts like a prediction machine, recent findings show. When you move your own hand to touch yourself, your brain generates precise predictions about what you will feel and then cancels out the tickling sensation through neural inhibition.</p>



<p>When someone else tickles you, your brain can't predict their movements, so the full tickling response activates. It's like your brain's way of distinguishing between self and others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-individual-differences-explained">Individual differences explained</h2>



<p>Individual differences in ticklishness depend on genetics, psychology, and even trust. Dr. Xinzhong Dong at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> notes that people with denser nerve endings tend to be more sensitive.</p>



<p>Psychological factors matter just as much. You respond more strongly when tickled by people you trust, and anxiety completely shuts down tickling responses. This explains why the same physical stimulus can produce completely different reactions depending on who's doing the tickling.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-your-ticklishness">Controlling your ticklishness</h2>



<p>Science offers answers for controlling your ticklishness. You can reduce tickling sensitivity through systematic desensitization – gradual exposure in controlled settings.</p>



<p>Dr. Konstantina Kilteni's 2025 research, published in <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt0350" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>, reveals another technique: place your hand on the tickler's hand. This allows your brain to partially predict the sensations, reducing the tickling response by up to 90 percent.</p>



<p>"Your brain is essentially learning to override its own reflexes," Kilteni explained in her review of tickling research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-purpose-discovered">Evolutionary purpose discovered</h2>



<p>From an evolutionary perspective, tickling serves vital functions according to <a href="https://www.umd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a> researcher Dr. Robert Provine's extensive studies. It trains our defense reflexes for vulnerable body areas and facilitates social bonding between family members.</p>



<p>Tickling-induced laughter is actually one of the first forms of communication between infants and caregivers. "Tickle involves a neurological self/nonself discrimination, providing the most primitive social scenario," Provine noted in his research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinical-applications-emerge">Clinical applications emerge</h2>



<p>Research shows people with autism spectrum disorder perceive touches as more ticklish than people without the condition. Investigating this difference could provide insight into brain differences and help advance autism research.</p>



<p>People with schizophrenia tend to experience self-touches similarly to external tickles, allowing them to essentially tickle themselves. This suggests altered sensory prediction mechanisms in the condition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-research-reveals-universal-nature">Animal research reveals universal nature</h2>



<p>Scientists have discovered that many species beyond humans are ticklish. Rats emit ultrasonic "laughs" when tickled, while chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans all respond to tickling stimulation.</p>



<p>This widespread occurrence across species suggests that tickling serves fundamental biological and social functions that evolved long before humans developed complex language and culture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



<p>Dr. Kilteni argues that tickling research deserves more scientific attention. "It is a complex interplay of motor, social, neurological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects," she stated in her recent review.</p>



<p>New haptic technologies and advanced research methodologies now permit scientists to investigate tickle sensation with unprecedented precision. Standardized experimental methods using mechanical tickling devices ensure consistent results across studies.</p>



<p>Recent findings published in <em>Science Advances</em> show that tickling research is opening new doors in neuroscience, potentially leading to a better understanding of social behavior, sensory processing, and neurological conditions.</p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4 The hidden science behind tickling. Scientists discover the brain's...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals secret mission to create working time travel device.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-an-equation-truly-bend-time-a-physicist-s-decades-long-quest-to-rewrite-reality">Could an equation truly bend time? A physicist's decades-long quest to rewrite reality</h2>



<p>Imagine the impossible: stepping back through time in a time machine, not in fantasy, but through a scientific endeavor driven by profound personal loss. For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astrophysicist-says-hes-cracked-the-equation-for-time-travel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Ronald Mallett</a>, a distinguished astrophysicist and professor emeritus at the <a href="https://uconn.edu/">University of Connecticut</a>, this deeply human longing has fueled a lifelong mission. He claims to have discovered the equation that could unlock temporal displacement, pushing boundaries once deemed purely science fiction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-profound-grief-that-forged-a-vision">A profound grief that forged a vision</h2>



<p>Mallett's extraordinary pursuit began with devastating tragedy in 1955. At merely 10 years old, he endured his father Boyd's sudden death—a television repairman whose passion for science had ignited a similar spark in his young son. Boyd Mallett, only 33, succumbed to a heart attack, leaving behind a grief-stricken child searching for solace.</p>



<p>That solace came through H.G. Wells' <em>The Time Machine</em>. Within its pages, Mallett found a captivating concept: "Time is only a kind of Space." These words transformed from a literary phrase into a guiding principle, becoming the driving force behind his unwavering commitment to unraveling time's fundamental mysteries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-humble-beginnings-to-academic-heights">From humble beginnings to academic heights</h2>



<p>Mallett's journey was far from straightforward. After serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era, he utilized the GI Bill for higher education, earning his Ph.D. in physics from Pennsylvania State University in 1973 at the age of 28.</p>



<p>In 1975, he made history as the first African American professor in the University of Connecticut's physics department, achieving full professorship in 1987 before retiring in 2024 as professor emeritus.</p>



<p>Throughout these successful academic years, Mallett harbored his radical ambition as a closely guarded secret. "I kept my time travel goal a secret," he confessed. "I worried people would think I was nuts." His public research centered on black holes, serving as a "cover story" while he quietly developed his revolutionary time travel theory.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-breakthrough-moment">The breakthrough moment</h2>



<p>His pivotal insight arrived while hospitalized for a heart condition—a profound irony given his father's heart attack started this journey. The breakthrough was elegantly simple yet revolutionary: "If gravity can bend time, and light can create gravity, then light can bend time."</p>



<p>"It turns out that black holes can create a gravitational field that could lead to the creation of time loops that could allow us to go back in time," he explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-blueprint-for-a-temporal-vortex">The blueprint for a temporal vortex</h2>



<p>Mallett's vision for a functioning time machine replicates spacetime-warping phenomena around black holes. He offers a compelling analogy: "Picture a cup of coffee. Stir it with a spoon, and the coffee swirls. A spinning black hole does the same to spacetime."</p>



<p>In Einstein's general relativity, the universe is a dynamic fabric woven from space and time. Massive objects like black holes warp this fabric—an effect we perceive as gravity. Mallett theorizes that an intense, continuous, circulating beam of light from a ring of powerful lasers could replicate this gravitational torsion, effectively twisting time into a loop.</p>



<p>This "time loop" would theoretically allow information—or perhaps matter—to travel backward in time. He detailed this mathematical concept in his 2006 autobiography, <em>Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-published-research-and-recognition">Published research and recognition</h2>



<p>His work, published in respected journals including <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/physics-letters-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics Letters A</a></em> and <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10701" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foundations of Physics</a></em>, suggests circulating laser light could generate gravitational fields potent enough to create closed timelike curves, enabling time travel for data.</p>



<p>Mallett's research has gained worldwide media attention, featured on <a href="https://www.thisamericanlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Public Radio's <em>This American Life</em></a>, the <a href="https://www.history.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">History Channel</a>, and <a href="https://www.today.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC's <em>Today Show</em></a>. The widespread interest reflects both his compelling personal story and rigorous scientific approach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-galactic-hurdles-and-persistent-skepticism">The galactic hurdles and persistent skepticism</h2>



<p>While Mallett's equations captivate imagination, the path to reality faces immense obstacles. The energy requirement is staggering—Mallett acknowledges needing "galactic amounts of energy," far beyond current technological capabilities.</p>



<p>There's also a poignant limitation: even if realized, his machine could only send information back to when it was first activated, meaning it couldn't transport him to 1955 to prevent his father's death.</p>



<p>The scientific community remains skeptical. Physicists Ken Olum and Allen Everett argue that Mallett's proposed laser ring would need to be larger than the observable universe to achieve the necessary spacetime distortion. They invoke Stephen Hawking's chronology protection conjecture, suggesting physics may prevent macroscopic time travel.</p>



<p>Astrophysicist Paul Sutter has voiced doubts about Mallett's underlying mathematics, while science writer Brian Clegg finds the concept intriguing enough to warrant experimental investigation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-that-transcends-time">A legacy that transcends time</h2>



<p>Now approaching 80, Dr. Mallett remains steadfast. "I believe my work will show time travel is possible," he asserts. "Future generations will build on it in ways we can't yet imagine."</p>



<p>His equations, though yet to physically bend time, have bent our collective imagination. Ongoing public interest, evidenced by his continued media appearances and Spike Lee's film adaptation of his memoir, underscores his ideas' profound impact.</p>



<p>More than a scientific pursuit, Mallett's story testifies to human resilience, intellectual courage, and hope's enduring power. Whether his theoretical time machine ever materializes, his legacy is immeasurable—inspiring countless individuals to challenge conventional limits and perceive time not as an unyielding barrier, but as a boundless frontier awaiting exploration.</p>



<p></p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



<p>Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?</p>



<p>The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What was acid rain?</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The science behind it</strong></h2>



<p>Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.</p>



<p>While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The crisis at its peak</strong></h2>



<p>During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Environmental devastation</strong></h2>



<p>The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.</p>



<p>By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.</p>



<p>Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Economic impact</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The solution: government action and technology</strong></h2>



<p>Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Clean Air Act of 1990</strong></h2>



<p>The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cap-and-trade success</strong></h2>



<p>Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.</p>



<p>The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Technology advances</strong></h2>



<p>Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.</p>



<p>The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today"><strong>Why we don't hear about it today</strong></h2>



<p>Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Success doesn't make news</strong></h2>



<p>There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mission accomplished</strong></h2>



<p>The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone"><strong>Is it really gone?</strong></h2>



<p>The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.</p>



<p>EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What this teaches us</strong></h2>



<p>The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.</p>



<p>Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.</p>



<p>Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.</p>



<p>This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.</p>



<p>Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2>



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.</p>



<p><strong>3. What made the solution successful?</strong> Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.</p>



<p><strong>4. Do other countries have acid rain problems?</strong> Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.</p>



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a></p>



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



<p>Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.</p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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

The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

<p>Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. </p>



<p>The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



<p>Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. </p>



<p>Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.</p>



<p>Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. </p>



<p>They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).</p>



<p>Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.</p>



<p>Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.</p>



<p>This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.</p>

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.</p>



<p>"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.</p>



<p>"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



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



<p><em>By </em><a href="http://csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.</p>



<p>"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



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



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.</p>



<p>"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."</p>



<p>"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."</p>



<p><em>Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



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



<p><em>By </em><a href="http://csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



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



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River.</p>



<p>In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. </p>



<p>Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.</p>



<p>Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. </p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;</em></p>



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



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.</p>



<p>“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. </p>



<p>The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.</p>



<p>“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”</p>



<p>The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</em></p>



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



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?</p>



<p>One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ACS Reactions</em></p>



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



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

News coming your way