Acipenser transmontanus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=d55013d210f7439f8ca981b3b73576f2&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i60j69i57j69i60l2j69i59.492j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS"> North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is a species of sturgeon in the family Acipenseridae of the order Acipenseriformes. They are an anadromous fish species ranging in the Eastern Pacific; from the Gulf of Alaska to Monterey, California. However, some are landlocked in the Columbia River Drainage, Montana, and Lake Shasta in California, with reported sightings in northern Baja California, Mexico.Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) &gt; Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and paddlefishes) &gt; Acipenseridae (Sturgeons) &gt; Acipenserinae Etymology: : Latin, = sturgeon, 1853 (Ref. 45335); transmontanus: The specific name is derived from the Latin acipenser (sturgeon), trans (beyond), and montanus (mountain) (Ref. 27436).More on author: Richardson.

Acipenser transmontanus

Acipenser transmontanus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation...

Ara militaris NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/faking-death-is-a-good-way-for-animals-to-stay-alive/">animals</a> too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ec69ef584ff94804b390cdfd40d0039b&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59j69i60j69i57j69i60l2j0l2.946j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The military macaw is a large parrot and a medium-sized macaw that gets its name from its predominantly green plumage resembling a military parade uniform. It is native to forests of Mexico and South America and though considered vulnerable in the wild, it is still commonly found in the pet trade industry. The Military Macaw (Ara militaris) has a dark green color. The head is a green slightly clearer and the crown blue. The back and the top of the wings they have a slightly greenish tone.

Ara militaris

Ara militaris NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Aratinga guarouba

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source...

Arcanator orostruthus

Arctocephalus townsendi NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- Arctocephalus townsendi ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-plants-have-core-relationships-with-certain-bacteria-and-fungi/">fungi,</a> and microbes of North America and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.The Guadalupe fur seal is one of six members of the fur seal genus Arctocephalus. Sealers reduced the population to just a few dozen by the late 19th century, but the species had recovered to 10,000 in number by the late 1990s. Many individuals can be found on <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=mexico&amp;cvid=deb8a73144fb4b71ab32425104dd884d&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59j0l6.1167j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Mexico's</a> Guadalupe Island.
Guadalupe fur seals are sexually dimorphic in size, with the males being much larger than females, although few specimens have been measured. Individuals of both sexes are dark brown or dusky black, with the guard hairs on the back of the neck being yellowish or light tan. Pups are born with a black coat similar to that of adults. The seals are one of the few with visible earflaps, confirming it is not a phocid/<a class="mw-redirect" title="Earless seals" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earless_seals">true seal</a>. Guadalupe fur seals breed along the eastern coast of Guadalupe Island, approximately 200 km west of Baja California. In addition, individuals have been sighted in the southern California Channel Islands, including two males who established territories on San Nicolas Island. Stray seals have been found as far north as Oregon

Arctocephalus townsendi

Arctocephalus townsendi NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Ardeotis (=Choriotis) nigriceps

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and<a href="https://www.earth.com/image/lake-st-clair-of-the-u-s-and-canada/"> Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ec69ef584ff94804b390cdfd40d0039b&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59j69i60j69i57j69i60l2j0l2.946j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. Arkansia is a monotypic genus of freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. The sole species in the genus is Arkansia wheeleri. Its common names are the Ouachita rock pocketbook and Wheeler's pearly mussel. The genus was named for the state of Arkansas, where the mussel was first discovered. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. The Ouachita Rock Pocketbook occurs in the Kiamichi River in southeastern Oklahoma, the Little River in southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas Cumulative recovery of sloughed (unmetamorphosed) glochidia from two groups of largemouth bass inoculated with Arkansia wheeleri glochidia on gills or fins.

Arkansia wheeleri

Assiminea pecos NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/lake-st-clair-of-the-u-s-and-canada/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ec69ef584ff94804b390cdfd40d0039b&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59j69i60j69i57j69i60l2j0l2.946j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS"> North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. Assiminea pecos is a rare species of snail in the family Assimineidae known by the common name Pecos assiminea. It is native to New Mexico and Texas in the United States. Specimens known from Mexico are now treated as members of a separate species, Assiminea cienegensis. The Pecos assiminea was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 2005. (four invertebrates) are associated with spring systems in desert-grassland in the Roswell Basin in southeastern New Mexico, and in the Toyah  all aquatic snails, and the Noel's amphipod, a freshwater shrimp, soon will be protected under the Endangered Species Act

Assiminea pecos

Assiminea pecos NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.

Ateles geoffroyi frontatus

Ateles geoffroyl panamensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and<a href="https://www.earth.com/image/lake-st-clair-of-the-u-s-and-canada/"> Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. Geoffroy’s spider monkey, also known as the black-handed spider monkey or the Central American spider monkey is a species of spider monkey, a type of New World monkey, from <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=ec69ef584ff94804b390cdfd40d0039b&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59j69i60j69i57j69i60l2j0l2.946j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Central America</a>, parts of Mexico and possibly a small portion of Colombia. There are at least five subspecies. Some primatologists classify the black-headed spider monkey, found in Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador as the same species as Geoffroy's spider monkey. There are 16 Geoffroy's spider monkey subspecies, and two are threatened with extinction: the Black-foreheaded spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi frontatus), found in Costa Rica and Nicaragua,The Ateles geoffroyi panamensis (Spider monkey) became vulnerable in the early 1980’s, but didn’t become classified as endangered until 2008. The endangerment of this species has risen

Ateles geoffroyl panamensis

Ateles geoffroyl panamensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer...

Atelopus varius zeteki

Athearnia anthonyi NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/burrowing-animals-in-the-mojave-desert-escape-the-heat-of-climate-change/">animals</a> too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network. Therefore the NatureServe is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The image shown above shows the cool colors that ombre across its shell.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Athearnia anthonyi is a rare species of freshwater snail in the family Pleuroceridae. Its common name is Anthony's riversnail. It is native to three rivers in the <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=tenesse+river&amp;cvid=152133c5a2604ed39102e72c7fec60f8&amp;aqs=edge..69i57j0l6.2670j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Tennessee River</a> system in the United States: the main branch and the Sequatchie River and Limestone Creek. Although nominally the single surviving representative of a unique pleurocerid taxon, Athearnia anthonyi (Budd, in Redfield, 1854) is so rarely collected that even its specific status has been uncertain. Also Status: Endangered: Listed: April 15, 1994: Family: Pleuroceridae: Description: Relatively large freshwater snail that is ovate and olive green to yellowish brown in color. Although nominally the single surviving representative of a unique pleurocerid taxon, Budd, in Redfield, 1854) is so rarely collected that even its specific status has been uncertain.

Athearnia anthonyi

Athearnia anthonyi NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Athearnia anthonyi NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and<a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/"> Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=fish&amp;cvid=e404838de58245e88f5340e5a66af6ea&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59j0l6.2059j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Fish</a> and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.Athearnia anthonyi is a rare species of freshwater snail in the family Pleuroceridae. Its common name is Anthony's riversnail. It is native to three rivers in the Tennessee River system in the United States: the main branch and the Sequatchie River and Limestone Creek. Thus references in the recent literature have been split between the older "Athearnia anthonyi" as still appearing on the USFWS endangered species list, and the (more biologically reasonable)  (Redfield, 1854) Common names Anthony's Riversnail in English Anthony's Riversnail in English Anthony's River Snail in English Bibliographic References

Atrichornis clamosus

Avahi laniger (entire genus)

Axis porcinus annamiticus

Axis porcinus calamianensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=a37b31c4eeff4cde9d594d5b5bf6fc2f&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59j69i57j0l5.1128j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.typical height for males of 60–65 cm (24–26 in) has been reported. Weight can very usually from 79-110 pounds. Males have three-tined <a title="Antler" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antler">antlers</a>. Their fawns are not spotted at birth, which separates them from the best known western population of the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Hog deer" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hog_deer">hog deer</a> (H. porcinus). There are few natural predators except for birds of prey and pythons.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The Calamian deer, also known as Calamian hog deer, is an endangered species of deer found only in the Calamian Islands of Palawan province of the Philippines. It is one of three species of deer native to the Philippines, the other being the Philippine sambar, and Visayan spotted deer. It is known as the "hog deer" because when it is fleeing from danger, it dashes through underbrush with its head down like a hog instead of jumping over barriers like other deer. These animals are crepuscular, meaning that they are active at sunrise and twilight. They rest during the warmer part of the day and then come out from the undergrowth to forage. Mainly solitary, they sometimes form small herds if left undisturbed. As with other deer species, Calamian deer are ruminants, meaning that they have four stomach chambers and chew cud. A soft, high-pitched, nasal call is their main vocalization. Their diet consist of shoots, twigs, and leaves

Axis porcinus calamianensis

Axis porcinus calamianensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer...

Axis porcinus kuhli NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/lake-st-clair-of-the-u-s-and-canada/">Canada.</a> NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=a37b31c4eeff4cde9d594d5b5bf6fc2f&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59j69i57j0l5.1128j0j9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.The Indian hog deer (Hyelaphus porcinus) is a small deer native to the Indo-Gangetic Plain in Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh to mainland Southeast Asia.It also occurs in western Thailand. Easily identifiable based on range in the wild, the Bawean deer closely resembles the two other members of the subgenus Hyelaphus: the Calamian deer (Axis calamianensis) and the hog deer They live in woodlands and upland forests with dense undergrowth which is used for shelter, providing a refuge in which the deer sleep and rest during the day. They live in small groups of four or five deer, usually one female, her infant, and two males. They are herbivores and consume grasses, herbs, leaves, twigs, corn crops, and leaves of the cassave plant. Their pelage is short, smooth, and soft, and generally a light brown in color. There are few distinctive yellow markings which are limited to the head and neck. There is also a light throat patch or 'bib' and a whitish eye-ring. Infants have white spots on their backs when younger. Females will have one offspring at a time per year. The gestation period is 225–230 days, and the majority of births occur in February to June.

Axis porcinus kuhli

Axis porcinus kuhli NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer...

Imagine inhaling hundreds of invisible spores every day. Most float in and out of our airways without leaving a trace. Yet some of those spores belong to molds that don't respect boundaries.



Many fungus species will infect lungs, spoil crops, and disrupt ecosystems all at the same time. In short, they can wreak massive havoc and leave death in their wake.



Most molds and fungi are helpful, but some fungus and mold will jump from hospital wards to honeybee hives, and the line between helpful recycler and harmful invader grows blurrier each year.



Most of the time, healthy immune systems swat away dangerous spores and fight off infection. Trouble arises when weakened defenses, rising temperatures, and heavy fungicide use tip the scales. 



Suddenly, the same fungus that quietly decomposes the fallen leaves in your yard can trigger relentless coughs, damage corn silos, and shrug off medicines that once kept it in check.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aspergillus-fungus-easily-adapts">Aspergillus fungus easily adapts</h2>



After studying fungal threats for years, Dr. Norman van Rhijn and colleagues at <a href="https://www.manchester.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The University of Manchester</a> mapped how three notorious Aspergillus species - A. flavus, A. fumigatus, and A. niger - might spread through the end of the century. 



They fed climate change scenarios into global models and watched the virtual spores drift. One scenario (SSP585), which assumes a fossil-fuel-dependent future, paints an unsettling picture: habitats across Europe become markedly friendlier to these pathogens.



Aspergillus fungus thrives because its genome bends easily to new pressures. It lives on soil, grains, animal feathers, even coral skeletons. Out in the wild, it recycles nutrients, but on farms and in clinics, the story shifts. 



Farmers spray <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-fungus-is-among-us-drug-resistant-fungi-is-thriving-in-every-corner-of-the-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">azole fungicides</a> to protect wheat and peanuts; doctors use nearly identical azole drugs to save patients with lung infections. That overlap nudges Aspergillus toward drug resistance - similar to bacteria evolving against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-rivers-are-highly-saturated-with-human-antibiotics-helping-bacteria-develop-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotics</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-reshapes-global-mold-map">Climate reshapes global mold map</h2>



Temperature, humidity, and extreme weather events dictate where spores settle. 



“Changes in environmental factors, such as humidity and extreme weather events, will change habitats and drive fungal adaptation and spread,” said Dr. van Rhijn. 



“We’ve already seen the emergence of the fungus <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toxic-microbes-aerosols-can-travel-thousands-of-miles-through-the-air/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Candida auris</a> due to rising temperatures, but, until now, we had little information on how other fungi might respond to this change in the environment.” 



He added that fungi remain “relatively under-researched compared to viruses and parasites,” yet the new maps show they will likely reach “most areas of the world in the future.”



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Aspergillus_global-distributions_map_credit-MaxENT_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Aspergillus_global-distributions_map_credit-MaxENT_1s.webp" alt="MaxENT model accurate described Aspergillus global distributions. Credit: University of Manchester" class="wp-image-1973600"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MaxENT model accurate described Aspergillus global distributions. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Manchester</figcaption></figure>



Those maps point to striking numbers. Under the high-emissions pathway, the range of A. flavus in Europe could jump about 16 percent, potentially putting another one million people at risk of infection. 



A. fumigatus - the chief culprit behind invasive aspergillosis - could expand its European footprint by 77.5 percent, threatening up to nine million more residents. 



In Africa, paradoxically, parts of the continent may become too hot for some fungi to survive, hinting at complex regional trade-offs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forecasting-aspergillus-fungus-spread">Forecasting Aspergillus fungus spread</h2>



Forecasting pathogens decades ahead may sound speculative, but it builds on earlier warnings. Hospitals already grapple with Aspergillus fungus outbreaks after building renovations or severe dust storms. 



Meanwhile, intensive-care units report stubborn cases in patients recovering from influenza or COVID-19. 



Rising outdoor spore loads could translate to more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-deadly-molds-attack-the-immune-system-of-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hospital admissions</a> and costlier treatments, especially because diagnostics for fungal infections lag far behind those for bacteria or viruses.



Mycotoxin contamination adds another layer. A single year of heavy Aspergillus growth can saddle the U.S. corn industry with losses topping $1 billion. 



Increased heat and humidity extend the window for mold growth in silos and fields, forcing farmers to discard grain or blend batches to dilute toxins - strategies that still carry economic and health risks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-current-drugs-don-t-work">Current drugs don't work</h2>



Azole resistance has climbed steadily in Europe and Asia. Patients with resistant Aspergillus fungus infections face mortality rates exceeding 50 percent, partly because alternative drugs can damage the kidneys or liver. 



Each hectare treated with agricultural azoles raises the odds that environmental spores will carry resistance genes into hospitals. 



Public-health agencies now track these genes in soil and compost piles, hoping to spot trouble before it reaches intensive care.



Fungicide demand is also changing. As some African regions exceed the thermal limits for certain molds, farmers elsewhere may spray more to protect lengthening growing seasons.



That feedback loop - more fungicide, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-plays-an-overlooked-role-in-antibiotic-resistance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stronger resistance</a> - complicates food security and patient care alike.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farms-food-and-rising-bills">Farms, food, and rising bills</h2>



Aspergillus isn’t the lone shapeshifter. Fusarium, which devastates wheat and oat fields, and Cryptococcus, an opportunistic pathogen in AIDS patients, also respond to warming climates. 



“Fungal pathogens pose a serious threat to human health by causing infections and disrupting food systems. Climate change will make these risks worse," explains Viv Goosens of <a href="https://wellcome.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wellcome</a>.



"To address these challenges, we must fill important research gaps. By using models and maps to track the spread of fungi, we can better direct resources and prepare for the future.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aspergillus-fungus-and-human-health">Aspergillus fungus and human health</h2>



Fungi account for an estimated 1.5 to 3.8 million species, yet fewer than 10 percent carry official descriptions, and only a sliver have sequenced genomes. 



The scarcity of basic data hinders vaccine development and slows the hunt for safer drug targets. 



Recognizing this blind spot, the <a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Health Organization</a> added Aspergillus fungus and Candida species to its priority list for emerging threats in 2022.



Researchers now call for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-of-food-safety-ai-can-detect-contamination-early/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coordinated monitoring</a> - combining air quality sensors, agricultural sampling, and hospital surveillance - to trace spore movement in near-real time. 



Such efforts could flag hotspots, guide fungicide regulations, and spark investment in rapid diagnostics. Without them, today’s manageable mold may evolve into tomorrow’s silent pandemic.



No single fix will erase the risk. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions limits the environmental changes that favor Aspergillus fungus. 



Smarter fungicide policies slow resistance on farms. Better ventilation in buildings reduces indoor spore counts, while new antifungal classes extend doctors’ toolkits. 



Piece by piece, these steps can keep an ancient decomposer from becoming an outsized menace in a warming world.



The study has been published on preprint platform Research Square, available <a href="https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6545782/v1%20[researchsquare.com]%C2%A0;%20DOI:%20https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6545782/v1%20[doi.org]" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



-----



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.



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.



-----

Deadly fungus that can "eat you from the inside out" is quickly spreading around the world

Imagine inhaling hundreds of invisible spores every day. Most float...

Nanoparticles - microscopic specks released by cars, factories, forest fires, and volcanoes - float through every ecosystem on Earth.



Scientists are also designing these particles to precisely deliver <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fertilizer-reduces-plant-damage-caused-by-droughts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fertilizers</a> to crop roots, target pests with pesticides, or serve as tiny sensors that detect plant stress. 



But new research, led by the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Riverside,</a> shows that once those particles enter a plant cell, they can change in unexpected ways and interfere with the plant’s ability to photosynthesize.



The researchers uncovered a chain reaction: inside the cell, nanoparticles pick up a greasy coating and then cling to RuBisCO, the enzyme that jump-starts <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-foundation-of-life-is-at-risk-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>. The result is a dramatic slowdown in the plant’s carbon-dioxide intake.



The discovery does not condemn the promise of agricultural nanotechnology, but it does force scientists to rethink how particles are designed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unintended-consequences-of-nanoparticles">Unintended consequences of nanoparticles</h2>



While many agricultural scientists see nanotechnology as a key to feeding a growing global population, even its strongest proponents admit that today’s fertilizers and pesticides are wildly inefficient.



Juan Pablo Giraldo is the senior author and an associate professor of plant biology at UC Riverside.



“Half of all fertilizer applied on farms is lost in the environment and pollutes groundwater," he said. "With the most commonly used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticides-attack-bees-in-multiple-ways-throughout-the-body/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pesticides</a>, it’s even worse -&nbsp;only five percent may reach their intended targets. There’s a lot of room for improvement.” 



Nanoparticles can, in theory, deliver cargo directly to a leaf’s interior and then break down safely. Scientists suspected the traits helping particles enter plants might also cause harmful collisions with sensitive proteins.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nanoparticles-enter-plant-cells">Nanoparticles enter plant cells</h2>



To test that idea, the researchers exposed Arabidopsis plants - widely used as a model species - to positively charged nanoparticles. 



Using super-resolution imaging and spectroscopy, they watched the particles move through cell walls and membranes. Eventually, the particles reached the chloroplasts, where photosynthesis occurs.



“Nanoparticles, both natural and anthropogenic, are prevalent in many of Earth’s ecosystems, but scientists are only recently starting to understand how they interact with different parts of the environment,” said Lin He of the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a>. 



Inside the plant’s watery interior, the particles experienced a lower pH and quickly attracted lipids from nearby membranes. This new greasy shell altered their surface chemistry and made them stick tightly to RuBisCO.



“The lipid coatings of positively charged nanoparticles enhance their binding to RuBisCO, and don’t allow it to do its job very well,” Giraldo explained.



RuBisCO is responsible for capturing carbon dioxide and turning it into sugar. Blocking even a fraction of its activity can leave a plant starved for energy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cost-to-photosynthesis">The cost to photosynthesis</h2>



To quantify that effect, the team measured <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-absorb-31-more-co2-than-previously-estimated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CO2</a> uptake in living leaves. Outside the cell, nanoparticles had little impact on RuBisCO activity. Inside the cell - after the particles had acquired lipid coats - RuBisCO’s efficiency fell to roughly one-third of normal.



“This is the first time we’ve been able to compare the effect of a nanoparticle on a protein both outside and inside a living <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-plants-build-their-cell-walls-is-seen-by-scientists-for-the-first-time-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant cell</a>” Giraldo said.



At first, the scientists assumed the particle’s electrical charge might be responsible. Deeper analysis showed otherwise.



“Now we know that it’s not the charge necessarily, but the transformation they undergo as they enter plants, and potentially, other organisms as well,” Giraldo added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-greasy-molecular-puzzle">A greasy molecular puzzle</h2>



The team collaborated with chemists at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> to run molecular simulations of the interaction.



“We each bring in complementary techniques that enable deeper insights into a complex system such as a plant cell,” said co-author Rigoberto Hernandez, a scientist at Johns Hopkins.



His lab’s models showed lipid molecules flocking to the nanoparticle surface and forming a sticky layer that fits RuBisCO almost like Velcro.



“Using computer simulations providing a view of the structure and motion at microscopic scales, we resolved how lipids are acquired by nanoparticles in the presence of RuBisCO,” Hernandez said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nanoparticles-for-a-greener-future">Nanoparticles for a greener future</h2>



The researchers emphasize that nanoparticles still hold enormous promise, especially if they can be redesigned to avoid hijacking RuBisCO.



Through the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, researchers from various fields of chemistry and environmental science have collaborated closely. Together, they uncovered how nanoparticles transform and interact with a protein involved in plant photosynthesis.



“In so doing, they have laid the groundwork for the safer and more effective use of nanoparticles for agricultural and biotechnology applications," said Lin He.



Catherine Murphy, a chemistry professor at the <a href="https://illinois.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Illinois</a> and study co-author, put the challenge bluntly: “This landmark study tells us that we have a long way to go to make nanoparticles that are truly beneficial in the environment,” she said.



“But now that we know the mechanism of action, we can retune our methods to solve these problems.”



Next steps include designing coatings that stay inert in cells or steering particles away from RuBisCO-binding areas. With that knowledge, future nanoparticles could nourish crops, fight <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pests-are-moving-to-cooler-regions-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pests</a>, and measure plant health - without dimming the green engine that feeds the planet.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-025-01944-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Nanotechnology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Nanoparticles are threatening the stability of plant cells

Nanoparticles - microscopic specks released by cars, factories, forest fires,...

Every year, mosquito-borne diseases cut short more than a million lives across the globe, outpacing every other animal threat to humanity. The rising toll has public-health teams scrambling for fresh combat tools, especially as traditional chemical sprays lose their edge.



That loss stems from two hard truths. First, the very <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7692614/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pyrethroid insecticides</a> that once worked wonders now linger in soil and water, nudging delicate ecosystems off balance. 



Second, mosquitoes adapt fast. Larvae soaking in tainted puddles and adults drifting through treated neighborhoods increasingly shrug off doses that once killed them. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosquito-repellents-that-actually-work-yes-thanks-to-ai-machine-learning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Controlling the pests</a> at their waterborne stage is vital, yet options that stay potent without harming everything else remain limited.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-cbd-and-mosquitoes">Cannabis, CBD, and mosquitoes</h2>



Recent research published in the journal Insects points to a solution hiding in plain sight: the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. 



After air-drying and grinding ordinary hemp leaves, scientists at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ohio State University</a> led by Erick Martinez Rodriguez extracted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-reduces-the-unwanted-side-effects-of-thc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cannabidiol (CBD)</a> and added the concentrate to cups of water teeming with yellow fever mosquito larvae. 



Within 48 hours, both a strain that laughs at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-could-make-insect-repellents-less-effective/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">common insecticides</a> and a non-resistant strain were wiped out.



“Mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world, mainly because as adults they serve as vectors of disease,” Rodriguez explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-resistance-to-vulnerability">From resistance to vulnerability</h2>



Two important findings jumped out. The first was total mortality: every mosquito larva exposed to sufficient CBD died by the two-day mark, regardless of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-learn-how-mosquitoes-use-sound-to-outsmart-and-evade-human-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">its genetic armor</a>. 



The second was efficiency. While industrial chemicals often push resistance higher with every generation, CBD’s effect cut straight through those defenses. Doses varied, but even modest concentrations proved lethal to all mosquito larvae.



“If you compare the amount of hemp extract needed to kill 50 % of the population to other synthetic conventional insecticides, it is on the high side, but when you compare it side by side to other natural extracts we have tested in our lab, only a relatively low amount is required to produce high mortality values in larvae,” said Martinez Rodriguez.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-cbd-kills-mosquitoes">How CBD kills mosquitoes</h2>



Chemical sleuthing showed that CBD dominated the hemp extract, and terpene fractions did little damage on their own. 



Larvae were judged dead once they stopped moving under a gentle nudge, confirming the cannabinoid’s direct impact on vital systems.



Insects lack the endocannabinoid receptors that give <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-can-help-ease-chronic-pain-anxiety-and-mood-disorders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CBD its wellness reputation</a> among humans, so the compound must strike different molecular targets - possibly ion channels that govern nerve impulses or enzymes tied to muscle control. 



Whatever the route, CBD skirts the metabolic tricks that shield many larvae from pyrethroids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hemp-economics-meet-public-health">Hemp economics meet public health</h2>



Hemp is no niche crop. U.S. farmers planted about 27,680 acres in 2023, and the total value of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hemp-seeds-could-be-a-game-changer-as-an-alternative-protein-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hemp products</a> topped $291 million.



Leaves, often left as low-value waste after flowers and seeds are harvested, could become raw material for larvicides. 



Turning those leaf cast-offs into mosquito-control pellets would give growers an extra revenue stream while trimming refuse piles.



The crop’s adaptability sweetens the deal. Hemp thrives across a wide climate range, grows quickly, and rarely needs harsh pesticides of its own. 



Rural communities looking to diversify incomes and urban growers cultivating indoor micro-hemp could both feed a supply chain aimed at vector-control programs from Texas to Tanzania.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strains-and-waterway-safety">Strains and waterway safety</h2>



Field trials must still answer hard questions: How long does CBD linger in ponds? Does it bother tadpoles, fish fry, or helpful insects? 



Early lab work hints at selectivity, yet natural habitats are complex. Regulators will demand data showing that CBD pellets, briquettes, or slow-release films silence mosquito larvae without tipping aquatic ecosystems.



A second layer of testing will match different hemp strains for efficacy. Plants bred for fiber deliver more stalk than cannabinoid, while floral varieties boast <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Cannabidiol" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">richer CBD profiles</a>. 



Selecting cultivars that maximize larvicidal punch and minimize unwanted compounds will keep costs down and environmental margins wide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-next-steps-for-cbd-and-mosquito-control">Next steps for CBD and mosquito control</h2>



Scientists plan to refine dosage, explore formulations that stick to the water’s surface, and probe how CBD interacts with other biocontrol measures like Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. Combining modes of action could slow resistance even further. 



Teams will also map out manufacturing pipelines - picture hemp-leaf extract concentrated at regional facilities, then shipped as shelf-stable granules to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-people-are-mosquito-magnets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mosquito-control districts</a>.



Policy makers, meanwhile, need clear guidelines. Approving a botanical larvicide means balancing urgent disease threats against conservation goals. Transparent monitoring and community engagement will help keep public trust.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-another-weapon-in-the-mosquito-wars">Another weapon in the mosquito wars</h2>



Hemp-derived CBD will not single-handedly end malaria, dengue, or Zika. Yet the discovery that a familiar wellness compound doubles as a larval assassin widens the playbook. 



By uniting agriculture, chemistry, and entomology, researchers have opened <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosquito-habitats-are-expanding-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a practical path</a> toward safer mosquito control. 



If larger-scale tests confirm the promise seen in the lab, those humble hemp leaves could soon guard countless backyard birdbaths, drainage ditches, and rice paddies - one cup of water at a time.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/7/517" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Insects</a>.



-----



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.



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.



-----

Cannabis extract proves to be highly effective at killing the most dangerous animals in the world

Every year, mosquito-borne diseases cut short more than a million...

Plants are far more adventurous underground than scientists once believed. A new study reports that many species extend a second, hidden network of roots more than a meter below the surface.



This discovery could ultimately reshape how researchers model nutrient cycling, water use, and the planet’s carbon budget.



Mingzhen Lu, an assistant professor in <a href="https://as.nyu.edu/departments/environment.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York University’s Department of Environmental Studies</a>, led this multi-institutional project.



“Understanding where plants grow roots is vital, as deeper roots could mean safer and longer-term carbon storage," she said. "Harsher conditions at depth may prevent detritus-feeding microbes from releasing carbon back to the atmosphere."



The findings suggest that plant roots may already be storing climate-warming carbon well below areas tracked by most ecological surveys.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-data-goes-deeper">Data goes deeper</h2>



Traditional root research stops at roughly 30 centimeters, the depth that shovels and corers reach most easily.



Lu and her colleagues pushed past that limit by tapping into the <a href="https://www.neonscience.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Ecological Observatory Network</a> (NEON), which collects samples down to two meters at dozens of U.S. sites.



From Alaskan tundra to Puerto Rican rainforest, the database provided thousands of soil cores reaching 6.5 feet - deep enough to chart root presence in realms seldom studied.



With those records in hand, the team set out to answer three intertwined questions: How does root density shift as soil gets deeper? Which environmental factors govern that distribution? And are subterranean nutrients being tapped as thoroughly as surface nutrients?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-roots-defy-expectations">Roots defy expectations</h2>



The most eye-opening pattern was “bimodality.” Nearly one-fifth of the ecosystems examined showed two separate peaks in root abundance with depth: one in familiar shallow layers and another much farther down, often aligning with deposits of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nitrogen-was-plentiful-for-early-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nitrogen</a>, phosphorus, or moisture.



In other words, plants were quietly plumbing secondary resource pockets, countering the long-held assumption that root activity simply dwindles the deeper one goes.



“The current understanding of roots is literally too shallow. Aboveground, we have eagle vision - thanks to satellites and remote sensing. But belowground, we have mole vision,” Lu said.



That “mole vision,” she argues, has left major gaps in Earth system models that guide climate policy and land-management decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-storage-or-carbon-release"><a></a>Carbon storage - or carbon release?</h2>



The presence of deep roots raises a crucial follow-up: What happens to the carbon that plants ferry into those depths? Avni Malhotra, a co-author and lead investigator on a <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.07.647629v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">companion paper</a>, notes that outcomes could diverge.



“Deep plant roots may cause increased <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-farming-practices-boost-soil-carbon-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soil carbon storage</a> in one condition or lead to losses in other conditions due to a stimulation of soil microbes,” she said.



Cool, compacted subsoil tends to slow microbial digestion, potentially locking carbon away for centuries.



Yet in some settings, added root exudates might energize buried microbes, accelerating decomposition. Deciding which scenario dominates will require the kind of stratified sampling that NEON has only begun to provide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-roots-defy-models">Deep roots defy models</h2>



Global climate models often assume that most biologically relevant actions - plant root growth, microbial decay, nutrient turnover - occur in the topsoil.



Lu’s study indicates that a significant share of plant activity, including carbon allocation, happens far below that zone.



If roots can chase nutrients downward during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-extreme-weather-events-are-escalating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">droughts</a> or warming events, they may confer more resilience than current simulations capture. Conversely, land-use changes that compact or strip deep horizons could hamper an unseen but vital layer of carbon storage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-root-data-to-work">Putting root data to work</h2>



These subterranean discoveries matter for forestry, agriculture, and conservation. Crop breeders might select varieties with deeper, bimodal rooting patterns to better capture water in arid regions.



Restoration ecologists could prioritize species that drive carbon into stable subsoil pools. 



Policymakers aiming to offset emissions through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reforestation-cannot-offset-carbon-emissions-from-harvesting-wood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reforestation</a> or soil-carbon credits will need estimates grounded in full-profile measurements rather than the customary shallow cores.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-roots-store-climate-secrets">Plant roots store climate secrets</h2>



“Scientists and policymakers need to look deeper beneath the Earth’s surface as these overlooked deep soil layers may hold critical keys for understanding and managing ecosystems in a rapidly changing climate,” Lu said. The team envisions denser networks of deep cores, advanced imaging, and sensor arrays able to watch roots grow in real time.



While many unknowns remain - How universal is bimodality? Which soil chemistries foster it? How stable is deep-buried carbon? - the message is cautiously optimistic.



“The good news is plants may already be naturally mitigating climate change more actively than we’ve realized - we just need to dig deeper to fully understand their potential,” Lu concluded.



By illuminating a hidden architecture beneath our feet, the study invites scientists and citizens alike to rethink what lies between the surface and bedrock - and to recognize that the battle against rising CO2 might have powerful, unseen allies in the dark below.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-60055-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Plant roots could be key to fighting climate change

Plants are far more adventurous underground than scientists once believed....

Woman,Hand,Holding,Pre-rolled,Cones,For,Smoking,Cannabis,With,Cannabis

Cannabis is everywhere now. It’s in pharmacies, parties, pain clinics, and political speeches. Many use it to sleep better, relax, or deal with pain. Some cannabis users even see it as a natural alternative to pills.



However, while the world embraced cannabis, heart doctors started noticing something else. A new study published in the journal Heart, based on data from over 432 million people, has revealed a clear <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-extract-cbd-proven-highly-effective-at-killing-mosquitoes/">connection</a>. 



People who use cannabis have a much higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even dying from heart disease. That’s not fear-mongering - it’s data from .



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-people-are-using-stronger-cannabis">More people are using stronger cannabis </h2>



In over half of the states in the U.S., and in some countries in Europe, like France, doctors can give cannabis to patients as medicine, but using it just for fun is still illegal. 



Even though it's not allowed for fun, many young people in France still use it a lot. Germany recently changed its laws and now lets people use cannabis recreationally, starting in April 2024.



Now more people use cannabis, and the products they’re using are stronger than before. Today’s cannabis has more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-reveal-the-most-complete-cannabis-genome-yet/">THC</a>. That means stronger effects on the brain and body - especially the heart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-linked-to-heart-problems">Cannabis linked to heart problems</h2>



The researchers looked at 3,012 studies. Among them, 24 studies were focused on the link between cannabis and major heart problems.



An analysis of the research showed that people who use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cbd-reduces-the-unwanted-side-effects-of-thc/">cannabis</a> have a 29 percent higher risk of heart attack, a 20 percent higher risk of stroke, and more than double the risk of dying from heart disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regular-use-raises-stroke-risk">Regular use raises stroke risk</h2>



Stroke risk didn’t look the same in every study. A few didn’t find strong links, especially in people who used cannabis once or twice. But when the researchers zoomed in on heavy users or younger adults, the risk became clearer.



In Australia, one study found that people who used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-use-in-any-form-directly-linked-to-significant-risk-of-heart-damage/">cannabis</a> weekly were nearly five times more likely to suffer a stroke or mini-stroke. A U.S. hospital database also found increased risk, especially in people aged 25 to 34.



These results suggest that occasional cannabis use may not be a red flag. But regular use, especially while young, is when things start looking risky.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannabis-linked-to-more-heart-attacks">Cannabis linked to more heart attacks</h2>



One study showed that cannabis users aged 15 to 22 were 36 percent more likely to have a heart attack. Another found that people using cannabis <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-use-directly-linked-to-head-and-neck-cancer/">more than once a week</a> had more than double the odds.



That’s after adjusting for tobacco, cocaine, and other drugs. Cannabis came out as the strongest predictor in a French hospital study - even stronger than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-cocaine-tricks-and-hijacks-the-brain/">cocaine</a>.



That’s not the story we usually hear about cannabis. But these numbers speak louder than opinions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-higher-death-risk-from-heart-disease">Higher death risk from heart disease</h2>



The risk of fatal cardiovascular events was also investigated. In one study, young patients who had heart attacks and also used cannabis were far more likely to die. The link remained consistent even after controlling for smoking and other conditions.



Another study conducted in the United States confirmed that cannabis users had a much higher chance of dying from heart-related causes. 



In the UK, a 2024 study revealed an unexpected twist. Women, not men, faced higher risks of heart-related death from heavy cannabis use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-about-the-benefits-of-cannabis">What about the benefits of cannabis?</h2>



Cannabis has shown several proven medical benefits, especially when used under a doctor’s guidance. One of its most recognized uses is for managing chronic pain. 



People with conditions like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or nerve-related injuries often find relief through cannabis-based treatments. 



The plant's compounds - mainly THC and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-extract-cbd-proven-highly-effective-at-killing-mosquitoes/">CBD</a> - can interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to reduce pain signals and inflammation. 



Medical cannabis also <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannabis-may-ease-cancer-symptoms-like-pain-and-nausea/">helps cancer patients</a> by easing nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, and in some cases, it can stimulate appetite for those struggling with weight loss due to illness.



Doctors have also used cannabis to help patients with neurological disorders. In certain forms of epilepsy, especially in children, CBD-based medications have reduced the number and severity of seizures.



These examples reflect how cannabis, when used appropriately, can provide real and sometimes life-changing benefits for patients, making it easier for some to ignore the overall health implications attached to cannabis use.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experts-urge-tobacco-style-warnings">Experts urge tobacco-style warnings</h2>



“Cannabis needs to be incorporated into the framework for prevention of clinical cardiovascular disease. So too must cardiovascular disease prevention be incorporated into the regulation of cannabis markets,” noted Professor Stanton Glantz and Dr. Lynn Silver.



The experts emphasized that today's cannabis is not what it used to be. It now includes potent concentrates, synthetic versions, and a growing variety of edible and inhalable forms. These may carry risks beyond the cannabinoids themselves.



“How these changes affect cardiovascular risk requires clarification, as does the proportion of risk attributable to cannabinoids themselves versus particulate matter, terpenes or other components of the exposure,” the authors noted.



“Specifically, cannabis should be treated like tobacco: not criminalized, but discouraged, with protection of bystanders from secondhand exposure.”



Doctors should ask about cannabis use, particularly when it comes to patients with heart problems. For people using cannabis regularly, it’s time to rethink the idea that it is harmless.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2025/06/10/heartjnl-2024-325429" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heart</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Cannabis is worse for heart health than cocaine, according to a startling new study

Cannabis is everywhere now. It’s in pharmacies, parties, pain clinics,...

The Bronze Age cemetery of Tiszafüred-Majoroshalom reveals a remarkable transformation around 1500 BCE. Led by Tamás Hajdu and Claudio Cavazzuti, a research team explored diet, mobility, millet consumption, and inequality during this critical period in the Carpathian Basin.



Using carbon, nitrogen, and strontium isotope analysis, they uncovered drastic lifestyle changes at the dawn of the Tumulus culture. Their study combined archaeology, bioanthropology, and environmental science to show how people adapted to shifting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/millet-farming-marked-a-turning-point-in-life-during-the-bronze-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> systems and social structures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-settlements-break-down-new-patterns-emerge">Settlements break down, new patterns emerge</h2>



During the Middle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bronze-age-technology-is-a-modern-solution-for-clean-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bronze</a> Age (2000–1500 BCE), the region had many local cultures with tell-settlements. These were large fortified villages. But by 1500 BCE, these settlements were abandoned. Instead, people moved into short-term, horizontal communities with weaker central control.



This shift marked the arrival of the Tumulus culture, known for mound burials and new pottery styles. The big question: did new people bring these changes, or did local populations simply adopt new practices?



The researchers collected 130 isotope samples and radiocarbon-dated 60 individuals. They tracked changes in movement and eating habits with unprecedented precision.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-less-movement-different-origins">Less movement, different origins</h2>



Strontium isotope analysis helps identify where individuals grew up based on local geology. At Tiszafüred-Majoroshalom, most buried people had isotope signatures matching the immediate area. This means they were likely locals. 



About 20% had values matching nearby regions within 100 kilometers. Only one man clearly came from a more distant place.



Migration routes also shifted over time. In the Middle Bronze Age, newcomers came from radiogenic areas like the Upper Tisza and Northern Carpathians. 



In the Late <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bronze-age-teeth-discovery-highlight-the-evolution-of-the-human-diet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bronze</a> Age, migrants arrived from different regions, such as the Middle Danube, Southern Carpathians, or Transdanubia. These new patterns follow known west-to-east cultural movements.



Men showed slightly more mobility, but not by much. Few women came from outside, suggesting that marriages between distant groups were uncommon. When they did happen, they mostly occurred within the local region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-millet-intake-rose-in-the-bronze-age">Millet intake rose in the Bronze Age</h2>



A major dietary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-from-9000-year-old-skeletons-disproves-migratory-waves-theory-from-south-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shift</a> also occurred. Carbon isotopes revealed that broomcorn millet entered the diet around 1540–1480 BCE. Millet, a fast-growing crop, became a vital food by the Late Bronze Age.



Dental calculus confirmed this. In the Middle Bronze Age, millet traces appeared in only 2 of 14 individuals. In the Late Bronze Age, millet was found in 6 of 11 individuals. This cereal quickly became a staple.



At the same time, nitrogen isotopes showed reduced protein intake. Middle Bronze Age diets had wider protein access, especially among males. 



This gap closed in the Late Bronze Age, hinting at social leveling. Both men and women consumed less meat, and the diet was poorer but more equal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-variety-vanished-as-inequality-shrunk">Variety vanished as inequality shrunk</h2>



The Middle Bronze <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/technologically-advanced-society-discovered-across-philippine-islands-35000-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Age</a> saw more dietary diversity. People ate wheat, barley, lentils, and other plants. Spelt and emmer were present, while einkorn faded away. Legumes, oil crops, and foraged foods enriched meals.



By the Late Bronze Age, broomcorn millet overshadowed other grains. Macro-remains of millet were rare in earlier layers but became common after 1500 BCE. Stable isotope and dental evidence confirmed its growing role.



“The abandonment of the fortified MBA tell settlement is followed by a new phase with less structured centres, less stable social hierarchies and the reduced inequalities that we could clearly observe, at least at the level of food consumption,” the authors noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bronze-age-life-changed-with-millet">Bronze Age life changed with millet</h2>



These findings challenge old views of the Tumulus people as nomadic herders. Their mobility decreased. Their diet shifted from rich and varied to simpler and millet-based. Social networks became flatter and more equal.



The Tumulus culture wasn’t just about burial mounds and metalwork. It marked a deeper change in how people lived, ate, and moved.



“The strong investment in broomcorn millet as key-cereal is considered one of the earliest phases in Europe,” noted the researchers.



This Bronze Age study shows how bones, teeth, and millet reveal the past. By studying them closely, we uncover stories of change, resilience, and adaptation that shaped ancient Europe.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-01113-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Bronze Age people abandoned meat for millet 3,500 years ago

The Bronze Age cemetery of Tiszafüred-Majoroshalom reveals a remarkable transformation...

Most insects, including many beetles, cannot see red. Their eyes detect ultraviolet, blue, and green light. Bees often visit red flowers, but not for their color. They are drawn to ultraviolet reflections, not the red hue itself.



But two Mediterranean beetles break that pattern.&nbsp;Pygopleurus chrysonotus&nbsp;and&nbsp;Pygopleurus syriacus&nbsp;can truly perceive red. They seek out red flowers, especially poppies, anemones, and buttercups, for pollen. Their eyes are uniquely tuned to do this.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beetles-with-a-four-color-vision-system">Beetles with a four-color vision system</h2>



‘To our knowledge, we are the first to have experimentally demonstrated that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-are-still-disappearing-and-there-are-hundreds-of-reasons-why/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beetles</a> can actually perceive the color red,’ said Dr Johannes Spaethe.



The researchers confirmed this by recording electrical activity from photoreceptors in beetle eyes. They discovered four photoreceptor types. These respond to ultraviolet, blue, green, and red wavelengths.



This tetrachromatic system is rare among beetles. Most have just two or three receptor types. Blue sensitivity, previously missing in some beetle lineages, reappears here. It likely evolved through a gene duplication event and a spectral shift from ultraviolet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beetles-choose-red-over-grey">Beetles choose red over grey</h2>



Photoreceptors are light-sensitive cells in the eye. Just having them doesn't prove an animal can&nbsp;see&nbsp;colors. To show true color vision, an animal must tell colors apart even when they have the same brightness.



To test this, scientists used a trick from bee research by Von Frisch. They gave beetles a choice between red circles and grey ones that varied in brightness. If beetles picked red over all shades of grey, it meant they could see red as a distinct color - not just as a lighter or darker patch.



That’s exactly what happened. In every test, beetles chose red first. The researchers also ran a second test in the wild using traps in five colors. Almost all P. chrysonotus beetles ended up in red traps. This showed their natural color preference matched the lab findings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-opponency-and-complex-visual-processing">Opponency and complex visual processing</h2>



Recordings also revealed opponency signals. These occur when one receptor type’s signal suppresses another. It is a marker of complex color processing. 



For example, red receptors showed suppressed responses in green wavelengths. This confirmed interaction between channels.



This kind of opponency, previously seen in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/modern-farming-is-causing-many-insect-species-to-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">butterflies</a>, suggests advanced neural processing. It likely helps the beetles make sharp color distinctions in complex natural environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-beetles-and-red-flowers">Evolution of beetles and red flowers </h2>



Why do these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/very-little-is-known-about-99-of-all-insects-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beetles</a> care so much about red? It may reflect a mutual evolutionary pathway. Red flowers in the Mediterranean are mostly pollinated by Glaphyridae beetles. These flowers form the “poppy guild.”



‘The prevailing opinion in science is that flower colours have adapted to the visual systems of pollinators over the course of evolution,’ says Spaethe.



Yet this case flips that assumption. Glaphyrid beetles may have evolved their vision to match flower color diversity. 



Within their family, different genera prefer different flower colors such as yellow, white, violet, and red. This suggests their visual systems may be flexible and evolving alongside flowers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-red-vision-helps-beetles-access-flowers">Red vision helps beetles access flowers</h2>



Specializing in red gives beetles an advantage. Most insects cannot see red. That means red flowers are invisible or less noticeable to them.



But&nbsp;P. chrysonotus&nbsp;and&nbsp;P. syriacus&nbsp;can see red clearly. This gives them special access to food - like pollen - from red flowers that others ignore.



Because fewer insects compete for red flowers, the beetles face less crowding. They also become more reliable pollinators for those flowers.



Over time, flowers may evolve to become red on purpose. This helps attract only beetles and avoid unwanted visitors like bees that may steal pollen without pollinating. This is what scientists call a "private niche in color space."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-window-into-insect-vision">Rare window into insect vision</h2>



P. chrysonotus&nbsp;and&nbsp;P. syriacus&nbsp;are now among the few <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-heat-shrinking-habitats-insects-face-hidden-threats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insects</a> with confirmed red color vision. Their unique tetrachromatic eyes, behavioral responses, and flower preferences paint a new picture of insect-flower interaction.



This research does more than reveal a rare trait. It creates a valuable model for studying pollination, vision, and co-evolution, all through the eyes of beetles.



The study is published in the <a href="https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/doi/10.1242/jeb.250181/368218/Remarkable-red-colour-vision-in-two-Mediterranean" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Biology</a>. 



Image Credit: Johannes Spaethe / University of Würzburg



-----



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.&nbsp;



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.



-----

Beetles that see red break the rules of insect vision

Most insects, including many beetles, cannot see red. Their eyes...

In the dense green heart of the Amazon, a silent conversation takes place between trees and sunlight. From space, this conversation appears as a faint glow, a shimmer given off by leaves. 



This glow, called solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), has helped scientists estimate how much photosynthesis is happening on Earth. The brighter the forest glows, the healthier it appears. But new research warns that this glow may not always tell the full truth.



As climate change makes dry seasons longer and harsher, researchers are looking closer at how the Amazon canopy responds. What they have found could change how we read satellite data and rethink what we know about forest health. 



A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-are-part-of-the-climate-solution-but-not-the-whole-answer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree</a> may shine brightly but still struggle to breathe, grow, and store carbon. The Amazon, often described as the lungs of the planet, may be gasping in ways we fail to see from above.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-trees-glow-and-handle-sunlight">How trees glow and handle sunlight</h2>



To understand how this vast forest manages sunlight, scientists at <a href="https://msu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michigan State University</a> took their work into the forest. Led by doctoral candidate Leonardo Ziccardi, the team climbed trees nearly 60 meters tall in the central Amazon. 



Armed with a handheld device called the MultispeQ, the researchers measured how leaves absorb, use, and release sunlight.



“It’s been a long journey,” said Ziccardi. “Since 2019, we’ve run multiple field campaigns across seasons, climbing giant trees in the heart of the Amazon to understand how these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-trees-decide-between-growing-and-breathing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forests</a> respond to environmental changes." 



"We’ve spent hundreds of hours up in the canopy doing measurements, some of the most intense and rewarding work I’ve ever done.”



Over 3,000 leaf measurements showed how leaves manage energy in changing light, height, and moisture conditions. The team explored three energy paths: photosynthesis (ΦPSII), heat dissipation (ΦNPQ), and steady-state fluorescence (ΦNO).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drought-unmasks-a-complex-dance">Drought unmasks a complex dance</h2>



In dry seasons, sunlight floods the upper canopy. But instead of boosting photosynthesis, this intense light overwhelms the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-have-unique-fungi-partnerships-that-help-them-survive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leaves</a>. 



As a defense, the leaves channel more energy into heat (ΦNPQ) and emit more fluorescence (ΦNO). Meanwhile, actual photosynthesis (ΦPSII) drops.



The researchers found a striking pattern. In dry conditions, photosynthesis and fluorescence first track together, then split, and finally oppose each other. 



This "triphasic" behavior means fluorescence can increase even as photosynthesis crashes. The phenomenon creates a major red flag for interpreting satellite SIF readings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-glow-shifts-across-canopy-layers">Tree glow shifts across canopy layers</h2>



Each forest layer has its own light and stress profile. The lower canopy, shaded and cooler, showed higher ΦPSII and ΦNO but lower ΦNPQ. 



Upper layers, exposed to harsh light, had the opposite pattern. They showed lower photosynthesis and more heat loss.



Interestingly, the strongest SIF signals came from these shaded, lower <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-may-overestimate-how-much-carbon-trees-release/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leaves</a>. That means satellites may often be “listening” to the quieter, protected parts of the forest rather than the sun-drenched treetops.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-species-matter-more-than-expected">Species matter more than expected</h2>



Different tree species do not respond to environmental stress in the same way. The study revealed that the fluorescence signal known as ΦNO varied strongly between species, particularly in the sun-exposed upper canopy during the dry season. 



This means that some trees, under intense light and water stress, increased their fluorescence output more than others, depending on how they manage excess energy. 



The species-level differences suggest that even if two forest regions appear to glow equally bright from a satellite’s perspective, their actual rates of photosynthesis and their ability to take in carbon could be very different.



In other words, the same level of fluorescence does not guarantee equal productivity. The forest’s composition, the types of trees present and how they deal with light, plays a crucial role in shaping what those glow signals really mean. 



Remote sensing tools must account for these biological differences to avoid drawing misleading conclusions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-glow-can-confuse-satellite-readings">Tree glow can confuse satellite readings</h2>



SIF still offers a powerful tool, but it must be used carefully. The researchers recommend accounting for leaf age, species, and height. 



Models that ignore these factors risk overestimating how much carbon forests absorb, especially during drought.



The study highlights how the Amazon's structure, with its dense lower canopy and diverse species, complicates the reading of satellite data. Signals from above might miss crucial internal forest dynamics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-research-goes-from-here">Where research goes from here</h2>



This work lays the foundation for smarter GPP models (gross primary productivity). By capturing the vertical, seasonal, and species-specific nuances of energy flow, it helps scientists avoid mistaking plant glow for plant growth.



Ziccardi’s team shows that to understand forest photosynthesis, we must look beyond surface signals. Forests whisper complex stories in light, and it’s time we listen closely.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70183" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Phytologist</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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.



-----

Amazon trees glow more under stress but photosynthesize less

In the dense green heart of the Amazon, a silent...

Biodiversity is declining across Japan’s countryside, even as villages empty and young people move to the cities. Many would expect birds, insects, and native plants to return when humans leave. A new study shows that’s not happening.



The research team examined land-use change, temperature records, and nearly two decades of citizen-science observations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-population-loss-doesn-t-equal-biodiversity-gain">Population loss doesn’t equal biodiversity gain</h2>



The researchers mapped population change across rural Japan and overlaid 1.5 million sightings of 464 animal species and 2,922 plant species collected between 2004 and 2021. 



Shrinking towns did not rebound ecologically. Instead, abandoned rice fields turned into either housing estates or weed-choked lots. Both outcomes hurt wildlife.



Study co-author Dr Peter Matanle is a senior lecturer in Japanese Ssudies at the <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sheffield</a>.



“Japan is one of many countries whose demographic trends point to long-term population loss. We call it a 'Depopulation Vanguard Country' because it presages losses in similar neighboring countries such as South Korea and China," said Dr. Matanle.



“We find that expected biodiversity gains from fewer people may not be occurring, and that losses are continuing. This indicates possible similar effects in other world regions such as Southern Europe, with Italy as its DVC, and Eastern Europe, with Bulgaria and Latvia as its DVCs. 



Dr. Matanle noted that his team would like to study other regions in the future such as Europe and Latin America to find out if similar effects are being felt there.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-citizen-scientists-fill-the-data-gap">Citizen scientists fill the data gap</h2>



Volunteers across Japan recorded birds, butterflies, fireflies, frog spawn, and local flora. Their notebooks and apps supplied one of the richest ecological datasets on Earth. 



The study shows how community monitoring can spot silent declines that official surveys might miss.



The study suggests that modest, steady farming often supports more life than sudden abandonment. When fields are left untended, invasive weeds can outcompete native plants. Without people to manage canals and paddies, wetlands dry out and the species they harbor disappear.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traditional-practices-support-biodiversity">Traditional practices support biodiversity </h2>



“Japan’s biodiversity has long been sustained by traditional rural livelihood practices such as wet rice agriculture, forest and soil management, and the maintenance of rural landscapes. These human activities have shaped and supported ecological richness for centuries," said Kei Uchida, an associate professor at Tokyo City University.



“Even as populations decline, human interventions continue in some areas, while others are left to ecological succession. This uneven pattern of change produces a mosaic landscape which is accelerating the degradation of rural environments and undermining the biodiversity they support."



According to Professor Uchida, the research has implications for maintaining biodiversity in other depopulating countries in East Asia, and contributes to knowledge about the outcomes of human depopulation worldwide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-population-loss-is-a-global-issue">Population loss is a global issue</h2>



The United Nations expects 85 countries to decline in population by 2050, including much of Eastern and Southern Europe. The researchers urge governments to blend rewilding with rural job programs so that landscapes do not slide into neglect.



Shorter workweeks for farmers, subsidies for low-impact cultivation, and support for local wildlife groups are among the proposed ideas.



The lesson is clear: people leaving an area can harm nature as easily as they can help it. Careful planning is needed to tip the balance toward recovery.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-population-and-biodiversity-loss">Population and biodiversity loss</h2>



Biodiversity loss is not just a local issue - it’s a global concern that affects ecosystems, economies, and everyday life. The decline of species, whether plants, insects, or animals, disrupts food chains, weakens soil health, and reduces the resilience of natural systems. 



When biodiversity shrinks, the services ecosystems provide - like pollination, water purification, and climate regulation - begin to break down.



In Japan, the study highlights how biodiversity continues to decline even as people leave rural areas. But similar trends are being seen worldwide, in both developed and developing regions. 



Land-use change, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, pollution, and climate change all contribute to the problem. Even regions experiencing depopulation are not immune - sometimes, they’re more vulnerable if the land is mismanaged or neglected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-strategies-to-protect-wildlife">New strategies to protect wildlife</h2>



This research adds to the growing body of evidence that simply removing human pressure isn’t always enough. 



Without intentional support, many landscapes fail to recover. Rewilding, conservation, and traditional ecological practices all have a role to play in reversing the loss. 



As countries face changing demographics and population loss, preserving biodiversity will require new strategies that account for both ecological and social realities.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01578-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Sustainability</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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.



-----

Population loss in Japan's countryside linked to declining biodiversity

Biodiversity is declining across Japan’s countryside, even as villages empty...

Eating more fruit, vegetables, and other complex carbohydrates during the day appears to deliver measurable improvements in sleep that very same night. 



A new study tracking healthy adults shows that a produce-rich menu reduces the overnight tossing and turning that fragments restful sleep.



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chicago Medicine</a> and <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a> designed the experiment to move beyond earlier surveys and link specific daytime meals to the quality of that evening’s rest.



“Dietary modifications could be a new, natural, and cost-effective approach to achieve better sleep,” said co-senior author Dr. Esra Tasali, director of the UChicago Sleep Center.



“The temporal associations and objectively measured outcomes in this study represent crucial steps toward filling a gap in important public health knowledge.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-what-you-eat">Tracking what you eat</h2>



Most previous work looked at how poor sleep drives people toward sugary, high-fat foods. The new project flipped the question: could consciously better eating shape sleep for the better?



Volunteers logged everything they consumed on a smartphone app and wore wrist monitors that recorded every micro-awakening, using a measure called “sleep fragmentation” to gauge quality.



Those fragmentation readings, calculated in minute-by-minute detail, allowed the team to compare how each individual slept after a produce-rich versus a produce-poor day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fruit-bowls-pay-off-for-sleep">Fruit bowls pay off for sleep</h2>



The analysis revealed a clear pattern. When participants approached or met the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> guideline of five cups of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fruits-and-plants-are-powerful-allies-for-disease-prevention/">fruits</a> and vegetables, they spent more time in uninterrupted, restorative phases of sleep.



Whole-grain intake had a similar, albeit smaller, association. For someone eating no produce, making the leap to five cups predicted a 16 percent reduction in sleep fragmentation.



“Sixteen percent is a highly significant difference,” said Dr. Tasali. “It’s remarkable that such a meaningful change could be observed within less than 24 hours.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-fruits-and-veggies-help-sleep">Why fruits and veggies help sleep</h2>



Scientists are still untangling the biology behind these rapid gains. Fiber-rich foods slow digestion and stabilize blood sugar, which can limit the nocturnal spikes that jolt the brain into lighter sleep.



Produce also delivers micronutrients that feed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-microbes-affect-how-we-handle-everyday-stress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gut bacteria</a>; those microbes generate neurotransmitters tied to the body’s circadian timing system.



Anti-inflammatory compounds may calm the cardiovascular system, nudging heart rate and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sleeping-less-than-seven-hours-high-blood-pressure-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blood pressure</a> toward a sleep-friendly set point. 



Future trials will probe hormones, microbiome shifts, and brain-wave patterns to pin down the dominant pathway.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bigger-picture-sleep-lessons">Bigger picture sleep lessons</h2>



Compared with drug therapies, dietary tweaks carry almost no risk and cost little - a critical advantage at a time when chronic sleep loss undermines health, productivity, and mood for millions.



Participants in the experiment were young adults, but the design can be extended to older populations or people with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-extracts-may-help-treat-metabolic-syndrome/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolic disease</a> to see whether benefits scale or shrink.



Because the monitoring was continuous, the authors could see changes night after night, opening the door to clinical trials in which the focus is on specific individuals who test how specific foods influence their own sleep.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-as-a-first-line-sleep-aid"><a></a>Food as a first-line sleep aid</h2>



Study co-senior author Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge is the director of the Center of Excellence for Sleep &amp; Circadian Research at Columbia University.



“People are always asking me if there are things they can eat that will help them sleep better,” said Dr. St-Onge. "Small changes can impact sleep. That is empowering - better rest is within your control.”



Public health agencies already push Americans toward produce for heart and metabolic health. The new findings give those guidelines a night-time payoff as well.



A 16 percent improvement translates to fewer awakenings, more consolidated deep stages, and a smoother transition into morning alertness - effects as large as some prescription sleep aids but without their side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tips-for-better-sleep">Tips for better sleep</h2>



The scientists plan randomized, controlled feeding studies in which subjects eat standardized meals under lab supervision, allowing causal conclusions. They also hope to enlist diverse age groups and cultural diets to confirm that the produce-sleep link holds across cuisines.



In the meantime, the message is straightforward: pack the day’s menu with colorful plants and unrefined grains.



If you normally skip <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-fruits-and-vegetables-improve-heart-health/">vegetables</a> at lunch, add a salad. Replace an evening snack of chips with berries. Substituting even one refined-carb serving with fruit nudged sleep metrics in the right direction during the trial.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-simple-habit-immediate-gains"><a></a>A simple habit, immediate gains</h2>



Modern life often pits sleep against work, screens, and stress - factors that feel out of personal control. Food choices, however, remain largely in our hands.



By aligning dinner plates with daytime energy needs and nighttime recovery, people can harness a basic element of lifestyle to reinforce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-the-color-of-light-impacts-our-internal-clocks-and-circadian-rhythms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">circadian rhythms</a>.



The experts emphasize that produce will not cure severe insomnia on its own, but it offers an accessible lever that begins to move the needle within a single sunrise-to-sunset cycle.



For anyone struggling to stay asleep, the produce aisle may be as valuable as the pharmacy shelf. A serving of spinach at lunch or a banana before bed could help stitch the night together, turning fragmented dozing into a more continuous, restorative sleep - one colorful cup at a time.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sleephealthjournal.org/article/S2352-7218(25)00089-0/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sleep Health</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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.



-----

Eating more fruits and vegetables will help you get better sleep

Eating more fruit, vegetables, and other complex carbohydrates during the...

That sea of manicured green grass stretching across parks, backyards, golf courses, and cemeteries may be doing more than just pleasing the eye.



A new study led by scientists at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pennsylvania State University</a> shows that turfgrass - typically overlooked in urban greenhouse gas models - plays a small but crucial role in shaping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-carbon-dioxide-travels-in-the-atmosphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon dioxide</a> levels. And in winter, when most vegetation is thought to go dormant, these lawns are still quietly at work.



The findings stem from research conducted as part of the <a href="https://sites.psu.edu/influx/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indianapolis Flux Experiment</a> (INFLUX). By adding turfgrass-specific data to carbon models, the team has improved how scientists account for the biological activity of vegetation, leading to more accurate estimates of human-caused emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lawns-role-in-carbon-emissions">Lawns' role in carbon emissions</h2>



The study could help reduce uncertainty in estimating human-caused emissions and guide more effective greenhouse gas policies.



Jason Horne is the lead author and a doctoral candidate in meteorology and atmospheric science at Penn State. “There has been a push to better understand the processes that are going on in these areas, because it’s really complex,” he said.



Urban greenhouse gas emissions mainly come from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-warnings-fossil-fuels-are-causing-climate-health-and-biodiversity-crises/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuel</a> combustion - cars, heating systems, industrial activity - but vegetation complicates the picture. 



Plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and release it through respiration and decay. 



Accurately separating these processes is essential when trying to isolate the human fingerprint on emissions. "And for that, we need to have a good idea of what the biology is doing,” Horne added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grass-is-active-in-winter">Grass is active in winter</h2>



To get that biological snapshot, the team placed eddy covariance flux towers - sensors that track gas exchanges between the land and air - above two distinct turfgrass sites in Indianapolis: a golf course and a cemetery.



These measurements ran for a full year before and after grass was added to the simulation models.



The difference was clear. Existing vegetation types in the models couldn’t match the real seasonal behavior observed at these sites. One key moment stood out: winter.



“Our models were not able to capture the carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-foundation-of-life-is-at-risk-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a> in the middle of winter,” Horne said. “The model showed vegetation was a net source of carbon dioxide during the middle of the day.”



But field data showed that even during freezing temperatures, turfgrass was still performing photosynthesis, albeit at lower levels. That quiet activity matters more than it seems, especially in cities where lawn coverage is extensive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grass-improves-city-models">Grass improves city models</h2>



Armed with these observations, the researchers created a new turfgrass vegetation type within their simulation. This tweak allowed the model to better reflect actual winter photosynthesis rates and adjust for the role lawns in removing carbon dioxide from the air.



“Turfgrass photosynthesis is not highly active during the winter, but it’s active enough to make a difference in the models - and that could make a difference in how we understand every emission source,” Horne said.



Misrepresenting vegetation as emitting carbon can lead to inaccurate estimates of total human-caused emissions. For cities like Indianapolis, where 20% to 30% of the land area is covered in turfgrass, even subtle changes add up.



“Even if we see a small drawdown of carbon dioxide in the middle of winter, it’s not insignificant,” Horne emphasized. “If you are not considering that, you may be underestimating anthropogenic emissions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lawn-care-affects-emissions">Lawn care affects emissions</h2>



The two study sites revealed additional insights. The golf course’s grass was irrigated, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fertilized-soil-pollution-california/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fertilized</a>, and mowed regularly, while the cemetery’s lawn was less intensely managed.



This difference likely affects both carbon uptake and release. It highlights the need for future research on maintenance practices and environmental factors.



“But it’s clear from our work that turfgrass lawns are worthy of dedicated study,” Horne said. “This could help reduce the amount of uncertainty when we're trying to estimate anthropogenic emissions to guide policy decisions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-urban-green-spaces"><a></a>Rethinking urban green spaces</h2>



The work highlights the subtle but real influence of managed lawn grass on carbon dynamics. It also strengthens the case for refining urban emission models to include a broader, more accurate picture of vegetation activity.



By incorporating turfgrass into simulations, scientists are improving their grasp on how cities breathe - and how human behavior, through lawn care and landscaping, may shape that process.



As urban areas expand and climate policy sharpens, even the quietest blades of grass could help write the next chapter of emissions accounting.



The study is published in the <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024JG008477">Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences</a>.



-----



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.&nbsp;



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.



-----

Your lawn plays a key role in absorbing urban carbon emissions

That sea of manicured green grass stretching across parks, backyards,...

Endangered animals

News coming your way