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...

Zapus hudsonius preblei. 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.bing.com/search?q=canada&amp;cvid=4420542195604c0fabc43f706d679a4c&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">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, <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/fungi-characteristics-and-function/">fungi</a>, and microbes of North America and the world. Zapus hudsonius preblei

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 mouse is around nine inches long, 60% of which is the tail, and can jump in bounds of four feet when threatened. It usually travels slowly. It swims and climbs grass stems. It has long hind legs and a long, slender, scaly tail that it uses to <a class="mw-redirect" title="Communicate" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communicate">communicate</a> by making drumming noises. It also communicates using clucks and chirps.

The mice are born without hair (naked) and live nearly two years. They <a title="Hibernation" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibernation">hibernate</a> an estimated 7-8 months - from September or October through late May or early June - building themselves a soft vegetation nest, typically at a location with a northerly aspect. The Colorado <a class="mw-redirect" title="Breeding season" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breeding_season">breeding season</a> is believed to be June through August, with two litters - in July and August - but there are records of three litters in a season. The average litter size is five, but can range from two to eight.

Zapus hudsonius preblei

Zapus hudsonius preblei. NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer...

Zosterops albogularis 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 <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/perennial-vegetables-to-grow-in-north-america/">North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=wildlife&amp;cvid=879b6182a54c48e6a4208ef9b0da5c1a&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS"> Wildlife</a> Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. Zosterops albogularis It reaches a length up 13 to 14 centimetres and therefore it is one of the largest white-eyes. The wingspan is 7.5 cm and the weight is about 30 grams. Its appearance is characterized by a pale green head, an olive green coloured neck and white throat and belly parts. A further feature is a conspicuous eye ring of white feathers. Males and females are coloured similarly. Its diet consists of fruits, berries, nectar, and insects. Its only habitat is a 5 km² large forested area around Mount Pitt on Norfolk Island where it lives solitary. In the breeding season from October to December the couple build a cup-shaped nest in which two white eggs are laid. The incubation time lasts eleven days and another eleven days later the juveniles became fully fledged.

Zosterops albogularis

Zosterops albogularis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Zosterops conspicillatus conspicillatus 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/intense-wildfires-in-manitoba-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 -- Zosterops conspicillatus conspicillatus 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. North America is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere. It can also be described as the northern subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean. Because it is on the North American Tectonic Plate, Greenland is included as part of North America geographically. North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 square miles), about 16.5% of the Earth's land area and about 4.8% of its total surface

Zosterops conspicillatus conspicillatus

Zosterops conspicillatus conspicillatus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer...

Zosterops modesta 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/intense-wildfires-in-manitoba-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 -- Zosterops modesta 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%20america&amp;qs=n&amp;form=QBRE&amp;sp=-1&amp;pq=&amp;sc=0-0&amp;sk=&amp;cvid=2A486C7EEB7F4DC9A48B1971A274D39A">North America</a> and the world. North America is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere. It can also be described as the northern subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean. Because it is on the North American Tectonic Plate, Greenland is included as part of North America geographically. North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 square miles), about 16.5% of the Earth's land area and about 4.8% of its total surface

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.

Zosterops modesta

Zosterops modesta NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

Zosterops rotensis 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/intense-wildfires-in-manitoba-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 -- Zosterops rotensis 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. <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north%20america&amp;qs=n&amp;form=QBRE&amp;sp=-1&amp;pq=&amp;sc=0-0&amp;sk=&amp;cvid=2A486C7EEB7F4DC9A48B1971A274D39A">North America</a> is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere. It can also be described as the northern subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean. Because it is on the North American Tectonic Plate, Greenland is included as part of North America geographically. North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 square miles), about 16.5% of the Earth's land area and about 4.8% of its total surface

Zosterops rotensis

Zosterops rotensis NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is...

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>.



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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...

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>.



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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



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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>.



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Amazon trees glow more under stress but photosynthesize less

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

Fungi,Aspergillus,,Black,Mold,,Which,Produce,Aflatoxins,And,Cause,Pulmonary

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>.



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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...

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>.



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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>.



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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>.



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Your lawn plays a key role in absorbing urban carbon emissions

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

Each year, the summer solstice marks the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. For most people, it brings warmth, festivals, and late sunsets. But for plants, it may mean something far more important. 



New research led by scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) suggests that this annual milestone could be a vital signal for growth and reproduction.



Yet, as the planet warms, this natural cue may be losing its reliability. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, explores how plants use the solstice as a possible trigger. 



However, with rising temperatures and increasing climate unpredictability, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-finally-learn-what-makes-plants-roots-grow-faster-and-stronger-autophagy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> may now need to look elsewhere for guidance.



“Plants are known to use temperature to time things like leaf growth and flowering,” said Dr. Victor Van der Meersch, postdoctoral researcher at <a href="https://www.ubc.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UBC</a>’s faculty of forestry. “This study shows that the solstice is an optimal growth period and could also be an important trigger for reproduction.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solstice-helps-plants-time-their-growth">Solstice helps plants time their growth</h2>



Historically, researchers believed daylength in general helped plants schedule <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-future-climate-conditions-will-transform-plant-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">growth</a>. This study goes further. It suggests the summer solstice - around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere - marks a key thermal optimum. 



Across both Europe and North America, it offers a balance of accumulated warmth and enough time left in the season to finish development.



According to the authors, this timing represents a trade-off. Plants need to accumulate enough warmth to anticipate future climate conditions, but they also need time to grow organs, set flowers, and prepare for reproduction. The solstice may offer the best bet to strike that balance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solstice-aligns-with-optimal-plant-growth">Solstice aligns with optimal plant growth </h2>



Using historical and projected climate data, the researchers studied temperature patterns over many years. They measured this through “growing degree days” (GDD) - a way to track heat accumulation important for plant metabolism. 



The goal was to find the day when plants could most confidently predict how warm the rest of the season would be and still have time to grow. 



This trade-off, visible in the models and graphs of the paper, shows the solstice often sits near the point of best combined predictability and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predicting-how-climate-change-will-alter-plant-growth-cycles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">growth</a> potential.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-climates-tell-a-different-story">Local climates tell a different story</h2>



Despite this average, local conditions tell a more complex story. In warmer parts of southern Europe, plants peak earlier. In cooler northern regions, the best time for growth arrives well after the solstice. 



The paper’s map on page 2 highlights this clearly. Sites in red, purple, and green mark where optimal growth timing occurs before, near, or after the solstice.



That means the solstice is not a reliable cue everywhere. “Daylength doesn’t change from year to year. But with temperatures fluctuating more, plants may be having trouble adjusting to both signals,” said Dr. Elizabeth Wolkovich, co-author and plant ecologist at UBC.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fixed-signals-limit-how-plants-respond">Fixed signals limit how plants respond</h2>



The study notes that relying on a fixed signal like the solstice could limit how plants adapt to changing environments. Instead, the authors argue that temperature - because it reflects real-time conditions - may now be more useful than photoperiod cues.



Given the variation across climates, it may be better for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-changing-skies-alter-plant-growth-patterns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> to track temperature directly. “That’s because it’s directly tied to the actual climate conditions plants are experiencing,” said Van der Meersch.



Tracking solstice involves not just sensing light but calculating how fast the light is changing - a process that may be more complex and costly for plants than sensing heat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mistiming-growth-harms-plants">Mistiming growth harms plants</h2>



Mistimed growth carries big risks. Crops might flower too early, risking frost. Pollinators may miss blooms. Forests may grow less, weakening carbon capture. 



"These timing problems can affect food security and biodiversity,” said Dr. Wolkovich. “We need to understand the signals plants use for key events like flowering and fruit ripening.”



The authors acknowledge another possibility: maybe the solstice isn’t a true biological signal for plant growth. It may just coincide with a thermal peak due to climate patterns. 



To answer this, future research must test whether plants actively respond to solstice or if the alignment is a coincidence. The experts suggest decoupling temperature and light in experiments to test how plants really make decisions.



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



As drought and warming reshape global climates, understanding when and how plants grow becomes critical. This affects everything from crop planning to forest management. 



Models that ignore the complexity of climate cues could lead to poor predictions and missed interventions.



The study, published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2506796122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>, argues that the solstice may no longer serve as the dependable signal it once was. 



The work opens a new window into how plants might adapt - or fail to - in a world where stability is fading.



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Summer solstice guides plant growth - but climate change is interfering

Each year, the summer solstice marks the longest day in...

Tucked into the humid wetlands of the American Southeast, the bald cypress rises with quiet determination. These towering trees, known for their knobby knees and flared bases, don’t just dominate the swamps - they define them. 



Many bald cypress trees have been standing for thousands of years, enduring floods, poor soil, and relentless humidity. But their survival story is not without challenges, as bald cypress trees are now facing a barrage of threats. 



While animals age and die, trees tend to live until their environment wears them down. The story of the bald cypress is one of endurance - but also one of vulnerability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-buried-cypress-trees-tell-an-old-story">Buried cypress trees tell an old story</h2>



Scientists from <a href="https://www.fau.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Atlantic University</a>, in collaboration with Lynn University, the University of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Georgia Museum of Natural History, recently uncovered an ancient timeline buried at the mouth of Georgia’s Altamaha River. 



There, the team found subfossil bald cypress trees - remnants of a once-thriving forest that time had preserved in mud and sediment.



To understand how these trees responded to past climate changes, researchers used <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/radiocarbon-could-be-key-in-predicting-earths-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">radiocarbon dating</a> and analyzed the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-rings-reveal-the-carbon-storage-capacity-of-a-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree rings</a> - measuring their size and number. 



Each ring captured a snapshot of that tree’s life in a given year, offering a long, unbroken record of environmental conditions. What the trees revealed was startling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sudden-shift-around-500-a-d">Sudden shift around 500 A.D.</h2>



Before 500 A.D., bald cypress trees at this site routinely lived over 470 years. But after that time, their lifespans fell dramatically - to just 186 years on average. 



At the same time, the trees started growing faster. That may sound like a good thing, but quick growth often means less structural strength and increased stress.



This timing aligns with a dramatic climate event known as the Vandal Minimum - a global cooling period caused by volcanic eruptions and possibly a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prehistoric-comet-impact-triggered-the-invention-of-agriculture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">comet impact</a>. 



These upheavals altered the atmosphere and, in turn, the ecosystems below. As the planet cooled, the once-resilient bald cypress began living shorter, more fragile lives.



“The last of the long-lived trees found in the deposit died during another major climatic event, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-cooling-event-caused-extinction-of-first-early-humans-in-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Ice Age</a>,” said Katharine G. Napora, Ph.D., the study’s senior author. 



“Our findings underscore how long-lasting the localized effects of major climate shifts can be, especially for coastal forests that are already vulnerable to wind damage, saltwater intrusion and rising seas.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-impacts-on-cypress-trees">Climate impacts on cypress trees</h2>



Despite the abrupt change in tree lifespans, researchers found no signs of fire, human activity, or logging at the site. There’s no clear smoking gun - no single event or threat that explains the decline. 



What’s clear, however, is that the cypress trees never bounced back. Even centuries later, they failed to reach their former lifespans.



“This shift wasn’t a brief disruption. Even centuries later, the trees never regained their former longevity. In fact, their lifespans continued to decline over time,” Napora explained.



Scientists believe several factors could be responsible. Coastal conditions may have become more unstable - with more frequent storms, salinity spikes, and inconsistent flooding patterns. 



During dry periods, pests like mites likely thrived and added more stress. Together, these shifts may have created an environment where longevity was no longer possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cypress-trees-as-climate-timekeepers">Cypress trees as climate timekeepers</h2>



The researchers studied 95 subfossil bald cypress trees from the Altamaha Wildlife Management Area. These trees had been buried for centuries and were unearthed during regular land maintenance work. 



The well-preserved condition of the trees gave scientists an ideal record for examining past growth without interference from modern preservation differences.



“These ancient giants not only inspire awe but also serve as natural archives, helping scientists understand how trees have weathered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-needed-millions-of-years-to-recover-from-past-climate-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">past climate events</a> - and how they might fare in the face of modern climate change,” Napora said.



And these are not the only cypress trees with climate stories to tell. In parts of the Southeast, living bald cypress trees between 800 and 2,600 years old still stand today. They’ve survived massive environmental shifts and now live as rare survivors in old-growth swamp forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-story-of-the-earth-written-in-wood">The story of the Earth, written in wood</h2>



While the Vandal Minimum was not a global freeze in the way we often imagine, it was felt in many corners of the world. The bald cypress offers a unique look into how such broad changes ripple through ecosystems - and linger for centuries.



“The rings of the bald cypress are like nature’s journal entries, written year by year and season by season, showing how even slow changes can shape the course of life," said Napora.



"In their quiet persistence, these trees offer both a warning and a lesson: that the world is more interconnected than we often realize, and that the story of the Earth isn’t only told through written history - it’s etched into wood, embedded in landscapes and carried forward by living organisms."



"The past lives on in the trunks of these ancient trees, reminding us that environmental shifts - whether natural or human-caused - reverberate through time in ways we are only beginning to understand.”



In a time of rising uncertainty, these trees are more than survivors. They are storytellers, and we’re just learning how to listen.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2421181122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Bald cypress trees reveal long-term impact of climate change

Tucked into the humid wetlands of the American Southeast, the...

Beneath the forest floor lies a vast and vital network of life - underground fungi that help regulate Earth’s climate and sustain ecosystems by transporting nutrients to plants and locking carbon deep in the soil.



Among these are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-distribute-enormous-amounts-of-co2-to-mycorrhizal-fungi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mycorrhizal fungi</a>, especially ectomycorrhizal species, which form intricate symbiotic relationships with trees and plants. But as scientists try to understand and protect these essential organisms, they’re running into a surprising obstacle: the majority of these fungi remain unknown.



A new study reveals that up to 83% of ectomycorrhizal fungi belong to “dark taxa” - species that have never been formally named or described. Scientists only know these organisms through fragments of their DNA, and their anonymity poses a significant challenge for conservation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-fungal-diversity">Invisible fungal diversity</h2>



Only about 155,000 fungal species have been officially documented, while scientists estimate that between two and three million exist. In recent years, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/airborne-dna-can-track-wildlife-diseases-and-even-drugs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental DNA</a> (eDNA) sampling - extracting genetic material directly from soil and roots - has helped researchers detect many more species. 



However, for most of these mysterious fungi, there’s no existing match in the scientific record.



Laura van Galen is lead author of the study and a microbial ecologist working with the <a href="https://www.spun.earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Society for the Protection of Underground Networks</a> (SPUN) and <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETH Zurich</a>.



“We are a long way out from getting all fungal DNA sequences linked to named species,” she said. "Environmental DNA has enormous potential as a research tool to detect fungal species, but we can’t include unnamed species in conservation initiatives. How can you protect something that hasn’t yet been named?”



Traditionally, scientists assign described species Latin binomials - names that help them track and study these organisms. Without these identifiers, dark taxa remain excluded from conservation frameworks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fungi-drive-forest-health">Fungi drive forest health</h2>



Ectomycorrhizal fungi are more than obscure soil residents - they’re powerhouses of planetary health. 



These fungi partner with roughly a quarter of all plant life and play an outsized role in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-plankton-play-a-big-role-in-the-global-carbon-cycle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth’s carbon cycle</a>, drawing down over nine billion tons of carbon dioxide each year.



That’s more than 25% of the CO2 released annually by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-warnings-fossil-fuels-are-causing-climate-health-and-biodiversity-crises/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuels</a>. They also help regulate nutrient flows in forests, support plant resilience, and even break down pollutants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropics-hold-untapped-fungi">Tropics hold untapped fungi</h2>



Despite their importance, most ectomycorrhizal research focuses on the Global North, leaving tropical fungal communities overlooked.



According to the study, hotspots for dark taxa are especially concentrated in tropical forests and shrublands in Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and parts of Africa. They also occur in montane forests above Mongolia.



“Mid-latitude and southern-hemisphere regions show signs of being home to many unknown species," said van Galen. 



“This means there is a mismatch in resources and funding. We need to facilitate more tropical researchers and those from southern-hemisphere regions to focus on identifying these super-important fungi.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-naming-the-nameless"><a></a>Naming the nameless</h2>



To bring these fungi into the scientific spotlight, the researchers suggest two main strategies: fieldwork and museum science. Collecting and sequencing new fungal samples is vital, but revisiting existing collections is equally important.



 Camille Truong is co-author of the study and a mycorrhizal ecologist at SPUN and the <a href="https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Australia</a>.



“One way to reduce the dark taxa problem is to collect, study and sequence mushrooms and other fungi,” said Truong. 



“Conversely, there are mushrooms that have been sitting for decades in collections of botanical gardens. These should be urgently sequenced so that we can, hopefully, start matching them up with some of these dark taxa.”



The stakes are high. Many of these unknown fungi are linked to plant species that are themselves endangered. If those <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-and-fungi-communicate-using-a-silent-language/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plants</a> disappear, their fungal partners - possibly with vital ecological functions - could vanish without ever being documented.



“We're at risk here,” van Galen warned. “If we lose these host plants, we might also be losing really important fungal communities that we don’t know anything about yet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prioritizing-underground-fungal-species">Prioritizing underground fungal species</h2>



The tools to explore fungal diversity already exist. What’s missing is widespread recognition of the fungi’s role in climate and biodiversity, and a coordinated push to study and protect them.



“We really need to pay so much more attention to fungi in the soil so that we can understand the species and protect them and conserve them before we lose them,” van Galen said.



The authors hope their research will help steer conservation organizations toward prioritizing regions rich in underground fungal diversity - even if the species found there are still nameless.



After all, in the quiet depths of the soil, scientists may discover the foundations of forests, climate stability, and even our future.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00426-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



Image Credit: Adriana Corrales/SPUN



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Why millions of fungal species still remain unknown

Beneath the forest floor lies a vast and vital network...

Endangered animals

News coming your way