Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.eso.org/public/">European Southern Observatory</a> (ESO) features a stunning view of the Sculptor Galaxy, one of the brightest spiral galaxies visible from Earth.



The ultra-detailed image, which was captured using ESO’s Very Large Telescope, reveals features in the Sculptor Galaxy that have never been seen before.&nbsp;



ESO researcher Enrico Congiu led a new study on the Sculptor Galaxy that is published in the journal Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-galaxy-wide-view-of-sculptor-nbsp">A galaxy-wide view of Sculptor&nbsp;</h2>



The team observed the galaxy in thousands of wavelengths at once, collecting an immense amount of data from every point across its structure. This allowed them to build a comprehensive, galaxy-wide view of how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/white-dwarf-stars-may-be-billions-of-years-older-than-estimated/">stars</a> live and evolve within Sculptor.



"Galaxies are incredibly complex systems that we are still struggling to understand," said Congiu.



“The Sculptor Galaxy is in a sweet spot. It is close enough that we can resolve its internal structure and study its building blocks with incredible detail, but at the same time, big enough that we can still see it as a whole system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thousands-of-distinct-colors-nbsp">Thousands of distinct colors&nbsp;</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oxygen-detected-in-the-most-distant-and-primitive-galaxy-ever-analyzed/">Galaxies</a> span hundreds of thousands of light-years, yet their evolution is shaped by processes unfolding on much smaller scales.&nbsp;



The fundamental components of a galaxy - stars, gas, and dust - each emit light in distinct colors. The more shades of color captured in an image, the deeper the insight into a galaxy’s internal structure.&nbsp;



Traditional images typically contain only a few colors, but the new map of the Sculptor Galaxy includes thousands.&nbsp;



This rich spectrum provides astronomers with detailed information about the galaxy’s stars, gas, and dust - from their ages and chemical makeup to how they’re moving through space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-the-sculptor-galaxy-nbsp">Mapping the Sculptor Galaxy&nbsp;</h2>



The research team spent more than 50 hours observing the Sculptor Galaxy using the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope.&nbsp;



To capture the full view - spanning roughly 65,000 light-years - they combined over 100 separate exposures into a single, detailed mosaic.&nbsp;



According to study co-author Kathryn Kreckel from Heidelberg University, Germany, this makes the map a potent tool.&nbsp;



“We can zoom in to study individual regions where stars form at nearly the scale of individual stars, but we can also zoom out to study the galaxy as a whole,” said Kreckel.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hundreds-of-planetary-nebulae-nbsp">Hundreds of planetary nebulae&nbsp;</h2>



In their initial analysis of the data, the team identified around 500 planetary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orion-nebula-destroys-an-oceans-worth-of-water-every-month/">nebulae</a> scattered throughout the Sculptor Galaxy.



Study co-author Fabian Scheuermann, a doctoral student at Heidelberg University, emphasized the significance of the discovery.&nbsp;



Scheuermann noted that when astronomers study galaxies outside of our own cosmic neighborhood, they normally detect fewer than 100 planetary nebulae in each one.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-galaxy-of-extremes">A galaxy of extremes</h2>



The Sculptor Galaxy, also known as NGC 253, is located about 11.4 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor. It’s classified as a starburst galaxy, meaning it’s undergoing an exceptionally high rate of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fluffy-molecular-clouds-may-change-our-understanding-of-star-formation/">star formation</a>.&nbsp;



This vigorous star-making activity is especially intense in its central regions, where dense clouds of gas and dust feed the birth of new stars.&nbsp;



The galaxy is tilted at a steep angle from our perspective, which gives it a striking, elongated appearance when viewed through telescopes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-notable-features-of-the-sculptor-galaxy-nbsp">Notable features of the Sculptor Galaxy&nbsp;</h2>



Discovered in 1783 by Caroline Herschel, the Sculptor Galaxy has become a popular target for both professional astronomers and amateur skywatchers due to its brightness and relative proximity.&nbsp;



It’s part of the Sculptor Group, one of the nearest groups of galaxies to our Local Group. Despite being rich in star-forming regions, much of its inner structure is veiled by thick dust lanes.&nbsp;



However, infrared and X-ray observations have helped scientists peer through the obscuring material to study the galaxy’s core, revealing a wealth of activity including supernova remnants and a possible central <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-ultramassive-black-hole-ever-seen-cosmic-horseshoe-lrg-3-757/">black hole</a>.



The Sculptor Galaxy is also notable for its extended halo of stars and gas, which suggests past interactions or mergers with smaller galaxies.&nbsp;



This halo, along with its active central region, makes NGC 253 a valuable subject for understanding how galaxies evolve, form stars, and recycle gas over time. Its combination of beauty and scientific richness continues to make it a focus of galactic studies.



Image Credit: European Southern Observatory&nbsp;



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Thousands of colors in the Sculptor Galaxy

Today's Image of the Day from the European Southern Observatory...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a dazzling view of the globular cluster NGC 1786, which was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.&nbsp;



Unlike open <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trio-of-star-clusters-may-be-the-same-system-at-different-ages/">clusters</a>, which are younger and more loosely arranged, globular clusters are tightly concentrated and typically located in a galaxy’s halo.



The globular cluster NGC 1786 is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) - a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way about 160,000 light-years from Earth.&nbsp;



“NGC 1786 itself is in the constellation Dorado. It was discovered in the year 1835 by John Herschel,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">ESA</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-globular-clusters-nbsp">Observing globular clusters&nbsp;</h2>



Globular clusters are densely packed, spherical groups of stars that orbit the cores of galaxies like satellites.&nbsp;



Each cluster can contain tens of thousands to millions of stars, all bound tightly together by gravity. These stars are generally very old - often over 10 billion years - making globular clusters some of the oldest known structures in the universe.



The image of NGC 1786 is part of a broader observing program aimed at comparing old globular clusters in nearby dwarf galaxies with those found in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-may-be-inside-a-giant-void-in-the-universe-explains-hubble-tension/">Milky Way</a>.&nbsp;



“Our galaxy contains over 150 of these old, spherical collections of tightly-bound stars, which have been studied in depth - especially with Hubble Space Telescope images like this one, which show them in previously-unattainable detail,” said ESA.



“Being very stable and long-lived, they act as galactic time capsules, preserving stars from the earliest stages of a galaxy’s formation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stars-in-globular-clusters">Stars in globular clusters</h2>



For many years, astronomers believed that the stars in globular clusters all formed at roughly the same time. However, studies of Milky Way clusters have revealed multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zhulong-spiral-galaxy-like-milky-way-discovered-at-edge-of-universe-should-not-exist/">stellar populations</a> of different ages.&nbsp;



To better understand how globular clusters form - and how they can be used to trace galactic evolution - researchers are now investigating whether clusters like NGC 1786 in external galaxies also show signs of multiple stellar generations.&nbsp;



This research sheds light on the origins and development of the Large Magellanic Cloud. It also helps scientists study the formation history of the Milky Way itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-magellanic-cloud-nbsp">Large Magellanic Cloud&nbsp;</h2>



The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is one of the most prominent and intriguing galaxies in our cosmic neighborhood. It is the largest satellite galaxy of the Milky Way and is visible to the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere.&nbsp;



A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dozens-of-ghost-galaxies-may-be-orbiting-the-milky-way/">satellite galaxy</a> is a smaller galaxy that orbits a larger one due to gravitational attraction. Just as the Moon orbits the Earth, satellite galaxies are bound to larger galaxies and can slowly orbit them over billions of years. 



These satellites can range in size from relatively massive dwarf galaxies to tiny, faint collections of stars.



Though classified as a dwarf galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud spans roughly 14,000 light-years across and contains billions of stars, nebulae, and star clusters.&nbsp;



One of its most famous features is the Tarantula Nebula - the most active star-forming region in the entire Local Group of galaxies. This stellar nursery is so intense that it's forming some of the most massive stars ever observed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-interaction-with-the-milky-way-nbsp">Dynamic interaction with the Milky Way&nbsp;</h2>



The Large Magellanic Cloud is also of great interest to astronomers because of its dynamic relationship with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-solar-systems-journey-through-the-milky-way-may-have-altered-earths-climate/">Milky Way</a>. It’s not just a passive companion - it’s interacting gravitationally with both the Milky Way and the Small Magellanic Cloud, another nearby dwarf galaxy.&nbsp;



These interactions have created long streams of gas, such as the Magellanic Stream, that arc across the sky. In fact, recent studies suggest the Large Magellanic Cloud may be on its first infall into the Milky Way’s halo, rather than orbiting it for billions of years as once thought.&nbsp;



This motion could have significant effects on the structure of our galaxy, possibly even perturbing the Milky Way’s dark matter halo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-research">Significance of the research </h2>



The detailed observations of NGC 1786 not only showcase the stunning capabilities of the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/">Hubble Space Telescope</a> but also deepen our understanding of how galaxies like the Milky Way and the LMC evolve over time.&nbsp;



By examining ancient globular clusters in both the Milky Way and its neighboring galaxies, astronomers are uncovering vital clues about star formation and the processes that shaped our universe.



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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Glittering cluster is home to some of the oldest known stars

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

Today's Image of the Day from NASA features the spiral galaxy NGC 2566, which is located 76 million light-years away in the constellation Puppis. The image was captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.



“A prominent bar of stars stretches across the center of this galaxy, and spiral arms emerge from each end of the bar. Because NGC 2566 appears tilted from our perspective, its disk takes on an almond shape, giving the galaxy the appearance of a cosmic eye,” said <a href="https://phys.org/news/2024-12-hubble-spies-spiral-galaxy-ngc.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.



“As NGC 2566 appears to gaze at us, astronomers gaze right back, using Hubble to survey the galaxy's star clusters and star-forming regions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-appearance-of-ngc-2566">Complex appearance of NGC 2566</h2>



NGC 2566 lies at a considerable distance from Earth, making it a challenging object for amateur astronomers to observe in detail without powerful telescopes.&nbsp;



It can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere sky and is better observed from locations with minimal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-light-pollution-influences-interest-in-astronomy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light pollution</a>.&nbsp;



The galaxy's arms are populated with young, bright stars, regions of active star formation, and interstellar gas and dust - giving it a dynamic and complex appearance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-the-ages-of-stars">Measuring the ages of stars</h2>



According to NASA, data from Hubble is especially valuable for studying stars that are just a few million years old. “These stars are bright at the ultraviolet and visible wavelengths to which Hubble is sensitive.”



“Using these data, researchers can measure the ages of NGC 2566's stars, which helps piece together the timeline of the galaxy's star formation and the exchange of gas between star-forming clouds and the stars themselves.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-galaxies">Star formation in galaxies</h2>



Star formation in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shapes-of-one-million-galaxies-hint-at-the-universes-origins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> is a fascinating and complex process that unfolds over millions of years. It begins in vast clouds of gas and dust, known as molecular clouds, which are often found in the spiral arms of galaxies or in regions of irregular or starburst galaxies.&nbsp;



These clouds provide the raw material for star formation, consisting primarily of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of heavier elements.



As the molecular clouds collapse under their own gravity, regions within them begin to condense and fragment, forming dense clumps. Within these clumps, protostars emerge. Their formation is driven by the gravitational pull drawing in surrounding gas.&nbsp;



During this process, the gas heats up due to increasing pressure, eventually igniting nuclear fusion in the core, signaling the birth of a new star.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rates-of-star-formation">Rates of star formation</h2>



The rate of star formation varies across galaxies is influenced by numerous factors. In spiral galaxies like the Milky Way, star formation is most active in the spiral arms, where density waves compress gas and dust, triggering the collapse of molecular clouds.&nbsp;



Elliptical galaxies, which often have little cold gas and dust, typically exhibit low rates of star formation or none at all.



On the other hand, starburst galaxies experience episodes of exceptionally high star formation, often triggered by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-captures-a-galaxy-collision-with-a-radiant-smile/">galactic collisions</a> or interactions.



These events can funnel large amounts of gas into central regions, leading to intense star-forming activity. However, such bursts are usually short-lived on cosmic timescales, exhausting the available gas quickly.



The environment within a galaxy also plays a significant role. Stellar winds and supernova explosions from existing stars can both inhibit and promote star formation. They may disperse gas, preventing further collapse, or compress nearby clouds, triggering new star formation.&nbsp;



As galaxies evolve over time, the availability of gas diminishes, leading to a gradual decline in star formation activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-puppis-constellation-nbsp">The Puppis constellation&nbsp;</h2>



The Puppis constellation in the southern sky represents the stern of a ship. It was once part of a larger constellation known as Argo Navis, which depicted the mythical ship of Jason and the Argonauts.&nbsp;



However, Argo Navis was later divided into three separate constellations: Puppis, Carina (the keel), and Vela (the sails). Puppis is the largest of these three and contains many notable celestial objects.



This constellation is home to several bright stars, including Naos (Zeta Puppis), a hot, massive star that emits intense ultraviolet radiation. Puppis also hosts a wide variety of deep-sky objects, such as open <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stunning-star-clusters-captured-in-the-extreme-outskirts-of-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star clusters</a> and nebulae.&nbsp;



Among these, Messier 46 and Messier 47 stand out. Both are beautiful star clusters that are visible through binoculars or small telescopes. The region is dense with stars because it lies along the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-collision-may-change-everything-we-know-about-our-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>, making it a prime area for stargazing and astrophotography. 



Image Credit: NASA



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Eye in the sky: A galaxy that appears to be gazing back

Today's Image of the Day from NASA features the spiral...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the galaxy I Zwicky 18, which was captured in remarkable detail by the James Webb Space Telescope.



I Zwicky 18 is a blue compact dwarf <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-stars-milky-way-are-old-as-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> located approximately 59 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-i-zwicky-18">Star formation in I Zwicky 18</h2>



The galaxy is notable for its relatively young appearance and the fact that it contains very few heavy elements. These characteristics indicate that it has experienced little <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/baby-stars-release-sneezes-of-gas-and-dust-as-they-develop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a> compared to other galaxies of similar age.



“The galaxy was first identified by Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky in the 1930’s and resides roughly 59 million light-years from Earth,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>. “This galaxy has gone through several sudden bursts of star formation.”&nbsp;



According to ESA, I Zwicky 18 is typical of the kinds of galaxies that inhabited the early universe and is much smaller than our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/runaway-star-j1249-36-spotted-trying-to-escape-our-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-webb-telescope-image-of-the-galaxy">Webb telescope image of the galaxy</h2>



“Two major starburst regions are embedded in the heart of the galaxy. The wispy brown filaments surrounding the central starburst region are bubbles of gas that have been heated by stellar winds and intense ultraviolet radiation unleashed by hot, young stars,” said ESA.



“A companion galaxy resides nearby to the dwarf galaxy, which can be seen at the bottom of the wider-field image. The companion may be interacting with the dwarf galaxy and may have triggered that galaxy's recent star formation.”&nbsp;



ESA explained that the “orange blobs” surrounding the galaxy are the dim glow from ancient fully formed galaxies at much larger distances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-characteristics-of-i-zwicky-18">Key characteristics of I Zwicky 18</h2>



As previously mentioned, the galaxy has a very low abundance of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, suggesting that it has not undergone significant stellar processing.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-stellar-population-nbsp">Young stellar population&nbsp;</h3>



Despite its old age, I Zwicky 18 contains many young, hot stars. This suggests that it might have experienced a burst of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hubble-detects-awe-inspiring-newborn-star/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">star formation</a> relatively recently in its history.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interstellar-medium-nbsp">Interstellar medium&nbsp;</h3>



The galaxy has a high density of gas, which is a prime ingredient for star formation. This gas is mostly in the form of hydrogen.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unusual-characteristics">Unusual characteristics</h3>



Its characteristics are more typical of primordial galaxies found in the early universe, making it a valuable object of study for understanding galaxy formation and evolution.



Ultimately, I Zwicky 18 provides insights into the conditions and processes that might have been prevalent in the early universe.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-cycles-of-stars-and-dust">Life cycles of stars and dust</h3>



The image was captured as part of a Webb program to study the life cycle of dust in I Zw 18.&nbsp;



“Scientists are now building off of previous research with Hubble obtained at optical wavelengths, studying individual dusty stars in detail with Webb’s equivalent spatial resolution and sensitivity at infrared wavelengths.”&nbsp;



ESA noted that this galaxy is of particular interest as its content of elements heavier than helium is one of the lowest of all known <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-galaxy-formation-occurred-much-faster-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> in the local universe.&nbsp;



“Such conditions are thought to be similar to those in some of the first star-forming galaxies at high redshift, so the Webb study of I Zw 18 should shed light on the life-cycle of stars and dust in the early universe.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-ursa-major">The constellation Ursa Major </h2>



Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear, is one of the most prominent and easily recognizable constellations in the northern sky. 



Its name, "Ursa Major," means "Great Bear" in Latin, and it has been a significant part of various mythologies and star lore across cultures for thousands of years. 



One of the most famous asterisms within Ursa Major is the Big Dipper, a group of seven bright stars that form a shape resembling a ladle or dipper. The Big Dipper is often used as a navigation tool because it points to Polaris, the North Star, located in the nearby constellation Ursa Minor.



Ursa Major is best viewed in the northern hemisphere and is circumpolar, meaning it is visible year-round for much of the Northern Hemisphere. Its position changes with the seasons, rotating around Polaris, the North Star.



Image Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope



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Dwarf galaxy provides a window into the early universe

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features Lake Chad in central Africa. The photograph was taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station.



According to <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154407/lake-chads-water-wetlands-and-dunes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, Lake Chad once ranked among the largest natural lakes in the world. It was a critical resource for millions of people and animals, supporting agriculture and fishing across the region.&nbsp;



Lake Chad straddles the borders of Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon. The shallow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lakes-are-warming-toward-the-point-of-no-return/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lake</a> is primarily fed by the Chari River, which brings water from the Central African Republic.&nbsp;



The water levels are also influenced by seasonal rainfall. The rainfall patterns vary significantly across the basin but generally follow a wet-dry seasonal cycle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-decline-and-shrinkage-nbsp">Environmental decline and shrinkage&nbsp;</h2>



From the 1960s to the early 2000s, the lake lost more than 90 percent of its surface area. It transformed from a vast expanse of open water into a patchwork of wetlands, reed beds, and scattered pools.&nbsp;



This environmental decline has had severe consequences for local communities, leading to food and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-water-security-relies-on-the-origins-of-rainfall/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water insecurity</a>, loss of livelihoods, and increasing competition over scarce resources.



“Ongoing droughts and the rising demand for fresh water have shrunk the lake to less than a tenth of the area it covered in the middle of the last century,” noted NASA.



“Although the lake has experienced dry and wet periods for thousands of years, there has been a significant decline in the amount of lake water available since the 1960s.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conflict-culture-and-economy">Conflict, culture, and economy</h2>



Lake Chad is a geopolitical hotspot. The region has been affected by conflict, including the insurgency led by Boko Haram, which has displaced millions and further complicated efforts to manage and protect the lake’s fragile ecosystem.&nbsp;



Despite these challenges, regional governments and international organizations are working to restore and sustain the lake, including ambitious proposals to divert water from the Congo River basin.



Culturally and economically, Lake Chad remains vital. It is a hub for trade and social exchange among diverse ethnic groups and continues to provide fish and fertile land despite its reduced size.&nbsp;



The future of Lake Chad hinges on sustainable water management, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-extremes-alter-how-sunlight-travels-through-clear-lakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> resilience, and political cooperation across national boundaries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-lake-chad-nbsp">Evolution of Lake Chad&nbsp;</h2>



According to NASA, the evolution of Lake Chad has been documented by astronaut photography over the past 60 years.&nbsp;



“During the Apollo 7 mission in 1968, an astronaut acquired an oblique <a href="https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/SearchPhotos/photo.pl?mission=AS07&amp;roll=8&amp;frame=1932" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photograph</a> of the lake as one large body of water. In 1982, another <a href="https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/SearchPhotos/photo.pl?mission=STS005&amp;roll=39&amp;frame=1022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photo</a> from the space shuttle mission STS-5 recorded receding water levels and encroaching sand dunes.”



“A <a href="https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/SearchPhotos/photo.pl?mission=ISS042&amp;roll=E&amp;frame=244403" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photo</a> taken in 2015 during space station Expedition 42 captured the lake’s remaining waters and wetlands in dark green, blue, and brown, contrasting with the sandy shades of the surrounding land.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildlife-of-lake-chad">Wildlife of Lake Chad</h2>



Lake Chad still supports wildlife, though species diversity and abundance have declined significantly due to ecosystem degradation



The lake and its surrounding wetlands are home to several species of fish, including tilapia, catfish, and Nile perch, which are important both ecologically and economically.&nbsp;



These fish support a major regional fishing industry, although overfishing and changes in water conditions have put pressure on fish populations.



Birds are another key component of the ecosystem. The lake serves as a crucial habitat and stopover point for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-may-be-using-quantum-physics-for-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migratory birds</a> traveling along the African-Eurasian flyway.&nbsp;



Species such as herons, storks, ducks, and geese can be found in the region, especially during the wet season when parts of the lake flood and create rich feeding grounds.



Mammals that depend on the surrounding floodplains and wetlands include hippos and various antelope species, yet their numbers have declined.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-efforts-and-challenges">Conservation efforts and challenges</h2>



Reptiles like Nile crocodiles and turtles also inhabit the lake's waters and marshy areas. In the past, larger wildlife such as elephants and lions may have roamed the wider Lake Chad basin, but they are now mostly gone from the immediate lake area due to habitat loss and human activity.



Despite these challenges, Lake Chad remains an important, yet increasingly fragile, refuge for wildlife in a region where water and natural habitats are becoming more scarce.&nbsp;



Conservation efforts aim to balance the needs of people and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-freshwater-species-are-threatened-with-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a>, but the success of such efforts depends on managing the lake’s limited resources in the face of climate change, political instability, and population growth.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Lake Chad: A vanishing lifeline in Central Africa

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features...

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features smoke hovering over the Butler Fire in Six Rivers National Forest. The fire was sparked by lightning on July 1 before quickly spreading to the east of Orleans, California.&nbsp;



By July 16, the Butler Fire had burned more than 9,000 acres and was zero percent contained.&nbsp;



Fueled by triple-digit temperatures and low humidity, the fire produced massive smoke plumes that drifted westward, impacting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-are-changing-the-quality-of-our-air/">air quality</a> across the region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-california-fires-ignited-by-lightning">California fires ignited by lightning</h2>



About 75 miles southeast of the Butler Fire, the Green Fire has been burning for weeks near the Pit River arm of Shasta Lake. The fire was also ignited by lightning.&nbsp;



By mid-July, the Green Fire had scorched over 15,000 acres and was only 13 percent contained.&nbsp;



According to <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154554/wildfire-smoke-billows-over-northern-california">NASA</a>, the fire’s rapid spread was driven by similarly extreme conditions - temperatures above 100°F and humidity levels below 20 percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-california-s-intense-2025-fire-season">California’s intense 2025 fire season</h2>



California’s 2025 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-seasons-are-now-overlapping-worldwide/">wildfire season</a> started early - and with alarming intensity. In January, Southern California endured destructive fires that were fueled by strong Santa Ana winds.&nbsp;



Most notably, the Palisades and Eaton Fires burned over 57,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes, and resulted in around 30 fatalities.&nbsp;



Through mid-July, more than 4,195 wildfires had scorched over 201,000 acres statewide. This is nearly triple the area burned in the same period in 2024 and well above the five-year average.&nbsp;



Among these fires, the massive Madre Fire in San Luis Obispo County alone had burned more than 80,000 acres by early July, making it the largest wildfire of the season.



California is entering the peak of its fire season amid worsening climate-driven hot and dry weather, with fire agencies forecasting above-normal fire potential through August and September.&nbsp;



Firefighters and communities are facing increasingly complex and dangerous conditions, including extreme heat, dry vegetation, and low humidity. These factors are making wildfires harder to predict and control.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-intense-fire-seasons-ahead">More intense fire seasons ahead</h2>



Looking ahead, California’s wildfire seasons are expected to grow longer and more intense as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-making-wildfire-smoke-more-deadly/">climate change</a> continues to reshape the landscape. 



Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and shrinking snowpacks are drying out forests and grasslands earlier in the year, creating dangerous conditions months before the traditional fire season.&nbsp;



Scientists warn that even in wetter years, vegetation growth can provide abundant fuel that dries out quickly under warming trends. This increases the risk of fast-moving, high-intensity fires.&nbsp;



The state is also seeing more fire activity in regions once considered low risk, including coastal areas and higher elevations.



In addition to fueling larger and more frequent fires, climate change is complicating response and recovery efforts. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-making-wildfire-smoke-more-deadly/">Smoke</a> from massive wildfires can impact extensive regions, posing serious health risks and straining public health systems.&nbsp;



Ultimately, experts agree that without significant action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the pace of global warming, wildfires will remain one of the most visible and destructive symptoms of a <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/earth/explore/wildfires-and-climate-change/">changing climate</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-with-fire">Living with fire</h2>



As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/">wildfires</a> become a more permanent fixture of life in California, residents are adapting to new realities. From packing emergency “go bags” in spring to installing air purifiers and fire-resistant landscaping, preparedness is becoming part of everyday life.&nbsp;



Schools and workplaces now routinely factor wildfire smoke into closure plans, and emergency drills are no longer seasonal but year-round.



For people on the front lines - firefighters, emergency responders, and healthcare workers - demands will only get worse and more support is needed. Many are calling for improved pay and benefits, as well as mental health services to cope with repeated trauma.



Living with fire in California means balancing resilience with action. Communities must prepare for fire, recover from fire, and push for climate policies that may prevent a future defined by ever-worsening wildfire seasons.



The image was captured on July 13, 2025 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the <a href="https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/satellites/landsat-8/">Landsat 8 satellite</a>.&nbsp;



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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California's extreme fire season rages on

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features Abell S1063, a massive galaxy cluster located about 4.5 billion light-years from Earth. The galaxy cluster was captured by the Webb telescope in stunning detail.



According to <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/05/Webb_glimpses_the_distant_past" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>, the image is what’s known as a deep field - a long exposure of a single area of the sky, collecting as much light as possible to draw out the most faint and distant galaxies that don’t appear in ordinary images.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxies-of-the-early-universe">Galaxies of the early universe </h2>



Composed of nine separate snapshots taken at different near-infrared wavelengths over roughly 120 hours, this image represents Webb’s most detailed and deepest view of a single target so far.&nbsp;



Thanks to the gravitational lensing effect of Abell S1063, astronomers can peer deeper into the past than ever before - possibly viewing some of the universe’s very <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-galaxies-formed-from-the-earliest-elements-in-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first galaxies</a>.



“The eye is first drawn, in this new NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope Picture of the Month, to the central mega-monster that is galaxy cluster Abell S1063. This behemoth collection of galaxies, lying 4.5 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Grus (the Crane), dominates the scene,” noted ESA.



“Looking more closely, this dense collection of heavy galaxies is surrounded by glowing streaks of light, and these warped arcs are the true object of scientists’ interest: faint galaxies from the universe’s distant past.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-galaxy-cluster">What is a galaxy cluster?</h2>



Galaxy clusters are the largest known gravitationally bound systems and include not just galaxies, but also vast amounts of hot, X-ray-emitting gas and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-true-nature-of-dark-matter-may-be-revealed-in-a-supernova/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a>.&nbsp;



The galaxies within a cluster move through this hot intracluster medium, and their interactions can lead to phenomena like galaxy mergers or the stripping of gas from galaxies.&nbsp;



Galaxy clusters are important for studying the large-scale structure of the universe, the behavior of dark matter, and the evolution of galaxies over cosmic time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hundreds-of-galaxies-bound-together-nbsp">Hundreds of galaxies bound together&nbsp;</h2>



As one of the most densely populated clusters known, Abell S1063 contains hundreds of galaxies bound together by gravity.&nbsp;



Its immense mass makes it an excellent example of a gravitational lens - a cosmic phenomenon where the cluster’s gravity bends and magnifies the light from galaxies far behind it.&nbsp;



This effect allows astronomers to observe incredibly faint and distant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-like-galaxies-were-present-in-the-early-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> that would otherwise be beyond our detection limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-galaxy-evolution">Studying galaxy evolution</h2>



The cluster has been the focus of several major observational campaigns. It was prominently featured in the Hubble Space Telescope’s Frontier Fields program, which used its gravitational lensing power to study the early universe.&nbsp;



“The new imagery from Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) takes this quest even further back in time,” said ESA.



“This image showcases an incredible forest of lensing arcs around Abell S1063, which reveal distorted background galaxies at a range of cosmic distances, along with a multitude of faint galaxies and previously unseen features.”



These observations are helping scientists probe the Cosmic Dawn era - the period shortly after the Big Bang.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-the-cosmic-dawn-nbsp">Exploring the Cosmic Dawn&nbsp;</h2>



The Cosmic Dawn refers to a time in the history of the universe when the first stars and galaxies began to form and shine. This pivotal era occurred roughly between 100 million and 1 billion years after the Big Bang.&nbsp;



During the Dark Ages, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fastest-feeding-black-hole-found-in-the-early-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> had cooled enough for neutral hydrogen to form, but no luminous objects yet existed to light it up.&nbsp;



The birth of the first stars - often massive and short-lived - marked the beginning of the Cosmic Dawn. These stars emitted intense ultraviolet radiation, which gradually ionized the surrounding hydrogen gas in a process known as reionization.&nbsp;



This transformed the universe from a cold, opaque environment into one that was transparent to light, enabling the large-scale structure of the cosmos to take shape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-constellation-grus">The constellation Grus</h2>



Grus is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-jupiter-discovered-in-the-great-bear-constellation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">constellation</a> in the southern sky, its name derived from the Latin word for "crane," a type of large, graceful bird.&nbsp;



It was introduced in the late 16th century by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman, during an era of celestial charting tied to European exploration of the southern hemisphere.&nbsp;



Grus is part of a group of constellations known as the "Southern Birds," which also includes Phoenix, Tucana, and Pavo.



This constellation lies near the celestial south pole and is best seen from the Southern Hemisphere during the months of August through October.&nbsp;



Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA, H. Atek, M. Zamani



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Hundreds of galaxies illuminate the early universe 

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the spiral galaxy UGC 11397 in the constellation Lyra (The Lyre).



The light captured in this striking image traveled for 250 million years before reaching the NASA/ESA <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/35-years-of-hubble-the-telescope-that-changed-our-view-of-the-universe/">Hubble Space Telescope</a>.



“At first glance, UGC 11397 appears to be an average spiral galaxy: it sports two graceful spiral arms that are illuminated by stars and defined by dark, clumpy clouds of dust,” noted ESA.



“What sets UGC 11397 apart from a typical spiral lies at its center, where a supermassive black hole containing 174 million times the mass of the Sun is growing.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-hidden-powerhouse">A hidden powerhouse</h2>



As the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-oldest-black-hole-jet-ever-seen-is-size-of-three-milky-ways-j1601-3102/">black hole</a> consumes gas, dust, and even entire stars from its surroundings, the infalling material heats up dramatically, producing a dazzling display of energy.&nbsp;



These emissions span the electromagnetic spectrum - from gamma rays to radio waves - and can flare or fade unpredictably.&nbsp;



“But in some galaxies, including UGC 11397, thick clouds of dust hide much of this energetic activity from view in optical light,” explained ESA.



“Despite this, UGC 11397's actively growing black hole was revealed through its bright X-ray emission - high-energy light that can pierce the surrounding dust.”&nbsp;



Its distinctive signature has earned UGC 11397 the classification of a Type 2 Seyfert galaxy. This category describes active galaxies whose central regions are obscured in visible light by a doughnut-shaped cloud of dust and gas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-and-black-hole-growth">Galaxy and black hole growth</h2>



“Using Hubble, researchers will study hundreds of galaxies that, like UGC 11397, harbor a supermassive black hole that is gaining mass,” noted ESA.&nbsp;



“The Hubble observations will help researchers weigh nearby supermassive black holes, understand how black holes grew early in the universe’s history, and even study how stars form in the extreme environment found at the very center of a galaxy.”



Studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-galaxies-discovery-would-upend-current-understanding-of-universe/">galaxies</a> like UGC 11397 also offers insight into the mysterious relationship between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.&nbsp;



Despite residing at the heart of galaxies, these black holes influence their surroundings on a much larger scale, often regulating the formation of stars and even shaping the structure of the galaxy itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracing-black-hole-origins">Tracing black hole origins</h2>



One of the key questions astronomers hope to answer is how these black holes grow so massive in the first place.&nbsp;



While some appear to have formed gradually over billions of years, others - especially those in the early universe - seem to have reached enormous sizes much more quickly. 



Observations of galaxies such as UGC 11397 provide crucial data to test different growth scenarios.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-clearer-picture-of-cosmic-evolution">A clearer picture of cosmic evolution</h2>



By combining Hubble’s observations with data from other telescopes, including those that detect X-rays and radio waves, researchers can build a more complete picture of how matter behaves around black holes.&nbsp;



This multi-wavelength approach is essential for studying objects obscured by dust, like Type 2 Seyfert galaxies, where optical views alone can be misleading.



Hubble’s sharp vision also allows astronomers to examine the surrounding galactic disk and spiral arms in high detail. 



These structures hold clues about recent star formation, galactic dynamics, and how gas flows toward the center - fueling both star birth and black hole growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-hole-energy-in-active-galaxies">Black hole energy in active galaxies</h2>



In many active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-galaxies-revealed-in-a-single-webb-image/">galaxies</a>, the energy released by the central black hole can blast out powerful winds or jets that affect star formation. These feedback processes can either shut down or stimulate the creation of new stars, depending on the conditions.&nbsp;



Understanding when and how this feedback occurs is another major goal of Hubble’s ongoing studies.



UGC 11397 is just one of many galaxies being surveyed as part of broader efforts to trace the cosmic history of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-turn-into-white-holes-and-blast-out-matter-and-time-runs-backwards/">black hole</a> activity.&nbsp;



Projects such as these are helping scientists map how common active galactic nuclei are, how their properties evolve over time, and how they relate to galaxy mergers and other large-scale events.



The wealth of information gathered from galaxies like UGC 11397 is not only deepening our understanding of black holes but also refining models of galaxy formation and evolution.&nbsp;



With each new observation, astronomers are piecing together the vast and complex puzzle of how galaxies and their central engines co-evolve across cosmic time.



Image Credit: ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA, M. J. Koss, A. J. Barth



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Bright spiral galaxy hides a dark secret

The MODIS instrument, short for Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, is a key instrument aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites. MODIS is playing a vital role in the development of Earth ecosystem models, able to predict global changes, which then assist policy makers in making informed decisions about the protection of the global environment.

Heavy snow and cloud cover in the Alps are seen in this Image of the day&nbsp;from the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> and features a look at heavy snow and low clouds in the Alps. Wildlife such as ibex live in the higher peaks to elevations of 3,400 m (11,155 ft), and plants such as Edelweiss grow in rocky areas in lower elevations as well as in higher elevations.

Heavy snow and cloud cover in the Alps

Monitoring Earth Changes with MODIS

Aqua is a NASA scientific research satellite that studies precipitation, evaporation, and water cycles. Terra and Aura make up the Earth Observing System. It's the second component of the system.

A frozen Lake Erie in February Today’s Image of the Day comes from the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> and features a look at a frozen <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/icy-lake-erie/">Lake Erie</a>, which is currently 93.3 percent iced over. A frozen Lake Erie in February
This false-color image was created using data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board the Aqua satellite to differentiate between snow, ice, and clouds.
Lake Erie /ˈɪəri/ (French: Lac Érié) is the fourth-largest lake (by surface area) of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the eleventh-largest globally if measured in terms of surface area.It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. At its deepest point Lake Erie is 210 feet (64 metres) deep. 
Situated on the International Boundary between Canada and the United States, Lake Erie&#8217;s northern shore is the Canadian province of Ontario, specifically the Ontario Peninsula, with the U.S. states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York on its western, southern, and eastern shores. These jurisdictions divide the surface area of the lake with water boundaries. 
The lake was named by the Erie people, a Native American people who lived along its southern shore. The tribal name &#8220;erie&#8221; is a shortened form of the Iroquoian word erielhonan, meaning long tail
&#8212;
By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Rory Arnold</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Image Credit: <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a>

A frozen Lake Erie in February

Aqua Earth Observing Satellite

This beautiful photo gallery contains 50 incredible images of Earth from Space. These images were taken by astronauts onboard the International Space Station, as well as by a multitude of NASA satellites orbiting the earth.

Today’s Image of the Day comes thanks to the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=90654&amp;eocn=home&amp;eoci=iotd_readmore">NASA Earth Observatory</a> and features a look at Super Typhoon Noru in the Pacific Ocean just south of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-blue-chrysanthemums-created/">Japan</a>.
This image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on July 31, 2017. 
At the time the photo was taken, Typhoon Noru was located just 250 kilometers south of Iwo Jima. Maximum sustained winds hit 150 miles per hour.
The storm briefly became a category 5 on July 30, before being downgraded to a category 4 one day later.
&#8211;
By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Rory Arnold</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Source: <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=90654&amp;eocn=home&amp;eoci=iotd_readmore">NASA Earth Observatory</a>

Super Typhoon Noru in the Pacific Ocean

Incredible Images of Earth from Space

Photos from the International Space Station are found in this awesome Earth.com image gallery. Flat-earthers won't agree, but these incredible photos of the Earth were taken by astronauts onboard the International Space Station. The International Space Station is a modular space station in low Earth orbit.

Northern Italy from the space station is seen here in this Image of the Day from the <a href="http://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> (ESA). The view includes the top half of the Italian Peninsula, along with <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/wildfires-burn-northern-corsica/">Corsica</a> and Sardinia off the coast. This image was captured by ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli on his third and final mission to the Space Station.

Northern Italy from the Space Station

Photos from the International Space Station

In ant colonies, caste means everything. A queen grows wings, lays eggs, and lives a life of reproduction. A worker stays wingless, handles all the labor, and rarely reproduces. But how do ants end up with such different fates when they all start out the same?



For a long time, scientists knew that both genes and the environment played a role in shaping ant castes. What wasn’t clear was how the two interacted - or whether body size and caste could be separated.



A new study from scientists at <a href="https://www.rockefeller.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Rockefeller University</a> shows that body size plays a key role in determining caste. Larger ants tend to develop queen-like traits, while smaller ones become workers.



But <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-genes-show-how-evolution-created-perfect-teamwork/">genes</a> also set the rules by determining when, and if, a particular size tips the balance toward becoming a queen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-queens-aren-t-just-bigger-ants">Queens aren't just bigger ants</h2>



A queen is not just a large worker ant. That distinction is critical. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-queens-have-a-secret-weapon-to-slow-down-aging/">Queens</a> don’t just grow bigger - they sprout wings, develop complex eyes, and grow large ovaries to lay eggs. Workers don’t. 



And yet, in many ant species, queens and workers come from the same genetic background. It’s one of the clearest examples of how the same genome can lead to very different outcomes.



This kind of flexibility is called developmental plasticity. Female ants, in particular, are a great model to study how environmental cues - like food, temperature, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-queen-behavior-changes-based-on-social-environment/">social surroundings</a> - shape the development of an organism.



Some scientists had suggested that in ants, body size and caste might be decoupled, just like in fruit flies and other insects where environmental signals influence specific traits without necessarily affecting overall size. But ants seem different. In most cases, caste traits and body size go hand in hand.



“It’s a hotly debated topic, at least among ant biologists,” said Patrick Piekarski, a postdoctoral researcher at Rockefeller's Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior. 



“We wanted to resolve this question, by determining whether it is possible to uncouple size from something like ovary development or eye development.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-the-clonal-raider-ant">Meet the clonal raider ant</h2>



The team used a special kind of ant to get answers: the clonal raider ant, <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(24)01576-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ooceraea biroi</a>. These ants reproduce asexually, producing genetically identical offspring. They also go through their life stages in sync, which makes them perfect for controlled experiments.



The clonal raider ant doesn’t have traditional queens. Instead, some individuals - called intercastes - develop queen-like features. 



They’re larger, have more developed ovaries, rudimentary eyes, and even the beginnings of wings. These intercastes serve as stand-ins for queens in the study.



“We work with this unusual ant species because, otherwise, we would not be able to control the genotype of the ant,” explained <a href="https://www.rockefeller.edu/our-scientists/heads-of-laboratories/988-daniel-kronauer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daniel Kronauer</a>, the Stanley S. and Sydney R. Shuman Professor at Rockefeller.



“With clonal raider ants, we can do the equivalent of a massive identical twin study to determine how the environment impacts the adult phenotype.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environment-sets-the-stage-for-queen-ants">Environment sets the stage for queen ants</h2>



The first part of the study tested how much the environment affects caste. 



The researchers kept the ants' genetics the same and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-quiet-engineers-what-happens-when-common-ant-species-disappear/">changed their surroundings</a>. They varied food supply, temperature, and even the types of ants that cared for the larvae.



Each of these changes impacted how the ants developed - but only by influencing their final size. For example, less food meant smaller ants, which almost always became workers. 



But if a larva reached a certain size, it still developed queen-like features, even under harsh conditions.



Size, it turned out, was the switch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-still-pull-the-strings">Genes still pull the strings</h2>



Then the team flipped the question. What happens when ants have different genes but grow up in the same environment? Here’s where it got interesting.



Ants from a genetic line labeled “M” grew smaller on average than the ones from line “A.” But when M ants and A ants were the same size, M ants were more likely to develop <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-hold-a-grudge-against-aggressive-rivals/">queen-like traits</a>. 



In other words, genes didn’t just affect how big an ant got - they changed the significance of that size.



“An interesting illustration of that is that you have certain genotypes that start to look more queen-like at smaller body sizes,” Piekarski says.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-paths-same-size">Two paths, same size</h2>



The big takeaway? Size still predicts caste, but genes determine the rules for what size counts as “queen material.” 



Some ants are genetically wired to tip into queen-like development at smaller sizes. Others need to grow bigger before that switch is flipped.



“If some environmental factor affects caste, it will affect size too. It can’t induce change in one and not the other,” commented Piekarski. 



“As far as we can tell, no matter which environmental variable you manipulate, the relationship between ant body size and caste remains unchanged and is instead genetically encoded.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-social-roles">Evolution of social roles</h2>



Understanding how body size ties into caste is about more than measuring ants. For Kronauer, this research is part of a much bigger picture.



“One of our goals is to understand how an insect society functions,” Kronauer explains. “Studying how individuals differentiate in a colony can inform our understanding of the types of caste systems, from queens to workers to soldiers, that can evolve in the thousands of ant species out there.”



His lab sees ant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-queens-turn-to-cannibalism-recycle-bodies-for-colony-disease-control/">colonies</a> as <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(08)01676-X.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">superorganisms</a> - living systems that are made up of many individuals, each playing a role. 



The more we understand how those roles develop, the better we can grasp the biology of cooperation, division of labor, and even the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-many-ants-live-on-earth-at-any-point-in-time-total-number-is-astounding/">evolution of complex societies</a>.



“The brains of a queen and a worker are quite different, and this is correlated with striking differences in behavior,” Kronauer stated. 



“Workers leave the nest to forage, take care of the larvae, build and expand the nest; the queen mostly just mates and lays eggs."



Identifying how body size relates to becoming a queen ant or a worker opens the door to understanding how social roles, brain function, and colony dynamics develop and evolve together.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2501716122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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How do ant colonies crown a queen? Scientists found out

In ant colonies, caste means everything. A queen grows wings,...

Just 35 light-years away, a small red dwarf star is turning heads. This unassuming star, named L 98-59, is in the center of one of the most closely examined planetary systems near Earth.&nbsp;This is because some of its planets fall in the habitable zone. 



Scientists from the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx) and the <a href="https://www.umontreal.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Université de Montréal</a> have now mapped the L 98-59 system with record precision.



The findings confirm a fifth <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-planet-system-hd110067-discovered-that-moves-in-perfect-mathematical-harmony/">planet</a> in the habitable zone of this nearby red dwarf star. This planetary system now provides a promising location to explore conditions suitable for life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planets-identified-around-their-star">Planets identified around their star</h2>



L 98-59 is a small red dwarf star hosting three planets discovered by NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tess/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TESS mission</a> in 2019. A fourth was later found using the ESPRESSO spectrograph. These four planets orbit their star at distances that are much closer than Mercury is to the Sun.



“These new results paint the most complete picture we’ve ever had of the fascinating L 98-59 system. It’s a powerful demonstration of what we can achieve by combining data from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-catch-exact-moment-when-planets-form-around-a-star-hops-315/">space</a> telescopes and high-precision instruments on Earth,” noted Charles Cadieux, lead researcher at <a href="https://exoplanetes.umontreal.ca/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IREx</a>.



The research also provides scientists with key targets for future atmospheric studies using the James Webb Space Telescope [<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>],



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-and-watery-planets-in-the-system">Hot and watery planets in the system</h2>



The team analyzed a large archive of ground and space-based data. They determined the masses and sizes of the planets with high accuracy. L 98-59 b, the innermost planet, is a sub-Earth - it is around 84% of Earth’s size and half its mass.



The two closest planets might host volcanic activity due to tidal heating, similar to Jupiter’s moon Io. 



The third planet stands out as a potential “water world,” with its low density suggesting a deep, water-rich composition. The nearly circular orbits of these planets improve their suitability for detailed atmospheric study.



“With its diversity of rocky worlds and range of planetary compositions, L 98-59 offers a unique laboratory to address some of the field’s most pressing questions," said René Doyon, co-author and director of IREx. 



These questions include the following: What are super-Earths and sub-Neptunes made of? Do planets form differently around small stars? Can rocky <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-announce-evidence-suggesting-that-our-solar-system-has-nine-planets-again/">planets</a> around red dwarfs retain atmospheres over time?” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fifth-planet-falls-in-habitable-zone">Fifth planet falls in habitable zone </h2>



One of the study’s highlights is the confirmation of L 98-59 f, a non-transiting fifth planet. Its presence came to light through precise radial velocity readings from HARPS and ESPRESSO. 



This planet is particularly interesting because it receives about the same energy from its star as Earth does from the Sun.



“Finding a temperate planet in such a compact system makes this discovery particularly exciting. It highlights the remarkable diversity of exoplanetary systems and strengthens the case for studying potentially habitable worlds around low-mass stars,” Cadieux said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-telescope-data-and-new-planets">Old telescope data and new planets</h2>



Instead of scheduling new observations, the team used existing data from TESS, HARPS, ESPRESSO, and JWST. They applied advanced techniques developed at IREx, including a line-by-line radial velocity method and a new temperature indicator. 



These tools allowed them to filter out noise from stellar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-observatory-will-reveal-millions-of-objects-hidden-in-our-solar-system/">activity</a>. Combining this with transit data from JWST, the team improved planet size and mass estimates by twofold.



“We developed these techniques to unlock this kind of hidden potential in archival data. It also highlights how improving analysis tools allow us to improve upon previous discoveries with data that is just waiting to be revisited,” said study co-author Étienne Artigau.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-the-planet-system">Future research on the planet system</h2>



L 98-59 now stands as one of the most promising systems near Earth for studying rocky planets. Its varied compositions and close orbits around a small star make it an ideal candidate for atmospheric studies with JWST.



The IREx team has already begun follow-up observations. L 98-59 could soon join systems like TRAPPIST-1 as a key player in exoplanet research.



“With these new results, L 98-59 joins the select group of nearby, compact planetary systems that we hope to understand in greater detail over the coming years," concluded study co-author Alexandrine L’Heureux.



"It’s exciting to see it stand alongside systems like TRAPPIST-1 in our quest to unlock the nature and formation of small planets orbiting red dwarf stars.” 



The study is published in <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.09343" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astronomical Journal</a>.



Image Credit: Benoit Gougeon, Université de Montréal



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Planet found in nearby star system is in the habitable zone

Just 35 light-years away, a small red dwarf star is...

Researchers have conducted the world’s most extensive bird diversity survey across Colombia. They recorded 971 species from forests and pasturelands over more than a decade. 



The survey accounted for nearly 10% of all bird species worldwide, but the findings went far beyond bird <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-bird-species-could-vanish-in-the-next-century/">counts</a>.



Combining fieldwork with species data, the researchers discovered that biodiversity loss from clearing forests for pasture is 60% worse than earlier local estimates suggested. This is not just a local concern - it is a national alarm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-surveys-miss-bird-diversity">Local surveys miss bird diversity</h2>



Until now, most biodiversity assessments relied on small local surveys. These studies ignore what happens when forests are lost across entire regions.



“When people want to understand the wider impact of deforestation on biodiversity, they tend to do a local survey and extrapolate the results,” said Professor David Edwards from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>. 



“But the problem is that tree clearance is occurring at massive spatial scales, across all sorts of different habitats and elevations.”



By studying 13 different eco-regions, the team revealed that single-region estimates miss the mark badly. The real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-may-be-using-quantum-physics-for-migration/">biodiversity</a> loss becomes visible only when you zoom out to a national scale.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-vanish-with-deforestation">Birds vanish with deforestation</h2>



Tropical forests are not just rich in species. They are also rich in species turnover, what scientists call beta-diversity. That means two nearby forests can host very different bird communities.



When forests are cleared and replaced with pasture, many species with small ranges vanish. In contrast, a few wide-ranging species adapt and spread. 



The result is what researchers call biotic homogenization, where different areas end up with the same handful of generalist species. This makes large-scale biodiversity damage invisible at the local level. 



In Colombia, some regions like the Caquetá and Napo moist forests, with dense and specialized bird populations, showed the greatest losses. Meanwhile, pasture areas, regardless of location, often hosted the same disturbance-tolerant birds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-diversity-tracked-by-sound">Bird diversity tracked by sound</h2>



The team used sound recordings across Colombia’s forests, mountains, and pasturelands. In 80% of cases, birds were heard but not seen. 



These recordings allowed the researchers to identify species and predict which others shared the habitat.



Data was analyzed from over 24,000 detections and modeled occupancy for 1,614 bird species using habitat, range, and trait data. This enabled the team to estimate how each <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-birds-one-tree-complete-evolutionary-map-reveals-hidden-links/">species</a> responds to forest conversion with high spatial detail.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-regions-show-bird-losses">Many regions show bird losses</h2>



The study revealed that sampling just one or two eco-regions is not enough. It takes data from at least six or seven biogeographic zones to get within 5% of the true, national-scale <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-a-warming-climate/">biodiversity</a> impact.



In fact, when looking at highly sensitive species, those in the 75th percentile of conversion impact, national losses were 67% higher than local estimates. These species are often rare, specialized, and cannot adapt to pasture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-pastures-are-harmful">Most pastures are harmful</h2>



The researchers studied traditional cattle pastures with scattered trees and hedgerows. These low-productivity pastures dominate Colombia's agricultural land. 



Even with scattered forest remnants, these areas showed major declines in species richness and diversity.



Silvopastoral systems, pastures combined with trees, can reduce damage, but they still do not support forest-dependent species. Thus, agriculture-friendly designs alone will not save biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-diversity-declines-across-regions">Bird diversity declines across regions</h2>



Some areas like Santa Marta appeared less sensitive to forest loss, but appearances can be deceiving. This region includes 24 bird species found nowhere else. So, even a small reduction in forest there risks wiping out irreplaceable species.



Beta-diversity also explained why losses soared at scale. In forests, bird communities change greatly across space and elevation. 



In pastures, these differences collapse. Over 200 kilometers [124 miles], pasture communities barely differ, showing how homogenized they become.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-conservation-and-policy">Lessons for conservation and policy</h2>



The study warns against relying on global meta-analyses based on local data. Most deforestation studies still ignore regional variation in biodiversity. This leads to dangerously low estimates of environmental cost.



“The food we eat comes with a much great environmental cost than we thought,” said Edwards. “We need policy makers to think much more about the larger scale biodiversity impact of deforestation.”



The authors call for regionally structured monitoring systems, better land-use planning, and policies that prioritize biodiversity across elevation and habitat types.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-every-forest-patch-counts">Every forest patch counts</h2>



The research changes the way we understand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-birds-migrate-without-riding-the-wind/">birds</a> and biodiversity loss. The message is clear. Protecting one forest patch is not enough. Protecting whole regions matters.



Colombia’s birds tell a simple story. When forests fall, many voices go silent - especially those that once sang from the shadows, highlands, and far corners of this rich tropical land.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02779-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Land-use change is hurting bird diversity far more than we realized

Researchers have conducted the world’s most extensive bird diversity survey...

Atlas,Moth,-,Attacus,Atlas,,Beautiful,Large,Iconic,Moth,From

Female moths don't rely on sight or smell alone. They can also hear stressed plants. Scientists found that these insects detect ultrasonic clicks from plants under drought stress and use them when choosing egg-laying sites.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-heard-making-screaming-sounds-stress-induced-first-time-ever/">Plants</a> emit airborne ultrasonic sounds when stressed. These vibrations, previously thought to be undetectable by animals, can travel through the air. The Egyptian cotton leafworm moth,&nbsp;Spodoptera littoralis, hears these sounds. 



This species has tympanic ears sensitive to the 20 to 60 kHz range, with peak sensitivity around 38 kHz. That is where many plant clicks fall. 



The researchers hypothesized that female moths might use these plant sounds to decide where to lay eggs. Their experiments confirmed this.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-plant-communication">Understanding plant communication</h2>



Plants may not have mouths or ears, but they <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-could-soon-talk-to-farmers-and-listen-too/">definitely talk - and listen</a>. Through their roots, leaves, and even the air, they exchange chemical signals to warn each other of danger, call for help, or share resources. 



When a caterpillar chomps on a leaf, for example, some plants release volatile compounds that drift to their neighbors, triggering defensive measures like bitter-tasting chemicals or toughened leaves. 



Underground, fungi form vast mycorrhizal networks - often called the “Wood Wide Web” - that help trees and plants share nutrients, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-plant-communication-on-video/">send distress signals</a>, and maintain the balance of the ecosystem.



What’s wild is how intentional it all seems. Certain plants send out distress chemicals only when their kin are nearby, suggesting a level of familial recognition. 



Others can distinguish between friend and foe based on the scent of another plant’s emissions. It’s not just survival - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-use-underground-networks-to-eavesdrop-on-their-neighbors/">it’s community</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moths-respond-to-plant-sounds">Moths respond to plant sounds</h2>



The study involved multiple experiments with precise setups. In a no-plant environment, moths preferred laying eggs near a speaker playing recorded plant stress sounds. 



When these moths were deafened, the preference disappeared. This proved that the response came from hearing, not other cues.



In contrast, when healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-music-help-plants-grow/">plants</a> were added and the same sounds were played near one, the moths chose the silent plant. This indicated that when real plants were present, moths correctly interpreted the sounds as warnings.



"After proving in the previous study that plants produce sounds, we hypothesized that animals capable of hearing these high-frequency sounds may respond to them and make decisions accordingly," said study co-author Professor Yossi Yovel from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tel Aviv University</a>.



"Specifically, we know that many insects, which have diverse interactions with the plant world, can perceive plant sounds. We wanted to investigate whether such insects actually detect and respond to these sounds." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-plant-sounds-change-moth-behavior">Do plant sounds change moth behavior?</h2>



In longer arenas, moths laid more eggs near either the sugar feeder in the center or the sound-emitting speaker at one end. They laid none near the silent resistor at the other end. 



These results were consistent across different click rates and setups. When tracked, moths spent more time on the side with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-hear-bee-sounds-and-make-sweeter-nectar-in-response/">plant</a> sounds before deciding.



Even though the courtship sounds of male moths fell in a similar frequency range, females showed no egg-laying preference for the male side. This confirmed that the response was specific to plant sounds.



"We chose to focus on female moths, which typically lay their eggs on plants so that the larvae can feed on them once hatched. We assumed the females seek an optimal site to lay their eggs - a healthy plant that can properly nourish the larvae," said co-author Professor Lilach Hadany.



"Thus, when the plant signals that it is dehydrated and under stress, would the moths heed the warning and avoid laying eggs on it? To explore this question, we conducted several experiments."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integrating-sound-and-smell">Integrating sound and smell</h2>



Without a visible plant, sound becomes the only cue. So moths associate it with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-plants-alter-the-soundscape-of-ecosystems/">plant</a> presence. But when they can see or smell real plants, and one gives off stress sounds, they avoid it. This shows a context-based decision-making process.



The researchers also tested moth antennae. Using electroantennogram recordings, they found strong differences in odor detection between drying and hydrated plants. This shows that moths integrate sound and smell.



In real tomato plant patches, the click rate reaches about 20 per minute. In experiments, sounds were played at 30 to 60 clicks per minute. 



This simulated what a moth might hear near many stressed plants. Sound levels used matched those measured in live plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-acoustic-interactions-in-nature">Acoustic interactions in nature</h2>



This study reveals that plant sounds can guide insect behavior. Moths may not just rely on smell or touch. Instead, they interpret ultrasonic cues. The researchers think other animals, perhaps pollinators or predators, might also use these sounds.



While the plant clicks likely evolved as a by-product of water loss, they now serve as useful cues. Scientists predict more discoveries in this area.



"In this study, we revealed the first evidence for acoustic interaction between a plant and an insect. We are convinced, however, that this is just the beginning," noted the researchers.



"Acoustic interaction between plants and animals doubtlessly has many more forms and a wide range of roles. This is a vast, unexplored field - an entire world waiting to be discovered."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/reviewed-preprints/104700v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eLife</a>.



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Plants and animals captured "talking" to each other using sound for the first time

Female moths don't rely on sight or smell alone. They...

Between 2014 and 2016, something very unsettling happened off the west coast of North America. For over two years, ocean waters from California to Alaska were unusually warm - 3.6°F to 10.8°F hotter than normal.&nbsp;



This wasn’t a one-off fluke or a seasonal shift. It was the longest and most intense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-heat-of-2024-triggered-a-surge-in-sea-level-rise/">marine heatwave</a> ever recorded in the region.



The heat lingered, spreading across thousands of miles of ocean. This event reshaped life in the water in devastating ways. 



Kelp forests collapsed and entire food chains were thrown off balance. Animals appeared in places they had never been spotted before, and many of them died.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-ongoing-coastal-crisis">An ongoing coastal crisis</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-temperatures-are-rising-faster-than-expected-and-likely-to-accelerate/">warm water</a> pushed marine life out of their comfort zones - literally. According to newly published research, 240 species were found far beyond their usual ranges during the heatwave, many of them showing up more than 600 miles farther north than normal.



Northern right whale dolphins and small sea slugs like Placida cremoniana were spotted well outside their typical territory. For some species, the shift was temporary. For others, it hinted at a more permanent change.&nbsp;



As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-broke-records-for-450-straight-days/">ocean waters</a> heat up, many organisms are following the temperature they’re adapted to - heading toward cooler, northern waters in a bid to survive. But during the historic heatwave in the Pacific, some animals could not move fast enough.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pacific-heatwave-unraveled-ecosystems">Pacific heatwave unraveled ecosystems</h2>



Seagrass beds and kelp forests are critical habitats for fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals. When the kelp disappeared, so did the shelter and food it provided.&nbsp;



Sea stars, once common along rocky shores, were hit especially hard. A key predator, the sunflower sea star, nearly vanished. Scientists traced the problem to a disease that spread more aggressively in the warmer waters: sea star wasting disease.



Without these predators to keep other populations in check, a domino effect played out across the ecosystem.&nbsp;



Plankton communities shifted. Forage fish - small species that provide energy to bigger fish, birds, and mammals - declined in number and in nutritional quality. As a result, predators from seabirds to whales had a harder time finding enough to eat.



Many marine mammals experienced unusual mortality events, with entire groups dying off unexpectedly. It wasn’t always clear why - sometimes it was disease or a lack of food, and sometimes it was both.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-impacts-rippled-ashore">The impacts rippled ashore</h2>



The damage didn’t stop at the water’s edge. When the ocean food web was thrown off, it hit fisheries hard.



Fishers along the Pacific coast saw multiple closures as fish disappeared or disease spread. Entire harvests were lost.&nbsp;



The economic impact of these changes, including declines in crabbing, salmon, and shellfish industries, added up to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.



What was once a thriving coastal economy built around marine resources suddenly faced deep uncertainty. Boats stayed docked, and communities that depended on the ocean felt the heat in more ways than one.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-future-oceans">A window into future oceans</h2>



The study that pulled all of this information together comes from a team of researchers who reviewed 331 published studies and government reports.&nbsp;



Study lead author Samuel Starko is a former postdoctoral fellow at the <a href="https://www.uvic.ca/">University of Victoria</a>.&nbsp;



“The marine heatwave resulted in unprecedented ecological disturbance across thousands of kilometers of North America's west coast,” said Starko.&nbsp;



“Our comprehensive synthesis of the ecological impacts of the heatwave helps us to better understand its overall impacts and how these fit into the broader context of other marine heatwaves.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pacific-heatwave-triggered-complex-changes">Pacific heatwave triggered complex changes</h2>



What stood out wasn’t just the number of species affected - it was the complexity of the change. Some impacts were direct. Warm water stressed or killed vulnerable species.&nbsp;



Other impacts were harder to untangle. One loss led to another, setting off chain reactions that rewrote entire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-climate-fixes-could-worsen-the-oxygen-crisis/">ecosystems</a>.



“As heatwaves become more frequent and intense under climate change, the 2014-16 Northeast Pacific marine heatwave provides a critical example of how climate change is impacting ocean life, and how our future oceans may look,” said Julia Baum, marine ecologist and climate advisor at the University of Victoria.



The authors point to a need for smarter marine conservation efforts that take the whole ecosystem into account. This includes making space for species that are shifting ranges and preparing for the kinds of disease outbreaks that warmer oceans can bring.



The 2014-2016 marine heatwave was not just an anomaly - it was a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-ocean-warming-in-2024-is-a-warning-for-our-planet/">warning</a>. The results paint a clear picture of how climate-driven ocean warming is already reshaping marine ecosystems.



The study is <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.1201/9781003589600-2/ecological-responses-extreme-climatic-events-systematic-review-2014%E2%80%932016-northeast-pacific-marine-heatwave-samuel-starko-graham-epstein-lia-chalifour-kevin-bruce-daisy-buzzoni-matthew-csordas-sean-dimoff-rebecca-hansen-dominique-maucieri-jennifer-mchenry-kristina-tietjen-brian-timmer-julia-baum">published</a> in the journal Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review.&nbsp;



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How a marine heatwave transformed life along the Pacific coast

Between 2014 and 2016, something very unsettling happened off the...

Sadness and depression can feel heavy enough to cause your shoulders to slump and even cause you to feel a faint flush on your face, as if someone turned up the temperature. 



Many people report the same thing: when the blues roll in, a gentle warmth tags along. Doctors have wondered for decades whether that extra body heat is simply coincidence or a clue to something deeper.



A new trove of data suggests the two feelings march together far more often than chance would allow. 



Spotting depression early can save months of struggle, and an everyday thermometer to measure your body temperature might become part of that early-warning kit, according to a fascinating study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-depression-and-body-temperature">Depression and body temperature</h2>



A team of researchers - led by a team at the University of California, San Francisco (<a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/">UCSF</a>) and partners in 106 countries - studied seven months of depression scores and body temperature readings from more than 20,000 volunteers.



After the second month of analysis, a very clear pattern emerged: higher depression scores meant higher body temperatures. 



Participants used household thermometers once a day and wore smart rings that sampled skin temperature thousands of times during each 24-hour cycle. The design captured both single snapshots and continuous streams, giving the study unusual breadth.



Each notch upward on the depression survey paired with a small rise in temperature - often less than one degree Fahrenheit - but the match held across climates, ages, and seasons. 



That consistency lifts the evidence from this study above many previous lab experiments that relied on a few dozen college students at a time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-a-slight-rise-means">What a slight rise means</h2>



A healthy core hovers near 98.6 °F, yet the body drifts up and down around that mark as metabolism revs or relaxes. 



In this study, people reporting milder symptoms stayed close to the textbook average, while those with heavier moods sat just a hair warmer. 



The differences averaged less than one degree, and that alone won't trigger an alarm. But across populations, it points to a biological shift that shadows emotional pain.



The investigators also compared the daily swing - called <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37640270/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diurnal amplitude</a> - between daytime peaks and nighttime lows. Smaller swings lined up with stronger depression scores. 



The trend scraped just below statistical significance, yet it matched hints from earlier controlled trials, suggesting timing may matter as much as the absolute reading.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-nighttime-signal">The nighttime signal</h2>



Cooler evenings help the brain drift into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sleep-clears-toxic-waste-from-the-brain/">deep sleep</a>. Volunteers who scored high for depression did not shed heat as smoothly after sundown. 



Their temperature curves looked flatter, which may echo trouble in the internal clock that guides hormone release and sleep architecture. 



Chronic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-gene-explains-why-some-people-can-thrive-on-less-sleep/">short sleep</a> is itself a risk factor for mood disorders, so a sluggish drop in temperature could add weight to an already heavy cycle.



Circadian researchers have long noted that light exposure, meal timing, and exercise <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeling-groggy-a-simple-trick-can-transform-your-mornings/">reset the clock</a>. 



This new work pushes body temperature onto that list, raising the chance that adjusting thermal cues might nudge sleep and mood back into sync.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-depression-likes-warm-temperatures">Depression likes warm temperatures</h2>



Keeping core temperature in check is a full-time job. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/syncing-brain-muscle-circadian-rhythms-slows-aging/">Muscles</a>, the liver, and even the brain churn out heat, while blood flow to the skin and sweating carry it away. 



<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3079864/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stress hormones</a>, low-grade inflammation, and shifts in neurotransmitters - all common in depression - can clog sweat glands and narrow tiny blood vessels near the surface. 



Electrodermal readings, which track microscopic bursts of sweat, often register on the low end for people with depression, hinting at weaker cooling.



A persistent half-degree rise may feel harmless, but over weeks it tweaks heart rate, muddles energy levels, and chips away at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sleep-how-slow-waves-boost-memory-formation/">restorative sleep</a>. 



That steady drag can deepen emotional lows, creating a loop in which feeling down slows cooling and inadequate cooling worsens the mood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heating-up-to-cool-down">Heating up to cool down</h2>



"Ironically, heating people up actually can lead to rebound body temperature lowering that lasts longer than simply cooling people down directly, as through an ice bath," said <a href="https://profiles.ucsf.edu/ashley.mason" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ashley Mason</a>, PhD, the study’s lead author and associate professor of psychiatry at <a href="https://weill.ucsf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences</a>. 



"What if we can track the body temperature of people with depression to time heat-based treatments well?"



<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK6310/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Whole-body hyperthermia</a>, for instance, asks a patient to relax under infrared lamps until core temperature climbs several degrees. A single session in one small trial lifted mood for weeks. 



Saunas, hot yoga, and long soaks in a 104 °F tub appear to provoke a similar rebound: the body overshoots on cooling afterward, leaving core temperature slightly lower for hours. 



If timing that surge and crash lines up with individual temperature curves, it could become an affordable add-on to standard care.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taming-the-heat">Taming the heat</h2>



“To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date to examine the association between body temperature - assessed using both self-report methods and wearable sensors - and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-depression-contagious-couples-may-share-it-through-kissing/">depressive symptoms</a> in a geographically broad sample,” Mason concluded.



“Given the climbing rates of depression in the United States, we’re excited by the possibilities of a new avenue for treatment.”



Roughly one-third of patients feel little relief after trying two <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drugs-targeting-gut-cells-not-brain-cells-are-better-at-treating-depression-and-anxiety/">antidepressant drugs</a>, and weekly talk therapy remains out of reach for many because of cost or distance. 



Thermal protocols demand little gear beyond heaters, benches, or tubs already found in fitness centers. Insurance rarely covers such sessions today, but wider evidence may nudge payers to rethink that stance. 



Meanwhile, consumer wearables have plunged in price, making continuous temperature tracking a realistic self-care tool.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-depression-temperature-and-the-future-0">Depression, temperature, and the future</h2>



The next step is simple in plan, tricky in practice: deliberately adjust body temperature, then watch mood move in real time. 



Trials will compare saunas, heated vests, and water immersion to learn which triggers the most durable cooling. Researchers will also test whether syncing heat exposure with each person’s unique temperature rhythm improves results.



No one expects warmth alone to overhaul depression treatment, yet it could offer relief to people who prefer non-drug options or need something to bridge long gaps between counseling visits. Because the approach is low-tech, it might reach rural clinics that struggle to hire mental-health specialists.



For now, keeping an eye on the thermometer when low mood lingers could provide an early hint that the system is off balance. A small rise, coupled with persistent sadness or fatigue, may be reason enough to talk with a clinician.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-51567-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Strange link discovered between body temperature and depression

Sadness and depression can feel heavy enough to cause your...

Tiny organisms live in a world where the usual rules of motion feel upside-down. Water that slips through our fingers turns syrupy at their scale, dragging against every twitch. Yet a sperm cell or a green alga skims along as if the goo were barely there. 



Sperm are such great swimmers because of a slender flagellum that ripples like a living whip, trading brute force for rhythmic finesse.. Each ripple is powered from inside the tail itself. 



Molecular motors pull on elastic filaments, sending a wave from base to tip and sidestepping the “scallop theorem,” which says a back-and-forth paddle alone can’t move a swimmer in thick fluids. 



To cover even a few body lengths, these cells need relentless, precisely timed strokes - an exercise in efficiency more than muscle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flagellum-sperm-and-physics">Flagellum, sperm, and physics</h2>



At our scale, momentum carries a swimmer after every kick. In the micro world, inertia fades to nothing. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/reynolds-number" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Reynolds number</a> - a handy gauge of whether a fluid acts watery or sticky - drops so low that every stroke stops the instant the force ends. 



Progress demands a motion that never looks the same forward and backward, which is why flagella send waves in one direction instead of simply flapping.



That wave costs energy, and cells pay the bill by burning chemical fuel. Because the power source rides within the flagellum, it can be arranged in sly ways that make <a href="https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/newtons-laws-of-motion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Newton’s third law</a> - the equal-and-opposite rule - seem optional. 



The flagellum bends, the fluid pushes back, but somehow the cell sheds less energy than textbook physics predicts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-active-energy-in-sperm-flagellum">Active energy in sperm flagellum</h2>



After filming Chlamydomonas algae and human sperm with high-speed microscopes, Kenta Ishimoto, Clément Moreau, and Kento Yasuda of <a href="https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyoto University</a> noticed a subtle twist. 



Flagella do not behave like ordinary elastic rods; they bend asymmetrically, dodging the heaviest drag. 



The team calls this behavior “odd elasticity.” Instead of springing back symmetrically like a rubber band, sections of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sperm-have-a-heat-activated-switch-that-may-be-key-to-fertility/">tail flex</a> in a way that keeps thrust high while sapping little energy.



The researchers coined a parameter, the odd-elastic modulus, to capture how far a living filament departs from everyday elastic behavior. 



A large value signals that internal motors, not external pushes, dominate the dance. That measurement turns a curious observation into a quantity engineers can plug into their own designs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-at-odds-with-newton">At odds with Newton</h2>



Odd elasticity matters because it blurs the neat ledger of action and reaction. When energy pours into a system locally - and flagellar motors work section by section - the fluid’s answer need not mirror the push. 



A segment can bend, slip past resistance, then return on a slightly different path, carving out net motion without paying a full energy toll. It is almost as if the flagellum writes its own exception to Newton’s classroom rulebook.



To weave all the pieces together, the Kyoto group built a framework they named odd <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/physics-and-astronomy/elastohydrodynamics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elastohydrodynamics</a>. The term ties elasticity, fluid flow, and those quirky internal forces into one set of equations. 



Run the math, and the model predicts that a flagellum naturally settles into a stable loop of motion called a limit cycle. No external brain is needed; once the motors switch on, the beat locks into a self-sustaining rhythm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-odd-elastohydrodynamics-in-action">Odd elastohydrodynamics in action</h2>



Lab measurements back the theory. A sperm tail swings about ten times per second, tracing an S-shaped curve that repeats with clocklike precision. Change the fluid’s thickness or tweak the cell’s fuel supply, and the loop stretches or tightens in ways the equations capture neatly. 



<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydomonas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chlamydomonas</a>, with two symphonic flagella, swims even faster than intuition suggests in thicker liquids—an advantage the model attributes to fine-tuned odd elasticity trimming viscous losses.



Because the theory links internal mechanics to observable speed, researchers can now work backward: measure a tail’s shape, infer its odd-elastic modulus, and forecast how the swimmer will perform in a new environment. That feedback loop promises practical payoffs far beyond the microscope slide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-sperm-flagellum-matters">Why sperm flagellum matters</h2>



Designers of drug-delivery robots dream of devices the size of red blood cells that can snake through arteries. 



Tiny propellers fail at that scale, but a soft filament built with odd-elastic principles could wiggle through plasma on microwatts of power. 



Respiratory medicine may also benefit; cilia lining our airways clear mucus using beats that likely exploit similar asymmetric elasticity. If those cilia falter, a quantitative gauge of their odd-elastic modulus might flag early trouble.



Even microbes adjust their swimming style to stick to surfaces or seek nutrients. Knowing how odd forces shift under different conditions could help biologists anticipate when a pathogen clings stubbornly to tissue or slips away into circulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-swimmers-changing-physics">Tiny swimmers changing physics</h2>



Odd elastohydrodynamics nudges physics to widen its scope. Whenever local engines pump energy into soft matter - whether in muscle fibers, developing embryos, or swarms of bacterial flagella - equal-and-opposite can give way to rich new patterns. 



Measuring odd-elastic moduli across systems may reveal common threads that tie together biology’s many moving parts.



For now, Ishimoto, Moreau, and Yasuda have carved out a clear path from curious microscope videos to a mathematical toolkit and, eventually, to devices that mimic sperm and their flagellum - life’s tiniest swimmers. 



By mapping how flagella bend the rules, they show that nature’s solutions to sticky problems can inspire technology that glides just as smoothly through the thickest of soups.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prxlife/abstract/10.1103/PRXLife.1.023002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PRX Life</a>.



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Scientists investigate how sperm manage to defy a major law of physics

Tiny organisms live in a world where the usual rules...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

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Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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