<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from NASA Earth Observatory features smoke plumes stretching across the Iberian Peninsula, as wildfires suddenly intensified across Spain and Portugal.</p>



<p>The image was captured on August 15 by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) sensor on NASA’s Terra satellite.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-breaking-fire-season-nbsp">Record-breaking fire season&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Hot, dry conditions pushed fire risk to extreme levels, leaving vast landscapes scorched. The fires aren’t just dramatic visuals - they are shaping the year’s record-breaking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fire-weather-seasons-are-overlapping-more-than-ever-before/">fire season</a>.</p>



<p>“As of August 19, fires in Spain had scorched more than 382,000 hectares (944,000 acres) since the start of the year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS),” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154691/smoke-blankets-the-iberian-peninsula" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.</p>



<p>This exceeds any previous yearly total in the EFFIS records, which date back to 2006. Firefighters were stretched thin, tackling roughly 20 major blazes nationwide, with a particularly severe cluster near Ourense.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fire-devastation-in-portugal">Fire devastation in Portugal</h2>



<p>Portugal faced a similarly devastating season. By mid-August, more than 347,000 hectares (857,000 acres) had been consumed by fire.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre reported 10 large fires burning across the country at that time. The largest fire, near Trancoso, alone had already scorched over 39,000 hectares.</p>



<p>The blazes forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Essential services were disrupted, including the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Galicia, which had been closed for nearly a week.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Firefighters worked tirelessly under extreme conditions, navigating both flames and smoke to protect people and property.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smoke-pollution-and-far-reaching-effects">Smoke, pollution, and far-reaching effects</h2>



<p>The fires didn’t stay local. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-delivers-a-double-hit-to-air-quality/">Smoke</a> from the Iberian Peninsula carried high into the atmosphere, drifting across France, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It even mixed with smoke from wildfires in Canada, creating hazy skies across parts of Europe. Carbon emissions from these fires hit record levels in Spain and near-record levels in Portugal, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.</p>



<p>Black carbon, a component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) released by wildfires, poses serious health risks. These tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, potentially aggravating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Residents in affected regions were warned to limit outdoor activity and monitor air quality as smoke lingered.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfires-in-spain-and-portugal">Wildfires in Spain and Portugal </h2>



<p>Spain and Portugal are no strangers to wildfires, but the 2025 season is unusual for its speed and scale.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Heatwaves have become more frequent in southern Europe, with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/state-of-the-climate-2024-record-heat-and-rising-seas/">rising temperatures</a> and prolonged droughts creating tinderbox conditions for forests and grasslands.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Experts link this increase to ongoing climate change, which has amplified the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events in the region.</p>



<p>The EFFIS database shows that Spain’s burned area this year surpassed previous records, while Portugal’s figures ranked second only to the catastrophic fires of 2017. These trends highlight the growing challenge of managing wildfires in a warming climate.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-toll-of-wildfires-nbsp">The human toll of wildfires&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Beyond environmental impacts, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-are-changing-the-quality-of-our-air/">wildfires</a> take a heavy toll on communities. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced, and homes, farms, and critical infrastructure have suffered extensive damage.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Emergency services scrambled to coordinate evacuations and protect residents, while volunteers and local authorities provided support on the ground.</p>



<p>Firefighters faced particularly difficult conditions, battling flames under record heat and through thick <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-making-wildfire-smoke-more-deadly/">smoke</a>. The work was physically demanding and dangerous.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellite-technology-and-firefighting">Satellite technology and firefighting</h2>



<p>NASA’s Terra satellite and the MODIS sensor provide crucial monitoring for wildfire activity. These tools allow authorities to track the spread of fires in near-real time, identify hotspots, and deploy resources more efficiently.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The data feeds into systems like EFFIS and the Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), offering a broader picture of wildfire patterns and trends across Europe.</p>



<p>This combination of satellite monitoring, on-the-ground firefighting, and coordination among emergency services is vital for managing the ongoing crisis. As wildfires continue to grow in frequency and intensity, technology can help limit damage and protect communities.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



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Wildfires scorch Spain and Portugal amid extreme heat

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

<p>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. </p>



<p>The striking image was captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.</p>



<p>“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>.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



<p>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;</p>



<p>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/">light pollution</a>. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.”</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



<p>Star formation in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shapes-of-one-million-galaxies-hint-at-the-universes-origins/">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. </p>



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



<p>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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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;</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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;</p>



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



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



<p>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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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/">star clusters</a> and nebulae. </p>



<p>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/">Milky Way</a>, making it a prime area for stargazing and astrophotography.<br></p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA</p>



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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...

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from NASA Earth Observatory features a large phytoplankton bloom in the Gulf of Maine.</p>



<p>The image was captured on June 21, 2025, by the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) on NASA’s PACE satellite.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“In summer 2025, waters in the Gulf of Maine popped with vivid swirls of blue and green. The cause was a massive bloom of phytoplankton - microscopic plant-like organisms that often float near the ocean surface,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154472/a-booming-bloom-returns-to-the-gulf-of-maine">NASA</a>.</p>



<p>“Scientists say it was one of the largest blooms of its kind to show up in the Gulf’s waters in recent years.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bloom-in-the-gulf-of-maine">Bloom in the Gulf of Maine </h2>



<p>Catherine Mitchell is a satellite oceanographer at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. She noted that the Gulf of Maine bloom contained coccolithophores, a type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-phytoplankton-that-feed-ocean-life-are-rapidly-disappearing/">phytoplankton</a> that makes the water appear milky blue.</p>



<p>“The tiny organisms, along with other types of phytoplankton, including diatoms that bloom here in spring, lie at the base of the marine food web,” explained NASA.</p>



<p>“Their presence - or absence - in Gulf of Maine waters can affect the entire ecosystem, from finfish to shellfish, and the region’s fisheries that depend on them.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-conditions-and-plankton-communities-nbsp">Shifting conditions and plankton communities&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Mitchell said that coccolithophore blooms like this one became less common in the Gulf’s waters starting around 2010. But in recent years, they’ve started to come back.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Scientists have also seen more dinoflagellates (a type of phytoplankton that move with tiny tails) and an overall drop in phytoplankton productivity over the past few decades.</p>



<p>These changes in plankton are linked to shifting ocean conditions. For instance, heavy rainfall from 2006 to 2009 made the Gulf’s waters fresher. Then, starting in 2008, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invisible-forest-of-phytoplankton-thrives-in-a-warming-climate/">warm water</a> from deep in the North Atlantic began heating the Gulf from the bottom up.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, by spring 2025, bottom-water temperatures were cooler than they’ve been in 20 years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ongoing-research-efforts">Ongoing research efforts</h2>



<p>“The relationship between these changing water conditions and phytoplankton communities in the gulf remains unclear, but ongoing research could begin to provide some answers,” noted NASA.</p>



<p>“In fact, Mitchell and colleagues scrutinized this PACE image just days before heading out on a research expedition to study the bloom and other ocean properties up close. The cruise, the third so far this year, offers scientists the chance to validate ocean color data collected by PACE with real-world ocean samples.”</p>



<p>Mitchell pointed out that a major benefit of the PACE satellite is its ability to “see the rainbow,” which makes it easier for scientists to distinguish between groups of phytoplankton.</p>



<p>“With our continuing field measurements, we will validate ocean color observations from PACE, enabling satellite observations in the Gulf of Maine and supporting the region’s fisheries and aquaculture industries.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vital-signs-of-ocean-health">Vital signs of ocean health</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-from-africa-sparked-a-massive-phytoplankton-bloom/">Phytoplankton blooms</a> like the one captured in the Gulf of Maine are vital signs of ocean health. These microscopic organisms form the foundation of marine food webs, feeding everything from tiny zooplankton to large fish, whales, and seabirds.&nbsp;</p>



<p>When conditions are right - such as warm temperatures, abundant sunlight, and available nutrients - phytoplankton populations can grow rapidly, creating colorful blooms that are visible from space.</p>



<p>The Gulf of Maine is particularly sensitive to environmental change. Located at the intersection of cold northern currents and warmer waters from the south, it’s a dynamic ecosystem where small shifts in temperature or salinity can have outsized effects.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This region is also one of the fastest-warming ocean areas on the planet, with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-temperatures-are-rising-faster-than-expected-and-likely-to-accelerate/">temperatures</a> rising more than three times the global ocean average in some years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forecasting-changes-with-ocean-monitoring-nbsp">Forecasting changes with ocean monitoring&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Changes in water temperature and salinity have ripple effects across the food chain. Warmer waters can favor certain types of phytoplankton over others, shifting the balance of species in ways that affect what fish and shellfish are available to predators - and to the region’s fisheries.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, coccolithophores may thrive in clearer, warmer waters, while traditional spring-blooming diatoms do better in colder, more nutrient-rich conditions.</p>



<p>Long-term monitoring is essential to understand and predict these shifts. Satellites like PACE provide a global view of ocean color, which reflects the presence and composition of phytoplankton.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By combining these observations with ship-based sampling, scientists can get a more complete picture of how plankton communities are evolving and how that affects everything from carbon cycling to fisheries sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warming-in-the-gulf-of-maine-nbsp">Warming in the Gulf of Maine&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The Gulf’s warming trend has already caused noticeable ecological changes. Some species of fish have moved farther north or into deeper waters in search of cooler temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Lobsters, a key commercial species, have shifted their range as well. Meanwhile, harmful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-algae-in-lake-erie-may-be-hiding-toxic-deadly-compounds/">algal blooms</a> - caused by certain types of phytoplankton - have become more frequent in some parts of the Gulf, threatening shellfish harvests and public health.</p>



<p>Scientists are working to better predict how blooms will respond to future climate conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Understanding which species are likely to dominate under warmer, fresher, or more acidic conditions can help predict changes in fish stocks, shellfish safety, and ecosystem stability.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This kind of forecasting is especially important in the Gulf of Maine, where marine resources are closely tied to local economies.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



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Giant bloom in the Gulf of Maine signals change

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



<p>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;</p>



<p>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/">lake</a> is primarily fed by the Chari River, which brings water from the Central African Republic. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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;</p>



<p>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/">water insecurity</a>, loss of livelihoods, and increasing competition over scarce resources.</p>



<p>“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.</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



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



<p>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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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/">climate</a> resilience, and political cooperation across national boundaries.</p>



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



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



<p>“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 photo from the space shuttle mission STS-5 recorded receding water levels and encroaching sand dunes.”</p>



<p>“A photo 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.” </p>



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



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



<p>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;</p>



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



<p>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/">migratory birds</a> traveling along the African-Eurasian flyway. </p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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/">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.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



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Lake Chad: A vanishing lifeline in Central Africa

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from NASA Earth Observatory features the Bear Gulch Fire, which has persisted for weeks on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.  </p>



<p>The fire was ignited on July 6, 2025. Over the past month, it has grown into one of the most significant wildfires in the region's recent history. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154682/fire-burns-through-olympic-wilderness">image</a> was captured by the Landsat 8 satellite on August 12. “On that day, smoke reached a height of nearly 30,000 feet because of significant fuel consumption and unstable atmospheric conditions,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-progression-of-the-bear-gulch-fire-nbsp">Progression of the Bear Gulch Fire&nbsp;</h2>



<p>By August 12, the fire had expanded by approximately 1,200 acres in just 24 hours, burning a total of 7,390 acres.  </p>



<p>This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/">rapid growth</a> was fueled by a combination of high temperatures - reaching 93°F - and dry vegetation that had been primed by weeks of drought. Firefighting efforts were further complicated by the region's rugged terrain, making containment challenging. </p>



<p>The fire's progression into the forest canopy in certain areas has been particularly concerning.  Flames have spread with the help of hanging moss. </p>



<p>Rock outcrops - which normally act as natural firebreaks - have been consumed due to the burning of moss on them. This behavior demonstrates the fire's intensity and the unusual conditions contributing to its spread. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community-and-environmental-response">Community and environmental response</h2>



<p>In response to the fire's advancement, the Staircase area of Olympic National Park, along with several trails and campgrounds in the adjacent Olympic National Forest and Mount Skokomish Wilderness Area, were closed as of August 14, 2025.  </p>



<p>These closures aim to protect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-is-an-escalating-public-health-emergency/">public safety</a> and allow firefighting efforts to proceed without interference. As of the latest reports, no structures have been damaged, but the situation is still evolving. </p>



<p>Firefighters continue to battle the Bear Gulch Fire. They are using a number of strategies to contain its spread, including bucket drops from helicopters.  </p>



<p>The coming days will be critical in determining the fire's trajectory and the effectiveness of suppression efforts.  Residents and visitors are urged to stay informed through official channels and to follow all safety advisories. </p>



<p>The Bear Gulch Fire serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, especially under the influence of climate change.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>The wildfire highlights the need for ongoing vigilance, preparedness, and adaptation in the face of evolving environmental conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-and-ecological-toll">The human and ecological toll</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fear-and-anxiety-the-mental-health-impacts-of-wildfires/">Wildfires</a> don’t just threaten trees and wildlife - they disrupt communities. Evacuations and road closures become part of life during fire outbreaks. </p>



<p>Residents often have to adjust daily routines to reduce exposure to smoke, taking steps ranging from keeping windows closed to limiting outdoor activities. Local health services may see an increase in respiratory issues, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with preexisting conditions. </p>



<p>At the same time, fire crews and emergency responders face heightened risks as they work to contain the flames - highlighting the human effort required to protect both communities and the environment during these events.</p>



<p>Smoke can travel miles from the blaze, affecting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-delivers-a-double-hit-to-air-quality/">air quality</a> and public health in nearby towns. </p>



<p>Wildlife faces habitat loss, and even small changes to forest ecosystems can have ripple effects on biodiversity, soil health, and water quality.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-and-wildfire-risks">Climate change and wildfire risks</h2>



<p>The Bear Gulch Fire reflects a broader pattern affecting the Pacific Northwest. Increasing temperatures, prolonged droughts, and shifting precipitation patterns are making forests more susceptible to wildfires.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Over the past few decades, wildfire seasons in Washington and neighboring states have lengthened, and fires have become more intense and harder to control.</p>



<p>Scientists say climate change doesn’t just make fires more likely - it changes the way they behave.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Forests stressed by heat and dry conditions burn faster and hotter, with flames that can leap into tree canopies and travel across areas that would have naturally slowed a fire in the past.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The combination of high winds and dry vegetation can turn small ignitions into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/">fires</a> that cover thousands of acres within days.</p>



<p>Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;</p>



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Bear Gulch Fire rages across Washington forests

<p>Today's <strong>Image of the Day</strong> from the European Space Agency features NGC 1792, a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Columba about 43 million light-years away from Earth.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This galaxy, discovered by British astronomer James Dunlop in 1826, is part of the larger NGC 1808 group of galaxies.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intimate-view-of-ngc-1792">Intimate view of NGC 1792</h2>



<p>“An orange glow radiates from the center of NGC 1792, the heart of this stellar forge. Captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, this intimate view of NGC 1792 gives us some insight into this galactic powerhouse,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.</p>



<p>“The vast swathes of tell-tale blue seen throughout the galaxy indicate areas that are full of young, hot stars, and it is in the shades of orange, seen nearer the center, that the older, cooler stars reside.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vigorous-star-formation-nbsp">Vigorous star formation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>NGC 1792 is notable for its vigorous star formation, classifying it as a starburst galaxy. The high rate of star birth is thought to be triggered by gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies, though the exact cause is still under study.</p>



<p>“Nestled in the constellation of Columba (The Dove), NGC 1792 is both a spiral galaxy, and a starburst galaxy,” said ESA. </p>



<p>“Within starburst galaxies, stars are forming at comparatively exorbitant rates. The rate of star formation can be more than 10 times faster in a starburst galaxy than in the Milky Way.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fierce-bursts-of-star-formation">Fierce bursts of star formation</h2>



<p>ESA noted that when galaxies have a large reservoir of gas, like NGC 1792, these short-lived starburst phases can be sparked by galactic events such as mergers and tidal interactions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“One might think that these starburst galaxies would easily consume all of their gas in a large forming event. However, supernova explosions and intense stellar winds produced in these powerful starbursts can inject energy into the gas and disperse it.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This halts the star formation before it can completely deplete the galaxy of all its fuel. Scientists are actively working to understand this complex interplay between the dynamics that drive and quench these fierce bursts of star formation.”</p>



<p>Due to its distance and brightness, NGC 1792 can be observed with medium-sized telescopes under favorable conditions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-evolution-of-galaxies">The evolution of galaxies </h2>



<p>Galaxy evolution refers to the process by which galaxies form and change over time. It begins in the early universe, shortly after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-observations-disprove-big-bang-theory-universe-began-tired-light-theory/">Big Bang</a>, when small density fluctuations in the primordial gas led to the collapse of matter into the first galaxies. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-mergers">Galaxy mergers</h3>



<p>Early galaxies were small and irregular, and were composed mostly of gas and dark matter. Over billions of years, galaxies grew larger by merging with one another and by accreting gas from the surrounding space.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These interactions often triggered bursts of star formation, and collisions between galaxies sometimes led to the creation of new, more massive galaxies.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-structural-changes">Structural changes</h3>



<p>As galaxies evolve, their morphology - shape and structure - can change. Early galaxies were often irregular or disk-shaped, but over time, many galaxies formed into the elliptical or spiral shapes we see today.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation">Star formation</h3>



<p>Star formation is a key driver of galaxy evolution, but it gradually slows down as galaxies age. </p>



<p>The gas that fuels <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-is-starving-its-host-galaxy-of-star-forming-fuel/">star formation</a> can be used up, or it can be heated and pushed out of galaxies by supernovae or black holes, reducing the galaxy's ability to form new stars.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-environment-nbsp">Galaxy environment&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The environment in which a galaxy resides also plays a role in its evolution. Galaxies in dense clusters are more likely to interact with their neighbors, which can alter their shape or trigger bursts of star formation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In contrast, galaxies in more isolated regions of space evolve more slowly and without as many dramatic interactions.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-matter">Dark matter</h3>



<p>Dark matter also plays a crucial role in galaxy evolution. It provides the gravitational framework that holds galaxies together and influences their interactions with one another.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=Galaxies%20merge&amp;start=0">black holes</a>, found at the centers of most large galaxies, can also affect their evolution by releasing energy that impacts star formation and the movement of gas within the galaxy.</p>



<p>Overall, galaxy evolution is a complex and ongoing process driven by interactions between stars, gas, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-dark-matter-does-not-exist-and-the-universe-is-27-billion-years-old/">dark matter</a>, and black holes, and shaped by both internal processes and external influences.</p>



<p>Image Credit<strong>:</strong> ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA, J. Lee</p>



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Starburst galaxy in the constellation Columba

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

<p>Grand Teton National Park&nbsp;is an American&nbsp;national park&nbsp;in northwestern&nbsp;Wyoming. At approximately 310,000 acres (1,300&nbsp;km2), the park includes the major peaks of the 40-mile-long (64&nbsp;km)&nbsp;Teton Range&nbsp;as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as&nbsp;Jackson Hole. Grand Teton National Park is only 10 miles (16&nbsp;km) south of&nbsp;Yellowstone National Park, to which it is connected by the&nbsp;National Park Service–managed&nbsp;John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. Along with surrounding&nbsp;national forests, these three protected areas constitute the almost 18-million-acre (73,000-square-kilometer)&nbsp;Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the world's largest intact mid-latitude temperate ecosystems.</p>



<p>Camping is a great way to immerse yourself in the stunning scenery of Grand Teton National Park. There are many options for camping. If you are feeling adventurous and searching for solitude, get a permit to pitch a tent in the&nbsp;backcountry. Looking for a few more comforts? You can tent camp or park and plug in your recreational vehicle at over 1,000 campsites at seven park campgrounds.All park campgrounds are by advanced reservations only. Campsites are reservable on&nbsp;Recreation.gov.&nbsp;</p>

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Silhouette,Business,People,Discussion,Communication,Meeting,Concept

<p>Body posture sends steady social signals. Long before anyone speaks, the way a person naturally stands can hint at how they see status, power, and the people around them. Not just in heated moments - your baseline stance matters.</p>



<p>Most research on posture looks at quick shifts tied to mood. This current study asked a different question: Are there trait-level differences in posture that stick over time and actually tell us something <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychologists-claim-the-7-38-55-rule-is-secret-to-exceptional-eq-emotional-intelligence/">about personality</a>?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-posture-to-social-personality">Linking posture to social personality</h2>



<p>The research tested whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-men-and-women-react-differently-to-stress/">individual differences</a> in everyday, natural posture relate to individual differences in personality. </p>



<p>In a large sample, the team tracked posture in neutral settings and linked those measures with attitudes toward competition, power, and social hierarchy.</p>



<p>The work was led by Soren Wanio-Theberge and Jorge Armony at <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a>, who have argued that body language connects directly to emotions; these studies put that idea in a more precise frame.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-mood-and-posture">Social mood and posture</h2>



<p>The relationship the authors describe reflects individual differences in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36048034/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">postural dominance</a> and submission. </p>



<p>People vary in how “open” or “closed” they tend to hold themselves at rest, and those patterns align with how they think about social rank. </p>



<p>The work suggests that postural signaling of social rank occurs not only in brief displays but as a stable individual trait with consequences for <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/social-processing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">socioaffective processing</a>.</p>



<p>To ensure the posture measure was sound, the researchers validated it against physiological data from relevant musculature and showed that it remained stable over a one-month interval.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-they-measured-it">How they measured it</h2>



<p>Across the five studies, four relied on photos participants submitted of themselves standing in a natural pose. One brought participants to the lab for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-felt-emotions-in-unusual-body-parts/">physiological measurements</a>. </p>



<p>In total, there were 608 young adult participants. Postural ratings across time tended to be stable, which supports the idea that baseline stance is more than a passing mood.</p>



<p>In one experiment, participants were instructed to pose in a dominant or submissive way. </p>



<p>In the submissive stance, they adopted a stooped, bent-forward posture. When instructed to appear dominant, they stood upright, with hips forward and torso leaning backward. </p>



<p>This might remind you of the “power pose” idea, but there was no indication in this study that an altered posture produced an altered state of mind.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-posture-and-social-cues">Posture and social cues</h2>



<p>Some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/body-language-expresses-emotions-across-cultures/">body-emotion links</a> are well known: raising the fists (anger), moving the torso backward (fear), curving the lower back or “lordotic” posture (sexual receptiveness in female mammals), and arching the back (rats and other four-legged animals). </p>



<p>In social situations, an open, erect, and expanded stance often reads as dominant. A slumped, closed posture tends to read as submissive.</p>



<p>These visible patterns form a practical “menu” of cues people use, especially with strangers. Any one of them, or a mix, can help you <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39311863/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">figure out what someone may be signaling</a> without saying a word.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personality-links-that-showed-up">Personality links that showed up</h2>



<p>Early in the series, people with more erect postures scored higher on personality traits associated with psychopathic tendencies. Later work broadened the view. </p>



<p>The final study assessed psychopathy, manipulativeness, competitiveness, and belief in the existence of social hierarchies. </p>



<p>In the authors’ words, this range of attributes reflects “the use of intimidation in order to improve one’s access to resources in the environment at the expense of others."</p>



<p>The authors reasoned that for some dominant individuals, “the experience of being at the bottom of the heap can be intolerable." </p>



<p>A feedback loop can follow: standing tall and straight takes effort and often draws deferential treatment. That social response can reinforce a dominant posture over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-everyone-stands-the-same">Not everyone stands the same</h2>



<p>People who scored lower on these dominance-related traits showed a wider range of stances rather than sticking to one “strong” look. </p>



<p>Flexibility in posture - opening up in some moments, settling into neutral in others - fits with lower endorsement of competitive, top-down views of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/having-an-active-social-life-helps-the-brain-make-better-sense-of-the-world/">social life</a>.</p>



<p>The big picture here is that natural posture, captured in everyday conditions, carries information about personality and social attitudes. It wasn’t just a flash in the pan.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underlying-issues">Underlying issues</h2>



<p>There are limits. The sample leaned heavily toward female undergraduates, and the methods were correlational. Culture also shapes how people use space and stance. </p>



<p>As people age, normal changes in muscle and body mass can affect posture, no matter their personality. Those realities matter when you apply these findings to new groups or settings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bringing-this-into-the-real-world">Bringing this into the real world</h2>



<p>When you meet someone new, you take in many cues at once - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/facial-expressions-arent-enough-to-understand-human-emotions/">face</a>, voice, handshake, movement. Posture is one cue among many, and it’s a useful one. </p>



<p>A person standing up straight can come across as confident and trustworthy. However, in special circumstances, a consistently erect, expanded stance was associated with stronger endorsement of social dominance and related traits. </p>



<p>On the flip side, a person who slumps isn’t automatically timid; context matters.</p>



<p>The study closes with a practical note: a person who appears to use their body to intimidate you - even if they do not fully succeed - is someone to avoid.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-you-should-take-from-this-study">What you should take from this study</h2>



<p>Trait-level posture exists - that isn't up for debate. It links directly to how people think about rank and competition. The measure was checked against muscle activity and held steady over one month. </p>



<p>Briefly adopting a pose - dominant or submissive - didn’t seem to change people’s mindset in this set of studies. </p>



<p>And while posture can inform first impressions, it should sit alongside other signals before you decide how to engage.</p>



<p>That’s the takeaway: pay attention, stay thoughtful, and use posture as one clear piece of the larger social puzzle.</p>



<p>The full studies were published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39311863/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PubMed</a></em>.</p>



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You can quickly determine someone's personality type by the way they stand

Body posture sends steady social signals. Long before anyone speaks,...

<p>Deep beneath the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, scientists have recorded earthquakes at roughly 6 to 12 miles below the seafloor, far deeper than where rock should normally crack. The finding points to a new driver of seismicity far from familiar fault zones and volcanoes.</p>



<p>The culprit is not extra cold rock or a hidden megafault. It looks like carbon dioxide in hot mantle melt changing volume as pressure drops, a physical nudge that can make rock fail at depth.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-seafloor-earthquakes">Deep seafloor earthquakes</h2>



<p>A research team deployed ocean-bottom seismometers, autonomous instruments that sit on the seafloor and record tiny vibrations, during the <a href="https://zenodo.org/records/12696685" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SMARTIES</a> campaign in 2019. </p>



<p>Those sensors captured clusters of microearthquakes in the warm mantle directly under the ridge axis, well below the usual brittle layer. </p>



<p>The work was led by <a href="https://www.ipgp.fr/~marjanovic/ILAB/ILAB/People.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Satish C. Singh</a> of the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (<a href="https://www.ipgp.fr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IPGB</a>), a group with decades of experience imaging the oceanic crust and mantle. </p>



<p>In this study, the team focused on a slow-spreading equatorial ridge segment where seismic activity is usually modest.</p>



<p>Geochemical <a href="https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00931/104312/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyses</a> of nearby basalts showed unusually high carbon dioxide in the primary melts, about 0.4 to 3.0 percent by weight. That enrichment is consistent with melts derived from a mantle source that carries extra volatiles.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The earthquakes sit at depths where temperatures are expected to be too high for rock to break in a brittle way. That mismatch pushed the team to look beyond temperature or fault geometry and consider the physical effects of gases in magma.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-co2-triggers-seafloor-earthquakes">How CO2 triggers seafloor earthquakes</h2>



<p>Degassing changes the volume of a fluid, and in a confined rock, even small pressure shifts can matter. </p>



<p>The solubility of CO2 in basaltic melt depends strongly on pressure, so as melt rises and pressure falls, bubbles form and the melt expands. </p>



<p>At depth, CO2 can stay dissolved at high concentrations, then separate as a gas as pressure eases, a process that stiffens and relaxes stresses along cracks in quick bursts. </p>



<p>Volatile solubility <a href="https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10104094" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> show this pressure control is a first-order effect in mafic magmas. </p>



<p>Seismologists often use mantle temperatures around 700 to 900 degrees Celsius as a practical ceiling for where brittle failure can occur, which puts these Atlantic events in notably hot conditions. </p>



<p>That is why a stress source tied to expanding gas, not a cold, thick lid, better fits the observations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-it-matters-for-ocean-crust">Why it matters for ocean crust</h2>



<p>Volatiles do more than spark eruptions at volcanoes on land. They lower melting temperatures, steer where melts collect, and change how the new ocean crust forms beneath spreading ridges. </p>



<p>The Atlantic results suggest volatiles can also shape where and how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-earthquakes-move-mountains-and-what-comes-next/">earthquakes</a> happen in the mantle beneath ridges. </p>



<p>If CO2 rich melts stall in the mantle before feeding the crust, they can evolve chemically and mechanically at depth. </p>



<p>That pause can increase heterogeneity in the lithosphere, the rigid outer shell, and near the asthenosphere, the weaker layer below it.</p>



<p>The study also helps explain seismic reflections and partial melt hints right at the lithosphere, asthenosphere boundary in the equatorial Atlantic. </p>



<p>Independent work indicates that a small percentage of melt, aided by volatiles, can persist there at temperatures below the dry peridotite solidus.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-this-different-from-volcano-swarms">What makes this different from volcano swarms</h2>



<p>Deep earthquakes linked to magma motion show up in active volcanic zones like Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. </p>



<p>There, researchers documented deep long period events at about 6 to 7 miles depth around the 2021 <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-022-01603-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fagradalsfjall</a> eruption, a very different tectonic setting. </p>



<p>Off Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, a seismic crisis revealed drainage of a huge reservoir from roughly 15 to 22 miles down, accompanied by deformation and very long period signals. </p>



<p>That sequence pointed to a developing submarine volcano rather than steady ridge accretion.</p>



<p>In Iceland’s Northern Volcanic Zone, several nests of unusually <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-analysis-claims-worlds-deepest-earthquake-did-not-happen-in-japan/">deep quakes</a>, sometimes deeper than 20 miles, are tied to magma movement below the usual brittle layer. </p>



<p>Those cases involve thickened crust and a volcanic plumbing system, unlike the Atlantic ridge segment studied here.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fresh-look-at-volatile-rich-ridges">Fresh look at volatile-rich ridges</h2>



<p>The Atlantic ridge segment examined spreads slowly, a regime where melt pathways are complex and tectonics can expose mantle rocks on the seafloor. </p>



<p>In such settings, volatile rich melts may focus and linger, priming the conditions for gas driven stress changes at depth.</p>



<p>Global ridge studies show that mid ocean ridge basalt glasses are commonly depleted in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-bacillus-megaterium-turns-co2-gas-into-calcium-carbonate-limestone/">CO2</a> by the time they erupt, which complicates efforts to reconstruct their original volatile content. </p>



<p>Trace element ratios such as CO2 to Ba and CO2 to Rb provide workarounds to estimate the pre-eruptive load.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-deep-seafloor-earthquakes-studies">More deep seafloor earthquakes studies</h2>



<p>Better constraints on volatile content and pressure in the mantle will come from longer deployments and denser arrays of seafloor instruments. </p>



<p>Targeted sampling of fresh basalts and melt inclusions will tighten the links between chemistry, pressure, and the mechanics of these deep events.</p>



<p>Models that couple gas solubility, fracture mechanics, and ridge thermal structure can test how much CO2 is needed to tip rock into failure in hot mantle. </p>



<p>Those models can also explain why only some ridge segments host deep quakes while others stay quiet.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55792-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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This surprising gas could be causing earthquakes deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean seafloor

Deep beneath the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, scientists have recorded earthquakes at...

<p>Outcrop Silver &amp; Gold has <a href="https://outcropsilver.com/site/assets/files/6252/nr_2025_drilling_morena_discovery_ips-ciro_ih_gh-final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> a new high grade shoot at the Morena vein inside its Santa Ana project in Colombia. The highlight intercept includes 0.55 meters at 1,877 grams of silver per ton and 4.26 grams of gold per ton, which the company reports as 2,197 grams silver equivalent per ton.</p>



<p>The program marks the sixth new high grade shoot identified since April 2024 and follows systematic work around the La Ye target. Results arrive ahead of a planned mineral resource update.</p>



<p>The program is led by <a href="https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/CA/XTSX/OCG/company-people/executive-profile/156430753" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guillermo Hernandez</a>, Vice President of Exploration at Outcrop Silver &amp; Gold Corporation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-morena-silver-drill-cores">Morena silver drill cores</h2>



<p>Hole DH471 cut 1.87 meters grading 680 g/t silver and 1.52 g/t gold for 794 g/t <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/remarkable-viking-silver-hoard-discovery-reveals-far-reaching-global-trade-links/">silver equivalent</a>, including the 0.55 meter zone running 1,877 g/t silver and 4.26 g/t gold. </p>



<p>Converting widths to the U.S. system, those intervals measure about 6.1 feet and 1.8 feet, respectively.</p>



<p>Hole DH467 intersected 2.29 meters at 233 g/t silver and 0.37 g/t <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/copper-and-gold-deposit-found-near-canadas-golden-triangle-just-59-feet-below-the-surface/">gold</a> for 261 g/t <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geologists-discover-the-largest-copper-gold-and-silver-deposit-in-the-last-three-decades/">silver</a> equivalent. That interval is roughly 7.5 feet.</p>



<p>Drilling at Morena totals 2,905 meters, or about 9,530 feet. The team outlines a mineralized footprint near 400 meters along strike, about 1,310 feet, and nearly 300 meters down dip, about 984 feet.</p>



<p>“We are excited to confirm the sixth new high grade shoot at Santa Ana since the mineral resource was published with the discovery at Morena,” stated Hernandez.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-morena-silver-and-gold-sits">Where Morena silver and gold sits</h2>



<p>Work at Morena grew out of soil geochemistry and follow-up trenching around La Ye that flagged a structural corridor. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-discover-how-gold-reaches-earths-surface-from-the-mantle/">Surface sampling</a> preceded the drilling that confirmed vein continuity along several hundred meters.</p>



<p>The Morena vein trends between 220 and 230 degrees, dips from 45 to 75 degrees, and sits in green schists. Orientation and host rocks help explain why drilling can step both along strike and down dip with a clear model.</p>



<p>Morena adds to a pipeline that already includes zones named Aguilar, Jimenez, Guadual, La Ye, and Los Mangos. </p>



<p>Each target is being tested for inclusion in the next resource update without assuming that today’s results translate directly into resources tomorrow.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-grades-are-reported">How grades are reported</h2>



<p>Silver grades are <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2025/mcs2025-silver.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">typically reported</a> in tons, which simply means grams of metal per metric ton of rock and remains a standard measure used by agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey (<a href="https://www.usgs.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">USGS</a>).</p>



<p>Many explorers also report equivalency grades that roll multiple metals into a single number based on metal prices and recoveries. </p>



<p>Industry guidance stresses that any equivalency should disclose the underlying grades, prices, and recovery assumptions, and that equivalents are not appropriate when recoveries cannot be reasonably estimated, which keeps comparisons honest for readers and investors.</p>



<p>For context, Santa Ana’s current technical <a href="https://outcropsilver.com/site/assets/files/6003/0723022_santa_ana_mineral_resource_estimate_ni_43-101_s.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> lists an indicated resource of 24.2 million ounces silver equivalent at 614 g/t and an inferred resource of 13.5 million ounces at 435 g/t, providing a baseline snapshot before any impact from Morena is considered.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rigorous-sampling-and-analysis">Rigorous sampling and analysis</h2>



<p>Reliable assays depend on procedures such as inserting blanks, duplicates, and certified reference materials at planned intervals. </p>



<p>Regulators and professional bodies outline best <a href="https://www.bcsc.bc.ca/-/media/PWS/Resources/For_Companies/Mining/CIM-Best-Practices-Guidelines-November-29-2019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">practices</a> for how results should be collected and reported to avoid bias and to ensure transparency for investors and communities alike.</p>



<p>Independent labs commonly use methods like aqua regia digestion followed by ICP <a href="https://actlabs.com/geochemistry-analysis/exploration-geochemistry/aqua-regia-partial-digestion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> to measure multi element chemistry, with clearly defined quality controls stated for each batch and instrument run.</p>



<p>Core handling routines matter too. Sawing core, sending half for assay, and retaining half for verification work allow later reconciliation and potential re testing as the model evolves.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-context-for-santa-ana-and-mariquita">Context for Santa Ana and Mariquita</h2>



<p>Santa Ana sits in the historic Mariquita District, where <a href="https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670142" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">records</a> of mining date to at least 1585. Archival materials even depict active workings at the Santa Ana mines during the nineteenth century, underlining the long mining tradition in the area.</p>



<p>Geologically, the district hosts epithermal style silver and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/copper-and-gold-deposit-found-near-canadas-golden-triangle-just-59-feet-below-the-surface/">gold</a> veins, a deposit type known for narrow but very high grades and strong structural controls. </p>



<p>Descriptive models of epithermal systems published by the U.S. Geological Survey lay out the mineralogy, textures, and temperature ranges that guide exploration in districts like this one.</p>



<p>Academic <a href="https://www.geo.arizona.edu/Antevs/Theses/VargasMS08.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> focused specifically on Santa Ana has described a volcanic hosted silver polymetallic system with multiple vein sets, which aligns with the present exploration approach that tracks structure and chemistry together.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-next">What to watch next</h2>



<p>Morena’s early footprint suggests practical next steps. Step outs along strike and down dip will test continuity and spacing, which are essential for resource modeling.</p>



<p>Metallurgical testing also carries weight because it underpins any <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drilling-hole-reveals-significant-presence-of-high-grade-gold-and-silver-navidad-deposit/">silver</a> equivalent calculations and informs whether certain byproduct metals can be recovered efficiently. </p>



<p>Clear disclosure of prices and recoveries keeps future equivalents aligned with professional guidance rather than assumptions.</p>



<p>Investors and local stakeholders will likely focus on how quickly new holes fill the gaps around the current intercepts. </p>



<p>Consistent widths and grades, supported by strong QA/QC and independent lab checks, set the stage for any future resource addition.</p>



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



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New silver and gold discovery confirmed to be extraordinarily high grade deposits

Outcrop Silver &amp; Gold has reported a new high grade...

Prehistoric,Hand,Paintings,At,The,Cave,Of,The,Hands,(spanish:

<p>Ancient Maya artists carved scenes of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tattoo-ink-travels-through-the-body-and-may-cause-long-term-risks/">marked skin</a> on stone and bone, demonstrating they had the ability to tattoo themselves. Yet the tools they used to create those personal tattoos have remained a mystery. </p>



<p>Now, archaeologists have finally tied the art to the instruments that made it. Their recent study points to the first physical tattoo implements used by Classic-period <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-caused-the-maya-collapse-the-answer-was-hidden-in-a-cave/">Maya</a>, placing them inside a cave in Belize. </p>



<p>The find connects body marking to ceremony and status, not casual personal style.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unearthing-the-tools">Unearthing the tools</h2>



<p>“The recovery of two implements from a cave raises questions about the ritual nature and context of ancient Maya tattooing in the Classic period (AD 250-900),” wrote <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zSNuYIkAAAAJ&amp;hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">W. James Stemp</a> of <a href="https://www.keene.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Keene State College</a>, lead author of the study.</p>



<p>Two retouched flakes of stone chert, from burin (specialized stone tools with a chisel-like tip, used for engraving or carving materials like bone, antler, ivory, and wood), were recovered from travertine pools on an upper ledge of Actun Uayazba Kab in central Belize. </p>



<p>They bear use-wear analysis signatures and dark residues that fit <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tattoos-lead-to-mistaken-assumptions-about-personality-and-values/">tattooing</a>, according to the study authors. </p>



<p>The cave, also called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cueva_de_las_Manos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Handprint Cave</a>, lies in the Roaring Creek Valley in Belize and has yielded human burials in earlier excavations, underscoring its long ritual history. </p>



<p>That background helps frame the tools as instruments for skin marking rather than everyday craft.</p>



<p>The pieces are not knives configured for slicing. They are small points reshaped for puncturing, a form that suits repeated, precise <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tattoo-ink-travels-through-the-body-and-may-cause-long-term-risks/">entries into skin</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maya-tattoo-needles">Maya tattoo needles</h2>



<p>A burin spall is a thin flake chipped to make a sharp, durable point. Chert takes a fine edge, and a carefully retouched tip can pierce cleanly without tearing.</p>



<p>In <a href="https://www.academia.edu/91605595/Drawing_with_great_needles_Ancient_tattoo_traditions_of_North_America_Aaron_Deter_Wolf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">puncture tattooing</a>, pigment rides on the tool’s tip and enters the skin with controlled taps or presses, a technique documented widely before electric machines. </p>



<p>The method leaves characteristic microscopic wear and often traps ink in the final millimeters of the point.</p>



<p>Under magnification, rounding and polish at the tips, together with embedded dark residue, are exactly the traces repeated skin puncture and carbon-based ink can leave. </p>



<p>That match is what moved the team to interpret the stones as tattoo implements rather than awls for hide or engravers for wood.</p>



<p>Body paint washes away. Tattooing stays, and permanence fits cultural and societal moments when status changed or vows were taken.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ink-identity-and-status">Ink, identity, and status</h2>



<p>Tattooing in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-king-of-caracols-tomb-has-been-discovered-powerful-maya-cities/">Maya</a> lowlands signaled identity, rank, and life milestones, and images capture those codes. People marked jaws, torsos, and sometimes foreheads with signs that carried meaning inside a careful social order.</p>



<p>“They tattoo their bodies and are accounted valiant and brave in proportion to its amount, for the process is very painful,” wrote <a href="https://sacred-texts.com/nam/maya/ybac/ybac26.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diego de Landa</a> in a 16th century account of Yucatan. Chroniclers also noted figures such as snakes and eagles alongside sacred signs.</p>



<p>Colonial texts carry bias, yet they align with carvings that show captives, nobles, and ritual actors bearing permanent marks. The new tools give those records solid footing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-cave-with-a-message">A cave with a message</h2>



<p>“Maya caves are exclusively ritual spaces,” argued <a href="https://www.academia.edu/35127401/Maya_Cave_Archaeology_A_New_Look_at_Religion_and_Cosmology_by_J_E_Brady_and_K_M_Prufer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James E. Brady and Keith M. Prufer</a>, who synthesized decades of cave archaeology across Mesoamerica. That perspective explains why a tattooing kit would end up far from households.</p>



<p>Caves anchored ideas about life and death, rain, fertility, and the underworld. A tool left there speaks to obligation, initiation, and power, not casual decoration.</p>



<p>The implements came from limestone pools on a ledge, a setting that does not invite everyday craft. Place and context help rule out bone or wood carving and keep the focus on skin.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-maya-tattoo-theory">Testing the Maya tattoo theory</h2>



<p>Archaeologists have used experimental replicas to show how puncture tools behave and what marks they leave on artifacts and skin. </p>



<p>A 2,000 year old cactus spine <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X18307508" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">device</a> from Utah helped set the standard for such tests in North America and demonstrated how use-wear and embedded pigment build up on working tips.</p>



<p>The Belize team looked for the same signs, including tip rounding, polish, and trapped pigment, and they found them. Consistency across different tools and materials strengthens the case.</p>



<p>This does not prove that every Classic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tattoo-ink-travels-through-the-body-and-may-cause-long-term-risks/">tattoo</a> began inside a cave, and the authors do not claim that. It shows that tattooing and ritual space intersected at least once, and likely more than once.</p>



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



<p>For years, scholars had images and ethnohistoric texts but no implements to connect the dots. Now there are tools that carry wear, residue, context, and time, all pointing in the same direction.</p>



<p>Next steps include identifying the exact pigment recipe and checking whether the ink came from soot, resins, or plant ash. </p>



<p>Broader <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cave-art-discovery-depicts-animal-dicynodont-that-went-extinct-280-million-year-ago/">cave</a> surveys in Belize and Guatemala could tell us whether the cave setting is unusual or a recurring pattern.</p>



<p>This is not only a technique. It is about people who inscribed affiliation and belief on their bodies, and about the hands that did the work in places considered close to gods and ancestors.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X25001919" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports</em></a>.</p>



<p>Photograph of the Cave of Hands, Argentina, photograph by Gregory Crouch.</p>



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

Ancient Maya tattooed themselves with very detailed designs, now we know how they did it

Ancient Maya artists carved scenes of marked skin on stone...

<p>History often remembers the Vikings as fierce raiders who swept across Europe in search of silver and gold treasure and artifacts. Yet, new scientific discoveries reveal a more intricate story. </p>



<p>Silver, a symbol of wealth and power, was not just plundered but also traded, refined, and carried across vast distances. </p>



<p><a href="https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/collections/collections-highlights/the-bedale-hoard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bedale hoard</a>, unearthed in North Yorkshire, offers a unique window into this overlooked side of Viking life.</p>



<p>Through cutting-edge scientific analysis, researchers uncovered how Viking treasure connects England not only to its European neighbors but also to distant Islamic lands. </p>



<p>These findings highlight how Viking wealth was tied to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/archaeologist-sailed-on-a-viking-boat-for-three-years-and-made-surprising-discoveries/">global trade networks</a> that reached far beyond the battlefield.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vikings-and-the-silver-network">Vikings and the silver network</h2>



<p>Led by Dr. Jane Kershaw of the <a href="https://www.arch.ox.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Archaeology</a>, University of Oxford, the research traced the origins of silver in the Bedale hoard, discovered in 2012. </p>



<p>The findings show that Vikings drew not only from local raids but also from long-distance trade reaching into the Islamic world.</p>



<p>Geochemical analysis confirmed that while much of the silver came from western Europe - likely Anglo-Saxon and Carolingian coinage - a substantial portion originated from Islamic dirhams. </p>



<p>These coins traveled through Scandinavian trade routes before reaching England.</p>



<p>The hoard, with 29 silver ingots and elaborate neck-rings, dates to the late ninth or early tenth century. Its variety highlights the cultural and economic blending in Viking Age England. </p>



<p>This study challenges the idea that Viking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-vikings-traveled-great-distances-to-hunt-walruses-for-ivory/">wealth</a> came only from looting.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-raiding-and-looting">Beyond raiding and looting</h2>



<p>"Most of us tend to think of the Vikings primarily as raiders, who looted monasteries and other wealthy places in search of wealth. What the analysis of the Bedale hoard shows is that that is only part of the picture," noted Dr. Jane Kershaw.</p>



<p>She explained that while the Vikings did engage in looting and pillaging - with some of that wealth preserved in the rings and ingots found in the hoard - they also profited significantly from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vikings-landed-in-the-americas-500-years-before-columbus/">long-distance trade routes</a> connecting northern Europe to the Islamic Caliphate.</p>



<p>"We can now see that they brought large quantities of this Islamic silver with them when they established settlements in England," Dr. Kershaw continued.</p>



<p>Reflecting on the significance of the find, she added: "I love to think how Bedale - today a quintessentially English market town in north Yorkshire - was, in <a href="https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Viking Age</a>, at the heart of a much wider, Eurasian Viking economy." </p>



<p>The Vikings weren't only extracting wealth from the local population, they were also bringing wealth with them when they raided and settled.</p>



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



<p>The research team used lead isotope and trace element analyses to pinpoint the silver’s origins. They identified three main sources: western European coinage, Islamic dirhams, and blended sources. </p>



<p>Nine ingots - almost a third of the collection - were traced directly to the Islamic Caliphate, particularly regions corresponding to modern-day Iran and Iraq.</p>



<p>This silver traveled through the Austrvegr, the eastern trade routes, before reaching Scandinavia and later England. </p>



<p>The movement of these coins demonstrates the reach of Viking trade networks. It shows how far-flung economic connections fed into local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/enduring-earth-mystery-partially-solved-artificial-intelligence-nazca-geoglyphs/">settlements</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vikings-mixed-silver-with-skills">Vikings mixed silver with skills</h2>



<p>The findings also suggest that Viking metalworkers refined some of the silver with local lead, particularly from the North Pennines. This indicates advanced metalworking skills and regional production. </p>



<p>One striking artifact, a large neck-ring made from twisted rods, was created using a mix of eastern and western silver. The craftsmanship points to innovation and adaptation in northern England.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/viking-silver-hoard_discovery_UOxford_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/viking-silver-hoard_discovery_UOxford_1s.webp" alt="The Bedale hoard. Credit: York Museums Trust/University of Oxford" class="wp-image-1982530"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The Bedale hoard. Click image to enlarge. Credit: York Museums Trust/University of Oxford</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>The Archaeometry study adds that mixing silver sources was not random. Instead, it was deliberate, reflecting choices to maintain consistent silver quality and weight standards across regions. </p>



<p>Such practices suggest that Viking metalworkers were highly skilled, operating with knowledge of purity levels and alloying techniques.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-expanding-the-viking-history-books">Expanding the Viking history books</h2>



<p>The analysis adds to growing evidence that Viking wealth came from multiple strategies. Military campaigns and tribute collection remained important, but commercial exchange played a central role. </p>



<p>Silver coins were melted down, recast, and shaped into jewelry and ingots, circulating within the Scandinavian bullion economy.</p>



<p>The study also highlights how silver acted as more than wealth. It was a medium of exchange in a bullion-based economy, where ingots and jewelry could be weighed and traded like currency. </p>



<p>This system supported both local markets and international trade, embedding Viking communities into a wider economic network.</p>



<p>The research emphasizes how advanced scientific methods can reveal hidden layers of history. By examining the silver itself, researchers uncovered the complexity of Viking settlement and integration in England. </p>



<p>The findings are published in <em><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/arcm.70031" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Archaeometry</a></em>, offering fresh insights into how Vikings balanced raiding with global trade.</p>



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



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Remarkable Viking silver hoard discovery reveals far-reaching global trade links

History often remembers the Vikings as fierce raiders who swept...

<p>Forests from the Amazon lowlands to the high Andes are failing to adjust quickly enough to rising temperatures. Populations are not moving upslope at the pace of climate change, and entire communities are not reorganizing to match the new normal.</p>



<p>The gap threatens <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-plantations-have-hidden-impacts-on-tropical-biodiversity/">tropical biodiversity</a> and the ecosystem services people rely on - from climate regulation to pollination.</p>



<p>“These forests are simply not keeping up with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-forests-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-climate-change/">climate change</a>,” said lead author William Farfan-Rios of <a href="https://www.wfu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wake Forest University</a>. “The result is a growing climatic debt that threatens the integrity and functioning of the most diverse forests on Earth.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-four-decades-of-first-monitoring">Four decades of first monitoring</h2>



<p>The study draws on more than four decades of forest monitoring in Peru and Bolivia. Researchers tracked over 66,000 trees spanning about 2,500 species across 66 permanent plots. </p>



<p>Those plots run from a few hundred feet above sea level in the Amazon to more than 12,000 feet in the Andes.</p>



<p>The team expected to see warm-adapted species becoming more common over time. Ecologists call that shift thermophilization. Instead, they found little to no evidence that communities are warming in step with the climate along the elevation gradient.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-growing-climatic-debt"><a></a>A growing climatic debt</h2>



<p>The analysis shows that the rate at which warm-adapted forests replace cool-adapted ones is far slower than the regional rate of warming.</p>



<p>That mismatch is the “climatic debt” - the amount of change that should have occurred to keep pace with rising temperatures but has not.</p>



<p>If the debt keeps growing, forests will edge closer to thresholds from which they may not recover. The risk is highest where species live near their thermal limits and have limited options for movement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cloud-forests-show-most-change">Cloud forests show most change</h2>



<p>Mid-elevation forests near the cloud base at roughly 3,900 to 6,600 feet showed the strongest signs of reshuffling. The signal there is driven largely by higher death rates among cool-adapted trees. Mortality is doing more of the work than the arrival of new warm-adapted species.</p>



<p>By contrast, the lowland Amazon plots showed no consistent directional change. That stability may appear resilient in the short term - but it also signals vulnerability. As heat and drought intensify, communities with few hotter-adapted species waiting in the wings may struggle to cope.</p>



<p>Higher in the Andes, many communities remain effectively stuck. Populations are not moving uphill quickly enough to keep within their historical climate envelopes.</p>



<p>Tropical forests in the Andes-Amazon harbor the planet’s highest concentration of life. They store vast amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-storage-mystery-emerges-in-the-southern-ocean/">carbon</a> and generate rainfall. They support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-face-extinction-risk-due-to-climate-change/">pollinators</a> and seed dispersers that keep the system running.</p>



<p>If tree communities fail to adjust, the carbon sink will weaken. Habitats shrink or vanish. The odds of ecosystem collapse rise, especially in cloud forests where drought and heat push trees past their limits.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-reveals-forest-shifts">Time reveals forest shifts</h2>



<p>“You have to be there for long periods of time to understand how these forests change,” said co-author Miles Silman, chair of conservation biology at Wake Forest.</p>



<p>“If we lose these climate observatories, these natural labs, we blind ourselves to our future. What we found is that forests are changing, but they’re not changing in the ways that make them resilient to climate change.”</p>



<p>Trees can adapt over millennia. But individuals die quickly, and new trees recruit and grow slowly. Dispersal adds another constraint.</p>



<p>“They also need the full complement of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-at-risk-as-seed-spreading-animals-disappear/">animal dispersers</a> and pollinators to help expand their range - and loss of habitat is shrinking their ranks,” Silman explained.</p>



<p>“If you look at the magnitude of changes happening in the Andes-Amazon, the forest communities likely are not going to keep up. That’s why research like this is important.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-tropical-constraint"><a></a>The tropical constraint</h2>



<p>The results align with a growing pattern: tropical species often have narrow heat tolerances and already live close to their maximum temperatures.</p>



<p>Unlike in temperate systems, there may be few hotter-adapted taxa ready to move in as heat rises. In the lowlands, there is literally nowhere cooler upslope to go.</p>



<p>In the Andes, topography offers ladders for movement. But climbing those ladders requires time, intact habitat, and healthy animal partners to carry seeds. Fragmentation and defaunation remove those rungs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-can-t-keep-up">Forests can’t keep up</h2>



<p>Protecting continuous elevational forests gives species a path to track their climates. Safeguarding pollinators and seed dispersers keeps the engine of range expansion running. Reducing local stressors - selective logging, fire, and overhunting - buys time.</p>



<p>Still, cutting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gas-emissions-reach-another-all-time-high/">greenhouse gas emissions</a> remains the decisive lever. Slower warming reduces the debt and gives forest communities a chance to catch up.</p>



<p>The study’s core message is simple yet sobering: the world’s richest forests are changing, but not quickly enough in the directions that would make them safer. Thermophilization is lagging far behind warming, and mortality - rather than recruitment - is driving most of the turnover. </p>



<p>Cloud forests are showing strain, and although the Amazon lowlands are quiet for now, that quiet may not last. “These forests are simply not keeping up with climate change,” Farfan-Rios concluded.</p>



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



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World’s most diverse forests are failing to adapt to climate change

Forests from the Amazon lowlands to the high Andes are...

Creative,Art,Brain,Explodes,With,Paints,With,Splashes,On,A

<p>Have you ever tried tossing a handful of balls in the air and keeping track of each one at once? No matter how hard you focus, at least one will slip from your mind. </p>



<p>Researchers say this challenge reveals the surprising limits of human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-power-of-imagination-in-climate-change-adaptation/">imagination</a>, as a recent study shows we can only follow two moving objects at the same time.</p>



<p>The team drew inspiration from a process that enables tracking multiple moving objects simultaneously, known as the Multiple Object Tracking (<a href="https://jov.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2801105" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MOT</a>) paradigm. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-far-can-human-imagination-go">How far can human imagination go?</h2>



<p>Researchers took the concept of "mental simulation" to design a new study, despite knowing that we do not always engage in simulation. And if we do, there are limitations to it.</p>



<p>They wanted to test whether people could imagine the future path of more than one moving object at a time, or whether we are limited to just one.</p>



<p>Previous studies on mental imagery have already shown that the more objects we add to our "mental screen," the harder it becomes. It will also impair our precision in making judgments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-for-answers-with-iot">Searching for answers with IOT</h2>



<p>But still, this study does not answer the question: how many such objects can be imagined at once? To answer this, scientists developed an experiment called the Imagined Objects Tracking (IOT) task.</p>



<p>Participants were asked first to watch animated scenes where objects moved across the screen until paused. Then they were told to imagine the movement of these objects and judge the timing of different outcomes.</p>



<p>Interestingly, the researchers focused on timing rather than the location of the objects. </p>



<p>They then compared the performance of the participants with two <a href="https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/computational-modeling" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">computational models</a> that reflect different ideas on how the brain simulates moving objects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-we-imagine-one-or-many">Do we imagine one or many?</h2>



<p>The first was a parallel model, which assumes people can track multiple moving objects at the same time. The second was a serial model, which assumes that people track just one object at a time. </p>



<p>After simulating one, they will switch to the next object. It predicts that when more objects are added, imagination slows down. </p>



<p>Scientists noted the possibility of different subtypes of the serial model. For example, people might imagine the movement of one object for several steps, then switch to another, alternating back and forth.</p>



<p>At first, this seemed more reasonable, but it still did not fit all the data.</p>



<p>Then they thought of an approach that mixes both serial and parallel models, an interleaved model. But its predictions did not match either of the approaches, and were completely different from what the participants did.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexpected-results">Unexpected results</h2>



<p>When scientists tested the participants' actual performance with their models, the result was surprising. Neither the serial, parallel, nor interleaved models provided a thorough explanation of what was happening.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Instead, they found that people could only follow about two moving objects simultaneously in their imagination. This points to the bottleneck in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278262625000752" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental simulation</a>.</p>



<p>"We set out to test the capacity limits of the imagination, and we found that it was one," said co-author Tomer D. Ullman, associate professor in the Department of Psychology at <a href="https://www.harvard.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard University</a>.</p>



<p>Unlike our eyes, which can visually track multiple objects at once, our imagination seems to hit a hard limit. When forced to imagine numerous objects in motion, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-brain-literally-changes-based-on-daily-activities-and-lifestyle/">brain</a> struggles, affecting the accuracy.</p>



<p>So why does our imagination struggle to keep up? Prior research offers some clues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-brain-tracks-unseen-objects">How the brain tracks unseen objects</h2>



<p>We often make vague calculations to track multiple objects in motion when they are in front of our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-space-travel-affect-eye-health/">eyes</a>. But what if the objects are no longer visible?</p>



<p>In that case, we imagine them continuing to move in our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/starfish-are-apparently-one-big-head-crawling-on-seafloor-with-no-body-needed/">head</a>. Tracking an object does not simply stop when it crosses out of sight. The real question was, what is the actual limit?</p>



<p>Scientists still debate the mechanism by which the brain tracks unseen objects. Evidence from the MOT paradigm suggests that we do not always imagine the exact <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/trajectory-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trajectories</a> or paths of moving objects.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Instead, we might rely on heuristics, meaning quick mental shortcuts or assumptions. For example, we might assume that an unseen ball rolling across a table continues in a straight line at a constant speed.</p>



<p>Others propose that some of us use "mental simulation", where we track the path of the moving object step by step in our imagination. This approach has been helpful to explain how people think about the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022460X23004698" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dynamics</a> of moving objects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-world-impact-of-human-imagination">Real-world impact of human imagination</h2>



<p>The researchers concluded that our ability to simulate moving objects is limited. This suggests that human imagination works best when handling one or two dynamic elements at a time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This has implications for understanding not only visual imagination but also how people plan, predict, and make decisions in dynamic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-environment-day-2025-plastic-pollution-is-choking-our-planet/">environments</a>.</p>



<p>In other words, human imagination eventually lets some slip, reminding us that even our mental stage has boundaries.</p>



<p>The full study was published in<em> </em>the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61021-8#Ack1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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



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Surprising limits of human imagination revealed by science

Have you ever tried tossing a handful of balls in...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Scientists discover we age in bursts

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

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

<p>Grand Canyon National Park, located in northwestern Arizona, is the 15th site in the United States to have been named as a national park. The park's central feature is the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-san-luis-valley-of-colorado/">Colorado </a>River, which is often considered one of the Wonders of the World.  The Grand Canyon, including its extensive system of tributary canyons, is valued for its combination of size, depth, and exposed layers of colorful rocks dating back to Precambrian times. The canyon itself was created by the incision of the Colorado River and its tributaries after the Colorado Plateau was uplifted, causing the Colorado River system to develop along its present path. The primary public areas of the park are the South and North Rims, and adjacent areas of the canyon itself. The rest of the park is extremely rugged and remote, although many places are accessible by pack trail and backcountry roads. The South Rim is more accessible than the North Rim and accounts for 90% of park visitation.</p>



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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

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