Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a clear shot of Ireland and Great Britain, which was captured by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station. The photograph highlights the contrasting types of land cover on the two islands.&nbsp;



"Coastal mountains and rough terrain flank the western edge of Ireland, making the peninsulas there appear browner than the more vegetated (green) areas of central Ireland. The central region is composed of plains with bogs and hilly lowlands, largely consisting of assorted forests, agriculture, and pastures. Similar green tones carry over to the western side of Great Britain," says NASA.



"Many of the tan areas on the eastern side of Great Britain are within a rain shadow created by the uplands and mountains to the west. Weather systems move from west to east, and higher elevation areas on the west receive more rainfall than the lower eastern side. The tan color reflects grasslands where the vegetation was stressed due to high temperatures and drought conditions when this image was taken in summer 2022."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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An astronaut's view of Ireland and Great Britain

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

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the west coast of South America. The photo was captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station while orbiting over the Atacama Desert and Central Andes Mountains near the border of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.



"Over the Pacific Ocean, marine stratocumulus clouds develop over cold water that rises from the ocean depths as the Peru current (Humboldt current) flows north along the west coast of South America," says NASA. "The coastline is marked by low mountains that are dissected by canyons carved by rivers that flow down the western side of the Andes."



The Atacama Desert receives less than 0.2 inches of rain per year on average. According to NASA, this dry environment provides an ideal setting to conduct Mars analog studies.



"Active and inactive volcanoes comprise the Central Andean Volcanic Arc within the Atacama Desert and Andes Mountains. One of the inactive volcanoes visible in this photo is Bolivia’s Nevado Sajama, which has a maximum elevation of 6,542 meters (21,463 feet). Nevado Sajama and other volcanoes in the region often have glaciers and snow cover due to their high elevation."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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The west coast of South America

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features an intense dust storm over eastern China on March 22, 2023. According to China’s National Forestry Grassland Administration, the dust has impacted more than 560 million people.



"The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image showing a thick swirl of dust over China’s Harbin, Changchun, and Shenyang provinces," says NASA. "Cyclonic atmospheric circulation appears to have sucked dust into and above the clouds."



"In Beijing, which has a population of more than 20 million, the air quality index rose well above 500 for coarse (PM10) particles and above 200 for fine (PM2.5) particles on that day. Those levels are considered 'hazardous' and 'very unhealthy' to human health."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



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



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Massive dust storm moves over eastern China 

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features an astronaut view of the Tunupa Volcano, a dormant volcano in southwestern Bolivia. The volcano is located on a peninsula between two of Bolivia’s largest salt flats - Salar de Uyuni and Salar de Coipasa.



"Tunupa Volcano is located at the center of the Southern Altiplano, or the Andean Plateau, and rises as high as 5.3 kilometers (3.3 miles) in elevation," says NASA. "The volcano is a composite cone - a large, complex volcano that is often covered by lava flows, pyroclastic and mudflow deposits, and domes. Last active about 1.4 million years ago, Tunupa is now considered dormant."



"The flanks of the volcano’s cone are incised by valleys that were eroded by ancient glaciers and stream flows. Domes and lava flows appear on the eastern side of Tunupa, and the volcano is adjacent to other eroded volcanic fields and craters, including Jayu Khota and Titivilla."



According to NASA. the salt flats are typically a bright white color when viewed from orbit - but during Bolivia’s rainy season, rivers can carry sediment rich in microbes and dark-colored volcanic minerals onto the flats.&nbsp;



The image was captured on February 5, 2022 by a member of the Expedition 66 crew.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



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



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Tunupa Volcano in southwestern Bolivia

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Brahmaputra, also known as the Yarlung Tsangpo, in northern India. The photo was captured by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station.



"The mighty river appears as two major channels; several small islands sit within them and a large island separates them. Together they form a Brahmaputra floodplain that measures fully 10 kilometers (6 miles) in width. The channels appear brighter than those of the other rivers in this photo because they are near the Sun’s glint point," reports NASA.



The Dibang and Lohit Rivers flow nearby and join the Brahmaputra, which merges with the Ganges River in Bangladesh and ultimately dumps into the Bay of Bengal.&nbsp;



"South Asia’s monsoon rainfall regime brings heavy rain to this part of India from March through June, feeding the river and floodplain. Tropical forest is the natural vegetation of this landscape," says NASA.



"Human-built features seem minuscule here compared to the river channels. Most of the area includes land under cultivation, which appears as numerous small and irregular plots. Farms along the riverbanks are especially prone to damage and destruction by floods and by the persistent erosion of the banks."



On the other hand, there are no agricultural plots in the Brahmaputra floodplain, as this is a protected natural area within the Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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The Brahmaputra river in northern India

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Messina Strait, a channel in the Mediterranean Sea that separates Sicily and Calabria. The photograph was captured by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station



The Messina Strait is 20 miles long with a depth of 820 feet, and joins the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north and the Ionian Sea to the south.&nbsp;



"Waves that follow the tide from west to east are visible in the right half of the photo. These are caused by internal waves, a process where stratified water layers of changing density and increasing depth horizontally propagate beneath the water surface. The waves are illuminated by sunglint—an optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight is directly reflected off the water and into a satellite’s sensor, or in this case, the astronaut’s camera," explains NASA.



"Alternating currents, relatively low water temperature, and high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen contribute to the region’s aquatic biodiversity. The strait hosts several deep-sea fish species such as Sloane’s viperfish (a predatory dragonfish) as well as commercially valuable fish like yellowtail and snapper. On the left side of the image, thin, white lines are likely ship wakes, some of which may belong to fishing boats."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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Messina Strait in the Mediterranean Sea

Today’s Image of the Day comes thanks to the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> and features a look at the Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea between Ireland and England.

This image was captured by the Enhanced Thematic Mapper onboard the Landsat 7 satellite.

The Isle of Man has been inhabited since 6500 BCE and is now a self-governing British Crown dependency.

The Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin [ˈmanɪnʲ], also Manx: Ellan Vannin [ˈɛlʲan ˈvanɪnʲ]), sometimes referred to simply as Mann /mæn/, is a Celtic self-governing British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. The head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, holds the title of Lord of Mann and is represented by a lieutenant governor. Defence is the responsibility of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/video/the-united-kingdom-seen-from-space/">United Kingdom</a>.
Humans have lived on the island since before 6500 BC. Gaelic cultural influence began in the 5th century AD, and the Manx language, a branch of the Gaelic languages, emerged. In 627 Edwin of Northumbria conquered the Isle of Man along with most of Mercia. In the 9th century, Norsemen established the Kingdom of the Isles, which included the Isle of Man. Magnus III, King of Norway from 1093 to 1103, reigned also as King of Mann and the Isles between 1099 and 1103.
In 1266 the island became part of Scotland under the Treaty of Perth, after being ruled by Norway. After a period of alternating rule by the kings of Scotland and England, the island came under the feudal lordship of the English Crown in 1399. The lordship revested into the British Crown in 1765, but the island never became part of the 18th century kingdom of Great Britain or its successors (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the present-day United Kingdom). It retained its internal self-government.

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By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Rory Arnold</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a>

Isle of Man in the Irish Sea

A groundbreaking study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00467-z">Environmental Microbiome</a> suggests that urban honeybees could hold the key to unlocking insights into the microbiomes of cities around the world, providing valuable information about both hive and human health. As cities are designed for human habitation, they also host a myriad of other living species.&nbsp;



Understanding this diverse landscape is crucial for urban planning and human health. However, sampling the microbial landscape in a way that covers vast urban areas can be labor-intensive and challenging.



Lead researcher Elizabeth Hénaff and her team delved into the potential of honeybees to help gather samples of microorganisms across cities. Honeybees are known to forage daily up to one mile from their hives in urban environments.&nbsp;



The researchers conducted a pilot study in New York, where they sampled various materials from three hives. They discovered diverse genetic information, including environmental bacteria, in the debris accumulated at the bottom of the hives.&nbsp;



Further samples of hive debris from Sydney, Melbourne, Venice, and Tokyo revealed that each location possesses a unique genetic signature as seen by honeybees.



In Venice, the genetic data was predominantly composed of fungi related to wood rot and date palm DNA. Melbourne's sample was dominated by Eucalyptus DNA, while the Sydney sample showed little plant DNA but contained genetic data from a bacteria species that degrades rubber (Gordonia polyisoprenivorans). Tokyo samples included plant DNA from Lotus and wild soybean, as well as the soy sauce fermenting yeast Zygosaccharomyces rouxii.



The experts also identified genetic material from the hive debris for Rickettsia felis ('cat scratch fever'), a pathogen spread to humans through cat scratches. Although these findings highlight the potential of using this method for surveillance, they are currently too preliminary to suggest its effectiveness in monitoring human diseases.



Moreover, the hive debris contained bee-related microorganisms, likely originating from honeybee parts present in the debris. Based on 33 samples from hives across the four subsequent cities, the authors found known bee microorganisms indicating a healthy hive. In some cases, bee pathogens such as Paenibacillus larvae, Melissococcus plutonius, or the parasite Varroa destructor were detected. These findings suggest that debris analysis could also be employed to assess the overall health of honeybee hives.



In conclusion, the study demonstrates that honeybee hive debris offers a snapshot of the microbial landscape of urban environments. This innovative approach could be used alongside other measures to assess the microbial diversity and health of cities and honeybees alike, helping researchers better understand the complex interactions between humans, bees, and urban ecosystems.



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Honeybees can shed light on the health of cities

A groundbreaking study published in the journal Environmental Microbiome suggests...

New research published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwad060">European Journal of Preventive Cardiology</a> indicates that physical activity may counteract some of the negative effects associated with both too little and too much sleep on life expectancy.&nbsp;



The study, conducted by scientists at the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in China, involved more than 90,000 adults and employed accelerometer technology to provide more reliable and objective measurements of physical activity and sleep duration.



Lead author Dr. Jihui Zhang explained the study's findings, stating that "increased physical activity levels weakened the mortality risks associated with short or long sleep duration." This suggests that even though both adequate sleep and exercise are vital for longevity, engaging in physical activity can help mitigate the potential health consequences of poor sleep habits.



While the relationship between sleep, exercise, and health has long been studied, the specific interaction between physical activity and sleep duration had not yet been fully understood.&nbsp;



One key limitation of prior research was the reliance on self-reported data for physical activity and sleep, which can be subjective and prone to inaccuracies. In order to address this issue, the current study utilized accelerometer wristbands to measure participants' movement, offering a more reliable and objective assessment of activity levels and sleep duration.



This groundbreaking research is the first to examine the combined effects of physical activity and sleep duration on mortality risk using accelerometry. The study included a diverse group of 92,221 adults aged 40 to 73 from the UK Biobank cohort, who wore the accelerometer wristbands for a week between 2013 and 2015.&nbsp;



Sleep duration per night was categorized as short (less than six hours), normal (six to eight hours), or long (more than eight hours), and physical activity was divided into tertiles (low, intermediate, high). The researchers also classified moderate to vigorous physical activity as meeting or not meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.



Over a median follow-up period of seven years, 3,080 of the participants died – 1,074 from cardiovascular disease and 1,871 from cancer. The study's primary outcome was all-cause death, with secondary endpoints being death due to cardiovascular disease and death due to cancer.



The analysis reveals that engaging in physical activity can help reduce the mortality risks associated with both short and long sleep duration. The researchers aimed to understand how physical activity influenced the impact of sleep on mortality by examining the volume of activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity levels.&nbsp;



The study accounted for factors that could potentially influence the relationship, such as age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, education level, season of sleep measurement, body mass index, diet, smoking, alcohol intake, and shift work.



The experts found that among participants with low amounts of physical activity, short and long sleep were associated with a 16 and 37 percent increased risk of all-cause death, respectively. However, in those with intermediate amounts of exercise, only short sleep duration was detrimental, raising the likelihood of all-cause death by 41 percent.&nbsp;



Among participants with a high amount of exercise, sleep duration was not linked to an increased risk of death. When it came to cardiovascular death, short sleepers with a low volume of exercise faced a 69 percent elevated risk, which disappeared when exercise increased to moderate or high volumes. For cancer death, long sleepers with low amounts of exercise had a 21 percent increased risk, which disappeared with moderate or high volumes of exercise.



Similar results were observed for moderate to vigorous physical activity. In participants not meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, short and long sleep were associated with 31 and 20 percent increased risks of all-cause death, respectively.&nbsp;



These risks disappeared in those who met the WHO recommendations. For cardiovascular death, short sleepers who did not meet the exercise intensity advice faced a 52 percent elevated risk, which disappeared in those achieving the recommendations. For cancer death, long sleepers not meeting the advice had a 21 percent increased risk, which disappeared in those following the WHO guidance.



"Our findings suggest that health promotion efforts targeting both physical activity and sleep duration may be more effective in preventing or delaying premature death in middle-aged and older adults than focusing on one behavior alone," said Dr. Zhang. He emphasized the importance of achieving healthy amounts of both sleep and physical activity, but acknowledged that the study indicates that "getting sufficient exercise may partially offset the detrimental impact of missing a good night's sleep."



The results of this research underscore the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes both sufficient sleep and regular physical activity. Further, they highlight the potential for physical activity to help mitigate some of the negative effects of inadequate or excessive sleep on life expectancy. As our understanding of the complex interplay between sleep and exercise continues to grow, these findings offer valuable insights for individuals looking to optimize their health and well-being.



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Exercise counteracts negative effects of sleep deprivation

New research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology...

Scientists have sounded the alarm that the deep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/preparing-for-ocean-acidification-a-silent-killer-of-climate-change/">ocean</a> circulation forming around Antarctica may be heading towards collapse, with potentially severe long-term impacts on climate and marine ecosystems worldwide.



This circulation is part of a vast global network of ocean currents, known as the overturning circulation, which transports heat, carbon, oxygen, and nutrients around the planet. It plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate, sea levels, and the productivity of marine ecosystems.&nbsp;



Cold water sinking near Antarctica drives the deepest flow of this circulation, with approximately 250 trillion tonnes of cold, salty, and oxygen-rich water sinking in the region each year. This water then travels northwards, carrying oxygen into the deep Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.



Describing the importance of this process, Professor Matthew England, Deputy Director of the <a href="https://antarctic.org.au/">ARC Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science</a> (ACEAS) at UNSW Sydney, says: "If the oceans had lungs, this would be one of them."



In a new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05762-w">Nature</a>, an international team of scientists led by Professor England modeled the production of Antarctic deep water until 2050 under the IPCC's "high emissions scenario." The researchers collaborated with co-authors from the Australian National University (ANU) and CSIRO.



The model used in the study captures details of ocean processes that previous models have not been able to represent, including the potential influence of meltwater from ice on the circulation. According to the researchers, this deep ocean current has remained in a relatively stable state for thousands of years. However, due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, Antarctic overturning is predicted to slow down significantly over the next few decades.



"Our modeling shows that if global carbon emissions continue at the current rate, then the Antarctic overturning will slow by more than 40 per cent in the next 30 years – and on a trajectory that looks headed towards collapse," warns Professor England.



If this deep ocean current were to collapse, the ocean below 4,000 meters would stagnate, trapping nutrients in the deep ocean and reducing their availability for supporting marine life near the ocean surface. "This would trap nutrients in the deep ocean, reducing the nutrients available to support marine life near the ocean surface," says Professor England.



The researchers found that melting ice around Antarctica makes the nearby ocean waters less dense, slowing the Antarctic overturning circulation. Furthermore, the melt of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets is expected to continue to accelerate as the planet warms.



"Our study shows that the melting of the ice sheets has a dramatic impact on the overturning circulation that regulates Earth’s climate," notes study co-author Dr. Adele Morrison.



"We are talking about the possible long-term extinction of an iconic water mass," says Professor England. He warns that such profound changes to the ocean's overturning of heat, freshwater, oxygen, carbon, and nutrients would have a significant adverse impact on the oceans for centuries to come.



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Deep ocean circulation near Antarctica on the brink of collapse

Scientists have sounded the alarm that the deep ocean circulation...

A new study has shed light on a surprising exception to the pattern of uniformity across the Indo-West Pacific, the largest and most biodiverse marine ecosystem on Earth. While many species in this region have comparably wide ranges, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/larger-jellyfish-are-more-nutritious/">fish</a> and shells noted by Charles Darwin, the same pattern has been observed in crabs. 



Chlorodielline crabs, common on coral reefs, have long been difficult to distinguish based solely on appearance, as they look so similar. However, a team of researchers has now discovered that chlorodielline crab species with non-overlapping ranges are often nearly identical, but those that occupy the same region have a unique feature.



The study, which was led by Robert Lasley, former postdoctoral researcher at the <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/">Florida Museum of Natural History</a>, revealed that the key to distinguishing these similar-looking crabs lies in their specialized appendages used for reproduction, called gonopods. These complex and species-specific structures have evolved multiple times in different arthropod groups, including crustaceans, moths and butterflies, and millipedes, and are variously used for sperm transfer and clasping.



“They all look the same, until you compare their gonopods, which are structurally complex and very species-specific,” explained Lasley.



In crabs, the gonopods sometimes come equipped with elaborate frills that give them the appearance of a spatula with a mohawk. Lasley wanted to understand if there was any pattern to the variation in these gonopods, which led him to study species across the Indo-West Pacific. Over the course of more than a decade, he collected specimens during numerous marine field forays in the Red Sea, Singapore, Australia, and the Phoenix Islands, searching for crabs hiding among the coral bric-a-brac.



The study's findings indicate that the key to distinguishing closely related species of chlorodielline crabs is in their gonopods, rather than their external appearance. While the gonopods of species with non-overlapping ranges are often nearly identical, those of species occupying the same region have unique structures, suggesting that their evolution is influenced by interactions with other closely related species.



Chlorodielline crabs are one of the most abundant crustaceans in coral reef ecosystems, where they occupy the base of the food chain. These tiny crabs, most of which are no larger than a kernel of corn, are especially diverse in the coral triangle, a region that stretches from Indonesia to the Solomon Islands and supports 76 percent of the world's coral species and more than a quarter of all coral reef fishes. Despite their importance, chlorodielline crabs have long been difficult to distinguish based on appearance alone.



The researchers sought to understand why chlorodielline crabs have such wildly different gonopods, specialized appendages used for reproduction. To do this, Lasley first had to determine how chlorodielline species are related to each other, which he accomplished through an analysis of DNA extracted from museum specimens. The experts then added information regarding the range of each species and the shape of their gonopods.



The study's findings shed light on one of marine biology's most perplexing mysteries: how do marine invertebrates, such as crabs, remain isolated long enough for evolution to generate diversity? While roaming animals on land become isolated all the time, the larval stage of many marine invertebrates makes this step in the speciation process more difficult to achieve. Naturalists like Charles Darwin saw the Indo West Pacific as one vast body of water, uninterrupted by geographic barriers that would otherwise act as a catalyst in the process of speciation.



However, the results of this study suggest that sheer distance and time can also act as barriers. Many chlorodielline crabs have ranges that extend across the entirety of the Indo-West Pacific, and the genetic analysis revealed that these cryptic species have slowly accumulated differences in their DNA over millions of years. But it wasn't until close relatives were reunited after an extended separation that those genetic differences visibly manifested in a single, peculiar way. In almost every case, close relatives with overlapping ranges had uniquely shaped gonopods but otherwise looked exactly the same.



“What we can say is these crabs start genetically diverging in different geographic areas, and then the divergence of gonopods is an important piece of the speciation process that happens at the tail end of things,” Lasley said.



The findings of this study have important implications for our understanding of marine biodiversity, as they suggest that far more variation exists in the Indo-West Pacific than previously suspected. The engine driving this diversity has yet to be entirely discovered, but Lasley intends to test his hypothesis that the way these crabs reproduce may play a role in the evolution of their unique gonopods in future studies.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107710">Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution</a>.



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Hidden crab diversity discovered in coral reefs

A new study has shed light on a surprising exception...

As the world's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-population-could-peak-below-nine-million-by-2050/">population</a> grows, concerns over food security have become increasingly urgent. David Beasley, the World Food Programme leader, stated in a recent interview with Time magazine: “There’s no doubt we can produce enough food for the world’s population - humanity is strategic enough to achieve that. The question is whether - because of war and conflict and corruption and destabilization - we do.” 



Projections indicate that we are not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger by 2030, a milestone that is threatened by climate and security crises that destabilize our food sources.



In response to these challenges, researchers are taking a critical look not just at how we produce food, but at the entire systems behind our food supplies. One such area of investigation is seed systems, which are crucial to the production of food crops. Ola Westengen, a crop scientist and food system expert, emphasizes that "whilst adapting crops to climate change and conserving their variation is essential for food security, these measures are meaningless if farmers do not have access to the seeds."



Westengen leads a team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.nmbu.no/en">Norwegian University of Life Sciences</a> (NMBU) who recently reviewed the state of seed systems for small-holder farmers in low/middle-income countries. Their findings have been published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2218777120">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



But what exactly are seed systems? In essence, they encompass the provision, management, and distribution of seeds. This includes the conservation of seed diversity and variety development, as well as their production and distribution, and the rules governing these activities. Seed systems play a vital role in making seeds available to farmers, ensuring that crops can be sown, harvested, and eventually reach our plates.



A well-functioning seed system would ideally ensure seed security for all farmers. However, the NMBU researchers argue that seed systems rarely function as effectively as they could. Seed systems can be disrupted by conflict and disasters, as well as by issues stemming from social inequality, lack of coordination, or inappropriate policies. These disruptions can have a significant impact on food security, particularly for small-holder farmers in low/middle-income countries who are often most vulnerable to these challenges.



The study sheds light on the current state of seed systems and highlights the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the complex factors that contribute to their effectiveness. By identifying the challenges facing seed systems, scientists and policymakers can work towards solutions that ensure seed security and ultimately contribute to global food security.



“There are recent innovations and investments by governments and donors to improve farmers’ access to diverse crop varieties and quality seeds,” explains study co-author Teshome Hunduma, a seed governance researcher. “For example, there are now more flexible policies and regulations that encourage diversity in the seed systems used by farmers, rather than pushing farmers to switch to commercial seed systems that focus on less diverse commodity crops - which is the norm.”&nbsp;



Commodity crops are those grown in large volume and high intensity for the purpose of sale, as opposed to those grown by small-holder farmers for direct processing and consumption.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“The study highlights emerging initiatives that are helping farmers to secure food supplies, such as participatory plant breeding,” says Teshome.&nbsp;



Participatory plant breeding is the development and selection of new crop varieties where the farmers are in control. Farmers, who know the needs of their farms best, work with researchers and others to improve crops and develop plant varieties that are in line with their household needs and culture, and that are resilient to environmental and climate challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Farmers prefer and need different types of seeds, based on diverse social, cultural and ecological conditions,” says study co-author Sarah Paule Dalle.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“A seed system that only serves a segment of a farming society contributes to seed insecurity. For example, commercial seed systems deliver high-yielding varieties of quality hybrid seeds. Whilst wealthy farmers can afford such seeds, poor farmers can’t," explains Teshome.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Similarly, whilst commercial seed systems that focus on commodity crops may benefit men who might primarily be interested in market value, such systems have little to offer women who want crops that provide household nutrition and meet their cultural preferences.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“This means poor farmers and women do not have the same access to seeds that meet their needs. The result is seed, and thus food, insecurity due to social and economic inequality.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Over the past few decades, political and economic factors have contributed to the globalization of food systems, including seed systems. As the researchers point out, "seeds have become big business."&nbsp;



The article cites studies which reveal that the four largest multinational companies in seed trade currently control approximately 60 percent of the global commercial seed market, worth around 50 billion USD. These large private actors hold considerable power, enabling them to shape markets as well as influence scientific research, innovation agendas, and policy frameworks.



However, the researchers argue that this concentration of power can lead to problems, particularly when private sector research and development tend to focus on the most profitable crops, such as maize and soy. As a result, crops that are primarily grown and consumed by subsistence farmers are often overlooked.&nbsp;



Consequently, the potential of crop diversity, which serves as the foundation of agriculture, remains largely underutilized. Technologies that could help develop more robust crop varieties, and thus contribute to food security, are not fully explored or realized.



Crop diversity encompasses both the variety of crops themselves and the different varieties within a particular crop. The Global Crop Diversity Trust, one of the world's foremost international organizations focused on crop diversity conservation, maintains that securing and making available the world's crop diversity is crucial for future food and nutrition security.



Benjamin Kilian, a plant genetics expert at the Global Crop Diversity Trust, elaborates on the importance of crop diversity, stating, “Plant breeders and scientists use crop diversity to develop new, more resilient and productive varieties that consumers want to eat, that are nutritious and tasty, and that are adapted to local preferences, environments and challenges.”&nbsp;



The Crop Trust collaborates with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences on the Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihoods and Development (BOLD) project, which serves as the basis for this study. Coordinated by Kilian, the BOLD project aims to support the conservation and utilization of crop diversity in order to strengthen global food and nutrition security. The project is built upon the Crop Wild Relatives project and receives funding from the Norwegian government.



Dalle expresses optimism about the potential for seed system development to benefit small-holder farmers: “We hope so, if we make the right moves to include small-holder farmers in seed system development.” He emphasizes that a well-functioning seed system should be resilient, capable of withstanding shocks such as droughts or pandemics, as well as breakdowns or disruptions caused by war and conflict.



Dalle further explains that in order to achieve this resiliency, seed systems should promote a diversity of seeds, encompassing both local varieties and those improved to better adapt to stressors. Additionally, the involvement of diverse groups of people, including farmer cooperatives/groups and both public and private companies, is essential to increase the choice of seeds and seed sources. He cites the example of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which "farmers’ own seed systems enabled access to seeds in developing countries when the activities of private companies and agro-dealers were restricted."



“Our study highlights links between the crucial work of the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the farmers on the frontline of adapting our food systems to climate change," says Westengen. "It is an argument for co-designing seed system development in full cooperation with farmers and other actors in the seed system.”&nbsp;



By collaborating with various stakeholders, efforts can be tailored to meet the needs of different groups of farmers in diverse agroecological contexts. Westengen emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. "If there is one natural law in biology, it is that diversity is key to future evolution. That also goes for seed systems - and food system development.”



As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, conflict, and social inequality, a thorough examination of seed systems and their role in food security is crucial. By understanding the intricacies of seed systems and working towards improvements, we can increase the chances of achieving the ambitious goal of Zero Hunger by 2030.



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Seed systems will play a key role in future food security 

As the world's population grows, concerns over food security have...

Planetary scientists at <a href="https://wustl.edu/">Washington University in St. Louis</a>, Paul Byrne and Rebecca Hahn, have compiled the most comprehensive map of all volcanic edifices on Venus, with a database of 85,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/volcanoes-were-the-key-driver-of-earths-mass-extinctions/">volcanoes</a> using radar imagery from NASA’s Magellan mission. According to the experts, this is a critical breakthrough in the understanding of the volcanic properties of the planet.



“This paper provides the most comprehensive map of all volcanic edifices on Venus ever compiled. It provides researchers with an enormously valuable database for understanding volcanism on that planet - a key planetary process, but for Venus is something about which we know very little, even though it’s a world about the same size as our own,” said Byrne.



The new database will enable scientists to think about where to search for evidence of recent geological activity, either by trawling through the decades-old Magellan data or by analyzing future data and comparing it with Magellan data.&nbsp;



The study includes detailed analyses of where volcanoes are, where and how they’re clustered, and how their spatial distributions compare with geophysical properties of the planet such as crustal thickness. According to Hahn, the volcano dataset is hosted at Washington University and is publicly available for other scientists to use.&nbsp;



“We’ve already heard from colleagues that they’ve downloaded the data and are starting to analyze it - which is exactly what we want,” said Byrne. “Other people will come up with questions we haven’t, about volcano shape, size, distribution, timing of activity in different parts of the planet, you name it. I’m excited to see what they can figure out with the new database!”



The scientists found relatively fewer volcanoes in the 20-100 km diameter range, which they believe may be a function of magma availability and eruption rate.&nbsp;



The experts also wanted to take a closer look at smaller volcanoes on Venus - those less than three miles across that have been overlooked by previous volcano hunters. Hahn says that they represent about 99 percent of her dataset. “We looked at their distribution using different spatial statistics to figure out whether the volcanoes are clustered around other structures on Venus, or if they’re grouped in certain areas."



Although there are volcanoes across almost the entire surface of Venus, Hahn believes there are hundreds of thousands of additional geologic features that have some volcanic properties lurking on the surface of Venus, too small to be picked up.



“A volcano one kilometer in diameter in the Magellan data would be seven pixels across, which is really hard to see,” explained Hahn. “But with improved resolution, we could be able to resolve those structures.”&nbsp;



Future missions to Venus in the 2030s by NASA and the European Space Agency are set to acquire high-resolution radar images of the surface that will help scientists search for these smaller volcanoes.



“This is one of the most exciting discoveries we’ve made for Venus - with data that are decades old! But there are still a huge number of questions we have for Venus that we can’t answer, for which we have to get into the clouds and onto the surface. We’re just getting started,” said Byrne.



The study is published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023JE007753">Journal of Geophysical Research Planets</a>.



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Volcanoes cover nearly the entire surface of Venus

Planetary scientists at Washington University in St. Louis, Paul Byrne...

A survey of body sizes of Earth’s organisms conducted by <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a> has found that, although life may be found in all shapes and sizes, the most extreme sizes are predominant in nature. The research shows that our planet’s biomass – the material making up all living organisms – is concentrated at either end of the size spectrum.



“This conclusion – that life on Earth comes packaged predominantly in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-smallest-animals-extinction/">largest and smallest sizes</a> – was a discovery that surprised us,” said study co-author Malin Pinsky, an associate professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at Rutgers.



“Sometimes it seems like mosquitoes or flies or ants must run the world, and yet, when we did the numbers, we found that our world is dominated by the microbes and the trees. These are the silent partners that recycle the nutrients and replenish the air all around us.”



Over a period of five years, the researchers compiled and analyzed data about the size and biomass of each type of living organism on our planet, ranging from unicellular organisms such as soil archaea and bacteria to large organisms like blue whales or sequoia trees. The analysis revealed that the pattern favoring either large or small organisms can be found in all types of species, although it seems to be more pronounced in land-based organisms.



“The largest body sizes appear across multiple species groups, and their maximum body sizes are all within a relatively narrow range,” said lead author Eden Tekwa, a research associate at <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University</a>, who conducted the study during a fellowship at Rutgers.



“Trees, grasses, underground fungi, mangroves, corals, fish, and marine mammals all have similar maximum body sizes. This might suggest that there is a universal upper size limit due to ecological, evolutionary, or biophysical limitations.” According to Tekwa, humans belong to the size comprising the highest biomass, which is a relatively large body size.



"Body size is a fundamental feature of life, governing everything from metabolic rates to birth rates and generation times. Cataloging which body sizes are most common is a key step towards understanding the world around us,” Pinsky concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283020">PLoS ONE</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Largest and smallest sizes are dominant in nature

A survey of body sizes of Earth’s organisms conducted by...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

Italian Peninsula at night is breathtaking! Today’s Image of the Day comes thanks to the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> and features a look at the Italian Peninsula at night. The cluster of lights on the left side of the image is the city of <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/nighttime-naples-italy/">Naples</a>, while the center cluster is Bari and the right cluster is Brindisi. To the south are the cities of Palermo and Catania.

Italian Peninsula at Night

Island of Crete measures roughly 161 miles in length and 37 miles at its widest point. It is the largest and most populated of all the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/athens-greece/">Greek</a> islands. Today’s Image of the Day comes thanks to the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> and features a look at the island of Crete, Greece and the Mediterranean Sea. Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands.