Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the North Island of New Zealand. The photo was captured as the International Space Station (ISS) approached the southernmost extent of its prograde 51.6 degree orbit.&nbsp;



From this vantage point - and with the perfect weather conditions - astronauts can get a clear view of the North Island of New Zealand, according&nbsp; to ESA.



"Looking towards the northwest, the astronaut photographer captured the mottled-green island that separates the Tasman Sea from the South Pacific Ocean. On the other side of Cook Strait, South Island peeks out from beneath the cloud cover," reports ESA.



"Seven bays surround the North Island and define its distinctive shape. The inland landscape includes grasslands (lighter green areas), forests (darker green areas), volcanic plateaus, and mountain ranges formed from sedimentary rocks."



Lake Taupō, located in the center of the North Island, is a crater lake inside a caldera formed by a supervolcanic eruption. The lake borders the active volcano Mount Ruapehu, which has the highest peak in New Zealand.&nbsp;



"The volcanic nature of the island arises from its location on the tectonic plate boundary between the Indo-Australian and Pacific Plates," says ESA. "This plate boundary is part of the vast Pacific Ring of Fire, and leads to significant geothermal activity and earthquakes in the region. Additional volcanoes, including Egmont Volcano (Mount Taranaki), also dot the North Island landscape."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



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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

New Zealand’s North Island

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features the North Island of New Zealand. The photo was captured as the International Space Station (ISS) approached the southernmost extent of its prograde 51.6 degree orbit.&nbsp; From this vantage point - and with the perfect weather conditions - astronauts can get a clear view of the North Island of New Zealand, according&nbsp; to ESA. "Looking towards the northwest, the astronaut photographer captured the mottled-green island that separates the Tasman Sea from the South...

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features an astronaut view of Lake Achit in western Mongolia.



"A dusting of snow covers much of this rugged and remote landscape," says NASA. "Darker forested zones appear along the floodplain of the major river in the area, the Khovd. The large dark area leading down to the frozen lake is the combined delta of two local rivers."



"The area is sparsely populated, with only a few signs of settlement such as the straight lines of unpaved roads. The only village in the scene is Khovd Bag, which is almost invisible under snow cover."



The image was captured on February 7, 2022 by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



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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 Achit in western Mongolia

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> captures an impressive display of natural and man-made landmarks where the Netherlands meets the North Sea.



The man-made infrastructure was designed to help protect the low-lying country from rising sea levels, while the natural wetlands serve as a biodiversity hotspot.



The world’s largest system of unbroken mud flats, the Wadden Sea, supports 10,000 species of plants and animals, including harbor seals and Eurasian spoonbills.&nbsp;The sea extends&nbsp;along the coasts of Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.



According to NASA, the Wadden Sea provides a critical resting and feeding place for millions of birds as they make their yearly migration along the East Atlantic Flyway.&nbsp; 



The coastline of the Netherlands consists of sandy beaches and estuaries of long rivers. The country was dealing with sea-level rise and river flooding long before global warming became an issue for the rest of the world. 



Due to a dense population, along with intensive use of the sea and area surrounding it, there have been various environmental issues affecting the sea's ecosystems. Adverse environmental issues in the Netherlands – such as overfishing and dumping – have led to a number of efforts to prevent degradation.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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

The Netherlands and the North Sea

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

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features an astronaut photograph of Neeltje Jans, an artificial island just off the coast of the Zeeland province of The Netherlands.



According to NASA, the island is part of a network of land reclamation and coastal protection projects that is helping about nine million people adapt to living below sea level.



"The Eastern Scheldt tidal basin was Zeeland’s only barrier to the North Sea during a massive coastal flood in 1953, when a storm surge destroyed 138,000 hectares (340,000 acres) of land. The historic event inspired the Delta Plan, an engineering project to protect The Netherlands from future storm surges and coastal erosion through a series of artificial islands and dams," says NASA.



"In 1957, the construction of Neeltje Jans began. The artificial island was eventually connected to the Peilerdam and the Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier; together they reduced the inflow of water to the basin during storm surges and extreme high tides."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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

The artificial island of Neeltje Jans

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features part of the Altai Mountains of central Asia. The photo was captured by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station (ISS).



"In this photo, the late afternoon sunlight casts long shadows onto surrounding snow-covered plains in Mongolia," says NASA. "The shadows project the general shapes of the mountains, their heights relative to each other, and some details of the ridge crests. Several peaks in this range rise to elevations greater than 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) above sea level; they stand approximately 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) above the plains."



"The flat plains were formed by sediment that was carried down by the rivers flowing out of the mountains; these are known as alluvial fans. Water from these rivers ultimately flows into Lake Uvs (just outside the right margin of the image), a saline, endorheic lake in this semi-arid region."



Water from the mountain rivers usually flows underground through the alluvial fans. When the water comes to the surface, it forms a line of springs that is visible from space, explains NASA.



"This spring water also supplies local populations. One of the darker patches along the spring line is the town of Ulaangom (population 31,000), the capital of the Uvs province of Mongolia."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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

Shadows surround the mountains of western Mongolia

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Capitol Reef National Park, located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country.



"It was named instead for two geologic features: the prominent white domes of Navajo Sandstone, which reminded early settlers of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.; and a formidable ridge of rocky cliffs that presented a barrier to travel," explains NASA.



"The settlers (some likely traveling in prairie schooners) likened it to the maritime navigational hazard of an ocean reef."



The ridge, which is known as Waterpocket Fold, runs north to south for 90 miles. Waterpocket Fold is a monocline, a a step-like fold in rock layers that have been folded up or down on one side.&nbsp;



"Between 75 million and 35 million years ago, the tectonic forces that uplifted the Rocky Mountains also buckled older rocks below Capitol Reef," reports NASA. "The rock layers above did not break, but bent, like a tablecloth draped over a table edge. The bend in this drape forms the Waterpocket Fold. More recently, rains, flash floods, and freeze-thaw cycles have eroded and sculpted the cliffs, canyons, bridges, and domes into what we see today."



"Capitol Reef tells a geologic story of hundreds of millions of years of deposition, uplift, and erosion - punctuated by episodes of volcanism and glaciation. The park boasts a nearly complete series of rock layers spanning from the late Permian Period (about 290 million years ago) to the end of the Mesozoic Era (66 million years ago). Deposited along and in a shallow sea and ancient delta, these rocks hold a nearly continuous record of life and environments here from before the rise of the dinosaurs through their demise."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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

Capitol Reef National Park in south-central Utah

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a wintry scene on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in January of 2020. The photo, which was captured by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station (ISS), is focused on two frozen glacial lakes near the Himalayan mountain range.&nbsp;



Lake Puma Yumco and Yamdrok Lake are located northeast of Mount Everest. According to NASA, these are just two of the many glacial lakes across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which spans approximately 965,000 square miles.&nbsp;



The Tibetan Plateau is one of Earth’s highest points, and often referred to as the “roof of the world.”



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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

Frozen glacial lakes on the Tibetan Plateau

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea, which is home to three large volcanoes: Mount Balbi, Mount Bagana, and the Mount Takuan volcanic complex. Mount Bagana is currently active, and recent lava flows are visible in the photograph.



"Since Bagana was first viewed by scientists in the 1840s, it has been erupting nearly nonstop. The remote volcano extrudes thick, blocky, slow-moving andesitic lavas. These have built the stratovolcano to a height of 1,850 meters (6,000 feet) above sea level," says NASA..



"The large, symmetrical cone formed in 300 to 500 years, making it one of the youngest and most active volcanoes in the South Pacific. Lava descends the flanks on all sides of the volcano, forming lobes up to 50 meters (165 feet) thick. A small lava dome is sometimes observed near the summit."



According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, Bagana has been in an eruptive period since February of 2000. The image was captured on May 28, 2022 by the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/ Joshua Stevens



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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

Mount Bagana in Papua New Guinea

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a massive ash plume rising from the most active volcano in Ecuador, the Sangay volcano.



According to NASA, the month of November brought a new round of explosions, volcanic tremors, and gas and emissions to Sangay.



"In the early part of the month, the steep-sided, glacier-covered Sangay volcano also coughed up ash," says NASA. "On a day when the volcanic plume was particularly straight due to southeasterly winds, the Landsat 8 satellite captured this image despite some afternoon cloud cover."



The Ecuadoran Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School (IG-EPN) reports that ash and gas plumes from Sangay were observed daily from November 1-8.&nbsp;



'Plumes generally rose to a height of 1.8 kilometers (1.2 miles) during that period, though they also reported one plume being lofted as high as 8.3 kilometers on November 4, 2022," says NASA.



"The activity has caused minor to moderate amounts of ash to fall in several nearby cities including Riobamba, Guamote, Colta, Alausí, Pallatanga, Chambo, and Chunchi. According to news reports, ash fell on at least 1,824 hectares (7 square miles) of crops, affecting thousands of farmers and ranchers."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



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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

The Sangay volcano is ejecting huge amounts of ash

Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features an astronaut view of South Island, New Zealand in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The island is breathtakingly beautiful and full of adventure, with golden beaches, rainforests, majestic mountains, lakes, and glaciers.&nbsp;



The Southern Alps run along the entire length of the island. Stretching hundreds of kilometers across South Island, the mountains contrast with the surrounding landscape.



Aoraki Mount Cook is the highest peak in the mountain range, which rises approximately 3,750 meters (12,300 feet) above sea level.&nbsp;



According to ESA, the mountains and their foothills on the west side experience frequent rain and snowfall year-round, while the downwind (east side) of these peaks have a more arid climate and many cloud-free days.



"South Island is also marked by the Alpine Fault, the major surface expression of the boundary between the Indo-Australian and the Pacific tectonic plates," reports ESA.



"The central section of the fault runs the length of South Island. As the plates progressively converge, the Southern Alps should continue to rise skyward over time."



The image was captured by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station (ISS).



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

South Island, New Zealand in the southwest Pacific

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

In a new study led by the <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/">Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies</a>, researchers have found that nitrogen-fixing trees experience more herbivory than other trees in tropical forests. By selectively feeding on these particular trees, insects and other animals reduce nitrogen availability, which can limit forest growth. 



"Recent observations suggest that the large carbon sink in mature and recovering forests may be strongly limited by nitrogen," wrote the study authors.&nbsp; "Nitrogen-fixing trees (fixers) in symbiosis with bacteria provide the main natural source of new nitrogen to tropical forests."



"However, abundances of fixers are tightly constrained, highlighting the fundamental unanswered question of what limits new nitrogen entering tropical ecosystems. Here we examine whether herbivory by animals is responsible for limiting symbiotic nitrogen fixation in tropical forests."



With the help of soil microbes, nitrogen-fixing trees transform nitrogen gas into a type of nitrogen that plants can use for growth. In some tropical forests, nitrogen-fixing trees are the primary provider of new nitrogen, yet these trees are rare. 



“Tree growth in many tropical forests is limited by lack of nitrogen," said study co-author Sarah Batterman. "Given the substantial benefit of nitrogen to these forests, it has long been a mystery why nitrogen-fixing trees represent just 5-15% of trees. We suspected that herbivores might be preferentially targeting fixers due to their nutritious, nitrogen-rich leaves.”&nbsp;



In a field experiment in Panama, the team analyzed leaves from 23 fixer species and 20 non-fixer species. The researchers found that overall, fixers experienced 26 percent more herbivory than non-fixers. The leaves of fixers were attacked 21 percent more than those of non-fixers.



“Our findings suggest that nitrogen-fixers bear higher herbivory costs than non-fixers, and that herbivory may be substantial enough to limit the success of nitrogen-fixing trees and their ability to alleviate nitrogen deficits in tropical soils. This has management implications for the species mixes used in reforestation efforts," said study lead author Will Barker from the University of Leeds.



“Mature and recovering tropical forests are a large and important carbon sink, yet this sink is weakening due to climate change and potential limitation by nitrogen," said Batterman. "The widespread cost of herbivory for nitrogen-fixers should be incorporated in climate change models as a constraint on symbiotic nitrogen fixation and future tropical forest growth.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05502-6">Nature</a>.



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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



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Herbivores limit tropical forest growth by reducing nitrogen

In a new study led by the Cary Institute of...

The practice of yoga originated in ancient India thousands of years ago with the aim to control and still the mind. Today it is known to have benefits in terms of mental, physical and spiritual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supplements-for-heart-health-should-address-individual-needs/">health</a>, and is part of a regular exercise program for millions of people around the world. Its benefits include improvements in muscle strength, flexibility, energy levels and mood, but it has not often been thought of as helpful for cardiovascular health – people are usually advised to engage in vigorous aerobic exercise to improve this aspect of their wellbeing.



However, as yoga’s popularity has increased, the body of research into its benefits has grown and it has become more apparent that yoga may indeed benefit people in terms of their heart health. In one of the latest scientific studies, published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2022.09.019">Canadian Journal of Cardiology</a>, researchers have conducted a three-month pilot study to determine whether patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) benefit from the inclusion of yoga exercises in their regular exercise program.



“The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether the addition of yoga to a regular exercise training regimen reduces cardiovascular risk,” explained lead investigator Dr. Paul Poirier of Laval University, Quebec, Canada.&nbsp;



“While there is some evidence that yoga interventions and exercise have equal and/or superior cardiovascular outcomes, there is considerable variability in yoga types, components, frequency, session length, duration, and intensity. We sought to apply a rigorous scientific approach to identify cardiovascular risk factors for which yoga is beneficial for at-risk patients, and ways it could be applied in a healthcare setting such as a primary prevention program."



The researchers recruited 60 participants who had been diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure) and metabolic syndrome, and placed them in an exercise program for three months. All participants took part in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise training five times a week. In addition, the participants were randomly assigned to a group that included 15 minutes of yoga along with the aerobic training, or to a group that did 15 minutes of stretching exercises as well as the aerobic training.&nbsp;



Various data were collected from the participants at the start, and during the period of the study. Their blood pressure, anthropometry (body proportions), and levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), glucose and lipids were measured.&nbsp; In addition, the Framingham and Reynolds Risk Scores were measured as a way of estimating each participant’s risk of experiencing a heart attack within the next 10 years. At the start of the program, there was no difference between the yoga and the stretching group in terms of age, sex, smoking rates, body mass index (BMI), resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate and pulse pressure.



After the three-month intervention, all participants showed a decrease in resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate. However, while systolic blood pressure was reduced by an average of 10 mmHg in the yoga group, it was only an average of 4 mmHg lower in the group that did structured stretching exercises. Participants in the yoga group also showed reduced resting heart rates and a reduction in their 10-year cardiovascular risk, as assessed using the Reynold's Risk score.



These results add to the scientific evidence supporting the positive health benefits of yoga practice. Although previous studies have shown that hypertensive patients who do yoga experience a lowering of blood pressure, the exact mechanism underlying this positive effect is not fully understood. This pilot randomized study shows that yoga’s benefits cannot be attributed simply to the stretching component alone.



“This study provides evidence for an additional non-pharmacologic therapy option for cardiovascular risk reduction and blood pressure control in patients with high blood pressure, in the setting of a primary prevention exercise program,” noted Dr. Poirier. “As observed in several studies, we recommend that patients try to find exercise and stress relief for the management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in whatever form they find most appealing. Our study shows that structured yoga practices can be a healthier addition to aerobic exercise than simply muscle stretching.”



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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

Yoga, together with regular exercise, improves heart health

The practice of yoga originated in ancient India thousands of...

Ankylosaurs were massive, armored <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-nasal-passages-cool/">dinosaurs</a> with huge tail clubs and spikes along their flanks. A new study published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0404">Biology Letters</a>has provided evidence that a species of ankylosaurs called Zuul crurivastator may have used their iconic tail clubs not only in fights with the fierce predator Tyrannosaur Rex, but also in battles for social and territorial dominance with members of their own species.



The scientists examined the fossils of a 76-million-year-old Zuul and discovered that a number of spikes near the hips on both side of the body were missing their tips, while the bone and horny sheath has healed into a blunter shape. The patterns of these injuries suggest that they were most likely the result of some type of ritualized combat, or jousting with their tail clubs, and probably were not caused by an attacking predator such as a T. Rex.



“I’ve been interested in how ankylosaurs used their tail clubs for years and this is a really exciting new piece of the puzzle,” said study lead author Victoria Arbour, the curator of Palaeontology at the <a href="https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/">Royal BC Museum</a> in Canada. “We know that ankylosaurs could use their tail clubs to deliver very strong blows to an opponent, but most people thought they were using their tail clubs to fight predators. Instead, ankylosaurs like&nbsp;Zuul&nbsp;may have been fighting each other.”



Zuul’s tail was about three meters long and had sharp spikes running along its sides, creating a formidable sledgehammer-like weapon. In fact, Zuul crurivastator means “Zuul, the destroyer of shins,” a nod to the idea that tail clubs were used to smash the legs of bipedal tyrannosaurs. Although the new findings do not refute the idea that these tails could have been employed as defense mechanisms against predators, they suggest that they could also have functioned for within-species combat for dominance, territory, or mates.



“The fact that the skin and armor are preserved in place is like a snapshot of how&nbsp;Zuul&nbsp;looked when it was alive. And the injuries&nbsp;Zuul&nbsp;sustained during its lifetime tell us about how it may have behaved and interacted with other animals in its ancient environment,” concluded senior author David Evans, the curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the <a href="https://www.rom.on.ca/en">Royal Ontario Museum</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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Ankylosaurs used their tail clubs to battle each other

Ankylosaurs were massive, armored dinosaurs with huge tail clubs and...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-amounts-of-alcohol-have-big-impacts-on-brain-health/">Alcohol</a> and tobacco use are linked to approximately 15 percent and five percent of global deaths, respectively, and are major causal factors in the development of chronic conditions such as cancer or heart disease. Although the environment and culture can significantly affect a person’s likelihood to use and become addicted to these substances, genetics is also a critical contributing factor.&nbsp;



Now, a research team led by the <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a> has conducted a large genetic study of data from more than 3.4 million people, and identified over 2,300 genes predicting alcohol and tobacco use. According to the experts, the majority of these genes were similar among people with European, African, American, and Asian ancestries.



While previous studies identified around 400 genes associated with certain alcohol and tobacco use behaviors, the analyses were solely focused on people with European ancestries.&nbsp;



“We’ve now identified more than 1,900 additional genes that are associated with alcohol and tobacco use behaviors,” said study corresponding author Daijing Liu, a professor of Public Health at Penn State. “A fifth of the samples used in our analysis were from non-European ancestries, which increases the relevance of these findings to a diverse population.”



The scientists included genetic datasets from people of African, East Asian, and American ancestries and evaluated various smoking and alcohol-consumption traits, ranging from the initiation of drinking or smoking to the onset of regular use and the amount consumed. Then, by using machine learning techniques, they identified genes which were associated with these behaviors.&nbsp;



The analyses revealed a striking similarity in the genes related to alcohol or tobacco consumption between different ancestries, with 80 percent of the variants showing consistent effects across the studied populations.



Afterwards, the researchers used AI models to develop a genetic risk score which could identify people at risk for certain tobacco and alcohol use behaviors. However, despite the similarity of genetic effects, the computer model developed using data from individuals of European ancestry could only accurately predict such behaviors for people of European ancestry, suggesting the need to develop more sophisticated prediction methods by increasing sample sizes from non-European ancestries.



“It is promising to see that the same genes are associated with addictive behaviors across ancestries,” said Liu. “Having more robust and diverse data will help us develop predictive risk factor tools that can be applied to all populations.” According to him, within two to three years, these genetic risk scores could be refined and become part of routine care protocols for people already identified through basic screening to be at increased risk of alcohol or tobacco addiction.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05477-4">Nature</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



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

More than 2,300 genes can predict alcohol use

Alcohol and tobacco use are linked to approximately 15 percent...

A team of scientists from <a href="https://www.hudsoncarbon.com/">Hudson Carbon</a> – a research center based in New York which studies carbon storage – <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pharmaceutical-companies-could-lose-billions-to-cannabis/">cannabis</a> plants could be the missing player in humanity’s fight against climate change, as hemp can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere more than twice as effectively as trees. The experts found that, while trees can capture about six tons of CO2 per year, hemp can suck up to 16 tons. Moreover, CO2 also becomes permanently encased within hemp fibers, which can be used in a variety of products, ranging from textiles and car parts to medicine.



Although the United States only accounts for about five percent of the global population, it is responsible for 28 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. “Roughly speaking, if [the US] did 50 million acres of hemp, we would be sequestering a couple hundred million tons of carbon per year on that acreage,” said Ben Dobson, the founder and president of Hudson Carbon.



Hemp is considered a highly purifying plant, pulling toxins from the air and permanently trapping them within its fibers. Moreover, since it absorbs carbon from the air as it grows, it is a so-called “carbon-negative crop.” Other benefits of hemp include the fact that it is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, reaching four meters in height in only 100 days, while needing significantly less amounts of water to cultivate it.



Besides purifying the air of greenhouse gases, cannabis plants can also absorb carcinogenic heavy metals such as mercury, lead, or cadmium from soils – elements which, although are suitable for crops used for food, are highly dangerous for people who consume these plants.



Thus, since carbon emissions are one of the leading causes of climate change, cultivating more hemp for the purpose of soaking up this damaging gas from the atmosphere is essential for avoiding a climate catastrophe.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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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



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

Cannabis plants could help fight climate change

A team of scientists from Hudson Carbon – a research...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video 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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...