Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features Ksudach, a remarkable volcanic complex located on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.



“The peninsula is one of the world’s most active volcanic arcs due to tectonic plate movement, with the Pacific Plate subducting under the Eurasian Plate,” noted <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153779/ksudachs-nested-calderas-and-craters" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-explosive-eruptions-of-ksudach">Explosive eruptions of Ksudach</h2>



Ksudach is classified as a shield <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-camera-helps-scientists-forecast-volcanic-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcano</a> due to the gentle slopes formed by its extensive lava flows. The combination of its shield-like structure and the prominent caldera system makes Ksudach a unique volcanic feature on the Kamchatka Peninsula.



“Several overlapping calderas and craters comprise the volcano. Calderas are large, bowl-shaped depressions created by the collapse of overlying material into an emptied subsurface magma chamber,” explained NASA.



“Craters are circular depressions created by volcanic activity, surface impacts, or explosions.”



This volcanic system has a fascinating geological history shaped by multiple explosive eruptions.&nbsp;



The most significant of these occurred around 240 AD, leaving behind a prominent caldera that now hosts scenic crater lakes, such as Lake Ksudach. 



“Lakes within the volcanic region are primarily recharged by rain and snowmelt from the winter season. This photo shows the water’s contrasting blue hues surrounded by green vegetation,” noted NASA.



“Traces of snow fill valleys within and outside the volcano’s caldera complex. These snow-covered areas highlight the drainage patterns from higher to lower elevations. Water that flows through these erosional pathways and into the caldera supports its vegetation and lakes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-landscape-of-ksudach-nbsp">Unique landscape of Ksudach&nbsp;</h2>



Ksudach's landscape also features pyroclastic deposits, lava flows, and hydrothermal features like fumaroles.&nbsp;



The surrounding environment - which is part of the UNESCO-listed Kamchatka Volcanoes - supports a diverse ecosystem with unique wildlife. 



Despite its remote location, Ksudach has drawn the attention of geologists, offering insights into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/underwater-volcanic-eruptions-are-more-harmful-than-previously-believed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanic processes</a> and the dynamics of caldera formation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dynamic-nature-of-earth-s-geology-nbsp">Dynamic nature of Earth's geology&nbsp;</h2>



The most well-documented eruption of Ksudach occurred in March 1907. This eruption ranks as one of the largest in Kamchatka in the 20th century, with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 5.



The eruption produced a colossal ash column that soared into the stratosphere, dispersing fine particles over vast distances and contributing to global atmospheric changes.&nbsp;



The sheer force of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/icelands-volcanic-eruptions-may-continue-for-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eruption</a> unleashed pyroclastic flows - fast-moving avalanches of hot gas, ash, and volcanic debris - that raced down the volcano's slopes, obliterating everything in their path.&nbsp;



These flows, capable of reaching temperatures over 1,000°C, decimated vegetation and altered the topography of the surrounding region.&nbsp;



Simultaneously, tephra deposits blanketed the landscape in layers of thick volcanic material, smothering ecosystems and creating a barren wasteland.&nbsp;



Today, Ksudach is considered an active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/axial-seamount-large-underwater-volcano-off-us-coast-will-likely-erupt-in-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcano</a> but remains dormant. The region is closely monitored due to its potential for renewed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-research-enhances-predictions-on-volcanic-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">activity</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pacific-ring-of-fire-nbsp">Pacific Ring of Fire&nbsp;</h2>



The Kamchatka Peninsula lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped zone encircling the Pacific Ocean where tectonic activity is highly concentrated.&nbsp;



This geologically dynamic area features numerous volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, and frequent seismic activity - making it a hotspot for both natural beauty and scientific study. 



Kamchatka is home to over 160 volcanoes, with about 30 considered active, including Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest and one of the most active in the region.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volcanic-activity-nbsp">Volcanic activity&nbsp;</h3>



As the Pacific Plate dives into the Earth's mantle, it melts and generates magma that feeds Kamchatka’s volcanic systems.&nbsp;



This ongoing tectonic interaction also contributes to the broader activity of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which accounts for approximately 75% of the world's active and dormant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supervolcano-italy-solfatara-crater-phlegraean-fields-shows-signs-of-waking-up/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanoes</a> and about 90% of its earthquakes.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-significance-nbsp">Broader significance&nbsp;</h3>



Beyond its geological significance, the Kamchatka Peninsula boasts a diverse ecosystem that is home to animals such as snow sheep, brown bears, red foxes, and unique plants that are adapted to its harsh environment. 



The coastal waters surrounding the peninsula support various fish species, including abundant salmon, as well as sea lions and killer whales.



The interplay of volcanic landscapes and pristine wilderness makes it a natural laboratory for understanding Earth's dynamic processes.



The image was captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Ksudach: A volcano shaped by explosive forces

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features Ksudach, a remarkable volcanic complex located on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. “The peninsula is one of the world’s most active volcanic arcs due to tectonic plate movement, with the Pacific Plate subducting under the Eurasian Plate,” noted NASA. Explosive eruptions of Ksudach Ksudach is classified as a shield volcano due to the gentle slopes formed by its extensive lava flows. The combination of its shield-like structure and the prominent caldera system makes Ksudach a...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the spiral galaxy NGC 5643, which is located roughly 40 million light-years away in the constellation Lupus.&nbsp;



NGC 5643 belongs to the Hubble classification SBc, indicating that it is a barred spiral galaxy with loosely wound arms.&nbsp;



Its orientation, nearly face-on to Earth, provides astronomers with an exceptional view of its detailed spiral structure and central bar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ngc-5643-a-grand-design-spiral-nbsp">NGC 5643: A grand design spiral&nbsp;</h2>



“NGC 5643 is what’s known as a grand design spiral, referring to how the galaxy’s two large, winding spiral arms are clear to see,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">ESA</a>. “The spiral arms are defined by bright blue stars, lacy reddish-brown dust clouds and pink star-forming regions.”



“As fascinating as the galaxy appears at visible wavelengths, some of NGC 5643’s most interesting features are invisible to the human eye.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-intense-activity-in-ngc-5643">Intense activity in NGC 5643</h2>



This galaxy is notable for its Seyfert 2 nucleus, a type of active galactic nucleus (AGN). The intense activity in its core is powered by a supermassive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/awakening-of-a-black-hole-witnessed-for-the-first-time/">black hole</a> that accretes surrounding material, emitting energy across a wide range of wavelengths.&nbsp;



“When a supermassive black hole ensnares gas from its surroundings, the gas collects in a disc that heats up to hundreds of thousands of degrees. The superheated gas shines brightly across the electromagnetic spectrum, but especially at X-ray wavelengths,” said ESA.



Observations have revealed jets and outflows of material emanating from the nucleus, likely driven by the black hole’s activity.&nbsp;



NGC 5643’s AGN has been studied extensively for its role in galactic evolution, particularly in how its energetic processes interact with the galaxy’s interstellar medium.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mystery-of-ngc-5643-x-1">The mystery of NGC 5643 X-1</h2>



ESA pointed out that NGC 5643’s active galactic nucleus isn’t the brightest source of X-rays in the galaxy. 



“Researchers using ESA’s XMM-Newton discovered an even brighter X-ray-emitting object, called NGC 5643 X-1, on the galaxy’s outskirts. What could be a more powerful source of X-rays than a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-black-holes-become-supermassive/">supermassive black hole</a>?”&nbsp;



“Surprisingly, the answer appears to be a much smaller black hole! While the exact identity of NGC 5643 X-1 is not yet known, evidence points to a black hole that is about 30 times more massive than the Sun.”&nbsp;



“Locked in an orbital dance with a companion star, the black hole ensnares gas from its stellar companion, creating a superheated disc that outshines the galactic center,” said ESA.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-star-formation-in-ngc-5643">Star formation in NGC 5643</h2>



NGC 5643 also exhibits prominent regions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">star formation</a> within its spiral arms. These areas are rich in gas and dust - the raw materials for birthing new stars - and glow brightly in ultraviolet and infrared light.&nbsp;



Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) have helped uncover the complex interplay between star formation and the galaxy's central activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extended-ionized-gas-regions-nbsp">Extended ionized gas regions&nbsp;</h2>



A defining feature of NGC 5643 is the presence of its extended ionized gas regions, which are shaped by the galaxy's AGN activity and star-forming regions.&nbsp;



These structures have been mapped through optical spectroscopy, revealing intricate patterns that help astronomers understand the physical conditions of the gas, such as density, temperature, and composition.



The galaxy also has a dust lane that crosses its nucleus, partially obscuring direct observations of the central region in visible light.&nbsp;



Overall, NGC 5643 offers a fascinating glimpse into the dynamics of barred <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-mesmerizing-beauty-of-spiral-galaxies/">spiral galaxies</a> with active nuclei, serving as a valuable resource for studying the interactions between supermassive black holes, star formation, and galactic evolution.



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



Lupus is a constellation located in the southern sky, its name meaning "wolf" in Latin. It has been known since antiquity and was cataloged by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy.&nbsp;



Once part of the larger constellation Centaurus, Lupus was later recognized as a distinct constellation. It is relatively faint but holds historical significance in mythology, often associated with a sacrificial wolf in ancient stories.



Lupus is bordered by other constellations like Scorpius, Centaurus, and Libra. Its stars do not form a particularly striking pattern, but it contains a variety of interesting astronomical features. Among them are numerous double stars, globular clusters, and other deep-sky objects, visible through telescopes.&nbsp;



For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, Lupus is best seen in the winter and spring months, while it appears closer to the horizon for those in northern latitudes.



This constellation also lies along the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-at-the-edge-of-our-milky-way-galaxy-travel-more-slowly/">Milky Way</a>, offering a rich field of stars and nebulae for stargazers. Despite its modest brightness, Lupus holds a special place in the science of astronomy.



Image Credit: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope



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Secrets of a spiraling galactic powerhouse

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

It appears that Niihau holds a special place in the hearts of the islanders, too – even those who have left. Wehi Kaaumoana, who moved away from Niihau in his 20s, told HuffPost in 2016, “Life is good over there. Everything you need is there. You can go to the beach, and you’ll have only footprints on the beach. It’s beautiful there.” Photo Credit: midway512 / YouTube

Islanders Love It

It appears that Niihau holds a special place in the...

Photographer at sunset with island of Niihau in background.

And Robinson seems to concur with this assessment of the island. When pleading for lawmakers to protect Niihau in 2013, he said, according to Hawaii News Now, “[There’s] a feeling of inner peace and renewal that we don’t understand in the outside world. The Western culture has lost it, and the rest of the islands have lost it. The only place it’s left is on Niihau.” Photo Credit: Photo by Matthew Micah Wright / Getty Images

Niihau Is Preserved

And Robinson seems to concur with this assessment of the...

As you make your way through the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, you turn a corner and see something that makes you stop dead in your tracks. Nestled among the oppressive concrete jungle is an old farmhouse that looks like it belongs in a whole different world. You do a double-take, wondering if you’ve stepped into a time machine and somehow arrived back in the 1700s. And when you get closer to take a peek inside, you realize it’s not just the exterior that’s eerily frozen in time. Photo Credit: Dyckman Farmhouse

Inside The Oldest Farmhouse In Manhattan

As you make your way through the hustle and bustle...

To say that this farmhouse stands out like a sore thumb would be an understatement! It sits in the Inwood area of Manhattan on Broadway and 204th Street. Looming over it are what look to be high-rise apartment blocks or offices, and traffic whizzes by on the busy road out front. Photo Credit: Instagram/dyckmanfarmhouse

Out of place

To say that this farmhouse stands out like a sore...

Some might say this farmhouse looks a little out of place. And that’s hardly a surprise given that it was constructed back in 1784. But the property has held its ground for over 230 years — even as the modern world has claimed every inch of space around it. Who would have thought that something like this could still be found in a major city today? And especially in New York. Photo Credit: Facebook/Dyckman Farmhouse Museum

Standing for over two centuries

Some might say this farmhouse looks a little out of...

If the walls of this farmhouse could speak, we bet they’d have some pretty incredible stories to tell. It was built by the Dyckman clan, who left their home in the Netherlands back in the 17th century to make a new life for themselves in America. And the family settled in the country for roughly a decade before building their humble abode.

Built by Dutch immigrants

If the walls of this farmhouse could speak, we bet...

Before deciding on what is now Manhattan, the family lived in a different part of New York. By all accounts, they enjoyed living there. And if tragedy hadn’t have struck, then they probably wouldn’t have had to relocate downtown. Photo Credit: Frank Cousins/NYPL Digital Collections

Tied to a historical event

Before deciding on what is now Manhattan, the family lived...

An expert on the family’s history revealed what happened to the Mail Online back in March 2018. This person was Meredith Horsford, who oversees the everyday operations of the farmhouse as an executive director. The historic property now serves as a museum, you see. Photo Credit: Facebook/Dyckman Farmhouse Museum

Modern-day museum

An expert on the family’s history revealed what happened to...

Flat,Lay,Composition,With,Tasty,Maple,Syrup,And,Dry,Leaves

Sweet treats come with strings attached. Added sugar pushes blood pressure higher, drives visceral fat, and nudges blood glucose past healthy limits. For most people, swapping table sugar for something less taxing could be a small shift with outsized benefits.



A new study suggests that the switch might already be sitting on the breakfast table. 



Researchers looked at what happens when adults trade two tablespoons of refined sugar for an equal amount of pure maple syrup, and the results point to improvements in several early warning signs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/strawberries-promote-cardiometabolic-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiometabolic</a> trouble.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sugar-has-invaded-our-lives">Sugar has invaded our lives</h2>



Americans swallow about 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day, roughly two to three times the <a href="https://www.heart.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Heart Association</a>’s recommended cap for men and women. 



Health guidelines urge keeping added sugars below ten percent of daily calories and, ideally, closer to six percent for better heart health.



Cutting back is easier when the replacement tastes familiar. Maple syrup fits the bill but offers more than sweetness. 



Scientists have cataloged more than 67 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-polyphenols-promote-heart-health-youthful-skin-and-a-healthy-waistline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polyphenols</a> in the amber liquid alongside minerals, vitamins, and amino acids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maple-syrup-vs-sugar-the-test">Maple syrup vs. sugar - the test</h2>



The latest work, led by Dr. André Marette at Laval University’s <a href="https://www.iucpq.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quebec Heart and Lung Institute</a> and Dr. Marie-Claude Vohl at the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (<a href="https://www.inaf.ulaval.ca/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">INAF</a>), enrolled 42 volunteers aged 18 to 75 with body mass index values between 23 and 40. 



Each person replaced five percent of daily calories - about two tablespoons - with either Canadian maple syrup or a flavored sucrose syrup for eight weeks. After a four-week washout, the groups switched syrups so every participant served as their own control.



“We know from decades of research that maple syrup is more than just sugar. It contains over 100 natural compounds, including polyphenols, that are known to prevent disease in part through their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-with-milk-has-powerful-anti-inflammatory-properties/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anti-inflammatory effects</a>,” remarked Dr. Marette. 



Because the fundamental chemistry of maple syrup is unique, they wondered if ingesting maple syrup instead of an equivalent amount of refined sugar would differently impact cardiometabolic health and the intestinal microbiota in humans. 



According to Dr. Marette, "The results were extremely encouraging. I did not expect to see so many improvements of risk factors within a relatively short treatment period.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-shifts-in-key-markers">Surprising shifts in key markers</h2>



After eight weeks on maple syrup, participants handled an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meal-time-has-a-major-influence-on-our-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oral glucose</a> tolerance test far better than when they consumed the sucrose syrup, showing a change of -50.59 versus +29.93. 



Systolic blood pressure edged down by -2.72 millimeters of mercury, while it crept up +0.87 millimeters on the sucrose phase. 



Android fat mass - deep abdominal fat linked to heart disease - dropped -7.83 grams on maple syrup but rose +67.61 grams with refined sugar.



“Both individually and collectively, the study findings are quite significant. The combined decrease of such key risk factors may help to reduce the risk of diabetes and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-century-of-progress-in-the-fight-against-cardiovascular-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>," Dr. Marette enthused. 



"Making a commitment to lifestyle changes and small adjustments to our everyday diets is important and can be a powerful tool in preventing future diseases.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-maple-syrup-is-different">Why maple syrup is different</h2>



Blood tests were only half the story. Stool samples showed fewer Klebsiella species and Bacteroides pectinophilus - microbes tied to inflammation - after maple syrup consumption. 



At the same time, Lactocaseibacillus casei and Clostridium beijerinckii flourished. These shifts hint that maple’s natural compounds may influence metabolism partly through the gut.



Pure maple syrup brings trace nutrients along for the ride. 



Two tablespoons supply about 35 percent of a day’s manganese, 15 percent of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/low-carb-diets-have-more-nutritional-value-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">riboflavin</a>, eight percent of copper, and small but measurable amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/amaranth-seeds-rich-in-calcium-and-iron-prevents-tumors-and-keeps-bones-strong/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">calcium</a>, thiamin, and potassium, all while carrying roughly twelve percent fewer calories than light corn syrup. 



Refined sugar, in contrast, arrives stripped of such extras.



“With each new study, we learn more about the benefits that natural products from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-plant-species-show-great-promise-in-fight-against-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medicinal plants</a> and functional foods, like maple syrup, provide,” noted Dr. Navindra Seeram. 



“The promising results of this first human trial provide more reasons to educate consumers about maple syrup’s many health benefits. It is truly a ‘smarter sweetener’ and a healthier alternative to refined sugar.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-maple-syrup-data-is-needed">More maple syrup data is needed</h2>



The sample size was modest, and the trial lasted just eight weeks. Even so, the consistency across multiple risk factors stands out.



“While this study was limited to a relatively small sample size (42 men and women) and took place during a relatively short period, the results are still significant,” Dr. Marette remarked. 



“We now have human evidence to support replacing refined sugars with maple syrup, a natural sweetener, for preventing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/christensenella-minuta-gut-bacteria-linked-obesity-different-men-women/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolic diseases</a>."



The scientists' next goal is to conduct larger studies with other populations to explore how replacing refined sugars with maple syrup might impact their unique health conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-make-the-swap">How to make the swap</h2>



Swapping maple syrup for sugar in your diet is as simple as it sounds.



“Before the study, I would consume pure maple products regularly but not consistently," one study participant shared. 



"I have always enjoyed it. Today my routine is to replace refined sugars with two tablespoons of pure Canadian maple syrup daily."



Small swaps add up. Cutting just two tablespoons of refined sugar trims roughly 96 calories and more than 24 grams of straight sucrose.



By choosing pure maple syrup in place of refined sugar, you enact a modest dietary change backed by evidence of healthier glucose responses, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-foods-might-work-like-medicines-to-lower-blood-pressure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lower blood pressure</a>, diminished visceral fat, and a more favorable gut microbiome.



While larger studies will refine these insights, the present trial already encourages individuals, clinicians, and food producers to rethink sweetening habits and embrace this nutrient-rich natural syrup as a wiser everyday indulgence.



For anyone edging toward metabolic trouble, that simple switch may be one easy step toward better numbers at the next check-up.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://jn.nutrition.org/article/S0022-3166(24)00465-6/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Nutrition</a>.



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Nutritionists reveal the surprising health benefits of maple syrup, including less belly fat

Sweet treats come with strings attached. Added sugar pushes blood...

The Colorado River has been carving its way through northern Arizona for millions of years, but what really stops people in their tracks are the rocks of the Tonto Group in the Grand Canyon walls themselves. 



From the rim you can trace ribbons of color stacked like oversized bar codes, each band a silent witness to oceans, deserts, and rivers that vanished long ago. 



Hidden near the base of that stack lies the Cambrian-age Tonto Group, a set of rocks famous for holding clues to the burst of new life forms that reshaped Earth more than half a billion years ago.



Those rocks sit center stage in a fresh study that revisits a textbook idea about how the canyon’s oldest <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/a-beginners-guide-to-types-of-rock-igneous-sedimentary-and-metamorhpic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sedimentary layers</a> came to be. 



The work brings sharper timelines, a faster tempo, and a far livelier mix of environments than geologists first imagined in the mid-20th century. It also shows how much a familiar landscape can still teach us about how our planet works.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tonto-group-of-the-grand-canyon">Tonto Group of the Grand Canyon</h2>



In 1945, Grand Canyon <a href="https://rock.geosociety.org/net/gsatoday/archive/9/11/pdf/i1052-5173-9-11-18.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">geologist Edwin McKee</a> proposed that a single, steady rise in sea level turned a flat North American shoreline into a shallow sea. 



He pictured beach sands grading into deeper-water muds, then limy seafloor deposits, all in one long, mostly uninterrupted sweep. 



New measurements across more than 50 canyon sites reveal a different tale. Instead of one grand advance, the shoreline surged forward at least five separate times, leaving sandstone, shale, and limestone in tight, back-and-forth sequences that piled up in just a few million years.



“The Tonto Group of Grand Canyon holds a treasure trove of sedimentary layers and fossils chronicling the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cambrian-fossils-reveal-new-clues-about-arthropod-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambrian Explosion</a> some 500 million years ago, when the first animals with hard shells rapidly proliferated and sea levels rose to envelop continents with emerging marine life,” said Carol Dehler, a professor at <a href="https://www.usu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah State University</a>. 



Her team’s mapping shows that some sand bodies were laid down by rivers or wind, while limestone long tagged as deep-water may have formed in sunlit tidal flats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-model-of-the-tonto-group">New model of the Tonto Group</h2>



“Our new model for the deposition of the Tonto Group is much more nuanced, showing a mixture of marine and non-marine settings, breaks or unconformities when no sediment was being deposited, and a much faster tempo of evolution,” said Karl Karlstrom of the <a href="https://www.unm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of New Mexico</a>. 



That nuanced view comes from pairing rock textures with fossil lineups - especially trilobites, the armadillo-like icons of early animal life. 



Each pulse of shoreline advance coincides with distinct trilobite communities, turning the strata into a biological calendar as well as a geological one.



“Our findings are a reminder that science is a process,” added <a href="https://www.dmns.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Museum</a> paleontologist James Hagadorn. 



By matching rock packages across the canyon, researchers reconstructed a series of shifting rivers, lagoons, storm-swept shoals, and shallow seas - hardly the monotonous bathtub envisioned 80 years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trilobites-and-evolutionary-rhythms">Trilobites and evolutionary rhythms</h2>



To capture the tempo of change, geochronologist Mark Schmitz and colleagues ground samples of sandstone to isolate microscopic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mantle-heat-shaped-earths-crust-3-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">zircon crystals</a>. 



“Our new tandem U-Pb dating methods are refining precise ages for each layer in the succession and for the transitions between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gigoutella-mauretanica-best-preserved-trilobite-fossils-ever-found/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trilobite biozones</a>,” said Schmitz. “We are finding that different trilobite species radiated, then went extinct at a very fast, sub-million-year tempo.” 



That speed challenges older views that Cambrian evolution lumbered along slowly; instead, life seems to have sprinted, paused, then sprinted again in rhythm with rising and falling seas.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/grand-canyon_cambrian-rocks_Tonto-Group-timeline_credit-University-NM_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/grand-canyon_cambrian-rocks_Tonto-Group-timeline_credit-University-NM_1s.webp" alt="Paleogeographic maps and key trilobites of representative Tonto Group landscapes. Gray lines represent Cenozoic faults, which are labeled on lowest diagram and may have been active during Cambrian time: GW—Grand Wash; H— Hurricane; M—Monument; B—Butte. Credit: University of New Mexico" class="wp-image-1972890"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Paleogeographic maps and key trilobites of representative Tonto Group landscapes. Gray lines represent Cenozoic faults, which are labeled on lowest diagram and may have been active during Cambrian time: GW—Grand Wash; H— Hurricane; M—Monument; B—Butte. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of New Mexico</figcaption></figure>



“Sedimentary rocks are hard to date,” said Laurie Crossey. “But the deposition of the sediment and the fossils entombed within it must be younger than the age of the youngest grain, so, with many dates, we can bracket sedimentary ages.” 



By combining those brackets with fossil counts, the team stitched together a timeline showing entire faunal turnovers unfolding in less than 800,000 years - a geological blink.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-the-tonto-group-matter">Why does the Tonto Group matter?</h2>



To sum it all up, the 500-meter-thick (1,640 feet) layers of the Tonto Group hold extraordinary clues about Earth’s ancient climate. 



They reveal a time when sea levels surged and tropical storms - likely even more intense than today’s fiercest hurricanes - swept across a world without land plants. 



During this ice-free era of extreme heat, oceans flooded vast swaths of the continents, laying down sediments like those in the Tonto Group. 



These shallow, warm marine environments helped spark a dramatic burst in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-diversity-is-driven-by-global-precipitation-patterns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal diversity</a> across the planet.



That perspective resonates as modern seas creep higher and storms grow fiercer. The updated Grand Canyon model reminds us that coastlines can shift in rapid, stepwise jumps rather than smooth climbs, reshaping habitats in short order. 



It also highlights how new tools - high-precision dating, computer cross-sections, and old-fashioned fossil hunting - can breathe new life into rocks studied for generations.



The canyon’s colored bands may still look like even stripes. Yet just beneath the surface lies a story of swift change, biological innovation, and the relentless push-and-pull between land and sea - one that scientists are only now beginning to read in full.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.geosociety.org/GSA/Publications/GSA_Today/GSA/GSAToday/science/G604A/article.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GSA Today</a>.



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New discovery at the Grand Canyon has rewritten geology textbooks

The Colorado River has been carving its way through northern...

A large-scale study spanning seven years and 11 wildlife reserves in South Africa has revealed that removing the horns of rhinos can significantly reduce poaching.



The research is the first of its kind to assess the real-world effectiveness of dehorning in curbing illegal killings of one of the world’s most endangered animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rhino-poaching-plunges">Rhino poaching plunges</h2>



Between 2017 and 2023, scientists and reserve managers tracked the poaching of nearly 2,000 rhinos in the Greater Kruger region, which is home to roughly 25% of all African rhinos. During this period, teams dehorned more than 2,200 rhinos across eight of the reserves.



“Dehorning rhinos to reduce incentives for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/red-colobus-monkeys-are-threatened-by-poachers-in-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poaching</a> was found to achieve a 78% reduction in poaching using just 1.2% of the overall rhino protection budget,” said lead author Tim Kuiper, a scientist at the <a href="https://www.mandela.ac.za/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nelson Mandela University</a>. Kuiper also pointed out that 2,284 rhinos were dehorned across eight reserves. 



The researchers compared reserves with and without dehorning, and assessed poaching levels before and after dehorning started.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-cost-effective-strategy"><a></a>A cost-effective strategy</h2>



The team documented the poaching of 1,985 rhinos, about 6.5% of the population annually, across 11 Greater Kruger reserves over seven years. "This landscape is a critical global stronghold that conserves around 25% of all Africa’s rhinos,” Kuiper said.



The financial impact was also evaluated. Between 2017 and 2021, the reserves spent roughly $74 million on a variety of anti-poaching efforts. That included everything from helicopter patrols, ranger teams, and detection cameras. 



However, the study found no statistical evidence that these traditional enforcement methods had a measurable effect on reducing poaching incidents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-rising-challenge-of-poaching">The rising challenge of poaching </h2>



While dehorning rhinos reduced poaching significantly, it did not eliminate it entirely. The study noted that some poachers continued to target dehorned animals for their horn stumps and regrowth.



In fact, evidence from 2024 and 2025, collected after the study period, suggests that this challenge may be increasing. The researchers also warned that poachers could shift their attention to populations that still have intact <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/horned-dinosaur-species-lokiceratops-rangiformis-is-largest-most-ornate-ever-found/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">horns</a>.



Moreover, systemic issues such as poverty and corruption can undermine even the best anti-poaching strategies.



“Finally, ineffective criminal justice systems mean that arrested offenders often escape punishment, with evidence from our study area of multiple repeat offenders,” Kuiper said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-helps-save-rhinos">Science helps save rhinos</h2>



The study stands out for its close collaboration between researchers and conservation practitioners.



The <a href="https://gkepf.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation</a> (GKEPF), a collective of reserve managers operating on the front lines of rhino protection, started the initiative.



KEPF convened workshops, gathered data, and worked with scientists from the <a href="https://www.uct.ac.za/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cape Town</a>, Nelson Mandela University, <a href="https://www.sun.ac.za/english" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stellenbosch University</a>, and the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a>.



Sharon Hausmann, CEO of GKEPF, described the partnership as a model for evidence-based conservation.



“The true value of this innovative study, conceived by GKEPF operational managers, lies in its collective critical thinking - ensuring not only that operations are guided by science, but also that science is grounded in real experience from the frontline,” she said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-money-matters">Conservation money matters</h2>



One of the study’s most important contributions guides how conservation funding might be better allocated. 



“From a donor perspective this study has given excellent insight where conservation donor funding can be spent and where to avoid funding,” said co-author Markus Hofmeyr from the <a href="https://rhinorecoveryfund.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rhino Recovery Fund</a>.



Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland from the University of Oxford, echoed that sentiment. “This collaboration is a brilliant example of how the effectiveness of conservation interventions can be assessed quantitatively, even in challenging and complex situations,” she said.



The study also underscored the importance of rigorous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-of-things-tech-will-transform-ocean-data-collection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data collection</a>. Professor Res Altwegg of the University of Cape Town, who supervised the statistical analysis, noted that it is important to check that conservation interventions work as intended and keep working that way.



“For me, this project has again highlighted the value of collecting detailed data, both on the interventions that were applied and the outcome. It’s such data that makes robust quantitative analyses possible," said Altwegg.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-turning-point-for-rhinos">A turning point for rhinos</h2>



Poaching remains the top threat to rhino survival. Despite years of enforcement efforts, criminal networks continue to exploit gaps in governance and enforcement. But this study offers hope - and a practical, data-backed approach - for turning the tide.



Dehorning rhinos, while not a perfect solution, may offer a powerful tool when integrated into a broader strategy that addresses the root causes of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-are-using-forensic-science-to-fight-wildlife-trafficking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife trafficking</a>.



As governments, NGOs, funders, and private reserves reconsider their conservation priorities, the evidence from Greater Kruger urges them to focus not just on what they’ve done, but on what works.



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The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado7490">Science</a>.

Dehorning rhinos significantly cuts down on poaching

A large-scale study spanning seven years and 11 wildlife reserves...

Tiny motors and humming generators may seem harmless against Antarctica’s sweeping silence, yet new evidence shows that the noise is reaching some of the continent’s most fragile refuges.



Recordings reveal that a single power unit over a mile away can pierce the natural hush of Ardley Island, an Antarctic sanctuary for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-sea-ice-makes-it-harder-for-seabirds-to-find-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seabirds</a> and seals. This discovery raises fears that steady human noise is already stressing its wildlife.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-listening-to-noise-in-antarctica">Listening to noise in Antarctica</h2>



An international team of researchers from the <a href="https://udelar.edu.uy/portal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of the Republic of Uruguay</a> (Udelar) and <a href="https://www.upf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pompeu Fabra University</a> (UPF) embarked on two summer field campaigns in 2022 and 2023 that measured the acoustic footprint of an energy generator stationed on the busy Fildes Peninsula.



One recorder sat 900 feet (300 meters) from the machine; another perched on Ardley Island itself, inside Antarctic Specially Protected Area 150. 



Hour-by-hour samples proved the generator’s low-frequency thrum was “clearly perceptible” inside the reserve, even when gusty winds muffled other distant sounds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-noise-from-human-activities">Noise from human activities </h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noise-pollution-is-increasingly-disrupting-whale-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Noise</a> from human activities can affect animals’ communication and social interaction, which is highly dependent on acoustic signals.



In penguin rookeries and seal haul-outs, calls carry instructions about mating, feeding, and danger. When a mechanical drone overlaps those pitches, parents may miss a chick’s plea, or a nervous adult may abandon a nest too often.



“Animals typically respond to noise exposure by altering their usual behavior, including changes in the type and frequency of vocalization and efficiency in foraging and responding to predators," said co-author Martín Rocamora, a scientist at UPF. "They may also develop hearing loss or increased levels of the stress hormone."



Field stations around Fildes use countless engines - generators, trucks, boats, aircraft - to keep science and logistics running.



Until now, most studies of Antarctic noise focused on ships disturbing whales at sea. Terrestrial soundscapes, however, have gained little scrutiny, even though colonies of gentoo, chinstrap, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/adelie-penguins-use-sea-ice-to-migrate-thousands-of-miles-each-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adélie penguins</a> depend on predictable auditory cues during the frantic austral summer breeding window.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-noise-stresses-birds-in-antarctica">Noise stresses birds in Antarctica </h2>



Each recorder captured five-minute clips every hour, day and night. Spectral analysis identified the generator by its distinctive low-frequency fingerprints and helped rule out other sources such as helicopters or quads. Researchers then compared these signals with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/powerful-antarctic-winds-speed-up-melting-of-doomsday-glacier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wind</a> readings.



They found that strong onshore gusts could dampen the noise, but calmer periods let it travel unbroken across sea ice and snow. Over time, the machine’s pulse became a near-constant layer beneath waves, katabatic winds, and bird chatter.



Although Ardley Island teems with several nemoral species, the study zeroed in on seabirds. The island supports roughly five percent of all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/penguins-are-threatened-by-mercury-contamination/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chinstrap penguins</a> in the South Shetlands and large numbers of southern giant petrels. Both species rely on short, discrete calls.



A background hum may not drown them outright, yet the overlap forces individuals to call louder or more often, draining energy and exposing nests to predators and cold.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-today-population-shifts-tomorrow"><a></a>Stress today, population shifts tomorrow?</h2>



The work stops short of documenting direct behavioral changes, but the authors argue that sustained exposure is a credible threat.



Chronic noise can mask alarm calls, hamper chick-feeding coordination, and raise baseline stress. Over successive seasons, such subtle costs may tip breeding success below replacement levels.



The scientists stress that further monitoring should link sound levels to on-site observations of bird and seal activity. Because the generator sits in one of Antarctica’s busiest research corridors, its acoustic reach likely mirrors dozens of similar installations across the continent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wind-as-a-possible-ally"><a></a>Wind as a possible ally</h2>



Wind shear above the ocean’s surface occasionally deflects the drone away from Ardley’s nesting crags. This natural buffer hints at practical mitigation: situating future generators behind ridges or erecting small acoustic baffles could slash sounds without hindering operations. Even switching to newer, quieter models would help.



The researchers emphasize the urgent need to raise awareness about how noise pollution affects Antarctic ecosystems and to incorporate measures addressing this issue into the management plans of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-hosts-more-plant-life-vegetation-than-scientists-survey-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic Specially Protected Areas</a> (ASPAs).



Current guidelines for protected areas emphasize limits on foot traffic, fuel spills, and invasive species, yet mention little about decibel thresholds.



Adding continuous acoustic monitoring to routine environmental checks could flag hotspots early and guide equipment placement before wildlife pays the price.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-unnecessary-noise-in-antarctica">Reducing unnecessary noise in Antarctica</h2>



Antarctica will never be utterly silent - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rapid-antarctic-sea-ice-loss-is-causing-severe-storms-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">storms</a>, ice quakes, and natural colonies produce their own orchestrated roar. But unnecessary human noises are avoidable.



Installing mufflers, clustering machinery farther from breeding sites, and timing heavy-lift flights outside peak nesting hours all lie within reach of today’s logistics teams. 



Each adjustment would preserve the continent’s rare acoustic commons and shield animals whose entire life cycles pivot on being heard.



Until comprehensive studies link generator drone to chick survival, researchers plan to expand their sensor network across other South Shetland islands.



The early evidence, though, is unambiguous: even in Earth’s last great wilderness, a single engine can speak louder than an entire penguin colony. Protecting the Antarctic soundscape may prove as crucial as guarding its ice and krill.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954125001268?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecological Informatics</a>.



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Human noise is disrupting wildlife in Antarctica

Tiny motors and humming generators may seem harmless against Antarctica’s...

DNA from nine prehistoric skeletons, dated as far back as about 9,000 years ago, shows that early inhabitants near the southern Cape Province of South Africa experienced minimal population changes over many millennia. 



The site, known as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/1411151a0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oakhurst rockshelter</a>, is located about 4 miles (6.4 km) from the coast near the city of George and contained numerous stone-age tools that archaeologists recognize as indicators of shifting cultural practices.



Researchers extracted and analyzed the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/ancient-dna" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient</a> DNA of individuals from different layers of the site to piece together their genetic profiles. 



According to lead investigator <a href="https://www.gea.mpg.de/publication-search/17874?person=%2Fpersons%2Fresource%2Fpersons240852" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Joscha Gretzinger</a> from the <a href="https://www.gea.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute</a> for Evolutionary Anthropology, these people displayed a shared genetic heritage that stayed relatively stable until around 1,300 years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-african-dna-patterns">South African DNA patterns</h2>



Archaeologists once assumed that outside groups had entered the region in multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-age-climate-shifts-changed-early-human-migration-patterns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migration waves</a>. That assumption has now been challenged by ancient South African DNA from the nine skeletons that span much of the <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/quaternary/holocene.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">holocene</a>, a geological epoch that began roughly 11,700 years ago. 



Each skeleton revealed a highly consistent genetic signature, a pattern that points to continuity across thousands of years.



Evidence of local cultural shifts, like changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-shows-early-humans-climbed-trees-and-worked-with-stone/">stone</a> tool styles, was long interpreted as proof of new arrivals. 



The new data suggest these changes were driven by people already in the region, who adapted and refined new technologies on their own. 



Researchers also noted that the skeletons had <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tooth-enamel-analysis-suggests-early-eurasians-were-multiple-species-paranthropus-robustus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">substantial genetic diversity</a>, hinting that they were part of a larger community that was not isolated.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pastoralism-and-farming">Pastoralism and farming</h2>



Scientists found that the biggest shift happened only about 1,300 years ago. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/pastoralism" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pastoralism</a> and farming emerged around that time and had a noticeable effect on the local gene pool.&nbsp;



Researchers link this to interactions with groups related to East African herders and Western African farmers. 



The outside influences arrived through a slow process, eventually mixing into the indigenous gene pool in the centuries that followed.



“Some southern San in South Africa still preserve this ancient, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-were-likely-the-leading-cause-of-megafauna-extinctions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pleistocene</a>-derived genetic signature,” noted Dr. Gretzinger.



Data show that modern groups such as the <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1545/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Khomani</a> and <a href="https://karoospace.co.za/karretjiemense-great-karoo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Karretjiemense</a> have direct connections to the prehistoric groups of Oakhurst. Ancestry from non-southern African populations entered later, partly through the rise of trade and European colonization.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-from-south-african-tools">DNA from South African tools</h2>



Archaeologists and geneticists have long debated whether the cultural changes seen in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stone-tools-in-south-africa-reveal-early-human-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stone tool record</a> of southern Africa reflected external migration.



This new analysis indicates a rare example of a population that changed its technology and social practices without massive outside genetic input. 



Researchers highlight the significance of this finding in understanding human adaptability and self-sufficient development.



Those who study archaeogenetics see a parallel with other parts of the world, where people adopted new practices without large-scale relocations of newcomers. 



The story at Oakhurst rockshelter stands out, however, for the sheer length of that stability and the delayed arrival of external gene flow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-from-modern-descendants">DNA from modern descendants</h2>



Many of today’s southern African communities show blended ancestries that mask their indigenous genetic backgrounds. 



Locals who identify as San or Khoe have the closest ties to ancient foragers, although non-African lineages are now common in many families. 



Scientists note that these patterns align with similar <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3556814/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">admixture</a> events throughout the broader region.



Recent historical upheavals and colonization spurred further genetic mixing in local populations. Despite these disruptions, the new DNA research shows that certain communities maintained direct links to the Oakhurst inhabitants. 



People from the southern parts of the country still share <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-inject-40000-year-old-neanderthal-dna-gli3-gene-into-mice-with-incredible-results/">strands</a> of DNA that trace to the rockshelter’s earliest occupants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prehistory-of-the-southern-cape">Prehistory of the southern Cape</h2>



The analysis centered on how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-tegu-lizard-discovered-in-florida-using-artificial-intelligence/">ancient</a> lines of descent persisted despite changes in tool kits and subsistence strategies. 



Researchers concluded that these local transformations were not driven by large outside groups. Radiocarbon tests confirmed the bones belonged to individuals from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shifts-in-earths-orbit-triggered-ancient-megadroughts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">early Holocene</a> into more recent periods.



Experts view this result as a valuable point of reference for anthropological inquiries. 



The southern Cape’s genetic stability contrasts with multiple upheavals <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2140" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">documented</a> in Europe and Asia around the same time. This sets the region apart as a place where technology and cultural identity developed from within.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connecting-the-dots">Connecting the dots</h2>



The investigators compared their results with <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aao6266" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> of other Stone Age hunter-gatherers. 



They discovered a shared feature: pockets of people in Africa often harbored ancient lineages that give a window into early human history. This underscores the region’s importance as a reservoir of deep genetic heritage.



The findings fit well with earlier <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1227721">research</a> that had hinted at long-standing diversity among these populations. 



Scientists have used advanced computational methods to estimate ancient shared segments of DNA, thus detecting links among individuals separated by thousands of years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-9-000-years-of-genetic-continuity">9,000 years of genetic continuity</h2>



The multi-disciplinary approach combined archaeology, genetics, and careful chronological records. 



The 9,000-year timeline of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-genetic-mutation-has-given-rise-to-a-new-blood-group-mal-system/">genetic</a> continuity highlights the success of local populations in adapting to changing climates and resources without major external inflows. 



That record contributes to a broader appreciation of how humans thrive in challenging environments.



Archaeologists and anthropologists plan to expand this work to other sites in southern Africa. They aim to see whether similar stability existed inland or in neighboring regions with different ecological settings. 



This research could fill more gaps in the area’s prehistory, illustrating how cultural evolution can occur mostly from within.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02532-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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DNA from 9,000-year-old skeletons disproves migratory waves theory from South Africa

DNA from nine prehistoric skeletons, dated as far back as...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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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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