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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Image Credit: European Southern Observatory&nbsp;



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Thousands of colors in the Sculptor Galaxy

Today's Image of the Day from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) features a stunning view of the Sculptor Galaxy, one of the brightest spiral galaxies visible from Earth. The ultra-detailed image, which was captured using ESO’s Very Large Telescope, reveals features in the Sculptor Galaxy that have never been seen before.&nbsp; ESO researcher Enrico Congiu led a new study on the Sculptor Galaxy that is published in the journal Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics.&nbsp; A galaxy-wide view of Sculptor&nbsp; The team observed the galaxy in...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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Glittering cluster is home to some of the oldest known stars

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

African,Elephant,,Loxodonta,Africana,,Bull,,Male,,Addo,Elephant,Park,,South

The African bush elephant is distributed across 37 African countries and inhabits forests, grasslands and woodlands, wetlands, and agricultural land. Since 2021, it has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is threatened foremost by habitat destruction, and in parts of its range also by poaching for meat and ivory.



Size – 24 ft Weight – 11 tons Life Span – 70 years

African Bush Elephant

The African bush elephant is distributed across 37 African countries...

Humpback,Whale,Swimming,On,A,Clear,Blue,Water

Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 16,000 km (9,900 mi) each year. They feed in polar waters and migrate to tropical or subtropical waters to breed and give birth. Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish.



Size – 48 to 62.5 ft Weight – 40 tons Lifespan – 45 to 50 years

Humpback Whale

Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales...

Lion's,Mane,Drifting,Underwater,In,The,Gulf,Of,St.lawrence

Lion's mane <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/lions-mane-jellyfish-cyanea-capillata/">jellyfish</a> are named for their showy, trailing tentacles reminiscent of a lion's mane. Lion's mane jellyfish remain mostly very near the surface, at no more than 20 m (66 ft) depth.



Size – 120 ft Weight – 0.2 Tons Life Span – 12 month

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

Lion's mane jellyfish are named for their showy, trailing tentacles...

A,Beautiful,Whale,Shark,Cruising,Near,Cancun

Whale shark mouths can contain over 300 rows of tiny teeth and 20 filter pads which it uses to filter feed. Unlike many other sharks, whale sharks' mouths are located at the front of the head rather than on the underside of the head.



Size – 18 to 32.8ft Weight – 20.6 tons Life Span – 70 years

Whale Shark

Whale shark mouths can contain over 300 rows of tiny...

An,Alligator,Is,A,Crocodilian,In,The,Genus,Alligator,Of

American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates. They play an important role as ecosystem engineers in wetland ecosystems through the creation of alligator holes, which provide both wet and dry habitats for other organisms.



Size – 10 to 15 ft Weight –1,000 pounds Lifespan – 35 to 50 years

American Alligator

American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles,...

Big,Specimen,Of,Madagascar,Crocodile,,Crocodylus,Niloticus,Madagascariensis,,Madagascar,Vakona

Nile crocodiles are opportunistic apex predators; a very aggressive crocodile, they are capable of taking almost any animal within their range. Their diet consists mostly of different species of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals.



Size – 16 ft Weight – 500 pounds Lifespan – 70 to 100 years

Nile Crocodile

Nile crocodiles are opportunistic apex predators; a very aggressive crocodile,...

Saltwater,Crocodile.,Crocodylus,Porosus

The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile and crocodilian known. The saltwater crocodile is a large and opportunistic hypercarnivorous apex predator. It ambushes most of its prey and then drowns or swallows it whole.



Size – 20ft Weight – 1 – 1.08 tons Life Span – 70 years

Saltwater Crocodile

The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile and crocodilian...

Humpback,Whale,Jump,In,Los,Organos,,Piura,,Peru.

North Atlantic right <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humpback-whale-reproduction-is-linked-to-krill-abundance/">whale</a>, also known as the northern right whale or black right whale, is readily distinguished from other cetaceans by the absence of a dorsal fin on its broad back, short, paddle-like pectoral flippers and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. 



Size – 50 ft Weight – 70 tons Lifespan – 70 years

North Atlantic right whale

North Atlantic right whale, also known as the northern right...

After flames tore across the Brazilian Pantanal in 2020, destroying over 11 million acres of forest and wetland, most would expect a drop in wildlife. But something strange happened in one remote stretch of this vast landscape - jaguars didn’t just survive. More showed up.



This patch of wetland, a 36,700-acre floodplain deep in the northern Pantanal, already held the highest concentration of jaguars ever recorded anywhere. Then came the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/">fires</a>.&nbsp;



As smoke settled and camera traps kept rolling, researchers were stunned to find not only that local jaguars stuck around, but their numbers actually grew. New jaguars had moved in.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-sanctuary-emerges">An unlikely sanctuary emerges</h2>



There are no roads or towns here. To get to the site, the researchers traveled five hours by boat, swatting through clouds of biting insects just to check their equipment. But the isolation appears to be part of its strength.



This stretch of wetland has been studied since 2014 by a team that includes researchers from <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a> and their partners in Brazil. The group has learned that jaguars here are different.&nbsp;



Jaguars in the Pantanal behave more like tolerant neighbors than rivals and have a surprising diet: they mainly hunt fish and caiman, the small alligator-like reptiles common in the area. This means less competition over land animals and fewer territorial disputes.



This behavior may help explain why the area could absorb so many newcomers without descending into chaos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-jaguar-survival">More than just jaguar survival</h2>



“Finding even more jaguars and other mammals in the study area following the 2020 wildfire and extreme drought suggests that it may serve as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-oasis-provided-refuge-for-plants-during-earths-worst-extinction-event/">climate refuge</a>, buffering the effects of extreme climate events,” said Charlotte Eriksson, a post-doctoral scholar who has worked on the project for years.



To understand the full picture, the researchers placed camera traps before, during, and after the fire. They also collected nearly 175 scat samples to analyze what the jaguars were eating. The results showed a striking pattern.



Jaguars that were living in the area before the fires continued to appear on camera afterward at about the same rate. They hadn’t fled or died out.&nbsp;



Instead, their numbers grew with the arrival of migrant jaguars - some possibly pushed out of their home territories by the fires or drought elsewhere. New cubs were also born in the area within a year of the disaster, further boosting the population.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-surprising-level-of-resilience-nbsp">A surprising level of resilience&nbsp;</h2>



The kind of resilience seen in the Pantanal is rare for big cats. Typically, large <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snow-leopards-the-carnivores-that-eat-plants/">carnivores</a> are solitary and territorial. Seeing them so concentrated, and so tolerant of one another, is highly unusual.&nbsp;



According to Eriksson, seeing a jaguar that often on camera would be similar to most frequently seeing a cougar or mountain lion on cameras in North America, instead of for example deer.



Eriksson said that whenever she got off the boat, she would see jaguar tracks. In fact, one of her cameras recorded a jaguar just seven minutes after she set it up.



“I have never been to a place where the presence of a large carnivore is so obvious,” said Eriksson.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-jaguar-survival">Beyond jaguar survival </h2>



The study didn’t just focus on jaguar survival. The researchers were also curious about how other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammal-evolution-kicked-off-with-daring-experiments/">mammals</a> responded to the fire and prolonged drought.&nbsp;



The team found that the richness and abundance of mammals increased over time. But here’s the twist: this trend started in 2018 - two years before the fires. That suggests drought, not fire, may have been the main factor driving changes in wildlife numbers.&nbsp;



Species seemed to move in or flourish as water patterns shifted, not necessarily in direct response to the flames. There also wasn’t a clear difference between burned and unburned camera sites in terms of species richness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jaguar-survival-after-the-fires">Jaguar survival after the fires</h2>



Still, fire did have some short-term effects. Right after the blaze, jaguar activity dropped, likely due to disturbance and smoke. But it rebounded quickly. Over time, the population didn’t just recover - it grew.



And through all this, the jaguars stuck to their unusual diet. Despite more mammals being around, they kept hunting aquatic prey, especially fish and caiman.&nbsp;



The researchers noted that their preference for wetland prey likely eases pressure on land animals, allowing more species to coexist in this space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fragile-edge-of-the-world">A fragile edge of the world</h2>



The Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/restored-wetlands-cut-carbon-fast-without-the-methane-problem/">wetland</a>, but that doesn’t mean it’s invincible. Even in protected zones like this one, climate pressures are mounting.&nbsp;



Extreme drought, record heat, and increased human activity all helped fuel the 2020 fires. The devastating outbreak was responsible for the estimated loss of 17 million vertebrates.



The study highlights how some landscapes - especially those with water, rich habitat, and limited human interference - may serve as essential <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-mammals-live-depends-more-on-climate-than-human-activities/">climate</a> refuges. These are places where animals can ride out the worst of a warming world.



But that doesn’t mean they’re safe. The researchers warned against assuming that what works here will work everywhere.&nbsp;



The Pantanal has unique protections and geography that make it special. Without careful planning and proactive fire management, even this rare refuge could be at risk.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70344">Global Change Biology</a>.



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Jaguars offer a glimpse of survival in a changing world

After flames tore across the Brazilian Pantanal in 2020, destroying...

In the search for life beyond Earth, few places are as intriguing as Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. It's the only spot in the solar system where there are lakes and seas on the surface - only they're not made of water. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-does-saturns-moon-titan-have-rivers-but-not-deltas-scientists-have-an-idea/">Titan's lakes</a> overflow with liquid methane and ethane, producing a cold, bizarre, and mysterious world. Scientists have been exploring if life could emerge in such conditions.



Now, a new study from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> offers a possible pathway for how tiny compartments called vesicles - which are critical in the early steps of cellular life - could naturally form in Titan’s frigid lakes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vesicles-in-titan-s-methane-lakes">Vesicles in Titan's methane lakes</h2>



On Earth, life as we know it began in water. That’s where molecules came together in structures, got organized, and began to carry out the most fundamental functions of living cells. One of the first moves in this direction was the creation of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesicle_(biology_and_chemistry)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vesicles</a>.



Vesicles are small sacs, like tiny bubbles, composed of molecules with one end that adores water and the other that shuns it. 



These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/micrometeorites-may-have-helped-create-life-billions-of-years-ago/">amphiphiles</a> arrange themselves spontaneously in the form of spheres in water, with the water-attracting parts pointing outward and the water-repelling parts safely inside.



Over time, some of these spheres developed a second outer layer, creating a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26871/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bilayer membrane</a>. This gave them the structure of a cell, able to enclose materials and protect them from the outside. 



But Titan isn’t <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-much-life-has-inhabited-earth-since-the-very-first-cell-scientists-found-out/">Earth</a>. There’s no liquid water. The chemistry and environment are entirely different.



That’s what makes this research so interesting. It suggests that vesicles might still form - just not in water. Instead, they could take shape in Titan’s methane and ethane-rich lakes through a different, but equally natural, process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-titan-is-a-moon-with-weather">Titan is a moon with weather</h2>



Titan isn’t just the biggest of <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/moons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn’s moons</a>. It’s also the only one with a thick atmosphere. The orange haze surrounding it is mostly nitrogen, but it also includes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/titans-weather-resembles-earths-but-runs-on-methane-instead-of-water/">methane</a>. 



This methane forms clouds, creates rainstorms, and carves rivers and lakes into the icy surface - just like water does on Earth.



NASA’s Cassini mission, which orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017, gave us our first real look at this weather system in action. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Titan-surface_Huygens-probe_33000-feet_NASA_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Titan-surface_Huygens-probe_33000-feet_NASA_1s.webp" alt="Huygens captured this aerial view of Titan from an altitude of 33,000 feet. Credit: ESA/NASA" class="wp-image-1978881"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Huygens captured this aerial view of Titan from an altitude of 33,000 feet. Click image to enlarge. Credit: ESA/NASA</figcaption></figure>



What it saw changed our understanding of Titan forever. The methane doesn’t just sit there - it moves through a full cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Along the way, it also fuels complex chemistry <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturns-moon-titan-has-a-mysterious-atmospheric-tilt/">in the atmosphere</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-organic-molecules-form-on-titan">Complex organic molecules form on Titan</h2>



Sunlight breaks down methane molecules, which then recombine into more complex organic molecules. Some scientists believe this chemistry could be similar to what happened on early Earth, long before life began. 



If we want to understand how life started here, Titan might be one of our best laboratories in the solar system.



The study focused on how vesicles might form under Titan-like conditions. Instead of relying on water, it looked at how droplets of liquid, tossed into the air by splashing methane raindrops, might mix with molecules coating the surface of lakes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-vesicles-in-titan-s-methane-lakes">Making vesicles in Titan's methane lakes</h2>



Imagine a small droplet being launched into the air, its surface covered with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/amphiphile" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphiphiles</a>. When it lands back on the lake - which is also covered with these molecules - the two layers meet. That contact forms a vesicle with a double-layered membrane, trapping the droplet inside.



Now imagine this happening over and over again, with thousands or millions of these vesicles forming, spreading, and even interacting. It’s not life - but it could be the kind of chemical structure that life starts from.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Titan_cell-vesicle-formation_organic-material_life-building-blocks_nasa_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Titan_cell-vesicle-formation_organic-material_life-building-blocks_nasa_1s.webp" alt="An artist’s concept of the proposed mechanism for vesicle formation on Titan. (1) Methane lakes and seas on Titan’s surface become coated with a film of amphiphiles. (2) Methane raindrops splash the lake surface. (3) Splashes create a mist of droplets coated in the same film. (4) Droplets settle back onto the lake and sink, becoming coated in a bilayer which becomes a vesicle. Credit: Christian Mayer (Universität Duisburg-Essen) and Conor Nixon (NASA Goddard)" class="wp-image-1978879"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An artist’s concept of the proposed mechanism for vesicle formation on Titan. (1) Methane lakes and seas on Titan’s surface become coated with a film of amphiphiles. (2) Methane raindrops splash the lake surface. (3) Splashes create a mist of droplets coated in the same film. (4) Droplets settle back onto the lake and sink, becoming coated in a bilayer which becomes a vesicle. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Christian Mayer (Universität Duisburg-Essen) and Conor Nixon (NASA Goddard)</figcaption></figure>



“The existence of any vesicles on Titan would demonstrate an increase in order and complexity, which are conditions necessary for the origin of life," said Conor Nixon from NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> in Greenbelt, Maryland.



"We’re excited about these new ideas because they can open up new directions in Titan research and may change how we search for life on Titan in the future.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-missions-to-titan">Future missions to Titan</h2>



Although this research is still theoretical, it’s a huge step towards thinking outside the box about what life could be like elsewhere. 



Titan’s lakes are not on the agenda for NASA’s next <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dragonfly-space-mission-saturn-moon-titan-gets-greenlight/">Dragonfly mission</a>, but the rotorcraft will investigate other areas of the surface. It'll fly between sites, gaining information on the composition of Titan, its atmosphere, and the possibility of habitability.



<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/dragonfly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dragonfly</a> will not have the equipment to directly detect vesicles, but its journey may serve to verify if Titan’s chemistry is suitable for them to exist.



If it does, we’ll be one step closer to answering one of the biggest questions of all: Are we alone, or can life begin in places completely unlike our own?



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-journal-of-astrobiology/article/proposed-mechanism-for-the-formation-of-protocelllike-structures-on-titan/F4093F34F6FD80380CEE909C37B2CECE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Astrobiology</a>.



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Study explains how living cells could form in methane lakes on Saturn's moon Titan

In the search for life beyond Earth, few places are...

When thinking about the future, optimists - people who generally expect positive outcomes - may actually share more than just hope. 



According to a new study from Kobe University, optimists’ brains behave in notably similar ways. Pessimists - those who generally expect negative outcomes or focus on worst-case scenarios - show much more variation in brain activity. 



This difference may explain why optimists are often seen as more sociable and better connected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-there-a-reason-for-the-similarities">Is there a reason for the similarities?</h2>



"Recent studies showed that the brains of people who occupy central social positions react to stimuli in similar ways," said psychologist Yanagisawa Kuniaki, from <a href="https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kobe University</a>, who led the research.



"So it may be that people who share a similar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-decisions-are-shaped-by-optimistic-and-pessimistic-neurons/">attitude</a> towards the future, too, truly envision it similarly in their brains and that this makes it easier for them to understand each other’s perspectives.” 



The team’s two-part study used advanced techniques to measure how individuals mentally simulate future events.



They combined representational similarity analysis and multidimensional scaling to visualize <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-brain-literally-changes-based-on-daily-activities-and-lifestyle/">brain patterns</a>. Optimism levels were assessed through standard personality tests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-merging-brain-scans-and-psychology">Merging brain scans and psychology</h2>



The study joins social psychology with cognitive neuroscience. Yanagisawa built a team to investigate what he called a neglected question. 



“The main reason why this question has remained untouched until now is that it exists in a gap between social psychology and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/an-optimistic-outlook-can-break-the-vicious-cycle-of-procrastination/">neuroscience</a>," he said. "However, the intersection of these two fields enabled us to open this black box."



Participants were asked to imagine future scenarios while undergoing fMRI scans. These scenarios included positive, neutral, negative, and death-related events. Scenarios were shown with either a self or partner perspective. 



This broad design helped reveal how differently brains reacted, depending on the type of future imagined and the emotional tone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-activity-of-optimists">Brain activity of optimists </h2>



The team observed something striking: optimists showed similar patterns of brain activity, especially in a region called the medial prefrontal cortex (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/medial-frontal-cortex" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MPFC</a>).



This region is linked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/science-of-self-deception-how-cheating-can-make-us-feel-smarter/">self-reflection </a>and imagining the future. Pessimists, in contrast, displayed highly varied brain responses. 



These observations matched the <a href="https://technologyandsociety.org/the-anna-karenina-principle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anna Karenina model</a>. Only pairs of highly optimistic individuals showed high neural similarity when imagining the future.



Across two separate studies, higher optimism scores consistently linked with greater closeness in brain activity. Visual models showed that optimists clustered together in a shared brain-space, while pessimists scattered widely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-optimists-are-literally-thinking-alike">Optimists are literally thinking alike</h2>



“What was most dramatic about this study is that the abstract notion of ‘thinking alike’ was literally made visible in the form of patterns of brain activity,” Yanagisawa noted.



But this similarity wasn't only about imagining any future. Optimists distinctly separated good from bad futures in their minds. 



Using a method called INDSCAL, the team found that optimists mentally pulled positive events away from negative ones more sharply than pessimists did.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-optimists-brains-buffer-negative-futures">Optimists' brains buffer negative futures</h2>



This suggests that more optimistic people perceive a clear distinction between good and bad futures in their brains. In other words, optimism does not involve positive reinterpretation of negative events. 



"Optimistic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-identify-the-simple-emotion-that-gives-life-meaning-and-its-not-happiness/">individuals</a> typically process negative scenarios in a more abstract and psychologically distant manner, thus mitigating the emotional impact of such scenarios,” Yanagisawa said.



This neural distancing helps keep bad events from hitting too hard. At the same time, optimists picture good futures more vividly and concretely. This double approach could be one reason for their emotional resilience.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thinking-alike-builds-connection">Thinking alike builds connection</h2>



The MPFC’s role in shaping optimism may also explain its link to social bonds. Previous research found that people in central social positions often have brain responses that echo each other. 



This shared processing likely strengthens group understanding. Yanagisawa’s study shows that the same applies to optimism. Optimists may literally “think alike,” making it easier to build trust and connection.



“The everyday feeling of ‘being on the same wavelength’ is not just a metaphor," Yanagisawa said.



"The brains of optimists may in a very physical sense share a common concept of the future. But this raises new questions. Is this shared mechanism something they are born with or is it woven in later, for example through experience and dialogue?” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-optimism-s-neural-roots-in-the-brain">Optimism’s neural roots in the brain</h2>



Yanagisawa hopes future research will explore whether this shared brain style is learned or innate. 



“I believe that elucidating the process by which this shared reality emerges is a step towards a society where people can communicate better,” he said.



By uncovering how optimism shapes brain activity, this work opens new paths to understanding social connection, emotional health, and cognitive style. It turns out that optimism is not just a mindset. It is a shared neural signature.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2511101122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Optimists share similar brain patterns - but what about pessimists?

When thinking about the future, optimists - people who generally...

Space changes people in surprising ways. One of the most puzzling shifts that astronauts have experience on long missions is blurry vision. 



Many found themselves needing stronger reading glasses the longer they stayed aboard the International Space Station. Researchers began to investigate and found a pattern. The astronauts' <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/eye/">eyes</a> were changing shape.



Optic discs - where the optic nerve connects to the eye - were swelling. Eventually, these symptoms were grouped under one name: Space-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome, or <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/reference/risk-of-spaceflight-associated-neuro-ocular-syndrome-sans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SANS</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microgravity-messes-with-astronaut-vision">Microgravity messes with astronaut vision</h2>



Scientists began digging deeper into what causes these eye problems. The key issue appears to be the effect of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microgravity-causes-big-problems-with-human-gene-expression/">microgravity</a>. 



In space, fluids in the body shift upward toward the head. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid don’t settle as they do on Earth. This headward fluid shift is now thought to be one of the main reasons behind SANS.



To test how this works, researchers launched the Thigh Cuff investigation. The study explores whether wearing snug cuffs around the upper thighs can redirect fluid away from the head. 



If effective, these cuffs could offer a simple, noninvasive way to prevent vision problems in space. And not just in orbit - this approach could also help patients on Earth who experience fluid buildup due to illness or extended bed rest.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eye-data-from-300-astronauts">Eye data from 300 astronauts</h2>



From 2015 through 2020, a project called Fluid Shifts documented how blood drains from the brain differently in space. 



Around the same time, the Vision Impairment and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-space-missions-in-microgravity-take-a-toll-on-astronauts-eyes/">Intracranial Pressure</a> (VIIP) study tested whether increased brain fluid pressure played a role in SANS.



To get answers, scientists used clinical eye exams - both with and without dilation - as well as imaging of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-retinal-cells-explain-complex-color-perception/">retina</a>, optic nerve, and surrounding blood vessels. 



Noninvasive scans helped measure the thickness of different eye structures. They also collected MRI data and surveyed nearly 300 astronauts about how their vision changed during missions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-astronaut-vision-issues">Understanding astronaut vision issues</h2>



In a paper published from this research, scientists noted that these tools have improved the understanding of SANS. They also discussed a new idea: a head-mounted virtual reality device that could someday assess SANS in real time using multiple types of data.



Another research group looked into the optic nerve sheath. They discovered that measuring its diameter might be a reliable way to track vision changes during space travel. 



The team also urged fellow scientists to standardize how these tests are done to make future studies easier to compare and repeat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-astronaut-s-unusual-vision-case">One astronaut’s unusual vision case</h2>



One study focused on a single <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronauts-can-survive-mars-space-journey-but-their-kidneys-will-be-permanently-damaged/">astronaut</a> who experienced more severe symptoms than most after a six-month mission. 



In this case, the symptoms began to improve mid-mission - possibly due to two factors: vitamin B supplements and a drop in cabin carbon dioxide levels after some crew members left the station.



“While a single case does not allow researchers to determine cause and effect, the magnitude of the improvements suggest this individual may be more affected by environmental conditions," said the researchers.



They noted that this may have been the first attempt to mitigate SANS with inflight B vitamin supplementation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-eye-tissue-softer-in-space">Is eye tissue softer in space?</h2>



Another study, SANSORI, which was led by the Canadian Space Agency, used <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554044/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Optical Coherence Tomography</a> to explore whether softer eye tissue might be part of the problem. On Earth, a loss of tissue stiffness is linked to aging and diseases like glaucoma or myopia.



Scientists found that long stays in space affected the stiffness of tissues around the eyeball. That change might help explain why eyes start to lose their shape during spaceflight. 



The results could also help doctors better understand vision problems in older adults here on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-mice-and-artificial-gravity">Genes, mice, and artificial gravity</h2>



Meanwhile, researchers in Japan ran the <a href="https://osdr.nasa.gov/bio/repo/data/payloads/MHU-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MHU-8</a> experiment. They looked at how space travel affects gene expression in mice. 



After the mice returned to Earth, the team found changes in their optic nerves and retinas. 



Interestingly, the experts also tested whether artificial gravity might reduce these changes - and it did. This raises the possibility of using rotating habitats or other tools to simulate gravity during future missions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-vision-in-space">Protecting vision in space</h2>



SANS is still being studied, but every experiment brings scientists closer to understanding how space affects the human body - and how to protect it. 



The hope is that one day, astronauts headed to the Moon or Mars won’t have to worry about vision loss. And the same discoveries may help people on Earth too.



Information for this article was obtained from a NASA <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/vision-changes-on-space-station/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press release</a>.



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Why astronauts get blurry vision in space

Space changes people in surprising ways. One of the most...

Recent archaeological discoveries challenge the idea that new technologies inevitably disrupt traditional ways of life. Japanese pots from the early rice farming period have preserved more than just traces of food. They hold memories of meals, choices, and cultural traditions.



Research from the University of York, the University of Cambridge, and Japan’s <a href="https://www.nabunken.go.jp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nara National Research Institute</a> reveals something striking. When rice farming spread from Korea to Japan 3,000 years ago, it did not immediately alter how people cooked or ate.



Cooking pot residue from early Japanese settlements tells a story of cultural resistance. Despite the introduction of rice and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bronze-age-people-abandoned-meat-for-millet-3500-years-ago/">millet</a>, fish-based meals stayed central to the Japanese diet. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rice-farming-in-japan">Rice farming in Japan</h2>



Rice farming arrived in Japan through contact with the Korean Peninsula. Migrants from Korea brought rice and millet together. But while rice became widespread over time, millet faded from Japanese meals. This puzzled researchers.



“Organic residue analysis has been crucial to our investigation into the earliest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ideas-traveled-farther-than-people-in-the-early-days-of-farming/">impacts</a> of rice and millet agriculture. It allows us to capture how these crops were actually used, offering a direct window into the culinary practices and crop interactions of early Japanese society," noted Dr. Jasmine Lundy from the <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of York</a>.



Seed impressions on pottery from the Final Jomon and Yayoi periods confirm both grains existed in Japan. Yet millet, a staple in Korean Bronze Age cuisine, rarely appeared in Japan’s food remains. Archaeologists wanted to understand why.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-japanese-people-chose-traditional-foods">Japanese people chose traditional foods</h2>



The absence of millet was not due to climate. Millet thrives in Japan’s environment, just as it does in Korea. 



“The absence of millet from Japanese food residues and human bones was a surprise to us, given that we knew both rice and millet had been introduced at this time,” said Professor Oliver Craig from the University of York.



“We know from isotope analysis of fats and oils in cooking pots that millet was a major part of the Korean diet, and continues to be eaten to this day, but it seemed that it made no impact on early Japanese cuisine."



“Environmental factors could be ruled out because we know that millet grows just as well in Japan as it does in Korea, so there was something else going on that provided a barrier to this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birth-of-farming-driven-by-humans/">crop</a> being adopted in Japanese cooking.”



This suggests social or culinary preferences shaped what foods were accepted. Even with Korean farming tools and pottery styles present in Japan, food habits stayed rooted in local customs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-stayed-the-main-food-in-japan">Fish stayed the main food in Japan</h2>



The team found that fish-based meals remained dominant, even as rice farming expanded. Cooking pots showed continued use for fish and wild foods. Few pots showed signs of cooking rice.



“There is evidence of Korean-style pottery and farming tools in Japan, but this didn’t line-up with changes to the way people cooked and ate. Yayoi pots were still used to cook fish and other wild foods, and few show signs of being dedicated to rice-cooking,” noted study co-author Dr. Shinya Shoda.



The findings reveal that technology alone does not reshape food habits. Even as tools and crops arrived, Japanese cooks kept preparing familiar dishes. Cultural memory and culinary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cave-discovery-of-ancient-avocados-could-rescue-a-global-crop/">tastes</a> held firm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-from-japanese-rice-farming">Lessons from Japanese rice farming</h2>



This phenomenon is not unique to Japan. In Southern Scandinavia, people kept fishing and gathering wild food long after farming arrived. By contrast, foragers in Britain quickly embraced agriculture.



“Whilst we see changes in pottery styles and other forms of material culture in Japan with the arrival of rice and millet, food culture remains remarkably consistent," said Professor Craig.



"And whilst Japan’s culinary history eventually catches up with the ‘rice boom’ that we see in Korea, it may have taken some time to have impacted everyday practices, suggesting food culture is deeply embedded and can survive major technological shifts."



These insights urge us to think differently about change. New tools may reach communities, but that does not guarantee quick transformation. Food culture, in particular, often moves at its own pace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-the-spread-of-farming">Studying the spread of farming</h2>



The research supports the work of the ENCOUNTER project, led by Dr. Enrico Crema at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>, which studies how farming spread and influenced life across ancient Japan.



“These latest findings add to our body of work in the <a href="https://www.arch.cam.ac.uk/research/projects/current-projects/encounter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ENCOUNTER</a> project, which has so far shown the diffusion rates of farming within the Japanese archipelago, the demographic impact of farming, and how different cultural traits might have been conditioned by marriage practices,” said Dr. Crema.



The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.



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Japanese food traditions held strong despite the arrival of farming

Recent archaeological discoveries challenge the idea that new technologies inevitably...

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
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Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
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A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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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...

Thousands of colors in the Sculptor Galaxy

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