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;



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Thousands of colors in the Sculptor Galaxy

Today's Image of the Day from the European Southern Observatory...

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features a stunning reflection nebula known as GN 04.32.8 in the constellation Taurus.



Reflection nebulae are cosmic clouds of fine dust that become visible not by producing their own light, but by reflecting the light of nearby stars.&nbsp;



Unlike emission <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-rogue-worlds-discovered-inside-a-young-star-forming-nebula/">nebulae</a>, which glow due to ionized gases radiating light, reflection nebulae shine more subtly.&nbsp;



The light from nearby stars strikes the dust particles within the cloud and scatters in many directions - especially shorter, bluer wavelengths. This scattering effect, similar to the way Earth’s sky appears blue, often gives reflection nebulae their characteristic bluish hue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-taurus-molecular-cloud">The Taurus Molecular Cloud</h2>



“GN 04.32.8 is a small part of the stellar nursery known as the Taurus Molecular Cloud. At only roughly 480 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus, it's one of the best locations for studying newly forming stars,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images">ESA</a>.



The Taurus Molecular Cloud is one of the closest and most extensively studied regions for low-mass star formation.&nbsp;



Unlike larger star-forming regions like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orion-nebula-destroys-an-oceans-worth-of-water-every-month/">Orion</a> that produce many high-mass stars, the TMC is dominated by the formation of Sun-like and smaller stars, making it a prime analog for understanding the conditions that led to the birth of our own solar system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-energetic-stars-in-the-constellation-taurus-nbsp">Energetic stars in the constellation Taurus&nbsp;</h2>



“This reflection nebula is illuminated by the system of three bright stars in the center of this image, mainly the variable star V1025 Tauri in the very center.”&nbsp;



“One of those stars overlaps with part of the nebula: this is another variable star that is named HP Tauri, but is classified as a T Tauri star, for its similarity to yet another variable star elsewhere in the Taurus Molecular Complex.”&nbsp;



T Tauri stars are young, energetic stars in the earliest stages of stellar evolution, just beginning their journey toward becoming stable main sequence stars like our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-sun-like-stars-with-secret-companions/">Sun</a>.&nbsp;



These stars are highly variable and surrounded by dense clouds of gas and dust, often exhibiting strong stellar winds and flares as they settle into equilibrium.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-dynamic-star-system">A dynamic star system</h2>



In this case, the trio of T Tauri stars - named HP Tau, HP Tau G2, and HP Tau G3 - are believed to be gravitationally bound, forming a dynamic triple star system.



“Eagle-eyed viewers might notice the small, squashed, orange spot, just left of center below the clouds of the nebula, that’s crossed by a dark line. This is a newly-formed protostar, hidden in a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planet-forming-disks-surrounding-stars-often-last-much-longer-than-expected/">protoplanetary disc</a> that obstructs some of its light,” explained ESA.



“Because the disc is edge-on to us, it’s an ideal candidate for study. Astronomers are using Hubble here to examine it closely, seeking to learn about the kinds of exoplanets that might be formed in discs like it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-light-of-hot-young-stars">The light of hot, young stars</h2>



Reflection nebulae are usually found in regions where new <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/10-billion-white-dwarf-stars-in-milky-way-galaxy-might-have-habitable-planets/">stars</a> are forming, often near or within dense molecular clouds.&nbsp;



Some reflection nebulae can span light-years across and serve as markers of stellar nurseries - places where future generations of stars are taking shape.



Reflection nebulae offer astronomers a valuable glimpse into the structure and composition of the interstellar medium and help trace the life cycles of stars from birth to maturity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-examples-of-reflection-nebulae-nbsp">Examples of reflection nebulae&nbsp;</h2>



One well-known example is the reflection nebula surrounding the Pleiades star cluster, also called the Seven Sisters.&nbsp;



The Iris Nebula, located in the constellation Cepheus about 1,300 light-years from Earth, is a striking reflection nebula illuminated by the young star SAO 19158.



This Nebula is a popular target for astrophotographers due to its vivid colors and intricate structure.



Found about 1,600 light-years away, M78 is the brightest reflection nebula in the Orion constellation and one of the easiest to observe with amateur telescopes. It’s illuminated by two young stars, HD 38563A and HD 38563B.&nbsp;



M78 is part of a larger complex of gas and dust that includes many other star-forming regions within the Orion Molecular Cloud.



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Young stars illuminate a reflection nebula in Taurus 

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

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the spiral galaxy UGC 11397 in the constellation Lyra (The Lyre).



The light captured in this striking image traveled for 250 million years before reaching the NASA/ESA <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/35-years-of-hubble-the-telescope-that-changed-our-view-of-the-universe/">Hubble Space Telescope</a>.



“At first glance, UGC 11397 appears to be an average spiral galaxy: it sports two graceful spiral arms that are illuminated by stars and defined by dark, clumpy clouds of dust,” noted ESA.



“What sets UGC 11397 apart from a typical spiral lies at its center, where a supermassive black hole containing 174 million times the mass of the Sun is growing.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-hidden-powerhouse">A hidden powerhouse</h2>



As the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-oldest-black-hole-jet-ever-seen-is-size-of-three-milky-ways-j1601-3102/">black hole</a> consumes gas, dust, and even entire stars from its surroundings, the infalling material heats up dramatically, producing a dazzling display of energy.&nbsp;



These emissions span the electromagnetic spectrum - from gamma rays to radio waves - and can flare or fade unpredictably.&nbsp;



“But in some galaxies, including UGC 11397, thick clouds of dust hide much of this energetic activity from view in optical light,” explained ESA.



“Despite this, UGC 11397's actively growing black hole was revealed through its bright X-ray emission - high-energy light that can pierce the surrounding dust.”&nbsp;



Its distinctive signature has earned UGC 11397 the classification of a Type 2 Seyfert galaxy. This category describes active galaxies whose central regions are obscured in visible light by a doughnut-shaped cloud of dust and gas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxy-and-black-hole-growth">Galaxy and black hole growth</h2>



“Using Hubble, researchers will study hundreds of galaxies that, like UGC 11397, harbor a supermassive black hole that is gaining mass,” noted ESA.&nbsp;



“The Hubble observations will help researchers weigh nearby supermassive black holes, understand how black holes grew early in the universe’s history, and even study how stars form in the extreme environment found at the very center of a galaxy.”



Studying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-galaxies-discovery-would-upend-current-understanding-of-universe/">galaxies</a> like UGC 11397 also offers insight into the mysterious relationship between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.&nbsp;



Despite residing at the heart of galaxies, these black holes influence their surroundings on a much larger scale, often regulating the formation of stars and even shaping the structure of the galaxy itself.



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



One of the key questions astronomers hope to answer is how these black holes grow so massive in the first place.&nbsp;



While some appear to have formed gradually over billions of years, others - especially those in the early universe - seem to have reached enormous sizes much more quickly. 



Observations of galaxies such as UGC 11397 provide crucial data to test different growth scenarios.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-clearer-picture-of-cosmic-evolution">A clearer picture of cosmic evolution</h2>



By combining Hubble’s observations with data from other telescopes, including those that detect X-rays and radio waves, researchers can build a more complete picture of how matter behaves around black holes.&nbsp;



This multi-wavelength approach is essential for studying objects obscured by dust, like Type 2 Seyfert galaxies, where optical views alone can be misleading.



Hubble’s sharp vision also allows astronomers to examine the surrounding galactic disk and spiral arms in high detail. 



These structures hold clues about recent star formation, galactic dynamics, and how gas flows toward the center - fueling both star birth and black hole growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-hole-energy-in-active-galaxies">Black hole energy in active galaxies</h2>



In many active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-galaxies-revealed-in-a-single-webb-image/">galaxies</a>, the energy released by the central black hole can blast out powerful winds or jets that affect star formation. These feedback processes can either shut down or stimulate the creation of new stars, depending on the conditions.&nbsp;



Understanding when and how this feedback occurs is another major goal of Hubble’s ongoing studies.



UGC 11397 is just one of many galaxies being surveyed as part of broader efforts to trace the cosmic history of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-holes-turn-into-white-holes-and-blast-out-matter-and-time-runs-backwards/">black hole</a> activity.&nbsp;



Projects such as these are helping scientists map how common active galactic nuclei are, how their properties evolve over time, and how they relate to galaxy mergers and other large-scale events.



The wealth of information gathered from galaxies like UGC 11397 is not only deepening our understanding of black holes but also refining models of galaxy formation and evolution.&nbsp;



With each new observation, astronomers are piecing together the vast and complex puzzle of how galaxies and their central engines co-evolve across cosmic time.



Image Credit: ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA, M. J. Koss, A. J. Barth



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Graceful spiral galaxy hides a dark secret

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the barred spiral galaxy NGC 3783, which is located about 130 million light-years away in the constellation Centaurus. 



NGC 3783 is also the most prominent of a galaxy group (by the same name) that contains 47 galaxies.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-galaxy-groups">What are galaxy groups?</h2>



“Like galaxy clusters, galaxy groups are aggregates of gravitationally bound galaxies. Galaxy groups, however, are less massive and contain fewer members than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/titanic-galaxy-cluster-collision-defies-all-current-understanding-of-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy clusters</a> do: where galaxy clusters can contain hundreds or even thousands of constituent galaxies, galaxy groups do not typically include more than 50,” noted <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



“The Milky Way is actually part of a galaxy group, known as the Local Group, which contains two other large galaxies (Andromeda and the Triangulum galaxy), as well as several dozen satellite and dwarf galaxies.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-blue-giant-star">A blue giant star</h2>



The bright object that appears to the right of the galaxy is the star HD 101274. “The perspective in this image makes the star and the galaxy look like close companions, but this is an illusion. HD 101274 lies only about 1,530 light-years from Earth, meaning it is about 85 thousand times closer than NGC 3783,” explained ESA.&nbsp;



The star is part of the NGC 3766 cluster, sometimes referred to as the Pearl Cluster, which is known for its richness in bright stars and its relatively young age.



Characterized by its high temperature and luminosity, HD 101274 is categorized as a blue giant star.



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



Blue giants are massive stars that have left the main sequence phase of stellar evolution and are burning helium or heavier elements in their cores. These stars are known for their short lifespans relative to smaller stars due to their rapid consumption of nuclear fuel.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-stars-scientists-discover-a-new-type-of-star-powered-by-dark-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stars</a> like HD 101274 are important for astronomers because they help in studying the properties of stellar populations in clusters and the dynamics of stellar evolution in different environments. 



Observations of blue giant stars can provide valuable insights into the characteristics of their atmospheres, internal structures, and the processes occurring within and around them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-active-galactic-nucleus-of-ngc-3783">Active galactic nucleus of NGC 3783</h2>



One of the most interesting aspects of NGC 3783 is that it harbors an active galactic nucleus. This means that its central region is exceptionally luminous, likely due to the presence of a supermassive black hole. 



The black hole is actively accreting material, which emits a substantial amount of radiation as it spirals inward and heats up.



The galaxy has been studied extensively in the ultraviolet and X-ray light spectra to understand better the properties of the accretion disk around the black hole and the complex dynamics of the material surrounding it. 



These studies are crucial for understanding the physics of active galactic nuclei and the role they play in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy evolution</a>.



According to ESA, NGC 3783 is a&nbsp;Type I Seyfert galaxy. “In this image it is recorded by Hubble in incredible detail, from its glowing central bar to its narrow, winding arms and the dust threaded through them, thanks to five separate images taken in different wavelengths of light," noted ESA.



“In fact, the galactic center is bright enough to Hubble that it exhibits diffraction spikes, normally only seen on stars such as HD 101274.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-massive-collection-of-galaxy-clusters">Massive collection of galaxy clusters</h2>



The NGC 3783 group is part of the larger Hydra-Centaurus Supercluster, which itself is a massive collection of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shapes-of-one-million-galaxies-hint-at-the-universes-origins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> and galaxy clusters located primarily in the constellations of Hydra and Centaurus.



The NGC 3783 group consists of several galaxies that are gravitationally bound and interact with each other. These interactions can influence the galaxies' evolution through mechanisms like tidal forces and merger events, which can trigger star formation, fuel central black holes, and reshape the galaxies' structures.



Studying the NGC 3783 group helps astronomers understand how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ceers-2112-ancient-galaxy-looks-strikingly-similar-to-ours/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> evolve together in a common gravitational environment, offering insights into the dynamics and evolution of structures on cosmic scales.



Image Credit: ESA/Hubble &amp; NASA



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Luminous spiral galaxy and a blue giant star

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features the star-forming region NGC 604. The nebula is located 2.73 million light-years away from Earth in the Triangulum Galaxy (M33). 



By studying regions like NGC 604, astronomers can gain insights into the complex interactions between stars and the interstellar medium, as well as the conditions that lead to the birth of stars. 



This, in turn, helps us understand the evolution of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/galaxies-like-our-own-milky-way-are-not-unique/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> and the universe as a whole.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-massive-stars-of-ngc-604">Massive stars of NGC 604</h2>



"Sheltered among NGC 604’s dusty envelopes of gas are more than 200 of the hottest, most massive kinds of stars, all in the early stages of their lives," said <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>.



"These types of stars are known as B-types and O-types, the latter of which can be more than 100 times the mass of our own Sun. It’s quite rare to find this concentration of them in the nearby universe. In fact, there’s no similar region within our own Milky Way galaxy."



According to ESA, this concentration of massive stars, combined with its relatively close distance, means that NGC 604 gives astronomers an opportunity to study these objects at a fascinating time early in their life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gigantic-region-of-ionized-hydrogen">Gigantic region of ionized hydrogen</h2>



NGC 604 is one of the largest known regions of ionized hydrogen, also known as an H II region. This nebula is significantly larger than the Orion Nebula, which is one of the most well-known H II regions in our own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-amount-of-dark-matter-may-be-missing-from-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way galaxy</a>.&nbsp;



NGC 604 spans about 1,500 light-years across, making it one of the largest H II regions in the Local Group of galaxies. This group includes the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and about 54 other smaller galaxies.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ngc-604-starburst-phenomenon">NGC 604 starburst phenomenon </h2>



Within NGC 604, there are hundreds of young, hot, massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stars-at-the-edge-of-our-milky-way-galaxy-travel-more-slowly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stars</a>. These stars have ionized the surrounding gas, causing it to glow and creating the nebula. 



The region is a prime example of a starburst phenomenon, where stars form at a much higher rate than in typical galactic conditions.



“The bright orange streaks in this image signify the presence of carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs," explained ESA.



"As you travel further from the immediate cavities of dust where the star is forming, the deeper red signifies molecular hydrogen. This cooler gas is a prime environment for star formation. Ionized hydrogen from ultraviolet radiation appears as a white and blue ghostly glow."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-star-formation">More about star formation </h2>



Star formation is crucial for the evolution of galaxies and the synthesis of heavy elements. In the cores of stars, elements heavier than helium are created.



The elements are spread throughout the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-stars-shakti-shiva-shaped-milky-way-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy</a> when stars reach the end of their lives and expel their material - either gently through winds or violently via supernova explosions. 



This enriching process allows for the formation of new stars and planets, and ultimately, the potential for life.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cloud collapse</h3>



The process begins when part of a molecular cloud becomes unstable and starts to collapse under its own gravity. This can be triggered by events like shock waves from nearby <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supernova-explosions-could-damage-distant-planets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supernovae</a>, galactic collisions, or the influence of other massive stars.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Formation of a protostar</h3>



As the cloud collapses, it fragments into smaller clumps. Each clump will eventually form one or more stars. 



The material within these clumps continues to fall inward, heating up as it does so, eventually forming a warm core called a protostar. At this stage, the protostar is not yet hot enough for nuclear fusion (the process that powers stars) to occur.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Accretion disk</h3>



Around the protostar, material from the surrounding cloud continues to fall inward, forming a rotating disk. This material slowly accretes onto the protostar, increasing its mass.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Nuclear fusion begins</h3>



Once the core of the protostar reaches a high enough temperature and pressure, hydrogen atoms begin to fuse into helium, releasing energy in the process. This marks the transition from a protostar to a main sequence star, like our sun.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Main sequence and beyond</h3>



The star will spend the majority of its life in the main sequence stage, where it balances the gravitational forces trying to collapse it and the outward pressure from nuclear fusion. 



Eventually, the star will exhaust its hydrogen fuel. Its subsequent evolution will depend on its initial mass, leading to various end stages such as red giants, supernovae, neutron stars, or black holes.



Image Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Young, massive stars in the Triangulum Galaxy

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency features Abell S1063, a massive galaxy cluster located about 4.5 billion light-years from Earth. The galaxy cluster was captured by the Webb telescope in stunning detail.



According to <a href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/05/Webb_glimpses_the_distant_past" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>, the image is what’s known as a deep field - a long exposure of a single area of the sky, collecting as much light as possible to draw out the most faint and distant galaxies that don’t appear in ordinary images.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galaxies-of-the-early-universe">Galaxies of the early universe </h2>



Composed of nine separate snapshots taken at different near-infrared wavelengths over roughly 120 hours, this image represents Webb’s most detailed and deepest view of a single target so far.&nbsp;



Thanks to the gravitational lensing effect of Abell S1063, astronomers can peer deeper into the past than ever before - possibly viewing some of the universe’s very <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-galaxies-formed-from-the-earliest-elements-in-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first galaxies</a>.



“The eye is first drawn, in this new NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope Picture of the Month, to the central mega-monster that is galaxy cluster Abell S1063. This behemoth collection of galaxies, lying 4.5 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Grus (the Crane), dominates the scene,” noted ESA.



“Looking more closely, this dense collection of heavy galaxies is surrounded by glowing streaks of light, and these warped arcs are the true object of scientists’ interest: faint galaxies from the universe’s distant past.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-galaxy-cluster">What is a galaxy cluster?</h2>



Galaxy clusters are the largest known gravitationally bound systems and include not just galaxies, but also vast amounts of hot, X-ray-emitting gas and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-true-nature-of-dark-matter-may-be-revealed-in-a-supernova/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a>.&nbsp;



The galaxies within a cluster move through this hot intracluster medium, and their interactions can lead to phenomena like galaxy mergers or the stripping of gas from galaxies.&nbsp;



Galaxy clusters are important for studying the large-scale structure of the universe, the behavior of dark matter, and the evolution of galaxies over cosmic time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hundreds-of-galaxies-bound-together-nbsp">Hundreds of galaxies bound together&nbsp;</h2>



As one of the most densely populated clusters known, Abell S1063 contains hundreds of galaxies bound together by gravity.&nbsp;



Its immense mass makes it an excellent example of a gravitational lens - a cosmic phenomenon where the cluster’s gravity bends and magnifies the light from galaxies far behind it.&nbsp;



This effect allows astronomers to observe incredibly faint and distant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/milky-way-like-galaxies-were-present-in-the-early-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a> that would otherwise be beyond our detection limits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-galaxy-evolution">Studying galaxy evolution</h2>



The cluster has been the focus of several major observational campaigns. It was prominently featured in the Hubble Space Telescope’s Frontier Fields program, which used its gravitational lensing power to study the early universe.&nbsp;



“The new imagery from Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) takes this quest even further back in time,” said ESA.



“This image showcases an incredible forest of lensing arcs around Abell S1063, which reveal distorted background galaxies at a range of cosmic distances, along with a multitude of faint galaxies and previously unseen features.”



These observations are helping scientists probe the Cosmic Dawn era - the period shortly after the Big Bang.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-the-cosmic-dawn-nbsp">Exploring the Cosmic Dawn&nbsp;</h2>



The Cosmic Dawn refers to a time in the history of the universe when the first stars and galaxies began to form and shine. This pivotal era occurred roughly between 100 million and 1 billion years after the Big Bang.&nbsp;



During the Dark Ages, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fastest-feeding-black-hole-found-in-the-early-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">universe</a> had cooled enough for neutral hydrogen to form, but no luminous objects yet existed to light it up.&nbsp;



The birth of the first stars - often massive and short-lived - marked the beginning of the Cosmic Dawn. These stars emitted intense ultraviolet radiation, which gradually ionized the surrounding hydrogen gas in a process known as reionization.&nbsp;



This transformed the universe from a cold, opaque environment into one that was transparent to light, enabling the large-scale structure of the cosmos to take shape.



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



Grus is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-jupiter-discovered-in-the-great-bear-constellation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">constellation</a> in the southern sky, its name derived from the Latin word for "crane," a type of large, graceful bird.&nbsp;



It was introduced in the late 16th century by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman, during an era of celestial charting tied to European exploration of the southern hemisphere.&nbsp;



Grus is part of a group of constellations known as the "Southern Birds," which also includes Phoenix, Tucana, and Pavo.



This constellation lies near the celestial south pole and is best seen from the Southern Hemisphere during the months of August through October.&nbsp;



Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA &amp; CSA, H. Atek, M. Zamani



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Hundreds of galaxies illuminate the early universe 

Shenandoah National Park&nbsp;is an American&nbsp;national park&nbsp;that encompasses part of the&nbsp;Blue Ridge Mountains&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Commonwealth of Virginia.&nbsp;The park is long and narrow, with the&nbsp;Shenandoah River&nbsp;and its broad&nbsp;valley&nbsp;to the west, and the rolling hills of the&nbsp;Virginia Piedmont&nbsp;to the east.&nbsp;Skyline Drive&nbsp;is the main park road, generally traversing near the ridgeline of the mountains. Almost 40% of the land area—79,579 acres (124.3&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi; 322.0&nbsp;km2)—has been designated as&nbsp;wilderness&nbsp;and is protected as part of the&nbsp;National Wilderness Preservation System. The highest peak is&nbsp;Hawksbill Mountain&nbsp;at 4,051 feet.



Shenandoah National Park campgrounds are open seasonally, from early spring until late fall.&nbsp;Reservations are highly recommended on weekends and holidays. Many sites can be reserved 6 months ahead of time. A free backcountry camping permit is required to camp in Shenandoah's backcountry.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

The Mediterranean has long been a crossroads of trade and tourism, yet its deepest pocket, the Calypso Deep, seemed beyond the reach of day-to-day pollution. 



That hope ended earlier this year when researchers reported plastic bags, glass shards, and crumpled cans resting 16,770 feet beneath the waves in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionian_Sea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ionian Sea</a>.



Their survey logged hundreds of items on the trench floor. By any measure, it is one of the densest concentrations of trash ever recorded in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-ocean-buffet-big-fish-are-surprisingly-reliant-on-the-twilight-zone/">dark zone</a> of the ocean.



The discovery arrives as global attention continues to focus on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprise-study-some-scientists-call-for-halting-ocean-plastic-cleanup-efforts/">plastic waste</a>. 



Videos of snagged sea turtles and bottle-strewn beaches have already ignited public concern, but those images barely hint at what sinks far below the reach of sunlight.



Now evidence from Calypso Deep shows that even the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/calypso" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean’s farthest recesses</a> are filling up.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calypso-deep-is-full-of-plastic-waste">Calypso Deep is full of plastic waste</h2>



The team used the submersible <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSV_Limiting_Factor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Limiting Factor</a> to reach the bottom of a kidney-shaped trench roughly 12.4 miles long and 3.1 miles across. 



During a 43-minute trek near the seafloor of the Calypso Deep, cameras captured thousands of objects per square mile, mostly plastic waste discarded by humans.



A single straight-line pass of 2,130 feet was enough to confirm that human trash blankets large stretches of the basin. Most pieces were flexible plastics; glass, metal, and paper rounded out the list. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_study-map_UBarcelona_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_study-map_UBarcelona_1s.webp" alt="(A) General location of the Calypso Deep (box) in the Ionian Sea. PP: Peloponnese Peninsula. (B) Close up and general bathymetry of Calypso Deep (box) and surrounding area. For depth ranges, see color scale. (C) Detailed bathymetry of Calypso Deep with depth contours in meters. The position of the deepest point is indicated by the white dot, while the dive area is indicated by the red dot. Credit: University of Barcelona" class="wp-image-1976573"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(A) General location of the Calypso Deep (box) in the Ionian Sea. PP: Peloponnese Peninsula. (B) Close up and general bathymetry of Calypso Deep (box) and surrounding area. For depth ranges, see color scale. (C) Detailed bathymetry of Calypso Deep with depth contours in meters. The position of the deepest point is indicated by the white dot, while the dive area is indicated by the red dot. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Barcelona</figcaption></figure>



Even without animals caught on camera, the piles raise alarms because deep-sea communities recover slowly from disturbance.



Calypso Deep lies about 37 miles west of the Peloponnese coast inside the Hellenic Trench, a zone of steep, stepped walls prone to earthquakes. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-waste-rides-currents">Plastic waste rides currents</h2>



Weak currents, usually under 0.8 inches per second and rarely reaching 7 inches per second, let debris settle instead of sweeping it away.



“It comes from various sources, both terrestrial and marine. It could have arrived by various routes, including long-distance transport by ocean currents or direct dumping,” explains <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/web/directori/?accio=SEL&amp;id=v759w8s35bo5v72r&amp;lang=ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miquel Canals</a>, professor at the Department of Earth and Ocean Dynamics at the University of Barcelona.



“Some light waste, such as plastics, comes from the coast and escapes to Calypso Deep, just about 37 miles away. Certain plastics, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-bag-bans-have-drastically-reduced-ocean-pollution/">like bags</a>, drift just above the seabed until they are partially or completely buried or break down into smaller fragments," Canals continued.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_litter-photos_UBarcelona_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_litter-photos_UBarcelona_1s.webp" alt="Examples of identified litter items with category attribution per material type (cf. Table 2). (A) Plastic bag, J3. (B) Plastic heavy-duty sack, J36. (C) Plastic sheet, J67. (D) Plastic food container made of hard plastic, J225. (E) Plastic heavy-duty sack, J36. (F) Plastic bag, J3 (G) Cups and lids of hard plastic, J227. (H) Plastic rope &gt; 1 cm in diameter, J49. (I) Paper cartons/Tetrapak (non-milk), J151. (J) Metal drink can, J175. (K) Glass bottle. Note sediment shadow with side scouring downwards of the bottle J200. (L) Plastic drink bottle. Credit: University of Barcelona" class="wp-image-1976569"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Examples of identified litter items with category attribution per material type. (A) Plastic bag, J3. (B) Plastic heavy-duty sack, J36. (C) Plastic sheet, J67. (D) Plastic food container made of hard plastic, J225. (E) Plastic heavy-duty sack, J36. (F) Plastic bag, J3 (G) Cups and lids of hard plastic, J227. (H) Plastic rope &gt; 1 cm in diameter, J49. (I) Paper cartons/Tetrapak (non-milk), J151. (J) Metal drink can, J175. (K) Glass bottle. Note sediment shadow with side scouring downwards of the bottle J200. (L) Plastic drink bottle. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Barcelona</figcaption></figure>



Rivers, wind, and ship traffic all feed the stream of refuse heading offshore. As algae and other organisms cling to floating polymers, the added weight turns buoyant scraps into sinking hazards. The trench’s closed shape then locks the pieces in place.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calypso-deep-as-a-plastic-graveyard">Calypso Deep as a plastic graveyard</h2>



Surface eddies often corral floating trash into the trench. When these eddies form over the Calypso Trench, some debris slowly falls to the bottom, aided by degradation and ballasting processes that increase its density. 



Surface currents can also carry debris northward from the Adriatic Sea through the Strait of Otranto and from waters off northwestern Greece. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_3D-model_UBarcelona_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-trash_Calypso-Deep-region_Mediterranean_3D-model_UBarcelona_1s.webp" alt="(A) 3D model generated from a subset of video frames by reference to a litter item of known size shown in B. The white dashed line in A represents the camera frames along the Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) Limiting Factor moving path, whereas the red dashed line represents the frames counted between two items identified on the seabed. (B) Accumulation of litter items in the inner Calypso Deep with a litter item of known size (12 cm) used as a reference for 3D model generation. Credit: University of Barcelona" class="wp-image-1976567"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(A) 3D model generated from a subset of video frames by reference to a litter item of known size shown in B. The white dashed line in A represents the camera frames along the Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) Limiting Factor moving path, whereas the red dashed line represents the frames counted between two items identified on the seabed. (B) Accumulation of litter items in the inner Calypso Deep with a litter item of known size (12 cm) used as a reference for 3D model generation. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Barcelona</figcaption></figure>



The same circular flows that drive marine life cycles are now channeling waste into permanent graveyards at the very bottom of Earth's deepest bodies of water.



<a href="https://web.ub.edu/ca/web/actualitat/w/a-sea-of-rubbish-ocean-floor-landfills-?" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earlier work in 2021</a> showed the Strait of Messina carrying the world’s heaviest load of undersea garbage, confirming that the Mediterranean is especially at risk.



“We have also found evidence of boats dumping bags of rubbish, indicated by piles of assorted waste followed by an almost straight furrow," said Canals, expressing his frustration.



That is why the bottom of the Calypso Deep is littered with humans' plastic waste, and also why the problem will do nothing but continue to worsen.



"Unfortunately, when it comes to the Mediterranean, it is fair to say that ‘not a single inch of it is clean.’”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-we-go-from-here">Where do we go from here?</h2>



Unlike beaches and coastlines, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/99-percent-of-the-deep-ocean-floor-has-still-never-been-seen-by-humans/">ocean floor</a> remains largely out of sight, making it difficult to build social and political momentum for its conservation. 



Yet what settles at the bottom can influence marine life, food webs, fisheries, climate feedback loops, and even geological stability.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-mediterranean-nearly-lost-all-of-its-water-6-million-years-ago/">The Mediterranean</a> is an enclosed sea, surrounded by humanity, with intense maritime traffic and widespread fishing activity.



“Scientists, communicators, journalists, influencers - everyone with a platform - must work together. The problem is vast, even if it is not directly visible, and we cannot ignore it," Canals implored.



The trail of refuse from shorelines to Calypso Deep underlines a plain truth: plastics and other debris do not vanish once tossed aside. They ride currents, sink in stages, and ultimately collect in the planet’s most secluded hollows. 



The evidence provided by this research should galvanize global efforts - especially in the Mediterranean - to curb dumping, particularly of plastics, in line with the pending <a href="https://www.globalplasticlaws.org/un-global-plastics-treaty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UN Global Plastics Treaty</a>.



From the North Atlantic’s first recorded litter in 1975 to the record densities documented across the Mediterranean today, the pattern remains the same - human waste reaches everywhere water flows.



We must do more, we must do better, and we must do it now.



-----



Thanks to the leaders of this research team - Miquel Canals of the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Barcelona</a>, Georg Hanke of the European Commission’s <a href="https://commission.europa.eu/about/departments-and-executive-agencies/joint-research-centre_en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joint Research Centre</a>, François Galgani of <a href="https://www.ifremer.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IFREMER</a>, and Victor Vescovo of <a href="https://caladanoceanic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caladan Oceanic</a>



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25000852">Marine Pollution Bulletin</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Disturbing discovery made on the deepest parts of the seafloor: "Not a single inch of it is clean"

The Mediterranean has long been a crossroads of trade and...

Many people toast the end of the day with a five‑ounce glass of wine, hoping that ritual keeps heart trouble at bay. Two new analyses suggest the habit might offer real - if limited - protection for adults already at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.



The latest evidence comes from a Spanish arm of the long‑running <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28684083/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PREDIMED trial</a>. The study tracked 1,232 older adults following a <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16037-mediterranean-diet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean diet</a> and found that those who averaged roughly half to one glass per day had significantly lower heart risks. 



After five years, their risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiac death dropped by nearly half.



Researchers verified intake by measuring wine‑derived tartaric acid in urine instead of relying on memory, a switch that turned vague drink logs into hard numbers. 



The work was led by <a href="https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/professionals/ramon-estruch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Ramon Estruch</a> of the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Barcelona</a> and <a href="https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hospital Clinic Barcelona</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-reveals-true-wine-intake">Chemical reveals true wine intake</h2>



Questionnaires often miss what people actually pour, so scientists struggle to pin down alcohol’s true effects. Using the <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/11/1173" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grape‑exclusive metabolite tartaric acid</a> makes it possible to see how much wine someone enjoyed over the previous week without asking them to confess.



“By measuring tartaric acid in the urine, alongside food and drink questionnaires, we have been able to make a more accurate measurement of wine consumption,” said Estruch.



The study linked tartaric acid levels to self-reported wine intake, confirming it as a reliable consumption marker.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wine-s-effects-in-mediterranean-diets">Wine's effects in Mediterranean diets</h2>



Adopting such objective tools may help resolve decades of conflicting findings that swing from “red wine is medicine” to “no amount is safe.”



The investigators also adjusted for smoking, exercise, and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/to-get-fit-and-stay-healthy-walk-this-exact-distance-every-day/">lifestyle habits</a>, so the reduced risk cannot be written off as a simple marker of healthier living.



Importantly, tartaric acid only captures wine, not beer or spirits, letting researchers isolate how fermented <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-chemistry-of-wine-what-actually-shapes-its-texture/">grape products</a> behave inside a diet already rich in extra‑virgin olive oil, fish, and vegetables.



That context matters because many of wine’s plant compounds appear to interact with the broader Mediterranean plate, enhancing their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/healing-chronic-wounds-with-gold-and-red-wine/">antioxidant reach</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-tied-to-small-servings">Benefits tied to small servings</h2>



Participants who logged between three and thirty‑five five‑ounce glasses a month, roughly half to one serving a day, saw their risk of a major cardiac event fall by 50 percent. Light users who stayed below half a glass a day gained a 38 percent cut.



Once intake climbed above one glass each day, the advantage disappeared and, in some analyses, reversed. 



That pattern mirrors American Heart Association <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidance</a>, which caps daily wine at one five‑ounce serving for women and two for men.



Men, who made up just under half the study group, appeared to draw a stronger benefit. However, statisticians caution that the sex difference may fade in larger samples.



Even within the favorable range, nurses warned that pouring size matters because many home glasses hold eight or nine ounces, inadvertently nudging people past the safer ceiling.



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



Wine carries a mix of polyphenols such as resveratrol, quercetin, and catechins that seem to boost the lining of blood vessels. 



Clinical <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34119624/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reviews</a> report that supplemental resveratrol can improve endothelial function, a key factor in healthy blood pressure and clot prevention.



Red wine has more antioxidants due to skin fermentation, though white wine still provides some. That biochemical cocktail may partly explain why studies often find beer or spirits lack the same signal.



Moderate alcohol itself can raise high-density lipoprotein (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/about/ldl-and-hdl-cholesterol-and-triglycerides.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HDL</a>), the so‑called “good” cholesterol, yet ethanol also raises triglycerides and blood pressure at larger doses. Polyphenols may tilt the equation back toward benefit, but only within a narrow window.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-too-much-wine-harms-the-heart">Too much wine harms the heart</h2>



A 2023 systematic <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802963" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">review</a> that pooled data from 4.8 million people found no reduction in all‑cause mortality among moderate drinkers once misclassified former drinkers were excluded. 



The authors warned that earlier optimism probably stemmed from comparing social drinkers with people who quit because of illness.



Heavy pouring is indisputably harmful. Even <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/07/31/even-just-1-alcoholic-drink-a-day-may-increase-blood-pressure" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one extra daily drink</a> can raise systolic blood pressure by two to four millimeters of mercury, a change large enough to push many people into hypertension. Elevated pressure strains arteries, sets the stage for arrhythmias, and accelerates heart failure.



<a href="https://alcoholresearchforum.org/members/giovanni-de-gaetano/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Professor Giovanni de Gaetano</a> noted that the biomarker approach “provides robust evidence that moderate wine consumption is associated with lower CVD risk. He cautioned that the same data “remind us of the risks associated with higher levels of consumption.”



Alcohol also carries addictive potential, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that roughly <a href="https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/media/releases/2014/p0626-excessive-drinking.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one in ten deaths</a> among working‑age adults is tied to excessive drinking. 



That sobering statistic explains why public health agencies repeat that zero is the only completely risk‑free dose.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wine-humans-and-heart-health">Wine, humans, and heart health</h2>



For adults older than about 35 who already follow a <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16037-mediterranean-diet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean diet</a>, a small glass of wine with supper may fit comfortably into a heart‑conscious lifestyle.



People who are pregnant, taking interacting medications, or battling addiction should not take the PREDIMED results as a green light.



Nutrients that give wine its appeal, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moderate-wine-consumption-reduces-cardiovascular-risks/">including resveratrol</a>, also reside in grapes, blueberries, nuts, and olive oil. Anyone who chooses to skip alcohol can still obtain similar antioxidant support without ethanol’s downsides.



Clinicians emphasize that no one should start drinking for health reasons. Instead, the sensible takeaway is that very modest wine, enjoyed with meals and within established limits, is unlikely to harm. It might even help certain high‑risk adults when paired with vegetables, fish, and extra‑virgin olive oil.



The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/46/2/161/7920812" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Heart Journal</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

How a glass of wine a day affects your heart, according to doctors

Many people toast the end of the day with a...

In 2022, the underwater Hunga volcano exploded, blasting ash 37 miles into the sky - the largest volcanic plume ever captured by satellites. What followed offered researchers a rare chance to see how the ocean floor responds to sudden, massive disruption.



Months later, scientists from around the world headed to the location of the eruption on a research vessel.



Onboard the ship, undergraduate student Marcus Chaknova discovered something unexpected: thick layers of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fire-and-ice-volcanic-ash-plays-a-surprising-role-in-cloud-formation/">volcanic ash</a> coating the seafloor. The ash had suffocated deep-sea ecosystems that rely on fragile chemical exchanges to survive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underwater-eruptions-usually-go-unseen">Underwater eruptions usually go unseen</h2>



“This was an extremely rare opportunity,” Chaknova explained. “Observing the mass movement of underwater sediment is something that hasn't been studied much.”



Now a graduate student in Earth Sciences at the <a href="https://www.uoregon.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oregon</a>, Chaknova led a study that analyzed what the underwater eruption left behind.



Working with Professor Thomas Giachetti and 16 other experts from around the world, he became the lead author on a study that looked at how volcanic ash travels - and what it does to life underwater.



“We had scientists from every single time zone you could think of,” Chaknova said. His project needed expertise from the fields of marine biology, geochemistry, and micropaleontology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-ash-from-the-volcano">Tracking ash from the volcano </h2>



The first step was to confirm that the underwater ash had indeed come from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-clues-about-the-hunga-tonga-hunga-haapai-eruption/">Hunga</a>, located about 40 miles from <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16197014" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tonga's</a> main island in the South Pacific. 



After an eruption, it can take weeks or even months for ash to fall through the water and settle on the ocean floor. As it drifts, wind and currents push it farther from the eruption site.



"One grain of sediment will take weeks or months to reach the bottom of the ocean. It's like a leaf falling from a tree. Because of the wind, it might end up somewhere completely different," Giachetti explained.



Back in the lab, Chaknova matched the ash samples to those found near the volcano. The grains were varied - some jagged and sharp, others rounded and smooth. 



In some places, the sediment was more than a meter thick. Most of it was made up of very fine particles, around the width of a human hair.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-eruption-left-behind">What the eruption left behind</h2>



Chaknova discovered that much of the ash came from the volcano’s caldera walls and was carried away by fast-moving underwater flows - something like underwater avalanches.



Those flows were so powerful they damaged submarine cables and carved small canyons into the seafloor. The researchers even used the timing of power loss from those broken cables to calculate how fast the ash surged.



Using computer models, Chaknova plans to simulate how the ash moved and where it went. Giachetti said this research could change how scientists think about sediment movement in the oceans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sea-life-suffocated">Deep-sea life suffocated</h2>



The underwater <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tonga-volcanic-eruption-had-a-much-more-devastating-impact-than-we-knew/">eruption</a> didn’t just leave a geological footprint; it disrupted entire ecosystems.



In the deep sea, where sunlight doesn’t reach, life depends on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-can-deep-ocean-microbes-survive-without-sunlight/">chemosynthesis</a> - organisms use chemicals like methane or ammonia from hydrothermal vents, instead of sunlight, to produce energy.



Roughly 90% of marine life lives on the seafloor, according to the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Wide Fund for Nature</a>. After the eruption, much of that life was buried in thick sediment.



Some creatures like worms and anemones can survive brief burials, but this sudden wave of ash was too much. 



Many deep-sea species are suspension feeders. They grab tiny particles of food from the water and filter them through their gills.



"With all the displaced sediment, these organisms are only grabbing sediment," Chaknova continued. "That's going to clog their gills, it's going to clog their intestines, and that's going to have a dramatic effect on their ability to create energy."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fallout-from-the-underwater-eruption">Fallout from the underwater eruption </h2>



Chaknova’s early findings also show that ash made it all the way to Tonga’s coral reefs. At first, it caused a short-lived plankton bloom at the surface. 



But as the ash settled, it threatened coral ecosystems that support larger marine life. When coral suffers, everything above it in the food chain is affected.



On top of the environmental consequences, the eruption of this underwater volcano also affected livelihoods for Tonga residents.



Fishing is a way of life in Tonga. According to the <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Bank</a>, about 82% of households rely on reef fishing in some way for income. Marine tourism accounts for more than 7% of Tonga’s GDP.



“Although this eruption occurred on the seafloor, there is a chain of both positive and negative effects,” Chaknova explained.



“The negative effects go farther than just losing power or Wi-Fi from submarine cables. This is some people’s livelihood. They need fish for food. Fishing is incredibly important for the economic and food security of Tonga.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warning-for-deep-sea-mining">Warning for deep-sea mining</h2>



The study also has bigger implications. As the world turns toward clean energy, demand is growing for metals like copper and cobalt - many of which sit in potato-sized nodules beneath the ocean floor.



Private companies have approached small Pacific nations, including Tonga, with offers to mine these resources.



"The area where we collected the sediment is within the Kingdom of Tonga, and we found that they are very rich in minerals," Chaknova said. 



"A lot of companies are interested in collecting these minerals, and so this area that belongs to the Kingdom of Tonga will be up for bid, in coming years, for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-impacts-marine-life-for-decades/">deep-sea mining</a>."



While commercial mining hasn’t started yet, researchers are urging caution. The plumes of sediment created by mining could be just as harmful as those created by volcanic eruptions - clogging gills, burying habitats, and destroying fragile ecosystems.



Chaknova’s work provides some of the only real-world data we have on what that kind of disturbance could look like. 



The research gives scientists and policymakers a better understanding of what’s at stake - and what might be lost if we move forward without enough knowledge.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GC011629" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems</a>.



Image Credit: <a href="https://www.noaa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA</a>



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Massive underwater eruption layered coral reefs with ash and suffocated marine life

In 2022, the underwater Hunga volcano exploded, blasting ash 37...

Suffering with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a child is difficult enough. Now, scientists tell us that those who suffer from ASD and ADHD also face higher vulnerability to common plastic pollutants.



A recent study found that their bodies detoxify <a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bisphenol A (BPA)</a> less efficiently than neurotypical peers, increasing the time their tissues are exposed to this chemical.



<a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6148-2363" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. T. Peter Stein</a> of <a href="https://som.rowan.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rowan‑Virtua School</a> of Osteopathic Medicine led the study. Researchers measured urine glucuronidation, the liver process that adds a sugar molecule to BPA so it can be excreted.&nbsp;



Children with ASD and ADHD had reduced BPA detoxification efficiency compared to the control group. 



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28770280/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BPA glucuronidation</a> was about 11% lower in the ASD group and 17% lower in those with ADHD, while differences in <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5842715/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phthalate DEHP</a> detoxification followed the same trend but were not statistically significant.



Children with ASD and ADHD often have weaker detox systems, leaving them exposed to BPA in the body longer. 



That doesn’t guarantee illness from BPA but raises concern. Stein noted that this was the “first hard biochemical evidence” linking impaired BPA clearance to <a href="https://www.epa.gov/americaschildrenenvironment/health-neurodevelopmental-disorders" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neurodevelopmental disorders</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-asd-and-adhd">Understanding ASD and ADHD</h2>



<a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Individuals with ASD</a> often face challenges in social communication and exhibit restricted or repetitive behaviors. 



They might have difficulty interpreting social cues, maintaining eye contact, or adjusting to changes in routine. 



Sensory sensitivities - such as heightened responses to light, sound, or textures - are also common. ASD presents across a wide spectrum, so the degree and nature of symptoms can vary greatly from person to person.



In contrast, ADHD primarily involves persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning. 



<a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">People with ADHD</a> may struggle to focus, stay organized, or complete tasks, often acting without thinking or having trouble sitting still. 



While ADHD and ASD are separate diagnoses, they can co-occur, and some traits overlap - such as difficulties with executive function and emotional regulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bpa-exposure-in-children">BPA exposure in children</h2>



<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/glucuronidation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glucuronidation</a> converts toxins like BPA into water‑soluble compounds that exit via urine. In this study, mass spectrometry tracked both bound and unbound BPA. 



A lower percentage of detoxification indicated less efficient excretion. Stein’s team confirmed the effect held true even when accounting for urine strength using creatinine levels.



Of twelve detox pathways tested, only BPA and DEHP stood out, suggesting a specific vulnerability rather than a broad weakness. 



Comparing results with metabolomic profiles, ASD and ADHD children showed unique patterns tied to BPA metabolism that controls did not share.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bpa-detox-with-adhd-and-asd">BPA detox with ADHD and ASD</h2>



BPA and DEHP act as <a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">endocrine disruptors</a>, interfering with hormone signals. If detoxification is compromised, these chemicals linger longer in the body during critical phases of brain development. 



Though genetic vulnerability may play a role, this adds a measurable biological mechanism to the environmental risk picture.



Sterile in lab animals, DEHP affects neurodevelopment via epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation. A recent <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.03.641339" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> of prenatal exposure in 847 Australian children linked DEHP levels to later ASD and ADHD symptoms. 



<a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/the-role-of-methylation-in-gene-expression-1070/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Methylation</a> in key genes and neural cell networks showed mediation effects between 21% and 80%. These epigenetic footprints reinforce the idea that plastics can affect neurodevelopment through non-genetic pathways.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-environmental-links">Evidence of environmental links</h2>



This study builds on a large body of research connecting neurodevelopmental disorders to environmental pollutants. 



<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK201995/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Epidemiological studies</a> have associated prenatal exposure to air pollution, flame retardants, and pesticides with elevated ASD and ADHD risk. 



The common thread in these findings is timing; exposure during pregnancy and early life seems to matter most.



Regulatory bodies have long debated what constitutes a “safe” exposure level for these chemicals. 



The <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-packaging-other-substances-come-contact-food-information-consumers/bisphenol-bpa-use-food-contact-application" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Food and Drug Administration</a> and the <a href="https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/bisphenol" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Food Safety Authority</a> have reviewed BPA safety multiple times, but the growing evidence suggests current thresholds may not be low enough for sensitive populations, especially children with neurodevelopmental conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-does-all-of-this-mean">What does all of this mean?</h2>



This study doesn’t claim BPA or DEHP cause <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-with-autism-benefit-from-learning-multiple-languages/">autism</a> or ADHD. But it does show that children with these conditions often metabolize these chemicals less efficiently. 



Because BPA exposure is widespread (found in everything from food can liners to thermal paper) this raises questions about safety thresholds for all kids, not just those with ASD or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/autism-and-adhd-disorders-directly-linked-amount-of-time-kids-spend-on-screens/">ADHD</a>.



Reducing reliance on BPA and phthalates in daily life (choosing glass or stainless steel containers, fresh food over cans, and avoiding receipts) can help limit exposure. 



Policy swings already reflect this concern: several countries are phasing out DEHP and tightening BPA regulations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bpa-plastics-and-the-future">BPA, plastics, and the future</h2>



Future studies could investigate whether impaired detoxification is present from birth or develops over time. Longitudinal tracking of exposure, detox pathway function, and neurodevelopment could help answer this. 



Researchers also recommend examining genetic variants in detox enzymes, which might identify individuals most at risk.



On the epigenetic side, researchers are starting to connect prenatal chemical exposure to long‑term <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-your-dna-information-safe-scientists-warn-of-cyber-threats/">DNA</a> changes in specific brain regions, pointing to windows of vulnerability. 



That knowledge could eventually guide nurse‑led intervention, dietary changes, or policies to protect early brain development.



Children with ASD and ADHD are at a double vulnerability: genetic and developmental differences and a slower ability to clear everyday pollutants. 



While this study doesn’t offer advice on treatment or diagnosis, it certainly does ask parents and policymakers to seriously consider chemical exposure in early childhood and pregnancy as a significant factor in neurodevelopment.



The study is published in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0289841" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS ONE</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Scientists link a common chemical in plastics to autism and ADHD in children

Suffering with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)...

A wheezing pump, a length of elastic tubing, and a spark of curiosity have produced a machine that challenges every textbook rule of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/meet-e-bar-the-robot-designed-to-prevent-the-elderly-from-falling/">robotics</a>. Instead of lines of code, this soft robot contraption runs on nothing more than air pressure and the shape of its own body.



Lead author <a href="https://amolf.nl/news/this-soft-robot-thinks-with-its-legs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alberto Comoretto</a> and his colleagues at the Dutch research institute AMOLF built the two‑pound device and watched it trot across a lab bench, clamber over a book, then slip into a tank and paddle like a terrier. 



<a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/bas-overvelde" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johannes Overvelde</a>, also at <a href="https://overvelde.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMOLF</a>, helped show that the simple rig adjusts its movements to ground or water without a single transistor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-control-with-airflow">Rethinking control with airflow</h2>



A conventional robot relies on a digital controller that measures, decides, and commands, yet every loop burns power and time. 



The <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr3661" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AMOLF machine</a> outsources all that work to the physics of its pneumatic limbs, shaving the response delay to milliseconds and the parts list to a pump and four valves.



Each limb is a hollow silicone tube bent into a soft knee; steady airflow makes a kink race down the length, relax, then reappear at the top, yielding a rhythmic kick. 



That self‑oscillation reaches 300 hertz, far faster than earlier soft robot walkers that topped out <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1116564108" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">near three hertz</a>.



Because the tubes all share one air line, a pressure change in one leg tugs on the others the way a common spring links a row of metronome clocks. The result is limb synchronization that emerges for free; nothing has to calculate a gait.



On carpet, the legs stiffen against drag, so all four strike the ground in phase and the robot bounds forward. 



Drop it into water and drag vanishes, the phase slips to an alternating pattern, and the same body now swims.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-soft-robot-teaches-itself">This soft robot teaches itself</h2>



Comoretto first noticed the effect while pinching an air hose and hearing it sing. High‑speed video revealed a kink that chased its own pressure wave, a tiny version of the flapping “Fly Guy” inflatable figures invented for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.



Those roadside mascots seem chaotic, yet their thrashing follows the same feedback loop of pressure, bend, and release. 



By constraining the tubing length, wall thickness, and bend angle, the team turned that loop from a dance into a motor.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/walking-robots-can-step-right-off-the-3d-printer-powered-by-air/">engineers printed</a> a rigid backbone that fixes the tubes at just the right tilt so gravity pushes each foot down as the kink passes. They tuned flow rate, not software, to swap between a walk, a rapid bound, and an in‑place shuffle.



“We were super excited because we saw this self‑sustaining, periodic, asymmetric motion,” said Comoretto, recalling the moment he realized the hose was alive with possibility. His excitement grew when the limbs copied one another without his help.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-robot-walks-then-swims">Robot walks, then swims</h2>



A tangle of hoses limited the first tests, so the group trimmed the design to two legs and mounted the pump onboard. 



Flow dropped from fifteen standard liters per minute to under one, and the power draw plunged to just 0.12 watts for the pair.



That thrift let the robot carry a cellphone‑size lithium battery and operate for half an hour on a charge. Two photodiodes wired to a relay gave it a crude sense of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5526330/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phototaxis</a>, letting it scuttle toward a flashlight beam the way a moth seeks a porch lamp.



“Now when it hits a wall, it starts to turn left. If it lands in water, it starts to swim backwards. We didn’t come up with that - it just happens,” Overvelde said.



When an acrylic wall blocked its path, the oscillations skewed, the body veered left, and the machine sidestepped the obstacle without ever “knowing” the wall existed.&nbsp;



In a fish‑tank trial the legs flipped phase to mimic a dog paddle, propelling the chassis three body lengths in ten seconds. 



That speed rivals centimeter‑scale amphibious bots that need magnets, heaters, or onboard microcontrollers to achieve similar feats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-less-power-more-motion">Less power, more motion</h2>



Pumps still dominate the weight budget, so the researchers are experimenting with thin membranes that act as passive valves, squeezing each tube rhythmically with the exhaust of its neighbor. 



If successful, the pump could shrink to a thumbnail and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-created-carbon-14-battery-that-lasts-5700-years-without-a-recharge/">battery</a> to a coin cell.



A second project fits the same limbs around a silicone sac to form a soft artificial heart that pulses in sync with blood pressure. Overvelde argues that a medical implant should “just work” and never wait for a firmware patch.



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



The study hints at a new class of devices that swap silicon intelligence for embodied intelligence, the control wisdom stored in shape and material. 



That principle echoes through biology, where spinal reflexes and tendon elasticity free the brain to plan instead of micromanage.



Industrial pick‑and‑place arms built of rigid links may soon share floors with soft grippers that tune their own squeeze by airflow alone. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/oyKnCRqNj84?si=dr_KJSPBcB70kl3B
</div></figure>



Search‑and‑rescue robots could crawl through rubble without risking an electrical short, then swim across a flooded basement with the same actuators.



The approach also answers a thorny sustainability question. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-waste-is-growing-five-times-faster-than-recycling/">Electronic waste</a> from motors and circuit boards grows yearly, yet a pump, a hose, and recyclable elastomer leave a smaller footprint.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soft-robots-built-for-space">Soft robots built for space</h2>



Critics note that air systems struggle at high altitudes and in vacuum, but the authors see hybrid designs that mix compressed gas with chemical gas generators for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/squishy-robot-designed-for-space-now-assists-emergency-workers-on-earth/">space exploration</a>.



Further studies will map the equations that govern phase shifts and resonance, letting engineers dial up climbing or burrowing gaits on demand.



Soft robotics has progressed from floppy toys to lab curiosities to practical tools in less than fifteen years. 



By proving that simple physics can orchestrate complex motion at hundreds of beats per second, the Dutch team has nudged the field toward everyday utility.



The next milestone is reliability, measured not in hours but in years, because nobody wants to babysit a rescue robot or swap out a heart pump every season. 



As Comoretto’s accidentally singing tube showed, sometimes the path to long life begins with a sound, not a spreadsheet.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr3661" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



-----



Like what you read?<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/"> Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Brainless robot created that runs and swims is powered solely by air

A wheezing pump, a length of elastic tubing, and a...

Gender dynamics among primates have long fascinated both scientists and the public. Many people assume that male dominance over females is natural across primates, a belief that also shapes how we think about human gender roles. However, a new study challenges this view. 



Conducted by researchers from the University of Montpellier, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=German+Primate+Center&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Primate Center</a>, the work sheds light on the surprising flexibility of power relations among primates.



The findings reveal that neither male nor female dominance is universal. Instead, power shifts depend on factors such as ecology, reproductive strategies, and social structures. The study spans 253 populations from 121 primate species, making it the largest of its kind.



The results call for a reconsideration of our assumptions - not only about other primates but also about ourselves. The study highlights how gendered power dynamics emerge through complex, evolving interactions.



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



The researchers examined patterns of aggression between males and females in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-select-the-best-materials-for-termite-fishing/">primates</a>. They discovered that nearly half of all aggressive encounters occur between opposite sexes.



This finding contrasts with previous studies that focused mostly on same-sex competition. These older views assumed that males and females compete for different resources, leading to separate social hierarchies.



“The observation that, in most populations, any given individual is more likely to be involved in a fight against another individual of the opposite rather than the same sex highlights that the battle of the sexes is common in other animals,” said Dieter Lukas from the Max Planck Institute.



The researchers then studied the outcomes of these conflicts to identify whether males or females tend to dominate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-male-dominance-is-rare-in-primates">Male dominance is rare in primates</h2>



Traditionally, many assumed that male dominance is the default in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/laughter-lifts-bonobo-moods-offering-clues-to-human-emotion/">primate</a> societies. Iconic cases like female-dominant bonobos or lemurs were seen as rare exceptions.



Yet this study revealed a more complex picture. Among the 151 primate populations with quantitative data, only 17 percent showed strict male dominance. In comparison, 13 percent showed strict female dominance.



The remaining 70 percent of populations displayed moderate or no clear dominance by either sex. 



“Recent research started to challenge the traditional views of male dominance being the default status, and our study now provides a more comprehensive exploration of variation in intersexual dominance relationships," noted Peter Kappeler from the German Primate Center.



The research marks a major shift from old assumptions, showing that rigid male dominance is far less common than once believed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-female-primates-take-charge">When female primates take charge</h2>



To explain these varied outcomes, the researchers tested five hypotheses. The strongest support emerged for the reproductive control hypothesis.



In species where females gain more control over reproduction, they are more likely to dominate socially as well. This pattern appears in species that are monogamous, arboreal, or where males and females are similar in size.



In such species, females can often reject male advances. They also tend to live in environments that allow them to avoid physical coercion.



Female dominance also flourishes in societies with high female-female <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-animal-will-replace-humans-as-earths-dominant-species-this-scientist-has-an-idea/">competition</a>. This includes pair-living or solitary species where females are territorial and fiercely guard resources.



Interestingly, female dominance often coincides with low sexual dimorphism, short periods of sexual receptivity, and balanced sex ratios within groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-male-primates-keep-power">Where male primates keep power</h2>



Conversely, male-biased dominance typically appears in terrestrial, polygynous species with high sexual dimorphism. In these societies, males dominate through sheer physical power.



“Critically, while primate males gain power via physical force and coercion, female empowerment relies on alternative pathways, such as reproductive strategies to gain control over matings,” noted Elise Huchard from the <a href="https://www.umontpellier.fr/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Montpellier</a>.



This pattern often involves larger male body size, specialized weapons like large canines, and polygynous mating systems. Terrestrial species are especially prone to this male-dominated structure, as females have fewer opportunities to escape or resist male control.



The findings reveal that the ecological context - whether arboreal or terrestrial - shapes the way power is exercised.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-female-power-shifts-within-primates">Female power shifts within primates</h2>



One striking discovery is that dominance patterns often vary within a species. The study revealed wide-ranging variation in female dominance across different populations of the same species.



For example, in bonobos, females win between 48 percent and 79 percent of contests with males, depending on the group. Other species show similar variation, proving that social dynamics can shift based on local conditions.



Some species even display all three dominance types - female-biased, male-biased, and neutral - across different groups.



The researchers also noted a clear link between evolutionary history and dominance patterns. Great apes and African and Asian monkeys tend to show male-biased dominance, while lemurs and lorises frequently show female dominance. New World monkeys often fall somewhere in between.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-competition-and-female-dominance">Competition and female dominance </h2>



Another major finding comes from testing the female competition hypothesis. The study found that species with intense female-female competition often show female-biased dominance.



Such competition appears frequently in pair-living or solitary species where females exclude rivals from resources. Female dominance also tends to emerge in stable social groups where female conflicts over food are common.



Interestingly, ecological harshness and environmental unpredictability were not strong predictors of female dominance, despite past claims to the contrary.



Instead, social structure and mating systems - such as group stability and reproductive strategies - emerged as stronger influences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-female-parenting-and-primate-power">Female parenting and primate power</h2>



The study also explored the offspring safety hypothesis, which links dominance to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/orangutan-mothers-have-unique-parenting-styles-like-humans/">parenting</a> strategies. It found that female-biased dominance is more common in species where mothers park their young rather than carrying them constantly.



Species with shorter lactation periods and lower risks of male-inflicted infanticide also tend to show greater female dominance. These traits reduce the cost of engaging in risky conflicts with males.



Interestingly, allomaternal care, where other group members help care for infants, also plays a role in shaping power dynamics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-bonds-and-female-dominance">Social bonds and female dominance </h2>



Researchers also tested whether female social bonds, such as coalition formation, explain female dominance. Their findings showed only limited support for this idea.



While female philopatry - where females remain in their birth group - was linked to greater female dominance, this pattern was not strongly tied to coalition formation.



This challenges theories that female alliances drive dominance in species like bonobos. The authors suggest that in many cases, sex-biased dispersal may be a result of dominance structures rather than their cause.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-view-of-power-and-evolution">New view of power and evolution</h2>



The findings offer a profound shift in how we think about male and female <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-endangered-primate-species-identified-in-new-report/">primates</a> - and humans - by revealing that dominance is not fixed by nature but shaped by many intertwined factors.



Female power often emerges through reproductive strategies, social competition, and ecological flexibility. Male dominance, on the other hand, typically relies on brute force, physical coercion, and ecological constraints.



By showing that female dominance is neither rare nor accidental, this research opens the door to new ways of thinking about gender roles. 



Ultimately, the study highlights that both male and female dominance can emerge through different routes, depending on specific ecological and social pressures.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2500405122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Female dominance in primates is more common than we thought

Gender dynamics among primates have long fascinated both scientists and...

Family ties span generations in ways that often go unnoticed. Beyond the immediate household, the quiet bond between grandparents and grandchildren can play a powerful role in shaping lives.



A recent study by Olivia Healy and Rachel Dunifon at <a href="https://www.cornell.edu">Cornell University</a> sheds light on these overlooked ties.



Grandparents have long played an important role in families. They offer guidance, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/speech-pattern-wfd-that-is-a-clear-indication-a-person-is-in-cognitive-decline/">care</a>, and sometimes even financial support. Prior to this study, however, little was known about how close most children live to their grandparents. 



The researchers explored this connection using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), a major long-term survey that collects detailed information about American households. 



The study revealed that many children live surprisingly near their grandparents. This closeness affects how families share time, care, and resources.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-kids-live-near-grandparents">Many kids live near grandparents</h2>



Earlier studies measured proximity using broad ranges, such as within 25 or 30 miles. That approach left out crucial details about families living extremely close together.



Healy and Dunifon used precise geographic data from the PSID. They measured distances down to census blocks - the smallest geographic units available in census data. This allowed them to see exactly how many children lived within walking distance of their grandparents.



The analysis showed that nearly half of American grandchildren live within 10 miles of a grandparent. About 13 percent of grandchildren live within just one mile. Surprisingly, this group is just as large as the group living 500 miles or more away.



The numbers suggest that many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/losing-loved-ones-can-speed-up-biological-aging/">families</a> have daily opportunities for interaction and mutual support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-families-living-nearby-often-face-struggles">Families living nearby often face struggles</h2>



Living near grandparents is not evenly spread across all families. The researchers found clear differences based on education, income, and family structure.



Families living closer to grandparents tend to face more economic challenges. Many have lower levels of education, and unmarried parents are more common in these households. 



For example, 39 percent of mothers living within one mile of a grandparent have a high school degree or less. This compares to just 20 percent for families living at least 500 miles away.



These nearby families also tend to have lower household incomes and more single-parent households. Incomes for these close-knit families are often far below those of families living farther away.



Additionally, maternal grandparents are more likely to live near their grandchildren. The study found that 63 percent of close-living families were near the maternal side, compared to only 51 percent for those at greater distances.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-families-share-more-time">Nearby families share more time</h2>



Proximity has a powerful effect on how much time <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/friends-family-members-and-guardians-dogs-are-more-than-just-pets/">families</a> spend helping each other. Healy and Dunifon found that the closer families live, the more time they exchange.



Among families living within one mile of a grandparent, 61 percent reported receiving help from grandparents. Nearly the same share, 62 percent, reported providing help in return. 



These families often devote many hours to helping one another. Those living within one mile received a median of 208 hours of help per year and provided 128 hours in return.



The numbers drop sharply as distance increases. Families living 500 miles or more away reported far fewer hours of shared help. The researchers confirmed that these differences were meaningful through statistical testing.



“Substantial numbers of grandchildren live very close to a grandparent,” said Dunifon. “Additionally, our results reveal that the characteristics of families living very close to grandparents differ from the characteristics of those living just a little farther away.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-of-monetary-support">Limits of monetary support</h2>



Interestingly, financial exchanges do not follow the same pattern as time-based support. The study found little difference in the likelihood of receiving money from grandparents based on distance.



Roughly one-fourth of families across most distance categories received money from grandparents. One exception stood out: families living more than 500 miles away reported higher median financial support, about $2,000 annually. 



However, this spike did not suggest a consistent pattern of greater financial help among distant families.



When it came to giving money back to grandparents, proximity mattered slightly. Families living within 1 mile were somewhat more likely to provide financial assistance to grandparents than those living farther away.



Still, the key finding remained clear. Time-based exchanges dominate family interactions at close distances. Money plays a smaller, less predictable role.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-childcare-support-from-grandparents">Childcare support from grandparents </h2>



The study’s findings carry important lessons for understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-couples-consider-their-pets-as-children-redefining-concepts-of-family-and-parenting/">modern family</a> life. Families living near grandparents often build daily habits around mutual support.



“This suggests that family members living in very close proximity are highly embedded in each other’s lives," noted Dunifon.



Many of these time transfers likely involve childcare. This has wide-reaching effects. Grandparents can ease the burdens of working parents by caring for young children. Parents benefit from added help, while grandparents may gain emotional rewards from spending time with grandchildren.



Studies suggest that grandparents feel greater well-being when involved with their grandchildren. This highlights the potential benefits of these close living arrangements for all generations involved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-near-grandparents-strengthens-bonds">Living near grandparents strengthens bonds </h2>



This research stands out for focusing specifically on families with children. Previous studies largely focused on parents and adult children, often ignoring the presence of grandchildren.



By including grandchildren, Healy and Dunifon offer a more complete picture of family support networks. They also examined how distance shapes both time and money transfers, showing that proximity creates stronger daily connections.



“We highlight the significant numbers of grandchildren living in very close proximity to their grandparents and demonstrate that geographic distance, at a very fine scale, is linked to important time investments to and from households,” Dunifon said.



These findings also challenge assumptions that distant grandparents send more money to compensate for less face-to-face interaction. The study suggests that wealthier, distant families may not need as much financial help.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distance-deserves-closer-study">Distance deserves closer study</h2>



The researchers acknowledge some limits in their study. Their sample only includes grandparents who appear in the PSID dataset. This means their findings may not capture all families.



The team noted that some families may move closer in anticipation of major life events, like the birth of a grandchild. This possibility raises questions about how much of the observed proximity results from deliberate choices.



Still, the findings reveal strong evidence that geographic closeness shapes family life in America today. Future research may explore how these patterns affect the well-being of all three generations involved.



In the end, the study leaves readers with a clear message: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-u-s-just-expanded-its-territory-by-a-million-square-kilometers/">geography</a> plays a crucial role in American family life, and many children live closer to their grandparents than we might expect.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.demographic-research.org/articles/volume/52/34" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Demographic Research</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

When grandparents live nearby, family support grows stronger

Family ties span generations in ways that often go unnoticed....

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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



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



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

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

[sendtonews key="iuA5mpp3jv-1641775-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Kings Canyon National Park&nbsp;is an American&nbsp;national park&nbsp;in the southern&nbsp;Sierra Nevada, in&nbsp;Fresno&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tulare Counties,&nbsp;California. Originally established in 1890 as General Grant National Park, the park was greatly expanded and renamed to Kings Canyon National Park on March 4, 1940. The park's namesake, Kings Canyon, is a rugged&nbsp;glacier-carved valley more than a mile (1,600&nbsp;m) deep. Other natural features include multiple 14,000-foot (4,300&nbsp;m) peaks, high mountain meadows, swift-flowing rivers, and some of the world's largest stands of&nbsp;giant sequoia&nbsp;trees. Kings Canyon is north of and contiguous with&nbsp;Sequoia National Park, and both parks are jointly administered by the&nbsp;National Park Service&nbsp;as the&nbsp;Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.



There are fourteen campgrounds in these parks, including three that are open year-round. Campgrounds require reservations in advance, and sites are usually full.&nbsp;

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

News coming your way