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



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



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



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



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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The west coast of South America

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

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



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



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



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



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



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Massive dust storm moves over eastern China 

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



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



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



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



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



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



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



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Tunupa Volcano in southwestern Bolivia

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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The Brahmaputra river in northern India

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



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



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



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



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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Messina Strait in the Mediterranean Sea

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Great Lakes on February 13, 2023. On this day, ice cover on the lakes was seven percent. According to NASA, this is the lowest ice cover measured on February 13 of any year since satellite-based record keeping began in 1973.



"So far this winter, the Great Lakes have been unusually ice-free. As of February 14, 2023, ice covered only 6.6 percent of the five freshwater lakes, which is significantly less than the 35-40 percent ice cover that is typical for mid-February," says NASA.



"Ice extent across the Great Lakes Basin briefly jumped to 21 percent in early February in response to a cold snap. But since then, it has declined through at least mid-February. Maximum ice cover typically occurs between mid-February and early March."



A study led by Jia Wang, an ice climatologist at NOAA’s GLERL, has revealed that ice cover on the Great Lakes has been on a downward trend for the last 44 years. From 1973 to 2017, the average winter ice cover declined by 69 percent.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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Ice cover on the Great Lakes is on a downward cycle

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Lake Hamun, a seasonal lake in the Sistan region on the Afghanistan-Iran border. The lake and surrounding wetlands have been shrinking as a result of persistent drought, leading to reduced vegetation and exposed dust. These changes have transformed the basin into a major source of dust storms.



"While dust storms are most common in the summer, they happen year-round as long as the lake is dry and the winds are strong. That was the case on January 12, 2023, when the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-20 satellite captured this image of dust streaming from the dry lake bed," says NASA.



In January 2023, a team of experts led by UCLA reported that airborne dust has likely increased by 55 percent on a global scale since pre-industrial times. The researchers said this is largely due to more frequent dust storms in Asia and North Africa.&nbsp;



The team estimates that the cooling effect of airborne dust has likely masked about eight percent of the warming caused by greenhouse gases since the preindustrial era.



“Our findings imply that greenhouses gases alone could cause even more climate warming than models currently predict,” said UCLA atmospheric physicist Jasper Kok. “This is of tremendous importance because better predictions can inform better decisions of how to mitigate or adapt to climate change.”



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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Lake Hamun is a major source of dust storms

Cocklebur is an invasive plant native to Southern Europe, Central Asia, and China that has recently spread worldwide and is frequently found in moist or sandy areas such as riverbanks or roadside ditches. Although many consider cocklebur to be nothing more than a noxious weed, a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.mju.ac.kr/us/index..do">Myongji University</a> in South Korea has found that its fruits have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory components, which could make it useful as a skin protectant and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/anti-aging-hormone/">anti-aging</a> product.



By performing a series of laboratory tests, the scientists discovered that compounds in this plants’ spiky fruits can reduce damage from UVB exposure, speed wound healing, and influence the production of collagen, a protein that gives skin its elasticity and prevents the appearance of wrinkles. Comparing the bioactivity of cocklebur fruits grown in different places, the experts found that those grown in South Korea had slightly higher anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as greater would healing activity, than those from China.



“We found that cocklebur fruit has the potential to protect the skin and help enhance production of collagen,” said Eunsu Song, a doctoral student at Myongji. “In this regard, it could be an attractive ingredient for creams or other cosmetic forms. It will likely show a synergistic effect if it is mixed with other effective compounds, such as hyaluronic acid or retinoic acid, against aging.”



However, the scientists warn that high doses of cocklebur fruit extract could be dangerous. “In its burrs, cocklebur fruit also has a toxic constituent, carboxyatractyloside, which can damage the liver. Cocklebur showed a potential as a cosmetic agent by increasing collagen synthesis; however, it showed negative results with higher concentrations. Therefore, finding the proper concentration seems very important and would be key to commercializing cocklebur fruit extracts in cosmetics,” Song said.



In future research, the scientists plan to investigate in greater depth the biological mechanisms involved and conduct animal experiments to explore ways to safely adapt cocklebur fruit extracts for use in cosmetic products.



The study was presented at <a href="https://discoverbmb.asbmb.org/">Discover BMB</a>, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (March 25–28 in Seattle). An abstract can be downloaded <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/w89lgsss34tile5/Song_abstract.pdf?dl=0">here</a>.



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



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Invasive weed has anti-aging properties

Cocklebur is an invasive plant native to Southern Europe, Central...

In the heart of North America's most arid and scorching desert, climate change is driving the decline of plant species once believed to be nearly indestructible. In their place, shorter shrubs are emerging, capitalizing on sporadic rainfall and warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



Although this phenomenon has been observed in temperate mountain regions, a new study from the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/">University of California, Riverside</a> (UCR) reveals unexpected patterns of plant redistribution in the Sonoran Desert.



Study first author Tesa Madsen-Hepp pointed out that the findings challenge conventional expectations: "The plants are shifting, but in weird ways. We thought most of them would move to higher elevations with cooler temperatures. But while some lower-elevation trees are declining and shifting upwards, we’re also seeing some other species moving down, toward hotter parts of the desert."



The research, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14308">Functional Ecology</a>, not only documents these surprising shifts in elevation but also investigates the physical characteristics of the plants in question to uncover the reasons behind this change.



The research team conducted their study in 2019 at the Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center, located just south of Palm Desert. This area, spanning an 8,000-foot desert-to-mountaintop range, had been previously examined by ecologists in 1977 and 2008, providing valuable context for the recent findings.



Madsen-Hepp notes that some traditionally stress-tolerant species, such as California juniper and pinyon pine, are declining or shifting upwards, yet they are not thriving in their new locations. By contrast, plant species with shallower root systems, like brittlebush, burrow bush, and ocotillo, are taking over their former low-elevation spots. These shorter plants are not only less reliant on deep soil water, but they can also grow faster and invest fewer resources in their leaves.



Study senior author Professor Marko Spasojevic describes these species as "weedier." He says that these plants have "cheaper" leaves in terms of carbon cost to produce them, and they are drought deciduous, meaning they can shed leaves during stressful conditions and wait for the drought to subside.



Plants that retain their leaves year-round typically invest in thicker leaves with higher carbon content, putting them at a disadvantage compared to those that can easily shed leaves. When plants drop their leaves, the atmosphere can no longer draw water from them, reducing the burden on their roots to replenish the lost water.



According to Madsen-Hepp, the "live-slow-die-old" strategy that used to work for plants in this extreme environment is no longer effective due to increased climate stress. Once these plants reach their physiological thresholds, she warns, there is little that can be done to revive them.



The researchers also discovered that, contrary to more temperate ecosystems, the lower desert elevations are warming faster than the higher ones. The shrubs and bushes taking over are not necessarily originating from the highest points in the desert, but rather are lower-elevation plants expanding their range.



The observed upward range shifts of approximately 29 meters per decade are consistent with the higher end of global rates for plant movement in response to climate warming. On average, plants in temperate regions have shown range shift rates between 5 and 30 meters a decade.



Professor Spasojevic emphasizes the vulnerability of desert ecosystems to climate change, stating that they may be even more sensitive than Arctic and alpine ecosystems, which are typically seen as bellwethers for climate change. He urges the reduction of fossil fuel emissions as the key to alleviating stress on these fragile environments.



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Even desert plants are not immune to climate stress

In the heart of North America's most arid and scorching...

Woolly,Mammoth,,Prehistoric,Mammal,In,Foggy,Landscape,(3d,Illustration)

A groundbreaking project led by Australian company <a href="https://www.vowfood.com/">Vow</a> has successfully created a meatball using the recreated flesh of the long-extinct woolly mammoth, demonstrating the potential of growing flesh from cells without the need for animal slaughter. This project emphasizes the connection between large-scale livestock production and the destruction of wildlife and the ongoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-will-climate-impact-the-beetles-that-protect-our-crops/">climate</a> crisis.



Vow aims to use cells from unconventional species to develop new types of meat. The company has already explored the potential of over 50 species, including alpaca, buffalo, crocodile, kangaroo, peacocks, and various fish. Bas Korsten of creative agency Wunderman Thompson initially conceived the idea for the mammoth meatball.



"We chose the woolly mammoth because it's a symbol of diversity loss and a symbol of climate change," Vox co-founder Tim Noakesmith told The Guardian. Woolly mammoths are believed to have gone extinct due to hunting by humans and the warming of the world after the last ice age.



To recreate the mammoth muscle protein, Vow collaborated with Professor Ernst Wolvetang and his team at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering at the University of Queensland. They took the DNA sequence for mammoth myoglobin, a key muscle protein that gives meat its flavor, and filled in the gaps using DNA from an elephant. This sequence was then placed in myoblast stem cells from a sheep, which replicated to grow the 20 billion cells used by Vow to create the mammoth meat.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/woolly-mammoth-meatball_Vow-corporation-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1916101"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: <a href="http://www.vowfoods.com/">Vow Foods</a></figcaption></figure>



"It was ridiculously easy and fast," said Professor Wolvetang. "We did this in a couple of weeks." The initial plan was to produce dodo meat, but the required DNA sequences did not exist.



Although Vow has managed to create the mammoth meatball, no one has had the chance to taste it yet. Professor Wolvetang explained, "We haven't seen this protein for thousands of years, so we have no idea how our immune system would react when we eat it. But if we did it again, we could certainly do it in a way that would make it more palatable to regulatory bodies."



Large-scale meat production has significant environmental impacts, and many studies suggest that the climate crisis can only be addressed by reducing meat consumption in wealthier nations.&nbsp;



George Peppou, CEO of Vow, said that his company's goal is to transition a few billion meat eaters away from eating (conventional) animal protein to eating things that can be produced in electrified systems. "And we believe the best way to do that is to invent meat. We look for cells that are easy to grow, really tasty and nutritious, and then mix and match those cells to create really tasty meat."



Vow's first cultivated meat product for consumers will be Japanese quail, which is set to be available in Singaporean restaurants this year. While plant-based meat alternatives are common, cultured meat like that produced by Vow replicates the taste of conventional meat. At present, a chicken product made by Good Meat is the only cultivated meat available to diners and can only be purchased in Singapore. However, two companies have recently passed an approval process in the United States.



Woolly mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius) were large, prehistoric elephant-like mammals that lived during the Pleistocene epoch, approximately 4.8 million to 4,000 years ago. They inhabited the cold, northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. Woolly mammoths were well-adapted to their icy environment, with thick layers of fat, long, shaggy hair, and a hump of fat on their backs to help them survive the frigid temperatures.



These herbivorous animals had long, curved tusks that could reach up to 16 feet in length, which they used for foraging, fighting, and digging through snow to reach vegetation. They are believed to have primarily fed on grasses, shrubs, and other plant material.



Woolly mammoths are thought to have gone extinct primarily due to hunting by humans and the warming of the world after the last ice age, which led to habitat loss and changes in vegetation. The extinction of the woolly mammoth is often cited as an example of the impact of human activity and climate change on biodiversity.



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Company creates meatballs from extinct woolly mammoth

A groundbreaking project led by Australian company Vow has successfully...

In a groundbreaking psychological study conducted by the <a href="https://www.essex.ac.uk/">University of Essex</a> and Humboldt University of Berlin, researchers have debunked the long-standing myth that drugs fuel creative thinking. Contrary to the popular belief that substance abuse leads to artistic breakthroughs, the study found that narcotics are, in fact, the least effective way to inspire creativity.



This revelation may come as a shock to those who have idolized hard-living musicians, writers, and artists for their seemingly drug-fueled creativity. The study found that the most effective methods to enhance creativity were complex training programs, meditation, and exposure to different cultures. Alcohol and pharmaceutical amphetamines, such as Adderall, had no significant influence on inspiration whatsoever.



"We examined hundreds of papers to uncover the best ways to boost creativity, and I hope the findings will help the growing number of people who rely on their creativity to earn a living," said Dr. Paul Hanel from Essex's Department of Psychology. "What worked best were complex training courses, meditation, and cultural exposure such as studying abroad. We believe it is a positive message that drugs do not enhance creativity, given the side effects of drugs."



The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/aca0000557">Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts</a>, scrutinized the findings from thousands of participants to unravel the mysteries of creativity. The researchers concluded that training programs that emphasize mental techniques to unpack the creative process have the most substantial long-term impacts on creativity. Moreover, they discovered that mindfulness activities such as meditation and open thinking boosted imagination in the short term.



Another crucial finding was that immersing oneself in different countries and experiencing diverse cultures can unconsciously broaden one's horizons. However, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to fostering creativity, as individuals respond better to various situations and techniques.



The researchers hope that their findings will aid schools and employers in better understanding creative thinking.&nbsp;



"Although it once seemed the preserve of artists, creativity is everywhere in the modern world," said Dr. Hanel. "Everyone from family businesses through to giant companies needs to produce material to show their wares on social media. This could be the difference between success or failure for many people, and I hope that this study will help them find inspiration."



"There are many ways to enhance and encourage creative thinking," said study lead author Jennifer Haase. "Creativity is not a skill to be learned and then applied. Creativity results much more from a situational fit between the cognitive mindset and the creative challenge."



Meditation has a significant impact on creativity by fostering a mental environment conducive to innovative thinking and problem-solving. Here's how meditation can enhance creativity:



<ol>
<li>Improved focus and concentration: Meditation helps train the mind to focus on the present moment and eliminate distractions. This heightened level of concentration enables individuals to delve deeper into their thoughts, paving the way for creative ideas and solutions to emerge.</li>



<li>Stress reduction: High levels of stress can impede creativity by making it challenging to think clearly and freely. Meditation is known to reduce stress, calm the mind, and promote relaxation. As a result, the mind is more open to accessing its creative potential.</li>



<li>Enhanced mindfulness: Mindfulness meditation encourages non-judgmental awareness of one's thoughts and emotions. This heightened awareness can lead to the recognition of novel ideas, patterns, and connections that might have been previously overlooked.</li>



<li>Cognitive flexibility: Meditation promotes cognitive flexibility by helping individuals detach from rigid thinking patterns and embrace new perspectives. This flexibility is essential for creative thinking, as it enables people to explore alternative solutions, perspectives, and ideas.</li>



<li>Increased openness to experiences: Regular meditation practice can lead to increased openness to new experiences and ideas, which is a critical component of creativity. Being open to new ideas and perspectives allows individuals to think outside the box and approach problems in innovative ways.</li>



<li>Enhanced neural connections: Research has shown that meditation can alter the brain's structure and connectivity. These changes can lead to improved cognitive functioning, including enhanced creativity. For example, meditation has been linked to increased activity in the default mode network, a brain network associated with creative thinking and daydreaming.</li>
</ol>



Meditation positively impacts creativity by improving focus, reducing stress, enhancing mindfulness, promoting cognitive flexibility, increasing openness to experiences, and fostering beneficial neural connections. By incorporating regular meditation into their routines, individuals can tap into their creative potential and improve their problem-solving abilities.



In conclusion, the Essex Department of Psychology study challenges the long-held notion that drugs and alcohol can spark creativity, offering more effective and healthier alternatives for individuals seeking to enhance their imaginative abilities.



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Meditation is far better than drugs to spark creativity

In a groundbreaking psychological study conducted by the University of...

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> has led to a significant shift in our understanding of the origins of plant branching. By investigating the mechanisms responsible for this process, the scientists have uncovered insights into the appearance of Earth's first land plants millions of years ago.



The research, which focused on vascular plants, has identified a common mechanism for branching despite the fact that these plants exhibit fundamentally different growth patterns.



"Diverse shapes abound in the dominant flowering plant group, and gardeners will be familiar with 'pinching out' plants' shoot tips to stimulate side branch growth, leading to a bushier overall form. However, unlike flowering plants, other vascular plants branch by splitting the shoot apex into two during growth, a process known as 'dichotomy,'" said Dr. Jill Harrison from Bristol's School of Biological Sciences.



The team examined lycophytes, an ancient vascular plant lineage that formed coal seams during the Carboniferous era, as they preserve the ancestral pattern of dichotomous branching. Through a series of surgical experiments on a lycophyte specimen, the researchers discovered that dichotomy is regulated by short-range auxin transport and coordinated in different parts of the plant by long-range auxin transport.



These findings, published in the journal <a href="https://journals.biologists.com/dev">Development</a>, reveal that both flowering and lycophyte branching are regulated by auxin transport. This suggests that similar mechanisms were present in the earliest vascular plants around 420 million years ago.&nbsp;



By combining this new knowledge with discoveries made in the non-vascular, non-branching moss group, the researchers were able to infer the appearance of the first land plants about 480 million years ago.



In a previous study, Dr. Harrison's lab disrupted auxin transport in a moss, causing it to branch in a manner akin to the earliest branching fossils. The combination of these studies implies that the earliest land plants were branched and that branching was lost during the evolution of non-vascular mosses.



Dr. Harrison emphasized the importance of this discovery: "The greening of the land by plants paved the way for all terrestrial life to evolve as it provided food for animals and oxygen to breathe, and branching was a key innovation in the radiation of land plants. Our work implies that branching evolved earlier than thought, which is an important evolutionary conclusion."



Moreover, the revelation that distantly related plants use the same genetic mechanisms to regulate branching offers significant potential for future applications. "The fact that we have shown that plants that are so distantly related use the same genetic mechanisms to regulate branching brings great potential to transfer knowledge in engineering plant shape to improve future productivity and yield," said Dr. Harrison.



Plants play a critical role in maintaining Earth's ecosystems and are essential for the survival of countless organisms, including humans. Here are some of the reasons why plants are so important to the Earth's ecosystems, and why determining exactly how plants evolved is vital to science as we strive to protect them during this period of climate change.



<ol>
<li>Oxygen production: Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into oxygen and glucose. The oxygen they release is vital for the survival of aerobic organisms, including humans and other animals.</li>



<li>Carbon sequestration: Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, using it for photosynthesis and storing it in their tissues. This process, known as carbon sequestration, helps to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.</li>



<li>Food source: Plants form the basis of the food chain, providing energy and nutrients for herbivores, which in turn are consumed by carnivores and omnivores. Without plants, the entire food chain would collapse, causing a massive loss of biodiversity and ecological imbalance.</li>



<li>Habitat provision: Plants create habitats for various organisms, including insects, birds, and mammals. These habitats offer shelter, protection from predators, and breeding grounds for countless species.</li>



<li>Soil formation and preservation: Plant roots help to bind and stabilize the soil, reducing erosion and promoting the formation of new soil. Decomposing plant material also contributes to the formation of nutrient-rich humus, which is essential for the growth of other plants and the overall health of the ecosystem.</li>



<li>Nutrient cycling: Plants play a crucial role in nutrient cycling, taking up nutrients from the soil and incorporating them into their tissues. When plants die and decompose, these nutrients are released back into the soil, making them available for use by other organisms.</li>



<li>Water cycle regulation: Plants help regulate the water cycle by absorbing water from the soil and releasing it into the atmosphere through transpiration. This process contributes to the formation of clouds and precipitation, ensuring a continuous supply of water for the ecosystem.</li>



<li>Climate regulation: Plants influence local and global climate through the processes of evapotranspiration, carbon sequestration, and albedo (the reflection of solar radiation). By affecting temperature, humidity, and other climatic factors, plants play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the Earth's ecosystems.</li>



<li>Medicinal resources: Many plants have medicinal properties and are used to treat various health conditions. They are an essential source of pharmaceutical compounds and play a significant role in the development of new medicines.</li>



<li>Aesthetic and cultural value: Plants contribute to the aesthetic beauty of our environment and have significant cultural value in many societies. They have inspired art, literature, and countless human traditions and beliefs throughout history.</li>
</ol>



In summary, plants are indispensable for maintaining the balance and functioning of Earth's ecosystems. They provide oxygen, food, shelter, and countless other benefits that are essential for the survival of organisms and the health of the planet.



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What did the first plants on Earth look like?

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University of...

Dogs have long been considered our best friends, assisting humans in various tasks such as hunting, guarding, and herding. However, research on dog cognition and the nature of dog-human relationships has primarily focused on Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) societies. This leaves a gap in our understanding of the complex bonds between dogs and their owners in diverse cultural environments.&nbsp;



To address this, a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Geoanthropology and the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/index/">MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology</a> studied data on the functions and treatment of dogs in 124 globally distributed societies.



The researchers examined ethnographic data from the eHRAF cross-cultural database to identify societies where dogs serve any of five main functions: hunting, defense, guarding herds, herding, and carrying or transporting supplies. They then gathered data on how dogs were treated in these societies and coded it into three dimensions: positive care, negative treatment, and personhood.



Their findings revealed that the number of functions a dog performs in a society is positively associated with positive care and personhood, and negatively associated with negative treatment. However, not all functions influenced treatment equally.



For example, herding was particularly likely to increase positive care, while hunting had no impact on positive care or negative treatment but did increase the odds of personhood. This suggests that in societies where dogs are kept for hunting, humans are more likely to name their dogs and perceive them as family members.



Interestingly, the study also found that negative treatment and positive care are not mutually exclusive. Out of the 77 societies with data for all three dimensions of dog treatment, 32 showed the presence of both positive care and negative treatment. This indicates that the dog-human relationship is not as simple as "man's best friend," but involves a complex balance between offering care and minimizing costs.



“Our study adds a systematic test for explaining the cultural drivers that shape the variety of dog-human bonds around the world,” said Juliane Bräuer of the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology. “This represents a first step into understanding whether the cognitive and social skills associated with dogs are universal or are influenced by the cultural environment the dogs live in.”



Dogs became human companions through a process known as domestication, which started around 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. The domestication of dogs is thought to have begun when wolves, the ancestors of modern dogs, began to scavenge near human campsites. Over time, a mutually beneficial relationship developed between early humans and these wolves.



The exact process of dog domestication remains debated among scientists, but there are two main hypotheses:



<ol>
<li>Self-domestication hypothesis: This theory suggests that wolves that were more comfortable around humans and showed less fear and aggression had a higher chance of accessing the food scraps left behind by early human populations. As a result, these wolves had a higher survival rate and eventually began to reproduce more successfully than their more aggressive counterparts. Over generations, these tamer wolves evolved into a separate population that increasingly relied on humans for food and protection, eventually leading to the emergence of the first domesticated dogs.</li>



<li>Active domestication hypothesis: In this scenario, early humans took a more active role in the domestication process. They may have captured wolf pups and raised them as pets or working animals, selecting for specific traits such as tameness, loyalty, or hunting ability. As humans selectively bred these wolves, they began to diverge from their wild counterparts, eventually giving rise to the diverse dog breeds we know today.</li>
</ol>



Throughout history, dogs have played various roles in human societies, from hunting and herding to companionship and protection. This close relationship has led to the coevolution of dogs and humans, with both species adapting to the needs of each other. Dogs have developed unique cognitive and social skills that help them understand and communicate with humans, while humans have also evolved to better understand and interpret dog behavior.



The researchers hope that future studies will shed more light on the history of dog-human cooperation. For instance, while roughly half of the world's societies keep dogs for only one purpose, the other half utilize them in multiple ways. Why did some societies begin employing dogs for multiple purposes? Did such use provide significant benefits? And if so, what were they? Answering these questions will offer new insights into how dogs and humans have influenced each other throughout our shared history.



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31938-5">Scientific Reports</a>.



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How dogs function in society impacts how they are treated

Dogs have long been considered our best friends, assisting humans...

Climate change has predominantly been studied in the context of larger, long-lived species with low reproductive rates. However, researchers from the <a href="https://www.dpz.eu/en/home.html">German Primate Center</a> – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Zurich, have turned their attention to the often overlooked smaller species with high reproductive rates, focusing on the mouse lemurs of Madagascar. These tiny creatures, known for their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, could provide critical insights into the impact of climate change on biodiversity in the tropics.



Mouse lemurs thrive in the forests of Madagascar, where they depend on the five-month rainy season to produce offspring and build up a fat reserve to endure the cool dry season when food becomes scarce. But with the rainy season growing drier and the dry season warmer due to climate change, can mouse lemurs continue to adapt and survive? The researchers' long-term data analysis suggests that climate change is causing significant destabilization in mouse lemur populations, putting them at an increased risk of extinction.



Claudia Fichtel and Peter Kappeler from the German Primate Center have been studying lemurs in Madagascar for many years, compiling an invaluable data set that spans 26 years, from 1994 to 2020. Their work has centered on the demographic structure of a mouse lemur population at the DPZ research station in Madagascar. During the same period, climate data revealed a trend of increasingly drier rainy seasons and warmer dry seasons in the region.



In collaboration with their University of Zurich colleagues, Fichtel and Kappeler analyzed the data and discovered an alarming correlation between climate change and the stability of the mouse lemur population. They observed a rise in mortality rates alongside increasing reproductive rates in the lemurs.&nbsp;



"These opposing trends have prevented a collapse of the mouse lemur population, but have nevertheless led to a destabilization of the population, as the already fast life cycle of the animals has been further accelerated," explained Fichtel.



Mouse lemurs have been living on Madagascar for millions of years. The exact time of their arrival on the island is challenging to pinpoint, but fossil and genetic evidence suggests that lemurs have inhabited Madagascar for at least 50 million years. The ancestors of modern lemurs likely reached Madagascar by rafting on vegetation mats from mainland Africa, after which they diversified into the many different lemur species we see today, including mouse lemurs.



This fluctuation in population size, driven by climate change, poses a significant threat to the survival of mouse lemurs and could ultimately result in the extinction of the species. Peter Kappeler notes that "even an animal species that is supposedly able to adapt easily to changing environmental conditions thanks to a high reproductive rate is threatened in its survival by climate changes." This is particularly concerning, as lemurs are endemic to Madagascar and are considered the world's most endangered mammals.



Claudia Fichtel emphasizes the importance of incorporating demographic stability data when assessing the extinction risk of a species, although she acknowledges that such long-term observations are not yet available for many animal species. The researchers' findings serve as a stark warning of the potential biodiversity losses in the tropics due to climate change, even among species previously believed to be adaptable to environmental shifts.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2214244120">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Mouse lemurs of Madagascar are threatened with extinction

Climate change has predominantly been studied in the context of...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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



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Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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Today&#8217;s Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features an astronaut photograph of the Amazon River in Brazil. This particular stretch of river is located near the port city of Parintins.



&#8220;The river is the largest on Earth and allows seagoing ships to reach Parintins even though it is 800 kilometers (500 miles) inland from the Atlantic Ocean,&#8221; says NASA.



&#8220;Seagoing ships can progress 3,600 kilometers (2,200 miles) up the Amazon River &#8211; more than halfway across the South American continent &#8211; to the port of Iquitos in Peru.&#8221;&nbsp;



The muddy color of the river is tied to the Andes Mountains, a major source of sediments and mineral nutrients. According to NASA, the sediment erodes from the Andes Mountains located to the west and is carried generally eastward toward the ocean.&nbsp;



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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The lower Amazon River in Brazil

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the aftermath of wildfires that burned across central and southern Chile in early February 2023.



"The blazes killed dozens, injured thousands, and left many people homeless. The smoke that previously poured over the Pacific Ocean has since lessened, but the scars on the landscape remain," says NASA.



"Though fire numbers decreased by February 13, some activity continued in the Biobío, Ñuble, Araucanía, and Maule regions, and a state of emergency declared by the Chilean government on February 3 remained in place. Favorable fire conditions persisted amid low humidity, high temperatures, and winds."



The false color image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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