Dogs are hardly passive couch potatoes, yet many will pause mid play to glance at a flickering screen. A new survey now puts a number on that gaze, showing the average household dog spends about 14 minutes and 8 seconds each day actually watching television.



The work was led by animal behavior researcher Lane Montgomery of Auburn University, who, with colleagues, asked more than 650 owners to log every tail twitch, bark, or stare during TV time. Their final sample of 453 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-puppy-day-2025-where-happiness-meets-responsibility/">dogs</a> formed the backbone of the “Dog Television Viewing Scale” that underpins the study’s findings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-dogs-watch-on-television">What dogs watch on television</h2>



Excitable dogs tracked fast moving objects across the screen with surprising intensity, almost as if the ball or squirrel were zipping across the living room wall. 



Fearful or anxious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-dogs-actually-judge-people-its-not-as-simple-as-we-thought/">dogs</a>, by contrast, reacted more to non animal cues such as car horns or a recorded doorbell, hinting at a sensitivity to sudden, potentially alarming sounds.



Owners rated each pet’s temperament using standard Positive and Negative Activation Scale (<a href="https://ogg.osu.edu/media/documents/MB%20Stream/PANAS.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS</a>) questions, and high excitement scores neatly aligned with more “follow” behaviors, while high negative activation lined up with responses to inanimate or human noises. 



These links suggest that personality, not breed, age, or sex, best predicts which scenes will grip a given dog.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-dogs-see-television-images">How dogs see television images </h2>



The dog brain can treat a moving two dimensional image as if it were a real object, a skill first demonstrated when pets obeyed commands delivered via video as readily as those given by a live trainer. 



That early <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.0179-1613.2003.00923.x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> set the stage for later work showing dogs anticipate where an on screen ball will re-appear after it rolls behind a barrier, a behavior called “anticipatory looking.”



Those cognitive feats depend on visual hardware that processes images at a higher flicker fusion rate than the human eye, meaning modern high refresh rate TVs finally look smooth to dogs rather than like a strobe. 



Such technical <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635716303400?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">details</a> help explain why today’s flat panels engage pets more effectively than the cathode ray tubes of the past, which often appeared flickery to canine viewers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anxious-dogs-and-television-sounds">Anxious dogs and television sounds</h2>



Noise matters at least as much as motion. In a recent survey, only 15 percent of noise sensitive dogs reacted to visuals, but many startled at bangs or whistles piped through the speakers.



Montgomery’s team found a similar pattern: nervous dogs turned their heads when a TV car horn blared, while confident, playful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-dogs-replacing-children-how-modern-society-is-changing/">dogs</a> mostly ignored it. 



The result aligns with clinical observations that sudden, sharp noises are a common trigger for canine anxiety, whether the source is fireworks outside or surround sound inside.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-television-can-calm-shelter-dogs">Television can calm shelter dogs</h2>



Shelters have experimented with television as enrichment, yet results have been mixed because not every dog engages. 



Knowing that high excitement dogs track moving figures could help staff pick programs featuring slow pans for timid residents and gentle motion for energetic ones, maximizing benefit while avoiding overstimulation.



Research on visual enrichment devices shows cortisol levels drop only when the content matches the animal’s interest, so a one size fits all playlist rarely works. 



Tailoring videos to personality profiles derived from the new scale could turn idle screen time into an inexpensive welfare boost for thousands of kenneled dogs each year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tv-made-for-dogs-works-better">TV made for dogs works better</h2>



“DOGTV does that because of the way in which it enriches the space the dogs spend their time,” explained veterinarian David Haworth, a board member for the channel. Specialized networks such as DOGTV already tune colors, frame rates, and sound frequencies to canine preferences. 



The new study offers hard data these producers can use, confirming that scenes rich in conspecific calls and clear animal silhouettes elicit the strongest reactions from typical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-may-respond-to-each-other-through-blinking/">pets</a>. 



Conversely, clips heavy on traffic sounds may suit anxious dogs only if the goal is desensitization rather than relaxation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tv-can-help-train-dogs">TV can help train dogs</h2>



Owners trying to curb barking at the screen should first note which stimuli set their dog off, then mute or pause similar cues to prevent rehearsal of the unwanted behavior. 



For excitable dogs that lunge at animated squirrels, distance from the set and cue controlled exposure can teach calm viewing without removing the enrichment entirely.



Trainers also leverage the screen as a controlled setting for practicing impulse control: a paused video of a cat can become the “sit and stay” homework before the action resumes as a reward. 



Because the average daily viewing span is short, two or three focused sessions are usually enough to work on problem responses without overloading the dog.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tv-habits-show-how-dogs-think">TV habits show how dogs think</h2>



Montgomery’s findings may even aid neuroscientists, who rely on video clips in fMRI scanners to probe how dogs perceive faces, objects, and motion. 



Knowing which personalities will stay still for a projected movie could streamline subject selection and improve data quality.



The study also touches on the broader question of picture object recognition, a hot topic in comparative psychology. 



If dogs categorize on screen animals separately from cars, yet still anticipate motion, they might maintain flexible mental models that shift between two and three dimensional contexts with ease.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-06580-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Most dogs binge-watch television everyday

Dogs are hardly passive couch potatoes, yet many will pause mid play to glance at a flickering screen. A new survey now puts a number on that gaze, showing the average household dog spends about 14 minutes and 8 seconds each day actually watching television. The work was led by animal behavior researcher Lane Montgomery of Auburn University, who, with colleagues, asked more than 650 owners to log every tail twitch, bark, or stare during TV time. Their final sample of 453 dogs formed the backbone of...

Sea urchins don’t understand predators the way we do. They have no brains, no hearts - just raw instinct. When a sunflower sea star approaches, they don’t need complex reasoning to sense danger - they simply steer clear.



This is the conclusion of a new study that examined how sunflower sea stars affect sea urchin behavior. The research was conducted by ecologists and undergraduates at the <a href="https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/">University of California</a>, Santa Cruz.



The team set out to understand whether these massive, many-armed sea stars could help protect kelp forests by simply being present.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-stars-create-a-landscape-of-fear">Sea stars create a landscape of fear</h2>



The team from UC Santa Cruz conducted the experiment off the coast of Sitka, Alaska, where local sea urchins have wiped out once-thriving kelp forests, turning them into underwater deserts.



The students, trained in scientific diving through the university’s BIOE 159 Marine Ecology Field Quarter, placed cages on the ocean floor. Some held <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunflower-sea-stars-are-nearly-extinct-but-scientists-are-growing-them/">sunflower sea stars</a> (Pycnopodia helianthoides). Others were left empty. 



Kelp blades were tied near each cage to act as bait. The question was simple: Would sea urchins avoid the kelp if a sunflower sea star was nearby?



After just 24 hours, the answer was clear. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-red-sea-urchins-will-tolerate-climate-change-better-than-others/">Red sea urchins</a> kept their distance - about six feet, on average - from cages containing the sea stars. In contrast, green sea urchins, also present in the area, showed no hesitation and munched through the kelp.



“We show that the sea stars create a ‘landscape of fear’ among red sea urchins in degraded urchin barrens that reduces grazing on kelp,” said Kristy Kroeker, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz. 



“These are very hungry urchins that are dissuaded enough by the scent of a sea star to deter grazing on kelp forests, which is promising for thinking about their role in kelp-forest recovery.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-kelp-forests-matter">Why kelp forests matter</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kelp-forests-in-crisis-how-toxic-turf-algae-are-taking-over/">Kelp forests</a> aren’t just scenery. They provide critical shelter and breeding grounds for thousands of marine species, including commercially valuable ones like abalone and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-rockfish-give-clues-about-the-genetic-basis-of-longevity/">rockfish</a>. 



They’re also a financial powerhouse, contributing an estimated $500 billion each year to the global economy. Kelp is used in everything from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to food products like salad dressings and toothpaste.



But around 2013, something changed. A wasting disease swept through populations of sunflower sea stars, pushing them to local extinction along much of the west coast. 



At the same time, huge sections of kelp forest disappeared, especially in California and Oregon. Since then, neither the sea stars nor the kelp have made a full comeback.



That’s raised big questions. Are sea stars a key part of keeping urchin populations in check? Could bringing them back help kelp forests recover?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-students-led-the-research">Students led the research </h2>



This study didn’t come from a high-budget lab. It came from a hands-on field course that takes students into real-world research environments. 



In past years, the course has brought students to the Gulf of California in Mexico and to Moorea in French Polynesia. This time, they ended up in the chilly waters of Alaska.



“I feel very grateful to have had the privilege of working on this study alongside my peers,” said Rae Mancuso, the study’s lead author. 



“Participating in the entire process, from diving to scientific writing, was exciting and impactful as an undergraduate student. I hope the findings from this field experiment contribute in some way to the restoration of our all-important kelp forests.”



The students worked with faculty to design the experiment and set it up across three locations in urchin-dominated zones. They built pairs of cages, spaced about 60 to 100 feet apart, and monitored the urchin activity closely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-stars-scaring-off-sea-urchins">Sea stars scaring off sea urchins </h2>



Although the sea stars only deterred red sea urchins - not the green ones - researchers say it’s a promising lead. Simply putting sea stars in the area (rather than trying to remove urchins by hand) could help restore balance to the ecosystem.



Even better, this strategy might be less labor-intensive than current methods, which often require divers to manually cull urchin populations.



The researchers are also curious whether sunflower sea stars might scare off <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gray-whales-struggle-as-purple-sea-urchins-destroy-kelp-forests/">purple sea urchins</a>, the worst kelp destroyers in California. That part is still unclear.



“My educated guess is that they will deter purple urchin grazing as well, but it’s a question of how much and for how long,” Kroeker said. 



“There are many unknowns that need to be addressed and many steps that need to be taken between our results and the reintroduction of Pycnopodia for kelp-forest recovery.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0949">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



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'Terrifying' sea stars could be key to kelp forest recovery

Sea urchins don’t understand predators the way we do. They...

In the dense forests of Central and South America, a strange thing happens. Hundreds of butterfly species - most of them nearly identical in appearance - flutter through the trees, each warning predators that they’re toxic through shared colors and patterns. 



But if the butterflies all look the same, how do they find the right partner to mate with? New research reveals that these butterflies can smell each other. 



Even among species that look nearly identical, each one produces a unique scent. This tiny chemical difference is how they tell each other apart.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-of-glasswing-butterflies">Genetics of glasswing butterflies</h2>



The research was conducted by an international team of scientists led by the <a href="https://www.sanger.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wellcome Sanger Institute</a>. 



The team sequenced the genomes of dozens of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-glasswing-butterfly-has-a-unique-type-of-transparency/">glasswing butterfly</a> species - specifically focusing on two groups known for rapidly forming new species.



Glasswing butterflies are not rare. There are more than 400 species across Central and South America, and many live in the same areas. 



These butterflies are often used in conservation as "indicator species" because their presence reflects the health of the broader <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-play-important-roles-in-ecosystems/">insect ecosystem</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lookalike-butterflies-have-a-strategy">Lookalike butterflies have a strategy</h2>



What makes things tricky is that all glasswing butterflies look strikingly alike - and this similarity is no accident. It’s a defense strategy that warns predators they’re poisonous. 



But while this mimicry helps protect them, it poses a serious challenge for scientists trying to identify or monitor them in the wild.



To solve this, the research team mapped the genetics of the butterflies. In doing so, they discovered six subspecies were actually distinct enough to count as separate species. 



The experts also produced ten high-quality reference genomes now freely available to the research community.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scent-matters-for-glasswing-butterflies">Scent matters for glasswing butterflies </h2>



One major discovery: even butterflies that look the same can still recognize their own species through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/false-widow-spiders-use-pheromones-to-manipulate-mates/">pheromones</a> - chemicals they release to communicate through smell.



This matters a lot for mating. Because many of these butterflies have gone through a process called rapid radiation - where lots of new species evolve in a short period - they’re often closely related. 



Visually, the butterflies are often indistinguishable. But smelling different? That’s a game-changer.



“Having the reference genomes for the two groups of glasswing butterflies, Mechanitis and Melinaea, allowed us to take a closer look at how they have adapted to life in such close proximity to their relatives,” said study senior author Dr. Caroline Bacquet.



“These butterflies share the responsibility of warding off predators by displaying similar color patterns, and by producing different pheromones they can successfully find mates and reproduce."



"Now that we have clarity on glasswing butterfly species, we can look for specific markings or differences between them, giving new ways to track them during fieldwork.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-butterflies-that-evolve-quickly">Butterflies that evolve quickly </h2>



The team also uncovered something surprising in the butterflies’ DNA. Most butterflies have 31 chromosomes, but in glasswing species, that number varied from 13 to 28. 



The genes were mostly the same, but they were rearranged in different ways - a phenomenon called chromosomal rearrangement. These rearrangements aren’t just quirky genetic facts. They affect reproduction.



When butterflies with mismatched chromosome arrangements try to reproduce, their offspring are sterile. That means mating with the wrong species is a dead end. So, the butterflies have evolved to rely on pheromones as a way to ensure they choose the right partner.



Scientists think this high level of chromosomal rearrangement might be a key reason why these butterflies evolve into new species so quickly. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-lookalike-butterflies">Protecting lookalike butterflies </h2>



Once a population’s chromosome count shifts, it effectively becomes its own species, better able to adapt to local environments or food sources.



“Glasswing butterflies are an incredibly adaptive group of insects that have been valuable in ecology research for around 150 years,” said Dr. Eva van der Heijden, first author of the study.



“However, until now, there was no genetic resource that allowed us to robustly identify different species, and it is difficult to monitor and track something that you can’t identify easily." 



"With this new genetically informed evolutionary tree, and multiple new reference genomes, we hope that it will be possible to advance biodiversity and conservation research around the world, and help protect the butterflies and other insects that are crucial to many of Earth’s ecosystems.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-how-new-species-evolve">Understanding how new species evolve </h2>



Understanding how these lookalike butterflies evolved - and continue to evolve - could help scientists tackle broader questions. 



Why do some insects branch into many species while others don’t? How do environmental pressures drive rapid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quick-species-adaptability-shapes-long-term-evolution/">adaptation</a>? And can this knowledge help us in agriculture or pest control?



Dr. Joana Meier, senior author at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, warned that we are in the middle of an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-were-likely-the-leading-cause-of-megafauna-extinctions/">extinction</a> crisis and understanding how new species evolve, and evolve quickly in some cases, is important for preserving species. 



"Comparing butterflies that rapidly form new species to others that do not could benchmark how common this is in insects and highlight the factors involved," said Dr. Meier.



"This, in turn, could identify any species that require closer conservation and possibly identify genes that are important in the adaptation process and might have uses in agriculture, medicine, or bioengineering. 



"This research would not have been possible without global collaboration. We have one planet, and we must work together to understand and protect it.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2410939122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Lookalike butterflies use hidden cues to identify each other

In the dense forests of Central and South America, a...

Touch is the oldest language of bonding. From a parent cradling an infant to grooming among primates, pleasant tactile stimulation sparks attachment across the animal kingdom.



A new study pushes that insight a step further, showing that the same principle can cross species lines: young <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rats-have-a-very-complex-social-life/">rats</a> repeatedly “tickled” by human fingers start to seek out those hands, and their brains rewire to make the contact feel rewarding.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rats-laugh-during-rough-play">Rats laugh during rough play</h2>



Juvenile rats love rough‑and‑tumble play. When they tussle, they emit rapid bursts of ultrasonic calls around 50 kHz - inaudible to us but easy to pick up with microphones. Neuroscientists interpret these chirps as a sign of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/finding-joy-again-new-therapy-eases-opioid-cravings/">joy</a>.



Earlier work showed that rats produce the same 50 kHz giggles when a person lightly strokes and flips them, imitating play wrestling. With enough sessions, the animals begin to follow the experimenter’s hand, eager for more.



In the new research, a team led by Dr. Himeka Hayashi and Professor Hirotaka Sakamoto from <a href="https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/index_e.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Okayama University</a> tickled adolescent rats for five minutes twice a day over ten days.



At first, the animals chirped only occasionally, but starting on day five, they consistently produced such vocalizations in response to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/after-centuries-of-debate-we-still-dont-know-how-tickling-works/">tickling</a>. By day ten the calls poured out, clear evidence that repeated touch felt good.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preference-grows-for-human-touch">Preference grows for human touch</h2>



After the training, the scientists ran a conditioned place preference test. Each rat could roam between two chambers, one linked to tickling in earlier sessions and one neutral. 



The animals spent a larger amount of time in the tickling room after the test as compared to before, a behavioral sign that they now preferred the place associated with human hands.



The finding delighted the researchers on a personal level. “We have always been curious about how humans and animals can form bonds despite having no shared language or lifestyle,” Hayashi said.



“We wondered whether the connection we felt with animals was real or just our imagination. Through this study, we discovered that rats genuinely enjoy interacting with us - which brought us great happiness.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-touch-and-human-animal-bonding">Touch and human-animal bonding</h2>



Pleasure alone was only half the story. The researchers also wanted to see what changed inside the brain. They focused on the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus, or VMHvl, a region already linked to social behaviors in rodents.



After the ten‑day regimen the rats showed increased expression of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oxytocin-is-crucial-beyond-its-role-as-the-love-hormone/">oxytocin</a> receptors in that hub. Oxytocin, often called the bonding hormone, surges during maternal care, pair bonding, and even friendly hugs in humans.



To test cause and effect, the scientists blocked oxytocin signaling specifically in the VMHvl. The result was striking. Without that chemical handshake, the rats’ new fondness for human touch faded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-touch-connects-hormone-to-behavior">Touch connects hormone to behavior</h2>



Where does the oxytocin come from? Using neural tracing techniques, the team followed fibers leading into the VMHvl and identified a subset that starts in the supraoptic nucleus, a part of the brain that houses magnocellular neurons known for pumping out oxytocin.



Those long projections suggest a direct anatomical route by which tactile joy travels from a high‑level hormone center to the limbic machinery that tags experiences as good or bad.



“We revealed part of the neural circuitry underlying why naturally wary animals become attached to humans,” Hayashi explained.



“We discovered that during the process of rats becoming tame to human hands, the action of oxytocin in a specific brain region (VMHvl) mediates the effects of pleasant tactile stimulation and controls the formation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-bonds-drive-learning-in-monkeys-and-humans-alike/">social bonds</a> across species.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-animal-bonding-beyond-rats">Human-animal bonding beyond rats</h2>



Most companion‑animal owners sense that stroking a cat or dog soothes both parties. The new results give that intuition a mechanistic footing and hint at therapeutic spin‑offs.



“The discovery that pleasant tactile stimulation facilitates cross‑species social bonding could lead to a better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying both social interaction difficulties and the therapeutic effects of physical contact with animals such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-have-become-one-of-the-worlds-most-invasive-predators/">cats</a> and dogs,” Hayashi said.



“This knowledge may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic and support approaches for individuals who struggle with social interactions.”



Nearly 150 years after Darwin wondered how new social ties emerge, the answer for rats and humans appears remarkably simple: persistent, playful touch tunes the same ancient hormone system that once glued mothers to pups.



Unlocking that circuit not only turns skittish rodents into willing partners but may also open doors to treatments that use controlled touch to ease loneliness and boost social confidence in people.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00650-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982225006505%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Tickled rats reveal how human-animal bonds form in the brain

Touch is the oldest language of bonding. From a parent...

A seahorse species found only on Australia’s east coast is at the heart of a quiet conservation project in Sydney Harbor. 



White’s seahorse is shy, delicate, and now one of the only seahorse species in the world officially listed as endangered. One major reason? Its home is disappearing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-disappearing-seagrass-meadow">A disappearing seagrass meadow</h2>



Researchers from <a href="https://www.unswcollege.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNSW Sydney</a> have found that one of the seahorse’s key habitats, a native seagrass called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-largest-plant-found-in-western-australia/">Posidonia australis</a>, has nearly vanished from Sydney’s coastline. 



Urban expansion, pollution, dredging, and boat traffic have all played a role in wiping out these once-extensive meadows over the past 50 years.



“As the seagrass meadows disappear, so too do the species that depend on them,” said Professor Adriana Vergés. She's part of the Greener Pastures conservation project, and a lead figure in Operation Posidonia and Project Restore - both focused on bringing life back to the harbor.



“There is minimal Posidonia remaining in Sydney Harbor,” noted Professor Vergés. “Historically, these meadows were extensive but coastal development and physical disturbances have wiped much of them out." 



"We predict Posidonia will be locally extinct from Sydney Harbor within the next couple of decades unless we do something about it.”



These meadows aren’t just pretty patches of greenery. They play a key role in keeping the shoreline stable, stopping erosion, storing carbon, and giving marine species places to feed and breed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-habitat-matters-for-seahorses">Why habitat matters for seahorses</h2>



Seahorses don’t swim like most fish. They float upright and use their prehensile tails to grip seagrass leaves, coral, or sponges. It’s how they stay put when the currents get strong.



“With the Greener Pastures project, we are aiming to tackle one of the root causes of the decline in White's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seahorse-smuggling-exposed-millions-seized-over-a-decade/">seahorse populations</a>, which is the loss of habitat,” said Professor Vergés. “We can breed and release them, but unless we restore their homes, their populations will keep falling.”



That message is echoed by Mitchell Brennan, program manager of the Sydney Seahorse Project and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Technology Sydney.



“To hold on to that habitat is critically important,” said Brennan. “Seahorses rely on highly complex habitats like seagrass meadows to camouflage, anchor and feed.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inspiration-for-seahorse-hotels">Inspiration for seahorse hotels</h2>



However, rebuilding a seagrass meadow isn’t something you can do overnight. While the grass grows, scientists have found a clever way to support the seahorses: hotels.



The idea was first introduced by Dr. David Harasti from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. 



He was inspired by old crab traps that were covered in marine life and designed steel mesh cages - about a meter wide - to mimic the complex tangle of a natural underwater <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-and-habitat-degradation-have-devastated-marine-ecosystems/">habitat</a>.



“When left on the seafloor these bespoke hotels soon become encrusted with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-sponges-play-a-critical-role-in-the-ocean-and-they-are-rapidly-vanishing/">sponges</a>, corals and algae,” explained Dr. Harasti.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safe-zones-for-seahorses">Safe zones for seahorses</h2>



Each cage turns into a safe zone for seahorses. The encrusted material offers camouflage, food, and places to hold onto. Soon, the seahorses start showing up. According to Dr. Harasti, the seahorses move in within three to six months.



At Cobblers Beach, a major site for the project, 15 seahorse hotels were placed next to existing patches of Posidonia in late 2023. Additional seagrass shoots were transplanted shortly after. 



Early surveys showed up to eight seahorses. By 2024, there were 12 - including juveniles likely born on-site.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-dads-give-birth">When dads give birth</h2>



Seahorses are unusual in more ways than one. One of the most fascinating things about them? It’s the males who <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pregnant-male-seahorses-transport-nutrients-to-their-babies/">give birth</a>.



“We've seen multiple pregnant males and partners on the seahorse hotels in the past six months,” said Brennan. “With some of these juveniles being sighted, hopefully the population starts to grow and become stronger and more self-sustaining.”



The hotels may also be helping the newly planted Posidonia itself. Their structure offers protection from waves and shifting sand, giving the delicate grass a better chance to take hold. And as the habitat improves, other species are returning too.



“In areas where we've replanted seagrass, we're already seeing more fish - snapper, flathead, bream and even pajama squid,” said Brennan. "It’s about restoring the function of the whole system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-community-engagement">The role of community engagement </h2>



While the science behind Greener Pastures is solid, its heart comes from community involvement.



“This all started when Operation Posidonia received a grant from the Environmental Trust and support from Mosman Council,” said Professor Vergés. 



“The local community is incredibly engaged. They're not just helping us plant seagrass - they're also learning why it matters and sharing this information with their friends and neighbors.”



From the early days of the project in Port Stephens, volunteers have helped collect thousands of loose Posidonia shoots from storm events. Those shoots are then replanted into damaged meadows.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connecting-people-with-ecosystems">Connecting people with ecosystems </h2>



“Hands-on restoration helps people connect with ecosystems they might never have known about,” said Professor Vergés. 



“When people become part of the process, they gain a sense of ownership - that’s where real stewardship begins. You can't protect what you don't know exists.”



Her goal for the next decade is simple: recovery - for both the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-plays-a-major-role-in-global-carbon-storage/">seagrass</a> meadows and the seahorses that depend on them.



“I'd like to see a growing population of White's seahorse occupying this habitat - both of them recovering together.”



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How ‘seahorse hotels’ are reviving an endangered species

A seahorse species found only on Australia’s east coast is...

Red-footed tortoises may have more complex mood patterns than we thought. A new study by the University of Lincoln reveals that these reptiles can experience long-lasting emotional states. 



Scientists who specialize in animal cognition now believe red-footed tortoises show mood-linked behaviors and signs of subjectivity once thought unique to birds and mammals.



The research opens a new chapter in how we understand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grumpy-tortoise-reptiles-can-experience-mood-swings-too/">reptile</a> minds. It points to long-term mood states, not just momentary reactions. 



If tortoises can experience optimism and pessimism, it challenges deep-rooted beliefs about reptile sentience. This could reshape how we care for them, especially in captivity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emotions-and-moods-among-animals">Emotions and moods among animals</h2>



Emotions are short-term reactions tied to specific events. Moods are long-term and independent of immediate context. 



Moods reflect ongoing internal states that shape how animals process the world. Evidence of mood in a species supports the idea that it has the capacity for sentience.



Affective states, which include both emotions and moods, likely evolved because they help animals avoid harm and seek valuable resources. These states also influence how animals learn and make decisions. If an animal is distressed, it may perform poorly in cognitive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/turtles-may-hold-the-secret-to-cancer-prevention/">tasks</a>. 



When supported socially or placed in comfortable environments, its performance improves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-tortoise-moods-were-tested">How tortoise moods were tested</h2>



The researchers tested 15 red-footed tortoises using a cognitive bias task. The tortoises learned to associate one location with food and another with no reward. 



Then, the food bowl was placed in ambiguous positions between those two points. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-turtle-day-protecting-turtles-tortoises-and-their-vanishing-habitats/">Tortoises</a> that approached uncertain bowls quickly were seen as optimistic.



The team also assessed the tortoises' behavior in response to new objects and environments. Confident tortoises moved quickly and extended their heads more. This head extension is a known indicator of emotional state in tortoises.



Importantly, the study showed that tortoises were not simply fast or slow movers. Their response times varied depending on their perception of ambiguity. This means their decisions reflected internal states, not random behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-optimism-predicts-lower-anxiety">Optimism predicts lower anxiety</h2>



The results showed a clear link between optimism and reduced anxiety. Tortoises that judged ambiguous cues as positive also showed relaxed behavior in stressful settings. Those with more pessimistic judgments showed hesitancy and limited head extension.



This link mirrors findings in mammals and birds. It suggests tortoises may share an emotional architecture that is much older in evolutionary terms than previously believed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-animal-welfare-laws">Implications for animal welfare laws</h2>



Sentience is not just a scientific question. It affects how laws treat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/turtle-heads-reveal-an-ancient-reptilian-secret/">animals</a>. In the UK, the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 recognizes animals’ ability to feel. This study supports the idea that reptiles should fall under such protections.



“Animal welfare concerns are reliant upon evidence that a given species has the capacity to experience affective states," noted Anna Wilkinson, a professor of animal cognition.



"With reptiles becoming increasingly common as pets, it is essential for us to study their moods and emotions to try to understand how captivity may impact them."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-reptile-emotions">Understanding reptile emotions</h2>



The study suggests that reptiles may have a richer emotional life than once believed. While they might not show all the emotional responses seen in mammals - like strong reactions to disappointment - they still seek pleasure, value rewards, and benefit from stimulating environments.



“This is an exciting finding that represents a significant shift in our understanding of what reptiles can experience, with important implications for how we care for these animals in captivity and interact with them in the wild,” said Oliver Burman, professor of animal behavior and welfare at the <a href="https://www.lincoln.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Lincoln</a>.



This research offers two important takeaways. First, tortoises can experience moods, not just emotions. 



Second, cognitive bias tasks and behavioral anxiety tests are valid tools for studying mood in reptiles. Their responses in different contexts indicate that affective states in reptiles are real, measurable, and meaningful.



The study urges us to rethink how we house and care for reptiles. Enriched environments and opportunities for exploration can support their well-being. Recognizing their capacity for mood could also inspire more compassionate treatment.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-025-01973-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animal Cognition</a>.



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Tortoises have feelings - and they get stuck in bad moods

Red-footed tortoises may have more complex mood patterns than we...

Every year on July 29, International Tiger Day highlights a critical conservation challenge: saving one of the world’s most endangered predators. 



The celebration began in 2010 at the <a href="https://globaltigerforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/st_petersburg_declaration_english.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit</a>, with an ambitious goal - double the number of wild tigers. In 2025, India stands out for turning this vision into reality.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-india-s-tigers-are-making-a-comeback">India’s tigers are making a comeback</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indias-wild-tigers-are-thriving-with-smart-conservation-efforts/">India</a> is now home to an estimated 3,700 wild tigers - about 75 percent of the global population. That’s a 30 percent increase in just two decades. 



Unlike regions where tigers continue to vanish, India’s tiger population is growing despite major pressures from rapid development and population growth. 



This recovery didn’t happen by accident. India blended science, policy, and culture. While government programs protected land and wildlife, public support grew from a shared respect for the tiger, which holds deep spiritual meaning across many Indian communities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiger-conservation-efforts-across-india">Tiger conservation efforts across India </h2>



India’s approach is unique. Instead of relying solely on national parks and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-tiger-day-worldwide-support-for-tiger-conservation/">wildlife</a> sanctuaries, the country uses a two-pronged strategy: secure reserves for breeding and open landscapes where tigers and humans coexist. These multi-use areas are not just tolerated - they are part of the plan.



Tigers often roam beyond park borders. In India, that’s expected. Protected zones serve as safe spaces, but it’s the surrounding human-inhabited lands that help connect tiger habitats and reduce isolation. This system gives conservation room to work in real-world conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-with-tigers">Living with tigers</h2>



In the United States, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/">wildlife</a> and people tend to live apart. But in India, around 60 million people live in tiger zones. Surprisingly, many accept this risk.



Why? Because it works both ways. Farmers receive government payments if a tiger kills livestock. Communities near reserves benefit from eco-tourism jobs. Schools teach kids about wildlife safety and respect.



These efforts turn potential conflict into shared purpose. Tigers are not just seen as threats. They are part of the neighborhood. This level of public engagement is rare - and it’s working.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tech-and-volunteers-on-the-frontlines">Tech and volunteers on the frontlines</h2>



India uses modern tools like GPS-based monitoring systems to track tiger movement. In areas like Uttar Pradesh, volunteers called “Bagh Mitras” (Tiger Friends) help local authorities respond quickly when tigers wander near villages. 



These efforts aim to ease fear, prevent clashes, and keep communities engaged in tiger conservation.



In regions like Pilibhit and Dudhwa, tracking measures have directly supported <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/could-captive-tigers-help-restore-wild-populations/">population</a> growth. It’s conservation that runs on both high-tech tools and grassroots cooperation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-regions-still-struggle">Some regions still struggle</h2>



Success is not universal. In parts of rural India affected by poverty or civil unrest, tiger numbers remain low. 



Many people rely on forests for firewood, food, and grazing. As land use changes and resources shrink, competition between humans and wildlife increases.



Armed conflict also affects conservation. In areas hit by internal conflict, government presence weakens. This allows poaching and illegal logging to rise. Without stability, conservation falters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-safety-and-protection">Balancing safety and protection</h2>



Despite their fearsome reputation, tigers rarely attack humans. In India, tiger encounters cause around 100 deaths each year, and affected families receive compensation. 



Tigers that pose repeated threats are moved to reserves or zoos. This approach helps protect both people and wildlife, showing how a clear response can build trust and prevent backlash - key to long-term conservation success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-international-tiger-day-offers-lessons">International Tiger Day offers lessons</h2>



India’s model offers lessons for other countries, including the United States. In places like the Northern Rockies, debates continue about wolves, grizzlies, and ranching. 



The U.S. often draws firm lines between human activity and wildlife protection. India shows that there is another way.



“In the past, foraging in the forest was sustainable. But now, with more people and less space for tigers, conflicts are increasing,” said Professor Ninad Mungi of <a href="https://international.au.dk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aarhus University</a>. 



In both India and the West, true success may depend on how well people share space with large carnivores - safely and sustainably.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-celebrating-conservation-across-india">Celebrating conservation across India</h2>



On International Tiger Day, events take place across India. Reserves host educational programs. Forest workers and wildlife rescuers are honored. 



In states like Jharkhand, new eco-tourism ideas are being tested. Cities like Kolkata and Lucknow run awareness campaigns in schools and parks.



These public celebrations are more than just symbolic. They help build long-term support for conservation - something the US also values in its National Park outreach and wildlife festivals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-honoring-international-tiger-day-2025">Honoring International Tiger Day 2025</h2>



International Tiger Day 2025 reminds us that saving predators is possible - even in crowded, complex societies. 



India’s journey shows that coexistence, when planned well, can succeed. Cultural respect, government support, and community involvement form a powerful alliance.



As the world faces climate change, habitat loss, and biodiversity decline, India’s experience offers more than a story of national pride. It offers a model the rest of the world may want to study closely.



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International Tiger Day 2025: Coexistence is possible

Every year on July 29, International Tiger Day highlights a critical...

About half of the dogs in the United States are overweight. That might not surprise you if your pup constantly begs for treats. But the reasons behind canine obesity go deeper than a dog’s appetite.



A recent study by scientists at <a href="https://www.tamu.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M University</a>, in collaboration with the Dog Aging Project, points to a more complicated picture.



The study suggests that dog obesity is shaped by a complex mix of factors including breed, living environment, food motivation, and whether it’s the owner or the veterinarian who recognizes the issue.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breed-influences-dog-obesity-risk">Breed influences dog obesity risk</h2>



The researchers looked at data from dog owners and veterinarians, using survey responses and medical records to track patterns in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canine-personality-traits-are-not-strongly-influenced-by-breed/">canine</a> weight. One major takeaway: breed groups matter.



Dogs from active breed groups - like retrievers, spaniels, and setters - were about 10% more likely to have a strong drive for food than other dogs.



“Our study confirmed that dogs in the sporting group - which in our study group were largely Labrador retrievers and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/golden-retrievers-and-all-dog-breeds-will-live-longer-lives-thanks-to-science/">Golden retrievers</a> - have a greater likelihood to have high food motivation,” said Dr. Kate Creevy, Dog Aging Project chief veterinary officer. 



“Given that these are two of the most common breeds in the U.S., it is vital that both veterinarians and dog owners understand the diet management strategies necessary for achieving a healthy weight.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-environment">The role of environment </h2>



The study didn’t just stop at breed. Where a dog lives - and who it lives with - matters too. Dogs in urban areas and those in multi-dog homes were also more likely to have higher food motivation.



“It’s likely that these factors influence the amount of exercise that dogs get in addition to their access to food,” Creevy said. “Some dogs may seek food out of boredom, which may increase in environments where exercise and enrichment are less available." 



"Additionally, owners with multiple dogs may choose certain feeding practices - including free feeding - out of convenience, which can lead to more food being available.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-and-managing-a-dog-s-weight">Tracking and managing a dog's weight</h2>



Interestingly, the team also found that owners were more likely to watch their dog’s weight if they personally believed their dog was overweight. But if a vet noticed the weight issue and the owner didn’t, the owner was less likely to take action.



This disconnect might come down to a lack of familiarity with body condition scores (BCS) - a common tool vets use to assess fat accumulation in dogs.



“A BCS plays a key role in helping veterinarians communicate with owners about their dog’s weight, which is why we need to continue increasing use of these scores,” Creevy said. 



“Studies have shown that owners of dogs that are active in sports are more likely to know how to assess BCS, which suggests that owner motivation may play a role in learning how to apply BCS to help their dogs maintain a healthy weight.”



Even though it is standard practice, the study found that about a third of vet records didn’t include a BCS in the past year. That missing data can make it harder to track and manage a dog’s weight effectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-losing-weight-is-hard-even-for-dogs">Losing weight is hard - even for dogs</h2>



Knowing a dog is overweight is one thing. Helping them slim down is another. According to Creevy, previous research has shown that weight loss interventions for dogs are not always successful, especially if they’re not followed consistently.



“Sometimes there are issues in communication between the veterinarian and the owner, and given what we learned from this study, it’s also possible that some breeds require even stricter feeding practices," noted Creevy.



Weight loss plans that aren’t tailored or consistently followed can easily fall apart. That’s why expert guidance - and a plan that works for both the dog and the owner - is key.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-obese-dogs">Protecting obese dogs</h2>



If you think your dog may be overweight, the best step is to talk to an expert. A veterinarian can assess your dog’s body condition, suggest feeding guidelines, and help you create an exercise routine that makes sense for your pet.



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/probiotics-help-overweight-dogs-shed-pounds/">Overweight dogs</a> are prone to numerous health problems, including skin disease, diabetes, and arthritis,” Creevy said. 



“It is imperative that veterinarians develop a better understanding of canine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-and-dogs-share-genes-linked-to-obesity/">obesity</a> and whether it may be linked to social, environmental, or demographic factors so that we can give every dog the best possible quality of life.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/ajvr/86/5/ajvr.24.11.0358.xml">American Journal of Veterinary Research</a>.



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Why are so many dogs obese? A new study reveals the truth

About half of the dogs in the United States are...

Mesopelagic fish, living hundreds of meters below the surface, play a quiet but powerful role in carbon cycling. 



A new study confirms that deep-sea fish excrete carbonate minerals, just like their shallow-water relatives. Their massive biomass and physiological traits make them a critical but overlooked part of ocean chemistry.



Researchers from the University of Miami <a href="https://www.earth.miami.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rosenstiel School</a> studied the blackbelly rosefish, a deep-sea species that tolerates lab conditions. They confirmed it produces ichthyocarbonate - a mineral excreted by the intestines to maintain salt and water balance.



“Mesopelagic fish live in deep, cold, high-pressure environments, and until now, it was unclear if they produced carbonate like shallow water <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-are-quietly-battling-climate-change-on-the-seabed/">fish</a> do - or at what rate,” said Martin Grosell, lead author of the study. 



“This study is the first to confirm that they do and that the mechanisms and characteristics of ichthyocarbonate formation are remarkably consistent across depths.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sea-fish-produce-carbonate">Deep-sea fish produce carbonate </h2>



At 6°C, mirroring its native depth, the blackbelly rosefish excreted carbonate at about 5 mg/kg/hour. This aligns with predictions from previous models that connect metabolism, temperature, and depth.



The study also tested how carbonate formation resists change. Even when held in laboratory settings far from their original pressure conditions, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fishing-removes-key-nutrients-from-marine-ecosystems/">fish</a> continued producing carbonate. This suggests the process is robust and not sensitive to depth-induced pressure changes.



Carbonate excretion comes from the gastrointestinal tract. It’s driven by ion transporters that move bicarbonate into the gut. There, it reacts with calcium and magnesium to form solid minerals. These are expelled into seawater and can later dissolve or sink.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-fish-and-carbon-cycling">Deep fish and carbon cycling</h2>



The researchers examined the carbonate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-oceans-day-2025-sustaining-what-sustains-us/">composition</a> of the blackbelly rosefish. They found that it matched the mineral makeup found in shallow-water species. Magnesium-rich calcite dominated, with minor aragonite and other forms. These materials dissolve at different rates, affecting their fate in the water column.



The uniformity suggests that regardless of where fish live, their carbonate waste behaves similarly once expelled. This means deep-sea fish can contribute to upper-ocean carbonate chemistry even if they dwell much deeper.



“This research fills a major gap in our understanding of ocean chemistry and carbon cycling,” said Amanda Oehlert, co-author and assistant professor. 



“With mesopelagic fish playing such a significant role, their contribution to carbonate flux - and how it might change with warming oceans - deserves greater attention.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-engineers-of-the-ocean">Chemical engineers of the ocean</h2>



By verifying carbonate production in mesopelagic fish, this work supports broader carbon flux models. Until now, those models included deep fish as contributors, but lacked direct measurements. This new data gives them firmer footing.



“These results offer strong support for global models of fish-derived carbonate production, which had assumed - but not verified - that mesopelagic species contribute at similar rates,” Grosell said. “Mesopelagic fish aren’t just prey; they’re chemical engineers of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unseen-impacts-of-fishing-trawling-fuels-climate-change/">ocean</a>.”



The study also suggests that mesopelagic fish could influence carbon export. Their carbonates may either dissolve near the surface or fall deeper, adding to seafloor sediments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-carbon-budgets">Implications for carbon budgets</h2>



Carbonates affect seawater alkalinity and pH buffering. Fish-sourced minerals, especially from deep waters, could impact how oceans respond to acidification and warming. 



These particles interact with dissolved carbon and influence chemical stability at depth. The study’s results could help refine Earth system models used to forecast these changes.



The researchers stress that ichthyocarbonate is not trivial waste. It is a steady mineral output with wide-scale consequences. It travels, dissolves, or settles, shaping carbon flow through ocean layers. With up to 94% of global fish biomass living in mesopelagic zones, their contributions matter.



Understanding when and where this mineral is released is key. It could improve predictions of long-term carbon storage.



"Ichthyocarbonate release by individual fish is episodic and under sophisticated endocrine control, but we know very little about the timing and frequency of release, offering an important area for future research," concluded the study authors. 



The study was funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Foundation</a> and the University of Miami. The findings are published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/228/14/jeb249834/368610/Osmoregulation-by-the-gastro-intestinal-tract-of" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Experimental Biology</a>.



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Fish in the deep sea help power the ocean's carbon cycle

Mesopelagic fish, living hundreds of meters below the surface, play...

The Gobi Desert just gained another actor in its cast of Late Cretaceous characters. Paleontologists have unveiled Shri rapax, a stocky, two legged predator with a body that stretched only about 6.5 feet (2 meters) but had some serious weaponry. 



Unearthed after a winding journey through private collections, and eventually repatriated to Mongolia, the fossil shows a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-extinction-theories-are-challenged-by-new-research/">creature</a> that roamed dune laced lakeshores between 75 and 71 million years ago. 



Its most arresting feature is a thumb claw measuring 3.1 in (nearly 8 cm) long, which is almost double that of a similarly sized Velociraptor.



Andrea Cau, an independent Italian paleontologist who led the <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">description</a>, worked alongside scientists from the Royal Belgian Institute of <a href="https://www.naturalsciences.be/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Natural Sciences</a> and North Carolina State University (<a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NCSU</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shri-rapax-hunted-with-hands-not-feet">Shri rapax hunted with hands, not feet</h2>



The hands of this new <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/saurischia/dromaeosauridae.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dromaeosaurid</a> are 150 percent more robust than those of Velociraptor, even though the two raptors share a comparable body length.



Digital scans reveal thick finger bones capped by an oversized claw with an outer curve that is 162 percent the length of the supporting phalanx - this is a proportion unmatched among known raptors.



“The rapacious features we see in the hand signal a predator that relied on pure grip strength rather than slashing kicks,” said Cau.



By contrast, the famous sickle-shaped toe claw of Velociraptor is better suited to quick, repeated strikes. Shri rapax appears to have shifted that killing focus to its thumbs, thus freeing its feet for balance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-claws-helped-grab-bigger-prey">Big claws helped grab bigger prey</h2>



Team member Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig noted that the middle claw’s 3.1 inch (8 cm) span “likely enabled it to grasp and restrain relatively large prey.”



Modern birds of prey offer a parallel: talons grow disproportionately bigger in species that tackle animals heavier than themselves, a link confirmed by biomechanical <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007999" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> on eagle and hawk feet.



Applying that principle to Shri rapax suggests that these dinosaurs targeted bigger and bulkier prey than the lizards or small mammals favoured by many Gobi <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-suggests-early-dinosaurs-were-larger-than-we-thought/">carnivores</a> of similar size.



Its stout skull, digitally reconstructed from CT data, hints at a bite built to finish the job once those powerful hands locked on.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-fought-prey-face-to-face">It fought prey face to face</h2>



The bones come from the Djadokhta Formation, a wind blown world that also preserved a Velociraptor locking jaws with a ceratopsian named Protoceratops. 



Those desert showdowns often ended badly for predator and prey alike, as the famous “fighting dinosaurs” pair demonstrates.



Shri rapax brings a fresh twist to that narrative. Instead of pouncing with toe talons, it may have wrestled stocky herbivores face to face, anchoring itself with those muscular thumbs while delivering short, crushing bites.



That strategy could explain why its pubic bones tilt slightly less backward than in Velociraptor - a more upright stance may have helped brace against struggling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-sized-baby-dinosaur-unearthed-after-166-million-years/">prey</a>.



Arm bones also show enlarged muscle scars, especially for the biceps, hinting at strokes powerful enough to reel opponents inward.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shri-rapax-lived-with-many-desert-raptors">Shri rapax lived with many desert raptors</h2>



The discovery of Shri rapax adds to the already dense concentration of mid-sized theropods in the Gobi fossil record. 



At least three, closely related raptor species now appear to have shared overlapping environments within the Djadokhta Formation, each with different adaptations to prey size, skull strength, and forelimb anatomy. 



That level of ecological diversity in a single predator guild is rare in modern ecosystems, making the Late Cretaceous Gobi a unique case for studying niche partitioning.



Its presence also challenges previous assumptions about faunal turnover between Mongolian formations. 



While many Djadokhtan and Baruungoyotan species appear in different sedimentary contexts, the morphological similarities and close phylogenetic ties between Shri rapax and Shri devi suggest that geographic or environmental barriers, not just time, may have shaped their evolution.&nbsp;



More precise dating and fossil finds could help clarify whether these raptors coexisted or followed each other in rapid succession.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-evolved-differently-from-its-cousin">It evolved differently from its cousin</h2>



Morphological analyses place Shri rapax as the sister species of Shri devi, named in 2021 from rock layers a few million years younger. 



The two share short snouts but diverge sharply in limb anatomy, suggesting niche partitioning within a single raptor lineage.



Broader <a href="https://bmcecolevol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12862-024-02222-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> of raptor skull shapes show that bite mechanics, not just claws, steer dietary specialization across the group. Shri rapax fits that trend, pairing a reinforced jaw with hardware built for grappling.



Its discovery also undercuts the idea that all mid-sized Gobi predators hunted in the same way. Even among close cousins, evolution seems to have encouraged experimental toolkits to avoid competition.



Future field seasons will test whether additional Shri remains turn up alongside fossils of armored ankylosaurs or juvenile ceratopsians, the prey most logically matched to a hand first hunting style.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-it-means-for-raptor-science">What it means for raptor science</h2>



Shri rapax reminds researchers that predatory dinosaurs were not defined solely by iconic toe claws. Hands, skulls, and tails combined in unique ways to solve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-predatory-dinosaur-species-identified-in-lost-photos/">ecological</a> puzzles.



The find highlights how repatriated specimens can rewrite textbooks, years after they were first dug up. Because the fossil’s journey is now documented, it can legally anchor a new species and invite further study.



Its anatomy will likely enter computer models that explore strength limits of dinosaur limbs, helping scientists estimate muscle mass and pulling force. 



Those numbers could verify whether the thumb claw truly outperformed the famous foot claw in terms of absolute grip.



Finally, the discovery emphasizes the value of Mongolia’s desert sites, where fine sand and rapid burial continue to freeze dramatic moments of Mesozoic life in place for modern science.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148?scroll=top&amp;needAccess=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Historical Biology</a>.



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Dinosaur discovered that killed with its thumbs instead of claws

The Gobi Desert just gained another actor in its cast...

Ancient marine fossils from North Greenland have shed light on a major misidentification. A creature once thought to be an early squid relative is not a cephalopod at all. New research shows it is actually linked to arrow worms, or chaetognaths. These creatures swam in Earth's seas more than 500 million years ago.



The study was led by researchers from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, the Korean Polar Research Institute, and the University of Copenhagen. 



The team examined 25 fossils of a mysterious creature called a nectocaridid. Once believed to be an ancient cephalopod, it had a squid-like shape that puzzled scientists for years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arrow-worm-fossil-found-in-greenland">Arrow worm fossil found in Greenland</h2>



The fossils came from Sirius Passet, a site known for exceptional preservation. Located in North Greenland, this fossil bed holds delicate remains from the Early Cambrian period, around 518 million years ago.



“Sirius Passet is a treasure trove of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/frozen-worm-comes-back-to-life-after-46000-years/">fossils</a> from the Cambrian Explosion. We not only find delicate soft-bodied fossils but also their digestive systems, musculature and sometimes even their nervous system,” noted Dr. Jakob Vinther from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>.



Fifteen years ago, a paper based on Burgess Shale fossils proposed that nectocaridids were cephalopods related to octopuses and squids. That claim confused many in the field.



“It never really made sense to me, as the hypothesis would upend everything we otherwise know about cephalopods, and their anatomy didn’t closely match cephalopods when you looked carefully,” said Dr. Vinther.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nervous-system-holds-the-answer">Nervous system holds the answer</h2>



As more fossils emerged, researchers noticed something unique. Many specimens had their nervous systems preserved in mineral form. This was a key breakthrough.



“We discovered our nectocaridids preserve parts of their nervous system as paired mineralised structures, and that was a giveaway as to where these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-worm-fossil-helps-solve-an-evolutionary-mystery/">animals</a> sit in the tree of life,” said Dr. Vinther.



Soon after, the team found fossils of arrow worms, which helped solve the mystery. One clear feature made the connection possible: the ventral ganglion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ganglion-links-to-arrow-worm-fossil">Ganglion links to arrow worm fossil</h2>



This ventral ganglion is a nerve mass found on the underside of living arrow worms. It is unique to their group and sometimes gets replaced with phosphate minerals during decay, making it fossilize well.



“These fossils all preserve a unique feature, distinct for arrow worms, called the ventral ganglion,” noted Dr. Tae-Yoon Park from the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Institute</a>.



That discovery gave the team the final clue they needed. “We now had a smoking gun to resolve the nectocaridid controversy. Nectocaridids share a number of features with some of the other fossils that also belong to the arrow worm stem lineage,” said Park.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arrow-worm-fossil-only-looked-like-squid">Arrow worm fossil only looked like squid</h2>



Despite their similarity to squids, nectocaridids were not related. Their streamlined shape was simply an adaptation to swimming. 



“Many of these features are superficially squid-like and reflect simple adaptations to an active swimming mode of life in invertebrates, just like whales and ancient marine reptiles end up looking like fish when they evolve such a mode of life,” Park explained.



This means evolution shaped their bodies for speed and stealth, and similarities with squids were not due to a shared ancestor or genetic heritage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eyes-antennae-and-stealth">Eyes, antennae, and stealth</h2>



One of their most remarkable features is their eyes. These ancient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worm-dna-is-changing-how-we-understand-evolution/">creatures</a> had complex eyes whereas today’s arrow worms can barely detect light direction.



“Nectocaridids have complex camera eyes just like ours. Living arrow worms can hardly form an image beyond working out roughly where the sun shines,” said Dr. Vinther. 



“Our fossils can be much bigger than a typical living arrow worm and, combined with their swimming apparatus, eyes and long antennae, they must have been formidable and stealthy predators."



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



The team found direct proof of their predatory nature. Some fossils had remains of Isoxys, a type of swimming arthropod, in their digestive tracts. This shows they hunted and consumed other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-worms-feasted-on-the-bones-of-giant-marine-animals/">marine animals</a>.



The new species has been named&nbsp;Nektognathus evasmithae. It honors Professor Eva Smith, Denmark’s first female law professor and a defender of human rights.



“My decision to name our fossil after Eva, is that this animal was a smart and stealthy fighter just like she is,” Dr. Vinther concluded.



Ultimately, this discovery changes our view of early marine food webs and the evolution of modern sea predators.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu6990">Science Advances</a>.



Image Credit: Bob Nicholls



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Ancient 'squid' turned out to be something else entirely

Ancient marine fossils from North Greenland have shed light on...

The "Iguanas from Above" project brought together nearly 14,000 volunteers to count endangered Galapagos marine iguanas. These reptiles, found only in the Galapagos Islands, are facing many threats. Counting them from the ground is difficult due to the inaccessible terrain.



To overcome this, researchers at <a href="https://www.uni-leipzig.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leipzig University</a> launched a drone-based survey. They then invited the public to analyze these aerial images online. 



“This expands the role of citizen science, provides significant support for researchers, and offers a valuable opportunity to actively engage people in conservation topics,” noted Dr. Amy MacLeod, who leads the campaign.



This effort resulted in more than 1.3 million classifications across nearly 58,000 images. Each image was reviewed up to 30 times. The goal was not just participation but reliable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/iguanas-traveled-5000-miles-from-north-america-to-fiji/">population</a> estimates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-methods-for-counting-iguanas">Best methods for counting iguanas</h2>



To ensure reliability, scientists compared volunteer results with expert evaluations. A gold standard dataset of 4,345 images served as the benchmark. 



Volunteers achieved 68-94% detection accuracy. They were more likely to miss iguanas than to add extra individuals by mistake.



Rather than use a majority vote, the team applied a minimum threshold method. If five or more volunteers agreed on iguana presence, the count was accepted. This method improved accuracy, especially when images were complex or crowded.



Clustering methods, especially HDBSCAN, performed best for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-reptiles-are-more-colorful-in-open-habitats/">counting</a> iguanas. It grouped volunteer marks to identify individual iguanas more reliably than other approaches.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accuracy-of-volunteer-counts">Accuracy of volunteer counts</h2>



The success of volunteer counts depended heavily on image quality. During the first project phase, drone images had poor focus and lighting. 



These issues led to frequent undercounting. Later phases used clearer images, which resulted in higher accuracy.



Volunteers had trouble distinguishing iguanas from dark volcanic rocks. This was especially true for small or well-camouflaged iguanas. When image quality was high, count differences between volunteers and experts narrowed considerably.



Even with better images, undercounting remained common. Researchers found that when many iguanas were in a single frame, volunteers often reported fewer than were actually there.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-made-people-join-or-quit">What made people join or quit</h2>



Not all volunteers contributed equally. Most submitted fewer than 50 classifications. But a small group, known as “super volunteers,” completed thousands. Some volunteers preferred staying anonymous, yet still showed high dedication.



Feedback from surveys revealed what discouraged participants. Blank images - photos without any iguanas - reduced motivation. Blurred images and difficult terrain also caused fatigue. Repetition made the task less engaging for some users.



Still, the volunteers’ dedication proved strong. One contributor analyzed every image in all three phases. Many were driven by the desire to help science rather than by any external rewards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-the-iguana-counts-reliable">Are the iguana counts reliable?</h2>



The research team tested whether removing inputs from anonymous or inexperienced users would improve results. They found it reduced the number of useful classifications and sometimes harmed accuracy.



While using more classifiers per image might seem helpful, it did not always increase reliability. The key was balancing quantity with quality and giving more weight to the counts of skilled participants.



The HDBSCAN method gave the most consistent results. It required fewer assumptions and handled spatial data better. It also offered a base for future machine learning models that could automate parts of the work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toward-a-smarter-monitoring-system">Toward a smarter monitoring system</h2>



This project confirms that volunteers can help count iguanas, but still tend to undercount. The team plans to apply correction factors for future population estimates. They aim to use the data to update the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN Red List</a> and improve conservation plans.



They are also testing whether volunteers can identify reproductive behaviors, such as males in breeding colors or lekking sites. These insights could enrich understanding of marine iguana ecology.



Moving forward, the researchers will integrate machine learning into the workflow. AI models will be trained using volunteer data. These tools may help detect iguanas and filter out empty images. The hope is to create a semi-automated pipeline for faster and cheaper monitoring.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wider-impacts-and-future-vision">Wider impacts and future vision</h2>



This method could apply to other hard-to-monitor species in remote areas. Online platforms like <a href="https://www.zooniverse.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zooniverse</a> show that people worldwide are eager to help <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-we-see-some-animals-as-more-human-than-others/">conservation</a> science.



The combination of drone surveys and crowdsourced analysis can reshape how we approach large-scale wildlife monitoring. According to the researchers, if experts alone had analyzed the images, it would have taken decades.



Now, with volunteer help and upcoming AI tools, they aim to complete a full population survey of the Galapagos marine iguana by 2026. The project is still live, and anyone can join to help protect this unique species.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-08381-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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People around the world are helping save Galapagos iguanas

The "Iguanas from Above" project brought together nearly 14,000 volunteers...

Hawaiian field crickets once relied on their mating calls to attract partners. Over recent decades, most males have lost this ability due to a mutation called “flatwing." The mutation changed the wing shape of males, silencing their songs. 



While this adaptation has helped the male crickets avoid a deadly parasitoid fly, the change has also reshaped their social interactions.



Previous research was focused on how the flatwing mutation affected male-male or male-female <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parasitic-crickets-hide-in-ant-colonies-without-being-caught/">dynamics</a>. But recently, attention has shifted to the less studied space of female-female interaction. 



A new study published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.1007" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences</a> explores what happens between females when song disappears.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interactions-of-female-crickets">Interactions of female crickets </h2>



In animal behavior studies, researchers often focus on male competition or female mate choice. In non-social insects like crickets, female-female interactions have long been overlooked. 



Yet these interactions can influence mating patterns, reproductive strategies, and even evolutionary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/many-juvenile-crickets-cannot-survive-the-strain-of-human-noise/">outcomes</a>. The new research highlights how females engage in social behavior beyond direct reproduction. 



Females in many species assess competitors, monitor social status, or respond to environmental cues. These patterns are complex and not limited to higher animals like primates or ants.



Crickets, although not social in the traditional sense, offer many opportunities for female interaction. Females often gather around calling males. This can lead to chance encounters, competition, or cooperation - depending on the context.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flatwing-affects-female-crickets-too">Flatwing affects female crickets too</h2>



The flatwing mutation only alters male wings but still influences females carrying it. Female carriers show changes in gene expression and physical condition. This suggests the mutation could influence <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/future-of-farming-insect-waste-reshapes-soil-health/">social behavior</a> indirectly.



The researchers, including study lead author Ana Drago, designed an experiment to explore this idea. They used pure-breeding lines of flatwing and normal-wing females. 



Pairs were matched or mismatched by genotype and observed under two conditions: presence or absence of male song.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-female-crickets-and-antennal-contact">Female crickets and antennal contact</h2>



Among all behaviors recorded, antennal contact was the most frequent. This gentle, investigative interaction involves using antennae to explore another cricket’s body. Females did this more often and for longer when male song was playing.



This pattern held even stronger when both females shared the same genotype. Flatwing pairs, in particular, showed a sharp rise in interaction under song. This suggests that both environmental and genetic factors shape social behavior.



"Intrasexual female social behavior was common, expressed by 86.5% of individuals. Females primarily engaged in antennal contact, which is reasonable to interpret as detection and assessment behavior," noted the study authors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-cricket-behavior">Changes in cricket behavior</h2>



Calling song is a key environmental signal. It can trigger phonotaxis (movement toward sound) and may raise general alertness. In the experiment, exposure to song led females to become more socially active.



This was not just a passive result of increased movement. Females maintained contact for longer durations, suggesting something more than mate search.



These interactions might help assess the partner’s condition or status. Chemical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-are-still-disappearing-and-there-are-hundreds-of-reasons-why/">cues</a>, such as cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), could play a role here. CHCs provide information about maturity, health, and mating history in many insect species.



CHC profiles in T. oceanicus are sexually dimorphic. Females may use them to determine the sex and fitness of another individual. If song primes females to expect mates nearby, it makes sense they would increase social investigation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biting-and-mounting-are-rare">Biting and mounting are rare</h2>



Biting, a form of aggression, occurred in about 13% of female crickets. Song made biting more likely but did not increase its frequency. This suggests females escalate rarely, possibly only after extended interaction. 



Unlike males, females did not show pre-bite displays. They targeted legs and abdomens rather than heads.



Sexual behavior among two females was even rarer. Only two mounting attempts occurred, both under song and between same-genotype pairs. One was accepted. 



The low frequency may reflect the female’s stronger sex recognition or a lack of behavioral overlap with male courtship.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-and-song-shape-interaction">Genes and song shape interaction</h2>



The researchers also investigated indirect genetic effects and genotype-by-environment interactions - situations where one individual’s genetic makeup influences the behavior of another. 



In pairs with the flatwing genotype exposed to song, female behavior showed greater variability, indicating this genotype may be more socially sensitive.



This aligns with previous research showing increased plasticity in flatwing males. The song environment interacted with both the focal and partner genotype. Together, these shaped how much and how long females interacted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-female-crickets-affect-male-success">Female crickets affect male success</h2>



Flatwing males avoid parasitism by staying silent. But their success depends on female choice. If <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-dominance-in-primates-is-more-common-than-we-thought/">female behavior</a> changes based on genotype and social context, it may affect male survival indirectly.



"The reproductive success of flatwing males is inherently tied to female mate choice, which has been suggested to potentially be a stronger factor than flatwing satellite behavior in reducing parasitism risk," explained the researchers.



"It is therefore possible that female-female social behaviors indirectly influence parasitism risk, though this requires further study."



In dense populations, where female encounters are more frequent, these patterns could have a major impact. 



The silence that protects males may also reduce the social complexity among females, reshaping communication and competition across generations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-even-silent-crickets-stay-social">Even silent crickets stay social</h2>



Crickets may be quieter today, but their social worlds are not silent. Female-female cricket interactions, once ignored, now offer clues to how evolution plays out in subtle, indirect ways. 



By exploring these relationships, researchers uncover how behavior, genetics, and environment blend to shape even the smallest creatures’ lives.



"The results of this study urge that future research pays due attention to any sex that may be understudied in a given system. This is crucial to uncover intrasexual social, sexual and aggressive behaviors that may subsequently affect intersexual dynamics," concluded the researchers.



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When male crickets go silent: How females adapt and respond

Hawaiian field crickets once relied on their mating calls to...

<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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



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Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

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

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Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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...

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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

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

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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



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...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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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



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.

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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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



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.

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&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



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.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&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> Staff Writer 



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&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



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.

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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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



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.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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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



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.

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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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



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.

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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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



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.

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&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



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.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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By <a href="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.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="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.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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