If you’re a male gray frog trying to find a mate, you’d better have a fast and steady call. That’s what female treefrogs usually go for. But when the crowd gets loud and chaotic, things change. The males that don’t sound all that great? They suddenly have a shot.



In quiet situations where females only hear two males at once, their preferences are clear. They go for the one with the sharper, more rhythmic call. 



But when four or even eight males are calling at once, things get messy. Female choices become unpredictable. This isn’t just a frog issue - it ties into a broader idea that scientists call “choice overload.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frogs-face-chaos-in-the-chorus">Frogs face chaos in the chorus</h2>



In nature, frogs gather in large, noisy groups called choruses. Picture a shallow pond in spring, with dozens of males calling out at the same time. It’s the frog equivalent of a dating scene in a packed nightclub.



The researchers found that the crowded conditions of these choruses might be too overwhelming for females to reliably pick the best mate. It’s not that they stop caring - it’s that they can’t tell who’s who.



Professor Jessie Tanner of the <a href="https://www.utk.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tennessee, Knoxville</a>, led a team studying how choice overload affects evolution.



“Because female mate choice can drive evolution, our results suggest that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unraveling-the-story-of-early-animal-evolution/">evolution</a> might happen more slowly than we thought before,” she said. 



“Some males that are fairly unattractive could still mate, especially if they take advantage of crowded spaces where females might be less able to discriminate between attractive and unattractive males.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-when-choices-are-too-hard">What happens when choices are too hard?</h2>



The idea of choice overload is pretty common in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/science-behind-predicting-and-changing-human-behavior/">human behavior</a>. You walk into a store to buy toothpaste and face 50 brands. You either freeze, grab something random, or walk away. Same goes for dating apps with endless swiping.



“We wanted to understand how having to make mating decisions in crowded environments, where choice overload could be a problem, might drive the evolution of calls,” Tanner explained. 



“Since males that are chosen by females pass on their genes to the next generation, this mate choice can cause the population to change over time.”



When animals, like people, face too many options, their decision-making can break down. That opens up a chance for less attractive mates to get picked - not because they became more appealing, but because the chooser got overwhelmed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-choice-overload-in-other-animals">Choice overload in other animals</h2>



This isn’t just about frogs. Scientists are now looking at how this effect shows up in other animals. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bumblebees-increasingly-stressed-over-the-past-century/">Bumblebees</a>, for instance, are on the list. So are wood roaches.



“Our lab is working to understand how choice overload and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/frogs-have-lungs-that-cancel-out-background-noise/">noise</a> may each contribute to the difficulty female treefrogs face in making mating decisions,” Tanner said. 



“We are also working to understand whether this choice overload is something that occurs generally in many different kinds of animals or is more specific to individual species.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simultaneous-cricket-songs">Simultaneous cricket songs </h2>



Tanner, who has a background in both psychology and biology, first got into animal behavior while studying mate choice as an undergrad. She later became interested in sound - especially how it plays into animal communication.



That led to earlier work on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-male-crickets-go-silent-how-females-adapt-and-respond/">crickets</a>. Like treefrogs, male crickets use sound to attract mates. A study on cricket mating showed that noisy environments might either block females from hearing calls or make them too confused to pick. It was hard to tell which was causing the problem.



“During that study, it became clear that our work was consistent with both the possibility that many simultaneous cricket songs created noise that made it hard for females to hear, and the possibility that the females were experiencing choice overload,” Tanner said. “Our current work looks to disentangle those ideas.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-average-becomes-good-enough">When average becomes good enough</h2>



The research adds a new layer to how scientists think about evolution. Normally, stronger signals - like a faster frog call - are expected to win out and spread through the population over time. 



But if crowded conditions keep females from consistently picking the top performers, evolution slows down. Mediocre traits stick around longer.



That changes the math for survival. In nature, being the best isn’t always enough - and sometimes, being just okay is good enough, especially if the crowd’s loud and the choices are many.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2025.0585" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



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Frogs settle for average mates when dating gets too noisy

If you’re a male gray frog trying to find a mate, you’d better have a fast and steady call. That’s what female treefrogs usually go for. But when the crowd gets loud and chaotic, things change. The males that don’t sound all that great? They suddenly have a shot. In quiet situations where females only hear two males at once, their preferences are clear. They go for the one with the sharper, more rhythmic call. But when four or even eight males are calling at once, things...

Did you know that coyotes are among the most successful predators on our continent? These highly adaptive and clever coyotes have made a home on our lands, and their interaction with the environment is a fascinating tale of survival, adaptation, and resilience to hunting.



A recent study led by The University of New Hampshire brings new insights into how native coyotes are navigating different challenges from environmental pressures such as urban expansion, hunting, and competition amongst carnivores.



Surprisingly, their response is rather unanticipated, presenting a counterintuitive relationship with human hunting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-coyote-conundrum">The coyote conundrum</h2>



Remington Moll is an assistant professor of natural resources and the environment at the <a href="https://www.unh.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of New Hampshire</a> and the leading scientist of this study.



"Intensive coyote removal can obviously reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coyotes-can-make-puppy-dog-eyes-too/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">populations</a> in the short term, but removal can also result in younger coyote populations with higher reproduction and immigration rates," explained Moll. 



“In our study, we detected more coyotes in places where hunting was allowed over several years. This suggests that, on average, hunting did not reduce coyote abundance and perhaps even increased it locally in certain areas."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hunting-practices-and-coyotes">Hunting practices and coyotes</h2>



This investigation, one of the largest-scale studies of coyote populations to date, examined the highly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cooperative-hunting-does-not-require-complex-thinking-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex dynamics</a> shaping coyote populations across a diverse range of habitats - from rural to suburban.



The research team relied on data from over 4,500 cameras set up across the country by the Snapshot USA project, combined with satellite-derived habitat metrics, and analyzed using cutting-edge modeling techniques.



This comprehensive approach allowed for an evaluation of various factors such as habitat type, competition with larger carnivores, hunting practices, and suburban expansion on coyote populations. 



The result is a more unobscured understanding of how coyotes respond to multifarious environmental pressures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interaction-of-predators">Interaction of predators</h2>



Roland Kays, a research professor with <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Carolina State University</a>’s College of Natural Resources and study co-author, added another interesting dimension to the story.



“Our work suggests that promoting the recovery of large carnivores, especially in certain habitats, is more likely to decrease the number of coyotes than people directly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-used-interesting-technique-hunt-big-animals-clovis-points/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hunting</a> them,” said Kays.



The study discerned that the presence of larger carnivores, such as black bears and pumas, affected coyote numbers in a habitat-specific manner. For example, black bears had a stronger limiting effect on coyotes in forested areas, whereas pumas exerted a similar influence in open environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thriving-coyote-populations">Thriving coyote populations </h2>



Here's the twist - while urban development tends to reduce coyote numbers at local scales due to increased human presence and habitat fragmentation, the story changes with a broader perspective. 



At larger, suburban scales, coyote populations actually thrive. Fragmented habitats and edges offer access to both natural and human-modified resources, proving to be favorable for these intelligent animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coyote-across-the-u-s">Coyote across the U.S.</h2>



Regional variation in coyote populations across the U.S. was another significant finding of the study. 



High numbers have been observed in the southwestern U.S., with comparatively lower populations in the northeast, reflecting the diverse ecological and geographical factors at play.



"Coyotes are the most successful carnivores on the continent. Having spread throughout the eastern United States, coyotes come into regular contact with humans. However, until now, the factors influencing the number of coyotes across suburban, rural and wild landscapes have remained largely unclear," said Moll.



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



This research marks a significant stride in achieving that understanding, underscoring the complexity of coyote survival dynamics and their adaptability in the face of various challenges. 



With this data, scientists can now map out coyote abundance, a tool that could aid both in conservation and coyote management across the country.



Now, what does this mean for you as a citizen? Perhaps the next time you spot a coyote, you'll remember their intricate story of survival from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/does-hunting-fishing-connect-humans-with-nature-or-reinforce-superiority-complex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hunting strategies</a> of the world.



Cohabitation with wildlife, like coyotes, is a part of our world that deserves to be understood, valued, and protected. Can we imagine a world where we live harmoniously with our wild neighbors? Only time will tell.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ecog.07390" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecography</a>.



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Hunting coyotes actually boosts their numbers

Did you know that coyotes are among the most successful...

In the 1990s, a Japanese scientist, Shigeyuki Yamato, noticed an unusual species of shrimp swimming around in local intertidal waters. It was striking because it had unique black-and-white coloration, similar to the coat of the iconic giant panda. 



Decades later, this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new species</a> has been officially named and introduced to science as Melita panda, the newest melitid amphipod. Its recognition highlights the importance of dedicated research and the fact that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-biodiversity-could-shift-rapidly-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine biodiversity</a> still holds many surprises for those who look carefully.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-journey-of-crustacean-discovery">The journey of crustacean discovery</h2>



Before its unique coloring gave the Melita panda its name, there were already 63 recognized species of Melita <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-crustaceans-prey-on-jellyfish-to-survive-the-polar-night/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphipods</a>, with 16 of them found in Japan.



Researchers Ko Tomikawa, from <a href="https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/gshs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hiroshima University's Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences</a>, and Hiroyuki Ariyama, from the Osaka Museum of Natural History, returned to the intertidal waters of Wakayama Prefecture where the original specimen had been found. 



There, they collected significant numbers of the black-and-white amphipods for detailed morphological and genetic analyses. These studies confirmed that the small, shrimp-like crustacean is indeed a new species.



The researchers suggest that there may be many more unidentified and undescribed species of Melita amphipods in Japan's coastal waters.



"Study on the amphipod Crustacea in the coastal zone of Japan is lagging behind," said Tomikawa. 



"In order to accurately assess species diversity, taxonomic studies are necessary. We hope the discovery of a new species of amphipod with the familiar coloring of the panda pattern will increase the public's interest in biodiversity and taxonomy."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-melita-panda-a-tribute-to-species-taxonomy">Melita panda: A tribute to species taxonomy</h2>



In reality, our understanding of the world's species diversity, especially in marine ecosystems, is still in its infancy. Identification is an essential step in understanding the biological and conservation needs of species all over the world.



"Despite the fact that biodiversity conservation is a global issue, species diversity and other aspects of biodiversity are still not fully understood," said Tomikawa.



"As a first step toward species conservation, we conducted a taxonomic study of amphipod Crustacea, which boasts high species diversity around Japan."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-melita-panda">Understanding Melita panda</h2>



The researchers conducted detailed morphological studies of the physical characteristics of body parts in the crustacean to ascertain their differences from other melitid amphipods. 



Unlike other familiar crustaceans, M. panda individuals are very small. The first male specimen collected was a mere 0.2 in (6 mm), with females being even smaller. 



The panda-like pattern was found to consist of black markings on a body that was white. The antennae, sides, head and posterior abdomen were all black, while the rest of the body was white.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distinctive-differences-in-melita-panda">Distinctive differences in Melita panda </h2>



The researchers also used nuclear and mitochondrial genes for phylogenetic analysis, hoping to gain deeper insights into the species' evolutionary relationships with other crustaceans and how it fits within the broader family tree.



Melita panda was found to be closely related to two other Melita amphipods, namely M. nagatai and M. koreana.



What clearly sets Melita panda apart from the other two species, however, are its distinctive coloring and its physical differences.



Melita panda boasts unique gnathopods - claws extending from the second thoracic segment - that are positioned more forward than in the other Melita amphipods.



It also features unique setae - bristles that look like hairs. These three species together form a monophyletic group, meaning that they share a common evolutionary ancestor, M. hoshinoi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-lies-ahead-for-crustacean-research">What lies ahead for crustacean research</h2>



As the researchers continue to study this newest Melita, they're optimistic about what lies ahead.



"Hopefully, a detailed study of the ecology and behavior of Melita panda will reveal the reason for its panda pattern," said Tomikawa. 



But, the research doesn't end with Melita panda. Tomikawa noted that further taxonomic studies on amphipods in uninvestigated areas are expected to lead to the discovery of additional new species. 



"Continued taxonomic studies are expected to elucidate the biodiversity in the coastal environments of the Japanese archipelago and provide important basic data for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pronghorn-lessons-conservation-crucial-preventing-species-extinctions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species conservation</a>."



These discoveries remind us of just how much we have yet to learn about the biodiversity that surrounds us.



The study was published in the journal <a href="https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/128858/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ZooKeys</a>.



Image Credit: Ko Tomikawa/Hiroshima University



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Meet Melita panda: The black-and-white crustacean shrimp

In the 1990s, a Japanese scientist, Shigeyuki Yamato, noticed an...

It's no secret that albatrosses are a mobile bunch. These birds don’t shy away from a little trip and, thanks to the wind, cover several hundred thousand miles to feast on fish and other creatures in the open ocean. 



Albatrosses are so attuned to the wind that some larger species have a difficult time taking off in calm weather.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-much-wind-can-albatrosses-handle">How much wind can albatrosses handle?</h2>



A recent study led by the University of Liverpool’s School of Environmental Science reveals a surprising discovery: there's a limit to how much wind these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-sea-ice-makes-it-harder-for-seabirds-to-find-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> can handle.



The researchers found that two species of albatrosses, despite being expert fliers, found it challenging to eat during very stormy weather. Under these conditions, finding food becomes risky or even downright dangerous.



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



The experts analyzed data collected at South Georgia in the southwest Atlantic Ocean. They used tracking devices from the British Antarctic Survey to measure when and where the birds were resting, flying, or eating. 



In addition, satellite measurements of wind, rain and water clarity were used to gauge when these birds encountered stormy conditions.



Study lead author Jamie Darby conducted the research while at the <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Liverpool</a> and is now based at <a href="https://www.ucc.ie/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College Cork</a>. 



“This combination of data is a very powerful tool for understanding how albatrosses behave, especially when they are so difficult to observe directly," noted Darby. 



“On several occasions, we tracked wandering albatross flying in very strong storm winds. During these times, the logger data tell us that the albatrosses barely fed at all. Not only did they not manage to eat, but they also landed and took off more regularly."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avoiding-extreme-weather">Avoiding extreme weather</h2>



“The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/albatrosses-use-infrasound-for-long-distance-navigation-study-reveals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">albatrosses</a> seem to avoid severe winds by landing on the water, but then cannot rest for long, probably because such strong wind would cause waves to break over them regularly,” said study co-author Dr. Ewan Wakefield from Durham University.



Wandering albatrosses, with the largest wingspan of any bird (up to 12 feet), are adapted for efficient flight in Southern Ocean winds.



Despite this incredible feat, they are not immune to the adverse effects of extreme weather. Recent studies have documented several instances of albatrosses avoiding the strongest wind in storm systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wind-adapted-albatrosses">Wind-adapted albatrosses </h2>



“This study allows us to understand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-sea-ice-makes-it-harder-for-seabirds-to-find-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal behavior</a> when they are in places and conditions that make it almost impossible for us to see them directly. This includes extreme weather, like Southern Ocean storms," said project principal investigator Dr. Samantha Patrick.



"Knowing what animals do in these conditions, and how they cope, is really important. It’s a way to figure out how they will be affected by changes in their environment.”



The research implies that wind-adapted albatrosses could be disadvantaged by more widespread extreme winds, as finding food becomes difficult or dangerous.



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



The findings from this study hold important implications for the conservation of albatrosses, as climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.



Understanding how these birds respond to such conditions is crucial for developing strategies to protect them. Conservationists can use this knowledge to inform marine protected area design and enforce policies that mitigate human impact on albatross habitats. 



By anticipating how future wind patterns might hinder their ability to feed, conservation efforts can be tailored to support the resilience of these magnificent creatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wind-s-impact-on-albatrosses">Wind's impact on albatrosses</h2>



This study opens the door for further research into the behavioral adaptations of albatrosses and other seabirds to extreme weather conditions.



As technology advances, more sophisticated tracking devices and environmental sensors will allow researchers to gather even finer-scale data on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seabirds-have-highly-sensitive-beaks-to-locate-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird movements</a> and environmental conditions. 



Future studies could explore how juvenile albatrosses learn to navigate and respond to stormy weather or how changes in prey availability during storms impact albatross feeding strategies. 



Such research can deepen our understanding of how winds and climate change affect not only albatrosses but marine ecosystems as a whole.



The study was funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) in the UK and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the U.S.



The findings are published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)01372-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Strong winds make it difficult for albatrosses to feed

It's no secret that albatrosses are a mobile bunch. These...

Modern ecologists now have more data than ever to help monitor biodiversity, yet this increase in data isn’t always enough to address the nuanced challenges species face.&nbsp;



As global biodiversity declines, animal ecologist Scott Yanco from the <a href="https://umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> explains that more specific data is crucial to identify the causes behind population declines, which, left unchecked, could lead to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/local-species-extinctions-are-often-underestimated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species extinction</a>. 



In a recent study co-authored with U-M evolutionary ecologist Brian Weeks and an international team, Yanco highlights the growing role of animal tracking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-is-tracking-endangered-animal-habitats-from-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">technology</a> in revolutionizing conservation efforts.



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



Biodiversity is essential for supporting human health and ecosystems. It underpins food, water, air quality, and recreation.&nbsp;



Biodiversity isn’t only vital in remote ecosystems like tropical rainforests; Yanco points out that local biodiversity, such as what’s found in our backyards, plays a key role too. Understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-are-the-biggest-drivers-of-biodiversity-loss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> is essential for developing effective policies. 



Protecting ecosystems helps prevent crises like pandemics and agricultural failures, which ultimately support human well-being. Yanco’s work focuses on applying data to anticipate and prevent these issues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-evolution-of-animal-tracking">The evolution of animal tracking</h2>



Tracking animals is not a new practice in ecology. Traditionally, animals were fitted with simple markers, such as aluminum leg bands for birds or collars for mammals.&nbsp;



However, these methods required researchers to repeatedly locate the animals, which was often challenging and time-consuming. This limited the amount of detailed, continuous data available on individual animals.



In recent years, electronic tracking devices have provided more precise information, similar to the GPS technology found in smartphones.&nbsp;



These new tracking devices allow researchers to monitor the location and behavior of animals on a much larger scale and over extended periods.&nbsp;



This influx of data has revealed previously unknown details about animals’ movements and interactions with their environments, creating an opportunity to study the behaviors and environmental factors that drive population declines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-tracking-data-and-conservation">Animal tracking data and conservation</h2>



Animal tracking technology provides insights that go beyond monitoring population numbers. While researchers can often track overall trends in population levels, they need more specific information to determine the exact causes behind these changes.&nbsp;



Detailed data from animal tracking can help scientists understand the precise impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, pollution, habitat fragmentation, and other stressors. This level of detail is essential for developing targeted conservation interventions.



With precise tracking data, conservationists can move beyond general explanations and address specific challenges.&nbsp;



For example, rather than simply noting habitat loss as a cause of population decline, tracking data can help researchers pinpoint particular areas where fragmented habitats are directly impacting survival rates.&nbsp;



By identifying these localized issues, ecologists can design interventions that address the specific conditions that impact wildlife populations.



Tracking technology offers a unique opportunity to gather such detailed information, which is especially valuable in studying species that are difficult to observe in the wild.&nbsp;



With this data, scientists can examine biodiversity on a global scale, focusing on species that are particularly vulnerable to human impacts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emerging-animal-tracking-technologies">Emerging animal tracking technologies</h2>



Modern animal tracking technology now includes lightweight GPS devices, which provide precise location data for larger animals like elk or elephants.&nbsp;



For smaller animals, researchers use miniaturized tracking devices that store data for later retrieval, as these species cannot support the weight of GPS-enabled devices.&nbsp;



Systems such as ICARUS are developing smaller, satellite-based tags, which enable researchers to track smaller species without needing to recapture the animals.



Advanced tracking devices also include additional sensors that measure environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Some devices even include mortality switches that send alerts if the animal has been motionless for too long.&nbsp;



This innovation allows researchers to understand animal behavior and responses to environmental changes with high precision.



With these technologies, researchers can collect detailed information about animal movements, behavior, and survival conditions.&nbsp;



This data provides new insights into the causes behind biodiversity declines, giving ecologists valuable tools for addressing these challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-a-targeted-approach-to-conservation">Building a targeted approach to conservation</h2>



Yanco sees these developments as paving the way for more targeted conservation strategies. By pinpointing the causes behind population declines, tracking technology enables conservationists to develop interventions that address specific threats to individual species.&nbsp;



This precise approach allows researchers to recommend specific actions that help wildlife populations thrive while minimizing human impact, creating potential for sustainable, coexisting ecosystems.



With this influx of detailed tracking data, Yanco and his team are hopeful for a future where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/effective-conservation-efforts-key-to-saving-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation efforts</a> are more informed and effective. 



As tracking technology continues to evolve, ecologists are better equipped to combat the challenges facing biodiversity worldwide, with data-driven insights shaping the path forward.



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Animal tracking is crucial for preserving biodiversity

Modern ecologists now have more data than ever to help...

The day that Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980 is forever seared into the collective memory of the world. An unstoppable surge of lava effectively reduced surrounding life forms to ash within a matter of miles. 



In an unlikely twist of fate, an experiment involving some resilient gophers triggered a chain of events that initiated the recovery of the mountain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gophers-on-mount-st-helens">Gophers on Mount St. Helens</h2>



Despair had hung in the air after the eruption of Mount St. Helens. A once vibrant ecosystem was reduced to nothing in an instant, reminding us of nature’s fearsome power. However, in the aftermath, a bold theory emerged from the minds of scientists.



The experts speculated that gophers, small burrowing rodents, could play an essential role in the revival of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-building-triggered-a-mass-extinction-event/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">barren landscape</a>.



Quite simply, by digging up and redepositing beneficial bacteria and fungi from deeper soil layers, gophers could aid in the resurrection of the mountain's plant and animal life.



“They’re often considered pests, but we thought they would take old soil, move it to the surface, and that would be where recovery would occur,” said Michael Allen, a professor of plant pathology at <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Riverside</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transformative-and-persistent-changes">Transformative and persistent changes</h2>



Two years following the eruption, the scientists decided it was time to put their theory into action. 



Gophers were dropped onto parts of the scorched <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountains-both-carbon-sinks-and-carbon-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mountain</a> for a mere 24 hours, and the effects of this short intervention continue to be seen today, 40 years later.



New research published this week in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes illuminates the enduring impact of this experiment - a persistent change in the communities of fungi and bacteria in areas where gophers had briefly resided. 



This effect was not observed on land surrounding Mount St. Helens where gophers were not introduced.



“In the 1980s, we were just testing the short-term reaction,” said Professor Allen. “Who would have predicted you could toss a gopher in for a day and see a residual effect 40 years later?”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gophers-and-mountain-soil">Gophers and mountain soil</h2>



The interaction between gophers and the mountain soil is just one part of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loss-of-mountain-forests-accelerating-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">revitalization</a> puzzle. Another vital aspect is the role of mycorrhizal fungi. 



These tiny organisms have a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, exchanging nutrients and resources. They shield plants against pathogens and crucially, in such barren environments as that of Mount St. Helens post-eruption, they aid plants in becoming established and surviving.



“The fungi transport these things to the plant and get carbon they need for their own growth in exchange,” explained Professor Allen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-research">Broader implications of the research </h2>



The real-world implications of these findings are vast. Take, for instance, two different sides of the mountain. 



One side was covered by an old-growth forest when the eruption blanketed everything with ash. Scientists feared that the forest would collapse due to the loss of needles from the pine, spruce, and Douglas fir trees. However, much to their surprise, the trees rebounded almost immediately in some places.



“These trees have their own mycorrhizal fungi that picked up nutrients from the dropped needles and helped fuel rapid tree regrowth,” said UCR environmental microbiologist and study co-author Emma Aronson.



In stark contrast, the other side of the mountain had been clear-cut prior to the eruption. With no trees or dropped needles to feed the soil fungi, this area remains barren to this day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recovery-of-mount-st-helens">Recovery of Mount St. Helens</h2>



The results of this study highlight the importance of understanding and respecting the intricate connections within nature, particularly among elements like microbes and fungi which we can't see.



“We cannot ignore the interdependence of all things in nature, especially the things we cannot see like microbes and fungi,” said Mia Maltz, study lead author and <a href="https://uconn.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Connecticut</a> mycologist.



In conclusion, in the searing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-research-enhances-predictions-on-volcanic-eruptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aftermath of an eruption</a>, the recovery of Mount St. Helens provides an unforgettable lesson on the resilience of nature, the power of scientific curiosity, and the value of cooperation between species.



And let's not forget the humble gophers, forever to be remembered as the tiny heroes of a scorched and desolate mountain.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiomes/articles/10.3389/frmbi.2024.1399416/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Microbiomes</a>.



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How gophers revived Mount St. Helens after its eruption

The day that Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980 is...

The flea toad, a tiny marvel smaller than a fingernail, resides deep within the heartlands of the Atlantic Rainforest.



Known for its diminutive size and unique characteristics, this intriguing amphibian has recently gained another member in its genus - a newly discovered species known as Brachycephalus dacnis.



The toad was named in honor of Project Dacnis, an NGO dedicated to conservation, research, and education.



Project Dacnis significantly contributes to the preservation of private regions within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alarming-number-of-tree-species-threatened-in-the-atlantic-rainforest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atlantic Rainforest</a>, including the area where B. dacnis was spotted. This particular area lies within the charming coastal city of Ubatuba in the state of São Paulo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flea-toad-brachycephalus-dacnis">Flea toad Brachycephalus dacnis</h2>



These small toads are nothing short of exceptional in the world of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/over-40-of-amphibians-face-extinction-due-to-escalating-climate-threats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphibians</a>. They possess a unique set of traits that set them apart from their larger counterparts.



"There are small toads with all the characteristics of large toads except for their size. This genus is different," noted study co-author, Luís Felipe Toledo, a professor at the <a href="https://www.ib.unicamp.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of Biology</a>.



"During its evolution, it underwent what we biologists call <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-do-some-animals-evolve-to-become-miniature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">miniaturization</a>, which involves loss, reduction and/or fusion of bones, as well as fewer digits and absence of other parts of their anatomy."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unearthing-diversity-amidst-the-leaves">Unearthing diversity amidst the leaves</h2>



Researchers have always found the genus Brachycephalus fascinating, particularly due to its colorful species and unique venom.



The recent focus, however, is on the puny stature of the flea toads belonging to the seventh species to be described in this genus.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/flea-toad_Brachycephalus-dacnis_smallest_credit-Lucas-Machado-Botelho_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/flea-toad_Brachycephalus-dacnis_smallest_credit-Lucas-Machado-Botelho_1s.webp" alt="New miniature species on researcher's palm. Credit: Lucas Machado Botelho/Projeto Dacnis" class="wp-image-1949690"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New miniature species on researcher's palm. Credit: Lucas Machado Botelho/Projeto Dacnis</figcaption></figure>



The tiny toadlets of Brachycephalus share a unique quality. They are unable to hear their own vocalizations due to the absence of a tympanic middle ear. 



This intriguing fact was uncovered in a 2017 article by Toledo and his team. The study, focused on pumpkin toadlets, indicated that visual&nbsp;communication&nbsp;has replaced acoustic communication.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brachycephalus-dacnis-as-a-new-species">Brachycephalus dacnis as a new species</h2>



Upon analyzing B. dacnis, the team found that it shares a lot of morphological similarities with another species - B. hermogenesi.



Both have a yellowish-brown skin, share the same habitat in leaf litter, lack a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-tadpole-vision-changes-from-water-to-land/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tadpole</a> stage, and are found in the same region. However, the uniqueness lies in their calls -- they are distinctly different.



DNA testing further confirmed their suspicion and identified B. dacnis as a new species that is found in the same region as B. hermogenesi.



Discussing the likelihood of the existence of B. dacnis among the specimen that aided in describing B. hermogenesi in 1998, Toledo suggested the use of historical DNA sequencing tools to clear up uncertainties.



These tools are crucial in gathering DNA from zoological museum and herbarium specimens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-focused-conservation-efforts">Need for focused conservation efforts</h2>



The discovery of B. dacnis reveals the rich and possibly underestimated variety within the world of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brazilian-flea-toad-worlds-smallest-vertebrate-discovered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">miniature frogs</a>.



"The diversity of these miniature frogs may be far greater than we think. Hence the importance of describing as many traits and features as possible, to expedite the description process and get to work on conservation as quickly as possible," Toledo said. 



Advancing our understanding of these tiny amphibians is essential for their preservation and highlights the need for focused conservation efforts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-significance-of-flea-toads">Ecological significance of flea toads</h2>



Flea toads, despite their tiny size, play a significant role within their ecosystem. Their presence in the Atlantic Rainforest highlights the importance of even the smallest creatures in maintaining ecological balance.



As insectivores, these diminutive amphibians help regulate insect populations, including species that may become pests if left unchecked. 



By thriving within the leaf litter, they also contribute to the nutrient cycle, enriching the soil as they forage and interact with other organisms. 



Understanding the ecological contributions of B. dacnis and similar species highlights why conservation efforts are vital - not only to protect the toads themselves but also to preserve the broader environmental health of this rich habitat.



The research received funding and support from FAPESP, a prominent research foundation, as part of the thematic project “From the natural history to the conservation of Brazilian amphibians."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://peerj.com/articles/18265/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PeerJ</a>.



Image Credit: Lucas Machado Botelho/Projeto Dacnis



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Newly discovered 'flea toad' is the world’s second smallest vertebrate

The flea toad, a tiny marvel smaller than a fingernail,...

There’s an eerie beauty and mystery in the dark depths of the Gulf of Mexico, where bacteria thrive alongside coral reefs. 



These are not the colorful, sunlit corals we are most familiar with, but corals that flourish in the ocean’s abyss - devoid of sunlight - at depths ranging from 300 to 900 meters.



This mysterious underwater world is home to two soft coral species, Callogorgia delta and Callogorgia americana. Within the tissues of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-are-some-corals-more-resilient-to-climate-change-than-others/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">corals</a>, scientists recently discovered two peculiar bacterial species previously unknown to science.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-bacteria-in-coral-tissues">Unique bacteria in coral tissues</h2>



The study was led by Professor Iliana Baums, a renowned scientist from the <a href="https://hifmb.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg</a> (HIFMB).



She collaborated with Dr. Samuel Vohsen from Lehigh University in the United States and other esteemed scientists from various institutions across the globe.



The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, creates a new frontier for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-biodiversity-could-shift-rapidly-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine biodiversity</a> discoveries.



The unique bacterial species, found in the corals' tissue layer that forms part of their immune defense system and transports nutrients, belong to the mollicutes class of bacteria. 



Mollicutes are known to live as parasites either in or on the cells of plants, animals, and humans. In some cases, these bacteria cause diseases.



The scientists have proposed a new family for the two bacteria species called the Oceanoplasmataceae.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extraordinary-bacterial-species">Extraordinary bacterial species</h2>



The existence of the newly discovered bacteria presents a puzzle - a mystery that scientists have yet to unravel.



“These species are impressive examples of how few <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-animals-steal-genes-from-bacteria-to-produce-antibiotics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genes</a> are needed for a functional organism,” noted Professor Baums.



The Oceanoplasma callogorgiae contains only 359 genes that encode protein for metabolic functions, while the Thalassoplasma callogorgiae has 385 genes.



When compared with around 4,000 in the intestinal bacterium, Escherichia coli, and approximately 21,000 in humans, the difference is stark.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-s-energy-source">Bacteria's energy source</h2>



The question that begs to be answered is, how can the metabolism of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-microbes-eat-a-different-diet-that-affects-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microbes</a> function with such a significantly reduced genome?



The answer is as astonishing as it is simple. Their energy source is not the typical carbohydrate metabolism found in most living organisms but the amino acid arginine.



The breakdown of arginine provides very little energy, leaving scientists confused about the bacteria's survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interdependent-or-parasitic-relationship">Interdependent or parasitic relationship?</h2>



Uncertainty remains about whether the bacteria function solely as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-parasites-are-vulnerable-to-warming-oceans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parasites</a> or if there is a potential symbiotic relationship.



Genetic analysis revealed that these bacterial species use various defense mechanisms called CRISPR/Cas systems to get rid of foreign DNA. This process is also used to edit genes.



The bacteria could potentially be assisting the corals in fighting off pathogens. Alternatively, the host corals could be receiving nitrogen while the bacteria break down arginine.



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



“I always find it amazing that corals can colonize so many different habitats despite being very simple animals in terms of their genetic blueprint,” said Braum. 



She noted that symbionts are crucial for the ability of corals to adapt to different environmental conditions. “They provide metabolic functions that the corals themselves lack.”



This discovery brings us one step closer to understanding the intricate and beautiful complexity of life that thrives in the obscure depths of our oceans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sea-bacteria-and-coral-health">Deep-sea bacteria and coral health</h2>



Beyond their unusual genomes and survival strategies, the bacteria raise intriguing questions about their potential roles in the deep-sea ecosystem.



While researchers have uncovered that the bacteria rely on the amino acid arginine for energy, they still do not fully understand how these microorganisms interact with their coral hosts in such extreme, nutrient-scarce environments.



One theory suggests that the bacteria might contribute essential nutrients or provide defense against other pathogens, potentially forming a mutually beneficial relationship with the corals. 



Alternatively, they could act purely as parasites, exploiting their coral hosts' resources to survive. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions </h2>



Further research aims to explore these possibilities, investigating whether this unique microbial partnership could shed light on how deep-sea corals endure environmental pressures - and possibly how they might adapt to changing ocean conditions.



This ongoing work emphasizes the intricate interdependencies in deep-sea ecosystems and highlights the resilience of life in Earth’s most extreme habitats.



Understanding these relationships could provide insights into the fundamental principles of symbiosis and survival in the ocean's depths.



image Credit: ECOGIG Consortium, Creative Commons CC0 1.0



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53855-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Highly unusual bacteria discovered in deep-sea corals

There’s an eerie beauty and mystery in the dark depths...

Recent research led by the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa challenges the commonly held belief that coral reefs face inevitable decline.&nbsp;



Led by the Toonen-Bowen “ToBo” Lab at <a href="https://www.himb.hawaii.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HIMB</a> with collaboration from the <a href="https://www.osu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ohio State University</a>, the study shows that coral reefs have the potential to adapt and survive in changing climates if carbon emissions are reduced and local stressors are managed effectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovative-experimental-design">Innovative experimental design</h2>



Researchers constructed 40 experimental “mesocosms” in a laboratory near the coral reefs, replicating the conditions and biodiversity found in nature. 



The mesocosms included eight common Hawaiian coral species along with reef sand, rubble, and various organisms that create a mini-ecosystem reflective of wild reefs.&nbsp;



For two years, these mesocosms were subjected to controlled levels of higher temperatures, increased acidity, or a combination of both to simulate potential future climate conditions.



“We included the eight most common coral species in Hawai‘i, which constitute about 95% of the coral cover on Hawaiian reefs,” explained lead author Christopher Jury, a postdoctoral fellow at HIMB.&nbsp;



“By understanding how these species respond to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-study-provides-answers-to-how-coral-reefs-can-survive-climate-change/">climate change</a>, we should have a better understanding of how Hawaiian reefs and other Indo-Pacific reefs will change over time, and how to better allocate resources as well as plan for the future.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-process-of-coral-calcification">The process of coral calcification</h2>



Coral reefs form over time through calcification, where individual coral polyps secrete calcium carbonate to create limestone structures.&nbsp;



However, various organisms naturally erode these reefs. If reef erosion surpasses calcification, coral structures and the vast array of species that depend on them may vanish.&nbsp;



The ToBo Lab closely monitored how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-reefs-could-vanish-if-temperatures-continue-to-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temperature</a> and acidity affected calcification and reef health in the mesocosms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-results-challenge-projections">Surprising results challenge projections</h2>



Contrary to widespread projections, the experimental reef communities did not <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-save-coral-reefs-with-selective-breeding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collapse</a> but persisted and adapted. 



“These experimental reef communities persisted as new reef communities rather than collapsing,” Jury said.&nbsp;



“This was a very surprising result, since almost all projections of reef futures suggest that the corals should have almost entirely died, the reef communities should have experienced net carbonate dissolution, and reef biodiversity should have collapsed.”



This result suggests that under controlled, realistic conditions that account for diverse reef organisms - including microbes, algae, invertebrates, and fish - reefs demonstrate resilience.&nbsp;



“Rather than focusing on just one or two species in isolation, we included the entire complement of reef species from microbes, to algae, invertebrates, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-coral-reef-fish-survive-in-the-worlds-warmest-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a>, under realistic conditions they would experience in nature,” noted co-senior author Rob Toonen, the co-director of the UH Marine Biology Graduate Program. 



This comprehensive approach is a key differentiator that sets the ToBo Lab’s study apart from traditional, more limited research.



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



The findings offer a renewed sense of hope for coral conservation strategies. Coral reefs, known for their rich biodiversity, support millions of people globally, providing resources and livelihoods. However, they are vulnerable to the impacts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-corals-can-survive-high-ocean-heat-which-could-save-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean warming</a> and acidification due to climate change. 



“Reefs are not inevitably doomed. The recognition that coral reefs are not doomed if we take appropriate action on climate change and local stressors reinforces the need to accomplish these goals,” Jury said.



The study highlights that, while reefs will undergo significant changes under future ocean conditions, a total collapse can be avoided if global warming is kept within the Paris Climate Agreement targets and local environmental pressures are managed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-coral-reef-research-nbsp">Future of coral reef research&nbsp;</h2>



Rob Toonen and his colleagues are optimistic about the future of coral reef research and conservation, advocating for proactive and science-based measures.&nbsp;



“These more realistic mesocosm experiments help us to understand how coral reefs will change over time,” Toonen said.&nbsp;



The study also sets a precedent for future research aimed at developing effective strategies to preserve coral reef ecosystems amidst a changing climate.



This breakthrough suggests that with urgent climate action and localized efforts, coral reefs can remain resilient.&nbsp;



The research underscores the critical importance of climate change mitigation and localized protective measures, showcasing that nature's resilience can be leveraged if humanity rises to the challenge.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2407112121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>. 



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Coral reefs may be more resilient than we thought

Recent research led by the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology...

Between 120 and 130 million years ago, during the age of the dinosaurs, northeast China hosted vibrant temperate forests and lakes that nurtured a diverse ecosystem.&nbsp;



Fossils from this period stayed untouched for millions of years until villagers began to unearth exceptionally preserved specimens in the 1980s.&nbsp;



These finds, often sold to collectors and museums, initiated a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossils-capture-a-turning-point-in-the-evolution-of-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> rush that has since transformed the region into one of the most heavily excavated paleontological sites in the world, visible even from space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossils-of-well-preserved-dinosaurs">Fossils of well-preserved dinosaurs</h2>



The dinosaur fossils discovered in the Yixian Formation stood out for being remarkably well-preserved. 



Unlike the usual fragmented skeletal remains found at other sites, these fossils often included soft tissues, internal organs, feathers, fur, and even stomach contents. 



Notable among these finds was a cat-sized mammal locked in a struggle with a small dinosaur, both seemingly frozen in time. 



Such discoveries confirmed that modern birds are descendants of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-evolved-feathers-for-much-more-than-just-flying/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feathered dinosaurs</a> and provided crucial insights into their evolution, redefining paleontological understanding. 



Early theories suggested that a sudden volcanic event, similar to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that buried <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tragic-end-of-pompeii-was-not-solely-caused-by-mount-vesuvius/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pompeii</a>, might have been responsible for preserving these fossils, leading to the formation’s nickname, “Chinese Pompeii.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refuting-volcanic-theories">Refuting volcanic theories</h2>



A recent study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2322875121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> challenges the long-held belief that volcanic activity was the primary reason for the pristine preservation of these fossils.&nbsp;



The researchers, using precise dating techniques, argue that the fossils were preserved not by dramatic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-early-humans-survived-the-eruption-of-toba-supervolcano/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanic cataclysms</a> but by more common occurrences such as burrow collapses and periods of heavy rainfall that quickly buried the remains.&nbsp;



This new study pinpoints the age of these fossils to a compact period of less than 93,000 years, dismissing the notion that preservation was the result of multiple volcanic pulses over millions of years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-well-preserved-dinosaur-discoveries">Well-preserved dinosaur discoveries</h2>



“These are probably the most important dinosaur discoveries of the last 120 years,” said study co-author Paul Olsen, a paleontologist at the Columbia Climate School’s <a href="https://lamont.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory</a>. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/dinosaurs_Psittacosaurus_skeletons_burrow-collapse_credit-Jun-Liu_CAS_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/dinosaurs_Psittacosaurus_skeletons_burrow-collapse_credit-Jun-Liu_CAS_1s.webp" alt="Two perfectly articulated skeletons of the sheep-size dinosaur Psittacosaurus, found in China's Yixian Formation. New research suggests they died in burrow collapses, not via volcanism, as previously thought. Credit: Jun Liu, Institute of Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences" class="wp-image-1949576"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Two perfectly articulated skeletons of the sheep-size dinosaur Psittacosaurus, found in China's Yixian Formation. New research suggests they died in burrow collapses, not via volcanism, as previously thought. Credit: Jun Liu, Institute of Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences</figcaption></figure>



“But what was said about their method of preservation highlights an important human bias. That is, to ascribe extraordinary causes, i.e. miracles, to ordinary events when we don’t understand their origins. These [fossils] are just a snapshot of everyday deaths in normal conditions over a relatively brief time.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-against-volcanic-theories">Evidence against volcanic theories</h2>



The research team dismissed the possibility of preservation by volcanic lahars -- fast-moving mudflows -- due to their violent nature, which would have obliterated delicate remains. 



Similarly, the theory of pyroclastic flows, like those that buried Pompeii, was ruled out. 



Such flows would have incinerated feathers and fur, and left the bodies in the characteristic “pugilistic” posture seen in victims of extreme heat. 



Instead, the animals in the Yixian Formation are found in more relaxed positions, suggesting a peaceful end.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theory-of-sudden-burrow-collapses-nbsp">Theory of sudden burrow collapses&nbsp;</h2>



Instead of volcanic cataclysms, the researchers propose that many of the preserved fossils were the result of sudden burrow collapses. Evidence for this theory came from the composition of the rock surrounding the fossils.&nbsp;



While the general rock formations were made of coarse grains, the material immediately around and within the skeletons was finer, indicating that fine sediment seeped in as bacteria or insects degraded the soft tissues, preserving the bones.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/dinosaurs_Psittacosaurus-babies_burrow_hunted_Repenomamus-mammal_credit-Alex-Boersma_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/dinosaurs_Psittacosaurus-babies_burrow_hunted_Repenomamus-mammal_credit-Alex-Boersma_1s.webp" alt="Artist's rendition of a Psittacosaurus dinosaur with babies being hunted by Repenomamus, a mammal. One fossil assemblage from the Yixian Formation preserved the remains of these species in mortal combat, frozen in mid-action. The dinosaur here is shown with bristly proto-feathers on its tail. Credit: Alex Boersma" class="wp-image-1949578"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Artist's rendition of a Psittacosaurus dinosaur with babies being hunted by Repenomamus, a mammal. One fossil assemblage from the Yixian Formation preserved the remains of these species in mortal combat, frozen in mid-action. The dinosaur here is shown with bristly proto-feathers on its tail. Credit: Alex Boersma</figcaption></figure>



Olsen noted that even today, burrow collapses can be fatal for animals like penguins, illustrating how this process may have played a role in the preservation of ancient creatures.



The extraordinary find of a mammal and dinosaur locked in combat could potentially be explained by such collapses. 



The mammal may have been invading the dinosaur’s burrow in search of food or safety when both met their end.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-triggered-burrow-collapses">What triggered burrow collapses?</h2>



While the researchers propose burrow collapses as the primary cause of death, the exact triggers remain speculative.&nbsp;



One possibility is that larger dinosaurs, which do not appear in the fossil record but likely roamed the area, may have inadvertently crushed the burrows while moving through the landscape. 



Additionally, periods of intense rainfall could have destabilized the ground, contributing to collapses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-for-future-dinosaur-discoveries">Potential for future dinosaur discoveries</h2>



Olsen believes that the Yixian Formation's unique preservation is not exclusive and that other areas around the world could yield similarly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gigoutella-mauretanica-best-preserved-trilobite-fossils-ever-found/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">well-preserved</a> dinosaur fossils if excavated with the same intensity. 



“It’s just that there is no place else where such intense collecting has been done in this kind of environment,” he said. 



While China has taken measures to regulate fossil sales, the demand remains robust, and significant investments have been made to promote tourism around these fossil sites.



Olsen mentioned sites in the eastern United States that share environmental similarities with Yixian, such as a quarry straddling the North Carolina-Virginia border, sites in Connecticut, and a former quarry in New Jersey.&nbsp;



However, large-scale excavation in these areas has yet to happen due to the high cost and the value of the land.



“It takes enormous effort, which is expensive. And land is valuable in these areas. So no one is doing it. At least not yet,” Olsen concluded.



-----



Image Credit: Jun Liu, Institute of Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences



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How did the world’s best-preserved dinosaurs die? 

Between 120 and 130 million years ago, during the age...

Picture a world 160 million years ago, with prehistoric landscapes teeming with life. Recently, scientists have uncovered a treasure trove of paleontological evidence from this time period in Argentina, including the stunning discovery of the oldest fossil of a giant tadpole.



This remarkable find not only shifts the current understanding of our planet's ecological memory but also beats the previous record holder of antiquity by 20 million years.



The specimen was not just a tooth or a bone fragment, but a fossil that was almost perfectly preserved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-from-the-tadpole-fossil">Insights from the tadpole fossil</h2>



Partially encased in a slab of sandstone, the fossil presents a detailed makeup of the tadpole's skull and backbone. Imprints of its eyes and nerves offer scientists a unique view into this ancient being's life.



"It's not only the oldest tadpole known, but also the most exquisitely preserved," said Mariana Chuliver, a biologist at <a href="https://www.maimonides.edu/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maimonides University</a> in Buenos Aires.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/frogs-have-a-third-eye-for-direct-light-sensing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frogs</a> have a history that spans up to 217 million years ago. However, the specifics surrounding their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wood-frogs-achieved-significant-biological-evolution-25-years-salt-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution</a>, particularly from the point of being tadpoles, have been shrouded in obscurity. The tadpole fossil could be the key to unlocking these mysteries.



"This finding has dual importance because it represents the oldest-known tadpole and, to our knowledge, the first stem-anuran larva. Its exquisite preservation, including soft tissues, shows features associated with the filter-feeding mechanism characteristic of extant tadpoles," wrote the study authors. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-frog-evolution">Understanding frog evolution</h2>



Standing at half a foot long, this ancient tadpole represents a youthful stage of a now-extinct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limnonectes-cassiopeia-new-fanged-fighting-frog-species-discovered-philippines/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">giant frog</a> species. 



The discovery is an exciting step toward understanding the intricate process of a frog's transformation.



Ben Kligman, a paleontologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History said the fossil is "starting to help narrow the timeframe in which a frog becomes a frog."



The implications of these findings are monumental for the field of paleontology and our comprehension of life's evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-characteristics-of-tadpole-fossil">Characteristics of tadpole fossil</h2>



In an article published recently in the journal&nbsp;Nature, the experts noted that there is a striking similarity between this fossil and the tadpoles we see today.



Even the remnants of a gill scaffold system, a tool that today's tadpoles use to sift food particles from water, were found.



The understanding that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/amphibians-threatened-by-mercury-with-unknown-health-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphibians' survival</a> strategy has remained unchanged for millions of years, enabling them to survive several mass extinctions, highlights the astonishing resilience of nature.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extending-the-boundaries-of-knowledge">Extending the boundaries of knowledge</h2>



This discovery provides an invaluable glimpse into the distant past and sheds light on a creature that played a significant part in the Earth's ecological history.



 It's an exciting reminder of the myriad questions that still surround the path of life on our planet. 



Unearthing these secrets of the past provides us with a deeper understanding of the complexities of life today and the challenges of the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tadpole-s-journey-through-time">Tadpole’s journey through time</h2>



With its remarkable preservation, the giant tadpole fossil offers an opportunity to glimpse into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ecosystem-behavior-earth-first-sea-creatures-stirring-water-drove-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient ecosystems</a> that thrived over a hundred million years ago.



The sandstone slab hints at the environment in which the tadpole lived - a world rich with water bodies teeming with early amphibians, insects, and aquatic plants.



By studying the fossil’s surroundings, researchers gain insights into the ecological dynamics that supported early amphibian life, painting a vivid picture of the predator-prey relationships, food chains, and habitat structures of that era. 



This contextual understanding can shed light on the adaptive strategies that amphibians, like this tadpole, developed to survive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-paleontological-exploration">Further paleontological exploration</h2>



The tadpole fossil found in Argentina could very well be the catalyst for a renewed focus on South American fossil beds.



While paleontological research has traditionally concentrated on other regions, this study highlights the continent's potential for offering new insights into the evolution of ancient species.



As researchers prepare to conduct further excavations, they anticipate unearthing other fossils that might clarify the evolutionary journey of amphibians and potentially reveal new species altogether. 



Such discoveries could add depth to the global fossil record, helping to refine the timelines and connections within the evolutionary tree, particularly for amphibians and their descendants.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08055-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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World's oldest tadpole fossil reveals secrets of ancient amphibians

Picture a world 160 million years ago, with prehistoric landscapes...

The cooperative behavior of bees, resembling a singular "superorganism," is something uniquely remarkable in the world of nature.



It is not uncommon for thousands of worker bees to function collectively to protect the colony, feed it, and look after the offspring. This intricate social conduct unifies their individual actions into a concerted effort.



But how is this complex behavior encoded and inherited among generations of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-spread-viruses-to-bumblebees-in-the-spring/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">honey bees</a>? The answer lies in a special gene, as unveiled by a team of scientists.



The research was led by experts at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (<a href="https://www.hhu.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HHU</a>), along with colleagues from Frankfurt/Main, Oxford, and Würzburg. The study has uncovered the genetic underpinnings of honey bee cooperation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-behind-cooperative-bee-behavior">Genes behind cooperative bee behavior</h2>



The principal investigator and the head of the Institute of Evolutionary Genetics at Heinrich-Heine University, Dr. Martin Beye, and his team have made this breakthrough discovery. The research was focused on a gene called "doublesex" or "dsx."



"The behavioral repertoire of the individual bees and their function in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bee-colonies-are-collapsing-as-climate-change-progresses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">colony</a> are not learned, but rather inherited. Until now, it was not known how such complex behaviors were genetically encoded," said Dr. Beye.



The key discovery is that the dsx gene influences worker bee-specific behavior, noted study first author Dr. Vivien Sommer.



"The gene programs whether a worker bee takes up a task in the colony and for how long. This includes collective tasks such as caring for the larvae or foraging for food and social exchanges on food sources, for example," said Dr. Sommer. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gene-editing-in-bees">Gene editing in bees</h2>



The team used the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique to modify the dsx gene in select bees, attaching a QR code to the manipulated bees.



Cameras inside the hive monitored the bees' behavior, and with the assistance of artificial intelligence, video sequences were analyzed to determine individual behavioral patterns.



"Our central question was whether and how the inherited behavioral patterns changed as a result of the gene modification. Such changes must be reflected in the nervous system of the worker bees where the specific behaviour is controlled," said Dr. Sommer.



Adding a twist, the researchers introduced a green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the dsx sequence to visualize the neuronal circuits. 



They found that the dsx gene plays a crucial role in creating specific neural pathways in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-explores-the-basis-of-social-behavior-in-the-insect-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bee’s brain</a>, according to doctoral researcher Jana Seiler, who is also a co-author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-chapter-in-bee-behavior">New chapter in bee behavior </h2>



"Our findings indicate a fundamental genetic program that determines the neuronal circuitry and behavior of worker bees," said Dr. Wolfgang Rössler, an expert in the Department of Behavioural Physiology and Sociobiology at the University of Würzburg.



The next challenge is to move from the individual honeybee to the whole bee colony and understand how the gene influences the “superorganism.” 



"We hope to find the link between individual programming and the coordinated behaviour of many individuals," said Alina Sturm, a doctoral researcher at HHU.



Revealing the genetic secret behind the collective behavior of honey bees is more than just a scientific breakthrough. It’s a tribute to the remarkable complexity of nature and its infinite capacity for surprise. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-bee-behavior">Broader implications of bee behavior</h2>



The discovery of a gene that influences honey bee behavior has implications beyond the study of bees.



Understanding how a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-single-gene-allows-cape-honey-bees-to-reproduce-asexually/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">single gene</a> can shape complex social dynamics could inspire innovations in fields such as robotics and artificial intelligence.



For example, roboticists often look to nature for insights into building more efficient, cooperative systems. The hive’s "superorganism" structure could serve as a model for developing autonomous swarm robots designed to work together toward a shared goal.



Additionally, the study of bee cooperation offers valuable insights for ecology and conservation. 



Honey bees play a critical role in pollination. Identifying the genetic foundations of their social behavior could lead to better strategies for supporting bee populations amid environmental threats.



By shedding light on the inner workings of the hive, this research adds a new dimension to preserving biodiversity and maintaining the stability of ecosystems that rely heavily on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-honey-bee-day-protecting-our-vital-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinators</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp3953?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D91765132952246405812279585398434020131%7CMCORGID%3D242B6472541199F70A4C98A6%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1730680771" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Bees do not learn to be cooperative - it is in their genes

The cooperative behavior of bees, resembling a singular "superorganism," is...

Ever wondered about the fish you see leaping across rivers with a furious determination? These diligent creatures, including salmon and similar species, have one thing in common. They all face a significant life decision early on - whether to stay in the river or migrate to the sea and then return to procreate.



This choice is about survival and it's a tough one, as both paths come with their unique set of challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salmon-migrating-to-the-open-sea">Salmon migrating to the open sea</h2>



Salmon-like fish, known as salmonids, often choose to either stick around in their birthplace or adapt to the seawater of the open sea, returning to the river to lay their eggs later. 



This branching of strategies impacts how these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-fish-swarms-attract-predators-making-them-an-easy-target/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish communities</a> evolve over time, especially when we factor in their interplay with environmental conditions. 



This complex interaction could potentially shape individual traits, leading to a shift in the proportion of fish adopting the different pathways.



Such strategic divergences are not exceptional in the animal kingdom. However, how this sort of divergence affects population evolution is not entirely understood. So, researchers are diving into this topic to unravel the mysteries beneath these aquatic decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-residents-or-migrants">Residents or migrants?</h2>



To investigate, a team of researchers led by Jun-nosuke Horita from the Japan Weather Association, and Yuuya Tachiki, an assistant professor at <a href="https://www.tmu.ac.jp/english/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tokyo Metropolitan University</a>, developed a mathematical model.



The model incorporates known traits of a specific salmonid, the female masu salmon, and explores how populations evolve over time given the availability of alternative strategies.



Female masu salmon have three strategies to choose from. They can remain in the river where they were born (residents), migrate to the sea after a year (early migrants), or venture out into the sea at a later stage of their lives (late migrants). 



For simplicity, the research team modeled the salmon to be either resident or early migrants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salmon-size-in-open-sea">Salmon size in open sea</h2>



An intriguing aspect of the model was the inclusion of size distributions. Young salmon that are smaller are more prone to choose migrating over staying put. 



This study built upon known features of salmon demographics, including the number of eggs per individual and their survival rate. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-the-migratory-paths">Predicting the migratory paths</h2>



The results of the study were significant. The research team observed that under a broad range of parameters, a stable population was maintained. 



Interestingly, they also identified set conditions under which alternative strategies could be triggered. It was found that a river environment unfavorable for survival, coupled with a fertile sea environment, increased the likelihood of salmon migrating. 



When the survival rate of the arduous migration process plunges below a certain threshold, there is a sudden switch which leads to entire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-find-new-ways-to-reproduce-in-response-to-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">populations</a> opting to stay home and become residents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-survival-evolution-and-environmental-changes">Survival, evolution, and environmental changes </h2>



The ability to predict how populations choose different migratory strategies is crucial for understanding eco-evolution.



This knowledge can help us comprehend how changes in our environment can impact the survival of these organisms. The team is hopeful that their work could be applied to assess and forecast how human-induced changes can affect animal populations.



So, the next time you spot a salmon leaping across the river, remember, it's not just a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-illuminates-fish-interactions-in-coral-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> going against the flow; it's an individual caught in the intricate web of survival, evolution, and environmental changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salmon-evolving-in-seas">Salmon evolving in seas</h2>



The research has provided some valuable insights into the world of salmonids and their struggle between migrating and staying put. But it also raises questions about the impact of environmental changes on these aquatic beings.



"This model provides several insights into the eco-evolutionary response of the population to environmental change. For example, the increase in survivorship during migration increased the population size and the fraction of migrants as an ecological and evolutionary response, respectively," noted the researchers.



As we continue our journey of exploration and understanding, let's remember that the decisions we make and the actions we take today have a ripple effect on these fragile ecosystems. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esj-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1438-390X.12196" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Population Ecology</a>.



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How do salmon decide whether to venture out to sea?

Ever wondered about the fish you see leaping across rivers...

<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=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.



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



At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.



"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.



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



The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.



The research, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.



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Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<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=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<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=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

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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.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



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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</div></figure>







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



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.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" 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> (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...

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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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?

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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

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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

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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"

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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

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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

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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"

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