Sharks have survived for hundreds of millions of years. They outlived the dinosaurs, Ice Ages, and major climate shifts. Yet today, they are disappearing rapidly - not because of nature, but because of us.



Since the 1970s, their global numbers have fallen by more than 70 percent. The causes are not mysterious: overfishing, finning, bycatch, and growing demand for shark meat. 



The International Union for Conservation of Nature (<a href="https://iucn.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN</a>) now lists nearly 40 percent of shark species as threatened. Laws and trade bans set rules, but sellers still put sharks on the market.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shark-meat-trade-uncovered">Shark meat trade uncovered</h2>



A team at the <a href="https://www.unc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> decided to check what is actually on sale in the United States. 



They bought shark products from grocery stores, seafood markets, and online shops. Using DNA barcoding, they tested the species. The results were shocking.



“We found critically endangered sharks, including great hammerhead and scalloped hammerhead, being sold in grocery stores, seafood markets, and online," said study co-author Dr. Savannah Ryburn.



"Of the 29 samples, 93 percent were ambiguously labeled as ‘shark,’ and one of the two products labeled at the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/great-white-sharks-survived-the-ice-age-but-it-changed-them-forever/">species</a> level was mislabeled,” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-misleading-labels-everywhere">Misleading labels everywhere</h2>



Most of the products carried only the word “shark.” Sellers even mislabeled some as safer species. Out of 30 samples, just one had a correct and clear label.



The rest included a mix of 11 species, three of which were critically endangered. Nearly a third came from species already at serious risk of extinction.



This problem isn’t limited to the United States. Around the world, shark meat appears under names like “cazón” in Brazil, “flake” in Australia, and “rock salmon” in the UK. In Peru, most people eating “tollo” did not even know it was shark.



These vague labels hide what consumers are really buying and make it almost impossible to track trade in threatened species. 



Sellers put <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/endangered-sharks-study-reveals-hidden-crisis-of-overfishing/">endangered sharks</a> in plain sight, deny scientists the ability to track catches, and prevent buyers from making safe, informed choices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meat-sold-at-low-prices">Meat sold at low prices</h2>



Researchers also pointed to the price. Endangered sharks were selling for less than $5 a pound in U.S. grocery stores.



By comparison, red snapper sold for $27 a pound. The numbers show how little the market values these predators, even though they play a critical role in ocean ecosystems.



“The legality of selling shark meat in the United States depends largely on where the shark was harvested and which species are involved, under regulations from CITES and the Endangered Species Act,” Ryburn explained.



“However, by the time large shark species reach grocery stores and markets, they are often sold as fillets with all distinguishing features removed, making it unlikely that sellers know what species they are offering.”



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/endangered-shark-meat_false-labels_Frontiers_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/endangered-shark-meat_false-labels_Frontiers_1s.webp" alt="Photos exemplifying how some of the samples were labeled and displayed when purchased. (A) Dusky smooth-hound sold whole, missing the head, labeled as “shark” in English and Chinese at an Asian grocery store in Orlando, FL. (B) Shortfin mako shark sold as jerky and purchased online from the Newport Jerky Company in Rhode Island labeled as “mako shark jerky”. (C) Common thresher shark sold as “fresh shark [steak]” at an Asian grocery store in Duluth, GA. The label also included “wild caught/USA”. (D) Blacktip shark labeled as “wild blacktip shark, fresh never frozen” from a Publix grocery store in Cary, NC. The label also included that it was a “product of Florida” and that it was “responsibly sourced”. Credit: Frontiers in Marine Science" class="wp-image-1985976"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photos exemplifying how some of the samples were labeled and displayed when purchased. (A) Dusky smooth-hound sold whole, missing the head, labeled as “shark” in English and Chinese at an Asian grocery store in Orlando, FL. (B) Shortfin mako shark sold as jerky and purchased online from the Newport Jerky Company in Rhode Island labeled as “mako shark jerky”. (C) Common thresher shark sold as “fresh shark [steak]” at an Asian grocery store in Duluth, GA. The label also included “wild caught/USA”. (D) Blacktip shark labeled as “wild blacktip shark, fresh never frozen” from a Publix grocery store in Cary, NC. The label also included that it was a “product of Florida” and that it was “responsibly sourced”. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Frontiers in Marine Science</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eating-shark-meat-is-dangerous">Eating shark meat is dangerous</h2>



This issue isn’t only about conservation. Sharks such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-some-great-hammerhead-sharks-rarely-leave-home/">hammerheads</a> and makos carry high levels of mercury and arsenic in their tissues. These metals damage the nervous system, harm unborn children, and increase cancer risks.



Mislabeled products strip consumers of their ability to make safe choices and put families at risk without their knowledge.



The danger grows because heavy metals accumulate over time, meaning even small, repeated servings of shark meat can cause long-term health effects that no label warns about.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-labels-protect-sharks">Clear labels protect sharks</h2>



The United States still allows “shark” as a generic market name. In contrast, the European Union requires far more detail, including the scientific name and catch area. 



Without clear <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dont-say-vegan-food-labeling-should-focus-on-health-and-sustainability/">labeling</a>, the public cannot know whether their dinner is harmless dogfish or a critically endangered hammerhead.



“Sellers in the United States should be required to provide species-specific names," Ryburn said. "And when shark meat is not a food security necessity, consumers should avoid purchasing products that lack species-level labeling or traceable sourcing."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shark-extinction-risks-ocean-collapse">Shark extinction risks ocean collapse</h2>



Sharks have been around for half a billion years. If we continue to treat them as cheap, nameless meat, we may be the generation that sees them vanish. Their loss would not be just another statistic on the list of endangered species.



It would mean oceans without their top predators, seas where <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-are-quickly-losing-ability-to-support-fish-due-to-plankton-loss/">fish populations</a> explode or collapse without balance, and ecosystems that unravel in ways we cannot easily repair. Communities that depend on healthy oceans for food and livelihoods would also suffer.



Sharks have shaped marine life for millions of years, and their future now depends on the choices we make today.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1604454/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>.



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How endangered shark meat ends up on grocery shelves despite global bans

Sharks have survived for hundreds of millions of years. They outlived the dinosaurs, Ice Ages, and major climate shifts. Yet today, they are disappearing rapidly - not because of nature, but because of us. Since the 1970s, their global numbers have fallen by more than 70 percent. The causes are not mysterious: overfishing, finning, bycatch, and growing demand for shark meat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) now lists nearly 40 percent of shark species as threatened. Laws and trade bans set rules, but sellers...

Once upon a time, a destructive “tag-team” of natural forces triggered catastrophic mass marine extinctions that reshaped the course of evolution on Earth, paving the way for new forms of life.



This powerful duo wasn't made up of marauding warriors or mythical monsters but rather the elemental forces of nature we still encounter today: land and sea.



Acting in deadly harmony, these powerful elements transformed marine life, disrupted entire ecosystems, and altered the planet's history forever.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mass-extinction-events-of-marine-species">Mass extinction events of marine species</h2>



In a recent study, researchers led by the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> present startling new explanations for these drastic events.



The scientists have shed new light on an age-old enigma: the sequence of traumatic environmental crises known as oceanic anoxic events that occurred between 185 and 85 million years ago.



During these events, the oceans were dangerously low on dissolved oxygen, throwing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-and-habitat-degradation-have-devastated-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine ecosystems</a> into turmoil and leading to mass extinctions of marine species.



"Oceanic anoxic events (OAEs) are transient perturbations to the global carbon cycle, during which large regions of the oceans are depleted in dissolved oxygen," noted the researchers.



"The resulting euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic) waters are highly toxic, leading to biological turnover events and, in extreme cases, mass extinctions of marine biota."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-triggers-for-the-extinction-events">Triggers for the extinction events</h2>



"Oceanic anoxic events were like hitting the reset button on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ecosystems-classified-for-the-first-time-across-the-entire-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planet’s ecosystems</a>. The challenge was understanding which geological forces hit the button," said study lead author Professor Tom Gernon.



The study was an international effort, bringing together minds from universities in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States.



The researchers set out to investigate how ocean chemistry was altered by the impact of tectonic shifts during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-were-not-the-only-animals-that-grew-fast-during-the-mesozoic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mesozoic era</a>, often known as the age of the dinosaurs.



The Mesozoic era marked the disintegration of Gondwana, a once vast landmass that dinosaurs claimed as their dominion.



"The Mesozoic era witnessed the breakup of this landmass, in turn bringing intense volcanic activity worldwide. As tectonic plates shifted and new seafloors formed, large amounts of phosphorus, a nutrient essential for life, were released from weathering volcanic rocks into the oceans," explained Professor Gernon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-land-sea-and-mass-marine-extinctions">Land, sea, and mass marine extinctions</h2>



According to Professor Gernon, the team found evidence of multiple pulses of chemical weathering on both the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-seafloor-nutrients-support-the-entire-food-chain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seafloor</a> and continents, which alternately disrupted the oceans. "It’s like a geological tag-team," he added.



The timing of these weathering pulses eerily lined up with most oceanic anoxic events.



The researchers propose that the weathering-triggered influx of phosphorus to the ocean acted like a natural fertilizer, boosting the growth of marine organisms. But this seemingly beneficial fertilization had a disastrous flip side.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widespread-oxygen-depletion">Widespread oxygen depletion </h2>



The surge in biological activity resulted in large amounts of organic matter sinking to the ocean floor, consuming significant quantities of oxygen in their wake. 



This led to vast regions of the oceans becoming oxygen-depleted or anoxic, effectively becoming "dead zones" where most marine life could not survive.



“The anoxic events typically lasted around one to two million years and had profound impacts on marine ecosystems, the legacy of which even felt today," said study co-author Professor Benjamin Mills.



These events also led to the accumulation of organic matter-rich rocks, which today form the largest source of commercial oil and gas reserves globally.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-echoes-in-today-s-oceans">Echoes in today's oceans</h2>



This mass extinction study not only offers answers to historical biological upheaval but also shines a spotlight on the dire effects of nutrient overloading in contemporary marine environments.



There is a haunting parallel with human activities today that have reduced oceanic oxygen levels by about two percent, causing a significant expansion in anoxic water masses.



“Studying geological events offers valuable insights that can help us grasp how the Earth may respond to future climatic and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-plants-thrive-under-environmental-stress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental stresses</a>," said Professor Gernon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-deadly-symbiosis">A deadly symbiosis</h2>



Ultimately, the research illuminates a potent connection between Earth’s solid interior and its surface environment and biosphere, especially during periods of tectonic and climatic upheaval.



“It’s remarkable how a chain of events within the Earth can impact the surface, often with devastating effects," noted the researchers. "Tearing continents apart can have profound repercussions for the course of evolution."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01496-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>.



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What caused marine mass extinctions millions of years ago?

Once upon a time, a destructive “tag-team” of natural forces...

When we think of climate change, we often focus on loftier issues – melting ice caps, rising sea levels, more frequent and intense storms. However, the effects of climate change aren't simply grand-scale phenomena; they seep into our everyday world, altering delicate balances that sustain life as we know it. 



In a recent study, researchers from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (<a href="https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JMU</a>) investigated the impacts of global warming on the humble lives of bumblebees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-battle-of-the-bumblebee">Battle of the bumblebee</h2>



Bumblebees - beloved for their fuzzy bodies and industrious nature - are vital cogs in natural and agricultural processes. 



If you relish every bite of your apple, cherish the beauty of blooming flowers, or value the vast spectrum of biodiversity, you have the hardworking bumblebee to thank. But did you know these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bumblebees-showcase-smart-logical-reasoning-abilities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">buzzing pollinators</a> are living on borrowed time? 



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



The JMU team found that, despite their robust appearance, bumblebees are delicate creatures that are especially susceptible to changes in temperature.



Thanks to their natural predisposition towards cooler habitats, these tiny pollinators are increasingly feeling the heat, quite literally.



"Bumblebees are important pollinators in natural and agricultural systems. They therefore have a high economic and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-spread-viruses-to-bumblebees-in-the-spring/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity value</a>," noted Dr. Sabine Nooten, head of the study. Yet, rising temperatures could spell doom for these intricate creatures.



In a series of experiments, bumblebees found themselves navigating an artificial heatwave, akin to the rising global temperatures we see today. The results? Well, let’s just say it left these buzzing beauties in a bit of a hot mess.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-staggering-consequences">Staggering consequences</h2>



Retaining the ability to detect floral scents is paramount for bumblebees. The fragrances emitted by flowers serve as chemical signposts, detailing their location and the state of the flowers.



The 40-degree Celsius temperature trial, however, disabled this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-bumblebees-navigate-better-than-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">essential sensory capacity</a> in bumblebees.



"We found that the heat significantly impaired the bumblebees' ability to detect floral scents," said Sabine Nooten. 



A staggering 80% decrease in scent detection ability was noted among female worker bees. The male bees fared marginally better, losing half of their olfactory abilities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bumblebee-recovery-from-climate-change">Bumblebee recovery from climate change</h2>



Hoping for a recovery post heat-wave exposure? The experiments painted a grim picture. Even a subsequent cool-down period did not restore the bumblebees' olfactory capabilities immediately. A whole day later, most affected specimens still struggled with the loss of smell.



The study highlights the importance of understanding the intricate relationship between plants and insects in the context of climate change. The adverse effects of heatwaves, it seems, extend far beyond human discomfort.



Following these revelations, a new project has been approved. "Now that we have found out that heat waves impair the physiological processes of bumblebees to detect flower scents, our focus is now on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bumblebees-show-surprising-adept-teamwork-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behavioral side</a>," said Nooten. "We will test how the foraging behavior of bumblebees is affected by experimental heatwaves."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-habitat-preservation">Role of habitat preservation</h2>



As we explore the effects of climate change on bumblebee populations, it’s clear that protecting their habitats is vital for their survival. Keeping a variety of native flowers around is essential for these important pollinators, especially as temperatures rise. 



Unfortunately, urban areas filled with monocultures and pesticides can make life even tougher for bumblebees. By focusing on planting native wildflowers and restoring natural habitats, we can not only help bumblebees thrive but also improve the overall health of our ecosystems. 



Getting communities involved in these efforts builds a sense of responsibility and boosts biodiversity, paving the way for a more sustainable future together.



As we inch forward into an uncertain environmental future, it's crucial to understand and mitigate the diverse impacts of climate change. The plight of the bumblebees is but one chapter in a rapidly evolving story. 



Through awareness, action and (quite literally) a cooler head, perhaps we can ensure these buzzing pollinators continue their vital work for generations to come. After all, every flower has its bee, and every bee, its flower.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.0352" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



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How climate change is buzzing off bumblebee senses

When we think of climate change, we often focus on...

Have you ever wondered if animals call each other by names? In human society, names play a vital role in social interaction. Going beyond humans, there are only a few species known to demonstrate this advanced cognitive ability. One of them are Marmoset Monkeys, whose communication skills will surprise you.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-names-a-human-trait-or-is-it">Identifying names: A human trait, or is it?</h2>



For the longest time, the ability to use vocal labels or "names" for others was seen as a unique characteristic of humans and a select few species, namely dolphins and elephants. 



Isn't it intriguing how such an ability was thought to be absent, even among our closest evolutionary relatives, the primates?



Our understanding, however, was set to be turned on its head by an astonishing study from the <a href="https://en.huji.ac.il" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hebrew University</a>. 



Led by Dr. David Omer from the Safra Center for Brain Sciences (<a href="https://elsc.huji.ac.il/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ELSC</a>), a team of researchers uncovered something truly remarkable. 



Lo and behold, the Marmoset Monkeys had been keeping a secret from us; their use of specific vocal calls, termed as "phee-calls", to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/visually-striking-primate-features-ease-tension-and-reduce-conflict/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">identify each other</a>.



They found out this incredible fact when graduate student Guy Oren recorded natural conversations between pairs of marmosets and interactions between monkeys and a computer system. 



Evidently, these monkeys address each other using their phee-calls, similar to how we might call our friends. What's amazing is that the marmosets can determine if a call is meant for them, responding more accurately when addressed directly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-communication-patterns-and-monkeys">Communication patterns and monkeys</h2>



According to Dr. Omer, these findings indicate a complex social communication system among marmoset monkeys. It turns out these calls serve more than just for self-localization; marmosets use them for pinpointing specific individuals.



What's more, these vocal labels also seem to have a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-monkeys-are-much-smarter-than-we-thought-they-were/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social learning component</a>. Even adult marmosets not related by blood tend to mimic vocal labels and dialect from their group members. 



This resemblance to human language and dialects raises fascinating questions about the evolution of social communication.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monkey-communication-and-human-language">Monkey communication and human language</h2>



These findings about marmoset monkeys bring a fresh perspective to the study of human language evolution. 



The complex brain mechanisms allowing marmosets to label others could be similar to the ones that led to language in humans.



Moreover, the researchers suggest that this evolved vocal labelling ability might have helped marmosets keep their social bonds intact in dense rainforest habitats, where visibility can often be an issue.



This groundbreaking study paves the way for future exciting exploration into the origins of our own communication abilities. We have the marmosets to thank for that.



“Marmosets live in small monogamous family groups and take care of their young together, much like humans do,” says Omer. 



“These similarities suggest that they faced comparable evolutionary social challenges to our early pre-linguistic ancestors, which might have led them to develop similar communicating methods.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monkey-names-animal-cognition-research">Monkey names animal cognition research</h2>



The discovery of marmosets' ability to use phee-calls as vocal labels opens up new avenues for research in animal cognition. 



Traditionally, studies on communication have focused primarily on humans and a select few species known for their linguistic-like abilities.



However, this revelation encourages the scientific community to reevaluate the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-use-rapid-gestures-in-conversations-like-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cognitive capabilities of other animal species</a>, particularly primates. 



The marmoset monkeys’ sophisticated communication system exemplifies the need for a broader understanding of social interactions in the animal kingdom and challenges the notion that complex communication is limited to highly intelligent creatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-marmoset-habitats">Protecting marmoset habitats</h2>



As we become increasingly aware of the cognitive complexities within animal species, it is crucial to address the conservation of their environments. 



Marmosets inhabit the dense, biodiverse rainforests of South America, which are under constant threat from deforestation and habitat destruction. 



Preserving these habitats is not just a matter of ecological balance -- it safeguards the intricate social structures and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/male-proboscis-monkeys-use-big-noses-attract-mates-nasalis-larvatus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">communication methods</a> of these fascinating creatures.



By fostering awareness of their plight and supporting conservation efforts, we can ensure that future generations continue to marvel at the unique communicative tapestry woven by marmosets and understand the broader implications for animal cognition.



To sum it all up, the discovery of the marmosets' use of specific calls to name each other opens up a new chapter in understanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-unlock-the-mysteries-of-orangutan-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animal and human communication</a>. But let's not stop here. Let's take a moment to appreciate the complexity and beauty of nature.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp3757" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Monkeys use names for each other in their communication systems

Have you ever wondered if animals call each other by...

Ever been awestruck by the towering heights of skyscrapers? Now, imagine four Burj Khalifas -- the world's tallest building -- one on top of the other. That's what a team of expert oceanographers led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute in California discovered in the form of an underwater mountain.



Situated 900 miles off the coast of Chile in the Pacific Ocean, a newly mapped underwater mountain, or seamount, has taken the spotlight in recent oceanographic studies. 



This colossal undersea peak stands 1.9 miles high. To put it into context, it's bigger than Mount Olympus in Greece, yet smaller than Japan's Mount Fuji. Essentially, it's quadruple the height of Burj Khalifa in Dubai.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sanctuary-around-the-underwater-mountain">Sanctuary around the underwater mountain</h2>



This marine mountain is part of an underwater range teeming with sponge gardens, ancient corals, rare marine species, and a newly filmed type of squid. 



A diverse ecosystem flourishes in these depths, undeterred and unbeknownst to most of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bizarre-fish-can-walk-and-thrive-on-land/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">land-dwelling</a> species.



The <a href="https://schmidtocean.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Schmidt Ocean Institute</a> embarked on an exciting 28-day adventure aboard the R/V Falkor to uncover the mysteries of an incredible underwater seamount. 



Equipped with a sonar system attached to the ship's hull, the researchers set out to map this underwater wonder.



Jyotika Virmani, the institute's executive director, shared how they use sound waves that travel down to the seabed and bounce back, helping the team understand the fascinating topography below. It’s a remarkable blend of technology and exploration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-securing-the-underwater-world">Securing the underwater world</h2>



According to Virmani, only about 26% of the seafloor has been mapped to this level of detail so far, even though the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-life-100-new-sea-creatures-found-in-chile/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean floor</a> covers 71% of our planet's surface. 



The fact that this area hosts a wide variety of species and habitats further highlights the importance of such research. 



Moreover, the region is considered ripe for nomination as the world's first high seas marine protected area under a UN treaty, pending ratification in 2023.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underwater-mountain-species">Underwater mountain species</h2>



The team didn't return from their expedition empty-handed - far from it. 



They documented a <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/underwater-mountain-discovered_two-miles-high_caspar-octopus_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ghostly white Casper octopus</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/underwater-mountain-discovered_two-miles-high_flying-spaghetti-monster_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two rare Bathyphysa siphonophores</a> -- colloquially known as flying spaghetti monsters due to their stringy shape. 



“The (Casper) octopus has never been captured, so it doesn’t actually have a scientific name yet,” Virmani said.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/underwater-mountain-discovered_two-miles-high_caspar-octopus_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/underwater-mountain-discovered_two-miles-high_caspar-octopus_1s.webp" alt="The expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute observed a rare octopus species informally named the Casper octopus in the Southern Pacific for the first time. Discovered in 2016 and nicknamed Casper, the species has not been scientifically described or formally named, as no one has collected a specimen yet. Credit: NOAA" class="wp-image-1943193"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute observed a rare octopus species informally named the Casper octopus in the Southern Pacific for the first time. Discovered in 2016 and nicknamed Casper, the species has not been scientifically described or formally named, as no one has collected a specimen yet. Credit: NOAA</figcaption></figure>



Moreover, the researchers managed to capture footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid, seen alive only a handful of times before.



“Across the three expeditions, we managed to map and explore 25 seamounts, which is quite a number to explore,” Virmani said. 



“I think we’ve got some good data as a community that could be put forward to make the case that this is a really interesting region for protection."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncharted-ecological-significance">Uncharted ecological significance</h2>



The discovery of this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-solve-the-mystery-of-a-giant-hole-in-antarctic-sea-ice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underwater</a> mountain not only captivates oceanographers but also holds profound ecological implications. The diverse habitats found in the seamount are crucial for maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. 



The sponge gardens and ancient corals contribute to the intricate web of life, supporting numerous species that rely on these environments for food and shelter. 



Understanding and protecting these ecosystems is pivotal, not just for the organisms that inhabit them, but for global biodiversity as well.



Each unique species uncovered could potentially offer insights into medicine, climate change resilience, and ecosystem management. 



As researchers continue to explore, the interconnectedness of these underwater realms with broader environmental health becomes increasingly apparent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toward-a-sustainable-future">Toward a Sustainable Future</h2>



As technology improves, we can better explore and protect our oceans. The Schmidt Ocean Institute shows us how vital the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-lions-are-helping-scientists-map-ocean-floor-seabeds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean</a> is for our climate and health. 



Creating marine protected areas, like the one suggested for this seamount, is key to fighting issues like overfishing and pollution. 



By safeguarding these regions, we help preserve marine life and ensure resources for future generations. It’s essential for all of us to get involved in ocean education and conservation efforts, so we can work together to care for our planet's most precious natural treasure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sharing-the-knowledge">Sharing the knowledge</h2>



What's next? The findings are set to be shared with the Ocean Census, an international collaboration that aims to record marine life concealed in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-is-subtly-changing-the-tides/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oceans</a>. 



The objective over the next decade is to identify 100,000 unknown species. This would pave the way for scientists to better understand, appreciate, and protect our planet's deep-sea ecosystems.



In conclusion, the incredible discoveries of these underwater expeditions serve as a stark reminder that even as we look to the stars, countless wonders lie beneath the waves waiting to be discovered. The ocean floors hide mountains of mysteries and scientific revelations. 



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Underwater mountain discovered is two miles high and home to 'flying spaghetti monsters'

Ever been awestruck by the towering heights of skyscrapers? Now,...

Have you ever stopped to consider the impact of species extinction on fish? According to the work of researchers in France, it's high time we took a deeper dive.



Researchers have recently trained their sights on marine fish species, analyzing the level of threat they face.&nbsp;



Shockingly, they have uncovered that 12.7% of these species teeter on the brink of extinction. This figure shows a five-fold increase from the previous estimates of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (<a href="https://iucn.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN</a>). Previously, their estimate stood at a modest 2.5%.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saving-fish-from-extinction">Saving fish from extinction</h2>



This eye-opening research was led by Nicolas Loiseau and Nicolas Mouquet of the&nbsp;<a href="https://umr-marbec.fr/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MARBEC Unit</a>&nbsp;- a.k.a the Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation, and Conservation Unit located in Montpellier, France.



The IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species is a comprehensive effort aimed at tracking over 150,000 species. Its purpose? To guide conservation efforts worldwide.&nbsp;



Despite these commendable efforts, there's still a significant blind spot. It turns out that a whopping 38% of marine species have been overlooked. 



That's almost 5,000 fish species that don't have an official <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-stocks-are-collapsing-globally-as-overfishing-continues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conservation status</a> due to a lack of data.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fishing-for-solutions">Fishing for solutions</h2>



Loiseau, Mouquet, and their team devised a strategy to address this alarming data deficiency. By wielding a machine learning model with an artificial neural network, they predicted the extinction risks faced by the overlooked fish species. 



The models worked their magic on data regarding occurrence, biological traits, taxonomy, and human uses gathered from 13,195 fish species.



The results? 78.5% of the previously neglected 4,992 species were classified as either Non-Threatened or Threatened. 



There was a five-fold increase in predicted Threatened species, and the number of predicted Non-Threatened species swelled by a third.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-circumstances-leading-to-fish-extinction">Circumstances leading to fish extinction</h2>



The Threatened category included species listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable.&nbsp;



The predicted Threatened species tended to share&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-are-quickly-losing-ability-to-support-fish-due-to-plankton-loss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">particular characteristics</a>: a limited geographic range, substantial body size, and a slow growth rate. The study also found a strong correlation between extinction risk and shallow habitats.



Researchers identified key geographical hotspots that are home to most of the predicted threatened species, highlighting areas that require urgent conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and prevent further species decline. 



Areas such as the South China Sea, the Philippine and Celebes Seas, and the west coasts of Australia and North America were highlighted. This shift in focus to these regions means a shift in conservation priority.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-applying-ai-to-conservation">Applying AI to conservation</h2>



Keep in mind that these new estimates are the product of AI analysis and don't replace direct evaluations of at-risk species. 



However, AI provides a fast, broad-ranging and cost-effective way of assessing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-migrating-towards-poles-escape-warming-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinction risk</a> that we didn't have access to previously.



"Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables the reliable assessment of extinction risks for species that have not yet been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)," Loiseau explains.&nbsp;



"Our analysis of 13,195 marine fish species reveals that the extinction risk is significantly higher than the IUCN's initial estimates, rising from 2.5% to 12.7%.&nbsp;



"We propose to incorporate recent advancements in forecasting species extinction risks into a new synthetic index called 'predicted IUCN status.' This index can serve as a valuable complement to the current 'measured IUCN status.'”



In essence, this unique blend of AI and traditional research methods gives us valuable insights into our marine life's survival rate and chances of fish extinction. You might say we've just scratched the surface. There's an ocean of data out there, and our understanding continues to evolve.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next">What's next?</h2>



With this breakthrough in data, the horizon of our understanding has expanded, bringing into focus areas that need&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-find-new-ways-to-reproduce-in-response-to-predators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more research and conservation efforts</a>.&nbsp;



After all, as the old saying goes - there are plenty more fish in the sea. But will there always be? This is something that Loiseau, Mouquet, and their team are working tirelessly to ensure.



As we plunge into the future, we must remember that understanding our natural world and its inhabitants is a crucial step towards preserving it. Will we rise to the challenge? Only time will tell.



The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002773" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLoS Biology</a>.



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Number of fish species at risk of extinction is five times higher than past estimates

Have you ever stopped to consider the impact of species...

A new study from Queen Mary University reframes our understanding of survival in the animal kingdom. The focus is on the starfish, Asterias rubens, a common European sea dweller known for regenerating limbs.



The pattern of survival often involves running, hiding or even fighting, but for some creatures, like the starfish, it skews towards a more baffling direction - they ditch parts of their bodies to cheat death.&nbsp;



This bewildering survival strategy, appropriately termed autotomy, has fascinated scientists for centuries. Popularly recognized in lizards that drop their tails to escape predators, the internal workings of this process have been ensnared in a shroud of mystery.



Well, the curtain is being lifted, slowly but surely. The diligent researchers at <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University</a> have made a discovery that sheds light on the starfish's peculiar self-amputation secret.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-starfish-regenerating-capabilities">Starfish regenerating capabilities</h2>



The plot thickened when the scientists found a neurohormone playing the puppeteer's role in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crown-of-thorns-starfish-gene-expression-may-help-protect-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">starfish</a>'s arm-dropping performance.&nbsp;



The neurohormone closely resembles the human satiety hormone, cholecystokinin (CCK). When faced with threats, like a lurking predator, this neurohormone activates a critical response, triggering an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-stars-may-actually-be-walking-heads-with-no-bodies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emergency detachment mechanism</a>. 



The primary function of the hormone is to stimulate contraction in a specialized muscle located at the base of the starfish's arm. This contraction leads to a remarkable ability: the arm snaps off, allowing the starfish to escape danger.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-advantage-of-starfish-regeneration">Evolutionary advantage of starfish regeneration</h2>



This process not only showcases the unique survival tactics of starfish but also highlights the fascinating similarities between neurohormones across species. The ability to shed a limb in response to threats is an evolutionary advantage, ensuring the starfish's survival in the face of predation.



Overall, the interaction between this neurohormone and the starfish's muscular system exemplifies the intricate biological adaptations that enable these creatures to thrive in their environments. Understanding these mechanisms can provide insights into broader biological principles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regeneration-an-encore-starfish-performance">Regeneration: An encore starfish performance</h2>



The marvel doesn’t just stop at the magic act of the disappearing arm. These starfish, ever the show-stoppers, have another trick up their sleeve - or rather where their sleeve used to be.&nbsp;



They can grow back their lost limbs over time. As enchanting as this spectacle is, the underlying mechanisms that make it possible hold tremendous implications on the larger canvas of regenerative medicine and limb injury treatments.



“Our findings shed light on the complex interplay of neurohormones and tissues involved in starfish autotomy. While we’ve identified a key player, it’s likely that other factors contribute to this extraordinary ability,” said study co-author Dr. Ana Tinoco.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-implications-of-autotomy">Ecological implications of autotomy</h2>



The implications of the ability to regenerate extend beyond the individual starfish, weaving into the larger tapestry of marine ecosystems. This remarkable ability can affect population dynamics, predator-prey relationships, and even the health of marine environments.&nbsp;



For instance, by allowing starfish to evade predators, autotomy may enhance their survival rates, contributing to stable population numbers.&nbsp;



Furthermore, understanding the factors that govern this ability can inform conservation strategies aimed at protecting marine biodiversity, particularly as climate change continues to exert pressure on coastal ecosystems.



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



As researchers continue to investigate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-starfish-species-discovered-in-japan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">starfish autotomy</a>, several intriguing questions linger, paving the way for future exploration. 



What other neurohormonal pathways are involved in this process, and how do various species of starfish adapt their regenerative strategies to specific environments? 



Additionally, by drawing parallels between starfish and other organisms with regenerative capabilities, such as salamanders and certain types of flatworms, scientists hope to unlock new avenues in regenerative medicine.&nbsp;



Investigating these questions could yield valuable insights not only for biology but also for advancing medical treatments for limb regeneration in humans, highlighting the interconnectedness of life across species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-how-starfish-regenerate">Learning how starfish regenerate</h2>



The study was led by Professor Maurice Elphick, an expert in the realm of animal physiology and neuroscience at Queen Mary University of London. 



Reflecting on the implications of the research, Professor Elphick emphasized its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/killing-crown-of-thorns-starfish-cots-could-save-great-barrier-reef/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wider significance</a>. 



“This research not only unveils a fascinating aspect of starfish biology but also opens doors for exploring the regenerative potential of other animals, including humans. By deciphering the secrets of starfish self-amputation, we hope to advance our understanding of tissue regeneration and develop innovative therapies for limb injuries,” said Elphick.



The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)01079-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Starfish break off their arms to evade danger and regenerate them later

A new study from Queen Mary University reframes our understanding...

When you think about beautiful, crisp Alaskan landscapes, you might also picture the bustling activity of the Bering Sea - a hub for seafood like snow crabs. 



But what if the landscape is changing, and not just visually? In the last few years, billions of crabs disappeared from the Bering Sea and the event has alarmed both fishermen and scientists alike.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crabs-in-the-bering-sea">Crabs in the Bering Sea</h2>



Picture this: we're in 2022. Fishermen cast their nets with the hope of reeling in a rich harvest of crabs, but what they find instead is stark emptiness. A baffling number of crabs have vanished from the waters. 



Was this a case of overfishing? Scientists were quick to dismiss the theory. The culprit, they believed, was the surprisingly warm water that sent the crabs' metabolism soaring, leading them to starve to death.



This isn't an isolated incident. The tragic end of these creatures signals a much broader shift taking place in the region. 



As the Bering Sea experiences a significant warming trend, it is becoming less Arctic and more like sub-Arctic regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-snow-crabs">Understanding snow crabs</h2>



Snow crabs have long, slender legs and a relatively small, rounded body, with a hard shell that can range in color from light brown to red. They typically grow up to about 6 inches in carapace width, with their legs extending much farther, giving them a spidery appearance. 



These crabs are cold-water dwellers, thriving in deep, icy waters, where they scavenge for food like mollusks, small fish, and other marine organisms. Their meat is sweet and tender, making them a sought-after delicacy in the culinary world. 



Snow crabs also undergo a molting process, where they shed their old shell and grow a new one, which allows them to increase in size throughout their life.



They hang out in the chilly waters of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-warming-triggers-rising-north-atlantic-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Atlantic</a> and North Pacific, often chilling on the seafloor at pretty deep levels. These crabs are famous for their long, spindly legs and sweet, tender meat, making them a favorite for seafood lovers. 



If you spot a snow crab on your plate, it likely came from places like Alaska or the Canadian coasts, where they’re caught in large numbers by commercial fisheries.



Besides being tasty, snow crabs play a key role in their ecosystem. They fit into the marine food web as both predators and prey. They munch on a variety of smaller sea creatures like clams and shrimp, and in turn, they're hunted by larger animals like certain fish species and seals. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-behind-the-change">Science behind the change</h2>



The findings we're discussing stem from a recent study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (<a href="https://www.noaa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA</a>). 



According to the study, warmer, ice-free conditions in the southeast Bering Sea are now roughly 200 times more likely than before humans started pumping planet-warming fossil fuels into the atmosphere.



To put this into perspective, the Bering Sea ecosystem today is drastically different from what it was within the lifetime of a single snow crab fisherman. 



The study's lead author, Michael Litzow, also the director for Alaska's Kodiak lab for <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA Fisheries</a>, warns that this trend indicates a future with more very warm years, whereas truly Arctic conditions will become sparse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decline-of-snow-crabs-in-the-bering-sea">Decline of snow crabs in the Bering sea</h2>



Snow crabs, a cold-water Arctic species, largely flourish in areas where water temperatures hover below 2 degrees Celsius. 



An extraordinary heat wave in 2018-2019, however, proved devastating. As warmer waters sped up the crabs' metabolism, the supply of food couldn't keep up, and the crabs starved to death by the billions.



This ecological disaster had a ripple effect, severely distressing Alaska's fishing industry. The snow crab, a commercially valuable species, contributes up to $227 million a year, according to the NOAA study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-call-for-adaptation">Call for adaptation</h2>



"How are we going to do business differently as this process gets worse and worse for the snow crab fishery?" Litzow asked, hinting at the urgency to adapt. 



While Litzow remains hopeful for a short-term recovery, citing the recent cold conditions and fresh spawning of young snow crabs, he notes, "the odds are for continued <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-fleets-hidden-industrial-fishing-activity-exposed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poor conditions</a>."



The declining population of Alaskan snow crabs in the Bering Sea is indicative of a wider ecosystem change in the Arctic, as seas warm and ice melts.



The ocean around Alaska is becoming inhospitable for several marine species, including the red king crab and sea lions. On the flip side, warmer waters are attracting new species, which pose a threat to the existing ones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-ecosystem-in-flux">An ecosystem in flux</h2>



One notable event that illustrates the changing ecosystem took place during the 2018-2019 heat wave. Pacific cod, which typically can't survive in the extremely cold habitat of the snow crabs, were able to thrive in the unusually warm waters and they ate a portion of the remaining snow crab <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aquaculture-now-produces-more-food-than-wild-fishing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">population</a>.



Robert Foy, director of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, highlighted that these vast ecosystem changes are presenting "new challenges and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-summer-fishing-shrinks-atlantic-salmon-size-over-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">opportunities for fisheries</a> science and management." 



Despite not being involved with the study, Foy spoke about the current efforts to leverage new technologies like drones and artificial intelligence to better respond to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sustainable-fishing-gets-a-boost-from-genomics-roadmap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental changes and ecological responses</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-bellwether">Climate change bellwether</h2>



The gravity of what's happening in the Bering Sea can't be understated. The Arctic region has warmed four times faster than the rest of the planet, with potentially dire consequences. 



Litzow referred to the Bering Sea as a "bellwether" for what's to come, a chilling reminder of the impacts of climate change.



Before we conclude, it's crucial to recognize this isn't just a distant environmental issue. It's a matter that directly affects people's livelihoods. It's time we paid more attention to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-season-fishing-may-shrink-the-size-of-salmon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">changes happening in our world</a>. 



To the fisherman casting his net in the Bering Sea, or the consumer buying seafood at the market - this isn't just a tale of the changing seas, it's the story of our changing lives.



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Why billions of crabs vanished from the Bering Sea and human diets

When you think about beautiful, crisp Alaskan landscapes, you might...

In a landmark moment for marine biology, scientists have successfully documented the mating behavior of giant sea spiders. 



This species, belonging to the group of marine invertebrates known as Colossendeidae, has been recognized by science for over a century and a half. However, the details of their reproductive cycle have remained mysterious.



The groundbreaking observation occurred during a 2022 expedition conducted by the <a href="https://nautiluslive.org/">Ocean Exploration Trust</a> (OET) aboard the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dove to the impressive depth of 5,525 feet to capture this never-before-seen behavior.&nbsp;



The focus of the expedition was to explore unsurveyed deep-sea habitats around the Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll, including within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. 



The significant findings have been recently outlined in a study published in the scientific journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12526-023-01350-3">Marine Biodiversity</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-spiders-understanding-the-basics">Sea spiders -- understanding the basics</h2>



Sea spiders, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interesting-fact-hungry-spiders-lose-their-eyesight/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pycnogonids</a>, aren’t actually true spiders, but they are part of the arthropod family, along with spiders, insects, and crustaceans. These marine creatures hang out in oceans all over the globe, from shallow waters to the deepest trenches.



Some sea spiders can get pretty big, especially in polar regions, thanks to a cool phenomenon called polar gigantism. 



This means that species living in cold and deep-sea areas tend to grow larger than their relatives in warmer parts of the world.



The biggest sea spider out there is the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprising-breeding-behaviors-of-giant-sea-spiders-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colossendeis colossea</a>, which you can find in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. 



These giants can boast leg spans of over 70 centimeters (27 inches) -- that’s pretty massive compared to most other sea spiders, which usually have leg spans of just a few centimeters.



Sea spiders have a unique look compared to other arthropods. They have tiny bodies and long, thin legs that make them resemble spiders, even though they’re not closely related. They also have a proboscis that they use to suck up nutrients from their prey, which includes various soft-bodied invertebrates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mating-secrets-revealed">Mating secrets revealed</h2>



Study lead author and zoologist Georg Brenneis from the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/">University of Vienna</a>, expressed the importance of the event: “This is the first time humans have ever witnessed this behavior.”&nbsp;



Despite sea spiders being extensively sampled during numerous historical field surveys, their reproductive biology had remained elusive, said Brenneis. 



“At this stage, people believed they may have a completely different reproductive biology to their relatives. But this video unmistakably shows that at least their mating follows typical sea spider fashion."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fascinating-footage">Fascinating footage</h2>



Using morphological analysis, the scientists determined that the mating pair belonged to the genus Colossendeis, a group known to include the largest sea spiders. 



Some of these creatures can boast leg spans stretching up to 2.5 feet. The captured video showcased a mating ritual wherein two sea spiders were seen on top of each other, with the female manipulating an egg mass using a specialized pair of legs.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="IekHuJASrB-2811512-12187" type="single"]</div>



The role of technology in enabling this monumental discovery was highlighted by Daniel Wagner, OET's Chief Scientist. 



“While humans have sampled the deep sea using nets and dredges for well over a century, advanced technologies like high-definition cameras on submersible vehicles have only recently allowed us to see deep-sea animals in their natural environment,” Wagner said.



These expeditions equipped with sophisticated technology have exponentially expanded our baseline knowledge of deep-sea habitats in the Central Pacific. Still, vast tracts of this remote region are yet to be explored.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-deep-sea-exploration">Future of deep-sea exploration</h2>



Wagner shared the exciting news that E/V Nautilus will embark on an 8-month-long field season this month. 



The focus will be to investigate unexplored sites in the Pacific, including within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, currently under consideration for designation as a national marine sanctuary.



Adding an interactive aspect to the upcoming expeditions, the deep-sea footage will be live-streamed, giving everyone with an internet connection an opportunity to join the journey of discovery.&nbsp;



“Given that the vast majority of our ocean remains unexplored, these upcoming expeditions will undoubtedly lead to many more discoveries, and we are thrilled to be able to share these explorations with everyone," said Wagner. 



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Deep-sea video captures giant sea spiders mating for the first time

In a landmark moment for marine biology, scientists have successfully...

In the high-tech world of modern science, we've discovered planets thousands of light years away, and split atoms into quarks and gluons. But there's an unseen ripple effect happening much closer to home that's been nudging its way onto the scientific radar: antidepressant pollution. 



Recent studies have revealed that pharmaceutical pollutants, particularly the ones from antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac), are playing havoc with fish behavior, reproductive traits and even their life histories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pervasiveness-of-antidepressant-pollution">Pervasiveness of antidepressant pollution</h2>



A collaborative investigation has brought forth some worrying evidence against these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-kills-ocean-embryos-during-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unseen invaders</a>.



Spanning five years and zeroing in on guppies exposed to fluoxetine, the scientists shed light on the unusual effects of this now prevalent pollutant on aquatic life. The riveting outcomes of their research were published in the Journal of Animal Ecology.



In this era of advanced medicine, pharmaceutical pollutants have become an alarmingly commonplace i<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-catastrophic-decline-in-migratory-freshwater-fish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ssue across water bodies</a> across the globe. 



Antidepressants, especially fluoxetine, often find their way into our rivers and oceans through wastewater discharge and continue to persist in low concentrations.



The impacts of these alien chemicals on the inhabitants of these water bodies, especially on their behavior and reproductive success, are far from fully understood, until now.



Dr. Upama Aich from the <a href="https://www.monash.edu/science/schools/biological-sciences" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monash University School of Biological Sciences</a> and Assistant Professor Giovanni Polverino from the <a href="https://www.unitus.it/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tuscia</a> have put their weight and expertise behind this important scientific endeavor. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-antidepressant-pollution">Impact of antidepressant pollution</h2>



"Even at low concentrations, fluoxetine altered the guppies' body condition and increased the size of their gonopodium, while simultaneously reducing sperm velocity -- an essential factor for reproductive success," Dr. Aich explains.



Apart from the changes to their physical traits, fluoxetine has a debilitating impact on guppies' behavioral dynamics. 



"Fluoxetine exposure also significantly reduced the behavioral plasticity of guppies, leading to a lower capacity of the individuals to adjust their own activity and risk-taking behaviors across contexts," adds Assistant Professor Giovanni Polverino.



To further unearth the effects of antidepressant pollution, the research team diligently exposed guppies to three environmentally relevant concentrations of fluoxetine over multiple generations. 



Following five years of pollutant exposure, the team meticulously tested fish behavior, physical condition, and reproductive health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unseen-impact">Unseen impact</h2>



Male guppies, chosen for their heightened sensitivity to environmental shifts, were particularly affected. 



The researchers looked at key life-history traits such as body condition, coloration, and gonopodium size, along with critical sperm traits like vitality, number, and velocity.



What they found was quite significant. The antidepressant pollution disrupted the natural correlations between key traits. 



For example, the expected connection between activity levels and body conditions or between gonopodium size and sperm vitality was altered. 



This means that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastic-pollution-found-in-every-aquatic-species-tested/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollutants</a> interfere with the natural trade-offs these fishes undergo between survival and reproduction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-threat-to-aquatic-biodiversity">Threat to aquatic biodiversity</h2>



"The disruption of behavioral plasticity and the altered correlations between critical traits could undermine fish populations' ability to adapt to environmental challenges, threatening their long-term survival," warns Professor Bob Wong, senior author of the study.



These findings highlight how important it is to take a broader look at the ecological and evolutionary impacts of pharmaceutical pollution. 



As our activities keep adding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-biodegradable-plastic-is-harmful-to-fish-populations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new pollutants to the environment</a>, it’s essential to understand how they affect wildlife. 



This understanding is key to preserving biodiversity and keeping our ecosystems healthy for future generations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-minimizing-antidepressant-pollution">Minimizing antidepressant pollution</h2>



This research throws light on how chronic exposure to common antidepressant pollutants like fluoxetine can bring about fundamental changes in traits that fish rely on for survival and reproduction. 



Consequently, there's a clarion call to address pharmaceutical pollution and adopt stricter regulations to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sustainable-fishing-gets-a-boost-from-genomics-roadmap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shield aquatic life</a> from such threats.



Now that we’ve grasped this issue, let’s think about what we can do—both as individuals and as a community -- to prevent or at least reduce the impact of pharmaceutical pollutants on our environment.



How can we make sure our need for medication doesn’t harm the natural world around us? These are tough questions, but they’re important ones that we need to tackle as we move ahead together.



The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2656.14152" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Animal Ecology</a>.



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Antidepressant pollution in water bodies is severely depressing fish populations

In the high-tech world of modern science, we've discovered planets...

Sharing videos of pets accomplishing extraordinary feats is a massive trend on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Notably, dogs using soundboard buttons to convey thoughts have been taking the dog-loving community by a storm. 



But the question remains: are these dogs genuinely communicating or merely responding to cues from their handlers? An intriguing new research study delves into this very question and comes up with some compelling answers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-know-what-they-re-saying">Dogs know what they're saying</h2>



A recent study recently published in PLOS ONE presents some fascinating findings. 



It seems <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-learn-better-with-praise-and-petting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs trained</a> with soundboard buttons can indeed understand specific words, leading to contextually appropriate responses.



At the forefront of the initiative was Federico Rossano, Associate Professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at <a href="https://ucsd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC San Diego</a>. 



He also heads the Comparative Cognition Lab and appears in the popular Netflix documentary "Inside the Mind of a Dog."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-using-soundboards">Dogs using soundboards</h2>



Rossano's research is one of the first empirical studies to come out of the most extensive ongoing project to date on button-trained pets. It is part of his laboratory's continued investigation of interspecies communications.



Key findings of the study suggest that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-personality-algorithm-will-improve-work-and-home-placement/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs trained</a> to use soundboards responded appropriately to words like "play" and "outside," regardless of whether the words were spoken by their owners or triggered by pressing a button. 



This result held true irrespective of whether the buttons were pressed by the owner or an unrelated person.



This exciting discovery suggests that dogs are not merely 'reading' their owners' body language or presence. Instead, they are actually processing the words.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-reacting-to-soundboard-buttons">Dogs reacting to soundboard buttons</h2>



Rossano emphasized that his study addressed public skepticism about whether dogs really understood the meaning behind the button presses. 



"Our findings are important because they show that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gifted-dogs-can-learn-the-names-of-up-to-100-toys/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">words matter to dogs</a>, and that they respond to the words themselves, not just to associated cues," he explained.



The two-pronged study involved both in-person and remote trials. The former saw researchers visiting 30 homes to gauge dogs` reactions to soundboard buttons. 



The second experiment saw 29 dog handlers conducting the trials themselves at home under remote guidance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-holding-transparence">Holding transparence</h2>



The study's methodology was rigorously pre-registered, ensuring transparency and replicability. 



The process Rossano's team followed serves to enhance accountability, reduce cherry-picking results, and align with a growing movement to increase scientific rigor while decreasing bias or fraud likelihood.



"Future studies will explore how dogs actively use these buttons, including the meaning and systematicity behind sequences of button presses," Rossano added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-secrets-of-canine-communication">Secrets of canine communication</h2>



As our understanding of canine cognition evolves, it is becoming increasingly evident that the ways dogs communicate might be more sophisticated than previously assumed. 



This emerging field of study invites researchers to further investigate not just the decoding of individual words, but also the intricacies of how dogs use sequences of sounds to express more complex ideas and emotions. 



By examining these patterns, scientists could illuminate the depth of human-dog relationships and enhance our ability to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-training-is-more-effective-when-nice-voice-tone-is-used/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">communicate effectively with our furry companions</a>. 



Future research promises to delve into how different breeds may vary in their ability to grasp and utilize soundboard buttons, as well as how dogs adapt their communication strategies in response to the unique characteristics of their handlers. 



As we continue to decode the language of dogs, we may ultimately uncover a more profound connection between species, transforming the landscape of interspecies communication research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-dogs-using-soundboards">Future of dogs using soundboards</h2>



This study is merely the tip of the iceberg. Future research promises to delve deeper into understanding how dogs spontaneously use soundboard buttons, thereby further illuminating the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-imitate-human-actions-from-2d-videos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complexities of dog cognition</a> and communication.



Undoubtedly, the world of interspecies communication is evolving, and the captivating findings of Rossano and his dedicated team will continue to enrich our understanding of it. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaboration-and-citizen-science">Collaboration and citizen science</h2>



The first author of the paper was Amalia Bastos, a former postdoc at UC San Diego and currently involved in postdoc work at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a>. 



This exciting study was also conducted in collaboration with researchers from <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Davis</a>, the <a href="https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of St. Andrews</a>, <a href="https://www.uv.es/uvweb/college/en/university-valencia-1285845048380.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universitat de València</a>, and the <a href="https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna</a>.



Data for the study was collected in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, with participants graciously opening their homes to researchers, thereby highlighting the growing public interest in citizen science.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0307189" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLoS ONE</a>.



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Dogs can learn to 'speak' by pressing buttons on a soundboard

Sharing videos of pets accomplishing extraordinary feats is a massive...

Female sea turtles lay their eggs, cover the nest with sand, and return to the ocean, leaving the eggs to develop and hatch on their own. The journey to survival is fraught with challenges, from nest predators to rising temperatures. The odds are grim, with only about one in 1,000 hatchlings making it to adulthood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hatchling-size-and-survival">Hatchling size and survival</h2>



Size plays a crucial role in a hatchling's survival. Larger hatchlings, which can move faster, are more likely to survive because they spend less time exposed on the perilous beach sands.



Research shows that both air and sand temperatures significantly influence sea turtle hatchlings. Cooler temperatures tend to produce larger, heavier hatchlings with a higher proportion of males, while <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nesting-range-of-green-turtles-will-explode-in-a-warmer-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warmer temperatures</a> speed up hatching and offer some protection from predators.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-crucial-role-of-temperature-nbsp">The crucial role of temperature&nbsp;</h2>



For endangered species like the loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles, cooler and moister conditions result in stronger hatchlings. However, rising temperatures might shorten incubation periods, and unpredictable rainfall can disrupt growth, potentially threatening their survival.



Maintaining a balance between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-global-temperature-exceeded-2c-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temperature</a> and moisture is critical for the health of these vulnerable sea turtles. However, too much moisture can be lethal for developing embryos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rainfall-and-turtle-hatchling-size">Rainfall and turtle hatchling size</h2>



An international study led by the <a href="https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tübingen</a> in Germany, in collaboration with <a href="https://www.fau.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Atlantic University</a> (FAU), explores how fluctuating rainfall affects the development of sea turtle hatchlings. The study reveals that rainfall has a more significant impact on hatchling development than changes in air temperature.



This research, which analyzed data from 37 beaches worldwide - including a longitudinal study in Florida and experimental studies on the Cape Verde Islands - demonstrates that precipitation is crucial in determining hatchling body size.&nbsp;



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-changing-rainfall-patterns-impact-plants-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rainfall</a> cools the beach surface and increases moisture, which is essential for egg development, making it a better predictor of hatchling body size than temperature alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impacts-across-different-species">Impacts across different species</h2>



The results, published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02290-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BMC Ecology and Evolution</a>, show that rainfall's impact varies between species. For loggerhead turtles, heavier rainfall leads to hatchlings with smaller carapaces (shells) but greater weight. In contrast, green turtle hatchlings develop smaller carapaces without a change in body mass.



“Findings from our study highlight the need for more localized data on how regional weather influences incubation and hatchling development,” said co-author Jeanette Wyneken, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “These data are essential for refining conservation strategies to protect sea turtles amidst <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loggerhead-turtles-warming-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global warming</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-s-impact-on-hatchlings">Climate's impact on hatchlings</h2>



The study began with data collected from Boca Raton, Florida, comparing hatchling size (length, width, and mass) with local climate factors.&nbsp;



The researchers then gathered data from 19 beaches with loggerhead hatchlings and 17 beaches with green turtle hatchlings.&nbsp;



The final part of the study examined hatchlings in Cabo Verde after a few days of rain during the dry season to assess how precipitation affected their size.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weather-during-the-nesting-season">Weather during the nesting season</h2>



In the Mediterranean, especially on the beaches of Cyprus and Turkey, the dry season brings very little rain from the North Atlantic. For green turtles in these drier regions, the effects of precipitation become noticeable only after the dry season ends.&nbsp;



In contrast, in Florida, precipitation levels remain relatively consistent throughout the nesting season due to local weather patterns, although <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-threaten-the-delicate-balance-of-painted-turtle-populations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">droughts</a> and heatwaves are common in July and October.



“It’s not clear exactly how rain affects hatchling size,” Wyneken said. “One idea is that rain cools the nests, which can change the temperature and impact the sex ratio of the hatchlings. This could lead to differences in hatchling size and shape, similar to how male and female hatchlings of other turtles, like the giant river turtle, have different shell shapes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-conservation-efforts-nbsp">Local conservation efforts&nbsp;</h2>



As climate change alters rainfall patterns - making wet areas wetter and dry areas drier - the impact on sea turtle nesting sites suggests that global conservation strategies for loggerhead and green sea turtles may need updating.



“Effective management units for conservation should focus on regularly updating and including important nesting sites, highlighting the importance of local conservation efforts,” said Wyneken.&nbsp;



“Analyzing local data from various nesting sites is crucial for understanding sea turtle nesting patterns. These local databases should be made more accessible and widely shared to improve our knowledge and support local conservation efforts.”



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Rainfall impacts the size of sea turtle hatchlings

Female sea turtles lay their eggs, cover the nest with...

The northern bald ibis, a distinctive bird species that was hunted to near extinction by the 17th century, has made a comeback thanks to breeding and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/success-of-rewilding-efforts-depends-on-the-landscape/">rewilding</a> efforts over the past two decades.&nbsp;



These birds, easily recognizable by their black-and-iridescent green feathers, bald red head, and long curved beak, lack the instinctual knowledge of their migration routes without the guidance of wild-born elders.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-foster-parents-and-flight-instructors-nbsp">Foster parents and flight instructors&nbsp;</h2>



To address this, a team of scientists and conservationists has taken on the roles of foster parents and flight instructors.



“We have to teach them the migration route,” explained biologist Johannes Fritz.



Historically, the northern bald ibis flew over regions including North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and large parts of Europe, including Bavaria in southern Germany.&nbsp;



However, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-migratory-birds-navigate-with-such-accuracy/">migratory birds</a> were once considered a delicacy, leading to their disappearance from Europe, although a few colonies survived elsewhere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-major-comeback-for-the-bald-ibis">Major comeback for the bald ibis</h2>



Thanks to the efforts of Fritz and the <a href="https://www.waldrappteam.at/en/">Waldrappteam</a>, a conservation and research group based in Austria, the Central European population of these birds has grown from zero to nearly 300 since their project began in 2002.



This achievement has led to the species being reclassified from “critically endangered” to “endangered.” Fritz noted that this is the first successful attempt to reintroduce a migratory bird species that had gone extinct on a continental scale.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flying-with-the-guidance-of-humans">Flying with the guidance of humans</h2>



Currently, a group of northern bald ibises is being guided across central Europe by a microlight aircraft in a&nbsp; remarkable form of assisted migration. Human “foster parents” raise the birds from chicks and use the aircraft to lead them on their migratory journey.



Although the northern bald ibis retains a natural instinct to migrate, they do not know which direction to fly without the guidance of experienced wild-born elders.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-17th-human-led-migration-of-the-bald-ibis">17th human-led migration of the bald ibis </h2>



Early attempts by the Waldrappteam to reintroduce these birds were largely unsuccessful, as the birds, once released, would fly off in different directions, failing to return to suitable wintering grounds like Tuscany, Italy, and ultimately perishing.



In response, the Waldrappteam took on the dual roles of foster parents and flight instructors for the Central European population, which consists of descendants from various zoo colonies.&nbsp;



These birds were released into the wild in hopes of forming a self-sustaining migratory group. This year marks the 17th human-led migration, and the second time the team has had to navigate a new route to Spain due to the impacts of climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-the-birds-for-the-journey">Preparing the birds for the journey</h2>



To prepare the birds for migration, the chicks are taken from their breeding colonies just days after hatching. They are then brought to an aviary where foster parents care for them, aiming to “imprint” on the birds so that they bond with and trust the humans who will guide them on their migration.



Barbara Steininger, one of the Waldrappteam’s foster mothers, described her role as being like “their bird mom.”



“We feed them, we clean them, we clean their nests. We take good care of them and see that they are healthy birds,” Steininger said. “But also we interact with them.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-inspiration-from-father-goose">Inspiration from “Father Goose”</h2>



Once the birds are ready, Steininger and other foster parents take to the skies in the back of a microlight aircraft, waving and calling out encouragement through a bullhorn as they fly.



It’s an unusual sight: the aircraft resembles a flying go-kart with a large fan at the back and a yellow parachute providing lift. Nonetheless, three dozen birds follow the contraption, piloted by Fritz, as it glides over alpine meadows and foothills.



Fritz was inspired by “Father Goose” Bill Lishman, a naturalist who began teaching <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/canada-geese-keep-calm-and-carry-on-after-flock-reduction/">Canadian geese</a> to fly alongside his ultralight plane in 1988.&nbsp;



Lishman later guided endangered whooping cranes along safe migration routes and founded the nonprofit “Operation Migration.” His work was the inspiration for the 1996 film Fly Away Home, though in the movie, a young girl takes on the role of the geese’s “mother.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-and-migration-routes">Climate change and migration routes</h2>



Like Lishman’s efforts, Fritz and his team have achieved success. In 2011, the first northern bald ibis independently migrated back to Bavaria from Tuscany.&nbsp;



Each year, more birds follow the same 550-kilometer (342-mile) route, and the team hopes to increase the Central European population to over 350 birds by 2028, aiming for a self-sustaining group.



However, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-unpredictable-effects-on-salmon-migration/">climate change</a> has complicated matters, causing the birds to migrate later in the season. This delay forces them to cross the Alps in colder, more hazardous conditions without the benefit of warm air currents, known as thermals, which help birds soar with minimal energy expenditure.



As a result, the Waldrappteam pioneered a new migration route in 2023, leading the birds from Bavaria to Andalusia in southern Spain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pathways-for-threatened-migratory-birds">Pathways for threatened migratory birds</h2>



This year, the route spans roughly 2,800 kilometers (1,740 miles) - about 300 kilometers (186 miles) longer than last year’s path. Earlier this month, from an airfield in Paterzell, Upper Bavaria, the team guided 36 birds through clear blue skies with a tailwind that boosted their speed.



The entire journey to Spain may take up to 50 days, concluding in early October. However, Fritz emphasized that their work extends beyond just the northern bald ibis: it’s about creating pathways for other threatened migratory species to follow.



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Human ‘foster parents’ guide an extinct bird back to life

The northern bald ibis, a distinctive bird species that was...

<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...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<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.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</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.

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

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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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