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...

Organic farming and flower strips are extremely beneficial for honey bee health, helping colonies that live in their vicinity grow stronger and more resilient. This happens most likely because the honey bees have a continuous and diverse food supply there, while being less exposed to pesticides.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farming-styles-impact-honey-bee-health">Farming styles impact honey bee health</h2>



To reach this conclusion, a team of scientists from <a href="https://www.uni-halle.de/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg</a> (MLU) and the <a href="https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/1.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Göttingen</a> analyzed data from 32 bee colonies at 16 locations in Germany with various proportions of organic fields, flower strips and semi-natural habitats.



About half of Germany’s land is used for agriculture, according to the <a href="https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Environment Agency</a> (UBA). “The way that farmers cultivate their land has a major impact on nature. Intensively farmed fields, pesticides and monocultures pose a threat to many animal and plant species. This is particularly true for pollinators, which include honey bees,” said Robert Paxton, a bee researcher at MLU. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mitigating-the-effects-of-intensive-farming-nbsp">Mitigating the effects of intensive farming&nbsp;</h2>



Some important measures counteracting this trend include increasing the proportion of organic farming, planting more flower strips, and devising perennial semi-natural areas near crop fields.&nbsp;



“In theory, these measures all make sense. However, we know little about how each of these affect insects, especially honey bees,” Paxton said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-organic-farming-and-honey-bee-health">Organic farming and honey bee health</h2>



To clarify these issues, the scientists carried out research at 16 locations in Lower Saxony, Germany. Each of these locations were different in the proportion of organic fields, flower strips and perennial semi-natural habitats surrounding them.&nbsp;



The experts placed honey bee colonies at each of these sites and observed them for a year. They took into consideration colony growth and parasite infestation, paying special attention to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/varroa-mites-honey-bees/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">varroa mite</a>, an extremely dangerous pest of honey bees that can transmit lethal viruses. 



Then, they compared data regarding the colonies. “Organic farming had the greatest impact - the larger the proportion of these areas, the lower the parasite infestation of a colony. This improved colony growth,” explained lead author Patrycja Pluta from MLU.&nbsp;



Most likely, this occurred since organic farming uses fewer pesticides, employing alternative plant protection measures.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flower-strips-and-honey-bee-health">Flower strips and honey bee health</h2>



Flower strips appeared particularly advantageous to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-honey-bee-day-protecting-our-vital-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">honey bees</a>. For instance, the number of Varroa mites was found to be lower in areas with many flower strips. “This could be due to the fact that a diverse and rich food supply strengthens the honey bees’ immune system,” Pluta said. 



However, perennial semi-natural habitats turned out to be disadvantageous for honey bees, since  larger areas usually meant a greater infestation of varroa mites. In addition, unlike flower strips, such areas are not designed to offer abundant supplies of food for honey bees and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-face-extinction-risk-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollinators</a>. 



“Perennial semi-natural landscapes are an important tool for promoting biodiversity and they serve as a habitat for many animals. Honey bees, that are managed by humans, are the exception,” Paxton said.&nbsp;



This study, published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14723" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Applied Ecology</a>, is an important step forward in improving agricultural landscape management for bees and other pollinators.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-threats-to-the-survival-of-honey-bees">Threats to the survival of honey bees</h2>



The research is particularly important, as honey bees face a combination of threats that create a challenging environment which makes it difficult for them to thrive and sustain the essential pollination services they provide to agriculture and natural ecosystems.&nbsp;



One of the most well-known threats is the widespread use of pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, which can impair bees' ability to navigate, forage, and reproduce. Exposure to these chemicals can weaken bees and make them more susceptible to diseases and parasites.&nbsp;



Speaking of parasites, the Varroa destructor mite is another significant threat to honeybees. This tiny parasite feeds on the blood of bees and can transmit deadly viruses, weakening the colony over time.



In addition to these direct threats, honeybees are also affected by habitat loss due to urbanization, agriculture, and climate change. The loss of wildflowers and other foraging resources reduces the availability of nectar and pollen, which bees need to survive.&nbsp;



Climate change further exacerbates these issues by altering flowering times and creating mismatches between when bees are active and when flowers are available. This can lead to poor nutrition for bees, which makes them less resilient to other stresses.



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Organic farming and flower strips improve honey bee health

Organic farming and flower strips are extremely beneficial for honey...

Today, let's address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the tiny terror, the midnight mischief-maker, the one that has us all jumping onto chairs at the dead of night, our uninvited roommates -- mice. 



Entertaining as our tiny friends might be in animated tales, they are not as charming when discovered darting across your kitchen floor or gnawing on your pizza leftovers, especially when the solution could be as simple as cinnamon.



Not a fan of its warm aroma, our tiny roommates leave their homes in search of a scent-free environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seed-of-the-problem">Seed of the problem</h2>



Mice have long roamed our homes, causing chaos with their nocturnal antics. They pose health risks by carrying and transmitting various diseases, and their gnawing habits can lead to substantial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-assist-farmers-by-consuming-harmful-pests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">property damage</a>.



Cinnamon, well known for adding a festive touch to our cookies and hot beverages, has been hiding a secret superhero identity. It turns out, this versatile spice does not just enhance our culinary delights but is also a potent deterrent for mice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cinnamon-strategy-against-mice">Cinnamon strategy against mice</h2>



Deploying this strategy is straightforward and effective. Simply take cinnamon sticks and place them around food storage areas, or soak cotton balls in cinnamon oil and scatter them around your home. 



This natural method can help deter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insects-boost-plant-evolution-in-surprising-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pests</a> while leaving a pleasant aroma. Regularly refresh the cinnamon to maintain its effectiveness.



What's even better, using cinnamon is a humane way of dealing with our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cockroaches-became-global-pests-cleverly-hitching-rides-with-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">little invaders</a>. It allows us to protect our homes without resorting to methods that cause harm to these tiny creatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fragrant-side-effects">Fragrant side-effects</h2>



Let’s remember that while we’re quietly battling pests, our home can be filled with an amazing aroma that feels like a dream. 



The lovely scent of cinnamon doesn’t just make the place feel cozy; it also has a practical side. This powerful spice helps keep those pesky rodents away.



Imagine welcoming friends into your home, where the warm fragrance of cinnamon greets them right at the door. 



It’s the perfect mix of charm and usefulness, creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes everyone feel comfortable while <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cockroaches-have-evolved-developed-resistance-to-common-insect-sprays/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">keeping pests at bay</a>.



The potent smell of cinnamon, primarily from its essential oil called cinnamaldehyde, is oppressively strong for rodents, given their highly sensitive olfactory receptors. Turns out, our home invader's natural aversion to strong smells is our gain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cinnamon-and-mice-a-holistic-perspective">Cinnamon and mice: A holistic perspective</h2>



As we deal with our uninvited mouse guests, it's important to take a balanced approach that focuses on both keeping them out and understanding them better.&nbsp;



We can start by making our homes less inviting for mice -- this means sealing up any gaps, storing food properly, and keeping things tidy. But let’s not forget that mice play a role in our ecosystem. 



They’re food for a variety of predators and help keep nature in balance. By learning more about their behaviors and needs, we can find <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oce/pest/integrated-pest-management" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ways to coexist peacefully</a>, respecting both their place in the world and our need for a comfortable home.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fellow-warriors">Fellow warriors</h2>



Essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender are great allies in this fight. Peppermint oil smells amazing and gives your space a fresh vibe while deterring bugs.&nbsp;



Eucalyptus has a nice scent and helps clean the air too. And we can’t forget lavender. Its calming aroma not only relaxes the atmosphere but also keeps those annoying insects at bay.&nbsp;



By bringing these lovely scents into your home, you can create a welcoming and healthier space for everyone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cinnamon-for-mice-mother-earth-approves">Cinnamon for mice: Mother Earth approves</h2>



This natural strategy is not only effective but also environmentally friendly. It provides a balanced approach, enabling us to coexist harmoniously with these small creatures.&nbsp;



By adopting this method, we can protect their habitats while ensuring our own needs are met. Such coexistence fosters biodiversity and supports a healthier ecosystem for future generations.



So, are we ready to try out this homemade solution? Perhaps it's time to redecorate our homes with a dash of warm, inviting cinnamon and declare victory over our furry invaders in the most organic, aromatic way possible. After all, who said war couldn't smell sweet?



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Eco-friendly pest control: This simple trick keeps mice away

Today, let's address the elephant in the room. Or rather,...

Cockroach infestations are a persistent problem for many households, but a recent study reveals that commonly used sprays are not as effective as consumers believe.



The study sheds light on the limited efficacy of these popular products, particularly against the notorious German cockroach, raising concerns about their role in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-pest-control-the-hidden-power-of-aloe-vera-peels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pest control</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cockroach-residual-insecticides">Cockroach residual insecticides</h2>



The premise behind residual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterfly-decline-in-american-midwest-linked-to-insecticides/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insecticides</a> is simple. Spray them onto surfaces where cockroaches are expected, and the toxic residue would poison them once they traverse the treated areas.



However, a new study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology paints a different picture.



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uky.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Kentucky</a> and <a href="https://www.auburn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Auburn University</a> found that these residual insecticides were largely futile against German cockroaches (Blattella germanica), a notorious species globally known for infesting homes and buildings. 



Laboratory testing revealed that liquid and aerosol sprays using pyrethroid insecticides killed less than 20% of German cockroaches exposed to sprayed surfaces for 30 minutes. 



Even when confined to sprayed areas, most products took between eight and 24 hours to kill the cockroaches, with some requiring up to five days.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-problem-with-pyrethroids">The problem with pyrethroids</h2>



The results were derived from cockroaches collected from real-world infestations, where the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-insect-decline-what-are-the-causes-and-consequences/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insects</a> have evolved resistance to pyrethroids, the primary ingredient in these sprays.



"Due to the frequent use of pyrethroid-based residual products, it is very likely that German cockroaches inside of homes will have some degree of pyrethroid resistance," noted study lead author Johnalyn Gordon, a postdoctoral associate at the <a href="https://www.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Florida</a>.



"To the best of our knowledge, a pyrethroid-susceptible German cockroach population has not been documented from the field in decades."



Gordon conducted the study while a graduate research assistant at the University of Kentucky in the lab of Professor Zach DeVries, the study's senior author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-effective-cockroach-sprays">Lack of effective cockroach sprays</h2>



The research highlights a significant issue. "If residents do not have access to effective professional pest control or consumer solutions, they continue to be impacted by the effects of an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fir-trees-are-severely-threatened-by-an-unwelcome-insect-guest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infestation</a>, including the health risks associated with cockroach allergens. Home is where people should be able to relax and feel comfortable," explained Gordon.



Despite this alarming revelation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently does not require insecticide products to be tested on field-collected cockroaches or those demonstrating insecticide resistance. 



"Hopefully studies like this one can drive changes in product testing and evaluation, so that labels accurately reflect the level of control these products can provide," Gordon continued.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stricter-standards-for-cockroach-sprays">Stricter standards for cockroach sprays</h2>



Along with the ingredient composition, other factors might contribute to the faltering efficiency of these sprays, such as surface type and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cockroaches-became-global-pests-cleverly-hitching-rides-with-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cockroach behavior</a>.



Additional testing on painted drywall, ceramic tile, and stainless steel surfaces revealed that the sprays were significantly less effective on drywall. 



"Given common applications of residual insecticides along baseboards, reduced efficacy on painted drywall was a particularly striking finding," noted Gordon.



Even in populations without resistance to pyrethroids, the residual sprays had minimal effects on painted drywall. 



This suggests that the porous nature of a surface may significantly impact product efficacy. Furthermore, cockroaches are unlikely to remain on insecticide-treated surfaces for extended periods, either because they are always on the move or actively avoid them.



A separate study from DeVries' lab, published in 2023, found that resistant German cockroaches avoid pyrethroid-treated surfaces when given the choice. Combined, these factors paint a dim picture for cockroach control via insecticide sprays.



"Based on our results, pyrethroid-based DIY products are likely to fail against German cockroaches inside the home, especially if they are being used as residual products," said Gordon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-cockroach-control">Future of cockroach control</h2>



These findings cast a dismal shadow on the use of DIY insecticide sprays for cockroach control. Yet, other more promising DIY alternatives exist, such as gel or liquid baits that lure roaches with a food source laced with slow-acting insecticides.



Ideally, consumers could also have access to affordable professional pest-control services that take a multipronged approach known as integrated pest management (IPM). 



However, this is often not the case for residents of low-income, multi-family housing, where cockroach infestations are stubbornly persistent. 



"There is a strong base of knowledge and research on how we can control cockroaches, but there are numerous economic and procedural barriers that mean that this control is not occurring in these areas, arguably where it is the most needed," said Gordon.



Targeting improved technologies that can close these management gaps is critical to achieving accessible pest management, whether that is through different active ingredients and modes of action, formulations, or product-deployment strategies.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jee/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jee/toae158/7731102?redirectedFrom=fulltext&amp;login=false">Journal of Economic Entomology</a>.



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Cockroaches have evolved and developed resistance to common insect sprays

Cockroach infestations are a persistent problem for many households, but...

Who doesn't love a good tale about whales? Humpback whales, in particular, continue to astound with each new revelation. Scientists recently discovered that humpback whales are not only capable of using tools but are also adept at creating and altering them to enhance their hunting prowess.



This remarkable behavior sheds light on their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-20-minute-conversation-with-a-humpback-whale-named-twain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intelligence and social structures</a>, revealing a level of cognitive ability that challenges our understanding of marine life.



These magnificent creatures are not merely gigantic inhabitants of our oceans; they are active participants in their intricate marine habitats, playing vital roles in the ecosystem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humpback-whales-use-tools-for-hunting">Humpback whales use tools for hunting</h2>



At the forefront of this startling revelation is Professor Lars Bejder, the esteemed Director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (<a href="https://www.mmrphawaii.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MMRP</a>) at the <a href="https://www.himb.hawaii.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Hawai'i</a>.



Bejder, along with his dedicated and diligent team of researchers and marine biologists, had been conducting extensive studies on the humpback whales in the southeast (SE) region of Alaska.



This area is known to be a vital feeding hub for these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humpback-whales-felt-less-stressed-during-the-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">magnificent marine animals</a>, rich in the nutrients and prey they rely on for sustenance.



What they discovered was nothing less than dramatic and groundbreaking: humpback whales aren’t merely surviving in this environment – they are actively shaping it.



Their feeding habits and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humpback-whales-have-moved-their-singing-rituals-away-from-shorelines/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social behaviors</a> play a crucial role in the local ecosystem, influencing everything from the distribution of prey species to the overall health of marine habitats.



The scientists uncovered the whales' extraordinary technique of creating complex "bubble nets" to trap their prey.



The whales control the size, depth, and distance between these bubbles, making their hunting process efficient and energy-conserving. This ingenious strategy allows them to capture seven times more prey in a single dive.



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



Humpback whales are known for their complex songs and acrobatic breaches, which mesmerize anyone fortunate enough to witness them. 



However, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humpback-whales-fail-to-respond-to-vessel-noise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survival in the vast ocean</a> demands efficient hunting and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-a-warming-climate-will-change-the-humpback-whales-diet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">strategic adaptability</a>, even for humpback whales.



These magnificent creatures embark on an incredible migration, traveling thousands of miles to overwinter in the warm, inviting waters of Hawaiʻi, where they can breed and nurture their young.



The calories they accumulate during their feeding season are utterly crucial, as they must rely on this energy to sustain them throughout their long journey.



According to Professor Bejder, a leading expert in marine biology, "Success in hunting is key for the whales' survival."



This success is largely attributed to their remarkable bubble-netting strategy, where groups of whales work collaboratively to create a stunning visual display of bubbles that traps schools of fish.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-humpback-whales-and-their-tools">Studying humpback whales and their tools</h2>



Our understanding of animals using tools isn't new, but what sets humpback whales apart is their ability to create and modify these tools. 



This exceptional ability gives us an insight into their intelligence and adaptability in their natural habitat.



Studying these underwater behemoths is no cakewalk. However, thanks to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/acoustic-tagging-helps-decode-whale-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">technological advancements</a>, scientists are able to witness their behavior like never before.



William Gough from MMRP and his team used non-invasive suction-cup tags and drones to track the whales’ movements and gather data.



"We deployed non-invasive suction-cup tags on whales and flew drones over solitary bubble-netting humpback whales in SE Alaska," Gough explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-conservation-in-the-face-of-threats">Future of conservation in the face of threats</h2>



While we marvel at the whales' intelligence, let's not lose sight of the big picture: the vital need for their conservation.



The study's much-needed revelations help pave the path for effective conservation strategies by deciphering the feeding behaviors of these creatures, thereby ensuring the preservation of their feeding grounds.



"This little-studied foraging behavior is wholly unique to humpback whales," notes Gough.



Dr. Andy Szabo, the Executive Director of the Alaska Whale Foundation (<a href="https://www.alaskawhalefoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AWF</a>), emphasized the remarkable adaptability of humpback whales in the face of environmental challenges.



Even as threats to our marine ecosystems persist, the whales' behavioral flexibility may be their saving grace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-lies-ahead-in-humpback-whale-research">What lies ahead in humpback whale research</h2>



The discovery of tool use in humpback whales marks a significant development in marine biology, leading the way for further exploration.



By collaborating with research institutions like the MMRP and AWF and harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology, we are on the brink of uncovering even more about these fascinating creatures and their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conversation-with-humpback-whale-gives-seti-team-ideas-on-how-to-talk-to-aliens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex interactions</a> with the marine ecosystem.



In the end, the ultimate goal is to protect these incredible beings. Only by understanding their behaviors and ingenuity can we equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools needed to protect them.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240328" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Society Open Science</a>.



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Add humpback whales to the list of animals that build and use tools

Who doesn't love a good tale about whales? Humpback whales,...

Spiders have long been known for their cunning hunting strategies, but recent research has uncovered a new level of deceit when it comes to firefly signals. 



In the captivating world where bioluminescent signals light up the night, communication is everything. Male fireflies from the species Abscondita terminalis use multi-pulse flashes from dual lanterns to attract females, who respond with single-pulse flashes from a single lantern.



However, an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spiders-use-their-webs-to-detect-sounds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orb-weaving spider</a> has been found to manipulate these signals, using them to lure unsuspecting fireflies into its deadly web.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unmasking-the-orb-weaving-spider-s-trap">Unmasking the orb-weaving spider’s trap</h2>



Scientists from <a href="https://www.hzau.edu.cn/en/HOME.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Huazhong Agricultural University</a> in China were intrigued when they uncovered evidence of a spider skillfully twisting this bioluminescent communication to its advantage.



The research shows that the orb-weaving spider (Araneus ventricosus) cunningly manipulates male fireflies trapped in its web to mimic the flashes of a female. This deceptive practice ultimately lures more male fireflies into the fatal web, cunningly expanding the spider's menu.



"Drawing from extensive field observations, we propose that Araneus ventricosus practices deceptive interspecific communication by first ensnaring firefly males in its web and then predisposing the entrapped male fireflies to broadcast <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bioluminescence-emerged-in-animals-540-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bioluminescent signals</a> that deviate from female-attracting signals typically made by A. terminalis males and instead mimic the male-attracting signals typically made by females," noted the researchers.



The spider's act of false signals deceives other male fireflies, who unknowingly fly straight into the deadly trap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spiders-manipulate-firefly-signals">Spiders manipulate firefly signals </h2>



The revelation came to light when Xinhua Fu, the lead author of the study, observed multiple male fireflies ensnared in the webs of orb-weaving spiders. However, the absence of female fireflies in these webs was notably unusual.



This observation sparked a theory that the crafty spiders might be influencing the fireflies' flashing behavior to allure males to their webs.



To validate this hypothesis, behavioral ecologists Daiqin Li and Shichang Zhang from Hubei University, along with Fu, engaged in field experiments that closely monitored the spiders' behavior and the shifted fireflies’ signals. 



The team discovered that male fireflies were more frequently trapped in the spiders' web when the spider was present.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spiders-deceptive-strategy-using-firefly-signals">Spiders' deceptive strategy using firefly signals </h2>



After a deep inspection, the researchers found that male fireflies trapped in the spider-infested webs exhibited signals similar to free females.



Strikingly, these males used single-pulse signals from a single lantern, contrary to their normal dual lantern, multi-pulse signals. When these trapped males were alone in the web, they rarely attracted other males.



From the data gathered, it was clear that the male fireflies were not altering their signals as a distress call. Rather, it was the spiders that were manipulating the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-hints-at-a-secret-musical-battle-between-fireflies-and-bats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fireflies' communication</a>.



"Upon detecting the bioluminescent signals of ensnared male fireflies, the spider deploys a specialized prey-handling procedure involving repeated wrap-bite attacks," explained Li.



The researchers believe that this research has opened a window into how predators can use indirect yet dynamic signaling to target a specific category of prey. 



They propose that many more examples could exist in nature, where predators use mimicry to manipulate prey behavior. The research continues to explore whether the spider’s venom or its bite influences the changes in the ensnared males’ flashing pattern.



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



This newly uncovered deception strategy of the orb-weaving spider highlights the complexity of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/danger-zones-climate-change-is-altering-predator-prey-dynamics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predator-prey</a> interactions in nature.



Understanding these interactions is crucial for ecological research, as it can provide insights into the adaptive strategies species develop for survival. 



Furthermore, the discovery emphasizes the importance of bioluminescence in ecological communication and the potential vulnerabilities it creates for certain species.



For conservationists, this finding emphasizes the intricate balance within ecosystems and the potential impact human activities could have on these delicate dynamics.



Preserving natural habitats is essential to maintain the diversity of interactions that contribute to ecosystem stability. By studying these interactions, conservation efforts can be better informed to protect not just individual species, but the complex web of life.



As researchers continue to uncover more about mimicry and deception in nature, the knowledge gained can drive more effective conservation policies and practices.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)00914-X?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS096098222400914X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Spiders mimic firefly signals to lure prey

Spiders have long been known for their cunning hunting strategies,...

A,Pair,Of,Bowhead,Whales,Off,The,Coast.,View,From

Bowhead whales, the silent giants of the Arctic, play a crucial role in the ocean's ecosystem. These amazing creatures can grow up to 60 feet long and have fascinated scientists for years with their unique behaviors and impressive lifespans.



A recent study has shed light on their lives, uncovering patterns that boost our understanding of marine life and shake up some of our old ideas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bowhead-whales-majestic-and-mysterious">Bowhead whales: Majestic and mysterious</h2>



Bowhead whales are truly amazing creatures. Known for their massive size and sturdy build, they have the largest mouth of any animal, which they use to filter-feed on tiny organisms like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plankton-help-predict-ocean-biodiversity-losses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">zooplankton</a>.



Their thick blubber helps them survive in the icy Arctic waters, and their strong, curved skulls allow them to break through sea ice to breathe.



Plus, bowhead whales are some of the longest-living mammals, with some living over 200 years.



But even with their incredible resilience, these whales face big challenges from climate change and human activities, like increased shipping traffic and habitat disruption.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-research-team-applies-chaos-theory">Research team applies chaos theory</h2>



Figuring out how bowhead whales behave is quite a challenge, especially since a lot of their lives happen under the icy surface.



A recent study led by Associate Professor Evgeny A. Podolskiy from the <a href="https://www.arc.hokudai.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic Research Center</a> at Hokkaido University takes a fresh approach by using chaos theory to understand how these amazing creatures dive.



The research team, which included respected Professors Jonas Teilmann from <a href="https://international.au.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aarhus University</a> and Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen from the <a href="https://natur.gl/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland Institute of Natural Resources</a>, spent 144 days carefully analyzing the diving data of 12 bowhead whales tagged in Disko Bay, West Greenland.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chaos-theory-and-bowhead-whales">Chaos theory and bowhead whales</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chaos-theory-may-help-protect-narwhals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chaos theory</a> looks at how tiny changes in a system's initial conditions can lead to very different outcomes, making it tough to predict things in the long run for certain systems.



It shows us that what we often think of as random -- like weather patterns or a dripping faucet -- actually follows complex but predictable rules.



But here’s the twist: this sensitivity to initial conditions, often called the "butterfly effect," makes these systems seem unpredictable.



At its heart, chaos theory shakes up the traditional idea of cause and effect. It reveals that even simple systems can act in ways that are both <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-rule-of-biology-instability-key-to-evolution-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">organized and unpredictable</a>.



This has big implications for how we understand natural phenomena, suggesting that what looks like randomness might actually be following a hidden pattern -- one that's just super sensitive to starting conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chaotic-symphony-of-bowhead-whale-dives">Chaotic symphony of bowhead whale dives</h2>



Applying chaos theory to their study of bowhead whales, this team of researchers found an unexpected application in marine biology through this study.



The researchers treated the bowhead whales' <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-unexpected-behavior-among-beaked-whales/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diving behavior</a> as a self-sustained oscillation -- a balance between hunting for food at great depths and surfacing for oxygen.



This approach revealed underlying patterns in what initially appeared to be random movements.



One of the most striking discoveries was a 24-hour diving cycle observed during the spring. The whales exhibited a remarkable synchronization with their environment, diving deepest in the afternoon to follow the daily movement of their prey, a behavior known as diel vertical migration.



Professor Heide-Jørgensen commented on this discovery, stating, “We find that foraging whales dive deeper during the daytime in spring, with this diving behavior being in apparent synchrony with their vertically migrating prey.”



This insight into their daily rhythm is significant, as it sheds new light on how bowhead whales adapt their foraging strategies to seasonal changes, ensuring their survival in the harsh <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beluga-whales-are-losing-their-social-bonds-as-temperatures-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic environment</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-distance-synchronization-mystery">Long-distance synchronization mystery</h2>



While the 24-hour diving cycle was a crucial finding, the research team stumbled upon another phenomenon that was both surprising and intriguing -- <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/language-like-patterns-decoded-in-sperm-whale-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">long-range synchronization</a> between two bowhead whales.



Over a week, two whales, one female and one of unknown sex, displayed synchronized diving patterns despite being nearly 100 kilometers apart. 



This synchronization persisted even when the whales were hundreds of kilometers away from each other, though at different depths.



The team hypothesized that this synchronization might be linked to acoustic communication, as bowhead whales are known for their long-range vocalizations, which can travel over 100 kilometers underwater.



However, without direct recordings of the whales' sounds, confirming this theory remains challenging. Professor Teilmann remarked, "Without direct observations, such as recordings of the two whales, it isn’t possible to determine that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-20-minute-conversation-with-a-humpback-whale-named-twain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">individuals were exchanging calls</a>.”



Despite the uncertainty, the observed behavior aligns with the acoustic herd theory of long-range signaling in baleen whales, a concept first proposed by Payne and Webb in 1971.



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



The findings from this study open up new avenues for research into the social behaviors of bowhead whales and other marine animals. 



The possibility that whales, appearing to dive alone, may actually be coordinating their movements over vast distances is a profound revelation.



"The possibility of acoustically connected whales, which seem to be diving alone but are actually together, is mind-bending," said Associate Professor Podolskiy.



He emphasized the importance of further research, urging the scientific community to gather more simultaneous tag data to confirm these observations.



This study not only provides a framework for studying the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/acoustic-tagging-helps-decode-whale-communication/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sociality and behavior</a> of bowhead whales but also highlights the potential for chaos theory to uncover hidden patterns in the natural world.



The chaotic, unrestrained movements of these whales, when viewed through the lens of dynamical systems, reveal a structured yet complex interaction with their environment and each other.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-and-marine-life-resilience">Climate change and marine life resilience</h2>



While this research sheds light on the diving behavior of bowhead whales, it also raises broader questions about the adaptability and resilience of marine life in the face of environmental changes.



The synchronization observed in the whales’ diving patterns suggests a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sperm-whales-learn-the-vocal-styles-of-their-neighbors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highly evolved strategy</a> for survival, one that could be disrupted by shifts in oceanic conditions due to climate change.



Understanding these behaviors is crucial not only for the conservation of bowhead whales but also for preserving the delicate balance of the Arctic ecosystem.



Moreover, the application of chaos theory in this context serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of natural systems.



What appears chaotic and random may, upon closer examination, reveal a deeper order -- a concept that could be applied to various fields of study, from ecology to climate science.



The study of bowhead whales in Disko Bay offers a glimpse into the complex and fascinating world beneath the Arctic waters. 



The discoveries made by Professor Podolskiy and his team challenge us to rethink our understanding of marine life and consider the broader implications of their findings.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physical Review Research</a>.



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Bowhead whales dive at the same time despite distances of over 60 miles

Bowhead whales, the silent giants of the Arctic, play a...

Scientists have discovered promising clues for treating diabetes and hormone disorders in an unexpected source: the venom of one of the world’s most toxic creatures, the marine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cone-snail-venom-could-be-used-to-produce-painkillers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cone snail</a>. 



A research team led by scientists from the <a href="https://www.utah.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Utah</a> has identified a component in the venom of the geography cone, a species of cone snail, that mimics a human hormone known as somatostatin. This hormone regulates <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evening-workouts-are-best-for-blood-sugar-control/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blood sugar</a> levels and various hormones in the body. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snail-venom-as-a-blueprint-nbsp">Snail venom as a blueprint&nbsp;</h2>



The snail’s venom, which has evolved to assist in hunting prey, could potentially offer a blueprint for developing more effective drugs to treat diabetes and hormone-related conditions, which can be severe and life-threatening.



The venom component identified by the researchers, named consomatin, could be key to improving medications for managing diabetes and hormone disorders.&nbsp;



In humans, somatostatin acts as a regulator, preventing blood sugar and hormone levels from rising to dangerous levels. The cone snail’s consomatin behaves similarly but is more stable and precise than the human hormone, making it a promising model for drug development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-precise-targeting-of-snail-venom">Precise targeting of snail venom</h2>



The researchers conducted experiments to see how consomatin interacts with somatostatin’s targets in human cells. They discovered that while somatostatin interacts with multiple proteins, consomatin specifically targets only one.&nbsp;



This precise targeting means that the toxin from the cone snail can influence hormone and blood sugar levels without affecting many other molecules in the body.



Notably, consomatin’s precision surpasses even the most advanced synthetic drugs currently used to regulate hormone levels, such as those used to control growth hormone. These drugs are vital for treating individuals whose bodies produce excessive growth hormone.&nbsp;



While consomatin’s effect on blood sugar might make it unsuitable for direct therapeutic use, its structure could inspire the creation of drugs for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/contaminants-water-supply-endocrine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">endocrine disorders</a> with fewer side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-valuable-insights-for-drug-development-nbsp">Valuable insights for drug development&nbsp;</h2>



Moreover, consomatin has another advantage: it remains active in the body much longer than human somatostatin due to the presence of an unusual amino acid that makes it resistant to breakdown. This durability is a valuable trait for pharmaceutical researchers aiming to develop drugs that provide prolonged benefits.



The idea of finding new drugs by studying deadly venoms might seem counterintuitive. However, the precision of these venoms in targeting specific molecules can be highly useful in treating diseases, noted Helena Safavi, an associate professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah’s Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (SFESOM) and the senior author of the study.



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dangerous-desert-creatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Venomous animals</a> have, through evolution, fine-tuned venom components to hit a particular target in the prey and disrupt it,” said Professor Safavi. This specificity, when isolated and studied, often reveals pathways that are highly relevant in disease treatment. For medicinal chemists, this can serve as a significant shortcut in drug development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snail-venom-and-blood-sugar-regulation-nbsp">Snail venom and blood sugar regulation&nbsp;</h2>



Consomatin, while related to somatostatin, has been modified by millions of years of evolution to serve as a potent weapon for the cone snail. The snail uses this toxin to disrupt its prey’s blood sugar regulation, rendering the prey incapacitated.



The research team had previously discovered that the cone snail’s venom includes another toxin similar to insulin, which rapidly lowers blood sugar levels, making the prey unresponsive. Consomatin then keeps the blood sugar levels low, preventing recovery.



“We think the cone snail developed this highly selective toxin to work together with the insulin-like toxin to bring down blood glucose to a really low level,” said Ho Yan Yeung, a postdoctoral researcher at SFESOM and the study’s first author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-study-nbsp">Broader implications of the study&nbsp;</h2>



The presence of multiple toxins in the snail’s venom that target blood sugar regulation suggests that there may be even more compounds with similar properties waiting to be discovered. These could potentially be used to design better medications for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-can-counteract-the-genetic-risk-for-diabetes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diabetes</a>.



It might be surprising that a snail can outperform human chemists in designing effective drugs, but as Professor Safavi points out, the cone snails have had millions of years to perfect their biochemistry.&nbsp;



“We’ve been trying to do medicinal chemistry and drug development for a few hundred years, sometimes badly,” she said. “Cone snails have had a lot of time to do it really well.”



Or, as Yeung aptly concludes, “cone snails are just really good chemists.”



The study was published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50470-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Deadly snail venom could be key to improving diabetes medicine

Scientists have discovered promising clues for treating diabetes and hormone...

In the bustling world of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-biodiversity-crisis-is-actually-worse-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>, ants have long been the missing piece in a puzzle we've been assembling for nearly 150 years. 



While it's a well-established fact that species distribution around the globe is influenced by a blend of evolutionary mechanisms and environmental factors, our understanding has been based exclusively on vertebrates and plants - until now.



These "little things that run the world" have finally taken center stage, revealing new insights into the biogeographic realms that shape life on Earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biogeographic-realms-in-biodiversity">Biogeographic realms in biodiversity</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-temperature-extremes-change-the-distribution-of-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">distribution of species</a> around the globe is not a random process but an outcome of evolutionary mechanisms and environmental limitations, both past and present. 



Since the mid-19th century, biologists have identified key regions, known as biogeographic realms, that depict these large ensembles of species around the world. 



These realms represent one of the most fundamental descriptions of biodiversity on Earth and are commonly used across various biological fields.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-filling-the-insect-knowledge-gap">Filling the insect knowledge gap</h2>



However, for nearly 150 years, the characterization of these biogeographic units has been based solely on vertebrates (e.g., birds, mammals) and plant groups. 



These groups represent only a small fraction of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sounding-the-alarm-half-of-earths-species-are-experiencing-rapid-population-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's species</a>, leaving hyperdiverse organisms like insects largely out of the picture. 



This gap in knowledge has posed a significant challenge for conservation planning and understanding biodiversity distribution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-the-biodiversity-of-ants">Mapping the biodiversity of ants</h2>



Recently, ecologists from <a href="https://www.hku.hk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The University of Hong Kong</a> (HKU) and their collaborators in Japan took a major step to fill this gap by mapping the global biogeographic regions for ants. 



This work, published in Nature Communications, provides the first comprehensive effort to include insects in such studies and offers new approaches to understanding their distribution. The study marks a significant milestone in global conservation efforts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ants-the-little-giants-of-biodiversity">Ants: The little giants of biodiversity</h2>



Insects make up over 55% of all described species, yet the knowledge gap regarding their distribution has hindered scientists' ability to map their biogeographic regions. 



"A first step to protect species, and thus biodiversity, is to understand where those are located," noted Professor Benoit Guénard, senior author of the study and head of the Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography Laboratory at HKU’s School of Biological Sciences (SBS).



To tackle this challenge, Professor Guénard has led an international team for more than a decade to assemble distribution data for nearly 16,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/newly-discovered-leptanilla-ant-named-after-harry-potter-villain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ant species</a>.



Ants are among the most widespread and ecologically dominant insects, with a combined mass that exceeds that of all wild birds and mammals, as shown in a previous study by Professor Guénard's team.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-global-biogeographic-map-of-ants">First global biogeographic map of ants</h2>



For an insect group, ants are relatively well-documented. The team's extensive work, compiling data from over 300 years of ant research, enabled them to use advanced techniques, including bioinformatics and machine learning, to predict and analyze their distribution.



This effort culminated in the creation of the first-ever biogeographic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/treasure-map-will-help-experts-find-new-ant-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">map of ants</a>. The map reveals the division of ants' global territory into nine large biogeographic realms.



"Interestingly, when I was comparing this map with those for vertebrates and plants, I saw so many similarities," said study first author Runxi Wang, a PhD candidate in HKU’s School of Biological Sciences. "Ants and plants share several regions that are not found in vertebrates."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-relationship-of-ants-and-plants">Ecological relationship of ants and plants </h2>



Further analysis confirmed these observations - the biogeographic regions are strikingly similar across different taxa, but ants and plants share a closer resemblance than any vertebrate groups.



"It's not very surprising because we know that ants and plants have very close ecological and evolutionary relationships," explained Professor Guénard.



"For instance, ants help tens of thousands of plants to disperse their seeds and protect many more from herbivores. They have co-evolved for millions of years, but this is one of the first pieces of evidence showing such significant biogeographic consequences."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ants-and-future-biodiversity-research">Ants and future biodiversity research </h2>



The results of the study suggest that many similarities between animals and plants might not be captured by looking only at vertebrates.



"Ants alone cannot represent the hyperdiversity of all insects, but their similarities to plants are probably not an exception," said Wang. "We certainly need greater efforts to include more insect groups in the future to depict the global picture of biodiversity."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49918-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Ants fill a 150-year gap in biodiversity research

In the bustling world of biodiversity, ants have long been...

When walking your dog during the scorching summer heat, you should think twice about allowing them to drink from public water sources. That is the recent warning issued by veterinarians.



it may be tempting to let your furry friend drink from various water sources encountered along the way, such as puddles, fountains, or even streams.



However, it's important to understand that these shared public water sources can pose significant dangers to your dog’s health.



Contaminated water can harbor harmful bacteria, parasites, or chemicals that may lead to gastrointestinal issues or more severe illnesses.



Lori Teller, a clinical professor at the <a href="https://vetmed.tamu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Texas A&amp;M</a> School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has identified the main risks dogs are exposed to when consuming water outside their homes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-keeping-dogs-hydrated">Importance of keeping dogs hydrated</h2>



Keeping your dog well-hydrated is really important for their overall health and happiness. Just as it is with humans, water is essential for most of your dog's body functions, like digestion and temperature control. A well-hydrated pup is likely to have more energy, a healthy appetite, and better resistance to illness.



On average, your dog needs about one ounce of water for every pound they weigh each day. This can change based on how active they are, what they eat, and the weather. 



When you are out and about in hot weather, it's very important that you keep a close eye on your furry friend in order to spot signs of dehydration. These include dry gums, lethargy, sunken eyes, and less elastic skin, to help keep your pet healthy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quality-of-public-water-sources">Quality of public water sources</h2>



Teller recommends <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-humans-close/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dog owners</a> to take into consideration the quality of the public <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forever-chemicals-are-an-underestimated-source-of-water-contamination/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water</a> sources before letting their pets drink from them, since a well-meaning gesture by a neighbor or local business owner may in fact contain various contaminants. 



“This is of particular concern if the bowl is not cleaned regularly or if the water is left standing for extended periods of time,” said Teller.



“Stagnant water can retain environmental contaminants, such as plant material, parasites, toxins, mold, and more. Dogs that have stepped in fecal matter and then played in the bowl could leave parasites and bacteria in the water.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-for-dogs-drinking-public-water">Health risks for dogs drinking public water </h2>



According to her, there are many possible diseases which can be transmitted from public water bowls, including:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Kennel cough: a respiratory infection leading to a gag-like cough, appetite loss, and breathing difficulties; </li>



<li>Canine papilloma: a virus spread through saliva causing warts in and around the mouth; </li>



<li>Salmonella: an infection causing vomiting, fever, and bloody diarrhea; </li>



<li>Giardia: a parasite that leads to vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss; </li>



<li><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-dangerous-e-coli-strains-come-from-cattle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">E. coli</a>: a bacterium causing lack of appetite, diarrhea, and dehydration; and  </li>



<li>Leptospirosis: a bacterial infection frequently spread through rodent urine, leading to kidney or liver disease.</li>
</ul>



Awareness of these risks is essential for protecting dogs, particularly if owners consider their pets’ water needs before leaving the house.



“Ideally, owners would carry a collapsible, portable bowl and some fresh water with them to give to their dog,” Teller advised. 



“Alternatively, they could stop at a restaurant or convenience store and request a cup of water for their dog.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-your-best-judgement">Use your best judgement</h2>



Nonetheless, although potential risks will always be present in public water sources, there are certain situations when these risks are worth taking.&nbsp;



“If your dog is hot and thirsty and at risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-dehydration-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dehydration</a>, then that may take precedence over avoiding the water in the bowl,” Teller said.



Excessive panting can be a sign of dehydration, especially if it continues after the dog has cooled down. In addition, your dog's nose and gums may become dry and sticky due to dehydration.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multiple-pets-sharing-food-bowl">Multiple pets sharing food bowl</h2>



Besides taking into consideration the safety concerns linked to publicly shared water bowls, Teller recommends owners to also consider the risks associated with multiple pets sharing the same food bowl in the same home.&nbsp;



“Often, dogs may need different portions of food, and in many cases, one dog may need a diet change due to a medical condition; that can be much more challenging to manage if the dogs share a bowl,” Teller said. “Or, one dog may prevent another from eating out of the bowl.”



However, as she makes clear, using the same water bowl in a household of multiple pets does not bring similar problems as food bowl sharing.&nbsp;



“In most cases, dogs living in the same house will be exposed to similar infectious agents, so sharing a water bowl will not have a tremendous impact on that,” she said. “It is still important that water bowls (and food bowls) be washed with soap and hot water on a regular basis.”



Determining whether a public water bowl is safe for your thirsty dog should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Teller emphasizes that if the water resembles pond water, it's best to prevent your dog from drinking it.&nbsp;



When uncertain, it's always wiser to err on the side of caution, as risking your beloved pet's health isn't worth the gamble.



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Warning: Letting dogs drink from public water sources is dangerous

When walking your dog during the scorching summer heat, you...

Life on Earth was once ruled by the small, single-celled organisms swimming in the vast oceans. For an epoch, these tiny powerhouses were the kings and queens of the world, dominating for well over a billion years. Then came the period known as "Snowball Earth" that changed everything.



The reign of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cyanobacteria-may-shed-new-light-on-the-history-of-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">single-celled organisms</a> was seemingly endless, until Snowball Earth turned all known models of life upside down, roughly 700 million years ago.



This icy era was no ordinary winter. The entire globe was ensnared in such <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-was-a-giant-snowball-700-million-years-ago-and-now-scientists-know-why/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme glaciation conditions</a> that even the equator may have been blanketed in ice. 



However, it was during this frigid epoch that a marvel of evolution occurred -- the birth of multicellular organisms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multicellular-life-and-the-oxygen-paradox">Multicellular life and the oxygen paradox</h2>



One of the biggest enigmas in biology is the sudden emergence and dominance of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossils-capture-a-turning-point-in-the-evolution-of-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multicellular life</a>. Imagine a world where single-celled eukaryotes (organisms with intricate cells containing a nucleus) were the unrivaled rulers. 



Then, in the wink of a geological eye, multicellular life blossomed amid the frosty reign of Snowball Earth. The prevailing theory suggests that oxygen levels had to reach a critical point before single cells could band together, forming multicellular colonies. 



However, this theory falls short of explaining why the ancestors of today's animals, plants, and fungi all popped up simultaneously during this icy epoch.



The answer to this billion-year-old riddle has led researchers to delve deeper into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/snowball-earth-may-not-have-been-frozen-solid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unique conditions</a> of Snowball Earth. 



One such scientist is William Crockett, a former Undergraduate Complexity Researcher at <a href="https://www.santafe.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Santa Fe Institute</a>, who put forward a compelling new model.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snowball-earth-and-the-viscosity-factor">Snowball Earth and the viscosity factor</h2>



Crockett's study sheds light on the Snowball Earth mystery. The research team suggests that the physical conditions during this icy period, such as the increased viscosity of the oceans and scarcity of resources, might have led to the rise of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cannibalism-cellular-level-common-across-various-life-forms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multicellular life</a>.



During this glaciated period, oceans were choked with ice, inhibiting sunlight, and hindering photosynthesis. These conditions led to a significant reduction in nutrients, creating a struggle for survival. 



According to the study, larger organisms, capable of filtering more water and seizing scarce resources, would have had a significant edge over their smaller, single-celled counterparts.



Crockett observes, "It seems almost counterintuitive that these really harsh conditions, this frozen planet, could actually select for larger, more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rewrite-the-textbooks-life-on-earth-did-not-arise-due-to-increased-oxygen-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex organisms</a>, rather than causing species to go extinct or reduce in size."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-survival-of-the-largest-early-animals-thrive">Survival of the largest: Early animals thrive</h2>



By developing scaling theories, the researchers modeled how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organisms-called-protosterol-biota-lived-1-6-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">different organisms</a> would have fared during these harsh conditions. 



The findings indicated that early ancestors of animals, similar to modern-day swimming algae that consume prey instead of relying on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>, would have prospered in this freezing environment. 



In stark contrast, single-celled organisms that depend on diffusion for movement and feeding, such as bacteria, may have shrunk in size. 



These findings highlight the selective pressure of environmental conditions during Snowball Earth, favoring larger, more complex organisms, and paving the way for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-exist-today-ediacaran-period-earth-weak-magnetic-field/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multicellular life’s emergence</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-glaciers-to-greatness">From glaciers to greatness</h2>



The melting of Snowball Earth’s icy grip marked a new era for the newly evolved multicellular organisms. Liberated from the icy world's constraints, they diversified, leading to the wide variety of life we see today.



"The world is different after Snowball Earth because there's a new form of life on the planet," explains SFI Professor Christopher Kempes, the senior author of the study. 



"Our research suggests that these pivotal moments in Earth's history are not random occurrences, but rather predictable outcomes of planetary evolution." 



By understanding these patterns, scientists can gain insight into the fundamental processes that shape life's journey from simple beginnings to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-world-unraveling-mysteries-life-origin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex ecosystems</a> and even intelligent civilizations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snowball-earth-scavenger-hunt">Snowball Earth scavenger hunt</h2>



The study provides a new framework for interpreting Earth's past, offering hypotheses for ancestor organism features to hunt for in the fossil record. 



The team also believes their work could aid in the search for extraterrestrial life, helping identify conditions that might foster complex organisms' emergence <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbial-life-may-exist-on-one-of-jupiters-moons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on other planets</a>.



The period of Snowball Earth was undoubtedly a time of extreme hardship, but it also served as a catalyst for life's greatest innovation: the transition from single cells to complex, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weak-magnetic-field-may-have-set-the-stage-for-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multicellular organisms</a>.



In unearthing the secrets of this ancient era, we better appreciate the resilience and adaptability of life on Earth, gaining insight into the transformative forces that have sculpted our planet’s rich tapestry of biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-snowball-earth-shaped-multicellular-life">How Snowball Earth shaped multicellular life</h2>



In summary, this remarkable research opens a new window into understanding the complex journey from single-celled organisms to the diverse, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ecosystem-behavior-earth-first-sea-creatures-stirring-water-drove-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multicellular life</a> that fills our world today. 



It is a story of survival, adaptation, and ultimately, evolution, shaped by the most inhospitable conditions our planet has ever experienced during a period of time known as Snowball Earth. 



In the face of adversity, life finds a way to thrive and diversify, which indeed is the greatest wonder of evolution.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.2767" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



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Past 'Snowball Earth' conditions drove evolution of complex multicellular life

Life on Earth was once ruled by the small, single-celled...

Tree mortality in the Amazon rainforest is a critical issue with significant ecological, climatic, and economic implications. The Amazon, often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," plays a vital role in sequestering carbon dioxide, thereby regulating global climate. However, various factors are contributing to an alarming rate of tree mortality in this vast rainforest.



Amazon tree mortality is driven by increasing droughts, extreme weather events, and deforestation. The dying trees, which absorb carbon through photosynthesis when they are living, release carbon into the atmosphere during their decay. Rising tree mortality may turn the rainforest from a carbon sink to a carbon source.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fragile-carbon-and-biodiversity-reserves-nbsp">Fragile carbon and biodiversity reserves&nbsp;</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-rainforest-is-approaching-widespread-collapse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon rainforest</a> is home to an enormous variety of plants and animals, and plays a crucial role in managing the effects of climate change by storing massive amounts of carbon, while helping regulate temperatures and rainfall regionally as well as globally.



By employing models which predict <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-identify-the-cause-of-tree-mortality-in-the-amazon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree mortality</a> and the subsequent changes in carbon balance, a new study published in the journal Earth's Future has found that some regions of the Amazon rainforest might pass a tipping point by the middle of this century.



“The Amazon rainforest biome is a crucial concern due to its vast yet fragile carbon and biodiversity reserves. Intact Amazon forests hold more than 20% of terrestrial species, house 100 billion tons of carbon, absorb atmospheric CO2, and regulate regional and continental climates by recycling moisture,” the authors wrote.&nbsp;



“Despite these critical functions, the stability and spatial continuity of the forest are threatened by climate extreme events such as droughts and storms, widespread <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coordinated-efforts-needed-to-slow-deforestation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deforestation</a> in the South, East, and South-West regions, as well as forest degradation in adjacent areas.”



According to the researchers, these factors increase the risk of reaching a tipping point, where intact forests may transition to carbon sources and even collapse within a few decades.&nbsp;



“As a result, it is crucial to reduce uncertainties and better understand the likelihood of such a tipping point, and take mitigative actions to preserve the health and resilience of the Amazon rainforest.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simulating-tree-mortality-in-the-amazon">Simulating tree mortality in the Amazon</h2>



The experts used ORCHIDEE-CAN-NHA, a groundbreaking land surface model, to simulate Amazon tree death and regrowth in the face of droughts. This model was calibrated and assessed using historical data from previous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-fires-diminish-forests-carbon-storage-ability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought</a> events.



The scientists combined the use of this land surface model with four climate scenarios to project future changes in carbon movement and tree loss until the end of the century.&nbsp;



Although the climate models provided different specific outcomes - such as variations in wetting and drying - they all identified a warming trend over the next decades, particularly throughout the northeastern Amazon rainforest.



“These climate models display diverse patterns of climate change across the Amazon region. The simulation conducted with the HadGEM climate model reveals the most significant drying trend, suggesting that the Guiana Shield and East-central Amazon are approaching a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-still-prevent-critical-climate-tipping-points/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tipping point</a>,” noted the researchers.



“These two regions are projected to transition from carbon sinks to carbon sources by the mid-21st century, with the Brazilian Shield following suit around 2060. This transition is attributed to heightened drought-induced carbon loss in the future.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pinpointing-hotspots-of-amazon-tree-mortality-nbsp">Pinpointing hotspots of Amazon tree mortality&nbsp;</h2>



Better understanding which areas of the Amazon rainforest are most at risk for drying out and dying will help inform scientists about the carbon balance in the region and provide invaluable information about how to protect this ecosystem from the effects of a rapidly changing climate.



“This study makes an important step forward by providing a spatial image of the likelihood of drought risks and predicting the evolution of future Amazon rainforest net carbon balance, by resorting to a well-calibrated model that incorporates hydraulic failure induced tree mortality, and subsequent recovery from demographic processes, including recruitment and growth of survivor trees,” wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



“The predicted possible vulnerability state of the Amazon rainforest required further investigation and concerns on mitigation policies.”



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Tree mortality is pushing the Amazon to a tipping point

Tree mortality in the Amazon rainforest is a critical issue...

For those of us who spend time gazing at the spectacular synchrony of birds flying together, one can't help but feel a surge of wonder. What drives these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-behavior-productivity-being-directly-impacted-by-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complex patterns</a> of bird migration? 



Is it just about the weather, food, or mates, or is there more to it? Tapping into this captivating mystery, our science community from the <a href="https://umd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a> brings us a fascinating insight into the social ties within the world of songbirds during their migration journeys.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-influencing-bird-migration">Factors influencing bird migration</h2>



The research was led by Joely DeSimone, a postdoctoral research scientist with the Animal Migration Research Group at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's (<a href="https://www.umces.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UMCES</a>) Appalachian Laboratory, and Emily Cohen, an equally esteemed associate professor at UMCES. 



Working with four North American bird observatories, these researchers have new information that will make you rethink what you know about the migratory habits of our avian friends.



According to the study, it's more than just environmental factors that influence bird migrations. The social relationships among songbird species seem to play a key role here. Yes, our feathered friends are prone to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/songbirds-benefit-from-social-networks-during-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">socializing</a> on the move!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenging-previous-assumptions">Challenging previous assumptions</h2>



It has always been a challenge to study interactions among migrating animals. However, this research has shown us that these relationships shape the very ecology of animal migration. 



"We found evidence of meaningful social relationships among migrating songbirds that have generally been thought to undertake solitary, independent journeys," DeSimone revealed. 



This indicates that social elements, like sharing information about habitat and predators or competing for food, could potentially influence their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-birds-are-struggling-to-adapt-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migratory success</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-positive-interactions-among-species">Positive interactions among species</h2>



But here's the clincher: these species relationships turned out to be mostly positive. So, instead of avoiding each other, these birds might be benefiting from these interactions during their migration. 



Data from bird banding stations, which capture thousands of birds pausing to rest between their migratory flights, contributed significantly to this research. 



Through social network analysis applied to over half a million banding records of 50 bird species collected over two decades, the researchers were able to unearth these interspecies relationships.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionizing-bird-migration-studies">Revolutionizing bird migration studies</h2>



"We found support for communities on the move," Cohen shared. This discovery could revolutionize how we study and conserve animal migrations. 



As we grapple with the impacts of human activity and climate change on animal migrations, such insights become pertinent. DeSimone and Cohen suggest that species-specific processes could ripple through entire migrating communities in ways yet to be explored.



"Learning that migrating birds are characterized by persistent, non-random assemblages of interacting species opens the door to myriad questions at the intersection between networks, migration, and the environment," said Steve Dudgeon, a program director at NSF.



This wonderful discovery provokes further questions. Do successful migrations depend on these networks? Are some relationships more crucial to migration than others? Could key links in these networks be more susceptible to environmental changes during the route?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-field-of-study">New field of study</h2>



By stirring our curiosity about these complex interactions among migrating animals, this research could be paving the way for a new field of study - the community ecology of migration.



It tosses an intriguing challenge to the scientific community to explore the nature and consequences of these species interactions. And who knows, it might just hold the key to effective conservation strategies in the future.



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



As the implications of these findings sink in, we must ponder their relevance within the broader context of conservation efforts. 



Understanding that social dynamics among <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-migratory-birds-navigate-with-such-accuracy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migrating species</a> play a pivotal role not only enhances our knowledge but also informs management strategies. 



Conservationists may need to implement collaborative measures that consider how birds interact during migration. By preserving critical habitats along migratory routes, we can support these complex networks, ensuring that our feathered friends can thrive amid changing environmental conditions.



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



Moving forward, the researchers are keen to delve deeper into the nuances of avian relationships during migration. Studies could explore more specifically how social structures vary across different species and environments.



Are particular social linkages more resilient in the face of climate change? Additionally, integrating advances in technology, such as tracking devices and genetic studies, could shed light on the dynamics of these avian communities in unprecedented ways. 



This exploration may not only enhance our understanding of migration but also provide insights necessary for preserving the delicate balance of ecosystems as we encounter an increasingly unpredictable world.



So, the next time you spot a flock of birds painting patterns in the sky, remember, there's more than meets the eye. It's not just nature's call they're answering; it's also about their social networking on the move!



This research was based on long-term migratory information from banding stations like Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, Michigan State Bird Observatory, Long Point Bird Observatory, and Powdermill Avian Research Center.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2322063121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Bird migration is influenced by social relationships

For those of us who spend time gazing at the...

<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

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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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