Portrait,Of,A,Wild,Octopus,Under,Water.

The octopus is a creature that continues to surprise scientists and inspire engineers. With eight arms that move in ways no human limb can, it demonstrates flexibility and control that seem almost otherworldly. 



Each arm bends, twists, elongates, and shortens with unmatched precision, enabling these animals to hunt, hide, and explore with ease. 



Researchers hope that unlocking the secrets of these movements may guide the design of flexible robotic arms capable of lifesaving missions.



Imagine a robotic arm slipping through rubble after a building collapse, delivering food or medicine to someone trapped below. 



This vision has motivated scientists to study octopus arms in detail - both in the laboratory and in their natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-dumbo-octopus-species-carnarvon-flapjack-discovered-in-very-deep-ocean-waters/">environment</a>.



Until recently, most studies were limited to tanks, where behaviors may not reflect the complexity of life in the wild. That gap is now being addressed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-octopus-intelligence">Understanding octopus intelligence</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopuses-could-dominate-earth-if-humans-vanish/">Octopuses</a> are some of the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth. Unlike most animals without backbones, they can solve puzzles, open jars, and even escape from aquariums by remembering routes back to the ocean. 



Their brains are incredibly complex, with about 500 million neurons - similar to a dog. What makes them even more fascinating is that two-thirds of those neurons are in their arms. 



This means each arm can sense, move, and even make decisions on its own while still communicating with the central brain. It’s like having eight mini-brains working together with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopuses-are-tricked-by-the-rubber-hand-illusion-like-humans-suggesting-self-awareness/">one big brain</a>.



Their intelligence also shows up in how they hunt and survive. Octopuses use tools, like carrying coconut shells to hide inside when threatened, and they can change color and texture in an instant to camouflage perfectly against rocks or coral. 



They’ve been observed watching other animals and learning from them, which is rare in the animal kingdom.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flexible-octopus-arms-inspire-robotics">Flexible octopus arms inspire robotics</h2>



A new study from the <a href="https://www.mbl.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Biological Laboratory</a> in Woods Hole and Florida Atlantic University has provided the most comprehensive analysis of octopus arm movements in natural habitats. 



Researchers recorded 25 wild octopuses in six locations, ranging from the Caribbean to Spain. The footage captured thousands of arm movements across a variety of behaviors, including foraging, locomotion, and even defense.



“I’ve been trying for a long time to work out the natural behavior of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-octopus-footage-could-revolutionize-flexible-robot-design-eyeris/">cephalopods</a> in their natural habitat,” said MBL Senior Scientist Roger Hanlon, who led the project. 



“Studying and recording octopus behavior from wild octopuses in the field gave us the opportunity to analyze a larger behavioral repertoire and further understand how they use their arms to achieve such complex behaviors,” added Chelsea Bennice, research fellow at <a href="https://www.fau.eu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FAU</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-guided-by-touch-not-sight">Guided by touch, not sight</h2>



Octopuses rely heavily on touch, guided by sensory organs in their arm suckers. “The octopus is a very tactile animal - it’s more tactile than visual,” said Hanlon. 



Each of their nearly 100 suckers per arm contains chemosensory-tactile receptors, combining functions similar to the human nose, lips, and tongue.



Finding octopuses to observe was not simple. Their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-squid-power-their-amazing-camouflage-abilities/">camouflage</a> skills make them almost invisible in coral reefs or sandy seabeds. Divers often relied on clues like discarded shells and food debris near their dens.



Once located, octopuses emerged briefly from hiding, offering precious opportunities to record their natural actions.



These moments revealed unique hunting strategies, arm movements, and subtle interactions with their environment otherwise impossible to witness.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-arm-mechanics-of-octopuses">Complex arm mechanics of octopuses</h2>



The researchers identified 12 distinct arm actions across 15 behaviors, built from four fundamental deformations: shortening, elongating, bending, and torsion. They discovered a pattern of specialization within each arm. 



For instance, elongation and shortening were most common near the base, while bending occurred more at the tips. 



This functional partitioning allows octopuses to combine motions across arms for tasks like crawling, probing reef crevices, or launching sudden prey attacks.



“These are the actions that make up the whole complex of octopus <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopuses-and-squids-defy-the-slow-pace-of-evolution/">behaviors</a>,” said study co-author Kendra Buresch. 



In the wild, researchers observed octopuses using different combinations of arm actions - sometimes relying on a single arm for tasks like grabbing food, and other times coordinating multiple arms for behaviors such as crawling or launching a parachute attack.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavior-that-guides-technology">Behavior that guides technology</h2>



The findings go beyond understanding animal behavior. With nearly 7,000 observed arm deformations, the study highlights an extraordinary degree of control and flexibility. 



This knowledge may inform robotics research, where engineers seek to design soft, adaptable arms capable of both precise and exploratory tasks.



“Understanding these natural behaviors not only deepens our knowledge of octopus biology but also opens exciting new avenues in fields like neuroscience, animal behavior, and even soft robotics inspired by these remarkable creatures,” Bennice said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-in-flexibility-and-change">Lessons in flexibility and change</h2>



From the ocean floor to robotics labs, octopuses continue to inspire, offering lessons in both biology and technology. 



Their flexible arms not only influence the design of machines that could navigate disaster zones or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-deep-sea-crustacean-species-discovered-in-the-bahamas/">deep-sea environments</a>, but also remind us how problem-solving in nature often leads to solutions with real-world applications.



Beyond robotics, their adaptability symbolizes the broader principle that survival depends on innovation and change, a message equally relevant to ecosystems, human health, and future technologies.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-10674-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Octopus arms are probably the most complex and flexible structures in nature

The octopus is a creature that continues to surprise scientists and inspire engineers. With eight arms that move in ways no human limb can, it demonstrates flexibility and control that seem almost otherworldly. Each arm bends, twists, elongates, and shortens with unmatched precision, enabling these animals to hunt, hide, and explore with ease. Researchers hope that unlocking the secrets of these movements may guide the design of flexible robotic arms capable of lifesaving missions. Imagine a robotic arm slipping through rubble after a building collapse, delivering food...

Cats,Scratch,Furniture,,Scratch,At,The,Corner,Of,The,Couch

Are your prized pieces of furniture getting an unwanted feline manicure? The headache of cats treating our plush <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wood-surfaces-can-naturally-reduce-virus-transmission/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">couches</a> and ornate rugs as their personal claw-sharpening and scratching stations is a shared experience among cat owners worldwide.



But what if you could redirect your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/would-you-trust-a-robot-to-look-after-your-cat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kitty's</a> urge to scratch from your furniture to more suitable outlets?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cats-scratching-the-surface">Cats scratching the surface</h2>



Dr. Yasemin Salgirli Demirbas, a veterinary researcher from <a href="https://www.ankara.edu.tr/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ankara University</a>, along with a team of international experts, decided to take a closer look our feline friends' scratching habits.



Their findings shed light on a question plaguing cat owners for ages: why do cats scratch furniture and how can we redirect this behavior?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-behind-cats-scratching-behavior">Factors behind cats scratching behavior</h2>



Through a comprehensive survey involving more than 1200 cat owners in France, the research team uncovered some surprising factors that influence your feline's scratching behavior. 



Demirbas and her team discovered a clear link between your cat's environment, personality traits, and increased scratching behavior.



“Here we show that certain factors – such as the presence of children at home, personality traits of cats, and their activity levels – significantly impact the extent of scratching behavior,” said Demi̇rbas.



“Our findings can help caregivers manage and redirect scratching to appropriate materials, which could help foster a more harmonious living environment for both cats and their caregivers.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-leads-to-unwanted-cat-scratching">Stress leads to unwanted cat scratching</h2>



The authors found that stress serves as a key driver of unwanted scratching in cats. When cats engage in prolonged <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-have-a-better-quality-of-life-if-you-play-with-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">play sessions</a>, they may experience elevated stress levels due to continuous stimulation and excitement. 



This heightened stress can manifest in excessive scratching behavior. It turns out playfulness, while generally beneficial, can have a flip side, leading to a flurry of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-mentally-track-their-owners-whereabouts-based-on-sound/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feline</a> scratches on your beloved furnishings. 



“We see a clear link between certain environmental and behavioral factors and increased scratching behavior in cats,” Salgirli Demirbas explained. 



“Specifically, the presence of children in the home as well as high levels of play and nocturnal activity significantly contribute to increased scratching. Cats described as aggressive or disruptive also exhibited higher levels of scratching.”



Understanding this can help cat owners better manage their pets' playtime and stress levels to protect their furniture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-placing-scratch-posts-and-pheromones">Placing scratch posts and pheromones</h2>



It's not all doom and gloom, though. The researchers suggest some practical changes that can significantly alter where and why your cat scratches.



Creating an engaging and stimulating environment is crucial for feline well-being and can play a significant role in managing scratching behavior.



For starters, place scratch posts in areas frequently visited by your cat. Position them near your cat's favorite lounging spot. 



Make sure the scratch posts are sturdy and tall enough for your cat to fully stretch out. This will make the posts more appealing to your cat.



Using specific feline pheromones can create a calming environment. These pheromones can deter your furry friend from clawing at your couch. 



Additionally, regularly trimming your cat's nails can help. Providing a variety of textures for scratching can further reduce unwanted scratching behaviors.



“Understanding the underlying emotional motivations of scratching behavior, such as frustration, which seem to be linked to personality traits and environmental factors, allows caregivers to address these issues directly,” said Demirbas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hunting-games">Hunting games</h2>



The key to a happier, scratch-free household lies in mimicking successful hunting scenarios through several short play sessions. 



These moments not only keep your cat's interest piqued but also help curb stress. Plus, they serve to enhance the bond between you and your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-mentally-track-their-owners-whereabouts-based-on-sound/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feline</a> buddy.



Additionally, redirecting your cat's attention immediately when they scratch inappropriately can teach them the boundaries of acceptable behavior. 



Training not only helps in managing scratching habits but also strengthens the bond between you and your cat, promoting a harmonious living environment.



Though the study relied on owner-reported data, it still provides valuable insights. It helps in understanding feline scratching behavior better. This knowledge paves the way for more effective management strategies in the future.



So, here's to a future of peaceful cohabitation, with happier cats and scratch-free sofas.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1403068/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Veterinary Science</a>.



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Scientists learn how to stop cats from scratching the furniture

Are your prized pieces of furniture getting an unwanted feline...

Untitled design - 1

Do you ever wonder how your pet understands what you're going through? An intriguing study conducted in Budapest has given us some answers about how animals like dogs and pigs respond to human sounds.



This research, led by Fanni Lehoczki and Paula Pérez Fraga from the Neuroethology of Communication Lab at <a href="https://ethology.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ELTE Department of Ethology</a>, reveals how animals react to our emotional vocalizations, offering fascinating insights into the depth of interspecies empathy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-empathy-of-dogs-and-pigs-towards-humans">Empathy of dogs and pigs towards humans</h2>



Researchers carried out this study on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dog-day-celebrating-all-the-ways-that-dogs-make-life-better/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">companion dogs</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-pig-day-honoring-the-role-of-an-underappreciated-animal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">miniature pigs</a>, two popular pets found in homes around the world. 



They focused on how these animals would respond to different types of human vocalizations, specifically human humming and crying.



Now, you might wonder, why these two sounds? Well, our tears, more often than not, signify distress and sadness. 



On the other hand, humming doesn't usually signal any particular emotion but is relatively unusual.



According to the research, dogs and pigs were able to distinguish between these two human sounds. However, their reactions were noticeably different.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-reflect-human-feelings">Dogs reflect human feelings</h2>



If you've ever felt like your dog can sense your sadness, you just might be right. The study found that dogs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-imitate-human-actions-from-2d-videos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mirrored their emotional state</a> to the one they perceived in the human vocalization they heard. 



For instance, upon hearing crying, our canine friends demonstrated behaviors indicative of a high-arousal and negative state, reinforcing the idea that pets can pick up on our feelings.



This phenomenon, known as 'emotional contagion', affirms the deep emotional bond between humans and dogs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pigs-react-to-unusual-human-sounds">Pigs react to unusual human sounds</h2>



On the other side of the coin, our piggy pals reacted more to the unusual sound of humming. Pigs, unlike dogs, exhibited behaviors showing stress in response to the humming sound.



It seems the unfamiliar noise caught the pigs' attention more, suggesting they might find such uncommon sounds stressful or confusing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-domestication-and-emotional-contagion">Domestication and emotional contagion</h2>



These findings bowled over researchers by suggesting domestication processes might influence animals' responses to human emotions -- with dogs, for instance, being bred for their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-explores-the-mystery-of-why-dogs-wag-their-tails/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dependency on humans</a>. 



This, in turn, might have led to dogs being more sensitive to our emotional states.



"While we cannot exclude that pigs also experienced emotional contagion when listening to human crying, one explanation for their reaction might be that humming is highly unusual, and surprising sounds stress out pigs more than human sadness," Paula Pérez Fraga stresses.



The study hints that understanding certain human sounds may be more challenging for some domestic animals. However, additional research involving physiological measurements is required to confirm these findings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-emotions">Evolution of emotions</h2>



The study delves deeper into the evolutionary pathways that have led to the emotional sensitivity observed in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-foxes-can-be-domesticated-thanks-to-breeding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">domesticated animals</a>.



Historically, the process of domestication in dogs and pigs has selected for traits beneficial to humans, including the capacity to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-learn-better-with-praise-and-petting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">connect emotionally</a>. 



Dogs, being one of the first domesticated animals, have had a long socio-evolutionary history of coexisting with humans.



This prolonged association could have naturally selected for emotional attunement in dogs, enabling them to respond empathetically to human cues. 



Thus, their ability to mirror human emotions may be an evolved trait fostering better human-animal relationships.



Pigs, on the other hand, have had a relatively shorter domestication timeline, primarily driven by agricultural purposes rather than companionship. 



This difference in domestication trajectories might explain the varied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-provide-insight-into-human-cognition-and-aging/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responses</a> to human emotional vocalizations observed in the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-interaction-between-humans-dogs-and-pigs">Implications for interaction between humans, dogs and pigs</h2>



The insights gleaned from this research hold substantial implications for how we interact with our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-and-their-humans-often-share-similar-personalities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pets</a> and other domesticated animals. 



Understanding that animals like dogs and pigs can perceive and react to our emotional states invites a more empathetic approach to their care and well-being. 



For dog owners, recognizing that their pets might absorb and reflect their emotional turmoil suggests the need to maintain a positive environment to ensure mutual emotional health. 



For pig owners, especially those engaging in farming or therapy animal roles, acknowledging their propensity to stress from unusual sounds can enhance animal welfare practices. 



Overall, this study underscores the importance of emotional intelligence in fostering healthy human-animal bonds, potentially paving the way for more nuanced and supportive approaches to pet care and domestication.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003347224001465?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Animal Behaviour</a>.



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Human emotions evoke different responses in dogs and pigs

Do you ever wonder how your pet understands what you're...

New research has revealed how the unique internal anatomy of the helmeted hornbill’s casque helps it withstand damage during aerial jousting battles. This understanding may aid in conserving this critically endangered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/observing-birds-in-nature-can-help-protect-them-in-captivity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> and developing impact-resistant materials.



“When I started in Hong Kong, I visited <a href="https://www.cityu.edu.hk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">City University of Hong Kong</a> (CityU)’s conservation forensics group to chat about their research and they introduced me to this amazing bird, to its bizarre cranial anatomy, and to the threats posed to the species by the illegal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-sunscreens-lose-effectiveness-and-become-harmful/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife trade</a>,” said Mason Dean, an associate professor of comparative anatomy at CityU.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-unique-headgear-of-the-helmeted-hornbill">The unique headgear of the helmeted hornbill</h2>



The helmeted hornbill is targeted in the illegal wildlife trade for its distinctive casque. While casques are common among hornbills, their function varies by species. In the helmeted hornbill, the casque has a thick keratin layer and a dense network of bone.&nbsp;



“As I learned more about this species, I discovered a cross-section of a dried skull in a museum, revealing a shocking trainwreck of trabeculae in the casque,” Dean said. “When I heard that individuals are known to ram their casques together in mid-air displays, I just had to know more about the functional morphology.”



Trabeculae are inter-connected struts inside bones that provide strength and resistance to buckling. “Understanding hornbill anatomy and how it allows for this jousting behavior can therefore give us clues about this elusive animal’s ecology and fundamental aspects of its life history and health,” Dean explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-skull-support-during-high-impact-collisions-nbsp">Skull support during high-impact collisions&nbsp;</h2>



The study revealed that the casque’s dense trabeculae support the structure during high-impact collisions. The team used microCT to analyze the casque’s internal structure.&nbsp;



“We have been focused on understanding the hierarchical architectures of the skull, uniting biology, materials science, and engineering techniques,” Dean said.



“We’ve been able to get a detailed and quantitative picture of how the casque is constructed, how the bone interacts with the keratin, and the intricate latticework of bone trabeculae supporting the skull’s impact surface.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-anatomy-of-the-helmeted-hornbill">Surprising anatomy of the helmeted hornbill</h2>



The team found that the hornbill’s trabeculae were as thick as those in an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-elephant-day-understanding-celebrating-and-protecting-earths-gentle-giants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elephant</a>’s femur, despite the hornbill being much smaller. 



“I’ve used microCT to look at a big diversity of animal skeletons, but I have never seen bony trabeculae like the ones we’ve found in the hornbill,” Dean added.



The findings also show that the casque’s trabeculae channel back to the braincase, providing additional reinforcement.&nbsp;



“That massive stand of trabeculae then channels back to the braincase, like a bundle of banyan tree prop roots, converging on a bony platform that’s far more reinforced than in other hornbills and relatives we’ve looked at.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-increased-awareness-nbsp">Need for increased awareness&nbsp;</h2>



Illegal wildlife trade has driven the helmeted hornbill to become critically endangered.&nbsp;



“The helmeted hornbill is one of the largest hornbill species in Asia, with the keratin fronting its casque historically a target for the art and antique market for carving into ornamental wildlife products,” Dean explained. “A large number of our skull specimens still contained the bullets that had likely killed the animal.”



“Since the species is elusive and hard to observe in the wild, there is a great need to improve knowledge of its biology, to preserve its habitat, protect dwindling wild populations, and to develop better tools to ID wildlife products.”&nbsp;



“We hope projects like ours contribute to an understanding of species’ natural history and raise public awareness of the challenges facing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-biodiversity-crisis-is-actually-worse-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> loss, while also ideally showing scientists that steps toward conservation need not solely come from conservation biologists!,” he concluded.



This study will be presented at the <a href="https://www.rsb.org.uk/events?event=sebannualconferenceprague2024#:~:text=The%20Society%20for%20Experimental%20Biology's,from%202-5%20July%202024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference in Prague</a> on July 2-5, 2024.



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The helmeted hornbill can withstand high-impact collisions

New research has revealed how the unique internal anatomy of...

A team of international researchers has recently identified the unique nanostructures responsible for the electric blue spots on the bluespotted ribbontail <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-rays-were-more-diverse-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ray</a> (Taeniura lymma), which could inspire chemical-free color production. 



Additionally, they are also investigating the blue coloration of the blue shark (Prionace glauca).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mysterious-colors-of-the-ribbontail-ray">Mysterious colors of the ribbontail ray</h2>



Skin <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-animals-got-their-complex-color-patterns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coloration</a> is crucial for communication in organisms, offering visual cues for warning, attraction, or camouflage. While the bluespotted ribbontail ray is known for its vivid blue spots, the biological processes behind these spots were previously unknown.



“Understanding animal structural color is not just about optical physics but also the materials involved, how they’re finely organized in the tissue, and how the color looks in the animal’s environment,” said senior author Mason Dean, an associate professor of comparative anatomy at the <a href="https://www.cityu.edu.hk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">City University of Hong Kong</a> (CityU).



“To draw all those pieces together, we assembled a great team of disciplines from multiple countries, ending up with a surprising and fun solution to the stingray color puzzle.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extremely-rare-blue-coloration-nbsp">Extremely rare blue coloration&nbsp;</h2>



Dean noted that if you see blue in nature, you can almost be sure that it’s made by tissue nanostructures, not pigment. These structural colors are created by nanoscale structures that manipulate light.&nbsp;



“Blue colors are especially interesting because blue pigments are extremely rare, and nature often uses nanoscale structures to make blue,” said Viktoriia Kamska, a postdoc studying natural coloration mechanisms at CityU.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fine-scale-architecture-of-the-skin-nbsp">Fine-scale architecture of the skin&nbsp;</h2>



The scientists utilized various techniques to analyze skin architecture under natural conditions. “To understand the fine-scale architecture of the skin, we used microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM),” Dean said.&nbsp;



The analyses revealed that the blue color arises from unique skin cells with a stable 3D arrangement of nanoscale spheres containing reflecting nanocrystals.&nbsp;



“Because the size of the nanostructures and their spacing are a useful multiple of the wavelength of blue light, they tend to reflect blue wavelengths specifically,” said Amar Surapaneni, a postdoc in Dean’s group.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bright-blue-skin-of-the-ribbontail-ray-nbsp">Bright blue skin of the ribbontail ray&nbsp;</h2>



The “quasi-ordered” arrangement of these spheres ensures the color remains unchanged when viewed from different angles.&nbsp;



“To clean up any extraneous colors, a thick layer of melanin underneath the color-producing cells absorbs all other colors, resulting in extremely bright blue skin. In the end, the two cell types are a great collaboration: the structural color cells hone in on the blue color, while the melanin pigment cells suppress other wavelengths, resulting in extremely bright blue skin,” Dean explained.



This coloration likely offers <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-pandas-have-the-perfect-camouflage-for-their-natural-habitat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">camouflage</a> benefits. “In water, blue penetrates deeper than any other color, helping animals blend with their surroundings. Bright blue skin spots of stingrays do not change with viewing angle; therefore, they might have specific advantages in camouflage as the animal is swimming or quickly maneuvering with undulating wings,” he added.



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



The researchers are exploring applications for bio-inspired, pigment-less colored materials.&nbsp;



“We are pursuing collaborations with fellow researchers to develop flexible biomimetic structurally-coloured systems inspired by the soft nature of stingray skin for safe, chemical-free colors in textiles, flexible displays, screens, and sensors,” Dean reported.



The experts are also investigating blue coloration in other rays and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-important-deserve-protections/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharks</a>, including the blue shark. “Despite the name 'blue shark' and its ecological aspects being well studied, no one still knows how the blue color is produced on its skin,” Kamska said. 



“Preliminary results demonstrate that this coloration mechanism is different from the stingray's - but just like the stingray, we need to try different combinations of fine imaging tools and address multiple related disciplines in optics, material, and biological science,” she concluded.



 The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202301909" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advanced Optical Materials</a>.



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How did the ribbontail ray get its electric blue spots?

A team of international researchers has recently identified the unique...

Many scientists believe that in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hairless-mammals-evolved-at-a-faster-pace/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammals</a>, there's a tradeoff between growth and lifespan. Pugs, for example, are known to live longer than their larger counterpart in the dog world, the Great Dane. 



But a new study conducted by Chen Hou, an associate professor of biological sciences at the <a href="https://www.mst.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Missouri University of Science and Technology</a>, shows that when more energy is allocated to the creation of better cellular materials, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-explain-longevity-in-mammals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">longevity</a> is enhanced.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-energetic-cost-of-biosynthesis-nbsp">Energetic cost of biosynthesis&nbsp;</h2>



Hou argued that his “take-home message” from this research is that if you allocate more energy to making improved cellular materials, you will live longer - a concept that he says engineers may be more familiar with than biologists.



“The existing life history theories suggested a tradeoff between growth and somatic maintenance, meaning more energy spent on growth would result in less for maintaining health,” Hou explained.&nbsp;



“But this study reveals that the energy cost for biosynthesis is a hidden physiological mechanism underlying the well-established negative correlation between growth and lifespan in mammalian species.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-growth-and-lifespan">Linking growth and lifespan</h2>



Hou's study uses a new research model based on energy conservation to explain the physiological effect of the variation in the energetic cost on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aging-may-be-driven-by-genetic-imbalances/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aging</a> process. It also illustrates its role in linking growth and lifespan.



“Previously, the energetic cost of biosynthesis has been thought to be a constant across species and therefore was not considered a contributor to the variation in any life history traits, such as growth and lifespan,” Hou said.



“This study employs a recently proposed model based on energy conservation to explain the physiological effect of the variation in this energetic cost on the aging process and illustrates its role in linking growth and lifespan.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-negative-correlation-between-growth-and-lifespan">Negative correlation between growth and lifespan</h2>



The study shows that after controlling two energy components - mass-specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/age-related-changes-in-metabolism-dont-match-our-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolic rate</a> and the energetic cost of biosynthesis - there is still a negative correlation between growth constant and lifespan, revealing that the energetic cost of biosynthesis is a link between growth and longevity in mammals.



According to Hou, since the energy cost of biosynthesis links growth to aging processes, allocating more energy to growth may enhance somatic maintenance.



Thus, the conventional understanding of the tradeoff between growth and maintenance needs to be more carefully analyzed, and the potential combined effect of metabolic rate and energetic cost of biosynthesis should be considered in similar studies of aging.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2315921121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Missing link between growth size and lifespan identified

Many scientists believe that in mammals, there's a tradeoff between...

In the fascinating world of ornithology, a groundbreaking study reveals that blue and great tits are capable of utilizing impressive episodic-like memory for their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-plantations-limit-native-birds-diets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food foraging</a> activities. This trait was once thought to be exclusive to humans.



Often seen darting around gardens in search of delicious treats hidden in shrubs and trees, these small songbirds remember not only their dietary past but the location of their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-birds-enjoy-eating-feces-and-what-it-means-for-their-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food source</a> and the time they discovered it. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-cognition-in-natural-environments">Animal cognition in natural environments</h2>



The novelty of this research is that it's one of the very first to involve wild animals in such an experiment, opening an intriguing avenue into understanding more about animal cognition in natural environments.



This discovery was made by researchers from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a> and the University of East Anglia. 



Initially, it was widely believed that episodic memory, which involves recalling personally experienced events, was a trait unique to humans.&nbsp;



However, this research provides compelling evidence to the contrary, suggesting that many non-human animals also possess such episodic-like memory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-intelligence-research">Animal intelligence research</h2>



Implementing advanced tracking technologies and specially commissioned software, the research team facilitated the participation of 94 wild, free-living blue and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/great-tits-often-lose-their-vivid-colors-in-the-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">great tits</a> in a series of memory tasks. 



The tasks were centered around automated food containers and included testing unique, timed events specific to each bird.



Why focus specifically on blue tits and great tits? Well, these birds are opportunistic foragers with diverse <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-birds-learn-what-to-avoid-eating-by-watching-others/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dietary preferences</a>, making them perfect candidates to investigate the benefit of recalling ecological details from singular experiences aiding flexible decision-making.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pushing-the-boundary-of-songbird-memory">Pushing the boundary of songbird memory</h2>



According to James Davies, the study's first author from the University of Cambridge’s Comparative Cognition Lab, these results are a breakthrough.&nbsp;



"Our findings provide the first evidence for episodic-like memory in the wild and show that blue and great tits have a more flexible memory system than we used to assume. These birds are more intelligent than they've been given credit for."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-songbird-memory-in-action-nbsp">Songbird memory in action&nbsp;</h2>



For the memory tests, the researchers employed an existing study design, which had been developed by Nicola Clayton and Anthony Dickinson. They adapted it to a realistic foraging scenario with two food items - sunflower seeds and peanut pieces.



The intricate rules of the “temporal feeder” experiment allowed the birds to show their capacity for recalling details from their experiences. By applying this knowledge to new situations, the researchers could observe episodic-like memory in action.



Dr. Gabrielle Davidson from the University of East Anglia, the senior author of the study, marveled at the birds' natural behavior and their ability to perform well in the memory tasks within their familiar environment.&nbsp;



“The birds were behaving naturally in a familiar environment, so we captured something more realistic than if the birds had been captive. It was remarkable to see these birds performed well in our memory tasks while also experiencing a bunch of other memories out in the wild,” said Dr. Davidson.



“For us, field research is challenging because the birds are completely free not to take part in our experiments and just fly away, but we’ve shown this type of intelligence test in the wild works.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolution-of-memory-in-songbirds">Evolution of memory in songbirds</h2>



The implications of this discovery extend beyond just proving the existence of episodic-like memory in non-human animals. The experts also suggest that this flexible memory could aid in adapting to environmental stress and fluctuations related to climate change.



This research poses fascinating questions about the reciprocal relationship between humans and these birds, and the potential impact of human behavior on the evolution of their memory traits.&nbsp;



“It is possible that these birds are picking up on and remembering our routines in terms of when we top up bird feeders. This needs further study,” said Dr. Davidson.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead-future-research">Looking ahead: Future research</h2>



The exciting results of this study in the wild has not only broken ground in our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagulls-birds-more-intelligent-than-believed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird intelligence</a> but paves the way for further research. Professor Nicola Clayton is eager to explore whether birds with more prominent episodic-like memory traits experience enhanced reproductive success.



Significant progress has undoubtedly been made since the late 1990s when Professor Clayton first started her research in this field. Understanding the “what, where, and when” of unique past events is not a uniquely human trait, as once assumed.



“This type of memory would allow them to flexibly react to new conditions and combine this information with their original memory to make decisions,” said Davies. “So whether they're thinking about fruit ripening or caterpillars emerging, that's a powerful ability to have when things get tough."



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.029" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>. 



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Tiny songbirds are masters of memory and adaptation

In the fascinating world of ornithology, a groundbreaking study reveals...

New experimental research has revealed that the combined effects of ocean warming and acidification could dramatically reduce the survival rate of embryonic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-important-deserve-protections/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharks</a> by 2100. This study is also the first to show that monthly temperature variation significantly impacts shark embryo mortality.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-has-nearly-doubled-in-the-last-decade/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocean warming</a> and acidification result from increased CO2 levels dissolving into marine environments, leading to rising water temperatures and lower pH levels. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hatching-success-of-shark-embryos-nbsp">Hatching success of shark embryos&nbsp;</h2>



“The embryos of egg-laying species are especially sensitive to environmental conditions,” said Noémie Coulon, a PhD student at the <a href="https://borea.mnhn.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Laboratory of Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems</a> in France. 



“The hatching success of embryos is a crucial factor for population dynamics. In the case of skates and sharks, which have a slow pace of life, low hatching rates could be critical for population renewal.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-spotted-catshark-embryo-survival-nbsp">Small-spotted catshark embryo survival&nbsp;</h2>



The small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) is one of the most abundant shark species in Europe, yet it is already experiencing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/top-marine-predators-may-suffer-massive-habitat-loss-by-2100/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">habitat loss</a> in coastal areas, particularly during the summer months when egg-laying is at its peak. 



Coulon and her team compared embryo survival under three scenarios: a control scenario using baseline temperature and pH data from 1995 to 2014, and two predicted climate scenarios for 2100 based on the <a href="https://unfccc.int/documents/636550?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZO0BhDYARIsAFttkCg16wrg18FNCdBeZgOe_Z9twyo1Ly2ns7y9ux1pnlOuaNH7N5vTosQaAuN-EALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report</a> from 2021.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicted-climate-scenarios-nbsp">Predicted climate scenarios&nbsp;</h2>



The SSP2 scenario, known as the “Middle of the Road” scenario, represents a future where slow and non-uniform progress towards tackling <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-sharks-swim/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> is present but net-zero is not reached, predicting a temperature rise of 2.7°C and a pH drop of 0.2 by 2100. 



The SSP5 scenario, called the “Fossil-fueled Development” scenario, represents a future where fossil fuel resources continue to be more rapidly exploited, predicting a temperature rise of 4.4°C and a pH drop of 0.4 by 2100.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-linked-to-shocking-embryo-mortality-rate">Heat linked to shocking embryo mortality rate</h2>



The researchers measured embryo growth and yolk consumption weekly over a four-month period and recorded hatching success and the growth of surviving baby sharks for six months post-hatching.&nbsp;



They found a high survival rate for both the control and SSP2 scenarios (81% and 83% respectively). However, survival plummeted under the SSP5 scenario, with only 11% of embryos hatching.&nbsp;



“We were shocked by the low survival rate observed in the SSP5 scenario,” Coulon said. The team linked this mortality to lower yolk consumption rates, lower growth rates, and failure to transition to internal gills.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperature-variation-and-embryo-mortality-nbsp">Temperature variation and embryo mortality&nbsp;</h2>



The study also highlighted the significant impact of seasonal temperature variation on embryo mortality, particularly during critical egg-laying periods. “This mortality was most pronounced in August, coinciding with the highest temperatures (reaching 23.1°C),” she explained.



The surviving 11% of embryos in the SSP5 scenario did not exhibit typical growth patterns, which might have contributed to their resilience to environmental changes.&nbsp;



“What makes these individuals special remains unclear,” said Coulon. Understanding inter-individual variation among young marine organisms could improve predictions of future ecological success.



This research serves as both a warning and a call to action. “It serves as a warning about the responses of other species that may be even more sensitive to environmental change,” she said. “Our findings demonstrate that the more moderate SSP2 scenario can limit the damage inflicted on species like the small-spotted catshark.”



Supported by the <a href="https://saveourseas.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Save Our Seas Foundation</a>, this study will be presented at the <a href="https://www.sebiology.org/events/seb-conference-prague-2024.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference</a> in Prague in July 2024. 



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Shark embryo mortality expected to rise by 71 percent

New experimental research has revealed that the combined effects of...

Researchers have uncovered a significant clue in Italian limestone that helps explain a mass <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-erosion-and-fire-contributed-to-triassic-mass-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinction</a> of marine life millions of years ago during the Jurassic. The research may offer insights into the impact of oxygen depletion and climate change in today’s oceans.&nbsp;



Michael A. Kipp, an assistant professor of earth and climate science at <a href="https://duke.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a>, co-authored a study measuring oxygen loss in oceans leading to marine species extinction 183 million years ago.&nbsp;



“This event, and events like it, are the best analogs we have in Earth's past for what is to come in the next decades and centuries,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxygen-depletion-during-the-jurassic">Oxygen depletion during the Jurassic </h2>



During the Jurassic Period, extensive volcanic activity in what is now South Africa released approximately 20,500 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) over 500,000 years, heating the oceans and causing significant oxygen depletion. 



The result was a mass extinction of Jurassic marine species due to suffocation from the lack of oxygen.



“It’s an analog, but not a perfect one, to predict what will happen to future oxygen loss in oceans from human-made carbon emissions, and the impact that loss will have on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-ecosystems-survive-extinctions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine ecosystems</a> and biodiversity,” said co-author Mariano Remirez, an assistant research professor at <a href="https://www.gmu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">George Mason University</a>.



By examining limestone sediment that carries chemicals dating back to the time of the volcanic activity, researchers were able to estimate changes in ancient ocean oxygen levels.&nbsp;



At one point, oxygen was completely <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cascading-oxygen-loss-could-endanger-our-oceans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depleted</a> in up to 8% of the ancient global seafloor, an area roughly three times the size of the United States.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-levels-of-atmospheric-co2">Unprecedented levels of atmospheric CO2 </h2>



Since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has released CO2 emissions equivalent to 12% of what was released during the Jurassic volcanism.&nbsp;



However, Kipp notes that today’s rapid rate of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-did-ancient-plants-affect-atmospheric-co2-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheric CO2</a> release is unprecedented, making it difficult to predict when another mass extinction might occur or its severity.



“We just don't have anything this severe,” Kipp said. “We go to the most rapid CO2-emitting events we can in history, and they're still not rapid enough to be a perfect comparison to what we're going through today. We're perturbing the system faster than ever before.”



“We have at least quantified the marine oxygen loss during this event, which will help constrain our predictions of what will happen in the future,” he concluded.



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



In the ocean, climate change and oxygen loss are directly related. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-is-subtly-changing-the-tides/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warmer water</a> holds less oxygen than cooler water, which means that dissolved oxygen levels are diminished as temperatures rise.&nbsp;



On top of this, higher temperatures cause ocean stratification, where layers of water with different temperatures form. This prevents the mixing of oxygen-rich surface waters with deeper waters.&nbsp;



Another contributing factor is the increased input of nutrients from agricultural runoff and other sources, which can lead to algal blooms.&nbsp;



When these algae die and decompose, the process consumes large amounts of oxygen, creating hypoxic or "dead" zones where marine life cannot survive.&nbsp;



Climate change can intensify these processes by altering rainfall patterns, increasing runoff, and thereby increasing the nutrient load entering the ocean.



Furthermore, the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers due to global warming can lead to changes in ocean circulation patterns. These changes affect the distribution of oxygen in the ocean, often leading to decreased oxygen levels in certain areas.&nbsp;



Overall, the combination of warmer water temperatures, stratification, nutrient pollution, and changes in circulation patterns driven by climate change is causing significant oxygen loss in the ocean, which has serious implications for marine ecosystems and the organisms that depend on them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-oxygen-loss-impact-marine-species">How does oxygen loss impact marine species?</h2>



Oxygen loss in marine environments significantly impacts marine animals by reducing the availability of a critical element needed for their survival.&nbsp;



As oxygen levels decrease, many marine species experience stress, which can lead to decreased growth rates, impaired reproductive success, and increased susceptibility to diseases.&nbsp;



This hypoxic condition forces marine animals to either adapt, migrate to areas with higher oxygen levels, or face potential mortality.&nbsp;



Additionally, oxygen depletion can disrupt food chains, as both predator and prey species are affected, leading to broader ecological consequences in marine ecosystems.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2406032121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Jurassic extinction may hold clues about our oceans’ future

Researchers have uncovered a significant clue in Italian limestone that...

It's a simple truth. Birds singing at dawn or dusk is a universal joy. But have you wondered how climate change affects these tiny singers?



The insightful research by Pau Lucio, an Associate Lecturer at the Animal Science Department at the Gandia Campus, and his team, based at the <a href="https://www.upv.es/index-en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universitat Politècnica de València</a> and Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology of the<a href="https://www.uv.es/uvweb/college/en/university-valencia-1285845048380.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> University of Valencia</a> speak volumes on this critical concern.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-through-two-warblers">Understanding through two Warblers</h2>



The team’s in-depth study circled around two specific species -- the Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) and the Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus). 



These water-loving birds mainly inhabit the Mediterranean coastal wetlands.



The Moustached Warbler, a Spanish local face dwindling population rates, finding itself on the 2021 Spanish Red Data Book of Birds as "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-than-100-bird-species-have-been-lost-for-over-a-decade/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vulnerable</a>". 



The Common Reed Warbler, on the other hand, migrates long distances, wintering in Africa, and is, thankfully, of "least concern" due to its broader European distribution.



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



Thanks to a comprehensive database of 25 years of bird ringing in Spain's wetlands, the research could unravel how various climatic and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/island-bird-communities-are-changing-in-unexpected-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">geographical elements</a> impact the birds' productivity.



In other words, the correlation between number of offspring born in a year and the number of adult birds.



"Specifically, we have used data from the scientific ringing program for the monitoring of breeding bird species in Spain (PASER) between 1995 and 2021," adds Pau Lucio.



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



The research led to a fascinating discovery. Rainfall plays a decisive role in the Moustached Warbler's productivity.



Surprisingly, too much of a good thing proved harmful; rainfall above 100mm threshold affected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-birds-are-at-great-risk-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird species</a> breeding negatively. High temperatures also didn't sit well with this bird.



Our migratory maestro, the Common Reed Warbler, paints a contrasting picture. Higher temperatures ramp up its productivity, with rainfall making little to no difference, except when it’s about 100 mm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-birds-in-a-changing-climate">Future of birds in a changing climate</h2>



So, what do these discoveries mean for our warbling wonders? 



"Warmer temperatures and more frequent heavy rainfall may compromise the conservation of the moustached warbler in Spain due to the adverse effect of both elements on its productivity," says <a href="https://www.upv.es/ficha-personal/virgargm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virginia Garófano</a> from the Research Institute for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (<a href="https://igic.webs.upv.es/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IGIC</a>) of the UPV Gandia Campus.



"In contrast, higher temperatures may benefit the common reed warbler." But, the harmony can flip as climate change doesn't only impact productivity but also survival rates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-population-modeling-and-climate-change">Bird population modeling and climate change</h2>



This study could pinpoint climate-sensitive periods by analyzing the most significant climatic impacts on bird productivity using spatial (site, longitude, latitude, and elevation) and temporal changes (year).



The study's co-author, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafael-Munoz-Mas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rafael Muñoz-Mas</a>, a researcher affiliated with the IGIC of the UPV, highlights the technological breakthroughs that enabled this progress in bird population trend modeling. 



He explains, "This advance in the ecological <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-turn-bird-dreams-into-captivating-music/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modeling</a> of trends in bird populations has been possible thanks to the use of complex data modelling techniques." 



Muñoz-Mas goes on to explain that these techniques include data mining, machine learning, and the application of genetic algorithms to optimize the models.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-strategies-for-bird-species">Conservation strategies for bird species</h2>



The pressing question is: what measures can we adopt to safeguard species like the Moustached Warbler from the impending threats of climate change? The research team suggests a multipronged approach. 



Firstly, stringent protection of their wetland habitats is paramount. These ecosystems must be preserved and restored to maintain the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-birds-enjoy-eating-feces-and-what-it-means-for-their-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">delicate balance</a> vital for the species' survival.



Additionally, creating and implementing climate-resilient management practices can buffer the adverse effects of extreme weather conditions. 



This could involve the installation of water level control systems to counteract excessive rainfall and mitigate habitat loss.



Moreover, fostering international collaborations focused on migratory birds can ensure synchronized conservation efforts across borders, offering a lifeline to species like the Common Reed Warbler throughout their journey.



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



As intricate as these conservation strategies might be, the involvement of local communities and citizen scientists cannot be overstated. 



Empowering individuals to participate in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/body-sizes-and-shapes-of-birds-are-shrinking-as-the-earth-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird monitoring and data collection</a> enriches scientific databases and enhances the breadth of research.



Programs encouraging bird ringing, nest monitoring, and habitat assessments furnish invaluable, ground-level insights into bird populations and their responses to climatic shifts. 



Furthermore, raising awareness through educational initiatives about the impact of climate change on avian species instills a sense of stewardship within communities. 



Through collective efforts, we can amplify our response to climate challenges, ensuring the resilience and continuity of the vibrant avian chorus that connects us all to nature.



So, while we continue to harmonize our lives with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zebra-finch-female-birds-choose-mates-who-can-sing-most-complex-songs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">melodic notes of birds</a>, let's make sure our actions don't hit a sour note in their survival symphony.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00063657.2024.2343956" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bird Study</a>.



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Bird behavior and productivity is being directly impacted by climate change

It's a simple truth. Birds singing at dawn or dusk...

A new study has identified unexpected adaptations in coral reef fish in the Arabian Gulf, which survive in some of the world's warmest waters.&nbsp;



Led by John Burt from <a href="https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York University Abu Dhabi</a> and Jacob Johansen from the <a href="https://www.himb.hawaii.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology</a>, the study found that these fish maintain efficient oxygen supply and performance despite elevated temperatures.&nbsp;



Contrary to theoretical predictions, the fish do not exhibit reduced sizes due to metabolic oxygen-supply limitations.



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



“As oceans warm, our ability to sustainably manage and protect important species depends on how well we can predict temperature-driven processes operating at individual, population, and community levels,” wrote the researchers.



“Many aquatic ectotherms, especially those adapted for the Arctic and tropics, are expected to be highly sensitive to temperature increases beyond those in which they have evolved.”&nbsp;



“Given the critical importance of aquatic resources for human survival, the likely consequences of rising temperatures for species fitness and productivity are vigorously debated.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptative-pathways-in-coral-reef-fish">Adaptative pathways in coral reef fish</h2>



The study authors noted that leading theories project limited adaptive capacity of tropical fishes and substantial size reductions in the coming decades due to mass-scaling limitations of oxygen supply in larger individuals.



“Using the world’s hottest coral reefs in the Persian/Arabian Gulf as a natural laboratory for ocean warming - where species have survived &gt;35.0 °C summer temperatures for over 6000 years and are 14-40% smaller at maximum size compared to cooler locations - we identified two adaptive pathways that enhance <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-a-fish-survive-in-the-desert/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survival</a> at elevated temperatures across 10 metabolic and swimming performance metrics.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-resilience-to-climate-change-nbsp">Resilience to climate change&nbsp;</h2>



The study challenges the “shrinking of fishes phenomenon” and suggests that the real issue might be the balance between energy intake and expenditure.&nbsp;



The experts compared two fish species, Lutjanus ehrenbergii and Scolopsis ghanam, from the Arabian Gulf with those from the cooler Gulf of Oman.&nbsp;



The findings suggest these fish possess resilience to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understanding-climate-change-can-increase-resilience/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>, highlighting that smaller individuals might be evolutionarily favored at high temperatures.



“The hottest coral reefs in the world are an ideal natural laboratory to explore the future impact of rising water temperatures on fishes,” said Burt.



“Our findings indicate that some fish species are more resilient to climate change than previously understood and help explain why smaller individuals are evolutionarily favored at high temperatures.”



“This has significant implications for our understanding of the future of marine biodiversity in a continuously warming world.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-for-coral-reef-fish">The future for coral reef fish</h2>



The warming of oceans is expected to have drastic effects on marine life and the fishing industry, potentially disrupting ecosystems and economic structures.&nbsp;



Current scientific models predict that by 2050, coral reef fish could shrink by up to 39 percent due to increasing temperatures.&nbsp;



However, this study's results suggest that some species may adapt better than anticipated, potentially altering our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-biodiversity-could-shift-rapidly-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine biodiversity</a>'s future in a warming world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coral-reef-fish-of-the-arabian-sea">Coral reef fish of the Arabian Sea</h2>



The Arabian Sea is home to a vibrant marine ecosystem that hosts a rich diversity of coral reef <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/environmental-dna-reveals-the-diversity-of-coral-reef-fish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a>.&nbsp;



Coral reefs, known as the "rainforests of the sea," provide habitats for over one million marine species worldwide.&nbsp;



Coral reef fish in the Arabian Gulf are a vital part of the region's marine ecosystem. These fish include groupers, snappers, and parrotfish. Each species plays a unique role in maintaining the health of the coral reefs.



The Arabian Gulf's coral reefs are adapted to some of the harshest marine conditions, including high salinity and temperature extremes.&nbsp;



Despite these challenges, the reefs support a rich diversity of fish. These fish contribute to the reef's ecological balance by participating in processes like grazing on algae, which helps prevent algae overgrowth and allows corals to thrive.



Human activities, such as overfishing, coastal development, and pollution, pose significant threats to these coral reefs and their fish populations.&nbsp;



Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these ecosystems. Measures include establishing marine protected areas, enforcing sustainable fishing practices, and reducing pollution.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49459-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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How coral reef fish survive in the world’s warmest waters

A new study has identified unexpected adaptations in coral reef...

Scientists have long debated what caused the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-predict-a-new-mass-extinction-that-will-wipe-out-humans-and-all-mammals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extinction</a> of many large animal species over the past 50,000 years - humans or climate change. Recent research from <a href="https://bio.au.dk/en/research/research-centres/econovo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aarhus University’s ECONOVO Center</a> concludes that human hunting played a significant role in megafauna extinctions. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decades-of-debate-on-megafauna-extinctions-nbsp">Decades of debate on megafauna extinctions&nbsp;</h2>



“Across the last ~50,000 years (the late Quaternary) terrestrial vertebrate faunas have experienced severe losses of large species (megafauna), with most extinctions occurring in the Late Pleistocene and Early to Middle Holocene. Debate on the causes has been ongoing for over 200 years, intensifying from the 1960s onward,” wrote the study authors.



By examining fields such as extinction timing, dietary preferences, climate requirements, genetic population estimates, and hunting evidence, the researchers pinpointed human activity as a primary factor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-pressures-were-the-key-driver-nbsp">Human pressures were the key driver&nbsp;</h2>



“Our review shows that there is little support for any major influence of climate, neither in global extinction patterns nor in fine-scale spatiotemporal and mechanistic evidence,” said the researchers.



“Conversely, there is strong and increasing support for human pressures as the key driver of these extinctions, with emerging evidence for an initial onset linked to pre-sapiens hominins prior to the Late Pleistocene.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-had-a-lesser-impact">Climate change had a lesser impact</h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-climate-change-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate changes</a> of the Late Pleistocene did impact various species, but the most dramatic extinctions were primarily among large animals. 



“The large and very selective loss of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tracing-the-disappearance-of-north-americas-megafauna/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">megafauna</a> over the last 50,000 years is unique over the past 66 million years,” said study lead author Jens-Christian Svenning, a macroecologist at Aarhus. This period saw no similar large-scale selective extinctions due to climate alone, indicating human influence was substantial.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widespread-megafauna-extinctions-nbsp">Widespread megafauna extinctions&nbsp;</h2>



Evidence shows early modern humans were effective hunters of large animals, leading to extinctions of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-drove-woolly-mammoths-to-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammoths</a> and giant sloths worldwide. These extinctions happened at different rates and times but consistently followed the arrival of modern humans or significant cultural advancements. 



The extinctions occurred across all continents except Antarctica and in various ecosystems, from tropical forests to arctic environments.&nbsp;



“Many of the extinct species could thrive in various types of environments. Therefore, their extinction cannot be explained by climate changes causing the disappearance of a specific ecosystem types,” noted Svenning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-consequences-of-megafauna-extinctions-nbsp">Ecological consequences of megafauna extinctions&nbsp;</h2>



The loss of megafauna has had significant ecological consequences, altering vegetation structures, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling. Large animals play central roles in ecosystems, and their disappearance has led to profound changes in ecosystem structures and functions.&nbsp;



“Our results highlight the need for active conservation and restoration efforts. By reintroducing large mammals, we can help restore ecological balances and support <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-are-the-biggest-drivers-of-biodiversity-loss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>, which evolved in ecosystems rich in megafauna,” said Svenning. This approach could mitigate the changes caused by the extinction of these large species and support the restoration of ecological balances.



The research incorporated various studies to present a comprehensive view of the extinctions, drawing on fields such as climate history, vegetation history, fauna evolution, and archaeological data on human expansion and lifestyle.&nbsp;



This interdisciplinary approach provided a broader understanding of the factors contributing to the loss of megafauna.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proactive-measures-to-protect-large-species-nbsp">Proactive measures to protect large species&nbsp;</h2>



The study underscores the importance of considering human impact on these extinctions and the need for proactive measures to protect remaining large species and restore ecological health.



“A broad range of evidence indicates that the megafauna extinctions have elicited profound changes to ecosystem structure and functioning,” noted the researchers.



“The late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions thereby represent an early, large-scale human-driven environmental transformation, constituting a progenitor of the Anthropocene, where humans are now a major player in planetary functioning.”&nbsp;



“Finally, we conclude that megafauna restoration via trophic rewilding can be expected to have positive effects on biodiversity across varied Anthropocene settings.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/ext.2024.4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambridge Prisms: Extinction</a>,



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It's official: Humans were the leading cause of large animal extinctions

Scientists have long debated what caused the extinction of many...

Any discussion about the ocean's mysteries is incomplete without the "comb jellies" or ctenophores, the vivacious deep-sea dwellers. 



With a survival finesse that rivals the most experienced deep-sea divers, ctenophores are shedding new light on adaptation and survival at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toxic-legacy-decades-old-ddt-found-in-deep-sea-fish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme pressures</a>. 



Their secret? There's something "fatty" about their technique.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lipids-ctenophores-and-the-deep-blue-sea">Lipids, ctenophores, and the deep blue sea</h2>



One would ask, how does a simple deep-sea creature defy so much pressure? A team of researchers that includes <a href="https://www.udel.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Delaware</a> biophysicist Edward Lyman and doctoral students Sasiri Vargas-Urbano and Miguel Pedraza Joya have got us an answer. 



The study co-authored by these scientists, first-author Jacob Winnikoff, now at <a href="https://www.harvard.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard University</a>, Steven Haddock, an <a href="https://www.mbari.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MBARI</a> marine biologist, and project principal investigator Itay Budin, an assistant professor at <a href="https://www.ucsd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC San Diego</a>, has some news that's, literally, deep.



The secret lies in the lipids. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-reduces-aging-related-fat-buildup-in-tissues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fatty chemical compounds</a> found in all living cells perform essential functions like storing energy, sending signals, and controlling what passes through the cell membrane. It seems, for the comb jellies, lipids also serve as their pass for survival in the ocean.



These findings about marine organisms' adaptation might inform us about lipids found in our nerve cells, particularly how it might work in our brains.



Who would think studying jellies could help us understand ourselves better?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-ctenophores">What are ctenophores?</h2>



They might look like jellyfish, but ctenophores, or "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oldest-living-creature-on-earth-identified-emerging-700-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">comb jellies</a>," are actually a different kind of marine animal called Ctenophora. What makes them special are the rows of tiny plates, or "combs," they use to swim. 



These combs catch the light and create beautiful rainbows as they move through the water, which is a sight that amazes both scientists and ocean lovers.



Most of the time, comb jellies are see-through or slightly see-through. Instead of stinging, they have tentacles with sticky cells called colloblasts to catch their food. 



These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-cell-origins-traced-to-creatures-that-lived-800-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amazing creatures</a> play important roles in the ocean by helping to control the number of zooplankton. Their unique way of living and surviving in tough ocean conditions keeps scientists curious and eager to learn more about them.



They are predators found at various depths in the ocean, doing a lot of eating and serving as a food source themselves. 



According to UD’s Lyman, these ctenophores are the first things that branch off from the rest of the animals. 



"This means that you and I are more closely related to a jellyfish than a jellyfish is to a ctenophore,” says Lyman. Doesn't it feel good to have a jellyfish as a distant cousin?



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



What's more fascinating is that Lyman and his team found an adaptation in the cellular membrane of deep-sea dwelling ctenophores that enables them to survive under extreme pressure. 



Their findings revealed that deep-sea ctenophores have a huge abundance of the lipid molecule, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-sea-squirts-may-reverse-aging-processes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plasmalogen</a>. 



"What makes plasmalogen lipids interesting is that they allow cell membranes to bend and deform, even in the deep ocean at high pressure, where membranes would otherwise be very stiff, and that's a useful adaptation,” explains Lyman.



By running experiments and simulations, Lyman and his team discovered that it's the chemistry of a lipid molecule that determines whether it wants to reside in a membrane that's flat or curved. Processing data for simulations about 500 nanoseconds long even took about a month to create. 



In the end, it was clear. The structure of ctenophore membranes changes under various pressures, indicating that ctenophore lipidomes are specialized for high pressure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-e-coli-ctenophores-and-pressure">E. coli, ctenophores, and pressure</h2>



Due to the weight of the water that lies above, the deep sea is under extreme pressures equal to that of hundreds of atmospheres.



The team's investigation into ctenophore secrets centered around <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-gut-bacteria-behave-like-vampires-to-target-human-blood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">E. coli</a>, a common resident of the human gut, and its response to the extreme pressures endured by the deepest dwelling ctenophore. 



Such pressures, the scientists noted, could be around 500 times that at the ocean's surface, a significant limiting factor for the E. coli's growth. However, when these cells were enabled to synthesize plasmalogen lipids, they were able to proliferate as normal.



An interesting twist came to light when this cell membrane was simulated in a digital environment and stress-tested under varying temperatures and pressures. 



The team at UD revealed that it was indeed the plasmalogen lipids that kept these membranes flexible and adaptable under high pressure. 



"Using molecular-dynamic simulations to explore this system, we were able to test conditions that would be found even deeper in the sea than these ctenophore species actually live to see what happened," explained team member Vargas-Urbano.



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



The deep-sea ctenophores' cell membranes carried more plasmalogen lipids compared to other species found near the surface or in the Arctic. 



One type of plasmalogen, termed PPE, was particularly abundant in the deep-sea creatures and exhibited a distinct conical shape. 



As per simulations by UD researchers and artificial membrane experiments by Budin and Winnikoff, increased presence of PPE resulted in the membranes curling up, even under lower pressures.



In what turned out to be a notable revelation, a significant correlation was found between the amount of plasmalogen in a ctenophore species' cellular membrane and where it could survive.



However, when the membrane of surface-dwelling ctenophores was compared with their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-has-deadly-consequences-for-marine-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep-sea counterparts</a> in their natural habitats, they exhibited similar characteristics in terms of molecular adjustment within the cell to stabilize the membrane. 



The scientists termed this as "homeocurvature adaptation," a mechanism where the ctenophores and their lipidomes have adapted to their residing conditions. 



This could potentially explain why deep-sea invertebrates, including ctenophores, disintegrate when brought to the surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ctenophores-lipids-and-human-health">Ctenophores, lipids, and human health</h2>



The discovery of how life <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-crustaceans-prey-on-jellyfish-to-survive-the-polar-night/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adapts to extreme conditions</a> in the ocean could provide valuable insights into the human body. As Lyman elaborated, plasmalogen lipids found in ctenophores are also present in human bodies, predominantly in neural tissue.



"Nerve cells in the brain transmit messages by sending chemicals from one cell to another. And there is an awful lot of plasmalogen at the site where all that synaptic transmission is happening in your neurons," he explained.



The depletion of plasmalogen has been associated with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, which signifies that a deeper understanding of plasmalogens may have potential benefits for other areas of research.



In summary, this study provides intriguing insights into the survival mechanisms of deep-sea creatures. It uncovers the remarkable role of plasmalogens and how their presence affects the adaptability of ctenophores to their environment. 



Moreover, the implications of this research stretch beyond marine biology, potentially influencing our understanding of human health, specifically neurology, shedding light on plasmalogens crucial role in the human brain.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adm7607" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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How 'ctenophores' survive and thrive under deep ocean pressure

Any discussion about the ocean's mysteries is incomplete without 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...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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</div></figure>







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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