Two iconic dinosaurs - Tyrannosaurus rex and Brachylophosaurus canadensis - have yielded a fresh line of evidence that traces of their original biology can survive for tens of millions of years. 



In new work, researchers at <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Carolina State University</a> identified hemoglobin - the oxygen-carrying protein in blood - and its iron-bearing heme group in bone extracts from both animals.



The finding strengthens a growing body of data showing that certain biomolecules can persist in exceptional fossils. It also clarifies how they change as fossils form.



Researchers have debated and re-examined soft, stretchy tissues from these same specimens for nearly two decades. 



Teams have used high-resolution imaging, antibodies, and protein sequencing to argue that the materials are genuine remnants of dinosaur biology rather than modern contaminants. The latest study adds another tool - and another confirmation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-light-unlocks-dinosaur-chemistry">Light unlocks dinosaur chemistry</h2>



The team turned to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/resonance-raman-spectroscopy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy</a>. In this method, laser light is tuned to a molecule’s electronic transitions. This causes only that molecule to “sing” back with a strong signal.



“Raman spectroscopy essentially uses light waves to identify a molecule’s energetic ‘fingerprint,’” said physicist Hans Hallen, the study’s corresponding author. 



“Resonance Raman, which we use here, takes that process one step further by using light already tuned to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seeking-the-origins-of-the-molecule-that-made-the-universe/">molecule</a> of interest - so only that type of molecule will resonate.”



That resonance dramatically boosts the signal from specific bonds - crucial when your targets are rare, damaged molecules embedded in a complex fossil matrix.



“This strong signal allows us to find the needle (hemoglobin remnants) in the haystack (messy fossil) to see how this molecule has changed from the functional living state, revealing the chemical changes molecules undergo in deep time,” Hallen added.



RR spectra from T. rex and Brachylophosaurus extracts showed signatures consistent with heme still bound to globin proteins. In addition, they indicated heme bound to goethite, an iron oxide mineral linked to oxidized iron.



The researchers cross-checked those signals against demineralized modern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-of-a-cretaceous-ostrich-mexidracon-longimanus-with-extremely-long-arms/">ostrich</a> bone and human blood to anchor their interpretations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blood-molecules-traced-to-dinosaurs">Blood molecules traced to dinosaurs</h2>



Because Raman detects bonds rather than whole molecules, skeptics often point out that generic signals could arise from modern microbes or other contaminants. 



That’s where the extra selectivity of RR - and the structural information in the spectra - matters.



“RR identifies both bonds and structure," said paleobiologist Mary Schweitzer, a co-author on the work. 



"We know that heme is there and that it is still bound to hemoglobin protein - contaminants like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reusable-water-bottles-are-breeding-ground-for-strep-and-fecal-bacteria/">bacteria</a> don’t have those specific bonds, so we can say that the molecules are from the animal, or in this case, the dinosaur,”



The team also mapped how those spectral fingerprints shift as hemoglobin decays. After death, the protein breaks down, damaging the heme ring and oxidizing the iron inside it. 



RR data show that goethite forms on that iron, and the heme can bind to the mineral surface.



Tellingly, the researchers observed the early stages of the same degradation pathway in modern samples, suggesting that key steps happen relatively quickly and then stabilize.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dinosaur-blood-survived-fossilization">Dinosaur blood survived fossilization</h2>



Beyond confirming what the molecules are, the spectral changes reveal a plausible route for how they survived. 



Goethite is a bio-related mineral - it often forms in association with biological activity - and the new data hint that it doesn’t just grow near proteins; it can latch onto and stabilize fragments. "We didn’t know that it could bind to and stabilize <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-modified-plant-proteins-to-create-delicious-meat-alternatives/">protein</a> fragments,” Hallen said.



That matters because it shows a mechanism that locks delicate organics in place and protects them during fossilization. 



Researchers already know that heme persists in sediments far older than the age of dinosaurs, but the path from fresh blood to ancient rock has remained murky.



Pinning down the chemistry helps explain why hemoglobin, in particular, shows up as a survivor - and why some fossils preserve molecular vestiges while others do not.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-view-of-fossil-preservation">A new view of fossil preservation</h2>



The study reinforces a shift in paleontology: under the right conditions, original biochemistry can endure deep time, and modern tools can detect and interpret it. 



Instead of a binary “preserved or not,” researchers are piecing together degradation pathways, mineral partnerships, and microenvironments that favor survival.



For dinosaur biology, that means more than just curiosity. Hemoglobin and heme in blood play key roles in metabolism, oxygen transport, and overall physiology. 



Their presence, and the way they degrade, defines how tissues fossilize and what information we can still extract.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/dinosaur-bone_hemoglobin_preserved_NCSU_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/dinosaur-bone_hemoglobin_preserved_NCSU_1s.webp" alt="Vessels isolated from Tyrannosaurus cortical bone by demineralization in EDTA. Credit: NC State University" class="wp-image-1985867"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Vessels isolated from Tyrannosaurus cortical bone by demineralization in EDTA. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NC State University</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blood-chemistry-spans-eons">Blood chemistry spans eons</h2>



For dinosaur fossil science, mineral–organic interactions like heme–goethite may help preserve blood proteins and molecular fragments throughout Earth’s history.



“Heme has been identified in sediments that are much, much older than dinosaurs, so we know that it persists,” Schweitzer noted. 



“Understanding why <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-human-genetics-could-optimize-medical-care/">hemoglobin</a> preserves, and the role that heme plays in the process, is really important if we want to know how these ancient molecules survive through time.”



The upshot is both practical and provocative. Resonance Raman pinpoints specific ancient molecules within messy fossils, and the chemistry it reveals also serves as a preservation roadmap. 



That’s a powerful combination for anyone trying to read life’s oldest diaries written in stone.



The study is published in the <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.2025.0175" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Hemoglobin and other blood molecules found preserved in dinosaur fossils

Two iconic dinosaurs - Tyrannosaurus rex and Brachylophosaurus canadensis - have yielded a fresh line of evidence that traces of their original biology can survive for tens of millions of years. In new work, researchers at North Carolina State University identified hemoglobin - the oxygen-carrying protein in blood - and its iron-bearing heme group in bone extracts from both animals. The finding strengthens a growing body of data showing that certain biomolecules can persist in exceptional fossils. It also clarifies how they change as fossils form. Researchers...

Beneath the ocean's mysterious depths, a revolution in exploration is brewing. Researchers at California Institute of Technology (<a href="https://www.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caltech</a>) are pioneering a unique approach: biohybrid jellyfish robots. 



The robots combine living <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jellyfish-are-capable-of-more-complex-learning-than-ever-imagined/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jellyfish</a> with tiny electronics, transforming them into data-gathering machines. Consequently, this project unlocks the potential to explore Earth's final frontier, with profound implications for climate research and beyond.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bridging-the-gap-biohybrid-jellyfish-robots-as-aquatic-explorers">Bridging the gap: Biohybrid jellyfish robots as aquatic explorers</h2>



This initiative, detailed in a study published in the journal Bioinspiration &amp; Biomimetics, introduces the creation of biohybrid robotic jellyfish. 



These are not your average sea creatures. They are essentially ocean-going cyborgs, enhanced with electronics to improve their swimming capabilities and equipped with a prosthetic "hat" that not only streamlines their movement but also allows them to carry small payloads. 



John Dabiri, the Centennial Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering at Caltech and the brain behind this research, envisions these biohybrid jellyfish as innovative data-gatherers. 



Their mission is to traverse the oceans, collecting crucial information on temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels -- all vital data that sheds light on Earth’s changing climate.



Dabiri articulates the critical yet underexplored role of the ocean in determining our climate's present and future, saying, "It’s well known that the ocean is critical for determining our present and future climate on land, and yet, we still know surprisingly little about the ocean, especially away from the surface. 



"Our goal is to finally move that needle by taking an unconventional approach inspired by one of the few animals that already successfully explores the entire ocean," Dabiri explains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-mechanical-to-biohybrid-robot-solutions">From mechanical to biohybrid robot solutions</h2>



The journey to biohybrid robotic jellyfish began with Dabiri's attempts to mimic the swimming mechanism of jellyfish through mechanical robots. 



Despite achieving a robot that swam like its biological counterpart, it fell short in efficiency compared to a real jellyfish. This realization steered the focus towards enhancing jellyfish themselves, leveraging their natural prowess in ocean exploration. 



"<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jellyfish-can-regenerate-functioning-tentacles-in-just-a-few-days/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jellyfish</a> are the original ocean explorers, reaching its deepest corners and thriving just as well in tropical or polar waters," Dabiri says. "Since they don't have a brain or the ability to sense pain, we've been able to collaborate with bioethicists to develop this biohybrid robotic application in a way that's ethically principled."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-science-behind-biohybrid-jellyfish-robots">Science behind biohybrid jellyfish robots</h2>



In a significant advancement, Dabiri's team previously developed an electronic pacemaker to control the jellyfish's swimming speed, discovering that faster swimming rates improved their efficiency. 



Building on this, the team introduced a novel addition: forebodies, or prosthetic "hats," designed by graduate student Simon Anuszczyk. 



These devices not only streamline the jellyfish, reducing drag and enhancing performance, but also serve as carriers for sensors and electronics. 



"Much like the pointed end of an arrow, we designed 3D-printed forebodies to streamline the bell of the jellyfish robot, reduce drag, and increase swimming performance," Anuszczyk says. 



"At the same time, we experimented with 3D printing until we were able to carefully balance the buoyancy and keep the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oldest-known-swimming-jellyfish-date-back-505-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jellyfish</a> swimming vertically."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-jellyfish-robots-with-deep-vertical-dives">Testing the jellyfish robots with deep vertical dives</h2>



To evaluate the augmented jellyfish's capabilities, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/biohybrid-robotic-jellyfish_testing-tank_Caltech_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unique vertical aquarium</a> was constructed within Caltech's Guggenheim Laboratory. This three-story tank, resembling a vertical treadmill for swimmers, enables researchers to simulate deep ocean conditions. 



Swim tests revealed that jellyfish, when equipped with the swimming pacemaker and forebody, could swim up to 4.5 times faster than their natural counterparts while carrying a payload, all at a cost of about $20 per jellyfish. This presents a cost-effective alternative to the exorbitant expenses of operating research vessels.



Looking ahead, Dabiri expresses excitement about the potential insights from parts of the ocean previously unobserved. The team aims to further enhance the biohybrid jellyfish, potentially making them steerable for comprehensive horizontal and vertical exploration. 



"By using the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-impacts-helmet-jellyfish-foretell-the-dangers-of-seafloor-mining/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jellyfish</a>'s natural capacity to withstand extreme pressures in the deep ocean and their ability to power themselves by feeding, our engineering challenge is a lot more manageable," Dabiri adds. 



"We still need to design the sensor package to withstand the same crushing pressures, but that device is smaller than a softball, making it much easier to design than a full submarine vehicle operating at those depths," Dabiri concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jellyfish-biohybrid-robots-and-the-future">Jellyfish, biohybrid robots, and the future</h2>



In summary, this fascinating work on biohybrid robotic jellyfish at Caltech marks a significant leap forward in oceanographic exploration. By merging the natural efficiency of jellyfish with cutting-edge technology, researchers have opened a new chapter in our quest to uncover the mysteries of the ocean. 



This innovative approach demonstrates a cost-effective alternative to traditional research methods while promising to expand our understanding of underwater ecosystems and their response to climate change. 



As we look toward the future, the potential for further enhancements and applications of biohybrid jellyfish invites us to reimagine the boundaries of exploration and scientific discovery beneath the waves.



Watch videos of these biohybrid jellyfish <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZfthP_7s5g" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">by clicking here</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-biohybrid-robotics-and-jellyfish">More about biohybrid robotics and jellyfish</h2>



As discussed above, biohybrid robotics represents a revolutionary fusion of biological components with artificial robotic systems. This innovative approach aims to create more flexible, responsive, and adaptable machines that mimic the capabilities of living organisms. 



By integrating living cells, tissues, or organisms with mechanical elements, biohybrid robotics opens up new possibilities for medical advancements, environmental monitoring, and more.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-basics-of-biohybrid-robotics">Basics of biohybrid robotics</h3>



Biohybrid robotics combines the strengths of biological systems with the precision and durability of robotic mechanisms. At its core, this interdisciplinary field leverages the self-healing, self-assembling, and adaptive capabilities of biological materials to enhance robotic functionality. 



Researchers incorporate a variety of biological components, including muscle cells, neurons, and even whole organisms, into robotic structures to achieve specific goals.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-applications-in-medicine">Applications in medicine</h3>



One of the most promising applications of biohybrid robotics lies in the medical field. Biohybrid devices can mimic the behavior of human muscles, organs, or other tissues, leading to advanced prosthetics and implants that offer enhanced functionality and integration with the human body. 



For example, biohybrid robots can serve as artificial muscles that respond to electrical stimuli, providing more natural movements for prosthetic limbs. Additionally, biohybrid systems are being developed to perform precise surgical operations, offering a new level of precision and control in minimally invasive surgery.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-monitoring-and-repair">Environmental monitoring and repair</h3>



Beyond medical applications, biohybrid robots are also making strides in environmental conservation and repair. Equipped with living cells or organisms, these robots can monitor pollutants, assess ecosystems, and even participate in bio-remediation efforts to clean up environmental damage. 



An example of this concept is seen in the biohybrid jellyfish robots developed by Caltech, as discussed previously in this article. Their ability to adapt and respond to changing conditions makes them particularly valuable for tasks in challenging or hazardous environments.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-and-ethical-considerations">Challenges and ethical considerations</h3>



Despite its potential, the development of biohybrid robotics faces several challenges. Integrating living components with non-living systems requires careful consideration of biocompatibility, longevity, and ethical implications. 



Ensuring the survival and functionality of biological materials outside their natural environment poses significant technical hurdles. Moreover, the use of living organisms in robotics raises ethical questions regarding their welfare and the potential for unintended ecological impacts.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-biohybrid-robotics">Future of biohybrid robotics</h3>



As research in biohybrid robotics advances, the potential for innovative applications continues to expand. Future developments may lead to more sophisticated bio-robots capable of autonomous decision-making, learning, and evolution, blurring the lines between biological life and artificial machines. 



With ongoing advancements in materials science, biotechnology, and robotics, biohybrid systems are poised to play a crucial role in the next generation of intelligent machines.



In summary, biohybrid robotics represents a fascinating convergence of biology and technology, offering the promise of machines that are more adaptable, efficient, and capable of interacting with the natural world in unprecedented ways. 



As researchers continue to explore this promising field, the boundaries between life and machine are set to become increasingly indistinct, heralding a new era of robotic innovation.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-3190/ad277f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bioinspiration &amp; Biomimetics</a>.



-----



Like what you read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and Earth.com.



-----

Biohybrid jellyfish robots are helping scientists explore the oceans

Beneath the ocean's mysterious depths, a revolution in exploration is...

Coral reefs are vibrant underwater ecosystems teeming with life. But they're facing a major threat: coral bleaching, triggered by rising <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rescue-underway-florida-is-battling-an-unprecedented-coral-bleaching-crisis/">water temperatures</a>. This phenomenon causes corals to expel the algae living within their tissues, leaving them vulnerable to death.



New research from <a href="https://english.gxu.edu.cn/">Guangxi University</a> reveals that microbes living within corals might hold the key to their survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbes-and-coral-bleaching">Microbes and coral bleaching</h2>



Reefs are ecosystems built by tiny animals called corals. Microscopic organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and algae, live inside coral tissues in a mutually beneficial relationship.&nbsp;



These tiny microbes help the corals obtain nutrients, produce food using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/access-to-sunlight-is-critical-for-the-survival-of-coral-reefs/">sunlight</a>, and resist environmental damage. However, if the water temperature rises excessively, the corals expel the algae, causing them to lose their color and essential nutrients, known as coral bleaching.



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



The researchers studied the microscopic organisms residing within corals found in the South China Sea. The goal of the investigation was to determine how microbes may influence a reef's resistance to coral bleaching.



The team examined 18 different coral species and discovered patterns within the communities of microscopic organisms living inside them. These patterns were linked to the coral's susceptibility to bleaching.&nbsp;



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



The study revealed that corals which are resistant to bleaching often have many heat-resistant Symbiodiniaceae in their tissues. This algae is essential for the coral's survival, as it helps them tolerate warmer water.



On the other hand, corals that are more prone to bleaching were found to have a wider variety of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungi-engage-in-more-conversations-after-rainfall/">fungi</a>, including some that might be harmful.&nbsp;



This finding indicates that the health of corals is strongly linked to the makeup of their microscopic companions. Corals with a diverse community of heat-resistant algae are better equipped to handle the challenges of climate change.&nbsp;



“Our study highlights the ecological effects of microbiome dynamics and interactions between Symbiodiniaceae and fungi on coral thermal bleaching susceptibility, providing insights into the role of microorganisms and their interaction as drivers of interspecific differences in coral thermal bleaching,” explained study lead author Biao Chen, an assistant professor at Guangxi University.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-far-reaching-impacts-of-coral-bleaching">Far-reaching impacts of coral bleaching</h2>



If coral bleaching becomes more frequent, it could have significant consequences for both the environment and human societies. Coral bleaching poses a threat to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dramatic-increase-in-shipping-traffic-threatens-marine-life/">marine life</a>, jobs, and even the safety of coastal communities.



Bleaching causes coral reefs to lose their richness and variety. This translates to fewer fish and other sea creatures, impacting the livelihoods of fishers and people who depend on the ocean for food.&nbsp;



Tourism, which thrives on the beauty and exploration of these vibrant underwater worlds, would also decline with increased bleaching events.&nbsp;



Furthermore, coral reefs act as natural barriers, protecting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-activity-impacts-97-percent-of-the-worlds-coastline/">coastlines</a> from powerful waves and storms. Without this protection, beaches could erode, and coastal areas would be more vulnerable to storm damage.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-how-microbes-help-corals">Learning how microbes help corals</h2>



The study emphasizes the importance of coral microbiome - the collective of microorganisms living with corals.&nbsp;



The scientists propose creating a global database of coral reef microbial communities and conducting further research across various disciplines, including ecology, marine chemistry, and oceanography. This can provide deeper insights into how microbes can help coral reefs adapt and survive in a warming world.



The research provides a roadmap for developing new ways to save coral reefs, which could involve changing the makeup of the tiny organisms living inside them.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/aem.01939-23" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applied and Environmental Microbiology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Microbes have a surprising influence on coral bleaching

Coral reefs are vibrant underwater ecosystems teeming with life. But...

Imagine waking up from a winter nap to find that it's already spring. This has become the reality for many bats thanks to rising temperatures and climate change. 



A study from the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/web/ub/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Barcelona</a> shows how bats are adjusting to shorter winters. This affects their sleep patterns, where they travel, and their job as nature's pest control.



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



Many bat species living in areas with moderate climates use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hibernation-may-be-key-to-extraordinary-longevity-in-bats/">hibernation</a> as a way to survive the winter. This is a difficult time for bats because their usual food source, insects, are not readily available. To deal with this, bats enter a state called torpor.&nbsp;



In the state of torpor, the bats' body functions slow down significantly. Their body temperature drops, and they use much less <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-power-has-won-the-prize-to-become-earths-main-source-of-energy/">energy</a> than usual. This allows the bats to live off the fat they stored up before winter and survive the cold months without needing to find food.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schreiber-s-bent-winged-bats">Schreiber's bent-winged bats</h2>



The Barcelona team studied Schreiber's bent-winged bats for 20 years to see how they cope with rising temperatures. They tracked the bats' weight and fat content throughout their hibernation cycle.&nbsp;



The researchers observed that these bats entered and exited hibernation weighing less over time, even though winter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-linked-to-vision-impairment/">temperatures</a> became warmer during the study period. Interestingly, despite this weight loss, the bats didn't lose a significant amount of fat reserves.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earlier-spring-activity">Earlier spring activity</h2>



As the Earth's temperature rises, winters are becoming milder and springs are starting earlier. This has led bats to wake up from their winter sleep sooner than usual. While this change might seem like a good thing at first, allowing them to be active for a longer period, it also comes with risks.



“The fat reserves they accumulate should be large enough to survive the whole winter without eating. However, due to shorter winters and higher temperatures, bats are not fattening up in autumn as they used to do years ago, because they do not need that much fat to get through the winter," explained Professor Jordi Serra-Cobo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bats-are-hibernating-in-warmer-caves">Bats are hibernating in warmer caves</h2>



In the past, bats preferred the cooler, deeper parts of caves to hibernate during winter. However, due to rising global temperatures, these areas are losing their coolness. As a result, bats are being forced to find cooler spots closer to cave entrances for their hibernation. 



The shift in location exposes them to greater danger from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/butterflies-use-visual-and-behavioral-mimicry-to-avoid-predators/">predators</a>, like genets, who can more easily access these areas near the cave opening. This new challenge makes it even harder for bats to survive the winter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-potential-impact-on-pest-control">Potential impact on pest control</h2>



As previously mentioned, bats are very important for keeping insect populations, including harmful pests and insects that spread diseases, under control.&nbsp;



Waking up early in spring could have a big impact on the life cycle of the insects they eat. If both the bats and the insects wake up earlier at the same time due to warmer weather, it might not affect how well the bats control pest populations.&nbsp;



This suggests that there is a complex balance in nature where changes in one animal's behavior due to climate change can affect other things in the environment, like pest control. However, unpredictable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-is-becoming-more-difficult-to-predict/">weather</a> - especially an unexpected cold snap in the spring - could be dangerous for bats that wake up early because they won't have enough stored fat to survive.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-varying-impacts-across-all-bat-species">Varying impacts across all bat species</h2>



The experts found that different bat species are affected by climate change in different ways. Bats that live in areas like the Mediterranean, which are already warm, seem to be better able to handle climate change than bats in colder regions. This shows that climate change can have complicated effects on wildlife, with some animals being able to adapt to new conditions more easily than others.&nbsp;



The study serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching effects of climate change, even on resilient creatures like bats. As the world warms, understanding and addressing the complex challenges they face will be crucial to ensure their survival in a rapidly changing environment.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52459-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Climate change is waking bats up from hibernation too early

Imagine waking up from a winter nap to find that...

A pioneering study has shed new light on the process of decision-making within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monkey-brain-explain-human-thinking/">primate brain</a> during foraging. The research was focused on two rhesus monkeys that were trained to navigate an experimental setup for food rewards, revealing intricate strategies for optimizing their gains. 



The study was conducted by a team of neuroscientists, including contributions from the <a href="https://www.dpz.eu/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Primate Center</a> (DPZ) – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen.



The research not only deepens our comprehension of self-paced actions but also has significant implications for understanding neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



The experiment allowed the monkeys to roam freely in a room equipped with two food boxes, from which they could obtain food pellets by pressing a button.&nbsp;



Throughout the experiment, the monkeys learned that delaying their button presses would lead to an increase in the number of pellets dispensed. 



This behavior adjustment occurred notably when a button press failed to yield a reward, prompting the monkeys to either wait longer before attempting again or to switch to the alternate box. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-patience-levels-in-the-monkeys">Predicting patience levels in the monkeys</h2>



The researchers meticulously recorded the neuronal activity in the front part of the monkeys' brains, employing a mathematical model to decode the monkeys’ reward expectations based on neural activity. 



This approach enabled the team to predict with remarkable accuracy how long the rhesus monkeys were prepared to wait for an increased reward and when they would decide to pursue another option.



“When we started the experiment, we expected that our monkeys would simply choose the box based on how successful they had been with that box before,” said lead author Neda Shahidi, a junior research group leader at the Collaborative Research Center 1528 at the <a href="https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/1.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Göttingen</a> and the DPZ in Göttingen. 



The monkeys' ability to modulate their waiting times based on previous outcomes and the duration since their last action highlights a sophisticated level of strategic planning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monkeys-and-rewards">Monkeys and rewards</h2>



“After a while, however, they had learned to pay attention to the time since the last keystroke and also to their previous success at a box. If they had waited a while but not received any pellets, they waited even longer before pressing the next time. However, if they were not rewarded too many times in a row after pressing the button, they moved to the other box. They had apparently decided that this food box was not worth the wait and it was better to look elsewhere,” Shahidi added. 



This indicates a calculated decision-making process, where the monkeys deemed a food box unworthy of further attempts after consecutive unrewarded efforts, choosing instead to explore other options.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-characterizing-brain-activity-patterns">Characterizing brain activity patterns </h2>



To dissect the underlying neuronal processes, the research team wirelessly recorded the activity of 96 neurons in the prefrontal cortex, a critical area for controlling goal-directed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-benefit-from-the-sloppy-eating-behavior-of-monkeys/">behavior</a>.&nbsp;



“However, characterizing the activity patterns of individual neurons does not always reveal the whole story when we study complex decision-making processes,” Shahidi explained. 



To address this, the team developed a mathematical model that distinguished components of neural activity correlating with the monkeys' decisions on when to press the button and their previous successes with each box.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advances-in-data-science">Advances in data science</h2>



Surprisingly, the model provided highly accurate predictions of the monkeys' forthcoming actions, including their choices to switch between food boxes. “We were surprised at how well our model could predict what the monkeys would do in the next few seconds,” Shahidi remarked.&nbsp;



“Our results show not only how the development of wireless recording technologies can improve our understanding of brain mechanisms in natural movement scenarios, but also how advances in data science are transforming neuroscience by extracting the computational components of the brain from the collective activity of neurons. We hope that in the long term, such advances will help to better understand abnormalities in cognitive processes such as self-pacing in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-plays-an-unexpected-role-in-movement-and-parkinsons-disease/">Parkinson's</a> or self-initiating actions in apathy,” she concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41593-024-01575-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Neuroscience</a>.&nbsp;



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Monkeys and humans quickly learn that patience is rewarding

A pioneering study has shed new light on the process...

Hungry,Dog,With,Sad,Eyes,Is,Waiting,For,Feeding,At

Approximately a quarter of Labrador Retriever <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dog-day-celebrating-all-the-ways-that-dogs-make-life-better/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a>, and two-thirds of flat-coated retrievers, along with many other dog breeds and possibly humans, carry a mutation in a gene known as POMC. This mutation significantly impacts hunger levels and metabolic rates in dogs, often leading to obesity.



According to a recent study led by Dr. Eleanor Raffan from the University of Cambridge's Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience (<a href="https://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC-PDN</a>), this genetic alteration not only makes these dogs feel perpetually hungry, but also reduces their caloric burn by about 25% compared to dogs without the mutation. This deadly and unfortunate combination predisposes Labrador Retriever dogs to obesity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-the-pomc-gene-and-obesity">Dogs, the POMC gene, and obesity</h2>



The <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/pomc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">POMC gene</a> is instrumental in controlling hunger and energy expenditure. The mutation in question disrupts normal feeding behavior, causing affected dogs to experience constant hunger despite consuming adequate food amounts.



They feel hungrier sooner after meals and have a reduced need for calories due to their lower resting energy expenditure. 



“We found that a mutation in the POMC gene seems to make <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-have-memories-of-their-relatives-but-you-can-help-by-making-them-feel-safe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> hungrier. Affected dogs tend to overeat because they get hungry between meals more quickly than dogs without the mutation,” said Dr Raffan.



She emphasized the need for owners of these breeds to be particularly vigilant in managing their pets' diets and exercise routines to maintain a healthy weight, considering the unique challenges posed by this genetic predisposition.



“All owners of Labradors and flat-coated retrievers need to watch what they’re feeding these highly food-motivated dogs, to keep them a healthy weight. But dogs with this genetic mutation face a double whammy. They not only want to eat more, but also need fewer calories because they’re not burning them off as fast," Dr. Raffan explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decoding-canine-hunger-through-science">Decoding canine hunger through science</h2>



The study, published in the journal Science Advances, also explored the behavioral implications of the POMC mutation. 



Labrador Retriever <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-are-better-at-expressing-emotions-than-cats-except-for-anger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a>, and other breeds carrying this mutation, exhibited a more pronounced interest in food, which often led them to obesity. This predisposition was demonstrated in the 'sausage in a box' test. 



In this experiment, the test subjects made significantly more attempts to access a visible, but inaccessible, sausage compared to their non-mutant counterparts. This behavior underscores the intense food motivation driven by the mutation.



Videos showing the 'sausage in a box' test <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/suppl/10.1126/sciadv.adj3823/suppl_file/sciadv.adj3823_movie_s1.zip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">can be downloaded here</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-pomc-causes-obesity-in-dogs-and-possibly-humans">How POMC causes obesity in dogs and possibly humans</h2>



Interestingly, the POMC gene and its pathways are similar in dogs and humans, with previous research indicating that humans with POMC mutations also suffer from extreme hunger and early-onset obesity. 



This similarity points to the potential broader implications of the study's findings, especially in the context of developing treatments for obesity and related <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5443" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conditions in humans</a>.



Dr. Raffan's work challenges prior assumptions about the role of chemical messengers like beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone (β-MSH) and beta-endorphin in hunger and energy use. 



Her findings suggest that these factors play a significant role independently of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH). This revelation contradicts earlier beliefs based on rat models, highlighting the importance of these hormones in both humans and dogs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-advice-for-battling-the-bulge-in-dogs">Practical advice for battling the bulge in dogs</h2>



The research team suggests practical measures for owners to help manage their pets' insatiable hunger, such as spreading daily food rations using puzzle feeders or scattering food to prolong eating time. 



These strategies can help mitigate the constant hunger driven by the POMC mutation, although Dr. Raffan acknowledges the difficulty in keeping Labrador Retriever <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-dogs-function-in-society-impacts-how-they-are-treated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> at a healthy weight, staving off obesity. 



She advocates for a compassionate understanding of the challenges faced by owners of dogs with this genetic condition, highlighting that the propensity for obesity in these animals is not merely a result of negligent care but a complex interplay of genetics and behavior.



“People are often rude about the owners of fat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-live-longer-and-happier-lives-when-they-get-to-socialize-often/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a>, blaming them for not properly managing their dogs’ diet and exercise," Dr. Raffan lamented. 



"But we’ve shown that Labradors with this genetic mutation are looking for food all the time, trying to increase their energy intake. It’s very difficult to keep these dogs slim, but it can be done," she concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-need-empathy-as-they-fight-obesity">Dogs need empathy as they fight obesity</h2>



In summary, the discovery of the POMC genetic mutation in Labrador and flat-coated retrievers spotlights the significant challenges these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-do-small-dogs-live-longer-than-large-breeds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> face in managing their weight due to an insatiable hunger and a decreased ability to burn calories. 



Dr. Eleanor Raffan and her team's research underscores the importance of understanding the genetic factors influencing pet health while offering practical strategies for owners to help their furry friends maintain a healthy lifestyle. 



By recognizing the role genetics play in our pets' behavior and metabolic health, we can approach their care with more empathy and insight, ensuring they lead happier, healthier lives. 



This study urges further genetic research to inform better practices in pet care and opens doors for similar discoveries in human health, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life on a genetic level.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-labrador-retriever-dogs-and-obesity">More about Labrador retriever dogs and obesity</h2>



As discussed above, Labrador Retrievers hold the crown as America's favorite dog breed, a title they've proudly maintained for years. Known for their friendly nature, intelligence, and versatility, Labradors shine in various roles, from loyal family pets to skilled service <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-and-humans-process-social-information-in-surprisingly-similar-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origins-and-history">Origins and history</h3>



Originating from Newfoundland, Canada, Labrador Retrievers were initially used by fishermen to retrieve fishing nets and fish that escaped from hooks. In the early 19th century, English nobles visiting Canada spotted the breed and brought them back to England. There, they refined the breed into the Labrador we know and love today.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personality-and-temperament">Personality and temperament</h3>



Labradors are beloved for their friendly and outgoing temperament. They are known to be great with children and other animals, making them ideal family pets. Their eagerness to please and high intelligence make them highly trainable for various tasks beyond companionship, including search and rescue, therapy work, and assistance for people with disabilities.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-physical-characteristics">Physical characteristics</h3>



Labradors are medium to large dogs, with males typically weighing between 65 to 80 pounds and females 55 to 70 pounds. They have a short, dense coat that comes in three colors: black, yellow, and chocolate. Their double coat helps them stay waterproof and insulated, a trait tracing back to their origins as fishermen's helpers.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-labrador-retriever-dogs-health-and-obesity-care">Labrador Retriever dogs' health and obesity care</h3>



Labradors are generally healthy, but they can be prone to certain genetic conditions, such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and eye conditions. Regular exercise is crucial for Labradors, as they have a lot of energy and enjoy being active. 



As discussed above, Labrador retriever dogs have a love for food and propensity for obesity caused by a mutation in a gene known as POMC. Because of this, their diet needs to be carefully managed to maintain proper health.



In summary, Labrador Retrievers continue to win hearts worldwide with their affectionate nature, intelligence, and versatility. Whether as a family pet, a working dog, or a loyal companion, the Labrador's enduring popularity is a testament to their wonderful characteristics. With proper care and training, Labradors can truly be a human's best friend.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adj3823" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Many dogs have a genetic mutation that causes constant hunger and obesity

Approximately a quarter of Labrador Retriever dogs, and two-thirds of...

Deep in the Arctic, beluga whales gather in vibrant groups and rely heavily on their social bonds for survival.



In a new study published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1359429">Frontiers in Marine Science</a>, experts reveal that rising ocean temperatures are disrupting the vital social structures of beluga whales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-lives-of-beluga-whales">Social lives of beluga whales</h2>



Beluga whales are medium-sized, white whales that live in the cold waters of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-soil-plays-a-major-role-in-fighting-climate-change/">Arctic</a> and sub-Arctic regions. They are known for the distinctive bulges on their foreheads called melons and their diverse vocalizations, which earned them the nickname "canaries of the sea."&nbsp;



Beluga whales live in groups called pods, which can be small or large, with hundreds of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-whales-contribute-to-carbon-capture/">whales</a> gathering during migrations or when food is plentiful. Belugas communicate with each other using a wide variety of sounds to help them navigate, hunt, and stay together in the dark waters of their habitat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-living-in-groups-nbsp">Living in groups&nbsp;</h2>



Living in groups is essential for the whales. It protects them from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coyotes-move-into-towns-to-avoid-predators-only-to-be-killed-by-humans/">predators</a>, helps them find food more efficiently, and allows them to raise their young together.&nbsp;



Young whales learn important skills like hunting and navigation by watching and copying other whales in their group. These strong social bonds and cooperative behaviors show how important it is to protect the beluga whales' habitat.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-in-studying-beluga-whales">Challenges in studying beluga whales</h2>



Studying beluga whales in the Arctic is difficult because of their remote location and harsh environment. Traditional research methods are expensive, require a lot of work, and only cover small areas, which means scientists might not get all the information they need.&nbsp;



The research introduces a new way to study beluga whales using deep learning, a type of artificial intelligence. Scientists trained computers to analyze high-resolution satellite images using a specific technique called Deep Convolutional Neural Networks. This allowed them to identify groups of beluga whales directly from space.&nbsp;



However, the researchers also acknowledge the limitation of the model. "Unfortunately, in areas where icebergs of similar size to beluga whales were present, the accuracy of the models was not good (less than 50% accuracy), and the images were photo-interpreted to detect beluga whales manually," explain the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-temperature-and-changing-social-habits">Ocean temperature and changing social habits</h2>



During the summer, beluga whales gather in large groups for feeding and socializing. The researchers observed that these groups became smaller as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-temperatures-hit-a-record-high-this-week-with-the-worst-heat-still-to-come/">ocean temperature</a> increased. This pattern was consistent across all 11 beluga whale populations studied, suggesting a widespread trend.



The researchers also analyzed the data statistically and confirmed a negative relationship between water temperature and group size. They measured the minimum distance between individual whales within the groups and found that this distance increased as the water temperature became warmer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-predictions">Alarming predictions</h2>



The study predicts that rising ocean temperatures due to climate change will pose significant challenges for beluga whales. The research suggests that the ocean temperatures in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions could rise by up to 3°C by the end of the century.



"This could, in turn, push their distribution patterns towards cooler southern areas, overlapping with northward distribution shifts of other marine mammal species, increasing habitat and resource competition or even leading to drastic population depletion, depending on species ability to adapt to new climate scenarios," the team noted.



The study highlights the need to understand how beluga whales will adapt to these changes. Whether they can find new habitats, adjust their migration patterns, or even change their diet will be crucial for their survival. If they are unable to adapt, the study warns of drastic population declines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-action-is-needed">Urgent action is needed</h2>



"Under this scenario, we recommend a prompt and global reduction of gas emissions and the protection of beluga whale territories from marine traffic if we wish to preserve this vulnerable species," said the researchers.



The experts suggest a comprehensive strategy to help beluga whales survive. It is vital to reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ponds-release-more-greenhouse-gases-than-they-store/">greenhouse gases</a> to slow global warming. We must also limit our impact on the marine environment, boost research, promote global cooperation, and engage local communities to safeguard belugas.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Beluga whales are losing their social bonds as temperatures rise

Deep in the Arctic, beluga whales gather in vibrant groups...

Keeping tabs on honeybee <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-causing-honey-bee-colony-collapse-in-the-u-s/">colonies</a> can be tricky, especially during the winter months when they become inactive. Traditionally, beekeepers have relied on opening the hives to assess their health, which can be disruptive to the honeybees.&nbsp;



But now, a study from <a href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nottingham Trent University</a> offers a bee-friendly alternative: a gentle tap that can reveal a hive's health without needing to peek inside.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monitoring-honeybee-health-with-vibrations">Monitoring honeybee health with vibrations</h2>



The method involves gently introducing a vibration to the hive using a special device called an electromagnetic shaker.&nbsp;



The shaker basically gives the hive a small nudge to get the bees' attention. To see how the bees react to this nudge, the researchers use an accelerometer - which can pick up even the tiniest movements inside the hive.&nbsp;



By measuring these movements, the researchers can tell how active the bees are after feeling the vibration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-honeybees-reaction-to-the-vibrations">Honeybees' reaction to the vibrations</h2>



At first, the bees tend to slow down their activity, likely because they are being cautious and want to figure out what's going on. However, after a while, they become more active as they try to understand what caused the vibration.&nbsp;



By looking at these patterns of how active the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honeybees-have-surprising-abilities-to-maintain-their-nest-structure/">honeybees</a> become, the scientists can actually figure out the overall health and well-being of the entire bee colony.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-a-healthy-honeybee-colony">Signs of a healthy honeybee colony</h2>



In the summer, honeybees do not react much when researchers introduce vibrations. This is because they are focused on essential tasks like collecting food and raising <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-refine-their-dancing-skills-by-watching-others/">young bees</a>, which are crucial for the survival of the colony.



However, things change in the winter. As the weather gets colder, the bees huddle together to stay warm and become less active. During this time, the bees become more sensitive to the same vibrations and react more strongly.&nbsp;



This increased sensitivity and the resulting "whooping" sound, which the researchers observed earlier, are signs that a healthy colony is adapting to the cold temperatures by clustering together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evaluating-the-health-of-a-honeybee-colony">Evaluating the health of a honeybee colony </h2>



The new method not only measures bee activity but also provides clues about the overall health of the honeybee colony. The researchers monitored several beehives and noticed that one colony buzzed constantly throughout the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-free-arctic-summers-could-be-the-new-normal-by-2030/">summer</a>, even during periods when bees are typically very active.&nbsp;



This particular colony turned out to be the only unhealthy group in the study, suggesting that the continuous buzzing might be a sign of poor health.



Further investigation revealed that the struggling colony had lost its queen in the spring. The abnormal buzzing pattern stopped and returned to normal after the colony was successfully reintroduced to a healthy new queen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionizing-beekeeping">Revolutionizing beekeeping</h2>



"Our measurements reveal, non-invasively, colony mobility, the clustering of the colony and its restfulness, and can detect the absence of the queen in the active season," noted lead researcher Dr. Martin Bencsik, a scientist at Nottingham Trent University.



"We believe our work might also help to give beekeepers an indication of the size of their colonies, based upon the strength of the signal."&nbsp;



In the future, the technology might even be used to create tools that constantly monitor beehive health. This would give <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-causing-honey-bee-colony-collapse-in-the-u-s/">beekeepers</a> immediate information about their bees, allowing them to address problems quickly.&nbsp;



Even beyond beekeeping, the research could be helpful in understanding how the environment affects bee health. This information would be valuable for scientists who are studying ecology and conservation.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54107-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

A gentle tap on the hive reveals honeybee health

Keeping tabs on honeybee colonies can be tricky, especially during...

The 1986 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chernobyl-wolves-have-evolved-resistance-to-cancer/">Chernobyl</a> nuclear disaster indelibly marked the region as the most radioactive environment on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-discovered-a-massive-planet-too-big-for-its-sun/">planet</a>, leading to the mass evacuation of humans. Despite the high radiation levels that persist nearly four decades later, a diverse array of flora and fauna continues to inhabit the area.&nbsp;



A study led by researchers at <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NYU</a> has shed light on the remarkable genetic resilience of microscopic worms in the Chernobyl zone. While it does not indicate that the area is safe, this finding underscores the extraordinary adaptability of these organisms to extreme conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chernobyl-radiation-and-wildlife">Chernobyl radiation and wildlife</h2>



The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, encompassing an area within an 18.6-mile radius of the power plant in northern Ukraine, has become a living laboratory for scientists studying the impacts of prolonged radiation exposure on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conservation-efforts-are-not-enough-to-save-antarctic-wildlife/">wildlife</a>.&nbsp;



Observations have revealed that animals within the zone exhibit distinct physical and genetic characteristics compared to those living in less contaminated environments. This has propelled scientific inquiry into how chronic radiation exposure influences DNA.



“Chernobyl was a tragedy of incomprehensible scale, but we still don't have a great grasp on the effects of the disaster on local populations. Did the sudden environmental shift select for species, or even individuals within a species, that are naturally more resistant to ionizing radiation?” said lead author Sophia Tintori, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biology at NYU.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-worms-that-live-fast">Tiny worms that live fast</h2>



The research team, seeking answers, focused their efforts on nematodes - tiny worms noted for their simplistic genomes and rapid life cycles, which render them particularly valuable for fundamental biological research.&nbsp;



“These worms live everywhere, and they live quickly, so they go through dozens of generations of evolution while a typical vertebrate is still putting on its shoes,” explained senior author Matthew Rockman, a professor of biology at NYU.



“I had seen footage of the exclusion zone and was surprised by how lush and overgrown it looked - I'd never thought of it as teeming with life,” Tintori added. “If I want to find worms that are particularly tolerant to radiation exposure, this is a landscape that might have already been selected for that.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enhanced-tolerance-to-radiation">Enhanced tolerance to radiation</h2>



This prompted Tintori to consider the possibility that the area might have naturally selected for organisms with an enhanced tolerance to radiation.&nbsp;



To explore this hypothesis, the research team, including collaborators from Ukraine and the United States such as biologist Timothy Mousseau of the <a href="https://sc.edu/">University of South Carolina</a>, embarked on a field expedition to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in 2019.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



Equipped with Geiger counters and protective gear, they meticulously collected worm samples from various locations, encountering radiation levels ranging from minimal to extremely high.



Upon collecting the samples, the researchers transported them to Mousseau’s field lab in Chernobyl for initial analysis. They then continued their examinations in a hotel in Kyiv, isolating and cultivating nematodes using travel microscopes.&nbsp;



Back at NYU, the team leveraged cryopreservation techniques to halt the worms' <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evolution-is-not-as-random-as-we-thought/">evolution</a>, allowing for a comparative analysis of specimens that had experienced different evolutionary histories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-resilience-of-chernobyl-worms">Genetic resilience of Chernobyl worms</h2>



The investigation centered on 15 worms of the species Oscheius tipulae, known for its relevance in genetic and evolutionary research. 



By sequencing the genomes of these Chernobyl worms and comparing them to those of O. tipulae from other regions, the researchers anticipated uncovering radiation-induced genetic alterations. However, their findings did not support this hypothesis.



“This doesn't mean that Chornobyl is safe - it more likely means that nematodes are really resilient animals and can withstand extreme conditions,” said Tintori. “We also don’t know how long each of the worms we collected was in the Zone, so we can't be sure exactly what level of exposure each worm and its ancestors received over the past four decades.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chernobyl-worms-were-not-phased-by-radiation">Chernobyl worms were not phased by radiation</h2>



Intrigued by the absence of a genetic signature from radiation, the team devised an experiment to assess the worms' growth rates and sensitivity to various types of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sexual-competition-drives-male-beetles-to-neglect-dna-repair/">DNA damage</a>.&nbsp;



Despite observing differences in DNA damage tolerance among the worm lineages, these variations did not align with the radiation levels at their collection sites, suggesting that the Chernobyl nematodes had not evolved a specific resistance to radiation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-repair-mechanisms-nbsp">DNA repair mechanisms&nbsp;</h2>



This groundbreaking research not only highlights the nematodes' resilience but also paves the way for future studies into DNA repair mechanisms across different organisms, including humans.&nbsp;



“Now that we know which strains of O. tipulae are more sensitive or more tolerant to DNA damage, we can use these strains to study why different individuals are more likely than others to suffer the effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sunflower-seeds-toxic-carcinogen/">carcinogens</a>,” Tintori explained.&nbsp;



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



As Tintori points out, contemplating individual variability in response to environmental DNA-damaging agents enriches our understanding of personal cancer risk factors.&nbsp;



The study - published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2314793121">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> - not only contributes to the field of evolutionary biology and genetics but also offers insights into human health, emphasizing the significance of genetic research in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities to environmental carcinogens.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Chernobyl is teeming with worms resistant to radiation

The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster indelibly marked the region as...

A recent study led by <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a> (QMUL) has found that bumblebees exhibit a level of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/longevity-in-parrots-linked-to-brain-size-and-cognitive-ability/">cognitive ability</a> far more advanced than previously recognized, showcasing their capacity for complex social learning.&nbsp;



The experts discovered that bumblebees can master intricate tasks through observation, a trait once thought to be exclusive to humans. This finding suggests that elements of cumulative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-are-not-the-only-animals-that-create-their-own-culture/">culture</a>, the layering of knowledge and skills across generations, may also exist among these insects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sophisticated-puzzle">Sophisticated puzzle</h2>



The study involved a sophisticated two-step puzzle box designed to test the bumblebees' <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/among-songbirds-complex-vocal-learners-are-superior-problem-solvers/">problem-solving</a> capabilities.&nbsp;



To access a sugary reward, the bees were required to complete two separate actions in a specific sequence. Initially, the bees were enticed with an additional reward partway through the task, which was later removed, forcing them to open the box entirely on their own to obtain the treat.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-by-watching">Learning by watching</h2>



The most astonishing observation came from the fact that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bee-evolution-occurred-tens-of-millions-of-years-earlier-than-previously-believed/">bees</a> watching a "demonstrator" bee could learn the entire sequence without prior experience of the intermediate reward.



The research marks a significant shift in our understanding of social learning, suggesting that bumblebees can acquire and transmit behaviors that surpass their innate cognitive limits. This capability was once believed to be a hallmark of human culture's complexity and depth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenging-task-for-bumblebees-to-learn">Challenging task for bumblebees to learn</h2>



Lead author Alice Bridges, a PhD student at QMUL, highlighted the task's challenge, noting the necessity of initially training demonstrator bees with a temporary reward to facilitate learning.&nbsp;



"This is an extremely difficult task for bees. They had to learn two steps to get the reward, with the first behavior in the sequence being unrewarded. Yet, other bees learned the whole sequence from social observation of these trained bees, even without ever experiencing the first step's reward," explained Bridges.&nbsp;



This contrasts starkly with the bees' inability to solve the puzzle without a demonstration, underscoring the importance of social learning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bumblebee-learning-hints-at-cultural-transmission-nbsp">Bumblebee learning hints at cultural transmission&nbsp;</h2>



The implications of this study extend beyond the realm of individual learning, suggesting the potential for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-may-be-more-similar-to-humans-than-expected/">cumulative culture</a> among animals. This concept - the gradual build-up of knowledge and practices over time - has traditionally been associated with human societies.&nbsp;



The bees' capacity for learning complex tasks from demonstrators hints at mechanisms for cultural transmission and innovation beyond mere individual learning.



"This challenges the traditional view that only humans can socially learn complex behavior beyond individual learning,” said senior author Lars Chittka, a zoologist at QMUL.&nbsp;



“It raises the fascinating possibility that many of the most remarkable accomplishments of the social insects, like the nesting architectures of bees and wasps or the agricultural habits of aphid- and fungus-farming ants, may have initially spread by copying of clever innovators, before they eventually became part of the species-specific behavior repertoires."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-origins-of-social-learning">Evolutionary origins of social learning</h2>



This pioneering study - published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07126-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> - not only expands our understanding of animal intelligence but also invites further exploration into the cognitive abilities of insects



By demonstrating that bumblebees are capable of social learning and potentially participating in the rudiments of cumulative culture, it prompts a reevaluation of long-held assumptions about the mental lives of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-insect-decline-what-are-the-causes-and-consequences/">insects</a> and opens new horizons for research into the evolutionary origins of social learning and culture.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Bumblebees may be capable of cultural learning

A recent study led by Queen Mary University of London...

In an intriguing new study, a team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a> has found that African weakly electric fish, also known as elephantnose fish, exhibit a remarkable form of collective sensing akin to a hypothetical scenario where each member of a basketball team could see through the others' eyes. 



This shared sensory perception could significantly aid these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-confirms-that-fish-can-recognize-themselves-in-a-mirror/">fish</a> in locating food and identifying allies and adversaries in their environment.



The research was led by Dr. Nathaniel Sawtell, a principal investigator at the Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute and professor of neuroscience at Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Federico Pedraja, a postdoctoral research associate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-learning-in-electric-fish-nbsp">Social learning in electric fish&nbsp;</h2>



The experts discovered that African weakly electric fish can learn and execute complex, multi-step tasks as a group, a feat that challenges the assumption that advanced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/food-availability-influences-social-learning-among-orangutans/">social learning</a> is unique to humans and hints at elements of cumulative culture within these aquatic creatures.



“In engineering it is common that groups of emitters and receivers work together to improve sensing, for example in sonar and radar. We showed that something similar may be happening in groups of fish that sense their environment using electrical pulses. These fish seem to ‘see’ much better in small groups,” explained Sawtell.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collective-sensing-among-electric-fish-nbsp">Collective sensing among electric fish&nbsp;</h2>



The study provides compelling evidence that the electric fish species Gnathonemus petersii performs a swift act of collective sensing, a phenomenon not previously documented in the biological realm.



Electric fish utilize specialized organs to emit and detect electric fields, aiding in communication and an electric form of echolocation for navigating their dark, murky river habitats in Africa.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sophisticated-sensory-abilities-nbsp">Sophisticated sensory abilities&nbsp;</h2>



Considering these challenges, the scientists proposed that these fish might have evolved <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pregnancy-affects-the-sensory-abilities-of-mammals/">sensory abilities</a> comparable to networked radar and sonar systems, which can detect objects with greater range and detail through collaboration.



By developing a computer model to simulate the electric environment of these fish, the researchers assessed whether individual electric fish could enhance their object detection capabilities by accessing signals from their peers.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beaming-images-at-the-speed-of-light">Beaming images at the speed of light</h2>



“Think of these external signals as electric images of the objects that nearby electric fish automatically produce and beam to nearby fish at the speed of light,” said Pedraja.&nbsp;



“Our work suggests that three fish in a group would each receive three different 'electrical views' of the same scene at virtually the same time,” Sawtell added.



One of the simulation's key findings, as noted by Sawtell, is that collective sensing could triple the electro-location range of electric fish, likely providing substantial survival benefits.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electrical-communication-nbsp">Electrical communication&nbsp;</h2>



Further investigation sought a neural basis for this ability in G. petersii. Brain recordings related to the electrosensory system revealed that the fish respond to both their own discharges and external electrical signals. The alignment of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fighting-fish-synchronize-their-behavior-and-brain-activity/">brain activity</a> patterns with the simulation predictions was particularly exciting for the scientists.



Behavioral observations reinforced the notion of collective sensing, with the fish forming specific patterns that facilitate shared sensing and engaging in electrical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-disrupts-communication-among-animals/">communication</a> that suggests a coordinated effort. This behavior might be crucial for the fish's collective sensing capabilities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-brains-for-collective-sensing-nbsp">Big brains for collective sensing&nbsp;</h2>



“These fish have some of the biggest brain-to-body mass ratios of any animal on the planet. Perhaps these enormous brains are needed for rapid and highly sophisticated social sensing and collective behavior,” Sawtell said.



This discovery opens new paths for exploring animal intelligence and social learning evolution, challenging existing beliefs and offering insights into potential applications in artificial sensing technologies, including underwater autonomous vehicles and medical imaging.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07157-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Collective sensing: Electric fish can 'see' through others' eyes

In an intriguing new study, a team of researchers led...

Paleontologists have unearthed a fascinating new species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-marine-lizard-italy/">marine lizard</a> that thrived just before the dinosaurs' reign came to an end. The species, known as Khinjaria acuta, possessed formidable dagger-like teeth, painting a picture of a vastly different marine ecosystem than what exists today.&nbsp;



This ancient ocean was populated by a plethora of large predatory creatures that fed on sizable prey, in stark contrast to contemporary ecosystems where a limited number of apex predators, such as the great white shark, the orca, and the leopard seal, hold dominion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-giant-marine-lizards-nbsp">Giant marine lizards&nbsp;</h2>



Khinjaria acuta was a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-mosasaur-species-discovered-with-strange-screwdriver-like-teeth/">mosasaur</a>, a group not directly related to dinosaurs but rather to giant marine lizards, akin to today's Komodo dragons and anacondas. These creatures dominated the seas about 66 million years ago, contemporaneously with the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops.



The newly discovered species boasted powerful jaws and long, dagger-like teeth, making it a fearsome predator within the rich and varied predator community in the Atlantic Ocean near Morocco.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-khinjaria-fossils">Khinjaria fossils</h2>



The findings are based on the examination of a skull and skeletal parts unearthed in a phosphate mine southeast of Casablanca, involving a collaborative effort from researchers at the <a href="https://www.bath.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bath</a>, UK, the <a href="https://www.nature.com/nature-index/institution-outputs/morocco/museum-of-natural-history-of-marrakech/645cab8cc794a294b40c9022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marrakech Museum of Natural History</a>, the <a href="https://www.mnhn.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle</a> (NMNH) in Paris, France, the <a href="https://www.smu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Methodist University</a> in Texas, USA, and the <a href="https://www.ehu.eus/en/en-home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of the Basque Country</a>, Bilbao.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extraordinary-diversity-nbsp">Extraordinary diversity&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Nick Longrich, from the University of Bath, who led the study, remarked on the exceptional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/top-marine-predators-may-suffer-massive-habitat-loss-by-2100/">predator</a> diversity, noting that several species exceeded the size of a great white shark. Moreover, each species showcased different dental adaptations, indicative of varied hunting strategies.&nbsp;



“Some mosasaurs had teeth to pierce prey, others to cut, tear, or crush. Now we have Khinjaria, with a short face full of huge, dagger-shaped teeth. This is one of the most diverse marine faunas seen anywhere, at any time in history, and it existed just before the marine reptiles and the dinosaurs went extinct.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asteroid-impact-nbsp">Asteroid impact&nbsp;</h2>



This diverse marine life existed on the brink of cataclysm, just before an asteroid impact in the Yucatan Peninsula ushered in a mass extinction event. The event obliterated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-were-going-strong-when-the-deadly-asteroid-struck/">dinosaurs</a> and led to the diversification of surviving mammals, birds, and lizards on land, while similarly transformative effects occurred in the oceans.&nbsp;



The aftermath saw the disappearance of mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and giant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-sea-turtles-have-returned-to-the-same-place-to-eat-for-3000-years/">sea turtles</a>, making way for the evolution of whales, seals, and certain fish species. However, the post-impact ecosystem markedly differed from its predecessor.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecosystem-structure-nbsp">Ecosystem structure&nbsp;</h2>



“There seems to have been a huge change in the ecosystem structure in the past 66 million years,” Longrich added, highlighting the unusual diversity and abundance of apex predators in the Late Cretaceous compared to modern marine communities, where large predators are fewer.



“The Phosphates of Morocco deposit in a shallow and warm epicontinental sea, under a system of upwellings; these zones are caused by currents of deep, cold, nutrient-rich waters rising towards the surface, providing food for large numbers of sea creatures and, as a result, supporting a lot of predators. This is probably one of the explanations for this extraordinary palaeobiodiversity observed in Morocco at the end of the Cretaceous,” said senior author Nathalie Bardet, a paleontologist at NMNH.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-khinjaria-a-new-mosasaur">Khinjaria, a new mosasaur </h2>



Study co-author Nour-Eddine Jalil, a paleontologist at the same institution, further explained the significance of the Moroccan phosphate deposits: “The phosphates of Morocco immerse us in the Upper Cretaceous seas during the latest geological times of the dinosaurs’ age. No deposit has provided so many fossils and so many species from this period.”



“After the 'titan of the seas,' Thalassotitan, the ‘saw-toothed’ mosasaur Xenodens, the ‘star-toothed’ mosasaur, Stelladens and many others, now there is Khinjaria, a new mosasaur with dagger-like teeth. The elongation of the posterior part of the skull which accommodated the jaw musculature suggests a terrible biting force,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105870" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cretaceous Research</a>.



Image Credit: Andrey Atuchin



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Giant sea lizard Khinjaria had teeth like daggers

Paleontologists have unearthed a fascinating new species of marine lizard...

The mighty rumble of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephants-may-be-the-first-non-human-animals-to-call-each-other-by-names/">elephants</a> echoing through the jungle might not be what you think. Instead of playful booming, it could be a heart-wrenching farewell. Research from the <a href="https://www.westbengalforest.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">West Bengal Forest Department</a> in India reveals a surprising discovery: Asian elephants perform a special burial ritual to mourn the loss of their young. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asian-elephants-in-mourning">Asian elephants in mourning</h2>



Researchers in northern India closely watched and recorded how Asian elephants acted when their calves died. They wanted to understand how deeply elephants feel emotions and connect with each other.&nbsp;



The researchers observed the herds' behavior, how they reacted to the loss, and how they buried the calves. This careful observation helped scientists learn more about the complicated mourning rituals of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-elephants-will-soon-become-extinct-without-immediate-international-help/">endangered animals</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-asian-elephant-burial-rituals">Asian elephant burial rituals</h2>



During the burial rituals, the researchers observed Asian elephants carrying their dead calves far from humans and potential dangers. They actively searched for ditches and depressions to bury the bodies, suggesting a deliberate choice of burial grounds.&nbsp;



According to reports from the West Bengal Forest Department, one mother elephant even carried her dead calf for two days before leaving it alone. The extended care suggests a strong bond between elephants and their young, possibly influenced by hormones like oxytocin and the long gestation period.



Burying the calves involved not just the mothers, but also other female caregivers (allomothers) and members of all ages. This highlights the close social ties within elephant herds and their shared response to loss.



It's interesting to note that only calves received this burial treatment. Carrying older individuals wouldn't be practical due to their size. This selective behavior suggests that mourning and burial rituals are reserved for those whose loss significantly affects the herd's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cattle-have-intricate-social-lives-allogrooming-insights-behaviors-welfare/">social dynamics</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-avoidance-of-burial-sites">Avoidance of burial sites</h2>



Unlike African elephants, which sometimes return to burial sites, Asian elephants in this study avoided the areas where they buried their calves. They left the sites within 40 minutes and even changed their migration routes to avoid them.&nbsp;



Interviews with tea garden managers confirmed that elephants now use different paths instead of their old ones. This suggests the burials have a big impact on the herds and might be linked to how they feel about death.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-causes-of-death">Causes of death</h2>



Sadly, all the calves in the study were less than a year old when they died. Some succumbed to illnesses like severe infections or respiratory problems, possibly caused by accidents.&nbsp;



Others died due to unfortunate circumstances, like falling into irrigation ditches found in their habitat. The detailed examinations after death (autopsies) revealed various health problems these young elephants faced, highlighting their vulnerability in the early stages of life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-emotional-response-nbsp">Complex emotional response&nbsp;</h2>



The study also identified dangers posed by the environment they live in. Irrigation ditches, common in the tea estates where these elephants roam, proved deadly for some calves. This emphasizes the challenge of managing these shared spaces between elephants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-have-adapted-to-human-activities-for-thousands-of-years/">human activities</a> like agriculture, as human-made structures can pose significant risks.



Regardless of the reason for a calf's death, the study observed a consistent behavior - the herd attempted to bury the deceased in an unusual lying position. This behavior suggests a complex social and emotional response to death within elephant communities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-infanticide-among-asian-elephants">No infanticide among Asian elephants</h2>



Baby killing, or infanticide, happens in many animal groups, like monkeys, meat-eaters, and rodents. There are different reasons for this, like getting rid of competition, not having enough resources, or social order within a group.&nbsp;



But the researchers found that there was no infanticide among the Asian elephants. They believe there are a few reasons why elephants don't kill babies:



<ul>
<li>Strong bonds: Elephants live in close family groups, especially females and their young. This closeness might stop them from hurting the young and instead work together to take care of them.</li>



<li>Long calf care: Baby elephants need their mothers and other females in the herd to look after them for a long time. This extended care and everyone helping out might make it less likely that someone would kill a baby.</li>



<li>Breeding: The way elephants reproduce doesn't involve killing babies to make the mother ready to have another one sooner. Unlike some other animals, losing a baby doesn't mean the mother can have another one right away, so there's no reason for males to kill babies.</li>



<li>Male competition: Male elephants don't directly help raise the babies and aren't part of the close female groups. They focus on finding females who are ready to mate instead of taking over a herd and getting rid of other males' babies. This social structure and breeding style make it less likely for elephants to kill babies.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-significance">Study significance</h2>



The study offers the first photographic evidence of elephants burying their dead, and analyzes their behavior after encountering a dead elephant. The research helps us understand more about elephants, including how they think, feel, and live in social groups.&nbsp;



This knowledge can be used to improve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephant-tweets-often-misrepresent-conservation-issues/">elephant conservation</a> efforts worldwide. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of protecting areas where elephants live, even if those areas are not officially designated as protected zones.&nbsp;



This discovery is more than just science; it's a story of love, loss, and the deep connections these magnificent creatures form. It's a call to action, urging us to become stewards of their future and ensure their continued existence in the world.



The findings are published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8826.16.2.24615-24629" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Threatened Taxa</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Asian elephants perform a special burial ritual for their calves

The mighty rumble of elephants echoing through the jungle might...

<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.



—–



Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



—–



Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.



—–

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.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



-----

What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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)



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

News coming your way