Humans often consider tool use a mark of intelligence. Yet many animals find creative ways to solve problems. A new study reveals how carrion crows - which seldom use tools in the wild - can learn to master them when trained.



Their performance suggests that with only small evolutionary changes, they might one day adopt tools as part of their natural behavior.



Researchers from the <a href="https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tübingen</a> trained three carrion crows to handle sticks and retrieve food pellets placed inside a transparent Plexiglas box. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-beaks-to-borrowed-sticks">From beaks to borrowed sticks</h2>



The birds could not access the pellets with their beaks, so they had to explore with sticks. Success depended on careful manipulation: moving the pellet too quickly risked losing it from the platform.



"Tool use is very rare in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crows-hold-grudges-for-up-to-17-years/">animal kingdom</a>, but relatively common in dexterous generalists such as primates, parrots, and corvids," said lead author Felix&nbsp;Moll.



Only two crow species - the New Caledonian and Hawaiian crow - use tools regularly. This experiment tested whether carrion crows could, with training, refine similar skills.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crows-master-deliberate-tool-actions">Crows master deliberate tool actions</h2>



The crows did more than just copy actions. They aligned sticks carefully with their beaks and guided food into reach.



"The crows first picked up the stick from a holder and adjusted it until they were grasping it so that it was precisely aligned with their beak. Then they used it to guide the pellet within reach," said Moll. They even returned the stick to the holder before eating.



Recordings showed early awkwardness: sticks shoved pellets back and forth with little success. Over time, movements became refined, efficient, and highly repeatable.



"By comparison, recordings of later training sessions showed extremely precise movement patterns. The movements of the stick varied little in standard situations; the crows determinedly guided the food pellet to one side of the box and fished it out," said co-author Julius Würzler.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practice-reveals-hidden-intelligence">Practice reveals hidden intelligence</h2>



The study used pose estimation to analyze thousands of trials. It found that the crows improved through reinforcement learning, a trial-and-error process where variability early on helped them discover effective strategies. 



This variability mirrors processes seen in human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dopamine-fuels-learning-in-young-songbirds/">motor learning</a>, where exploration refines skill. 



Such parallels remind us that intelligence does not always require a complex evolutionary leap. Sometimes, it is about applying existing flexibility to new challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crows-show-flexible-problem-solving">Crows show flexible problem-solving</h2>



Each crow developed its own style - some preferred sliding pellets out to one side, while others adjusted depending on pellet position. 



These strategies were consistent and efficient, highlighting not just learned precision but also individuality in problem-solving. The presence of personal approaches suggests that tool use is not a rigid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crows-can-recognize-geometric-patterns-in-shapes/">behavior</a> but a dynamic process shaped by learning and constant feedback. 



Mistakes added another layer of insight: when a pellet slipped from control, the crows reacted within fractions of a second, adjusting stick movements to regain control. 



Such rapid corrections revealed continuous monitoring and flexibility, showing a level of awareness that goes beyond instinct and hinted at truly adaptive cognition.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/carrion-crows_precise-tool-use_infographic_UTubingen_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/carrion-crows_precise-tool-use_infographic_UTubingen_1s.webp" alt="Typical stick-tip trajectories during an early and late training session. The crow can’t reach the food reward without the stick-tool. Credit: University of Tübingen" class="wp-image-1986134"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Typical stick-tip trajectories during an early and late training session. The crow can’t reach the food reward without the stick-tool. Click image to enlarge. Credit: University of Tübingen</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tool-grip-reveals-hidden-intelligence">Tool grip reveals hidden intelligence</h2>



Another striking behavior was how they adjusted stick orientation before use. Often, the stick was misaligned when pulled from the dispenser. 



The crows tossed and re-gripped it until alignment was perfect. This fine motor adjustment revealed an advanced capacity to prepare tools for effective use.



"Animal tool use is supported by a number of enabling factors: motivation, conceptual knowledge and advanced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ravens-develop-sophisticated-cognitive-skills-by-the-age-of-four-months/">cognitive skills</a>, as well as fine motor control," said co-author Andreas&nbsp;Nieder.



The carrion crows displayed all of these, suggesting their brains integrate the stick as part of their own body. Similar processes occur in primates, where neurons adapt to represent the working end of tools.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crows-hint-at-evolution">Crows hint at evolution</h2>



The findings show that non-habitual tool users can still reach high levels of dexterity. This supports the idea of “tooling,” where animals treat body and object as one system. 



Such results deepen our understanding of cognition in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crows-count-out-loud-just-like-toddlers/">birds</a> and may guide future research into neural mechanisms.



"If woodpeckers didn't already - with their highly-specialized long tongues - fish beetle larvae out of their burrows in dead wood, this nutritious source of protein might one day be exploited by carrion crows using tools," Moll adds. 



These experiments suggest that with only small evolutionary nudges, carrion crows could naturally evolve into regular tool users. 



The work also invites reflection on intelligence across species: when given the right opportunities, animals may reveal skills that once seemed uniquely human.



Click here to <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)01100-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch videos of carrion crows using precision tools...</a>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)01100-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Carrion crows can create, prepare, and use tools with great precision

Humans often consider tool use a mark of intelligence. Yet many animals find creative ways to solve problems. A new study reveals how carrion crows - which seldom use tools in the wild - can learn to master them when trained. Their performance suggests that with only small evolutionary changes, they might one day adopt tools as part of their natural behavior. Researchers from the University of Tübingen trained three carrion crows to handle sticks and retrieve food pellets placed inside a transparent Plexiglas box. From beaks...

British,Cat,And,Golden,Retriever

Dog and cat owners often engage in the age-old debate about which of their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/petting-dogs-and-cats-dramatically-reduces-stress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beloved pets</a> is smarter. This question, however, has remained challenging to answer due to the inherent difficulties in making a sound comparison between the two species. The complexity lies in their differing natures and the varying success of previous comparative studies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interpreting-human-pointing-gestures">Interpreting human pointing gestures</h2>



In an attempt to provide a clearer understanding, researchers from the <a href="https://ethology.elte.hu/research_groups" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ELKH-ELTE</a> Comparative Ethology Research Group and the Department of Ethology at <a href="https://ethology.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eötvös Loránd University</a> embarked on a new study. Their goal was to compare how well companion dogs and cats can interpret human pointing gestures under identical test conditions.



Attila Salamon, the first author of the study, highlighted the unique challenges faced during the research. "We tested cats and dogs first in the laboratory, which was quite the challenge for cats," Salamon stated. 



Salamon explained that of the 62 indoor family cats brought to the Department, only 34 participated in the pointing test. The other cats were too shy or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-dogs-preference-for-certain-foods-has-a-direct-impact-on-motivation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unmotivated</a>, despite the lure of their favorite treats. In contrast, no dogs had to be excluded from the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-were-dogs-or-cats-smarter-with-pointing">Were dogs or cats smarter with pointing?</h2>



The testing procedure, as described by co-author Melitta Csepregi, was straightforward. Two containers were placed on the ground, with one containing a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/switching-dogs-and-cats-to-vegan-diets-would-help-the-earth-tremendously/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> reward. The experimenter pointed at the baited container, and then the animal made its choice. 



"Overall, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-with-vegan-diets-may-have-better-health-outcomes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> proved to be more skilled. They found the reward significantly more frequently than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-old-is-your-cat-in-human-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cats</a>," Csepregi observed. “In addition, cats gradually became less willing to choose, while dogs were eager to work during the whole duration of the test.”



Acknowledging that cats might have been at a disadvantage in an unfamiliar environment, a subgroup of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-attachments-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cats</a> was later tested in their homes. This adjustment did not significantly alter the outcome. Although cats were more willing to participate at home, their success rate remained lower than that of dogs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-research-team-learned">What the research team learned</h2>



Márta Gácsi, the lead researcher, offered insights into the possible reasons for these differences. "Cats may have been less attentive, less motivated by food rewards, or frustrated by the unfamiliar environment or unusual handling during the test,” she suggested. 



Gácsi also highlighted the inherent differences between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/consumer-choices-are-influenced-by-ads-with-cats-and-dogs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the two species</a>. “Unlike the cat, the dog is a social species and was selected for interaction and cooperation with humans during domestication. Differences in how we keep them may also have contributed to the test results."



Gácsi concluded with a significant observation. She explained, "All things considered, it's no surprise that it's less relevant for cats to rely on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-are-better-at-expressing-emotions-than-cats-except-for-anger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human communication</a> cues." 



In summary, this study sheds light on the differing natures of dogs and cats, suggesting that intelligence in pets cannot be universally measured. This trait is heavily influenced by their evolutionary and domestication histories. 



While the debate on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-pet-owners-care-more-for-dogs-than-cats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">which pet</a> is smarter, dogs or cats, may continue, this research underscores the importance of understanding and appreciating the unique qualities of each species.



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Are dogs smarter than cats? A new study looks for answers to that never-ending debate

Dog and cat owners often engage in the age-old debate...

Dog,Holds,Carrot,In,Its,Mouth

Recent research conducted by the Department of Ethology at <a href="https://ethology.elte.hu/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eötvös Loránd University</a>, Hungary, and <a href="https://petfood.symrise.com/emea-en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Symrise Pet Food</a>, France, has provided new understanding into how dogs' food preferences and motivation are reflected in their brain activity. Specifically, their caudate nuclei, a brain region associated with reward processing, show marked variations in response to different food qualities. 



This study, which cleverly integrates behavioral observations with advanced neuroimaging techniques, offers a unique perspective on the relationship between food quality and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-dog-day-celebrating-all-the-ways-that-dogs-make-life-better/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">canine</a> motivation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-how-food-motivates-dogs">Learning how food motivates dogs</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiment-1-behavioral-assessment">Experiment 1: Behavioral assessment</h3>



The first part of the study involved a group of twenty family <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>. These dogs were initially trained to unwrap a box. They were then introduced to associate specific tones with two types of food: smoked ham, a highly rewarding treat, and fiber cookies, a less desirable option.



The crucial part of this experiment was to measure the dogs' motivation to obtain the associated food. This was determined by the speed at which they unwrapped the box when one of the sounds played. "The results showed that the dogs unwrapped the box quicker when the sound associated with the higher quality food, the smoked ham, was played," the research team reports.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="GEfERCYtSv-3208636-12187" type="single"]</div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiment-2-neuroimaging-analysis">Experiment 2: Neuroimaging analysis</h3>



A different group of twenty family <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mischievous-dogs-experts-reveal-the-top-ten-naughtiest-breeds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> participated in the second experiment, which focused on brain activity. These dogs were trained to remain still in a brain scanner. Initially, they were exposed to both sounds without any specific meaning attached. After participating in the wrapped box experiment, they underwent another scanning session, this time with each sound linked to either smoked ham or fiber cookies.



The primary focus here was on changes in the caudate nucleus during these sessions. The study found that, compared to the first session, there was a heightened response in the caudate nucleus in the second session, particularly to the sound associated with smoked ham.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-food-motivation-and-the-brain">Dog food, motivation, and the brain</h2>



Dorottya Ujfalussy is the senior author of the study. She explains, "While prior research has primarily focused on how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/typical-american-dog-knows-18-words-and-love-is-at-the-top-of-the-list/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dog brain</a> responds to rewards versus non-rewards, our study takes a step further, delving into the representation of two food rewards varying in quality." 



Not all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-needy-independent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> showed the same performance, with significant variation in how quickly they unwrapped the boxes. The study observed a clear positive correlation between the behavioral performance of the dogs and the differentiation in their brain responses. 



Laura V. Cuaya is the first author of the study. She remarks, "It is exciting to be able to 'see' how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-facial-markings-influence-how-they-bond-with-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> represent different foods in their brains and observe how the quality of the food influences their motivation. We were surprised to discover a distinct positive correlation between the behavior of the dogs and their brain representations."



Cuaya explains further, "The direction of this relationship still intrigues us. Based on our data, we cannot determine whether a more distinct brain representation of both sounds enables a better behavioral performance or if it operates in the reverse. It’s likely that this process is not solely unidirectional."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-canine-training-and-motivation">Implications for canine training and motivation</h2>



This study offers a unique insight into how dogs' preferences and motivations towards food are intricately linked to their brain activity. It opens new avenues in understanding canine cognition and behavior, especially in terms of how they perceive and value different types of rewards. 



Ujfalussy further expounded, "Our findings highlight that the caudate nuclei not merely process rewards, but also distinguish between rewards based on their quality."



These findings could have significant implications for training methods and enhancing the well-being of domestic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-and-humans-process-social-information-in-surprisingly-similar-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a> around the world.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40539-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



Video Credit: Eötvös Loránd University/ Symrise Pet Food&nbsp;



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A dog's preference for certain foods has a direct impact on motivation

Recent research conducted by the Department of Ethology at Eötvös...

Honey,Bee,Flying,To,The,Flower

Venoms, remarkable for their complexity and potency, have independently evolved in numerous animal groups, including bees. Within the diverse insect order Hymenoptera, which encompasses over 6,000 bee species alone, venomous species are notably abundant. 



Despite their ecological and economic significance, the evolutionary development of hymenopteran venoms has remained largely unexplored. A recent study led by Dr. Björn von Reumont, a visiting scientist at <a href="https://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Goethe University Frankfurt</a>, has made significant strides in understanding this mysterious evolutionary path.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-bee-venom-evolution">Studying bee venom evolution</h2>



The research, grounded in comparative genomics, marks the first systematic exploration of the evolution of bee and other hymenopteran venoms. 



The team identified prevalent peptides and proteins in hymenopteran venom using protein databases. They then analyzed venoms from two wild bee species -- the violet carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) and the great-banded furrow-bee (Halictus scabiosae) -- as well as of the honeybee (Apis mellifera). 



Twelve peptide and protein families were found to be common across the hymenopteran venoms studied, suggesting these are fundamental "common ingredient" of their venom cocktails.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-genetic-discoveries">Surprising genetic discoveries</h2>



In collaboration with institutions like the <a href="https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/en/institutes/leibniz-institutes-all-lists" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leibniz Institute</a>, <a href="https://www.tum.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TUM</a>, and <a href="https://tbg.senckenberg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LOEWE TBG</a>, the researchers examined the genes of these 12 families in 32 hymenopteran taxa. 



This group included sweat bees and stingless bees, and also wasps and ants such as the notorious fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). The genetic differences were sometimes as minute as a single letter change in the genetic code. Nonetheless, this enabled the team to trace relationships and compile a lineage of venom genes using artificial intelligence and machine learning.



A key revelation was the presence of many venom genes across all hymenopterans, indicating a common ancestral origin. Bees, it seems, have been venomous from their beginnings. 



This finding challenges current debates in other groups, such as Toxicofera, about the independent evolution of venoms. “This makes it highly probable that hymenopterans are venomous as an entire group,” concludes von Reumont. “For other groups, such as Toxicofera, which includes snakes, anguids (lizards) and iguania, science is still debating whether the venoms can be traced back to a common ancestor or whether they evolved separately.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hymenoptera-specialization">Hymenoptera specialization</h2>



In the Hymenoptera order, it's specifically the stinging insects like bees, wasps, and ants that are equipped with a stinger for venom delivery. In contrast, the ancient parasitic sawflies, such as the sirex wood wasp (Sirex noctilio), employ a different method. They use their ovipositor, in conjunction with laying eggs, to introduce substances that modify the physiology of their host plants. 



A notable example is the sirex wood wasp, which not only injects a fungus aiding its larvae in colonizing the wood but also delivers its unique blend of venomous proteins, as highlighted in the study. 



These proteins are crucial in preparing the plant environment to be conducive for the larvae's growth. Dr. von Reumont points out, "Based on this, we can categorize the sirex wood wasp as venomous too."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-novel-venom-components-in-bees">Novel venom components in bees</h2>



Particularly intriguing was the discovery related to the peptide melittin in bees. Contrary to previous beliefs that multiple gene copies were responsible for its diversity and abundance in bee venom, the study revealed it is encoded by a single gene. 



This discovery refutes the hypothesis of melittin belonging to the postulated aculeatoxins group, emphasizing the importance of genome data in understanding venom evolution.



Additionally, the study identified anthophilin-1 as a new protein family in bee venom, further enriching our understanding of venom composition and evolution.



Dr. von Reumont explains, “Not only are there many different variants of melittin, but the peptide also accounts for up to 60 percent of the dry weight of bee venom. That is why science previously assumed that there must be many gene copies. We were able to disprove this quite clearly.”



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



This important study by Dr. von Reumont and his team offers unprecedented insights into the origin and evolution of venom genes in Hymenoptera. It sets the stage for future research in tracing venom gene evolution in the ancestors of Hymenoptera and understanding specializations within the group. 



However, large-scale comparative genomics will require the automation of analysis methods for the expansive protein families involved. 



This research illuminates the evolutionary paths of venoms, while also opening new avenues for understanding the intricate relationships between genetics and ecology in one of the most diverse and ecologically significant insect orders.



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Which came first, bee venom or bee stingers?

Venoms, remarkable for their complexity and potency, have independently evolved...

Scientists have uncovered a crucial connection between ocean oxygen levels and one of the most catastrophic marine <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-predict-a-new-mass-extinction-that-will-wipe-out-humans-and-all-mammals/">extinction events</a> in Earth’s history.&nbsp;



The research not only illuminates our understanding of past global changes but also issues a stark warning about the current fragility of marine ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-triassic-jurassic-mass-extinction">Triassic–Jurassic mass extinction</h2>



The study was focused on the Triassic–Jurassic mass extinction, which occurred approximately 200 million years ago. This event is among the Earth's major mass extinctions, periods characterized by significant global ecosystem collapses and widespread species extinctions.&nbsp;



Historically, these events have been closely associated with global environmental disturbances, frequently resulting in reduced oxygen levels (anoxia) in oceanic waters.



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



A common hypothesis has been that greater extents of ocean deoxygenation would naturally lead to larger scale extinctions. However, the current study challenges this assumption by demonstrating that the level of euxinia (an extreme form of deoxygenation) during the Triassic–Jurassic extinction was similar to what we observe today.



The research team, including experts from Royal Holloway (UK), <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trinity College Dublin</a> (Ireland), and Utrecht University (Netherlands), analyzed chemical data extracted from ancient mudstone deposits in Northern Ireland and Germany.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-insights-nbsp">Critical insights&nbsp;</h2>



The results of the analysis highlight the role of anoxia in the marine extinctions during this period. The study also reveals a surprising limitation in the global extent of extreme deoxygenation at the time.



The experts found a correlation between increased extinction rates and spikes in deoxygenation across shallow marine environments along European continental margins.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cautionary-tale-nbsp">Cautionary tale&nbsp;</h2>



Upon further investigation, the team determined that the global extent of extreme deoxygenation was rather limited, and similar to the present day.&nbsp;



The research serves as a cautionary tale about the current state of our oceans, suggesting that they may be more vulnerable than previously thought.&nbsp;



The study of past global change events is invaluable in understanding the consequences of modern climate change, as well as in predicting and possibly mitigating future ecosystem tipping points.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cascading-impacts">Cascading impacts</h2>



“Scientists have long suspected that ocean deoxygenation plays an important role in the disturbance of marine ecosystems, which can lead to the extinction of species in marine environments," said study co-author Professor Micha Ruhl.



"The study of past time intervals of extreme environmental change indeed shows this to be the case, which teaches us important lessons about potential tipping points in local, as well as global ecosystems in response to climatic forcing."



“Crucially however, the current findings show that even when the global extent of deoxygenation is similar to the present day, the local development of anoxic conditions and subsequent locally increased extinction rates can cascade in widespread or global ecosystem collapse and extinctions, even in areas where deoxygenation did not occur."&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-assessing-ecosystem-stability-nbsp">Assessing ecosystem stability&nbsp;</h2>



Professor Ruhl said the research shows that global marine ecosystems become vulnerable, even when only local environments along the edges of the continents are disturbed.



"Understanding such processes is of paramount importance for assessing present day ecosystem stability, and associated food supply, especially in a world where marine deoxygenation is projected to significantly increase in response to global warming and increased nutrient run-off from continents.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01303-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>



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Today's ocean oxygen levels may have cascading impacts

Scientists have uncovered a crucial connection between ocean oxygen levels...

In a recent development hailed as a conservation success, bluefin tuna have made a remarkable return to Northern European waters. This resurgence, however, is shadowed by concerns over rising sea temperatures in their Mediterranean nursery grounds. 



New research led by the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> suggests that this recovery may be fleeting due to the impending climate change.



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



According to the research, the Mediterranean Sea is expected to reach temperatures that could drive juvenile bluefin <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tunas-billfishes-and-sharks-are-sentinels-of-global-ocean-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tuna</a> out within the next 50 years. 



Professor Clive Trueman is the lead author and a Geochemical Ecology expert at the University of Southampton. He emphasized the critical temperature threshold, saying, “We have found that anything over 28 degrees Celsius will adversely impact bluefins’ growth.”



The study predicts a potential shift in the tuna's nursery areas to cooler regions like the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/desert-dust-over-the-bay-of-biscay/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bay of Biscay</a>. This migration poses a new challenge as juvenile tuna might end up in existing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-fisheries-threatened-by-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fisheries</a> for sardines and anchovies. This confluence of events would necessitate a change in fishery management practices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovative-use-of-otolith">Innovative use of otolith</h2>



An international team, including the <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">British Antarctic Survey</a> and Spain's <a href="https://www.azti.es/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AZTI</a> science and technology centre, used a novel method involving the <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/bluefin-tuna-otolith_credit-Clive-Trueman_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">otolith</a> -- a tissue found behind the brains of bony fish. 



This method was pioneered by Professor Trueman. It analyzes the otolith's chemistry to measure the tuna’s metabolic rate, offering insights into the ideal living conditions for these fish.



The otolith, or 'ear stone', is crucial for a fish’s ability to hear and balance. Professor Trueman explained its significance, saying, “Our new work uses variations in the levels of natural stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen in the otolith to reveal each tuna’s individual metabolic rate. This can tell us when waters are getting too hot for the fish to handle - it’s like a natural fitness tracker.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bluefin-tuna-value">Bluefin tuna value</h2>



Bluefin <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-payment-tuna-ocean-fish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tuna</a> are among the largest and most powerful fish in the sea. They are capable of impressive speeds, leaping out of the water at 43 miles per hour. These fish are not just ecologically significant but also economically valuable, with their meat being a prized component in sushi and sashimi.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-pinpoint-blue-corridors-for-large-migratory-fish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> spawns on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, with Eastern Atlantic bluefin spending their first year in the Mediterranean. Upon reaching maturity, they venture into the Atlantic. Bluefin will often cross the ocean in search of prey like sardines and herring, before returning to the Mediterranean to spawn.



In summary, the return of bluefin <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mercury-levels-in-bluefin-tuna-reveal-patterns-of-ocean-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tuna</a> to Northern European waters is a testament to successful conservation efforts. However, the looming threat of climate change, specifically the rising temperatures in their Mediterranean nursery grounds, presents new challenges. 



This research highlights, most importantly, the resilience of bluefin tuna. However, it also underscores the need for adaptive management in fisheries and a deeper understanding of the impact of climate change on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-protected-areas-improve-well-being-in-coastal-communities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine life</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-bluefin-tuna">More about bluefin tuna</h2>



As discussed previously, bluefin tuna are one of the ocean's most magnificent creatures. They command the attention of environmentalists, fishermen, and seafood connoisseurs alike. Let's now delve into their biology, behavior, and the challenges they face in today's oceans.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biology-and-characteristics">Biology and characteristics</h3>



Impressive Size and Speed -- Bluefin <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tuna-contain-toxic-mercury-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tuna</a> stand out for their size and speed. They can grow up to three meters in length and weigh over 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds). Known for their incredible speed, they swim at bursts of up to 70 kilometers per hour (43 miles per hour), as mentioned above.



Unique Physiological Traits -- These fish possess several unique physiological adaptations. Unlike most fish, bluefins can regulate their body temperature, allowing them to thrive in diverse water temperatures. Their streamlined bodies and powerful tails make them highly efficient swimmers.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitat-and-migration-patterns">Habitat and migration patterns</h3>



Diverse Habitats -- Bluefin tuna inhabit various oceanic environments. They primarily roam the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, with distinct populations in the Eastern and Western Atlantic.



Long-Distance Migrations -- These fish are renowned for their long-distance migrations, crossing oceans for feeding and spawning. Western Atlantic bluefins migrate between North American waters and the Gulf of Mexico, while Eastern Atlantic populations travel between European waters and their spawning grounds in the Mediterranean.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bluefin-tuna-diet-and-feeding-habits">Bluefin tuna diet and feeding habits</h3>



Predatory Nature -- Bluefin tuna are apex predators, feeding on a diet rich in fish and cephalopods. Their preferred prey includes herring, mackerel, and squid. They hunt both individually and in schools, showcasing impressive coordination.



Foraging Strategies -- Bluefins employ various foraging strategies, from swift, powerful attacks to cooperative hunting in groups. Their keen eyesight and heightened sense of smell aid in locating prey.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reproduction-and-life-cycle">Reproduction and life cycle</h3>



Spawning Rituals -- Bluefin tuna spawn in warm waters, typically in the Mediterranean Sea for the Eastern Atlantic population. Spawning occurs annually, with females releasing millions of eggs, ensuring a higher chance of survival for the offspring.



Growth and Development -- Young bluefins grow rapidly, a necessity for survival in the competitive oceanic environment. They reach sexual maturity at around 3-5 years, embarking on their first spawning migrations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-status-and-threats">Conservation status and threats</h3>



Overfishing and Population Decline -- Bluefin tuna face significant threats from overfishing. Their high market value, particularly for sushi and sashimi, has led to intense fishing pressure, causing a stark decline in their populations.



Environmental Challenges -- As mentioned previously in this article, climate change and pollution also pose grave threats to bluefin tuna. Changes in ocean temperatures affect their spawning grounds and migration patterns, while pollution impacts their health and the ecosystems they inhabit.



In summary, bluefin tuna are not only a seafood delicacy, they are integral to the marine ecosystem. Understanding their biology, behavior, and the challenges they face is crucial for their conservation. 



Efforts to manage fisheries sustainably and address environmental issues are vital to ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures for future generations.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41930-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Bluefin tuna, a sushi delicacy, will likely be extinct within 50 years

In a recent development hailed as a conservation success, bluefin...

A biotech firm based in San Francisco (<a href="https://loyalfordogs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Loyal</a>), is making strides in the development of a drug that could potentially increase the lifespan of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-do-small-dogs-live-longer-than-large-breeds/">dogs</a> by at least one year. 



<a href="https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Food and Drug Administration for Veterinary Medicine</a> recently affirmed that the data for Loyal’s drug candidate, LOY-001, shows promising signs of effectiveness. This advancement brings the possibility of veterinarians prescribing this longevity drug to our canine companions a step closer to reality.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-dog-breeds-nbsp">Large dog breeds&nbsp;</h2>



Slated for a 2026 launch, LOY-001 is designed to specifically target cellular mechanisms in large and giant dog breeds. These breeds, known for their rapid aging and shorter lifespans compared to smaller breeds, could benefit significantly from this intervention.&nbsp;



“The extreme phenotypic variety found in dogs is not ‘natural’ - it’s the result of intensive breeding by humans to create dogs that excelled at tasks such as herding, protection, and companionship,” explained Brennen McKenzie, Loyal’s director of veterinary medicine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-the-drug-work">How does the drug work?</h2>



The drug operates by addressing the genetic anomaly of increased IGF-1 levels, a growth-promoting hormone, which is believed to curtail the lifespan of larger dogs. Studies indicate that larger dogs have IGF-1 levels up to 28 times higher than those of smaller breeds. LOY-001 seeks to reduce these levels, thereby potentially extending the healthy life of larger dogs.



Loyal’s research indicates that this innovative drug development could offer hope in extending the lifespan and healthspan of large dogs by targeting mechanisms associated with their accelerated aging. The drug, if approved, would be administered by vets as an injection every three to six months, but only for dogs that are seven years or older and weigh at least 40 pounds.



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



Loyal is also working on other products like LOY-002, a daily pill for medium to giant breeds, and LOY-003, targeting large and giant breeds only. Celine Halioua, Loyal’s CEO, envisions that this is just the beginning, with potential implications for human longevity as well. “We are not going to make 80-year-old dogs,” Halioua stated, emphasizing the realistic goals of their research.



Inspired by her experience in an oncology clinic at 18, Halioua was moved to tackle aging in dogs. “Feeling that lack of freewill, that lack of ability to control your destiny when it comes to your health completely freaked me out,” she said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinical-trial-phase">Clinical trial phase</h2>



Currently, Loyal is in the "companion dog clinical study" phase, conducting large-scale nationwide studies to evaluate the drug’s safety and efficacy in real-world veterinary settings. With over 1,000 dogs across the US participating in this four-year study, Loyal aims to conduct thorough testing before seeking FDA approval for prescription use.



Loyal, a subsidiary of Cellular Longevity, a San Francisco-based biotech firm, focuses on researching how drugs can control pathological aging mechanisms to prolong life. This endeavor to delay the onset and reduce the severity of age-related diseases could mark a significant advancement in veterinary medicine and beyond.



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Want to extend your dog's lifespan? A new drug shows promise

A biotech firm based in San Francisco (Loyal), is making...

A,Male,Asian,Elephant,Is,Enjoying,Bathing.

Researchers have recently shed light on how ancestral <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-elephant-day-understanding-celebrating-and-protecting-earths-gentle-giants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elephants</a> developed their dexterous trunks, a significant evolutionary adaptation. The study offers valuable insights into the feeding behaviors of extinct longirostrine elephantiforms -- elephant-like mammals known for their elongated lower jaws and tusks.



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



Longirostrine gomphotheres, part of the proboscidean family, are known for their prolonged evolutionary phase featuring an exceptionally elongated lower jaw. 



This fascinating study was crucial for understanding the dynamics behind the evolution of the extended lower jaw and lengthy trunks in these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephants-may-be-the-first-non-human-animals-to-call-each-other-by-names/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">elephant</a>-like animals. Longirostrine gomphotheres lived during the Miocene epoch, approximately 11-20 million years ago.



“During the Early to Middle Miocene, gomphotheres flourished across Northern China,” says lead author Dr. Chunxiao Li, a postdoctoral researcher at the <a href="https://english.ucas.ac.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>, Beijing, China.



The research offers persuasive proof of the variety in these "trunk" features among longirostrine gomphotheres, as well as their probable adaptive responses to worldwide climate shifts.



Li continued, “Across species there was huge diversity in the structure of the long mandible. We sought to explain why proboscideans evolved the long mandible and why it subsequently regressed. We also wanted to explore the role of the trunk in these animals’ <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-do-elephants-eat-study-shows-they-have-unique-dietary-preferences/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">feeding behaviors</a>, and the environmental background for the co-evolution of their mandibles and trunks.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-elephant-trunk-evolution">Studying elephant trunk evolution</h2>



Li and colleagues employed comparative functional and eco-morphological investigations, along with a feeding preference analysis. From this, they reconstructed the feeding behavior of three major families of longirostrine gomphotheres: Amebelodontidae, Choerolophodontidae, and Gomphotheriidae. 



Examining crania and lower jaws from different museums revealed variations in mandible and tusk structures, indicating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephants-have-taught-themselves-to-peel-bananas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diverse appetites</a>.



The team’s analysis of enamel isotopes helped identify the ecological niches of the three families. Choerolophodontidae lived in relatively closed environments. Amebelodontidae family members, like <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/elephant_Playtybelodon_trunk_1medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Platybelodon</a>, inhabited open habitats like grasslands. Finally, Gomphotheriidae occupied a niche between these environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-of-elephant-trunk-evolution">Implications of elephant trunk evolution</h2>



A Finite Element analysis provided insights into the advantages and disadvantages of mandible and tusk structures among the three family groups. This effort revealed specializations for cutting different types of vegetation.



The study also found variations in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephant-behavior-provides-new-insights-into-human-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary stages</a> of the trunk among these families. Additionally, they uncovered implications for their feeding abilities and ecological adaptations. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elephants-use-trunks-count/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trunk's development</a> paralleled the mandible's evolution, indicating a co-evolutionary relationship.



Furthermore, the Mid-Miocene Climate Transition, which led to regional drying and expansion of open ecosystems, had a significant impact on these species. The study suggests that Platybelodon's coiling and grasping trunk allowed it to thrive in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-asian-elephants-exhibit-strong-capacity-for-innovation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">open environments</a>. This trait is not developed in other trunk-bearing animals like tapirs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-elephant-trunk-research">Further elephant trunk research</h2>



Co-author Ji Zhang is associate professor of structural engineering at <a href="https://english.hust.edu.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Huazhong University of Science and Technology</a>, Wuhan, China. Zhang highlights the importance of using modern computational mechanics and statistics in paleontological research, bringing a cross-disciplinary approach to understanding these ancient creatures.



“Our cross-disciplinary team is dedicated to introducing multiple quantitative research methods to explore paleontology,” says Zhang. “Modern computational mechanics and statistics have injected new vitality into traditional fossil research.”



The main limitation in their research is the lack of comparison with the development of gigantism and long limbs in proboscideans from the same period. Further analysis could enhance understanding of how changing feeding behaviors related to differences in body shapes and sizes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-journey-of-proboscideans">Evolutionary journey of proboscideans</h2>



<a href="http://sourcedb.ivpp.cas.cn/yw/rckyw/index_2.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Shi-Qi Wang</a> is the senior author and professor at the Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He concludes that multiple eco-adaptations contributed to the diverse mandibular structure in proboscideans. The elongated mandible initially served as the primary feeding organ, paving the way for the development of the long trunk. 



“Our findings demonstrate that multiple eco-adaptations have contributed to the diverse mandibular structure found in proboscideans,” concludes Wang. “Initially, the elongated mandible served as the primary feeding organ in proboscideans, and was a prerequisite for the development of the extremely long trunk. Open-land grazing drove the development of trunk coiling and grasping functions, and the trunk then became the primary tool for feeding, leading to the gradual loss of the long mandible. In particular, Platybelodons may have been the first proboscidean to evolve this grazing behavior.”



The evolution of open-land grazing led to the modern day elephant trunk becoming the primary tool used for feeding. Over time, this adaptation resulted in the gradual loss of the long mandible. Platybelodons may represent the first proboscideans to evolve this grazing behavior. 



In summary, today's elephants use these versatile organs for a myriad of tasks, including breathing, communicating, grasping objects, and drinking. They have millions of years of evolution to thank for their amazing and iconic trunks. 



The full study was published in <a href="https://elifesciences.org/for-the-press/62f7502a/how-shifting-climates-may-have-shaped-early-elephants-trunks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eLife Sciences</a>.



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How elephants got their incredible iconic trunks

Researchers have recently shed light on how ancestral elephants developed...

A study led by <a href="https://www.vt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virginia Tech</a> PhD student Paige Van de Vuurst has recently shed light on the alarming prospect of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vampire-bats-deadly-bacteria/">vampire bats </a>extending their habitat into the United States, potentially bringing with them an ancient and deadly pathogen - rabies.&nbsp;



This migration, driven by climate change, poses a significant threat to both public health and the agricultural sector, particularly the cattle industry.



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



The research points to a direct correlation between climate-induced shifts in vampire bat distribution and rising rabies cases across Latin America.&nbsp;



“What we found was that the distribution of vampire bats has moved northward across time due to past climate change, which has corresponded with an increase in rabies cases in many Latin American countries,” she explained, highlighting the urgency of the situation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comprehensive-field-study-nbsp">Comprehensive field study&nbsp;</h2>



The research team, including both undergraduate and graduate students, embarked on a comprehensive field study in Colombia, collaborating with local universities such as the <a href="https://www.lasalle.edu.co/">University of La Salle</a>, <a href="https://www.udistrital.edu.co/inicio">Universidad Distrital</a>, and <a href="http://www.ut.edu.co/">Universidad del Tolima</a>.&nbsp;



The journey took the researchers across diverse landscapes, from the humid jungles to the cooler regions of the Andes Mountains, accessible only by cable car. This allowed them to gather a wide array of bat samples, observing firsthand how climate variations influence disease dynamics in these mammals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-laboratory">A natural laboratory&nbsp;</h2>



The significance of Colombia as a research site was underscored by Luis Escobar, assistant professor at Virginia Tech and a co-author in the study.&nbsp;



“Colombia is a mega-diverse country, making it a perfect natural laboratory,” said Escobar. The country has a large number of hummingbirds and bats, due to its tropical climate and proximity to the equator.



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



The research aimed to bridge knowledge gaps regarding rabies transmission and its spillover from wildlife to humans.&nbsp;



The experts set out to determine habitat and virus mutation roles in rabies spillover, identify the effects of changes in biodiversity on the virus, and investigate factors influencing the spread of bat-borne diseases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-international-field-work-nbsp">International field work&nbsp;</h2>



One of the most notable aspects of this research was the involvement of undergraduate students, a rarity in international field work.&nbsp;



Van de Vuurst expressed concern about the current state of wildlife research, where students often bear the cost of gaining field experience. She emphasized the importance of providing fully funded opportunities for students.



“There is a sad reality in wildlife research at the moment that often mandates a ‘pay to play’ mentality, where students must pay for the experience of doing field work, especially international field work.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transformative-experience-nbsp">Transformative experience&nbsp;</h2>



Julia Alexander, an undergraduate participant, reflected on her experience, sharing the profound impact it had on her both professionally and personally.&nbsp;



“I not only learned valuable field skills for my career, but also important life lessons from every challenge faced,” she said. The experience was transformative, marking her first field research, plane journey, and international travel.



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



The study’s findings are crucial in understanding the spread of vampire bats and the associated rabies risk. As these bats extend their range due to changing climates, it becomes imperative to monitor and prepare for their potential arrival in the United States.&nbsp;



The research not only provides vital data on bat migration patterns and disease transmission but also highlights the importance of cross-border collaboration in addressing global health and environmental challenges.&nbsp;



“We all have one goal: generating samples, new data, and new knowledge,” concluded Escobar, underscoring the collaborative spirit driving this significant research endeavor.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ecog.06714" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecography</a>.



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Rabies-infected vampire bats may extend their habitat into the U.S.

A study led by Virginia Tech PhD student Paige Van...

Monk,Parakeet,Welcoming,The,Spring

A recent study led by Stephen Tyndel, a doctoral student at the<a href="https://www.ab.mpg.de/ding" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior</a>, has revealed fascinating insights into the communication patterns of monk parakeets, an invasive parrot species in Europe. The research focuses on the development of unique dialects among these birds, mirroring the regional linguistic variations found in human populations.



Europe is home to no native parrot species. Despite that significant fact, several species, including the monk parakeet, have established thriving populations after escaping from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/escaped-parrots-new-homes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pet trade</a>. 



Originating from South America, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monk-parakeets-lose-social-standing-if-they-take-long-vacations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parakeets</a> are now abundant in numerous European countries. They stand out for their highly flexible vocal abilities, capable of imitating and learning new sounds throughout their lives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-monk-parakeet-voices">Studying monk parakeet voices</h2>



To explore the possibility of regional dialects among monk parakeets, the researchers recorded these birds in eight cities across Spain, Belgium, Italy, and Greece. The aim was to determine if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parrots-have-a-unique-voice-print-similar-to-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parrot calls</a> varied not only between different cities but also within them, across various parks.



Stephen Tyndel explains, “Monk parakeets are the perfect test tube for studying how complex communication evolves in a species other than our own.” The study, employing a novel statistical method, found that monk <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/longevity-in-parrots-linked-to-brain-size-and-cognitive-ability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parakeets</a> indeed have distinct dialects in each city. 



Simeon Smeele is a co-lead author of the study and an affiliate scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Smeele notes significant differences in the frequency modulation structure of contact calls. This is particularly challenging for human detection.



However, within individual cities, no dialectical variations were observed between different parks. “This suggests that parrot dialects separated early when birds invaded European cities, but then didn’t significantly change further over this time period,” Tyndel adds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-and-surprises">Implications and surprises</h2>



The research outcomes were unexpected. Tyndel reflects on the formation of dialects, suggesting they could result from a passive process where small errors in copying calls lead to gradual differences between cities. Alternatively, initial differences might have been maintained over time.



The team also considers the possibility of active processes shaping dialects for social communication purposes. This would include recognizing group mates within highly clustered nest environments. Smeele proposes, “We think that dialects could be used to communicate who is part of what nest cluster, like a password.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-monk-parakeets-and-future-research">Monk parakeets and future research</h2>



The next step for the research team involves understanding how individual monk parakeets learn from each other. In addition, if smaller groups exhibit distinct dialects within the same park. This exploration will deepen our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parrots-intelligence-longevity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parrot</a> communication and shed light on the broader context of complex communication in both humans and animals. 



As Tyndel concludes, “This will add to our understanding of parrot communication and provide insights into the ways in which complex communication is linked to the complex social lives of humans and animals.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-european-monk-parakeets">More about European monk parakeets</h2>



Monk parakeets, a species native to South America, have become an increasingly common sight in various European countries. Their journey from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/endangered-red-crowned-parrots-are-thriving-in-urban-texas-areas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rare pets</a> to established wild populations provides a unique perspective on wildlife adaptation and urban ecology.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-origin-and-introduction">Origin and introduction</h3>



Originally from the temperate and subtropical regions of South America, monk parakeets are known for their distinctive green plumage and sociable nature.



The monk parakeet's presence in Europe began primarily through the pet trade. Escapes and intentional releases by pet owners in the late 20th century led to the formation of feral populations across the continent.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spread-across-europe">Spread across Europe</h3>



These birds have established significant populations in countries like Spain, Italy, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. They are particularly prevalent in urban and suburban areas, where they find ample food and nesting opportunities.



Despite originating from a warmer climate, monk parakeets have shown remarkable adaptability to the varied European climates. They thrive even in regions with colder temperatures.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-impact">Ecological impact</h3>



In their new European habitats, monk parakeets compete with native birds for food and nesting sites. Their robust nature often gives them an advantage in these competitions.



Environmentalists express concerns about the potential impact of these invasive birds on local ecosystems and biodiversity.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-behavior-and-communication">Behavior and communication</h3>



Monk parakeets are highly social, living in large, noisy colonies. They build intricate communal nests, which are often reused year after year.



As mentioned above, recent studies have revealed that European populations of monk parakeets have developed unique vocal dialects. This indicates a high level of adaptability and learning in new environments.



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



Several European countries have initiated efforts to control monk parakeet populations, ranging from nest removal to more comprehensive management plans.



The management of monk parakeets raises legal and ethical questions, balancing conservation efforts with animal welfare concerns.



In summary, the story of monk parakeets in Europe is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of wildlife. It also serves as a reminder of the complex consequences of human interference in natural ecosystems. 



As these vibrant birds continue to make their mark on European landscapes, ongoing research and informed management strategies will be crucial in addressing the challenges they pose.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/beheco/advance-article/doi/10.1093/beheco/arad093/7444942" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Behavioral Ecology</a>.



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Monk parakeets have different voice ‘accents’ that mirror humans

A recent study led by Stephen Tyndel, a doctoral student...

In an intriguing development in the study of toxic amphibians, researchers have discovered that female Taricha <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-amphibians-flesh-eating-fungus/">newts</a> possess significantly higher levels of tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin, than their male counterparts.&nbsp;



This finding, reported by Dr. Gary Bucciarelli of the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California Davis</a> and his team in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/famrs.2023.1279848" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science</a>, suggests a potential role for the toxin beyond mere defense against predators, possibly influencing mate selection and reproductive strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toxin-concentrations-nbsp">Toxin concentrations&nbsp;</h2>



“It had long been considered that newts’ toxin concentrations do not change in their lifetime and that males and females tend to have the same toxin concentrations. Now, we have shown that female newts actually contain more toxin than male newts,” explained. Bucciarelli. This discovery raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary and ecological roles of tetrodotoxin in these amphibians.



The team’s research involved analyzing skin samples from over 850 Taricha newts across various locations in California.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-insights">Key insights</h2>



By quantifying the toxin levels and examining correlations with other sexually dimorphic traits, such as body size and tail height, they observed a consistent pattern: females consistently harbored more toxin than males.



“For would-be predators, these higher concentrations pose a serious threat,” said Bucciarelli. The lethal nature of tetrodotoxin, present in much higher amounts in females, makes handling these newts risky without proper expertise.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-influential-factors-nbsp">Influential factors&nbsp;</h2>



Interestingly, the study also revealed that tetrodotoxin levels fluctuated in both sexes throughout the breeding season, with females showing greater variability.&nbsp;



This fluctuation, coupled with the interaction between toxin levels and other sexually dimorphic traits, suggests that toxin production may be influenced by factors such as body weight and reproductive status.



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



These findings not only contribute to our understanding of Taricha newts’ biology but also open up new avenues for exploring how environmental factors like drought and fire impact these amphibians and their unique chemical defenses.&nbsp;



As Bucciarelli and his team continue their investigations, they aim to shed more light on the complex interplay between tetrodotoxin production and the challenging environmental conditions faced by these fascinating creatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-taricha-newts-nbsp">Taricha newts&nbsp;</h2>



Taricha newts are a fascinating group of newts found primarily in North America, particularly along the Pacific Coast. They belong to the Salamandridae family and are known for their striking appearance and potent toxins.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-appearance-nbsp">Appearance&nbsp;</h3>



These newts are typically characterized by their bright colors, which can range from vibrant oranges to yellows, serving as a warning to predators about their toxicity.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toxins">Toxins</h3>



One of the most notable features of Taricha newts is their ability to produce tetrodotoxin. This toxin is the same one found in pufferfish and is extremely potent, capable of deterring most predators.&nbsp;



Interestingly, despite their toxicity, some predators have developed resistance to the toxin, leading to a unique evolutionary arms race between the newts and their predators.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-cycle">Life cycle</h3>



Taricha newts have a complex life cycle, with both aquatic and terrestrial stages. They breed in water, where the females lay eggs. The larvae are aquatic and undergo metamorphosis, developing into terrestrial juveniles. As they mature, they return to aquatic environments to breed, completing the cycle.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-role">Ecological role</h3>



Taricha newts play an important role in their ecosystems, both as predators and prey. They feed on various aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, and their presence in an ecosystem can be an indicator of environmental health. Their sensitivity to pollutants makes them valuable for ecological monitoring.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation">Conservation</h3>



Conservation efforts for Taricha newts focus on preserving their habitats and mitigating the impact of environmental threats such as pollution and habitat destruction.&nbsp;



Due to their specific habitat requirements, they are particularly vulnerable to changes in their environment, making conservation efforts crucial for their continued survival.



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Female Taricha newts are much more poisonous than males

In an intriguing development in the study of toxic amphibians,...

A new conservation tool developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is making significant strides in safeguarding Africa’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lions-are-dangling-precariously-on-the-brink-of-extinction-immediate-action-is-needed/">lions</a>, whose numbers have plummeted in recent decades due to poaching and other threats.&nbsp;



This innovative tool, called the Lion Localizer, utilizes a simple DNA test to trace the geographic origin of poached lion products like teeth, claws, bones, and other body parts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-information">Crucial information</h2>



The origin of lion products is often unknown, but this information is crucial for understanding the impact on local populations and allocating conservation resources.&nbsp;



“For example, the West African lion population is tiny, and it’s really, heavily threatened. We cannot afford to lose any; we count individuals,” said Rob Ogden, director and co-founder of <a href="https://www.tracenetwork.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network</a>, who collaborated with U. of I. on the project. “But if a product is coming out of East Africa, then it might not be so critical in terms of population numbers, although law enforcement still needs to know about it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lion-localizer-nbsp">Lion Localizer&nbsp;</h2>



TRACE reached out to Alfred Roca, a professor at the U. of I., after he published the Loxodonta Localizer for tracking illegal ivory to elephant populations. Roca teamed up with doctoral researcher Wesley Au to build a database containing every sequence of relevant lion mitochondrial DNA ever published, spanning 146 locations across Africa and India.&nbsp;



“When a user queries their lion mitochondrial DNA sequence in the Lion Localizer, the system will compare it with the database of sequences and then provide a map showing where the lion was likely poached,” explained Au. “Many of those localities are linked to unique sequences, which can be especially useful for locating the source population.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geographic-markers">Geographic markers</h2>



Mitochondrial DNA was chosen because it is inherited maternally, and female lions, who roam less than males, provide more permanent geographic markers.&nbsp;



Moreover, the smaller size of the mitochondrial genome, compared to the nuclear genome, makes it feasible for labs with basic equipment to extract and amplify enough DNA for analysis in the Lion Localizer.



“Many labs in Africa or the transit and destination countries that confiscate lion parts should be able to generate sequences from mitochondrial DNA,” Roca said. “It's a straightforward lab procedure.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preventing-further-declines-nbsp">Preventing further declines&nbsp;</h2>



With only 23,000 to 39,000 lions left in Africa, the Lion Localizer could be vital in preventing further declines.&nbsp;



“From my perspective, I think getting a better handle on the trade routes - where are the lions coming from? - will help a lot,” said Simon Dures, project officer at TRACE.&nbsp;



“The Lion Localizer is very much designed as an intelligence tool. It allows countries to see these patterns and focus on areas where lions are not doing particularly well in the wild. Just giving them that extra chance,” he concluded.



This research is detailed in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esad072">Journal of Heredity</a> and was supported by the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esad072" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s VukaNow</a> program.



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New online tool traces the origins of poached lion products

A new conservation tool developed by the University of Illinois...

Scientists from the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of East Anglia</a> (UEA) are calling for a project to map the biodiversity of Earth's polar regions. The study would map all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-solutions-for-the-climate-and-biodiversity-crisis/">biodiversity</a> in these regions - from the atmosphere to the deep sea.



Polar ecosystems, deemed the most sensitive to global warming, are disappearing rapidly, taking with them a vast array of biological life essential for ecosystem services and climate regulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-polar-biodiversity-projections">Polar biodiversity projections</h2>



Professor Thomas Mock, who co-authored the report with Professor Melody Clark from the <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">British Antarctic Survey</a>, emphasized what is needed for the accurate mapping of biodiversity in polar regions.



“Biodiversity projections for the polar regions can only be reliably constructed if we have a sufficiently profound understanding of the diversity, ecological functions, and interrelations of polar organisms, as well as their resilience to climate change," said Professor Mock.&nbsp;



“These remote regions play substantial, often underappreciated, roles in the carbon cycle and drive global nutrient and dissolved organic matter fluxes. Consequently, polar environmental and ecological processes are intimately connected with our everyday life and our planet’s health, much of which is underpinned by the endemic biota, from viruses to large animals."&nbsp;



“There is strong evidence that climate-induced changes in the polar regions are already altering species distributions on land and in the sea, with major impacts on ecosystem function.”&nbsp;



Species are shifting towards the poles, affecting food chains and the life dependent on the polar climates, including microbes, seals, whales, and polar bears.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warming-in-polar-regions">Warming in polar regions</h2>



The Arctic is warming at least four times faster than other regions of the world. As temperature changes alter the Arctic jet stream, this can lead to extreme weather events like heat waves, droughts, and flooding in temperate zones.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, melting permafrost and collapsing Arctic coastlines are releasing ancient carbon stores, nutrients, and potentially dormant viruses and pathogenic bacteria - significantly altering <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-biodiversity-will-get-a-boost-from-rising-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecological interactions</a> and biogeochemistry.



The Southern Ocean and Antarctic continent face similar challenges. The Southern Ocean, responsible for absorbing a large portion of anthropogenic heat and CO2, is crucial in carbon sequestration, serving as a natural buffer against climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sequencing-technologies">Sequencing technologies</h2>



The study highlights the importance of sequencing technologies in understanding how organisms function in these extreme environments.&nbsp;



“Sequencing technologies have massively changed our abilities to decipher how organisms work. However, the uptake in polar biology has been relatively low, especially when considering the tens of thousands of species that reside at the poles and are at threat in our warming world," said Professor Clark.&nbsp;



“Understanding how lots of very strange organisms living in extreme cold can help answer globally questions and provide real benefits for society. Failure to act now will result in a substantial loss of knowledge regarding evolutionary adaptation to the cold.”&nbsp;



Genomic screening is not just crucial for identifying stressed populations, but also for monitoring invasive species, thus enabling timely interventions.



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



“With the cold regions of our planet diminishing, there is a real imperative to obtain full genome sequences for diverse organisms inhabiting polar ecosystems, from the deep oceans to the permafrost on land, for both the Arctic and Antarctic," said Professor Mock.



"This will enable the wider application of omics technologies to polar species, which will revolutionize our understanding of evolution in the cold and adaptive responses to a warming world.”&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Earth's polar regions cannot be protected without first mapping biodiversity 

Scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA) are calling...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

<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



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[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



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

[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;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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