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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Hemoglobin and other blood molecules found preserved in dinosaur fossils

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

Portrait,Of,A,Male,Bull,White,Rhino,Grazing,In,Kruger

World Rhino Day, <a href="https://www.worldrhinoday.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">celebrated annually</a> on September 22nd, is a global event initiated to generate awareness about the five species of rhinoceros and the myriad of challenges they face. 



This special day is pivotal to garnering public support for the conservation of these iconic, yet endangered animals. Rhinos, with their prehistoric appearance and gentle demeanors, are vital components of their ecosystems, contributing to landscape resilience and biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-background-of-world-rhino-day">Historical background of World Rhino Day</h2>



World Rhino Day was first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010. The day was chosen to enable NGOs, zoos, rhino sanctuaries, and concerned individuals to celebrate rhinos in their distinct manner, highlighting the diverse issues related to their survival. 



Since then, it has evolved into a global phenomenon. Various events, activities, and campaigns dedicated to the conservation of rhino species take place around the world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-species-of-rhinoceros">Species of rhinoceros</h2>



Rhinos belong to the family Rhinocerotidae and are classified into five species, each with unique characteristics and habitats.



<ol type="1" start="1">
<li>White Rhino: Divided into Northern and Southern subspecies, they are the largest of the rhino species. </li>



<li>Black Rhino: Smaller than the white rhino, with a prehensile lip adapted for grasping leaves and twigs. </li>



<li>Greater One-Horned Rhino: Found in the Indian subcontinent, recognized by a single black horn and armored skin. </li>



<li>Sumatran Rhino: The smallest species, living in dense forest habitats in Malaysia and Indonesia. </li>



<li>Javan Rhino: The most threatened species with less than 70 individuals remaining. They are primarily found in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia.</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-importance-of-rhinos">The importance of rhinos</h2>



Rhinos play a crucial ecological role as umbrella and keystone species. This means that their survival benefits numerous other species and contributes to ecosystem balance. 



They facilitate nutrient cycling through their dung, promoting plant diversity, and support the survival of other herbivores by modifying vegetation structure. This, in turn, influences the whole ecological web, including predators, scavengers, and decomposers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-to-rhino-survival">Challenges to rhino survival</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-poaching">Poaching</h3>



Rhinos face relentless threats primarily from poaching, driven by the demand for their horns. Rhino horn, composed of keratin (the same material as human hair and nails), is erroneously believed to have medicinal properties in some cultures. This falsehood makes it extremely valuable on the black market.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitat-loss">Habitat loss</h3>



Loss of habitat due to agricultural expansion, human settlements, and infrastructural development further jeopardizes rhino populations by fragmenting and isolating habitats. These unfortunate human-induced circumstances make it challenging for rhinos to access resources and mates.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change">Climate change</h3>



Climate change exacerbates these challenges by altering the availability of food and water and by influencing the range and behavior of other species in the ecosystem. This can have cascading effects on rhino populations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-efforts-and-awareness">Conservation efforts and awareness</h2>



World Rhino Day serves as a platform to underscore the urgent need for concerted global efforts to conserve rhinos. Numerous organizations and individuals collaborate to raise awareness about rhino conservation, undertake fund-raising activities, and work on the ground to protect rhinos from poaching and habitat loss.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anti-poaching-initiatives">Anti-poaching initiatives</h2>



Strategies such as strict law enforcement, community engagement, and advanced technologies like drone surveillance and tracking devices are deployed to combat poaching.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitat-management-and-restoration">Habitat management and restoration</h2>



Conservationists work on habitat management and restoration projects to ensure rhinos have the necessary environments to thrive. These efforts focus on reducing human-wildlife conflict and securing migratory routes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breeding-and-rehabilitation-programs">Breeding and rehabilitation programs</h2>



Sanctuaries and conservation areas facilitate breeding programs, reintroduction, and rehabilitation efforts to enhance genetic diversity and increase population sizes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-education-and-advocacy-on-world-rhino-day">Education and advocacy on World Rhino Day</h2>



World Rhino Day is an opportunity for educational institutions, NGOs, and activists to disseminate information on the significance of rhinos and engage the public in conservation activities. The involvement of local communities is particularly crucial, as their support can greatly contribute to the protection of rhinos and their habitats.



In summary, World Rhino Day symbolizes a global unity in the pursuit of preserving the five species of rhinos. This day serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and conserve these majestic animals and their habitats, enabling them to play their crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. 



The ongoing dedication to rhino conservation, supported by heightened awareness and reinforced regulations, is vital to ensure the survival of rhinos for future generations. By celebrating World Rhino Day, we reaffirm our commitment to biodiversity and take a step closer to a world where both humans and wildlife coexist harmoniously.



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World Rhino Day: Celebrating and protecting the magnificent rhinoceros

World Rhino Day, celebrated annually on September 22nd, is a...

Adult,Cuckoo,Male,Perched,On,Branch

Climate change is reshaping bird habitats and populations across the United Kingdom, presenting both challenges and opportunities for native and migratory species. 



Scientists note that this environmental shift is producing "winners and losers" among bird populations, impacting not only the avian residents but also the bird-watching community in Britain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rising-new-sightings-the-winners">Rising new sightings: The winners</h2>



According to a recent report by the BBC, bird enthusiasts in the UK are witnessing unprecedented sightings of non-native species, such as the black-winged stilts and bee-eaters -- migrants previously seldom seen on British shores. 



Bird species like reed warblers are leveraging the extended, warmer summers to increase their progeny, while others like the Cetti's warbler, which colonized the UK decades ago, are progressively extending their range north.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diminishing-native-species-the-losers">Diminishing native species: The losers</h2>



Conversely, the shifting climate is posing significant threats to species like cuckoos and willow warblers, which are experiencing sharp declines in Southern Britain. Dr. Dave Leech, the Head of Ringing at the <a href="https://www.bto.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">British Trust for Ornithology</a>, spoke to the BBC about the precarious plight of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cuckoos-are-unable-to-change-their-migrations-in-response-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cuckoos</a>, stating their populations are in "free fall." 



The changing climate is reducing the availability of food, impeding these birds' ability to refuel before their strenuous journey back over the Sahara to over-winter in Africa. The worry is that future generations might miss out on the distinctive calls of cuckoos, a sound once synonymous with British wildlife.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multi-faceted-pressure-on-bird-populations">Multi-faceted pressure on bird populations</h2>



The precarious balance of the avian ecosystem in the UK is not solely attributed to climate change. Loss of natural habitats like meadows and hedgerows, combined with the usage of pesticides, has led to a decline in nearly half of all bird species in the country. 



The British Trust for Ornithology reports a substantial decrease in the number of wild birds in Britain, witnessing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/half-of-all-uk-bird-species-are-in-a-state-of-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a drop of 73 million</a> since 1970.



Dr. Leech emphasizes that the changing climate is particularly impactful for migratory birds, which are grappling with extreme weather conditions across various continents, affecting their breeding, wintering, and migrational paths that span thousands of kilometers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategic-monitoring-and-mitigation">Strategic monitoring and mitigation</h2>



The continuous efforts of bird ringers and volunteers have been instrumental in monitoring these changes in bird populations, providing valuable insights into their decline. 



Peter, a seasoned bird ringer from Gloucestershire, points out to the BBC that climate change, predominantly driven by human activities, will result in alterations in the avian landscape. While some <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/the-12-endangered-birds-most-at-risk-of-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species may disappear</a>, others could become commonplace, shifting the avian biodiversity of the region.



Collecting and analyzing ringing data is crucial for devising effective mitigation strategies against the adverse effects of climate change on bird species. Understanding these shifts will enable more informed conservation strategies, aiming to preserve the rich and diverse bird life in the UK.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preserving-and-conserving-bird-populations">Preserving and conserving bird populations</h2>



In summary, the interplay between climate change and avian species is unveiling a new pattern in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-populations-are-declining-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird sightings</a> in the UK. While this shift might excite bird lovers with the presence of new species, the decline of traditional inhabitants like the cuckoo raises concerns about the long-term impacts on the biodiversity of the region. 



The proactive role of bird ringers, scientists, and volunteers is essential in monitoring and mitigating the repercussions of these environmental shifts, ensuring the sustenance of diverse bird species for future generations to experience and enjoy.



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Bird populations in the UK are being decimated by climate change

Climate change is reshaping bird habitats and populations across the...

Researchers unearthed a new species of tarantula exhibiting a vibrant electric blue coloration, nestled within the enigmatic landscapes of Thailand’s mangrove forests. This exciting discovery unfolded in the Phang-Nga province and is the inaugural record of a tarantula species dwelling in Thai mangrove ecosystems.



Dr. Narin Chomphuphuang and his research ensemble, accompanied by local wildlife aficionado and YouTuber <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwahnsJVPWodYOLoTQl3q6A" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JoCho Sippawat</a>, embarked on this trailblazing expedition following the revelation of Taksinus bambus -- the first <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/four-new-tarantula-species-discovered-in-colombia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tarantula</a> known to inhabit bamboo stalks, in Thailand. Their quest was driven by the zeal to delve deeper into the secretive world of these arachnids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-encounter-with-the-vibrant-creature">Encounter with the vibrant creature</h2>



The distinctive <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/spider_Chilobrachys-natanicharum_Yuranan-Nanthaisong_2medium.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electric blue</a> of the tarantula immediately distinguished it from its peers, its color acting as a beacon in the dense, dark green foliage. 



Narin explained, “The first specimen we found was on a tree in the mangrove forest. These tarantulas inhabit hollow trees, presenting a challenge in catching them, as one needs to climb trees and lure them out of complex hollows amidst humid and slippery conditions.”



The expedition meticulously maneuvered through the terrain in the evenings and nocturnal hours during low tide, overcoming obstacles to collect two specimens, showcasing the tarantula’s elusive nature.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-symphony-of-colors">A symphony of colors</h2>



The electric blue tarantula, it was discovered, doesn’t owe its striking coloration to pigments, but rather to the intricate nanostructures within their hair, manipulating light to craft the illustrious blue hue, sometimes revealing an enchanting violet tint, creating a mesmerizing iridescent effect. 



The mechanism to appear blue necessitates the absorption of minimal energy while reflecting high-energy blue light, making blue one of the most scarce and fascinating colors in nature.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-prior-commercial-appearance">A prior commercial appearance</h2>



Before its scientific documentation, this species had been seen in commercial tarantula markets as the "Chilobrachys sp. Electric Blue Tarantula," however, without any records of its distinctive attributes or its natural surroundings.



Dr. Narin elucidated the adaptability of the electric blue tarantula, explaining, “These tarantulas can flourish in both arboreal and terrestrial environments in evergreen forests but are confined to tree hollows in mangrove forests due to tidal activities.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-naming-the-new-tarantula-species">Naming the new tarantula species</h2>



The scientific designation, Chilobrachys natanicharum, resulted from an auction campaign, with Nichada Properties Co., Ltd., Thailand, emerging victorious, proposing a blend of the names of company executives Mr. Natakorn Changrew and Ms. Nichada Changrew. 



The proceeds from the auction have been channeled to bolster the education of Lahu children in Thailand and to aid impoverished cancer patients. The Lahu people, an indigenous tribe known for their rich culture and traditions, face stark educational disparities due to financial constraints. 



Similarly, many cancer sufferers grapple with economic adversities, hindering their access to quality medical care. The donation aims to bridge these gaps and extend support to those in dire need.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-concerns-over-habitat-destruction">Concerns over habitat destruction</h2>



Dr. Narin emphasized the indispensability of taxonomy in research, from resolving everyday queries about species names to undertaking pivotal conservation research to thwart species extinction. He underscored its critical role in advancing knowledge and fostering conservation efforts.



The looming menace of deforestation imperils mangrove forests and their unique inhabitants like the electric blue tarantula—one of the world’s rarest. This discovery brings forth pertinent questions about humanity's inadvertent role in habitat destruction and the subsequent displacement of these exceptional species, prompting reflections on conservation imperatives.



This discovery, a beacon of Thailand’s rich biodiversity, has not only expanded the realms of arachnological knowledge but has also sparked crucial conversations about ecological conservation, habitat preservation, and the proactive roles that can be played to shield these extraordinary creatures from extinction.



The study was published in the <a href="https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/106278/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">journal ZooKeys</a>.



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Electric blue tarantula discovered in a Thai mangrove forest

Researchers unearthed a new species of tarantula exhibiting a vibrant...

A new study published by <a href="https://global.oup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford University Press</a> uncovers the evolutionary adaptations in bats that may explain their extraordinary capability to ward off <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-increases-risk-of-fatal-bacterial-infections/">infections</a> and resist cancer. This discovery, believed to be associated with bats' rapid evolution, may have promising implications for cancer research.



Bats have long fascinated scientists due to their unique attributes. Not only are they the only mammals capable of sustained flight, but they also boast long lifespans, remarkably low cancer rates, and incredibly robust immune systems.&nbsp;



Furthermore, it is widely believed that bats played a pivotal role in the emergence of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. Their peculiar ability to tolerate various viral infections possibly arises from distinct features in their innate immune response.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-human-health-nbsp">Implications for human health&nbsp;</h2>



The implications of understanding bats are far-reaching, especially for human health. Gaining insights into the bat immune system's mechanisms that enable it to withstand viral infections might pave the way for better strategies in preventing zoonotic disease transmissions to humans.&nbsp;



Furthermore, by comparing the genomic data of bats to other mammals more susceptible to cancer, researchers could unearth new knowledge about cancer's origins and its intricate relationship with immunity.&nbsp;



While mice remain a primary organism for experimental studies due to their ease of manipulation, they lack many attributes relevant to human diseases. In contrast, bats offer a more comprehensive perspective.



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



"The ability of bats to tolerate viral infections may stem from unusual features of their innate immune response. Together, these adaptations make bats a powerful system for investigating a wide variety of genotype-to-phenotype relationships, including several with implications for human health," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"For example, by better understanding the mechanisms of the bat immune system that allow them to tolerate viral infections, researchers may be better able to prevent zoonotic outbreaks."



"In addition, comparative genomic analyses of bats and cancer-susceptible mammals may shed new light on the causes of cancer and links between cancer and immunity."



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



For their investigation, the researchers used the Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read platform, along with bat samples from the American Museum of Natural History in Belize. The genomes of two bat species, the Jamaican fruit bat and the Mesoamerican mustached bat, were sequenced.&nbsp;



The team conducted an extensive comparative genomic analysis involving various bats and other mammals.



"Our comparative genomic analysis of these genome sequences, which have been released as a public resource, provides several new insights into unique features of innate immune response and cancer resistance in bats," said the researchers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-discovered-nbsp">What the researchers discovered&nbsp;</h2>



The scientists identified genetic modifications in six DNA repair-related proteins in bats.&nbsp;



Furthermore, 46 proteins related to cancer suppression were found to be altered in bats. These modified genes related to cancer were present over two times more in bats than in other mammals.



“By generating these new bat genomes and comparing them to other mammals we continue to find extraordinary new adaptations in antiviral and anticancer genes,” said study lead author Armin Scheben.&nbsp;



“These investigations are the first step towards translating research on the unique biology of bats into insights relevant to understanding and treating aging and diseases, such as cancer, in humans.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evad148" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genome Biology and Evolution</a>.



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Unique biology of bats may hold secrets of cancer resistance

A new study published by Oxford University Press uncovers the...

Dolphin,Portrait,Detail,Of,Eye,While,Looking,At,You,From

In a recent study, researchers have discovered that a staggering 72% of cetacean and pinniped stocks under U.S. jurisdiction exhibit high or very high vulnerability to the threats posed by climate change.&nbsp;The main threats to these marine mammals include rising ocean temperatures and changes in water composition. 



Pinnipeds are “flipper-footed” animals such as seals, sea lions, and walruses, while cetaceans are species that cannot survive on land, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-found-embedded-in-tissues-of-whales-and-dolphins/">whales</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/dolphin-everything-you-need-to-know-about-these-magical-mammals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dolphins</a> and porpoises.



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



The study, led by Matthew D. Lettrich from <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA Fisheries</a>, sheds light on the susceptibility of marine mammals in US waters to the ever-intensifying impacts of a changing climate.



Several factors drive this vulnerability. As the Earth's climate undergoes rapid alterations, the distribution, behavior, and movements of marine mammals are being significantly influenced.&nbsp;



Key agents of this change include warming ocean temperatures, diminished sea ice cover, increased ocean acidity, changing salinity levels, and declining dissolved oxygen.



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



Until now, while <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/climate/climate-vulnerability-assessments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate Vulnerability Assessments</a> (CVAs) provided insights into the climate impacts across a spectrum of species, none had specifically delved into US-managed marine mammals.&nbsp;



Recognizing this gap, the researchers embarked on a comprehensive assessment of 108 marine mammal stocks spanning the western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.&nbsp;



The goal was to gauge their exposure to climate change and their inherent ability to adapt to its consequences.



To do this, the team used 16 climate-related factors that are likely to influence marine mammals directly or indirectly via their prey or habitat.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-results-for-marine-mammals">Alarming results for marine mammals</h2>



The assessment revealed that a startling 44% of marine mammal stocks were found to have a “very high” climate vulnerability score. Baleen whales, medium-sized whales, toothed whales, and dolphins were found to have the greatest risk.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The primary culprits affecting these species were identified as alterations in ocean temperature, acidity, and dissolved oxygen levels, which have direct repercussions on their prey availability and habitat conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-sound-transmission-nbsp">Changes in sound transmission&nbsp;</h2>



Moreover, a less explored facet of climate change impacts on marine mammals is the changes in sound absorption and transmission in waters due to fluctuating pH and temperature levels.&nbsp;



This has significant implications for species that rely on echolocation for activities like communication, hunting, and foraging.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecosystem-management-and-conservation">Ecosystem management and conservation</h2>



“These results provide information for researchers, managers, and the public on marine mammal responses to climate change to enhance the development of more effective marine mammal management, restoration, and conservation activities that address current and future environmental variation and biological responses due to climate change," wrote the study authors.



"This vulnerability assessment provides a tool that can complement other marine mammal assessment techniques and support the broader implementation of protected species and ecosystem management and conservation as the climate changes.”



The researchers would like for the marine mammal climate vulnerability assessment to be repeated when enhanced input data is available, such as higher-resolution climate projections and better species-specific biological information.



“Using a systematic approach allowed us to look across all of these stocks and better understand what drives their vulnerability to climate change," said Lettrich.



"We can now go out and look at some of these individual responses to climate change, and explore approaches to reduce the impacts of climate change on these vulnerable populations.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290643">PLOS ONE</a>.



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Marine mammals in U.S. waters are highly vulnerable to climate change

In a recent study, researchers have discovered that a staggering...

Pied,Tamarin

A recent research study has shed light on the intriguing ways in which the critically endangered pied tamarin monkeys adapt their communication techniques, in response to human-induced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traffic-noise-increases-the-risk-of-hypertension/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noise pollution</a>, by increasing their scent markings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-communication-amidst-the-urban-din">Communication amidst the urban din</h2>



Native to a tiny geographic span in central Brazil, a majority of which now finds itself encapsulated within the urban sprawl of Manaus, the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/fr/species/40644/192551696" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pied tamarins</a> (Saguinus bicolor) primarily employ a combination of vocal calls and scent markings to convey messages. 



But as cities grow and their natural habitats are continuously fragmented, how these primates communicate is dramatically changing.



The latest research, jointly spearheaded by experts from Universidade Federal do Amazonas and <a href="https://www.aru.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anglia Ruskin University</a> (ARU), examined nine distinct groups of wild pied tamarins. With the help of radio tracking, the research team shadowed each group for a span of 10 days. 



Throughout these habitats, the main sources of human-made noise emanated from road traffic. However, noises from aircraft, visitors to parks, and even military operations also contributed to the cacophony.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vital-role-of-scent-markings">The vital role of scent markings</h2>



Effective intergroup communication is crucial for not just the health but the very survival of a species. Pied tamarins resort to various scent markings, each serving different purposes, such as conveying territorial or reproductive information.



The study’s compelling findings revealed a direct correlation between the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-noise-affects-the-color-of-songbirds-beaks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">escalation in noise</a> decibel levels and the frequency of scent markings. This indicates that as their vocal communication gets muffled amidst the urban noise, these primates are relying more heavily on scent markings.



Tainara Sobroza, the lead author from <a href="https://www.ufam.edu.br/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Universidade Federal do Amazonas</a>, noted, “Pied tamarins produce long calls which are pivotal for numerous reasons including intergroup communication, territory demarcation, and group cohesion. With urban landscapes steadily encroaching their habitats, our data implies that these creatures' communication techniques are evolving in the face of urban noise.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-adaptations-and-conservation">Evolutionary adaptations and conservation</h2>



Adding to this, <a href="https://www.aru.ac.uk/people/jacob-c-dunn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Jacob Dunn</a>, Associate Professor in Evolutionary Biology at ARU, pointed out that human activities have massively altered the acoustic landscapes that many species were originally adapted to. He emphasized, “The rise in scent marking is probably a flexible adaptation to this drastic change. It's captivating to note that pied tamarins are adjusting their behavior in the face of city noise.”



While scent markings offer the advantage of transmitting information over a prolonged period, they don't match the reach of vocal calls. As these creatures find their habitats becoming more splintered, this might spell trouble for an already critically endangered species.



This fascinating research, which throws light on the behavioral shifts of animals in urban environments, was generously funded by esteemed institutions like the National Geographic Society, the Rufford Foundation, Primate Action Fund, and the International Primatology Society.



The findings have been unveiled in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03949370.2023.2248591" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethology Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Monkeys use more scent markings to combat human noise pollution

A recent research study has shed light on the intriguing...

Freshwater mussels, known for their sensitivity to water quality changes, may be at heightened risk due to the impacts of increasing sea levels on coastal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hypoxia-is-a-serious-problem-in-rivers-worldwide/">rivers</a>.&nbsp;



A recent investigation has shed light on the potential dangers that these species, along with other salt-sensitive organisms, face in the wake of climate-induced sea level changes.



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



The goal of the research, published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.5731">Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry</a>, was to understand the threshold of sea salt concentration that could jeopardize the survival of juvenile mussels.&nbsp;



This information is crucial in understanding the implications of rising sea levels on these species and the ecosystems they inhabit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increased-salinity-levels-nbsp">Increased salinity levels&nbsp;</h2>



"Sea levels across the planet are rising, particularly along the eastern coast of the United States. Climate-induced sea level rise can result in the inundation and intrusion of seawater into freshwater drainages. This would alter salinity regimes and lead to the salinization of coastal freshwater ecosystems," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"Increased salinity levels in freshwater can negatively affect freshwater-dependent species, including native mussels belonging to the order Unionida, which are highly sensitive to changes in water quality."&nbsp;



"Sea salt is largely made up of sodium and chloride ions, forming sodium chloride, a known toxicant to freshwater mussels. However, sea salt is a mixture that also contains other major ions, including potassium, sulfate, calcium, strontium, and magnesium, among others."



"Freshwater mussels exposed to sea salt would be exposed to each of the sea salt ions at the same time, resulting in a mixture toxicity effect. The mixture toxicity of these ions on early life stages of freshwater mussels is largely unknown because most research to date has evaluated individual salt ions in relative isolation."&nbsp;



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



To investigate, the researchers conducted acute toxicity tests on early life stages (glochidia and juvenile) of three freshwater mussel species.&nbsp;



The southeastern coast of the US became the focal point of the study, given that this region has observed a consistent sea-level rise, ranging from 2 to 6mm annually.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



The study revealed that salt water is toxic to both glochidia and juvenile life stages of freshwater mussels, with glochidia being the most sensitive life stage.



This is consistent with previous research that has shown glochidia to be the most sensitive life stage and that glochidia are more sensitive to sodium chloride than juveniles, noted the researchers.



By identifying the toxic levels of salt water for mussels at different stages of their life cycle, the study offers a roadmap for conservation initiatives. Such insights could pave the way for developing better strategies that factor in the challenges of sea level rise and the subsequent saltwater intrusion.



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



Study co-author Joseph McIver from North Carolina State University emphasized the global significance of the issue.&nbsp;



“Climate change represents a serious threat to our aquatic ecosystems worldwide and the organisms that live there,” said McIver.&nbsp;



“Protecting and conserving our already highly imperiled freshwater mussels is of paramount importance and our research on the effects of salinity and sea level rise will hopefully contribute valuable information toward these goals.”



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



The potential ramifications of sea level rise stretch beyond mussels and could reshape the balance of entire ecosystems.&nbsp;



As freshwater sources face the threat of increased salinity, a ripple effect may be felt throughout the food chain, impacting not only salt-sensitive species but also the larger web of life they support.



Protecting vulnerable species like freshwater mussels may be a small piece of a much larger puzzle, but it is a critical step towards preserving the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems.



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How freshwater mussels are threatened by sea-level rise

Freshwater mussels, known for their sensitivity to water quality changes,...

Researchers have discovered that two common birds are developing smaller eyes - most likely as a response to urban <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-exposes-migrating-birds-to-toxic-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light pollution</a>. The species are the Northern Cardinal and Carolina Wren, both of which inhabit urban areas around the country. 



Remarkably, these birds were found to have eyes that were about 5% smaller than their counterparts living on the outskirts of the city. This contrasts with two migratory species, the Painted Bunting and White-eyed Vireo, which showed no variance in eye size based on their urban or suburban habitats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-declining-bird-populations">Declining bird populations</h2>



The implications of these findings are profound, especially in the context of the worrying decline of bird populations across the U.S.&nbsp;



According to past research, the U.S. and Canada have witnessed a devastating reduction of 29% - or 3 billion birds - since 1970.&nbsp;



Although habitat fragmentation has been identified as the primary culprit, this new research suggests that human-generated sensory pollutants, particularly light, could also be influencing birds' ability to thrive in urban settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-birds-eyes">Studying birds' eyes</h2>



"This study shows that residential birds may adapt over time to urban areas, but migratory birds are not adapting, probably because where they spend the winter--they are less likely to have the same <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosquito-biting-season-extended-by-light-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human-caused light</a> and noise pressures. It may make it more difficult for them to adjust to city life during the breeding season,” explained study senior author Jennifer Phillips, a wildlife ecologist at <a href="https://wsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington State University</a>. 



For the investigation, Phillips collaborated with Todd Jones and Alfredo Llamas from Texas A&amp;M University, San Antonio. The trio analyzed over 500 birds, comparing body and eye sizes. They also evaluated the noise and light measurements of each habitat.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-discovered-nbsp">What the researchers discovered&nbsp;</h2>



Interestingly, no notable differences were detected in the body sizes of birds from various locations, except for the Painted Bunting. This discrepancy, the researchers concluded, was primarily age-driven.&nbsp;



Younger male buntings, struggling in the mating competition, were more frequently found in brighter, louder city centers, presumably less sought-after habitats.



This research is the first to link urban <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-is-a-growing-issue-for-migratory-birds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light pollution</a> to physiological adaptations in birds, specifically eye size. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-with-smaller-eye-size">Birds with smaller eye size</h2>



The smaller eye size may enable birds to deal with the brighter and more constant light in city environments, said Jones, the study’s first author who is now a post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian’s Migratory Bird Center.&nbsp;



According to Jones, birds with bigger eyes can be somewhat blinded by the glare of city lights or be unable to sleep well, putting them at a disadvantage in urban areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unintended-consequences-nbsp">Unintended consequences&nbsp;</h2>



“Humans may have some unintended consequences on birds that we don’t realize,” said Jones. “We don’t know if these adaptations could have good or bad consequences for the birds down the road, considering that urban environments aren’t going away anytime soon."



"It is also important to understand how to manage such environments for the birds that maybe aren't urban adapted.”



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



With the support of a $2.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, Phillips is leading a team to investigate the effect of both light and noise pollution across multiple bird species.



The team will investigate how light and noise affects the birds’ stress levels, sleep hormones, song structure, aggression levels, and overall fitness.



“We want to know whether patterns at molecular and behavioral scales affect fitness or not. Essentially, we're trying to understand what are the benefits and costs to these animals living in a sensory polluted world,” said Phillips.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16935" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Change Biology</a>.



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City birds are developing smaller eyes due to light pollution

Researchers have discovered that two common birds are developing smaller...

Macro,Shot,Of,Dead,Bumblebee,With,Its,Parasites

Australia has announced a significant policy shift in its approach to handling the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-causing-honey-bee-colony-collapse-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bee parasites</a>, Varroa mites. Previously focused on eradication, the country will now concentrate on managing the deadly pest's spread. 



The decision comes after the pest posed increasing challenges to the country's pollination sector and beekeepers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-history-of-the-outbreak">History of the outbreak</h2>



The Varroa mite was first discovered in Newcastle, New South Wales, in June 2022. Since then, almost 30,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bees-emerge-from-hibernation-6-5-days-earlier-for-each-degree-of-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bee</a> hives have been euthanized in an attempt to curb its spread, according to reports by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changing-tactics">Changing tactics</h2>



On Tuesday, the <a href="https://www.outbreak.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Management Group</a>, responsible for controlling the Varroa mite's distribution in Australia, reached a unanimous decision to alter its approach to this biosecurity challenge. 



The shift was influenced by the non-compliance of some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-beekeeping-is-equally-productive-as-methods-using-chemicals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beekeepers</a> and a recent surge in new detections across large areas. The group stated that these challenges rendered eradication strategies impractical.



The New South Wales (NSW) government expressed concerns, stating that new detections signaled a more widespread infestation than initially believed. They emphasized that eradicating the Varroa mite is no longer a viable option. The focus now lies on collaborative efforts to manage and reduce its adverse effects.



The management group disclosed that an interim approach would be employed by NSW to mitigate the effects and decelerate the spread of the mite. Meanwhile, the <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/plant/health/committees/ccepp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests</a> is tasked with formulating a fresh response strategy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-economic-implications">Economic implications</h2>



Australia's pollination industry, particularly vital for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-heat-threatens-solitary-bees-and-global-food-security/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">commercial crops</a> like almonds, apples, and avocados, is heavily reliant on European honey bees. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/are-bees-endangered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a> are transported in vast numbers during the spring flowering season to facilitate plant pollination. The policy change implies a probable surge in the costs associated with pollinating these crops.



A widespread mite infection poses a substantial threat to wild European bee nests and numerous managed hives not resistant to the parasite. The Australian government has warned of potential pollination deficits and potential annual losses exceeding A$70 million.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cost-of-varroa-response-strategy">Cost of Varroa response strategy</h2>



The fight against the Varroa mite has been costly. The response strategy alone has consumed A$132 million, marking it as Australia's most significant biosecurity outbreak. Remarkably, until this outbreak, Australia was the lone continent that had remained untouched by the menacing mite.



Australia's transition from eradication to management strategies underscores the challenges the nation faces from the Varroa mite. As the country navigates these uncharted waters, collaboration, innovative strategies, and global insights will be vital to safeguarding its vital pollination sector.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-varroa-mites">More about Varroa mites</h2>



Varroa mites have emerged as one of the most formidable threats to honeybee populations worldwide. These tiny pests, barely visible to the naked eye, have wreaked havoc in bee colonies, leading to significant declines in bee numbers and jeopardizing the world's pollination system. But what are these mites, and why do they pose such a significant threat?



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-introduction-to-varroa-mites">Introduction to Varroa mites</h3>



Varroa mites, scientifically known as Varroa destructor, are reddish-brown parasites that attach themselves to honeybees. They specifically target the fat bodies of bees, a critical tissue that performs functions similar to a mammal's liver.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-varroa-mites-affect-honeybees">How Varroa mites affect honeybees</h3>



Varroa mites latch onto adult bees and feed on their fat bodies, weakening the bees and shortening their lifespan. But the damage doesn't stop there. When these mites infest bee larvae, they can deform the emerging adults, leading to bees with disabled wings or other deformities.



Moreover, as they feed, varroa mites transmit deadly viruses such as the Deformed Wing Virus. These viruses further weaken the bee colonies, often leading to the collapse of entire hives.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-global-spread-of-varroa-mites">The global spread of Varroa mites</h3>



Originally from Southeast Asia, varroa mites have found their way across the globe. They first infested European honeybees in the 1960s and quickly spread, reaching North America by the 1980s. 



Due to their rapid proliferation and the ease with which they spread, varroa mites now affect bee colonies on every continent. As discussed earlier in this article, Australia is the last to report their presence, and they have given up on their eradication program.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-varroa-mites-are-a-cause-for-concern">Why Varroa mites are a cause for concern</h3>



Honeybees play a pivotal role in pollinating many of the crops that humans consume daily. From fruits and vegetables to nuts and seeds, bees ensure the reproduction of these plants. 



With the decline in bee populations due to varroa mites, food production faces potential threats. A decrease in pollination can lead to reduced yields and increased food prices, affecting economies and food security.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fighting-back-against-varroa-mites">Fighting back against Varroa mites</h3>



Beekeepers and scientists actively search for ways to combat varroa mites. Some methods include:



<ul>
<li>Chemical Treatments: Many beekeepers use miticides to reduce mite populations. However, overreliance can lead to mites developing resistance to these chemicals. </li>



<li>Biological Controls: Researchers are studying the potential use of natural predators, such as certain strains of fungi, to target and kill varroa mites. </li>



<li>Bee Breeding: Efforts are underway to breed honeybees that display natural resistance or grooming behaviors that help them remove and kill mites from their bodies.</li>
</ul>



Varroa mites pose a clear and present danger to global bee populations, affecting not only the bees but also the broader ecosystem and human food sources. As the world grapples with this challenge, it requires a combination of innovative strategies, global collaboration, and increased awareness to safeguard our invaluable pollinators from this menace.



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Australia gives up on efforts to eradicate Varroa mites, which are wiping out bee colonies

Australia has announced a significant policy shift in its approach...

A new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wmon.1078">Wildlife Monographs</a> is shedding light on the most critical considerations for grizzly bear conservation.&nbsp;



The research explores the intricate relationship between grizzly bears, their habitat, and human-induced challenges, painting a comprehensive picture of the elements threatening their survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-impacts">Human impacts</h2>



The greatest human impact on grizzly bear populations has been identified in two predominant forms: top-down influences and bottom-up effects.&nbsp;



Top-down impacts include bear fatalities associated with illegal killings or direct conflict with humans. Road density and the amount of secure <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lynx-habitat-selection-is-heavily-influenced-by-human-disturbance/">habitat</a> away from roads are also top-down influences on grizzlies.&nbsp;



On the other hand, bottom-up effects are related to the indirect effects of human activities, such as a decline in food resources.



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



"The influence of bottom-up food resources and top-down mortality risk underlies the demographic trajectory of wildlife populations. For species of conservation concern, understanding the factors driving population dynamics is crucial to effective management and, ultimately, conservation," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"In southeastern British Columbia, Canada, populations of the mostly omnivorous grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) are fragmented into a mosaic of small isolated or larger partially connected sub-populations. They obtain most of their energy from vegetative resources that are also influenced by human activities."



"Roads and associated motorized human access shape availability of food resources but also displace bears and facilitate human-caused mortality. Effective grizzly bear management requires an understanding of the relationship between habitat quality and mortality risk."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-top-bottom-factors-nbsp">Top-bottom factors&nbsp;</h2>



During the study, the researchers radio-collared and meticulously followed several grizzly bears for multiple years in southeastern British Columbia.&nbsp;



The findings revealed a significant interaction between the top-bottom factors, particularly the availability of huckleberry patches (a crucial food source for grizzlies) and the risk posed by the dense network of forestry roads.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forestry-roads-nbsp">Forestry roads&nbsp;</h2>



The study demonstrated that the mere existence of forestry roads not only increases the mortality risk for grizzly bears but also restricts their access to vital food sources.&nbsp;



Consequently, the fitness and population density of female grizzlies was diminished - which is similar to the detrimental effects of direct habitat loss.&nbsp;



This two-fold negative impact highlights the adverse consequences of forestry roads for grizzly bear populations across western North America.



"At the intersection of top-down and bottom-up influences, we found that areas of higher road density offset food resources even if abundant, preventing effective use of the resource," said the researchers.



"With the omnivorous grizzly bear, top-down influences in our study area were not only associated with mortality risk, but they limited contributions of food resources to fitness and density, in essence having a similar effect as habitat loss."



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



“The securing of important food resources to make them accessible to bears is accomplished through some degree of restriction of human access,” said study lead author Dr. Michael Proctor of Birchdale Ecological Ltd. “Our results suggest that benefits of critical bear foods are not satisfactorily realized unless human access to nearby roads is reduced.”



This research emphasizes the intertwined relationship between human activities and grizzly bear protection. The preservation of this species depends not only on safeguarding their habitats but also on understanding and mitigating how humans influence their chances of survival.



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Grizzly bear conservation must focus on habitat quality and mortality risk

A new study published in the journal Wildlife Monographs is...

The Brazilian wandering spider is known to be one of the most dangerous arachnids, due to the extreme potency of its venom.&nbsp;



Bites can cause extreme pain and inflammation, loss of muscle control, and breathing problems, potentially leading to paralysis and suffocation if not treated immediately.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-erectile-dysfunction-nbsp">Erectile dysfunction&nbsp;</h2>



However, according to a team of scientists led by the <a href="https://ufmg.br/international-visitors">Federal University of Minas Gerais</a>, one unusual effect of this venom – the fact that men who are bitten can experience unwanted erections lasting for hours – could make this venom an effective treatment against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/car-exhaust-erectile-dysfunction/">erectile dysfunction</a>.



After already completing a phase one safety trial, the Brazilian experts are now preparing to launch a phase two clinical trial to test whether a part of the spider venom called BZ371A could work as a treatment for erectile dysfunction by boosting blood flow across the body in men who underwent the surgical removal of their prostate due to cancer.&nbsp;



The previous trials aimed to make sure that this compound, isolated from other dangerous parts of the venom, did not cause any severe side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pre-existing-health-conditions">Pre-existing health conditions</h2>



Although medications for treating erectile dysfunction already exist – such as the well-known Viagra – it is estimated that about one out of three men cannot take them due to pre-existing health conditions.&nbsp;



Scientists working on BZ371A hope that this compound will help these men in particular.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-species-protection-nbsp">Species protection&nbsp;</h2>



According to Maria Elena de Lima, a biochemist at Minas Gerais, these findings could also boost efforts to protect species such as the Brazilian wandering spider.&nbsp;



“This helps demonstrate why our fauna must be preserved: it is an inexhaustible source of bioactive molecules, and we do not know even one percent of this potential.”



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



While erectile dysfunction is a common problem in men - particularly over 40 years of age – beings caused by a variety of triggers, such as stress, tiredness, alcohol consumption, or as a side effect of some medicines, many women also struggle with sexual dysfunction.&nbsp;



Thus, the scientists hope that BZ371A from spider venom could also be used one day to help women suffering from such conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brazilian-wandering-spider-nbsp">Brazilian wandering spider&nbsp;</h2>



The Brazilian wandering spider (genus Phoneutria) is a group of large and aggressive spiders found primarily in tropical South America. They are sometimes called "armed spiders" or "banana spiders" due to their occasional appearance in shipments of bananas.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-venom">Venom</h3>



They are considered to be one of the world's most venomous spiders based on the potency of their venom. A bite can be deadly to humans, especially children, but fatalities are rare due to the spider's tendency not to deliver a full envenomation and the availability of antivenom.



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



Unlike typical spiders that stay in their webs, Brazilian wandering spiders are active hunters, primarily at night, hence the name "wandering" spider.



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



They are relatively large, with a body length of up to 5 cm (2 inches) and a leg span of up to 15 cm (6 inches).



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



Wandering spiders are typically found in the tropical regions of South America, especially Brazil. They inhabit a range of environments, from forests to urban areas.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bite-symptoms">Bite symptoms</h3>



Symptoms from a bite can include severe pain, inflammation, increased heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. In some cases, victims can also experience paralysis or death if not treated promptly.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treatment">Treatment</h3>



If you are bitten by a Brazilian wandering spider, seek medical attention immediately. Antivenom is available in areas where these spiders are found.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warning">Warning</h3>



Although they can be aggressive if threatened, Brazilian wandering spiders tend to avoid human interaction when possible. It's essential to be cautious and avoid handling them.



Remember, while they are dangerous, encounters with these spiders are relatively rare, and bites are even rarer. It's always good to be informed and take precautions if in an area where they could be present.



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Spider venom might soon be the new Viagra

The Brazilian wandering spider is known to be one of...

By surveying populations of the Yarrow’s spiny lizard in 18 mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona, a team of scientists led by the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/">University of Arizona</a> has found that climate change is currently causing extinctions at an increasing, worrisome rate.



“The magnitude of extinction we found over the past seven years was similar to that seen in other studies that spanned almost 70 years,” said senior author John J. Wiens, a professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Arizona.



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



The Yarrow’s spiny lizard is native to southwestern U.S. and western Mexico and can be found in oak and pine forests in 18 of Arizona’s Sky Island mountains.&nbsp;



The experts initially conducted surveys of this lizard in 2014 and 2015, followed by resurveys in 2021 and 2022, which aimed to assess if there had been any changes in the lizard populations since then.&nbsp;



The investigations revealed that about half of the lizard populations living at lower elevations had disappeared. According to Wiens, this happened because temperatures are higher at lower elevations and the lizards living there were unable to tolerate the increasing heat.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extinction-rate">Extinction rate</h2>



Thus, this loss of low-elevation lizard populations is yet another signature pattern of climate change (along with declines in myriad other species). “The rate of extinction in such a short time period was shocking,” said Wiens.



By comparing these findings with historical data from the same mountain ranges, the researchers discovered that the average extinction rate of the lizard populations at low elevations had nearly tripled over the past seven years, relative to the preceding 42 years.&nbsp;



While previous studies have already predicted that climate-driven extinctions will increase as global warming accelerates, such an extraordinary rate of extinction has not been observed before.&nbsp;



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



By 2025, a distinct three-million-year-old lineage of the Yarrow’s spiny lizard from the Mule Mountains could be completely extinct.



“The low-elevation populations in the Mules were fine in 2014. Now the only ones that we have found left were within about 300 feet of the top of the mountain in 2022, and they appear to have been losing about 170 feet per year,” Wiens explained.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-greater-genetic-variability-nbsp">Greater genetic variability&nbsp;</h2>



Fortunately, not all low-elevation populations went extinct between the two surveys. For instance, two populations found at very low elevations survived.&nbsp;



Genomic analyses of data collected in 2014 and 2015 revealed that the populations that were less genetically variable and were exposed to greater climate change effects were the ones that tended to go extinct.&nbsp;



This suggests that populations with higher genetic variability are more resilient and able to adapt to climate change.



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



In future research, the experts are planning to further examine the extinction and survival mechanisms of the Yarrow’s spiny lizards living in these mountain ranges, as well as to conduct similar studies with other lizards living in ever warmer places, such as California’s infamous Death Valley.



According to Wiens, it is critical to study the impacts of climate change on biodiversity at shorter timescales rather than looking for changes after tens of years have already passed.



“We’ve shown now that there can be devastating climate change effects over very short time periods,” he&nbsp;concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ele.14303">Ecology Letters</a>.



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Three-million-year-old lineage of the Yarrow’s spiny lizard is nearly extinct

By surveying populations of the Yarrow’s spiny lizard in 18...

<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...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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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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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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.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" 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.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" 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.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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[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 



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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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

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" 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.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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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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