Dogs are hardly passive couch potatoes, yet many will pause mid play to glance at a flickering screen. A new survey now puts a number on that gaze, showing the average household dog spends about 14 minutes and 8 seconds each day actually watching television.



The work was led by animal behavior researcher Lane Montgomery of Auburn University, who, with colleagues, asked more than 650 owners to log every tail twitch, bark, or stare during TV time. 



Their final sample of 453 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/national-puppy-day-2025-where-happiness-meets-responsibility/">dogs</a> formed the backbone of the “Dog Television Viewing Scale” that underpins the study’s findings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-dogs-watch-on-television">What dogs watch on television</h2>



Excitable dogs tracked fast moving objects across the screen with surprising intensity, almost as if the ball or squirrel were zipping across the living room wall. 



Fearful or anxious <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/do-dogs-actually-judge-people-its-not-as-simple-as-we-thought/">dogs</a>, by contrast, reacted more to non animal cues such as car horns or a recorded doorbell, hinting at a sensitivity to sudden, potentially alarming sounds.



Owners rated each pet’s temperament using standard Positive and Negative Activation Scale (<a href="https://ogg.osu.edu/media/documents/MB%20Stream/PANAS.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PNAS</a>) questions, and high excitement scores neatly aligned with more “follow” behaviors, while high negative activation lined up with responses to inanimate or human noises. 



These links suggest that personality, not breed, age, or sex, best predicts which scenes will grip a given dog.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-dogs-see-television-images">How dogs see television images </h2>



The dog brain can treat a moving two dimensional image as if it were a real object, a skill first demonstrated when pets obeyed commands delivered via video as readily as those given by a live trainer. 



That early <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.0179-1613.2003.00923.x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> set the stage for later work showing dogs anticipate where an on screen ball will re-appear after it rolls behind a barrier, a behavior called “anticipatory looking.”



Those cognitive feats depend on visual hardware that processes images at a higher flicker fusion rate than the human eye, meaning modern high refresh rate TVs finally look smooth to dogs rather than like a strobe. 



Such technical <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635716303400?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">details</a> help explain why today’s flat panels engage pets more effectively than the cathode ray tubes of the past, which often appeared flickery to canine viewers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anxious-dogs-and-television-sounds">Anxious dogs and television sounds</h2>



Noise matters at least as much as motion. In a recent survey, only 15 percent of noise sensitive dogs reacted to visuals, but many startled at bangs or whistles piped through the speakers.



Montgomery’s team found a similar pattern: nervous dogs turned their heads when a TV car horn blared, while confident, playful <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-dogs-replacing-children-how-modern-society-is-changing/">dogs</a> mostly ignored it. 



The result aligns with clinical observations that sudden, sharp noises are a common trigger for canine anxiety, whether the source is fireworks outside or surround sound inside.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-television-can-calm-shelter-dogs">Television can calm shelter dogs</h2>



Shelters have experimented with television as enrichment, yet results have been mixed because not every dog engages. 



Knowing that high excitement dogs track moving figures could help staff pick programs featuring slow pans for timid residents and gentle motion for energetic ones, maximizing benefit while avoiding overstimulation.



Research on visual enrichment devices shows cortisol levels drop only when the content matches the animal’s interest, so a one size fits all playlist rarely works. 



Tailoring videos to personality profiles derived from the new scale could turn idle screen time into an inexpensive welfare boost for thousands of kenneled dogs each year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tv-made-for-dogs-works-better">TV made for dogs works better</h2>



“DOGTV does that because of the way in which it enriches the space the dogs spend their time,” explained veterinarian David Haworth, a board member for the channel. Specialized networks such as DOGTV already tune colors, frame rates, and sound frequencies to canine preferences.&nbsp;



The new study offers hard data these producers can use, confirming that scenes rich in conspecific calls and clear animal silhouettes elicit the strongest reactions from typical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-may-respond-to-each-other-through-blinking/">pets</a>. 



Conversely, clips heavy on traffic sounds may suit anxious dogs only if the goal is desensitization rather than relaxation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tv-can-help-train-dogs">TV can help train dogs</h2>



Owners trying to curb barking at the screen should first note which stimuli set their dog off, then mute or pause similar cues to prevent rehearsal of the unwanted behavior. 



For excitable dogs that lunge at animated squirrels, distance from the set and cue controlled exposure can teach calm viewing without removing the enrichment entirely.



Trainers also leverage the screen as a controlled setting for practicing impulse control: a paused video of a cat can become the “sit and stay” homework before the action resumes as a reward. 



Because the average daily viewing span is short, two or three focused sessions are usually enough to work on problem responses without overloading the dog.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tv-habits-show-how-dogs-think">TV habits show how dogs think</h2>



Montgomery’s findings may even aid neuroscientists, who rely on video clips in fMRI scanners to probe how dogs perceive faces, objects, and motion. 



Knowing which personalities will stay still for a projected movie could streamline subject selection and improve data quality.



The study also touches on the broader question of picture object recognition, a hot topic in comparative psychology. 



If dogs categorize on screen animals separately from cars, yet still anticipate motion, they might maintain flexible mental models that shift between two and three dimensional contexts with ease.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-06580-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>.



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Most dogs will binge-watch TV all day, if given the opportunity

Dogs are hardly passive couch potatoes, yet many will pause mid play to glance at a flickering screen. A new survey now puts a number on that gaze, showing the average household dog spends about 14 minutes and 8 seconds each day actually watching television. The work was led by animal behavior researcher Lane Montgomery of Auburn University, who, with colleagues, asked more than 650 owners to log every tail twitch, bark, or stare during TV time. Their final sample of 453 dogs formed the backbone of...

Millipedes rarely make headlines. Their many legs and secretive lifestyles keep them in the background. Yet a closer look reveals something extraordinary. These ancient arthropods produce chemical compounds that may lead to new therapies for neurological disorders and pain relief.



Emily Mevers and her team from <a href="https://www.vt.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virginia Tech</a> recently isolated new molecules from the secretions of Andrognathus corticarius. This millipede species was discovered on campus in Stadium Woods.



The new molecules include two rare classes of alkaloids - andrognathanols and andrognathines. The findings demonstrate how millipede compounds may help with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pain-relief-breakthrough-as-scientists-discover-a-safer-non-addictive-approach-trpv1/">pain</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rare-compounds-found-in-millipedes">Rare compounds found in millipedes</h2>



Millipede chemistry belongs to a narrow lineage. Only species from the subterclass Colobognatha produce terpenoid alkaloids. This group includes four species-rich orders. Among them, Platydesmida stands out for its structural diversity.



Earlier research focused on just one order, Polyzoniida. But more recent studies revealed that Platydesmida millipedes produce a much wider variety of complex alkaloids. Some of these compounds are structurally unique in the animal kingdom.



Andrognathines&nbsp;have a chemical structure made of two connected rings. One ring has five atoms, and the other has six. Together, this makes a "5,6-heterocyclic core." Attached to this core are small chemical groups called&nbsp;ester side chains, which help the molecule interact with other substances.



Andrognathanols&nbsp;are even more complex. Their core structure connects four rings in a pattern labeled&nbsp;6,6,6,5&nbsp;(based on the number of atoms in each ring). What makes them special is that they contain&nbsp;seven continuous stereogenic centers. 



That means there are seven spots in a row where the 3D shape of the molecule can flip, making it highly detailed and difficult to recreate in the lab.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-millipede-chemicals-may-target-pain">Millipede chemicals may target pain</h2>



Each compound was carefully analyzed using high-resolution liquid chromatography and NMR techniques. The scientists noted key mass fragments that indicated differences between andrognathines and other millipede alkaloids.



These compounds form part of the millipede's defense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-drugs-target-zombie-cells-to-relieve-back-pain/">strategy</a>. When disturbed, the animal releases the secretions through ozopores on its sides. The alkaloids affect ant behavior, causing them to freeze or slow down. This is a likely defense tactic.



But that is not all. Some andrognathanols showed structural similarities to pumiliotoxins. These molecules are known to act on sodium channels in nerve cells. That similarity raised hopes for possible biomedical uses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-millipede-secretions-change-ant-behavior">Millipede secretions change ant behavior</h2>



The researchers tested the secretions' effects on ants (Aphaenogaster sp.), a predator often found near these millipedes. During controlled assays, ants exposed to these compounds exhibited prolonged freezing behavior compared to control groups.



The compounds did not significantly change how long ants stayed near the chemical source. But their altered movement hinted at neural interference, possibly through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tapping-into-the-pain-relief-potential-of-cannabis-without-the-high/">receptor</a> modulation.



Every mature&nbsp;A. corticarius&nbsp;millipede secretes these alkaloids in large amounts. Their secretion quantity correlates with body size and the number of ozopores. These are small glands that release the compounds when the millipede is threatened.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-millipede-compounds-target-pain">Some millipede compounds target pain</h2>



The findings are hopeful because of the Sigma-1 receptor. This receptor helps regulate pain and neuroplasticity. It is also linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and neuropathic pain.



Previous research found that similar compounds from another millipede,&nbsp;Ischnocybe plicata, potently bind to Sigma-1. That work sparked interest in millipede alkaloids as potential drug candidates.



Mevers’ team tested two andrognathines and three andrognathanols. Compound 1 showed mild binding to Sigma-1, with some selectivity over Sigma-2. Others showed less activity. But their unique structures and neuroactive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-women-experience-more-chronic-pain-than-men/">effects</a> still make them promising.



“These compounds are quite complex, so they're going to take some time to synthesize in the lab,” said Mevers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-millipedes-and-future-pain-drugs">Millipedes and future pain drugs</h2>



The path from chemical discovery to drug approval is long. First, scientists must replicate the molecules in the lab. Then they can test their effects on human cells and animal models. 



Eventually, these efforts may lead to treatments for chronic pain or neurodegenerative diseases.



Millipedes, with their fossil record stretching back to the Cretaceous, may soon help modern medicine. Their secretions are not just defense tools. They are blueprints for the next generation of drugs.



The study is published in the <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.5c08079" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of the American Chemical Society</a>. 



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Millipede chemicals may unlock a new generation of drugs

Millipedes rarely make headlines. Their many legs and secretive lifestyles...

What dinosaurs ate has long fascinated scientists. Now, fossilized teeth tell the story in surprising detail. By analyzing chemical traces in tooth enamel, researchers have uncovered distinct diets among Late Jurassic dinosaurs.



A study from The University of Texas at Austin shows that different <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossilized-guts-reveal-the-eating-habits-of-sauropod-dinosaurs/">species</a> did not just live side by side. They also had unique food preferences. These eating habits helped them thrive together without competing for the same plants.



Calcium isotopes in enamel carry chemical fingerprints from ancient meals. Different plants, and even plant parts like bark or buds, leave different traces. This evidence reveals which dinosaurs ate what and how their diets shaped their ecosystem.



“The idea is that they were all eating different things, and now we have found proof of that,” said study lead author Liam Norris, a recent doctoral graduate from UT’s <a href="https://www.jsg.utexas.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jackson School of Geosciences</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-dinosaurs-lived-together">How dinosaurs lived together</h2>



Norris studied fossils from a single deposit at Carnegie Quarry in northeast Utah. This site, rich with bones from herbivorous and carnivorous species, likely formed during an intense drought. Its rapid fossil preservation made it ideal for comparing diets across <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossilized-poop-reveals-the-diet-of-dinosaurs-200-million-years-ago/">species</a> living at the same time and place.



The herbivores in the study included Camarasaurus, Camptosaurus, and Diplodocus. Carnivores included the Allosaurus and the croc-like Eutretauranosuchus. 



Norris collected enamel samples from 17 individual animals, either accessed in the field or loaned by local museums. At the Jackson School, he conducted isotope analysis with support from co-authors John Lassiter and Aaron Satkoski.



Professor Rowan Martindale called the site “a unique paleontological gem.” The research deepens our understanding of ancient ecosystems and dietary preferences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-eating-dinosaurs-had-different-diets">Plant-eating dinosaurs had different diets</h2>



Earlier theories assumed large herbivores ate from different vertical zones of the forest canopy. But Norris found that diet separation was more nuanced. For example, Camptosaurus favored soft, nutritious plant parts like leaves and buds. 



Camarasaurus preferred conifers and tougher, woody plant tissues. Diplodocus had a more varied menu of low-lying ferns, horsetails, and coarse materials.



“This differentiation in diet makes sense with what we see from the morphology of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/jaw-fossil-reveals-fruit-eating-mammal-from-the-dinosaur-age/">animals</a>: the different height, the different snout shape. Then, we bring in this geochemical data, which is a very concrete piece of evidence to add to that pot,” said Norris.



These findings support the idea that long-necked dinosaurs had flexible necks allowing them to reach different plant levels. Instead of competing, they targeted specific vegetation patches suited to their anatomy and energy needs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet-choices-of-carnivore-dinosaurs">Diet choices of carnivore dinosaurs</h2>



The two carnivores in the study, Allosaurus and Eutretauranosuchus, showed overlapping isotope values, suggesting some dietary similarities. But subtle differences hinted at distinct prey choices and ecological roles. 



Allosaurus, a large bipedal predator, likely hunted herbivorous dinosaurs, including Camptosaurus and other smaller or juvenile plant-eaters within the same region. Its size, jaw structure, and teeth suggest active predation or scavenging of large-bodied prey.



Eutretauranosuchus, in contrast, was smaller and more crocodile-like. Its isotope signature indicates it may have consumed fish or small terrestrial vertebrates, likely along rivers or shallow wetlands. 



The hunting strategy and habitat of Eutretauranosuchus likely differed greatly from the Allosaurus, reducing competition between the two carnivores despite their coexistence.



These dietary contrasts reflect ecological separation shaped by behavior, anatomy, and environment. Such distinctions help reconstruct predator-prey dynamics within this Jurassic ecosystem. 



The overlapping yet diversified food chain reveals how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-have-evolved-to-eat-ants-and-termites-12-different-times-since-the-dinosaurs/">balance</a> existed even during environmental stress, such as the severe drought that led to the rapid fossil preservation at Carnegie Quarry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-dinosaurs-shared-one-ecosystem">Many dinosaurs shared one ecosystem</h2>



The fact that so many massive animals thrived together points to a lush, productive ecosystem teeming with plant life. Their dietary specialization hints at a world where resource use was efficient and competition was minimal.



“It’s really just more proof that this ecosystem was as spectacular as we thought it was,” Norris said.



The study offers not just a clearer view of dinosaur life and diet but also a method for understanding other prehistoric ecosystems through geochemistry. 



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031018225003888?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology</a>.



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Jurassic dinosaurs had specialized diets to coexist peacefully

What dinosaurs ate has long fascinated scientists. Now, fossilized teeth...

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are showing real impact, not just promises. A large-scale global study proves that strong legal bans on industrial fishing in fully and highly protected MPAs are effective. 



Despite perceptions that poaching is common due to weak enforcement, the evidence now shows otherwise.



Researchers examined 1,380 MPAs that prohibit industrial fishing. Across these areas, the average presence of vessels was one per 20,000 square kilometers during satellite flyovers. That is nine times less than in unprotected zones. 



This gap highlights the strength of legal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pharmaceutical-pollution-changes-the-behavior-of-atlantic-salmon/">protection</a> when backed by data and technology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-satellites-reveal-hidden-fishing-boats">Satellites reveal hidden fishing boats</h2>



The study combined data from Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). AIS provides signals from vessels, while SAR detects ships even when they try to stay hidden. 



Machine learning models processed five billion AIS signals and thousands of SAR images.



SAR revealed vessels in MPAs where AIS showed nothing, especially in Southeast Asia. It also confirmed the absence of industrial fishing in 91 MPAs. This shows that SAR fills AIS blind spots and adds accuracy. 



In many cases, even MPAs with detected vessels had <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/corals-are-absorbing-human-drugs-and-not-just-in-shallow-water/">fishing</a> on fewer than 3% of imaged days.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-areas-had-minimal-fishing">Most areas had minimal fishing </h2>



The bulk of fishing effort came from a few well-known MPAs. The Chagos Archipelago saw around 2,700 hours of fishing annually. 



South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park each had around 900 hours per year.



Other sites like Camargue in France, Cape Canyon in South Africa, and Marado Island in Korea recorded 275 to 450 hours. 



However, most MPAs showed no or minimal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-rivers-are-highly-saturated-with-human-antibiotics-helping-bacteria-develop-resistance/">activity</a>. About 78.5% of them recorded less than one day of fishing per year, and over 1,000 had no detected activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fishing-is-no-longer-unchecked">Fishing is no longer unchecked </h2>



To compare differently sized MPAs, researchers used fishing effort per 100 square kilometers. 



The highest density was in Marado Island at 18 hours per day per 100 square kilometers. Yet the global average across all MPAs was only 0.0004 hours per day. That is nearly negligible.



Some of the high-effort areas are small, so even a few vessels skew the density. For instance, Korean MPAs with only 2 km² imaged showed high density, but just 6 to 18 total vessels were detected. 



These findings help correct public perceptions that industrial fishing remains unchecked.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-fishing-zones-are-quiet">Most fishing zones are quiet</h2>



The analysis builds confidence in MPA protections. The radar detected no vessels in 25% of MPAs. 



In those with activity, vessels appeared on just 3% of imaging days. Also, SAR found vessels in 163 MPAs where AIS showed nothing, proving its critical role.



“The ocean is no longer too big to watch. With cutting-edge satellites and AI, we’re making illegal fishing visible and proving that strong marine protections work,” said Juan Mayorga, co-author and scientist at <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/our-programs/pristine-seas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pristine Seas</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-marine-protected-areas-seem-weak">Why marine protected areas seem weak</h2>



Many still believe MPAs are just legal statements on paper. That view stems from two issues: weak regulations and poor enforcement. 



Some MPAs legally allow industrial fishing or only exist as designations with no real action. Others are difficult to patrol.



But this new research solves an old puzzle. It focuses only on MPAs with the strictest bans and uses implementation dates, not just legal designations. This avoids errors where fishing occurred before rules took effect. 



The study also reduces confusion caused by phaseout periods, such as the five-year gap in Palau’s marine sanctuary.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-fishing-slips-into-protected-zones">Some fishing slips into protected zones</h2>



While protections work, they are not perfect. Some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-reef-awareness-day-2025-bringing-corals-back-to-life/">activity</a> may reflect legal exceptions or data errors. For example, certain fleets had sunset provisions allowing temporary fishing. 



Small-scale fishing, often legal, can also affect ecosystems but remains mostly invisible to SAR if vessels are under 15 meters long.



“Because strictly protected marine areas discourage illegal fishing, fishes are far more abundant within their boundaries, they produce many more babies, and help replenish surrounding areas,” said Enric Sala, co-author and founder of Pristine Seas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-results-may-not-apply-everywhere">Results may not apply everywhere</h2>



One key question remains: Are MPAs truly reducing fishing, or were they placed in low-activity zones? The paper suggests both might be true. 



Of the few MPAs with pre- and post-implementation data, most already had low fishing. Yet Palau showed a dramatic drop from 51,000 hours to just 215 hours annually after full protection. That suggests strong rules can reduce fishing pressure even in active areas. 



Future MPA planning should consider whether protections are going where demand to fish is already low. Otherwise, the results may not scale as hoped.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marine-protected-areas-work">Marine protected areas work</h2>



The study proposes a scalable way to monitor oceans. Integrating real-time satellite detections with AI models offers an efficient, low-cost solution. 



The research supports the idea that MPA enforcement creates deterrence. The more likely vessels are to be caught, the less likely they are to fish illegally.



“By using satellites to track fishing vessels, countries can predict the locations of illegal activities and target patrol efforts, saving both manpower and money,” said Jennifer Raynor, lead author from the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt9009" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Are marine protected areas working? Satellites reveal the truth

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are showing real impact, not just...

Wildlife crime scenes rarely feature fingerprints or cameras. Instead, investigators are turning to bits of tissue, feathers, and soil-stained knives that hide genetic clues linking poachers, poisoned bait, and endangered animals.



A study from the <a href="https://en.huji.ac.il/">Hebrew University of Jerusalem</a> detailed a toolkit that pulls those clues together and makes them stick in court.



Dr. Gila Kahila Bar-Gal of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine is leading the work, and her team’s methods are already changing how rangers collect evidence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildlife-crimes-are-often-overlooked">Wildlife crimes are often overlooked</h2>



Wildlife trafficking ranks among the five largest illicit trades worldwide, generating up to $23 billion each year. Its profits rival narcotics and arms, yet detection rates remain low.



Biodiversity loss accelerates when poachers target endangered species already stressed by habitat loss or climate change. The endangered mountain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urgent-call-to-save-mongolian-gazelles-from-habitat-loss/">gazelle</a>, for example, has fallen to roughly 5,000 animals in its last habitat in Israel.



Poisons add a second, silent threat. Forty-five percent of griffon vulture injuries or deaths documented in Israel from 2010 to 2021 were linked to carbamate or organophosphate toxins. 



Population surveys now count only about 230 wild birds, down from several hundred just two decades ago. 



Because a single carcass can kill a flock of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scavengers-clean-up-wetlands-and-boost-their-health/">scavengers</a>, every unsolved poisoning undermines years of conservation work.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-clues-at-the-crime-scene">Genetic clues at the crime scene</h2>



Traditional autopsies stop at cause of death. Wildlife forensics asks a tougher question: Who is responsible? The first layer uses mitochondrial DNA markers to name the endangered species even when the sample is degraded or mixed. 



Kahila Bar-Gal’s team relies on two short gene fragments, 16S and CytB, to cross-check results and avoid false matches.



After species comes identity. The lab amplifies Short Tandem Repeats, tiny, highly variable stretches of nuclear DNA, to build an individual genetic profile. 



A five-dye, 22-STR panel has shown it can spot just 10 percent of a target species in a mixed sample.



“Our protocols are designed to be accurate and practical, because saving a species often comes down to solving forensic cases,” said Kahila Bar-Gal. 



Researchers run each profile against a local DNA library built from both wild and domestic animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildlife-poachers-caught-through-dna">Wildlife poachers caught through DNA</h2>



Case records released with the study read like a detective novel. Rangers once raided a desert camp after spotting fresh ibex horns. 



Twenty-one blood-stained knives and shirts all pointed to Nubian ibex, not goats, ending the hunters’ main defense.



A second file describes gazelle poachers who let trained dogs do the killing. Swabs from each dog’s muzzle carried mountain-gazelle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-chapter-in-human-evolution-revealed-through-genetics/">DNA</a>, while dog hairs in the suspect’s pickup matched the animals seized onsite. 



That chain of evidence supported criminal charges even though the carcass itself was never recovered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solving-a-vulture-poisoning-mystery">Solving a vulture poisoning mystery</h2>



The most dramatic case involved seven griffon vultures that collapsed after feeding on a goat laced with pesticide. STR analysis proved the meat in a vulture’s crop came from the same goat carcass found nearby.



Although the herd owner escaped indictment - since the goat’s profile differed from his animals - the link let prosecutors treat the poisoning as an intentional wildlife crime rather than an accidental spill.



“When a vulture is found poisoned or a gazelle is killed out of season, you’re not just looking for a suspect, you’re often dealing with mixed evidence that may include multiple species, some protected, some not,” explained Kahila Bar-Gal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-local-dna-libraries-matter">Why local DNA libraries matter</h2>



Global databases such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/">GenBank</a> hold millions of sequences, but many lack precise location data or quality control. Using the wrong reference, researchers can mistake a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/vanishing-vultures-may-threaten-public-health/">vulture</a> feather from Galilee for one from Spain



Israel’s wildlife lab avoids that pitfall by curating voucher specimens from every region and by adding common livestock breeds. 



The approach means rangers can tell a wild Nubian ibex from a feral hybrid and can rule out claims that confiscated meat came from someone’s goat.



Other countries have begun to copy the model, especially in Africa’s bushmeat hotspots and in Southeast Asian ports where reptile skins move through freezers by the ton.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saving-endangered-species-with-science">Saving endangered species with science</h2>



Kahila Bar-Gal wants faster turnarounds. Portable sequencers that read long DNA fragments in the field could shave weeks off an investigation and let rangers link samples before suspects disappear.



Policy work matters too. INTERPOL estimates that wildlife crime funds organized networks that also traffic weapons and people. Convictions backed by genetic proof raise the risks for traffickers and can shift the cost-benefit calculus.



The study recommends expansion of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/livestock-grazing-is-changing-soil-plants-and-insect-populations/">livestock</a> genetic surveys in poisoning hotspots, tighter controls on agricultural pesticides, and forensic training for customs agents. 



Those steps will not restore every lost vulture, but they can keep future carcasses from becoming lethal bait.



Wildlife crimes once hinged on eyewitnesses willing to testify. Today, molecules tell the story. Each cell recovered from a knife blade or scavenged bone now speaks for endangered species that cannot.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2025.1525957/full">Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution</a>.



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Wildlife crime cases can be solved with genetic forensics

Wildlife crime scenes rarely feature fingerprints or cameras. Instead, investigators...

Hair and feathers transformed the way animals lived - providing insulation, enabling flight, and offering a means of display. In birds and mammals, these features are known to arise from complex genetic programs. 



Reptiles, however, were believed to lack such sophisticated structures. That view is now being challenged. A remarkable fossil from the Middle Triassic reveals a small, tree-dwelling reptile adorned with a tall, feather-like crest.



Named&nbsp;Mirasaura grauvogeli, this creature lived about 247 million years ago. It had a slender bird-like skull, a long tail, and a striking dorsal display. 



New fossils from France show that&nbsp;Mirasaura’s skin structures weren’t just decorative. They evolved from a genetic toolkit present in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-discovery-pushes-back-reptile-evolution-by-40-million-years/">early</a> amniotes, well before feathers or hair ever appeared.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mirasaura-had-odd-skin">Mirasaura had odd skin</h2>



Two nearly complete skeletons and over 80 isolated skin fragments reveal an upright crest of overlapping appendages. 



These are not feathers, but they resemble them in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reptile-ancestors-appeared-40-million-years-earlier-than-we-thought/">form</a>. Each appendage had a narrow central ridge and two distinct curved layers on either side.



Unlike bird feathers,&nbsp;Mirasaura’s structures didn’t branch into barbs. Instead, they formed continuous surfaces with delicate ridges, or rugae, along their lengths. 



SEM scans show these features were not stiff scales. Their flexible, wrinkled texture suggests they bent easily, maybe to catch light or motion.



"The fact that we have discovered such complex skin appendages in such an ancient group of reptiles sheds a new light on their evolution," said Dr. Stephan Spiekman, a postdoctoral researcher at <a href="http://www.naturkundemuseum-bw.de" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beautiful-mirasaura-crest-was-for-show">Beautiful Mirasaura crest was for show</h2>



The skull was just 17 millimeters long and had large, forward-facing eyes. These features suggest excellent depth perception that is useful for a life in trees. The snout was mostly toothless and likely helped it pick insects out of bark.



Mirasaura’s body was long and barrel-shaped. Its limbs were adapted for grasping, and its claws were large and curved. It was agile, able to cling to branches much like a monkey.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ancient-reptile_Mirasaura-grauvogeli_changes-family-tree_credit-Gabriel-Ugueto_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ancient-reptile_Mirasaura-grauvogeli_changes-family-tree_credit-Gabriel-Ugueto_1s.webp" alt="Reconstruction and illustration of Mirasaura in its natural forested environment, hunting insects. Credit: Gabriel Ugueto" class="wp-image-1979068"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Reconstruction and illustration of Mirasaura in its natural forested environment, hunting insects. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Gabriel Ugueto</figcaption></figure>



The crest sat right above a noticeable hump in the spine. This area may have supported the upright posture of the appendages, giving&nbsp;Mirasaura&nbsp;its showy backline. Researchers rule out flight or insulation. Instead, the crest likely played a role in display.



"Mirasaura grauvogeli shows us how surprising <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-predatory-marine-reptile-identified-as-a-completely-new-species-traskasaura-sandrae/">evolution</a> can be and what potential it holds," said Professor Rainer Schoch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-feather-like-pigments">Feather-like pigments</h2>



Some preserved tissue on the crest contains fossilized melanosomes. These tiny pigment carriers resemble those found in bird feathers, not in reptile scales or mammal hair. Analysis shows a wide variety in shape, common in feathers, rare in scaly skin.



"The melanosomes found in Mirasaura soft tissues are more similar in shape to those found in extant and fossil feathers than melanosomes found in mammalian hair and reptilian skin," noted Dr. Valentina Rossi.



This could mean&nbsp;Mirasaura&nbsp;displayed some form of coloration, perhaps even patterns for mating or recognition. Still, no color has been confirmed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-reptile-with-a-similar-crest">A reptile with a similar crest</h2>



The only other reptile with a similar dorsal crest is&nbsp;Longisquama insignis, another Triassic diapsid. Like&nbsp;Mirasaura, it had long, midline skin appendages. The two are now confirmed to be close <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-reptiles-are-more-colorful-in-open-habitats/">relatives</a> in the group Drepanosauromorpha.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ancient-reptile_Mirasaura-grauvogeli_fossil_credit-Stephan-Spiekmann_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ancient-reptile_Mirasaura-grauvogeli_fossil_credit-Stephan-Spiekmann_1s.webp" alt="A fossil from the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Germany, preserving the skeleton of Mirasaura. Credit: Stephan Spiekmann" class="wp-image-1979072"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A fossil from the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Germany, preserving the skeleton of Mirasaura. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Stephan Spiekmann</figcaption></figure>



The similarities between their crests, including bilateral symmetry, a central axis, and consistent patterning, suggest a shared origin. 



Still, their appendages are not feathers. They evolved separately, shaped by similar genetic programs but on different paths.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mirasaura-rewrites-reptile-family-tree">Mirasaura rewrites reptile family tree</h2>



Mirasaura pushes back the origin of <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/taxa/verts/archosaurs/drepanosauromorpha.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Drepanosauromorpha</a> by nearly 20 million years. These reptiles, previously known only from the Late Triassic, now have roots in the early Middle Triassic.



Phylogenetic analysis places Mirasaura outside the major modern reptile lineages. It lived before lizards, crocodiles, or birds. It was not part of Sauria, the group that includes all living reptiles. This makes its advanced skin structures even more surprising.



‘Mirasaura provides the first direct evidence that such structures actually did form early on in reptile evolution, in groups <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-discovery-pushes-back-reptile-evolution-by-40-million-years/">not closely related</a> to birds and extinct dinosaurs,’ said Dr. Spiekman.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-skin-evolution-in-reptiles">Skin evolution in reptiles</h2>



Louis Grauvogel collected fossils in Alsace starting in the 1930s. Among them were pieces of&nbsp;Mirasaura, though no one recognized them at the time. 



In 2019, the Grauvogel family donated the collection to the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart. There, researchers uncovered this unexpected gem.



The name&nbsp;Mirasaura grauvogeli&nbsp;means “Grauvogel’s wonder reptile.” This ancient climber, with its feather-like crest, changes what we know about skin evolution in reptiles. It shows that nature can invent similar solutions in distant lineages, again and again.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09167-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Fossil discovery of a 'wonder reptile' rewrites the history of evolution

Hair and feathers transformed the way animals lived - providing...

Magellanic penguins are expert navigators. A new study shows they don’t just head straight home from foraging trips. They ride ocean currents and tides, save energy, and grab snacks along the way.



A research team led by the <a href="https://www.ab.mpg.de" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior</a> and Swansea University tracked 27 adult penguins returning to their colony in Argentina. 



The results showed that penguins don’t follow the shortest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-penguins-navigate-the-ocean-secret-strategy-revealed/">path</a>. Instead, they adopt curved, S-shaped routes shaped by tidal flows. These winding paths help them conserve energy and find more food.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-penguins-ride-ocean-currents-to-save-energy">Penguins ride ocean currents to save energy</h2>



The researchers analyzed GPS and compass data combined with ocean current models. This revealed a clever strategy. 



“In calm water, they headed straight for home, but when the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/penguins-are-threatened-by-mercury-contamination/">currents</a> were stronger, they allowed themselves to drift sideways. This made their journey longer, but less tiring.”



These paths aren’t random. Penguins adjust their heading to balance effort and direction. The team developed travel vector models to track how birds moved with or against currents. 



When needed, penguins angled their swims to work with water movement. This created more efficient ground movement, even if the direction wasn't perfectly straight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-feeding-while-floating-home">Feeding while floating home</h2>



Along these ocean current-driven, drift-friendly paths, penguins often dove deep to hunt. Most kept diving for prey during nearly 80% of their return trip. 



Dive depth and prey capture activity decreased as the penguins neared the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/emperor-penguins-may-disappear-in-our-lifetime/">colony</a>, showing a transition from feeding to focused homing.



“The penguins were observed diving and foraging for food during much of their return journey,” said Professor Wilson from <a href="https://www.swansea.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swansea University</a>. 



“As they got closer to the colony, they became more focused and swam more directly, often arriving within just 300 metres of their original departure point, an impressive level of accuracy after journeys of up to 75km.”



These dives weren’t random. Penguins often deviated from a straight path to hunt, showing opportunism in action. The strategy paid off. They traveled efficiently without needing to swim straight the whole time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-penguins-use-a-flexible-ocean-route-nbsp">Penguins use a flexible ocean route&nbsp;</h2>



The study tested whether penguins used either a simple straight-line strategy or a complex angle-correction approach. 



“Actually, penguins do neither! Their approach is more flexible," said Professor Wilson. "They seem relaxed about being at sea, sometimes swimming with the current even if it doesn’t take them directly to their nest. Occasionally, they shoot past the colony and down the coast.”



Instead of fighting the flow, penguins accept some drift. The tides in San Matías Gulf alternate directions every 12 hours. This helps balance out sideways drift across the full journey. By planning loosely around this cycle, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/penguin-poop-helps-form-clouds-that-could-slow-antarctic-warming/">penguins</a> avoid constantly battling currents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-penguins-sense-ocean-currents">How penguins sense ocean currents</h2>



Penguins likely don’t see land for most of their return. So how do they know where they are?



“Penguins seem able to determine when they are in a current and roughly how strong it is. They also appear to understand the tidal cycle, that water moves first in one direction and then reverses," said Professor Wilson. 



"If they’re carried too far by the incoming tide, they seem to know they’ll be brought back by the outgoing tide later.”



The study suggests that the penguins don’t rely on seabed features or landmarks. Instead, they may use a mix of compass orientation, smell, and detection of flow against their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-artificial-nests-help-save-african-penguins/">body</a>. 



Some penguins returned at night, meaning vision alone can’t explain their precise homing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-currents-help-more-than-they-hurt">Currents help more than they hurt</h2>



The team ran simulations where penguins always swam straight home. These "naïve" agents, which ignored the effects of ocean currents, often missed their target by many kilometers. 



Real penguins, with their flexible strategy, consistently returned within 300 meters of their starting point. This accuracy shows that adjustment, not stubborn straight-line effort, is key.



Swimming against ocean currents costs energy. Penguins avoid that by letting the ocean currents carry them when helpful and correcting only when needed. The study measured energy use using an “ease of transport” score, like a fuel-efficiency rating.



Penguins’ real-life paths scored better than the theoretical “optimal” path when overall energy use was considered. They sacrificed some directness for efficiency and still ended up close to home.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-animals-may-use-similar-strategies">Other animals may use similar strategies</h2>



These findings reveal just how well Magellanic penguins manage complex conditions. Their strategies may also reflect how other marine animals, like turtles or seals, adapt to changing seas.



As ocean conditions shift with climate change, species that adjust their movement patterns, like these penguins, may have the best chance of thriving. 



The penguins' flexible, energy-smart behavior could inspire new ways to understand marine navigation across species.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002981" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Biology</a>.



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Why penguins ride the currents instead of swimming straight home

Magellanic penguins are expert navigators. A new study shows they...

Doflane's,Octopus,Is,A,Bright,Lilac,Color,With,Tentacles,And

Imagine reaching for a cup and feeling as though your hand is moving, only to discover it's not your hand, but a rubber replica being touched in sync with your real, hidden hand. You still react, convinced the fake rubber hand is yours. 



Humans fall for this trick every time, and now we now know that octopuses fall for it, too.



In a surprising study, scientists found that these famously alien-like creatures respond just like humans and other mammals when exposed to this sensory illusion. 



Their brains, which are vastly different from ours, still make the same mistake. That suggests a deeper commonality in how ownership of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopuses-could-dominate-earth-if-humans-vanish/">bodies</a> is understood by living minds, regardless of how those minds are built.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-rubber-hand-trick-shows">What the rubber hand trick shows</h2>



The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810014000336" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rubber hand illusion</a> was first demonstrated in the 1990s. It involves hiding a person’s real hand behind a screen while a fake rubber hand is placed in full view.



When both hands, real and fake, are stroked simultaneously, the brain starts to link the sensations to the fake hand. 



Eventually, the person begins to feel ownership of the rubber hand. Pinch the fake one, and the person flinches. Later studies showed that mice were also fooled by the same trick. 



The illusion appeared to tap into a widespread brain function that integrates vision, touch, and body awareness into a unified sense of self. But these animals are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/octopus-caught-riding-on-the-back-of-the-worlds-fastest-shark-in-the-open-ocean/">mammals</a>, like us.



Their brains share much of our architecture. So scientists naturally asked: What about creatures with entirely different neural setups?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-octopus-brain-sees-its-arms">How the octopus brain sees its arms</h2>



Octopuses are unlike any other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-dumbo-octopus-species-carnarvon-flapjack-discovered-in-very-deep-ocean-waters/">creature</a> on Earth. They have nine brains - one main brain and eight smaller ones, one in each arm. Their nervous systems are highly distributed.



An arm can even move independently after being severed. This structure makes their cognition incredibly difficult to compare to ours. Still, they’re known for cleverness, problem-solving, and even mischief.



So when researchers at the <a href="https://www.u-ryukyu.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of the Ryukyus</a> in Okinawa, Japan, set out to test whether octopuses would fall for the rubber hand illusion, the scientific community took notice. 



If octopuses could be fooled too, it would mean their brains also create a kind of body image, despite the alien wiring.



That would change how we understand intelligence and body awareness across the animal kingdom.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-fake-arm-test-fooled-octopuses">How the fake arm test fooled octopuses</h2>



Sumire Kawashima and Yuzuru Ikeda led the study. They worked with six captive, plain-body octopuses (<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34664913/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Callistoctopus aspilosomatis</a>). 



Each was placed in a tank with an opaque barrier that blocked its view of one arm. Above this hidden arm, a fake octopus arm made of soft gel was placed. The fake arm looked natural and matched the posture of the real one.



A researcher then stroked both arms, the real hidden one and the fake, visible one, at the same time using plastic calipers. 



This synchronized stimulation mimicked the human <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3125296/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rubber hand illusion</a>. After eight seconds, they pinched the fake arm with tweezers and observed how the octopus responded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-octopus-reaction-to-fake-arm">Octopus reaction to fake arm</h2>



The reactions were clear and strong. All six octopuses showed defense responses when the fake arm was pinched. 



Some changed color, some pulled back their arms, and others tried to escape. These are all natural behaviors that octopuses use when they sense danger.



But when researchers removed the synchronized stroking, or when the fake arm did not match the posture of the real one, the illusion failed. No defense responses occurred. The octopus no longer saw the fake arm as part of it’s own body.



This result was striking. The illusion worked only when the visual and tactile cues matched perfectly. 



That means the octopus brain was combining multiple types of information to build a sense of its own body. In that moment, the fake arm became real.



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



For co-author Yuzuru Ikeda, the study offers a glimpse into both the power and limits of brain function. 



“The illusion would suggest the ability of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-octopus-has-mastered-the-art-of-multispecies-hunting/">octopuses</a> to anticipate and predict, which is advantageous for survival,” he said. 



“On the other hand, this ability arises as a side effect of a mistake or conflict of processing in the brain and is also a flaw.”



In other words, this illusion is a double-edged sword. The same brain function that helps predict and react to the world can also misfire. And yet, this mistake reveals how sophisticated the octopus’s sense of self may be.



Sumire Kawashima believes the findings push octopuses into an even more important role in neuroscience. 



“Our findings suggest the octopus may be an important model for studying the evolution of the sense of body ownership,” she said. 



This places octopuses alongside mammals as useful subjects for understanding consciousness and cognition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-insights-on-animal-consciousness">More insights on animal consciousness</h2>



Peter Godfrey-Smith, a philosopher of science at the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a>, has long studied octopus minds. He was surprised by the results.



“It suggests that octopuses have quite a rich body image,” he said. “I am struck by the fact that the ‘posture incongruence’ condition worked as it did: the octopuses did not see the rubber arm as their own in that case, despite the stroking.”



His reaction highlights just how unexpected this discovery is. Even subtle mismatches between the real and fake octopus arm broke the illusion. 



That level of precision points to a complex internal model of the body, something many did not expect to find in a species so different from ours.



This experiment offers more than just an odd glimpse into animal behavior. It challenges deep assumptions about how minds work. 



If both humans and octopuses can be tricked into adopting a fake limb, then perhaps the roots of self-awareness are older and more widespread than we believed.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/f8ajPpO0qyY?si=bqvoTJMnNYjC4M8x
</div></figure>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(25)00592-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current&nbsp;Biology</a>.



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Octopuses are tricked by the 'rubber hand illusion' like humans, suggesting self-awareness

Imagine reaching for a cup and feeling as though your...

For years, the deep ocean has been painted as Earth’s final frontier - a shadowy, silent place that is cut off from the rest of the world. But new research is showing that this picture isn’t quite right. 



Life in the deep sea may not be as cut off as we thought. In fact, it’s connected - really connected.



A sweeping new study reveals that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-brittle-star-tissue-could-transform-regenerative-medicine/">brittle stars</a> - those spiny, ancient relatives of starfish - have quietly been traversing entire oceans for millions of years. They’ve been linking ecosystems across the globe, from Iceland to Tasmania, all without anyone noticing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-the-unexpected-world-travelers">Meet the unexpected world travelers</h2>



Brittle stars are found on every ocean floor, from the sunlit shallows to the abyssal plains more than 11,500 feet down. They’re tough, old creatures, with some lineages dating back over 480 million years.



Brittle stars are also surprisingly mobile - in their own way. While they don’t swim, fly, or walk great distances, their larvae do the traveling. 



The larvae are packed with yolk, which keeps them alive for a long time as they drift slowly along deep-sea currents. This gives them a passport of sorts - one that lets them cross enormous distances and eventually settle in completely different parts of the world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-connected-in-the-deep-sea">Life connected in the deep sea</h2>



What makes this discovery so surprising is how different it is from what we know about life in shallow water.&nbsp;



In coastal and surface ecosystems, temperature acts like a boundary. It shapes where marine animals can live and where they can’t. Warm-water species stay in the tropics, while cold-water species stay near the poles.



But in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/only-001-percent-of-earths-deep-seafloor-has-ever-been-directly-observed/">deep sea</a>, the temperature doesn’t change much. It stays cold, quiet, and relatively stable. That stability makes it easier for deep-sea species to spread out over huge distances and still survive.



Study lead author Dr. Tim O’Hara is the senior curator of marine invertebrates at <a href="https://museumsvictoria.com.au/research-institute/">Museums Victoria Research Institute</a>.



“You might think of the deep sea as remote and isolated, but for many animals on the seafloor, it’s actually a connected superhighway,” said Dr. O'Hara.



“Over long timescales, deep-sea species have expanded their ranges by thousands of kilometers. This connectivity is a global phenomenon that’s gone unnoticed, until now.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-secrets-of-brittle-stars">Secrets of brittle stars</h2>



This was the most comprehensive look yet at brittle stars and how they’ve moved around the planet. The researchers analyzed DNA from 2,699 specimens stored in 48 natural history museums around the world.&nbsp;



The samples were collected during 332 research expeditions, some of them decades old.



The team discovered that many brittle star species in one part of the world are closely related to those in another. For example, species found off southern Australia are genetically similar to those living off the coast of the North Atlantic - half a world away.



“These animals don’t have fins or wings, but they’ve still managed to span entire oceans,” said Dr. O’Hara. “The secret lies in their biology - their larvae can survive for a long time in cold water, hitching a ride on slow-moving deep-sea currents.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-connected-deep-sea-is-vulnerable">The connected deep sea is vulnerable</h2>



Despite how connected the deep sea appears, it’s not all the same. Different regions still have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-deep-sea-fish-survive-the-crushing-depths-of-the-ocean/">unique species</a>, shaped by extinction events, environmental changes, and geological features on the seafloor.&nbsp;



In some places, brittle star populations have been isolated for long periods. In others, they’ve migrated far and wide.



That’s where the concern starts to grow. The deep sea might be connected, but it’s also vulnerable.



“It’s a paradox. The deep sea is highly connected, but also incredibly fragile,” said Dr. O’Hara. “Understanding how life is distributed and moves through this vast environment is essential if we want to protect it, especially as threats from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-has-deadly-consequences-for-marine-life/">deep-sea mining</a> and climate change increase.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-global-system-in-the-ocean">A global system in the ocean</h2>



Much of the genetic material used in this research came from museum collections - some stored for decades before being used in this study.&nbsp;



The study brought together more than 40 institutions, including natural history museums, universities, and marine science organizations. 



“This is science on a global scale,” said Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director of Museums Victoria. “It demonstrates how museums, through international collaboration and the preservation of biodiversity specimens, can unlock new knowledge about our planet’s past and help shape its future.”



This discovery doesn’t just reshape how we think about brittle stars. It forces us to rethink how life works in one of the most mysterious parts of our planet.&nbsp;



The deep sea isn’t a quiet, disconnected wasteland. It’s a global system - one that’s more dynamic and more at risk than we ever knew.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09307-1">Nature</a>.&nbsp;



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Deep sea life is more connected than we ever realized

For years, the deep ocean has been painted as Earth’s...

Guineafowl,-,Chicken

Animals often work together to survive. But taking the lead, even for birds, comes with pressure. The results of a new study&nbsp;show that leadership causes noticeable physiological strain on wild birds.



Professor Damien Farine from <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Australian National University</a> explained how animal groups decide what direction to take.



“We already have evidence of how this decision-making can work - it’s like a voting process. So, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-bird-species-could-vanish-in-the-next-century/">individuals</a> might start to move away from the group in the direction they want to go to find food and if they get enough support, the group follows. Alternatively, if no one follows then they fail and return to the group.”



The study revealed something surprising. While many animals can lead, doing so takes a toll. Guineafowl trying to influence the group’s direction showed significant spikes in heart rate. These increases were much higher than those seen from movement speed alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-physiological-strain-of-bird-leadership">Physiological strain of bird leadership </h2>



The real cost came when leaders faced resistance. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-may-be-using-quantum-physics-for-migration/">birds</a>' heart rates climbed most sharply when they acted against group consensus. Low directional agreement among other group members made it harder to lead.



“It is noticeable when they're trying to do something that very few individuals in their group would want to do. They also experience a much higher heart rate when they fail to lead in these situations,” noted study co-author Dr. James Klarevas-Irby.



Guineafowl that attempted to guide reluctant peers felt the highest stress. When they failed, their stress markers increased further. Heart rate variability, a stress indicator, also dropped during these moments, signaling physiological strain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-being-in-a-group-is-stressful">Being in a group is stressful</h2>



<a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00825-5#mmc3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Just moving with the group</a>, without leading, raised stress. This added physiological load came not just from walking, but from maintaining group cohesion. The birds’ heart rates were higher when they moved in sync with others, compared to walking alone.



This supports a relatable idea. “Most of us can relate - it's like when you’re with a bunch of friends and you’re trying to decide where to go for dinner, and you really want to go to a particular restaurant but most of your friends want to go somewhere else,” said Dr. Klarevas-Irby.



Interestingly, the birds didn’t need to move dramatically faster to lead. But when they tried and failed to influence the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-birds-migrate-without-riding-the-wind/">group</a>, the cost was steep. 



Heart rates rose by up to 115 beats per minute in high-conflict situations, compared to just 0.4 beats per minute from increased speed alone. This means the emotional cost of failed influence was over 200 times higher than the physical cost of walking faster.



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



The researchers initially believed that a bird’s location within the group - especially being on the outer edge - would have a strong impact on its stress levels. 



This expectation comes from the “selfish herd” theory, where individuals on the outside are thought to face more danger from predators and therefore higher stress.



Central positions, in contrast, are often considered safer but may come with their own challenges, like the need to respond to more social interactions or scramble for space.



However, the data showed something different. Birds on the edge did not show much higher stress than those in the center. In fact, both central and peripheral positions caused only slight changes in heart rate and heart rate variability. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-physical-burden-of-leadership">Physical burden of leadership </h2>



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-birds-one-tree-complete-evolutionary-map-reveals-hidden-links/">changes</a> were real but small. They were also much less significant than the stress caused by trying to lead the group.



Contrary to long-standing theories, where a bird stands in the group matters far less for its stress levels than whether or not it is trying to lead others.



Leadership, especially under conflict, placed a far greater physiological burden on birds than spatial position ever did. This is one reason that not all birds want to lead. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-don-t-always-lead">Birds don’t always lead</h2>



Leadership, while rewarding when successful, is risky when others disagree. Individuals weighed the cost of guiding others against staying safe in the middle of the group.



The authors argue that leadership isn’t a fixed trait. It’s more likely a conditional strategy. A bird might choose to lead today and follow tomorrow, depending on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-a-warming-climate/">situation</a>.



This study shows that the effort of guiding peers isn't just social, it’s physical. The stress that comes with being a leader may help explain why animals, including humans, switch between leading and following roles.



Group living has its benefits - but trying to control the group comes at a cost, even for birds.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00825-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Leadership can be incredibly stressful, even for birds

Animals often work together to survive. But taking the lead,...

In ant colonies, caste means everything. A queen grows wings, lays eggs, and lives a life of reproduction. A worker stays wingless, handles all the labor, and rarely reproduces. But how do ants end up with such different fates when they all start out the same?



For a long time, scientists knew that both genes and the environment played a role in shaping ant castes. What wasn’t clear was how the two interacted - or whether body size and caste could be separated.



A new study from scientists at <a href="https://www.rockefeller.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Rockefeller University</a> shows that body size plays a key role in determining caste. Larger ants tend to develop queen-like traits, while smaller ones become workers.



But <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-genes-show-how-evolution-created-perfect-teamwork/">genes</a> also set the rules by determining when, and if, a particular size tips the balance toward becoming a queen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-queens-aren-t-just-bigger-ants">Queens aren't just bigger ants</h2>



A queen is not just a large worker ant. That distinction is critical. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-queens-have-a-secret-weapon-to-slow-down-aging/">Queens</a> don’t just grow bigger - they sprout wings, develop complex eyes, and grow large ovaries to lay eggs. Workers don’t. 



And yet, in many ant species, queens and workers come from the same genetic background. It’s one of the clearest examples of how the same genome can lead to very different outcomes.



This kind of flexibility is called developmental plasticity. Female ants, in particular, are a great model to study how environmental cues - like food, temperature, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-queen-behavior-changes-based-on-social-environment/">social surroundings</a> - shape the development of an organism.



Some scientists had suggested that in ants, body size and caste might be decoupled, just like in fruit flies and other insects where environmental signals influence specific traits without necessarily affecting overall size. But ants seem different. In most cases, caste traits and body size go hand in hand.



“It’s a hotly debated topic, at least among ant biologists,” said Patrick Piekarski, a postdoctoral researcher at Rockefeller's Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior. 



“We wanted to resolve this question, by determining whether it is possible to uncouple size from something like ovary development or eye development.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-the-clonal-raider-ant">Meet the clonal raider ant</h2>



The team used a special kind of ant to get answers: the clonal raider ant, <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(24)01576-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ooceraea biroi</a>. These ants reproduce asexually, producing genetically identical offspring. They also go through their life stages in sync, which makes them perfect for controlled experiments.



The clonal raider ant doesn’t have traditional queens. Instead, some individuals - called intercastes - develop queen-like features. 



They’re larger, have more developed ovaries, rudimentary eyes, and even the beginnings of wings. These intercastes serve as stand-ins for queens in the study.



“We work with this unusual ant species because, otherwise, we would not be able to control the genotype of the ant,” explained <a href="https://www.rockefeller.edu/our-scientists/heads-of-laboratories/988-daniel-kronauer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daniel Kronauer</a>, the Stanley S. and Sydney R. Shuman Professor at Rockefeller.



“With clonal raider ants, we can do the equivalent of a massive identical twin study to determine how the environment impacts the adult phenotype.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environment-sets-the-stage-for-queen-ants">Environment sets the stage for queen ants</h2>



The first part of the study tested how much the environment affects caste. 



The researchers kept the ants' genetics the same and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-quiet-engineers-what-happens-when-common-ant-species-disappear/">changed their surroundings</a>. They varied food supply, temperature, and even the types of ants that cared for the larvae.



Each of these changes impacted how the ants developed - but only by influencing their final size. For example, less food meant smaller ants, which almost always became workers. 



But if a larva reached a certain size, it still developed queen-like features, even under harsh conditions.



Size, it turned out, was the switch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-still-pull-the-strings">Genes still pull the strings</h2>



Then the team flipped the question. What happens when ants have different genes but grow up in the same environment? Here’s where it got interesting.



Ants from a genetic line labeled “M” grew smaller on average than the ones from line “A.” But when M ants and A ants were the same size, M ants were more likely to develop <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-hold-a-grudge-against-aggressive-rivals/">queen-like traits</a>. 



In other words, genes didn’t just affect how big an ant got - they changed the significance of that size.



“An interesting illustration of that is that you have certain genotypes that start to look more queen-like at smaller body sizes,” Piekarski says.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-paths-same-size">Two paths, same size</h2>



The big takeaway? Size still predicts caste, but genes determine the rules for what size counts as “queen material.” 



Some ants are genetically wired to tip into queen-like development at smaller sizes. Others need to grow bigger before that switch is flipped.



“If some environmental factor affects caste, it will affect size too. It can’t induce change in one and not the other,” commented Piekarski. 



“As far as we can tell, no matter which environmental variable you manipulate, the relationship between ant body size and caste remains unchanged and is instead genetically encoded.”



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



Understanding how body size ties into caste is about more than measuring ants. For Kronauer, this research is part of a much bigger picture.



“One of our goals is to understand how an insect society functions,” Kronauer explains. “Studying how individuals differentiate in a colony can inform our understanding of the types of caste systems, from queens to workers to soldiers, that can evolve in the thousands of ant species out there.”



His lab sees ant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ant-queens-turn-to-cannibalism-recycle-bodies-for-colony-disease-control/">colonies</a> as <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(08)01676-X.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">superorganisms</a> - living systems that are made up of many individuals, each playing a role. 



The more we understand how those roles develop, the better we can grasp the biology of cooperation, division of labor, and even the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-many-ants-live-on-earth-at-any-point-in-time-total-number-is-astounding/">evolution of complex societies</a>.



“The brains of a queen and a worker are quite different, and this is correlated with striking differences in behavior,” Kronauer stated. 



“Workers leave the nest to forage, take care of the larvae, build and expand the nest; the queen mostly just mates and lays eggs."



Identifying how body size relates to becoming a queen ant or a worker opens the door to understanding how social roles, brain function, and colony dynamics develop and evolve together.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2501716122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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How do ant colonies crown a queen? Scientists found out

In ant colonies, caste means everything. A queen grows wings,...

Researchers have conducted the world’s most extensive bird diversity survey across Colombia. They recorded 971 species from forests and pasturelands over more than a decade. 



The survey accounted for nearly 10% of all bird species worldwide, but the findings went far beyond bird <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-bird-species-could-vanish-in-the-next-century/">counts</a>.



Combining fieldwork with species data, the researchers discovered that biodiversity loss from clearing forests for pasture is 60% worse than earlier local estimates suggested. This is not just a local concern - it is a national alarm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-surveys-miss-bird-diversity">Local surveys miss bird diversity</h2>



Until now, most biodiversity assessments relied on small local surveys. These studies ignore what happens when forests are lost across entire regions.



“When people want to understand the wider impact of deforestation on biodiversity, they tend to do a local survey and extrapolate the results,” said Professor David Edwards from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>. 



“But the problem is that tree clearance is occurring at massive spatial scales, across all sorts of different habitats and elevations.”



By studying 13 different eco-regions, the team revealed that single-region estimates miss the mark badly. The real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-may-be-using-quantum-physics-for-migration/">biodiversity</a> loss becomes visible only when you zoom out to a national scale.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-vanish-with-deforestation">Birds vanish with deforestation</h2>



Tropical forests are not just rich in species. They are also rich in species turnover, what scientists call beta-diversity. That means two nearby forests can host very different bird communities.



When forests are cleared and replaced with pasture, many species with small ranges vanish. In contrast, a few wide-ranging species adapt and spread. 



The result is what researchers call biotic homogenization, where different areas end up with the same handful of generalist species. This makes large-scale biodiversity damage invisible at the local level. 



In Colombia, some regions like the Caquetá and Napo moist forests, with dense and specialized bird populations, showed the greatest losses. Meanwhile, pasture areas, regardless of location, often hosted the same disturbance-tolerant birds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-diversity-tracked-by-sound">Bird diversity tracked by sound</h2>



The team used sound recordings across Colombia’s forests, mountains, and pasturelands. In 80% of cases, birds were heard but not seen. 



These recordings allowed the researchers to identify species and predict which others shared the habitat.



Data was analyzed from over 24,000 detections and modeled occupancy for 1,614 bird species using habitat, range, and trait data. This enabled the team to estimate how each <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-birds-one-tree-complete-evolutionary-map-reveals-hidden-links/">species</a> responds to forest conversion with high spatial detail.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-many-regions-show-bird-losses">Many regions show bird losses</h2>



The study revealed that sampling just one or two eco-regions is not enough. It takes data from at least six or seven biogeographic zones to get within 5% of the true, national-scale <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-a-warming-climate/">biodiversity</a> impact.



In fact, when looking at highly sensitive species, those in the 75th percentile of conversion impact, national losses were 67% higher than local estimates. These species are often rare, specialized, and cannot adapt to pasture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-pastures-are-harmful">Most pastures are harmful</h2>



The researchers studied traditional cattle pastures with scattered trees and hedgerows. These low-productivity pastures dominate Colombia's agricultural land. 



Even with scattered forest remnants, these areas showed major declines in species richness and diversity.



Silvopastoral systems, pastures combined with trees, can reduce damage, but they still do not support forest-dependent species. Thus, agriculture-friendly designs alone will not save biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-diversity-declines-across-regions">Bird diversity declines across regions</h2>



Some areas like Santa Marta appeared less sensitive to forest loss, but appearances can be deceiving. This region includes 24 bird species found nowhere else. So, even a small reduction in forest there risks wiping out irreplaceable species.



Beta-diversity also explained why losses soared at scale. In forests, bird communities change greatly across space and elevation. 



In pastures, these differences collapse. Over 200 kilometers [124 miles], pasture communities barely differ, showing how homogenized they become.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-conservation-and-policy">Lessons for conservation and policy</h2>



The study warns against relying on global meta-analyses based on local data. Most deforestation studies still ignore regional variation in biodiversity. This leads to dangerously low estimates of environmental cost.



“The food we eat comes with a much great environmental cost than we thought,” said Edwards. “We need policy makers to think much more about the larger scale biodiversity impact of deforestation.”



The authors call for regionally structured monitoring systems, better land-use planning, and policies that prioritize biodiversity across elevation and habitat types.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-every-forest-patch-counts">Every forest patch counts</h2>



The research changes the way we understand <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-birds-migrate-without-riding-the-wind/">birds</a> and biodiversity loss. The message is clear. Protecting one forest patch is not enough. Protecting whole regions matters.



Colombia’s birds tell a simple story. When forests fall, many voices go silent - especially those that once sang from the shadows, highlands, and far corners of this rich tropical land.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02779-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Land-use change is hurting bird diversity far more than we realized

Researchers have conducted the world’s most extensive bird diversity survey...

Atlas,Moth,-,Attacus,Atlas,,Beautiful,Large,Iconic,Moth,From

Female moths don't rely on sight or smell alone. They can also hear stressed plants. Scientists found that these insects detect ultrasonic clicks from plants under drought stress and use them when choosing egg-laying sites.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-heard-making-screaming-sounds-stress-induced-first-time-ever/">Plants</a> emit airborne ultrasonic sounds when stressed. These vibrations, previously thought to be undetectable by animals, can travel through the air. The Egyptian cotton leafworm moth,&nbsp;Spodoptera littoralis, hears these sounds. 



This species has tympanic ears sensitive to the 20 to 60 kHz range, with peak sensitivity around 38 kHz. That is where many plant clicks fall. 



The researchers hypothesized that female moths might use these plant sounds to decide where to lay eggs. Their experiments confirmed this.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-plant-communication">Understanding plant communication</h2>



Plants may not have mouths or ears, but they <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-could-soon-talk-to-farmers-and-listen-too/">definitely talk - and listen</a>. Through their roots, leaves, and even the air, they exchange chemical signals to warn each other of danger, call for help, or share resources. 



When a caterpillar chomps on a leaf, for example, some plants release volatile compounds that drift to their neighbors, triggering defensive measures like bitter-tasting chemicals or toughened leaves. 



Underground, fungi form vast mycorrhizal networks - often called the “Wood Wide Web” - that help trees and plants share nutrients, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-capture-plant-communication-on-video/">send distress signals</a>, and maintain the balance of the ecosystem.



What’s wild is how intentional it all seems. Certain plants send out distress chemicals only when their kin are nearby, suggesting a level of familial recognition. 



Others can distinguish between friend and foe based on the scent of another plant’s emissions. It’s not just survival - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-use-underground-networks-to-eavesdrop-on-their-neighbors/">it’s community</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moths-respond-to-plant-sounds">Moths respond to plant sounds</h2>



The study involved multiple experiments with precise setups. In a no-plant environment, moths preferred laying eggs near a speaker playing recorded plant stress sounds. 



When these moths were deafened, the preference disappeared. This proved that the response came from hearing, not other cues.



In contrast, when healthy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-music-help-plants-grow/">plants</a> were added and the same sounds were played near one, the moths chose the silent plant. This indicated that when real plants were present, moths correctly interpreted the sounds as warnings.



"After proving in the previous study that plants produce sounds, we hypothesized that animals capable of hearing these high-frequency sounds may respond to them and make decisions accordingly," said study co-author Professor Yossi Yovel from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tel Aviv University</a>.



"Specifically, we know that many insects, which have diverse interactions with the plant world, can perceive plant sounds. We wanted to investigate whether such insects actually detect and respond to these sounds." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-plant-sounds-change-moth-behavior">Do plant sounds change moth behavior?</h2>



In longer arenas, moths laid more eggs near either the sugar feeder in the center or the sound-emitting speaker at one end. They laid none near the silent resistor at the other end. 



These results were consistent across different click rates and setups. When tracked, moths spent more time on the side with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-hear-bee-sounds-and-make-sweeter-nectar-in-response/">plant</a> sounds before deciding.



Even though the courtship sounds of male moths fell in a similar frequency range, females showed no egg-laying preference for the male side. This confirmed that the response was specific to plant sounds.



"We chose to focus on female moths, which typically lay their eggs on plants so that the larvae can feed on them once hatched. We assumed the females seek an optimal site to lay their eggs - a healthy plant that can properly nourish the larvae," said co-author Professor Lilach Hadany.



"Thus, when the plant signals that it is dehydrated and under stress, would the moths heed the warning and avoid laying eggs on it? To explore this question, we conducted several experiments."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integrating-sound-and-smell">Integrating sound and smell</h2>



Without a visible plant, sound becomes the only cue. So moths associate it with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-plants-alter-the-soundscape-of-ecosystems/">plant</a> presence. But when they can see or smell real plants, and one gives off stress sounds, they avoid it. This shows a context-based decision-making process.



The researchers also tested moth antennae. Using electroantennogram recordings, they found strong differences in odor detection between drying and hydrated plants. This shows that moths integrate sound and smell.



In real tomato plant patches, the click rate reaches about 20 per minute. In experiments, sounds were played at 30 to 60 clicks per minute. 



This simulated what a moth might hear near many stressed plants. Sound levels used matched those measured in live plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-acoustic-interactions-in-nature">Acoustic interactions in nature</h2>



This study reveals that plant sounds can guide insect behavior. Moths may not just rely on smell or touch. Instead, they interpret ultrasonic cues. The researchers think other animals, perhaps pollinators or predators, might also use these sounds.



While the plant clicks likely evolved as a by-product of water loss, they now serve as useful cues. Scientists predict more discoveries in this area.



"In this study, we revealed the first evidence for acoustic interaction between a plant and an insect. We are convinced, however, that this is just the beginning," noted the researchers.



"Acoustic interaction between plants and animals doubtlessly has many more forms and a wide range of roles. This is a vast, unexplored field - an entire world waiting to be discovered."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/reviewed-preprints/104700v1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eLife</a>.



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Plants and animals captured "talking" to each other using sound for the first time

Female moths don't rely on sight or smell alone. They...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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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.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&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.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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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.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



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.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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