When we think of wildlife conservation, vultures rarely top the list. Yet these birds - often misunderstood and overlooked - may be more essential to public health and ecosystems than we ever imagined.



A recent study out of Costa Rica has uncovered just how vital they are, especially when it comes to getting rid of dead animals quickly and safely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-vultures-speed-decay">How vultures speed decay</h2>



Scientists from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a>, working in collaboration with OSA Conservation in Costa Rica, designed a simple but revealing experiment. 



The team set out to observe how animal carcasses decomposed with and without vultures present. Using domestic pig carcasses, they monitored the decomposition process across forest and grassland settings between September 2023 and June 2024.



The researchers left half the carcasses in the open for all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/believe-it-or-not-scavengers-are-picky-eaters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scavengers</a> to access. They placed the other half inside cages that prevented vultures and other large animals from reaching them. Cameras and insect traps were installed at each site to track both animal activity and insect populations.



The findings were both surprising and concerning. In the open sites where vultures had access, the pig carcasses lost an average of 9.5 kilograms per day. 



In contrast, the protected carcasses - off-limits to vultures - decomposed at only 4.8 kilograms per day. That’s a dramatic difference.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flies-thrive-without-cleanup-birds">Flies thrive without cleanup birds</h2>



As carcasses lingered without vultures, one thing became clear: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/flies-respond-to-danger-like-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flies</a> moved in to fill the gap.



Sites where vultures were excluded saw fly populations nearly double. Dung beetle numbers stayed the same, and the researchers rarely observed larger vertebrate scavengers like pumas, ocelots, caimans, or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hunting-coyotes-may-be-fueling-their-population-growth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coyotes</a> were rarely observed.



“This research underlines the unique and irreplaceable role that vultures play as nature's cleanup crew,” said Julia Grootaers, co-author and Behavioral Ecologist at the University.



The study showed that other scavengers simply weren’t stepping in. Without vultures, decomposition slowed down significantly, giving flies more time to reproduce and mature. And this has health implications.



“These apex scavengers have specialized and highly acidic digestive systems that can destroy many of the pathogens found in carrion, thus mitigating the spread of disease from carcasses to other wildlife, livestock, and humans,” Grootaers said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-risks-without-vultures">Health risks without vultures</h2>



According to the researchers, the extra time it takes for a carcass to decompose in the absence of vultures can increase the chances of disease transmission. 



Flies that breed in these carcasses can carry harmful bacteria like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-treatment-protects-tomatoes-from-salmonella-and-e-coli/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">E. coli</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-salmonella-outsmarts-our-gut-defenses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">salmonella</a>. They may also become vectors for diseases such as botulism and anthrax.



“Our results demonstrate that intact scavenger communities, with vultures, invertebrate and microbial decomposers, efficiently decompose carcasses at double the rate compared to when it is insects and microbes alone,” said Dr. Chris Beirne, Director of Wildlife Programs at OSA Conservation.



“And it's apparent that in Costa Rica, other large vertebrate scavengers do not drive decomposition in the food chain and that is consistent with what we see in other regions, including Kenya and northern Spain.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vanishing-vulture-populations">Vanishing vulture populations</h2>



While there’s been widespread attention on vulture declines in Africa, Asia, and Europe, the Americas have largely flown under the radar. That needs to change.



Many species in North, Central, and South America are now facing growing threats from habitat loss, poisoning, and human disturbance. Without proper monitoring, their populations could plummet before we fully understand the consequences.



“While dramatic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fewer-vultures-more-wild-dogs-linked-to-greater-disease-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vulture declines</a> have already been documented across Africa, Asia, and Europe, this study raises concerns about the overlooked vulnerability of their American counterparts,” said Greta Hernandez of Universidad de Panamá. 



“And the findings highlight the urgent need for deeper research into vulture population trends in the Americas, the critical ecosystem services they provide, and the conservation action needed to safeguard these silent stewards of the environment.”



The takeaway is simple but powerful: vultures aren’t just scavengers - they’re a key line of defense against disease and environmental decay. Losing them means losing one of nature’s most efficient recycling systems - with real consequences for the world we share.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71408" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecology and Evolution</a>.



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Vanishing vultures may threaten public health

When we think of wildlife conservation, vultures rarely top the list. Yet these birds - often misunderstood and overlooked - may be more essential to public health and ecosystems than we ever imagined. A recent study out of Costa Rica has uncovered just how vital they are, especially when it comes to getting rid of dead animals quickly and safely. How vultures speed decay Scientists from the University of Exeter, working in collaboration with OSA Conservation in Costa Rica, designed a simple but revealing experiment. The team...

Researchers from <a href="https://www.monash.edu/">Monash University</a> are one step closer to saving the critically endangered helmeted honeyeater, an iconic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-birds-do-not-carry-antibiotic-resistant-salmonella/">bird</a> that serves as the emblem of the Australian state of Victoria.&nbsp;



The scientists sequenced the honeyeater’s chromosomes, which is a more detailed approach than a simple genetic sequencing. A high density genetic map was created, detailing over 50,000 marker positions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



The results of the genetic analysis will allow researchers to examine the impact of breeding helmeted honeyeaters with another subspecies, and will also help experts monitor their overall health.&nbsp;



Helmeted honeyeaters are beautiful yellow and black birds native to Australia. Unfortunately, honeyeater populations have declined dramatically since the arrival of white colonists in Australia.&nbsp;



By the 1980s, approximately 50 individuals survived the decimation. All of the birds were found in Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve, due to habitat restoration and captive breeding, their population has grown to 250 birds.&nbsp;



It’s not all a conservation story for the helmeted honeyeaters. Because the bird’s population dropped so low, most of the remaining birds are close relatives and inbreeding and reproductive problems are common.&nbsp;



To combat the inbreeding, conservationists have been breeding the birds with closely related subspecies to improve genetic diversity.&nbsp;



“Because the helmeted honeyeater is the last of its kind, genetic augmentation must come from a different subspecies. However, this kind of genetic mixing is not common: conservation managers generally avoid crossing subspecies for fear of losing local adaptation and distinctiveness," explained Dr. Alexandra Pavlova.



Now, with the high quality genetic material available, conservationists can look at the consequences of each captive breeding operation. This information can be used as a guide for the conservation efforts and hopefully successfully restore the population.&nbsp;



“The genome sequence and the genetic map will be used to get the right balance between rescuing the helmeted honeyeater from extinction through inbreeding, while retaining unique features that make it a helmeted honeyeater," said study lead author Diana Robledo-Ruiz.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/gigascience">GigaScience</a>.



Image Credit: Nick Bradsworth



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Genetic study could help save helmeted honeyeaters

Researchers from Monash University are one step closer to saving...

Bull,Caribou,On,Alpine,Tundra,In,The,Yukon,,Canada

Despite recovery efforts from both federal and provincial governments, Canada’s caribou populations continue to decline, largely due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-wildfires-linked-to-human-activity-will-only-get-worse/">human activity</a>. However, a new study led by the <a href="https://ok.ubc.ca/">University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan</a> has found that a herd of mountain caribou from central British Columbia – the Klinse-Za – is currently rebounding, with their numbers nearly tripling in the last decade.&nbsp;



According to the researchers, this happens due to a conservation initiative led by Indigenous Peoples that pairs short-term recovery actions such as predator reduction and caribou guardians at maternal pens with an ongoing effort to secure landscape-level protection in order to create a self-sustaining caribou population.&nbsp;



“We have an Indigenous-led conservation effort to thank for averting the looming extinction of this herd,” said study lead author Clayton Lamb, a wildlife scientist at UBC. “The population was declining rapidly - a West Moberly Elder once described the herd as a ‘sea of caribou,’ but by 2013 it had declined to only 38 animals.”



Due to the collaborative efforts led by West Moberly First Nations and Salteau First Nations in partnership with various organizations and governments, this number increased to over 110 by 2022.



“This work provides an innovative, community-led, paradigm shift to conservation in Canada,” said Dr. Lamb. “While Indigenous Peoples have been actively stewarding landscapes for a long time, this approach is new in the level of collaboration among western scientists and Indigenous Peoples to create positive outcomes on the land and put an endangered species on the path to recovery.”



“This work is also an important part of decolonizing the mindset of conservation, which has historically worked to exclude the views of Indigenous Peoples,” added study senior author Adam Ford, a professor of Wildlife Restoration Ecology at UBC.



Although the efforts of Indigenous Peoples have yielded great success, more time and effort will be needed to fully recover the Klinse-Za populations. Nevertheless, this initiative highlights the crucial role of Indigenous governance and leadership in devising meaningful conservation actions, enhancing endangered species recovery, and honoring cultural connections to imperiled wildlife.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eap.2581">Ecological Applications</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Caribou rebound thanks to efforts of Indigenous Peoples

Despite recovery efforts from both federal and provincial governments, Canada’s...

According to a recent study led by the <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a> (OSU), at least hundreds of so-far unidentified mammal species are hiding in plain sight around the world. Most of them are probably small bodied creatures - such as bats, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/voles-cut-grass-to-reduce-their-predation-risk/">rodents</a>, shrews, or moles - closely resembling known species.



“Small, subtle differences in appearance are harder to notice when you’re looking at a tiny animal that weighs 10 grams than when you’re looking at something that is human-sized,” said study co-author Bryan Carstens, a professor of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at OSU. “You can’t tell they are different species unless you do a genetic analysis.”



Professor Carstens and his team used a supercomputer and machine-learning techniques to analyze millions of publicly available gene sequences from 4,310 mammal species, together with a vast amount of data on where the animals live, their life histories, and other relevant information. This method allowed them to build a predictive model that could reliably identify the taxa of mammals that are likely to contain hidden species.



Based on this analysis, a conservative estimate would be that there are hundreds of species of mammals worldwide that have not yet been identified, most likely in the families of small-bodied animals, such as bats and rodents. The model also predicted these hidden species to have a wide geographic range with high variability in temperature and precipitation.



While many of them are most likely to occur in tropical rain forests (where most mammal species live), scientists have argued that some as yet unidentified mammals could live in the United States too. In a previous <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sysbio/article/67/5/756/4866059?login=false">study</a>, for instance, Professor Carstens and his colleagues have shown that the little brown bat, found in much of North America, is in fact five different species.



According to the researchers, discovering new species is crucial for conservation efforts. “That knowledge is important to people who are doing conservation work. We can’t protect a species if we don’t know that it exists.&nbsp;As soon as we name something as a species, that matters in a lot of legal and other ways,” Professor Carstens explained.



Based on the results of the study, the researchers estimate that about 80 percent of the world’s mammal species have already been identified. “The shocking thing is that mammals are very well described compared to beetles or ants or other types of animals. We know a lot more about mammals than many other animals because they tend to be larger and are more closely related to humans, which makes them more interesting to us,” Professor Carstens concluded.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103400119">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Hundreds of new mammal species may be hidden in plain sight

According to a recent study led by the Ohio State...

Tawny crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva) are native to South America but have become an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-species-can-hitchhike-on-ocean-plastic/">invasive pest</a> in the US. The first record of tawny crazy ants in this country was from Brownsville, Texas, in 1938, and since then the species has spread to all states on the Gulf Coast of the US. This invader occurs in colonies that stretch to enormous numbers of individuals and it causes destruction to local insect communities and dismay to residents in urban areas where it has become established.&nbsp;



Called “crazy” because of its rapid and unpredictable movements, this species of ant nests in almost any hole, nook or cranny it can find. In urban areas, tawny crazy ants often nest in electrical equipment, such as pump units, electrical distribution boxes or fuse breaker boxes. This can cause short circuits and the failure of the electrical equipment. The ants displace local ants and other insect species, and are not easily treated with pesticides. Each colony has multiple queens so it is almost impossible to eradicate an entire colony.&nbsp;



Scientists at the University of Texas, Austin, have been studying tawny crazy ants over the past few years and have made an encouraging discovery. They have found that a naturally occurring fungus parasitizes these ants and can lead to the decrease or total demise of ant populations. The findings of their study are published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.



“I think it has a lot of potential for the protection of sensitive habitats with endangered species or areas of high conservation value,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://cns.utexas.edu/component/cobalt/item/7-integrative-biology/1592-lebrun-ed?Itemid=349">Edward LeBrun</a>, a research scientist with the Texas Invasive Species Research Program at&nbsp;<a href="https://bfl.utexas.edu/">Brackenridge Field Laboratory</a>&nbsp;and lead author of the study.



The ants have raised alarm across the southeastern US in the past 20 years, as they have spread from state to state. They are carried inadvertently by animals, vehicles and humans – for example in trash and on plants that are translocated from one site to another. They totally overwhelm local insect species and have also been known to seek moisture in the eyes of mammals and birds.



LeBrun and colleague Lawrence Gilbert, also from Brackenridge Field Laboratory, collected some tawny crazy ants from Florida, about eight years ago, and they noticed that some of them had abdomens swollen with fat. When they looked inside the ants, they found spores from a microsporidian fungal pathogen, and identified a species of this type of parasite that was new to science. Microsporidian pathogens commonly hijack an insect’s fat cells and turn them into spore factories for their own benefit.&nbsp;



Although the researchers did not know where the pathogen had come from, or whether it was perhaps indigenous in the ants’ home range in South America, they began to notice that ants infected with the fungus occurred at sites across Texas. Observing 15 local populations for eight years, the team found that every population that harbored the pathogen declined – and 62 percent of these populations disappeared entirely.



This meant that the researchers had inadvertently uncovered a natural control method for keeping populations of tawny crazy ants in check. They wondered whether they could use the pathogen to induce population decrease in areas where the ants were a pest or were destroying sensitive habitats.&nbsp;



“This doesn’t mean crazy ants will disappear,” LeBrun said. “It’s impossible to predict how long it will take for the lightning bolt to strike and the pathogen to infect any one crazy ant population. But it’s a big relief because it means these populations appear to have a lifespan.”



“You don’t expect a pathogen to lead to the extinction of a population. An infected population normally goes through boom-and-bust cycles as the frequency of infection waxes and wanes.”



The researchers got a chance to test out the use of the fungal pathogen when LeBrun got a call from Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas, in 2016. The park had an infestation of tawny crazy ants and was losing its insects, scorpions, snakes, lizards and birds to the invader species. Even baby rabbits were being blinded in their nests by swarms of acid-spewing ants seeking the moisture in their eyes.



“They had a crazy ant infestation, and it was apocalyptic, rivers of ants going up and down every tree,” said LeBrun. “I wasn’t really ready to start this as an experimental process, but it’s like, OK, let’s just give it a go.”



The team used crazy ants that they had collected from other sites and that were already infected with the microsporidian pathogen. They introduced nest boxes of infected ants near to nesting sites of ants resident in the state park, hoping that the two populations would mix and the infected ants would carry the pathogen into the nests of the resident ants. The researchers placed hot dogs around the exit chambers to attract the local ants and merge the two populations.&nbsp;



The experiment worked spectacularly. In the first year, the disease spread to the entire crazy ant population in Estero. And within two years, crazy ant numbers crashed. Now, they are nonexistent and native species are returning to the area. The researchers have since eradicated a second crazy ant population in this way at another site in the area of Convict Hill in Austin.



The researchers do not know exactly why the ant colonies collapse and theorize that the pathogen may shorten the lifespan of worker ants, meaning that the colony struggles to collect enough food to survive through winter. Whatever the reason, the fungus seems to infect only the crazy ants, leaving other, native species of ants and other insects unharmed.



The team plans to test their new biocontrol approach this spring in other sensitive Texas habitats that are infested with crazy ants.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Crazy ants carry the key to their own population control

Tawny crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva) are native to South America...

A new study from <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a> reveals that red-backed salamanders will be limited in their ability to adjust to climate warming in eastern North America in the coming decades. According to the researchers, the salamanders' range will likely shift northward as temperatures rise.&nbsp;



Red-backed salamanders live in forests from Quebec south to North Carolina, and west to Missouri and Minnesota. For the investigation, the experts developed a new method to measure the metabolic rate of red-backed salamanders from different regions. They wanted to analyze how much more energy the salamanders would require to survive as temperatures rise.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Salamanders have evolved strategies to stay cool and preserve energy, such as burrowing under rocks and logs, explained study co-author Professor David Miller. But if the small amphibians must hide for extended periods to stay cool, they are not foraging or eating enough.&nbsp;



“Because these salamanders are ectotherms, cold-blooded animals, essentially what happens is when it is cold, they quit burning energy - as long as they don't freeze, they can go long periods without food,” said Professor Miller. “Conversely, in the summer, when it's really warm, their body temperature is elevated, and that raises how much energy they consume. So, during the warmest part of the year, if they’re not eating, they’re experiencing an energy deficit.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Depending on greenhouse gas emissions, the global climate is very likely to warm by 2.16 to 3.42 degrees Fahrenheit from now to 2040, according to the United Nations. That will affect red-backed salamanders, said Miller, and may result in at least the southern end of their range moving northward.&nbsp;



“Ectotherms’ fitness is strongly governed by thermal conditions. Temperature directly impacts their ecology. Thermal conditions affect energy acquisition and allocation," explained Professor Miller.&nbsp;



Lead researcher David Muñoz designed an innovative study to assess the energy expenditure of red-backed salamanders. The study was also designed to determine whether the salamanders' metabolic rates varied in the warmer and cooler parts of their range.



The team collected salamanders from four populations near Richmond, Virginia; Millmont, Pennsylvania; Ithaca, New York; and Turners Falls, Massachusetts. The researchers captured 18 - 20 juveniles and 18 - 20 adult male salamanders at each site to look for life-stage differences.



Muñoz modified small refrigerators to serve as thermal chambers to subject the salamanders to warmer conditions. “Then the salamanders were placed in a small tube, and we measured how much oxygen was consumed by the salamander over two hours and how much carbon dioxide it emitted,” explained Muñoz. “We repeated the process multiple times, at different temperatures.”



The study revealed that salamanders from warmer climates lowered their metabolic rates to adjust to summer temperatures. This may act as an energy-saving mechanism during the warmest time of the year, the researchers suggested, adding that no such adjustability was evident in populations from cooler climates. They noted that both juvenile and adult salamanders exhibited metabolic “plasticity."



Although some populations responded to historic climate thermal cues, said Professor Miller, no populations showed adjusted metabolic rate responses sufficient to deal with projected future climate temperatures, indicating there are constraints on salamanders’ responses to climate change.



According to Professor Miller, the research is important because predicted changes in global temperature are expected to increase extinction risk for ectotherms such as red-backed salamanders, primarily through increased metabolic rates. “We expect that warming will impact the energy budgets of salamanders, potentially affecting individual growth and reproductive success."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20457758">Ecology and Evolution</a>.



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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

Red-backed salamanders will struggle to adapt to climate warming

A new study from Penn State reveals that red-backed salamanders...

The rate of biodiversity loss continues to accelerate, and many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/conservation-efforts-must-cross-borders-to-save-endangered-species/">conservation</a> experts are turning to the reintroduction of captive-bred animals as one potential solution to this growing crisis. In a new study from the <a href="https://www.ub.edu/web/portal/en/">University of Barcelona</a>, researchers investigated the outcome of a green turtle reintroduction program that began 50 years ago in the Cayman Islands.



The analysis confirmed that the reintroduction program has been successful in establishing new green turtle populations throughout the Cayman Islands. The experts also determined that reintroduction from a captive population did not affect the health of the first generation of wild turtles.&nbsp;



According to the study authors, these conclusions “show that where climate change undermines species survival, assisted colonisations could possibly be used as a conservation measure. However, decision-making must include thorough cost-benefit analyses, risk assessments, and long term scientific monitoring.”



The green turtle migratory species that is endangered worldwide. In the Cayman Islands, the green turtle population was nearly extinct by the mid-20th century, primarily due to over-harvesting.



In 1968, the Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre was established in Grand Cayman. The program has helped to increase the number of nesting females over the last twenty years. Today, there is a population of between 100 and 150 adult breeding females.



The captive green turtles that were reintroduced to the Cayman Islands originated from turtles and eggs collected from different populations in the Atlantic.&nbsp;



“Therefore, the first breeding individuals of the farm have genetically diverse origins, which is seen in the study," noted study co-author Carlos Carreras.&nbsp;



Study co-author Marta Pascual added that it is important to consider the genetic origins of the samples used for captive breeding in any species in order to avoid associated negative effects. "Luckily, these negative phenomena were not seen in the first generations, but we cannot rule out the option of them appearing in upcoming generations," said Pascual.



Genetic analyses revealed that turtle populations on two islands are predominantly the result of the reintroduction project. The experts found that 79.4 percent of the turtles in Little Cayman and 90.3 percent of those in Grand Cayman were related to the adults released through the program. The researchers also determined that populations diverged quickly.&nbsp;



“The random effects of the genetic drift led to the genetic differentiation of the populations, despite having originated with the same reintroduction program. Also, we did not detect any reintroduction-related adverse effect in the biological efficiency of the individuals in the new populations," said the study authors.&nbsp;



The researchers emphasized that these results were obtained with the first generation of wild offspring. With this in mind, genetic analyses should be undertaken again in the future since the harmful effects of inbreeding can appear in future generations, the experts concluded.&nbsp;



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



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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

Reintroduction of green turtles has been a success in the Cayman Islands

The rate of biodiversity loss continues to accelerate, and many...

Faster sound transmission in the oceans due to climate change will alter the underwater soundscape marine organisms rely on for survival. New research published by the <a href="https://www.agu.org/">American Geophysical Union</a> reveals that climate change will significantly alter how sound travels underwater, as sound waves move faster and farther in warmer water.



The <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021EF002099">new global study</a> demonstrates how changes to ocean soundscapes could impact essential activities of marine life. The ocean soundscape is made of vibrations produced by living organisms, waves and cracking ice, and human caused sound such as ship traffic and resource extraction.&nbsp;



“We calculated the effects of temperature, depth and salinity based on public data to model the soundscape of the future,” said study lead author Alice Affatati. These factors all affect how fast and how far sound travels in water.



Two “acoustic hotspots” of sound speed increases are predicted in the east of Greenland and in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, East of Newfoundland.&nbsp;



These hotspots can expect the most change at 50 and 500 meter depths, where the average speed of sound is likely to increase by more than 1.5%, or approximately 25 meters per second by the end of the century.



Marine animals use sound to communicate and navigate their underwater world. Changes in sound speed can impact day to day activity such as finding food and mates, avoiding predators and even migrating.



“The major impact is expected in the Arctic, where we know already there is amplification of the effects of climate change now. Not all the Arctic, but one specific part where all factors play together to give a signal that, according to the model predictions, overcomes the uncertainty of the model itself,” said author Stefano Salon.



To consider how these changes impact species, the study also modeled vocalizations of the North Atlantic right whale, a critically endangered species <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale">inhabiting both north Atlantic acoustic hotspots</a>. This found that&nbsp; whales’ typical “upcall” at 50 Hertz is likely to travel farther in a warmer future ocean.



“We chose to talk about one megafauna species, but many trophic levels in the ocean are affected by the soundscape or use sound,” Affatati said. “All these hotspots are locations of great biodiversity.”



This study has inspired future work to combine the global soundscape with anthropogenic impacts in the oceans to identify areas of combined stressors, or direct needed observational research.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/23284277">Earth’s Future</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate warming is transforming the underwater soundscape

Faster sound transmission in the oceans due to climate change...

A research team led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a> has recently investigated the types of Salmonella enterica - a pathogen that sickens millions of people each year – circulating among wild <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dads-lead-young-birds-on-their-first-migration/">bird</a> populations. While domestic birds are known to carry antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strains, the scientists discovered that, fortunately, the strains of bacteria found in wild birds did not usually harbor antimicrobial resistant genes.



Scientists have long worried that wild birds carrying antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella may pose a high risk to public health because they could spread the resistant bacteria across vast areas in short periods of time. In order to clarify whether this was indeed the case, the scientists fully sequenced 375 Salmonella enterica strains from wild birds collected in 41 U.S. states from 1978 to 2019.&nbsp;



&nbsp;“To find what antibiotics a particular Salmonella strain is resistant to, we don't have to run the traditional lab-based tests anymore - where you grow it on some type of media, expose it to antibiotics, and it either grows or it doesn't,” explained study senior author Edward Dudley, a professor of Food Science at Penn State. “Now, we can sequence the entire genome, and by identifying certain gene markers, we can predict - with almost perfect precision - what antibiotics the organism will be resistant to.”



The genetic analyses revealed that the most dominant Salmonella enterica strain found in wild bird populations was Typhimurium, accounting for 68 percent of the bird isolates. However, less than two percent of these isolates were identified to be resistant to antibiotics or heavy metals. Interestingly, all the multi-resistant strains were isolated from raptors or water birds, while none were found in songbirds.



“While we've known for a while that wild birds can carry Salmonella, the strains they carry appear to be of lesser concern to human health. The assumption was that these Salmonella - like the bacteria we can isolate from domesticated farm animals - would carry large numbers of antimicrobial-resistance genes. We found the opposite to be true,” Professor Dudley concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1462-2920.15865">Environmental Microbiology</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wild birds do not carry antibiotic-resistant Salmonella

A research team led by Pennsylvania State University has recently...

A new study led by the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a> has found that the worldwide proliferation of energy efficient broad spectrum artificial lighting is increasingly disrupting a variety of visually guided ecological processes. Many animal species that rely on darkness to forage and feed are losing their camouflage efficacy due to advancement in the lighting used to illuminate cities and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-levels-on-the-u-s-coast-will-rise-one-foot-by-2050/">coastlines</a> at night, and can be more easily spotted by predators as a consequence.



“This study clearly indicates that new lighting technologies will increase the conspicuousness of prey species by reducing the efficacy of their camouflage,” said study lead author Oak McMahon, a PhD student at the University of Plymouth.



McMahon and his colleagues assessed the conspicuousness of three distinct color morphs of Littorinid snails - a species commonly found along the world’s coastlines - under different forms of artificial lighting. They found that under the 20th century narrow spectrum Low Pressure Sodium (LPS) lighting, all snails were effectively camouflaged and could not be easily spotted by three of their most common predators.&nbsp;



However, under more recent, broad spectrum lighting - such as High Pressure Sodium (HPS), Light Emitting Diodes (LED), or Metal Halide (MH) - yellow snails were significantly more visible compared to brown or olive ones, increasing their risk of being killed by predators.



“Our findings revealed that species of Littorinid snails found commonly on our coastlines will remain camouflaged when illuminated by older style lighting. However, when illuminated by modern broad spectrum lighting, they are clearly visible to predators and at far greater long-term risk as a result,” explained McMahon.



“As technologies develop, there has been a shift from narrow spectrum to lighting that enables us to live and travel in a safe, secure manner. However, estimates suggest that a quarter of the planet between the Arctic Circle and Antarctica is now being affected by night-time light pollution,” added study senior author Dr. Thomas Davies, a lecturer in Marine Conservation at the University of Plymouth.



“Some predictions say that LED bulbs will account for 85 percent of the global street lighting market in around five years, and our study highlights that such advances will have repercussions for humans and animals alike now and in the future.”



According to the scientists, there are a variety of mitigation methods available to urban planners and environmental managers when considering the ecological impact of broad spectrum lighting, such as reducing the amount of light used, shielding lights in order to reduce their range, employing night-lighting only during times of peak demand, or manipulating the spectra of lighting to minimize ecological impact.



The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14146">Journal of Applied Ecology</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Animals are losing their camouflage under modern street lights

A new study led by the University of Plymouth has...

Bird migration has long fascinated scientists, who continue to question how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-laying-their-eggs-earlier-to-adapt-to-climate-change/">birds</a> learn to find their way to distant locations. While it has been well established that birds migrate in groups, there is limited information on how individuals that migrate together interact. To investigate, a team of researchers from Finland, Sweden and the UK tracked bird families with GPS devices.



“We wanted to get a better idea of how the migratory skills of birds are passed from one generation to another in a species where individuals normally migrate together,” said study lead author Patrik Byholm of the <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en">University of Helsinki</a>.



Caspian terns were selected for the study. They are a fish eating waterbird that normally migrates in small groups. GPS tracking of the birds showed that the male parents are responsible for leading their young during their first migration from the Baltic Sea to Africa.



This is known as "guiding behavior'' which the study identified as the responsibility of the biological father, and in one case a foster father took on this role. The researchers were unable to determine why males, instead of females, were leading their young.



“This is very fascinating behavior, which we really did not expect to find when setting up our study,” said Byholm.



The experts also found that during migration, young individuals kept close to an adult bird. In cases where young birds lost contact with their parent, they did not survive. Staying close to an experienced adult is critical for young birds to survive their first migration.&nbsp;



The study revealed that during the first solo return trip, the young terns used the same migratory route their father guided them on. 



“This indicates that in Caspian terns, migration knowledge is inherited through culture from one generation to another. This has consequences on the decisions individuals make years after they first migrated with their father,” said study co-author Susanne Åkesson from Lund University. Learning the right migratory routes is critical to survival.&nbsp;



Understanding how Capsian terns and other birds learn how to migrate is important to predicting how these birds will fare in a changing climate. This study highlights how the future survival of Caspian terns relies on passing migration knowledge down from one generation to the next.&nbsp;



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dads lead young birds on their first migration

Bird migration has long fascinated scientists, who continue to question...

Coral reefs around the islands of the Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean are isolated, protected and largely immune from the effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noise-pollution-is-a-major-risk-factor-for-heart-attacks/">pollution</a>, overfishing and disturbance in general. However, they cannot escape the marine warming events that have become more common in recent times due to climate change and global warming.&nbsp;



Two major global heating events have affected the coral reefs of these remote islands; one in 1997/1998 and the other in 2015/2016. Both these events caused wide-spread coral mortality down to a depth of 25 m. While most of the reefs recovered to pre-bleaching levels of coral cover and community composition within seven to ten years after the 1997/1998 event, recovery after the 2015/2016 event is the subject of an ongoing investigation.&nbsp;



In a recent publication in the journal <a href="https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19395590">Limnology and Oceanography</a>, marine scientists from the University of Exeter describe how they have assessed the recovery of 12 different reefs on the atolls of the northern Chagos Islands. They quantified changes in live coral cover, species diversity and ecosystem structure in 2015, 2018 and 2021 in order to monitor the recovery of these reefs after the bleaching event. In addition, they used the ReefBudget&nbsp;methodology to assess the state of calcium carbonate deposits associated with the reefs.&nbsp;



While there are excellent previous studies that have explored recovery trajectories of coral cover and community composition after the global 1997/1998 bleaching event, the recovery of reef carbonate budget states is poorly documented. Carbonate budgets on reefs are affected by the total of processes that deposit calcium carbonate, for example by the action of corals and crustose coralline algae, and the processes that erode away these deposits.



For example, foraging parrot fish excavate and scrape the corals, and sea urchins scrape the surfaces, thereby breaking down the calcium carbonate structures. Boring by worms, bivalves, and microorganisms also erodes the reef framework. Gross carbonate production, gross carbonate erosion, and net reef carbonate budgets were estimated in this study using the Indo-Pacific ReefBudget&nbsp;methodology.&nbsp;&nbsp;



After the 2015/2016 bleaching event, coral cover on the Chagos reefs was severely reduced and all sites shifted toward communities characterized by higher cover of crustose coralline algae, turf, sand, and rubble. The survey of 2018 showed that the coral cover was still “shrinking," and that calcium carbonate production was 70 percent lower than it had been before the bleaching event, when the reefs were thriving. Furthermore, the erosion processes in action far exceeded the rate of new coral growth in 2018.&nbsp;



When the researchers returned in 2021, however, all the reefs were on a trajectory of recovery, although the extent of recovery varied from site to site. It was clear that, where key coral species had returned quickly and the physical reef structure had stayed intact, there was a rapid transition back to positive growth only six years after the mortality event. This is considered to be a fairly rapid recovery and is indicative of a reef’s health and resilience.&nbsp;



“Such high rates of coral recruitment and the rapid restoration of reef functions are a very nice surprise and imply that this location is showing some resilience, thus far, to ongoing ocean warming,” said lead author&nbsp;<a href="https://geography.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=Ines_Lange">Dr. Ines Lange</a>, a postdoctoral research fellow in a multi-institutional project funded by the Bertarelli Program in Marine Science. “A full recovery of reefs across the Chagos Archipelago over the next few years is likely if the region is spared from recurring marine heating events."



“The study shows that in remote and protected areas without local impacts such as fishing or pollution from land, coral reefs and the important functions they provide are able to recover relatively quickly, even after large-scale disturbances.”



“Proximity to healthy coral populations and the maintenance of a complex reef structure seems to boost recovery speed, which may help to manage reefs under the threat of increasing frequency of bleaching events predicted for the near future,” explained Dr. Lange.



Study co-author&nbsp;<a href="http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=Chris_Perry">Professor Chris Perry</a>, from the University of Exeter, developed the census-based&nbsp;<a href="https://geography.exeter.ac.uk/reefbudget/">ReefBudget method</a>&nbsp;to quantify reef carbonate budgets. These are important indicators of a reef’s health and ability to provide habitat to marine life. In this study, Professor Perry and Dr. Lange optimized the method for the central Indian Ocean by quantifying and integrating local rates of coral growth and erosion by parrotfish.



The authors state that, although reefs on some of the Chagos Islands still had more erosion than new coral growth in 2021, reasonably fast recovery of coral cover and carbonate budgets was evident across all sites. This suggests potential for full recovery of these reefs and their important ecosystem functions within the next few years. This pattern of recovery represents the potential scenario on isolated, undisturbed reefs, and helps scientists to understand the ecological factors influencing recovery rates in the absence of local stressors.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bleached coral reefs recover quickly in the absence of human influences

Coral reefs around the islands of the Chagos Archipelago in...

A new study led by <a href="https://www.fiu.edu/">Florida International University</a> (FIU) has investigated the social lives of great white <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shark-attacks-linked-to-phases-of-the-moon/">sharks</a> that gather seasonally around Mexico’s Guadalupe Island, and found that these animals tend to form “friendships” as they prowl the oceans in search of prey. By using an innovative combination of tracking tools, the scientists discovered that sharks tended to stick together while patrolling to check out seal colonies or other food sources around the island.



“Most associations were short, but there were sharks where we found considerably longer associations, much more likely to be social associations,” said study lead author Yannis Papastamatiou, a marine biologist at FIU. “Seventy minutes is a long time to be swimming around with another white shark.”



Since the Guadalupe Island is rife with tuna and seals, it has become a hotspot for white sharks in search of prey. While close to South African and Australian coasts, the waters are murkier and white sharks leap out of the water to launch sneak attacks and ambush prey, Guadalupe Island’s waters are very clear, making it much easier for predator and prey to notice each other. According to the researchers, these environmental peculiarities are forcing sharks to adapt their hunting strategies.



In order to study and understand these behavioral changes, the scientists combined different commercially available technology into a “super social tag” which collected data for up to five days before popping off the sharks’ dorsal fins and floating to the sea surface. These instruments were equipped with a video camera and various sensors, including special receivers that could detect if other sharks were nearby.



The researchers tagged six sharks (three males and three females) over a four-year period and found that they often associated with other sharks, most likely in order to take advantage of other sharks’ hunting success.



“The important question we still have to answer is what is the reason for being social for these sharks? We still don't know. But it is likely they may stay in proximity of other individuals in case those individuals are successful in killing large prey,” explained Dr. Papastamatiou. “They aren't working together but being social could be a way to share information.”



Although the researchers admit that the study’s sample size is small, they nevertheless argue that it provides more evidence that sharks are forming non-random social associations and can offer new insights into when and why such associations occur.&nbsp;



Further research with better technological tools is needed to fully understand the complex social lives of white sharks. “Technology now can really open up the secret lives of these animals. We’re going beyond tracking where they are and where they go. As the technology gets better, we can keep answering more questions,” concluded Dr. Papastamatiou.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0599">Biology Letters</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Great white sharks form social bonds while hunting

A new study led by Florida International University (FIU) has...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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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

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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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

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"

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

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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

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video 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 history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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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.

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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 capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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