Colorful,Spawning,Salmon,Swimming,In,A,Shallow,Creek.

The story of salmon migration is often told as a single, determined journey. Young salmon hatch in freshwater streams, then swim downriver to the ocean. After years at sea, they return to the very river where their lives began, to spawn and restart the cycle.



But new research is challenging this narrative. Many young salmon, it turns out, aren’t sticking to a straight path.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-broader-journey-than-expected">A broader journey than expected</h2>



New research from <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA Fisheries</a>, Tribal scientists, and university scientists shows that up to 22 percent of juvenile salmon in California and Washington streams make unexpected detours. 



These young fish were tracked swimming down to the ocean and then back up into different rivers - some as many as nine times. In a few cases, they traveled as far as 40 miles (64 kilometers) up the coastline to entirely new rivers.



Rather than heading out to sea and staying there until adulthood, these juveniles wander. They criss-cross the coastal landscape, slipping between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-quarter-of-freshwater-fish-species-face-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">freshwater</a> and saltwater as they explore their options.



“Stretches of coast and their rivers form enormous salmon nurseries for the exploring juveniles,” explained the researchers.



The team documented this pattern in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-is-killing-coho-salmon-in-urban-streams/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coho salmon</a> (Oncorhynchus kisutch), as well as steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarkii) trout, all of which are salmonids . And they believe other salmon species may do the same.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-salmon-use-the-coast-for-migration">How salmon use the coast for migration</h2>



The salmonids didn’t just travel at random. Some popped into unfamiliar rivers for short visits. Others spent entire seasons in new places.



The fish were seen using streams on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula and Northern California - places separated by long stretches of saltwater.



“The landscapes are much more connected than we realized, and salmon take advantage of that,” said Stuart Munsch, lead author of the study.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/salmon_young-juveniles_break-migration-rules_illustration_credit-Su-Kim_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/salmon_young-juveniles_break-migration-rules_illustration_credit-Su-Kim_1s.webp" alt="This schematic highlights empirically observed paths of two juvenile coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch, orange and purple) and one juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss (yellow) that made complex movements among drainages over periods of 203 days, 305 days, and 241 days, respectively. Numbers track individuals’ chronological detection sequences. Arrows indicate movement paths among drainages, with dashed line arrows showing additional details of individuals that moved back and forth between the East Twin and West Twin Rivers. Credit: Su Kim." class="wp-image-1968182"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This schematic highlights empirically observed paths of two juvenile coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch, orange and purple) and one juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss (yellow) that made complex movements among drainages over periods of 203 days, 305 days, and 241 days, respectively. Numbers track individuals’ chronological detection sequences. Arrows indicate movement paths among drainages, with dashed line arrows showing additional details of individuals that moved back and forth between the East Twin and West Twin Rivers. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Su Kim.</figcaption></figure>



“This provides a more complete and accurate picture of the habitat they are using, which helps us make informed decisions as to how to promote their recovery.”



By testing out different rivers and streams, salmonids might find better shelter or more food. They might also be learning from each other - schooling with fish from different populations and picking up clues about where to find refuge or prey.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stable-habitats-with-new-risks">Stable habitats with new risks</h2>



Heavy rains in the Pacific Northwest can quickly turn peaceful streams into violent torrents. Water flow shifts rapidly, and vital stream features like wood and gravel can be swept away. 



In such unstable environments, the ability to search out new, more stable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-glaciers-will-create-large-habitats-for-pacific-salmon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">habitats</a> might be a lifesaver. But this behavior comes with danger. Young salmonids moving between fresh and saltwater become easier targets for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/young-salmon-outsmart-predators-on-their-journey-to-the-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">predators</a>.



“They’re perfect food for lots of other species, so they are taking a risk but also finding some benefits as they go,” said Todd Bennett, a salmon scientist at NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center.



Still, the potential payoff may be worth it. Munsch noted that the young salmon and trout are searching for the best opportunities they can find.



“By moving around, they are also spreading the risk as some may find alternative habitats that better support them as conditions change," said Munsch.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-questions-about-salmon-behavior">New questions about salmon behavior</h2>



It’s already known that adult salmon sometimes stray into different rivers than the ones they were born in. But could that behavior be shaped by their earlier wanderings as juveniles?



The scientists are still looking into that. They say more monitoring is needed to determine whether the rivers explored by juveniles affect where they return to spawn later in life.



What’s clear is that juvenile salmon are more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warming-oceans-welcome-salmon-to-the-arctic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile</a> than previously assumed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-salmonid-migration">A closer look at salmonid migration</h2>



On the Olympic Peninsula, the researchers documented nearly 900 juvenile coho salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout moving between different river systems. Depending on the location and year, up to 22 percent of tagged fish were later detected in other rivers.



Most fish moved between just two rivers. But around 8 percent of them moved between three different systems, making up to nine distinct migrations during their juvenile years.



In Northern California, 28 coho salmon were recorded moving between river drainages. One even swam from a tributary of Redwood Creek to another stream feeding Humboldt Bay - a journey of about 40 miles (64 kilometers).



This behavior might not be unique to the U.S. Pacific Coast. The team reviewed other studies and found similar movements on three continents. That suggests it could be widespread.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-salmon-management">Rethinking salmon management</h2>



Some of the salmonids followed routes commonly traveled by other fish. Others used paths that were rarely monitored. 



Because the study could only track fish in rivers equipped with monitors, the researchers believe their findings may underestimate how many juveniles make these kinds of moves.



The takeaway? Scientists may need to revise how they think about salmon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-unpredictable-effects-on-salmon-migration/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migration</a>.



“We wouldn’t know about this unless we happened to be looking,” said Bennett. “Even after so many scientists have studied salmon over many decades, they still figure out how to surprise us.”



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fee.2848" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment</a>.



-----



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



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



-----

Many young salmon break the typical migration rules, boosting survival chances

The story of salmon migration is often told as a single, determined journey. Young salmon hatch in freshwater streams, then swim downriver to the ocean. After years at sea, they return to the very river where their lives began, to spawn and restart the cycle. But new research is challenging this narrative. Many young salmon, it turns out, aren’t sticking to a straight path. A broader journey than expected New research from NOAA Fisheries, Tribal scientists, and university scientists shows that up to 22 percent of juvenile...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a> shows that like birds, alligators analyze and chart sound location via neural maps. 

This similar hearing method between bird and reptile is most likely due to their prehistoric common ancestors. The University of Maryland’s Distinguished University Professor of Biology Catherine Carr, along with her colleague from the <a href="https://www.tum.de/en/">Technische Universität München</a>, Lutz Kettler, made the discovery. 

Their findings appear March 18th in the <a href="http://www.jneurosci.org/">Journal of Neuroscience</a>.

Birds and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/american-alligators-6-million-years-older-previously-believed/">alligators</a> are both descendants of the archosaur, a creature that came before the dinosaurs, about 246 million years ago. The archosaur eventually evolved into two separate species — one that led to the creation of alligators, and another to dinosaurs. 

The archosaur-spawned dinosaurs that didn’t die out during the mass extinction event 66 million years ago, evolved into modern day birds.

"Our research strongly suggests that this particular hearing strategy first evolved in their common ancestor," Carr explained. "The other option, that they independently evolved the same complex strategy, seems very unlikely."

Carr and Kettler outfitted 40 anesthetized American Alligators with headphones and played tones to measure the response of the alligators’ nucleus laminaris, the structure located in their brain stems responsible for processing auditory signals. The researchers found that alligators form neural maps similar to barn owls and chickens. 

"We know so little about dinosaurs," Carr said. "Comparative studies such as this one, which identify common traits extending back through evolutionary time add to our understanding of their biology."

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Ruth Elsey Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Alligators and birds have similar hearing thanks to dinosaur ancestors

A new study from the University of Maryland shows that...

Rising shipping traffic may lead to more widespread invasive species. As global shipping traffic increases over the next 30 years, so will the distribution of invasive species around the world. The findings of a study from <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University</a> suggest that the rising demand for shipping will promote the spread of non-native pests even more than the effects of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nyc-mayor-plans-climate-change/">climate change</a>. 

Study senior author Brian Leung is an associate professor in McGill's Department of Biology and School of Environment.

“Biological invasions are believed to be a major driver of biodiversity change, and cause billions of dollars in economic damages annually,” said Professor Leung. “Our models show that the emerging global shipping network could yield a three-fold to 20-fold increase in global marine invasion risk between now and 2050.”

Shipping accounts for 80 percent of world trade, as well as 60 to 90 percent of the introduction of exotic species into new territories. Ships often transport living organisms through ballast water, which is taken up to stabilize the boat. Creatures are also frequently transported after they attach themselves to the hulls of ships.

“To understand how biological invasions will change, we need to understand how shipping patterns could change,” said study lead author and graduate student Anthony Sardain. “Our study suggests that, unless appropriate action is taken, we could anticipate an exponential increase in such invasions, with potentially huge economic and ecological consequences.”

The researchers pointed out that the costs of biological invasions are being recognized and have led to major policy initiatives like the international Ballast Water Management Convention, which was introduced in 2017.

“While it's too early to gauge the efficacy of the Convention globally, our work suggests it is in the right direction,” said Professor Leung.

Using socioeconomic-growth scenarios developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the researchers created computer models to project the future rates of global shipping traffic. 

It is not entirely clear how wealth and populations will increase, which leads to uncertainty regarding the potential demand for products from abroad. Due to this uncertainty, the experts determined that the rate of biological invasion could increase by anywhere from 3 to 20 times the current rate. 

“Despite this large range, all scenarios point to an increase in both shipping and invasions,” said Sardain. “That should alert us to the gravity of the situation, and the importance of measures to curtail biological invasions.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain">Nature Sustainability</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Rising shipping traffic may lead to more widespread invasive species

Rising shipping traffic may lead to more widespread invasive species....

The digestive systems of some animals, including <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cows-antibiotic-resistant-superbugs/">cows</a>, sheep, antelopes, and deer, depend on gravity to sort out bits of food once they have reached the stomach. In order for this process to work, the stomach must stay in the same position relative to gravity whether the animal is standing up or lying down. 

This explains why cows always lie down on their chests and rarely ever lie down on their sides. With this in mind, experts at the <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html">University of Zurich</a> theorized that animals who digest their food in a different way would be more likely to lie on their sides. To investigate, the researchers observed 250 mammals resting in more than 30,000 positions. 

The study revealed that the team’s theory was not entirely true, as the body size of the animal was found to be a better predictor of resting position than digestion type. For example, small animals with short legs spend a lot of time lying on their chests.

[caption id="attachment_1870478" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/elephant-resting.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870478" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/elephant-resting.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="366" /></a> Elephant resting, Image Credit: Christian Schiffmann[/caption]

“The shorter the distance of the mid-body to the floor, the more likely the animals are to lie down," said Professor Marcus Clauss.

Bigger animals are more likely to lie completely on their sides, which is more comfortable for their larger legs. However,  large animals such as horses also tend to rest standing up.

Elephants were found to lie on their sides more often than any other herbivore. On the other hand, older elephants avoid lying down because they have a hard time getting back up.

“For that reason it's important that mounds of sand are available to elephants in zoos. If they are propped up slightly when lying down, even older animals can get up much more easily,” explained study co-author and elephant specialist Christian Schiffman.

[caption id="attachment_1870479" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/zebra-resting.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870479" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/zebra-resting.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="488" /></a> Zebras lie on their chest, Image Credit: Christian Schiffmann[/caption]

Hippos seem to remain flexible and continue to lie on their sides into old age. The kangaroo was the only animal observed in the study that occasionally rests on its back. 

The research is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jmammal">Journal of Mammalogy</a>.
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Christian Schiffmann

Body size influences the resting positions of most animals

The digestive systems of some animals, including cows, sheep, antelopes,...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.zsl.org/">Zoological Society of London</a> (ZSL) have discovered that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sharks-important-deserve-protections/">sharks</a> are much less likely to be found in coastal habitats close to human populations and fishing fleets, where they are frequently killed for their meat and fins. In addition, the team found that the average body size of sharks and other marine predators is dramatically reduced near coastal areas with more than 10,000 people. 

The study revealed that sharks needed a distance of at least 775 miles from cities and fish markets to escape the damaging effects of human activities. This is a much larger distance than previous estimates, which can likely be explained by the fact that fishing boats are now traveling farther. For this reason, the researchers only observed sharks in 12 percent of the monitoring sites. 

The experts noted that sea surface temperatures also had a strong influence on the average body size of marine predators, with a marked decrease at more than 82 degrees Fahrenheit, which may become an issue as global temperatures continue to rise.

"Human activity is now the biggest influence on sharks' distribution, overtaking every other ecological factor," said study lead author Dr. Tom Letessier. "Just 13% of the world's oceans can be considered 'wilderness' but sharks and other predators are much more common and significantly larger at distances greater than 1,250 kilometres from people. This suggests that large marine predators are generally unable to thrive near people and is another clear example of the impact of human overexploitation on our seas."

For the investigation, the researchers analyzed video footage recorded at more than 1,000 sites across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The sites varied in proximity to fish markets and human populations, with some closer to cities and others more than 900 miles away. Overall, 841 individual sharks from 19 different species were captured on film.  

"Our study also found that shallower water habitats, of depths less than 500 meters, were vital for marine predator diversity. We therefore need to identify sites that are both shallow and remote and prioritize them for conservation," said Dr. Letessier. 

"However, there are still numerous shallow hotspots in the vicinity of human markets that are not appropriately protected, and this must change. Existing large, no-take MPAs need to be better enforced and extended to focus on the last refuges where these extraordinary animals remain abundant."

"Large marine predators - and sharks in particular - play a unique and irreplaceable role in the ocean ecosystem. They control populations of prey species, keep those populations healthy by removing sick or injured animals, and transport nutrients between loosely connected habitats over vast distances."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/">PLOS Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Joost van Uffelen

Sharks are smaller and less abundant near large human populations

Researchers at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have discovered...

Listening to birds in nature found to be more calming than a meditation app. The results of a new study conducted by market research firm <a href="https://www.walnutunlimited.com/">Walnut Unlimited</a> suggest that experiencing <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/nature-boosts-health-well-being/">nature</a> is the best way to feel calm and relaxed. The researchers found that participants who listened to bird songs became more relaxed than those who listened to a meditation app.

The study was focused on 600 participants who reported on their stress levels before and after listening to a 60-second birdsong recording, listening to a popular meditation app, or before sitting in silence for a minute.

The researchers found that the number of people who were convincingly relaxed jumped by about 10 percent in the group that heard bird songs. By contrast, listening to meditation apps did not increase the number of participants who felt calm and relaxed. 

"Listening to the sounds of nature offers an opportunity to feel 'away' from everyday stresses and strains," said Dr. Eleanor Ratcliffe of the <a href="https://www.surrey.ac.uk/">University of Surrey</a>. "These sounds are also interesting and offer something for the mind to focus on without being overly stimulating."

"In addition, woodland sounds like songbirds and the rustle of leaves are pleasant and quiet, especially in comparison to many other sounds in urban areas such as traffic."

While the findings indicate that taking a walk in the woods is more relaxing than meditation, the meditation app was more effective in lowering stress and anxiety. For example, the stress rate dropped by 24 percent among those who listened to woodland sounds, but by 39 percent among those who listened to a meditation app.

In a previous study, experts found that meditation can lower blood pressure and help mitigate other risk factors associated with heart disease. 

"There is a large body of scientific evidence demonstrating that experience of nature can benefit health and wellbeing, including recovery from everyday psychological stress," said Dr. Ratcliffe.

"Much of this research has focused on visual experiences, but more recent work has shown that the sounds of the outdoors, such as birdsong, wind, and water, can also improve mood and reduce stress. These sounds offer a way to connect with nature no matter where you are."

In a follow-up survey by the <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/">National Trust</a>, about 20 percent of respondents said they never visited woodland, even though there are more than three million hectares of forest across the UK. Patrick Begg is the National Trust's Outdoors and Natural Resources Director.

"Sometimes a simple walk in woodlands, where you’re surrounded by the echoes of calling birds, and that satisfying crunch of fallen leaves and twigs underfoot, is the perfect remedy for reducing stress," said Begg.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/JaklZdenek

Listening to birds in nature found to be more calming than a meditation app

Listening to birds in nature found to be more calming...

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/homepage/">University of Bristol</a> and the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis</a> have found evidence to suggest that zebras developed their stripes to ward off blood-sucking parasites. Their work, published February 20th in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>, adds more information to the 150-year-old mystery — why do zebras have their stripes?

Theories as to why the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/stripes-zebras-cool-sun/">zebra</a> developed such a drastic pattern run the gamut. Some scientists believe that the stripes scare off predators. Others think they help the zebra regulate their heat. However, Professor Tim Caro, Dr. Martin How, and their colleagues have found that horse flies react differently to zebras than they do to regular horses.

The team studied horse fly behavior around captive zebras and domesticated horses at a livery in North Somerset via video analysis. They found that although the flies aren’t deterred by zebra stripes at a distance, they fail to slow down while approaching zebras, which is essential for landing.

"Horse flies just seem to fly over zebra stripes or bump into them, but this didn't happen with horses,” said Caro, a Honorary Research Fellow from the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/">University of Bristol School of Biological Sciences</a>. “Consequently, far fewer successful landings were experienced by zebras compared to horses."

"This reduced ability to land on the zebra's coat may be due to stripes disrupting the visual system of the horse flies during their final moments of approach,” said Dr. How, a Royal Society University Research Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences. "Stripes may dazzle flies in some way once they are close enough to see them with their low-resolution eyes."

The team also experimented with draping horses with zebra stripe-patterned sheets to ensure the zebra’s scent or behavior wasn’t what was tripping up the horse flies. They found that fewer flies landed on the horses when they were draped with zebra-striped livery than before.

Furthermore, zebras exhibited defensive and preventative behavior if and when flies landed on and bit them. The animals would run away and swish their tail at a much higher rate than horses do. Therefore, flies spent much less time feeding on zebras than they did horses.

These findings suggest that zebra-striped anti-fly wear may be beneficial for domesticated animals to wear to improve their health and wellbeing. 

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Zebras may have gotten their stripes as a defense against parasites

Researchers from the University of Bristol and the University of...

Poachers and loggers threaten biodiversity hot spot in Madagascar.  is a biodiversity hotspot and one of the last remaining major forests in the country of Madagascar.

Home to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lemurs-threatened-forest-fragmentation/">lemurs</a> and over 100 species of trees, Vohibola is not only a precious and vital resource, but it’s also under nearly constant threat from poachers who are chopping down trees and capturing wild lemurs from their nests.

The lemurs are caught for food or sold as an exotic pet. 

Lemurs are unique to Madagascar and some small neighboring islands. Madagascar’s isolated location off the eastern coast of Southern Africa has allowed for the evolution of some of nature’s most interesting species that can only be found on the island. Poachers and loggers threaten biodiversity hot spot in Madagascar 

Unfortunately, many of these species, including 105 out of 111 recorded lemur species, are endangered and could soon go extinct, according to a new report from the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6945995/Poachers-threaten-precious-Madagascar-forest-lemurs.html">Daily Mail</a>.

Trees are being cleared for charcoal or to remove possible escape routes for lemurs but curbing illegal poaching in Vohibola amounts to a nearly herculean task. 

“In this forest, there are at least 20 indigenous animal species, including six types of lemur, and 150 species of tree,” Michael Tovolahy, a ranger tasked with patrolling Vohibola to track poachers, told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6945995/Poachers-threaten-precious-Madagascar-forest-lemurs.html">Daily Mail</a>. “Because of these logger-poachers, I fear that this forest will one day be no more  it will be just an empty space, where developers will grow walls of concrete.” 

Madagascar is working to promote awareness about poaching, illegal logging, and animal trafficking, but for many poor villages, conservation concerns are outweighed by the dire need for charcoal. 

Poachers also come with a reputation, and many locals fear reporting poaching activity. 

“It's the villagers themselves who tip off the poachers that the police are coming,” said Cecilien Ranaivo, the mayor of the Ambinaninony district in Madagascar. “So obviously they don't succeed in making many arrests.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Poachers and loggers threaten biodiversity hot spot in Madagascar

Poachers and loggers threaten biodiversity hot spot in Madagascar.  is...

Exposure to air pollution may cause lower sperm production in mice, a new study has found.

And if air pollution is affecting sperm in mice, it may be affecting other species as well, according to scientists who worked on the study.

"Infertility rates are increasing around the world, and air pollution may be one of the main factors," lead researcher Dr. Elaine Maria Frade Costa of <a href="https://www5.usp.br/">Sao Paulo University</a> said in a press release.

About 15 percent of the world’s population – men and women alike – struggle with infertility, according to the <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a>. That rate is higher in developing countries.

“One in every four couples in developing countries had been found to be affected by infertility, when an evaluation of responses from women in Demographic and Health Surveys from 1990 was completed in collaboration with WHO in 2004,” the organization states on its website.

Costa and her team suspected pollution played a role, specifically by lowering sperm production. 

So they studied four groups of mice. One was exposed to air pollution containing high levels of particulate matter – soot, smoke, dust, pollen and more – both before and after birth, all the way to adulthood. The second group was exposed to pollution during gestation, but not after birth; the third was exposed after birth to adulthood, and the fourth was only exposed to filtered air.

Then, the researchers examined the animals’ testes, including DNA analysis of the sperm.

The sperm production of all three groups exposed to pollution showed damage, compared to the control group that only breathed filtered air. 

The damage was found to be epigenetic – that is, not caused by the animals’ DNA, but by environmental factors.

The study is concerning, especially in areas with high levels of air pollution.

"These findings provide more evidence that governments need to implement public policies to control air pollution in big cities," she said.

The study will be presented Monday in New Orleans at <a href="https://www.endocrine.org/endo2019">ENDO 2019</a>, the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.endocrine.org/">Endocrine Society</a>.

—
By <a href="mailto:kyla.cathey@gmail.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Air pollution linked to lower sperm production

Exposure to air pollution may cause lower sperm production in...

The popular tourist destination of Santorini, Greece is iconic for its striking, stark white buildings scaling up the mountainside. Tourists visiting the island often jump on the opportunity to have donkeys transport them up and down the steep slopes. But now, the “In Their Hooves” <a href="https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/what-we-do/issues/donkeys-in-tourism-and-leisure/in-their-hooves">campaign</a> is urging tourists to think before they support this practice.

Local merchants sell donkey rides to help carry passengers and their luggage from the island’s port to its capital, some<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/02/tourists-avoid-riding-donkeys-santorini-steps"> 600 steep steps up</a>. Working donkeys are at risk of spinal injuries, sores and exhaustion, but as prey animals, they naturally hide signs of distress. Heartbreaking online videos have shown the donkeys working with open wounds, struggling to carry heavy loads and being beaten by their handlers.

With around <a href="https://news.gtp.gr/2018/10/29/thira-mayor-santorini-365-day-tourism-destination/">two million visitors a year</a>, there is no shortage of demand for the donkey rides. The donkeys often work twelve hour days, making four to five trips up the stairs, according to<a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/tourists-are-injuring-santorinis-overworked-donkeys"> local animal advocates.</a>

When the donkeys become too old to continue working, they may be abandoned, killed or even pushed off the cliff, <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/996150/donkeys-crippled-heavyweight-tourists-Greece-Santorini-nature-animals-holiday-health">local animal advocates</a> say.

This is why the campaign, launched by the local government, animal welfare group The Donkey Sanctuary and Cruise Line International Association, asks travelers to put themselves in the hooves of the estimated 360 donkeys lugging tourists and their bags up and down the island without access to water or shade.

[caption id="attachment_1870999" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/donkey-taxi.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870999" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/donkey-taxi.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="432" /></a> Donkeys carry tourists up the steep steps of Santorini, Image Credit: Marco Bicci/Shutterstock[/caption]

The campaign pinpoints a problem that has existed for years in animal tourism and entertainment. Well-meaning people visit and partake in animal attractions because they love animals or want to enjoy a fun experience but they often fail to consider the welfare of the animals who are entertaining them. By asking tourists to think “in their hooves”, the campaign is driving people to empathize with the animals.

Slowly, the public’s view of animals has been moving this way in recent years. While people used to happily visit <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/scotland-bans-animals-circuses/">circuses</a>, orca shows and roadside zoos without any ethical qualms, many are now questioning the effect these attractions have on animal welfare.

The Santorini donkeys have benefited from this recent change in mindset. In 2018, photos of overweight tourists riding donkeys caused international backlash. In response, Santorini passed a law prohibiting animals from carrying any load exceeding one-fifth of their body weight and requiring animals be provided with food, water and shade. Additionally, cruise liners joined the “In Their Hooves” campaign after hearing from multiple passengers who were upset by the condition of the donkeys, The Guardian<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/02/tourists-avoid-riding-donkeys-santorini-steps"> reports</a>.

The “In Your Hooves” campaign asks tourists to be on the lookout for signs of poor welfare such as lack of shelter and water, abusive handling practices and open wounds. But the layman may not always be able to recognize animal abuse.

The most concrete way a tourist can ensure they are not supporting an exploitative animal attraction is to simply refuse the attraction. As the campaign states, “If you have doubts about any of these questions and still use a donkey then you could be contributing to the animal’s suffering.”

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Main Image Credit: Oleg Voronische/Shutterstock

Campaign urges tourists to think before supporting donkey taxi rides

The popular tourist destination of Santorini, Greece is iconic for...

3D images of a 335-million-year-old <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-adapted-changing-world/">shark</a> fossil still encased in rock show that some ancient sharks were suction feeders like modern day bass, perch, and nurse sharks.

Researchers from the<a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/"> University of Chicago</a> used CT scans to analyze an ancient shark fossil for the first time in a new study. 

The researchers found that the shark was capable of suction feeding, and the age of the fossil is 50 million years older than some of the earliest suction feeding bony fish ever discovered. 

“Among today’s aquatic vertebrates, suction feeding is widespread, and is often cited as a key factor contributing to the spectacular evolutionary success of ray-finned fishes,” said Michael Coates, Ph.D., the senior author of the new study. “But here we show that high-performance aquatic suction feeding first appeared in one of the earliest known sharks.”

Shark fossils are few and far between since shark skeletons are made up of cartilage which rots before it can be fossilized. 

Occasionally, shark teeth or fin spines will show up in the fossil record or researchers will discover a complete skeleton encased in rock. 

With this study, the researchers worked with one such enclosed specimen. The fossil belonged to the species Tristychius arcuatus, which was first discovered in 1837. 

The researchers used CT scanning to create 3D images of the fossilized cartilage within the rock which provided an inside look at the fossil without potentially damaging the specimen by breaking open the rock. 

Modeling software was then used to show how the jaws of the fossil relate to modern fish. The researchers were able to model a complete skeleton of the fossil revealing important information about the ancient species. 

“These new CT methods are releasing a motherlode of previously inaccessible data,” Coates said. “We realized that when we got all the parts out [virtually], we had the complete construction kit to rebuild our shark in 3D.”

Tristychius had jaws capable of suction feeding and was able to filter in water and food thanks to a set of cartileges that expanded and contracted to control suction. Its mouth was pushed forward like today’s nurse sharks.

This specialized feeding apparatus gave the species an edge over other toothier ancient sharks that roamed the ocean alongside Tristychius as suction feeding allowed the shark to feed on prey that its competitors could not.

“The combination of both physical and computational models has allowed us to explore the biomechanics in a Paleozoic shark in a way that’s never been done before,” Coates said. “Here we have the earliest evidence of this key innovation that’s been so important for multiple groups of fishes and has evolved repeatedly.”

The researchers published their findings in the journal Science Advances. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Kristen Tietjen, UChicago

What did ancient sharks feed on when there were few fish in the sea?

3D images of a 335-million-year-old shark fossil still encased in...

Edible insects set to become an $8 billion industry in the next few years. A growing collection of research has shown that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/edible-insects-grasshoppers-antioxidants/">insects</a> have enormous potential to provide protein and other important nutrients as a sustainable food source. Identifying alternative protein sources is more important now than ever before, as the global food supply faces the challenge of feeding a booming human population while also being severely threatened by climate change. 

Researchers and industry leaders are exploring the use of insects for both human consumption and as feed for livestock. Some regions of the world have embraced the idea of edible insects for a long time, while other regions are coming around more slowly. 

The latest studies on insect agriculture have been published in a new issue of the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aesa">Annals of the Entomological Society of America</a>. Dr. Jeffery Tomberlin is a professor of Entomology at Texas A&amp;M University who specializes in the study of black soldier flies. He also served as co-lead editor for the journal's special research collection, which highlights the diversity of the entomophagy movement. 

"I am thrilled to see the development of this new sector in agriculture," said Dr. Tomberlin says. "While the industry is less than 20 years old as related to mass production, its value is expected to exceed $8 billion within the next few years. In fact, I would not be surprised to see the industry increase in value beyond $50-100 billion by 2050. I truly believe this industry will not only bolster the global ag sector but also protect the environment while creating jobs and saving lives."

In one of the featured studies, "The Cultural Importance of Edible Insects in Oaxaca, Mexico," a team of experts from San Diego State University traveled to rural and urban areas of Oaxaca to investigate various edible insect practices. 

"In rural communities where access to other animal-based foods has been limited, insects provided important nutritional value that today also translates into important economic value," wrote the researchers.

"Community members know the habits of the insects and are skilled at collecting them using sophisticated techniques."

The study authors found that the importance of edible insects in Oaxacan cuisine "cannot be overestimated."

"Chapulines, chicatanas, and maguey worms are key ingredients in many spice mixes, salsas, and mole sauces. Cochineal is used as a food colorant. These insects are also found in a variety of foods, both sweet and savory, including omelets, tamales, quesadillas, chocolate truffles, and sorbets. As evidenced by the culinary uses of insects in Oaxaca, there is substantial potential for edible insects to become a delicacy in Western cultures."

The special collection published in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America is called "Insects as Food and Feed."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org

Edible insects set to become an $8 billion industry in the next few years

Edible insects set to become an $8 billion industry in...

A team of researchers at <a href="http://www.auburn.edu/">Auburn University</a> has found that domestic cats who spend time outdoors are three times more likely to pick up contagious diseases compared to indoor-only cats. The study has also revealed that this risk is increased in countries at higher latitudes, where there are higher rates of parasites among wildlife.

Some infections that lead to disease, such as the parasite Toxoplasma Gondii, can even affect pet owners. This particular parasite has been linked to schizophrenia and depression in humans. In addition, outdoor cats are more likely to acquire roundworms, which can cause fever, stomach pain, and seizures if transmitted to children. 

According to the researchers, restricting the movement of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/cats-recognize-name/">cats</a> outdoors is also necessary for protecting the wildlife that they may come into contact with. They added that kittens should be particularly monitored due to the fact they are more susceptible to infection. 


The investigation into the infection risk among outdoor cats was focused on 19 different pathogens. After conducting a review of 21 other scientific studies, the team found that outdoor cats are 2.77 times as likely as indoor-only cats to be infected with pathogens.

According to the research, bacterial or viral infections are all likely to develop into illnesses in cats regardless of whether they were obtained through touch, saliva, or from the air.

“Outdoor access is a significant risk factor for parasitic infection in pet cats,” wrote the study authors. “Cats are common as pets around the world with an estimated 89 - 90 million in the USA alone.”

“While we do not necessarily advocate that all domestic animals be restricted indoors, determining routes and risk factors of transmission with respect to environmental contact may be useful in mitigating parasitic infection in domestic animals.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsbl">Biology Letters</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Outdoor cats are 3 times more likely to carry infections that cause disease

A team of researchers at Auburn University has found that...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



---



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="qas3EhyI0Y-2220951-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

News coming your way