Coral reefs are in trouble. As oceans warm and environments shift, the vibrant ecosystems built by corals are turning pale and dying off. 



While scientists have known for years that coral bleaching is linked to the loss of symbiotic algae, they’ve never been able to watch the process unfold at the cellular level in realtime - until now.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underwater-microscope-for-studying-coral">Underwater microscope for studying coral</h2>



Researchers at the <a href="https://scripps.ucsd.edu/">Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego</a> have created a handheld underwater microscope. The device makes it possible to study coral photosynthesis right where it happens - in the ocean, inside living coral tissue - without causing any damage.



The team named the device the Benthic Underwater Microscope imaging PAM - BUMP, for short.



The Jaffe Lab for Underwater Imaging at Scripps Oceanography built the microscope with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation.



The tool combines imaging with a light-based technique known as pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry to measure how efficiently tiny algae inside corals are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-fate-of-coral-reefs-lies-in-the-hands-of-their-tiny-inhabitants/">photosynthesizing</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coral-depends-on-glowing-algae">Coral depends on glowing algae</h2>



The algae, called <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/symbiosis-will-help-some-corals-survive-in-a-warming-world/">symbionts</a>, are essential for coral survival. They live within coral tissue and convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into sugars and oxygen.



The coral, in turn, uses that energy to grow and build reefs. But when stressed by warming seas or pollution, corals eject these algae. Without them, corals appear white and slowly starve - known as the bleaching effect.



The BUMP microscope makes it possible to monitor this relationship in real-time and in natural environments - something that couldn’t be done before.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-huge-technological-leap">A huge technological leap</h2>



“This microscope is a huge technological leap in the field of coral health assessment,” said study lead author Or Ben-Zvi, a postdoctoral researcher at Scripps Oceanography. 



“Coral reefs are rapidly declining, losing their photosynthetic symbiotic algae in the process known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-worlds-largest-coral-bleaching-event-is-now-underway/">coral bleaching</a>."



"We now have a tool that allows us to examine these microalgae within the coral tissue, noninvasively and in their natural environment.”



The microscope is small enough to fit in a carry-on suitcase. It’s light enough for a diver to bring to the seafloor without a ship’s help. 



Controlled with a touchscreen and powered by a battery pack, the microscope uses focused LED lights and high-magnification lenses to capture vivid images and videos. It also creates detailed 3D scans and maps photosynthesis in high resolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microscope-reveals-corals-inner-glow">Microscope reveals corals’ inner glow</h2>



At just 10 micrometers wide - one-tenth the width of a human hair - coral symbionts are invisible to the naked eye. But when corals are viewed under the microscope, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-algae-genes-chlorophyll-boost-crop-yields-land-plants/">algae</a> glow red due to chlorophyll, the pigment that powers <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/">photosynthesis</a>. 



PAM technology measures this glow to calculate how efficiently the algae are converting light into energy. Other glowing areas, like cyan and green patches, come from fluorescent proteins that the coral produces, often around its mouth and tentacles. 



The images help researchers “see” coral health without touching or harming them. "We get a lot of information about their health without the need to interrupt nature,” said Ben-Zvi. 



“It's similar to a nurse who takes your pulse and tells you how well you're doing. We're checking the coral's pulse without giving them a shot or doing an intrusive procedure on them.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-observing-corals-at-unseen-scales">Observing corals at unseen scales</h2>



Ben-Zvi and her colleagues tested the microscope at coral hotspots around the world - including Hawaii, the Red Sea, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-reefs-in-some-parts-of-the-world-actually-benefit-from-warming-el-nino-events/">Palmyra Atoll</a> - in collaboration with the Smith Lab at Scripps Oceanography. 



What they saw surprised them. Corals weren’t passive. They moved constantly, changing shape, reacting to particles, and even behaving in ways that looked like fighting or kissing.



Ben-Zvi observed coral polyps contracting their tentacles, possibly trying to remove or capture something floating by.



“The more time we spend with this microscope, the more we hope to learn about corals and why they do what they do under certain conditions,” she said. 



“We are visualizing photosynthesis, something that was previously unseen at the scales we are examining, and that feels like magic.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-detection-of-coral-stress">Early detection of coral stress</h2>



Corals face serious threats from climate change, and once bleaching begins, it can be hard to stop. But this microscope might help researchers catch problems earlier.



“The microscope facilitates previously unavailable, underwater observations of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-grazing-halos-and-parrotfish-reveal-about-coral-reef-health/">coral health</a>, a breakthrough made possible thanks to the National Science Foundation and its critical investment in technology development,” said Jules Jaffe, a research oceanographer at Scripps and co-author of the study. 



Without continued federal funding, scientific research is at risk. In this case, however, support from <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">NSF</a> enabled the team to build a device that helps solve the physiological mystery of coral bleaching and, ultimately, inform efforts to reverse it.



By detecting signs of stress before the coral reaches the tipping point, the researchers hope to create better strategies for protecting reefs from events like marine heatwaves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-studying-kelp-and-ocean-algae">Studying kelp and ocean algae</h2>



The potential doesn’t stop with corals. Scientists at Scripps Oceanography are already using the BUMP microscope to study other tiny marine life that rely on photosynthesis, including baby kelp off the coast of California.



“Since photosynthesis in the ocean is important for life on earth, a host of other applications are imaginable with this tool, including right here off the coast of San Diego,” said Jaffe.



In short, the BUMP microscope gives scientists something they’ve never had before: a new way to look at life underwater - close up, in motion, and alive. And with this new perspective, scientists are hoping to find better ways to protect some of the most fragile ecosystems on the planet.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/2041-210X.70078">Methods in Ecology and Evolution</a>.



About the image: The photo features the coral&nbsp;Stylophora pistillata&nbsp;taken with the new micrsope, BUMP. Each polyp has a mouth and a set of tentacles, and the red dots are individual microalgae residing inside the coral tissue. Credit: Or Ben-Zvi



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Microscope reveals coral health in unprecedented detail

Coral reefs are in trouble. As oceans warm and environments shift, the vibrant ecosystems built by corals are turning pale and dying off. While scientists have known for years that coral bleaching is linked to the loss of symbiotic algae, they’ve never been able to watch the process unfold at the cellular level in realtime - until now. Underwater microscope for studying coral Researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego have created a handheld underwater microscope. The device makes it possible to study...

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...

New research from the <a href="https://international.univ-rennes1.fr/welcome-universite-de-rennes-1">The University of Rennes</a> shows that dogs can sniff out impending epileptic seizures. Evidence shows that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dogs-adopt-same-personality-owners/">dogs</a> are able to detect a scent given off by epileptic human breath pre- and mid-seizure.

When exposed to odors collected during an epileptic episode, trained dogs were able to detect the scents from patients up to 100% of the time.

In order to test the theory that a specific scent is emitted by epileptic patients just before and during a seizure, scientists collected breath samples from five epileptic participants. 

One sample was collected mid-seizure, and another was collected while the participant was engaged in a calm activity. Participant sweat was also collected during both activities.

Then, these odors were “canned” and exposed to trained dogs that have the ability to sniff out cancer and diabetes. In the test, one out of every seven cans contained said odor, and out of nine tests, the dogs identified the correct can between 67% and 100% of the time. 

Although more research is needed to figure out the exact chemical that’s released via breath during a seizure, researchers hope that this current discovery will help epilepsy patients seek safe spaces — either with the help of trained dogs or “e-noses.”

“We know dogs can predict seizures, which is why Support Dogs train them,” said a spokesperson for <a href="https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/">Epilepsy Action</a>, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Advances</a>. “We still don't know whether they do that by smell or some other sense. So this research is interesting and could be a next step in understanding how dogs can further support people living with uncontrolled epilepsy.”

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dogs can detect impending epileptic seizures

New research from the The University of Rennes shows that...

Researchers from <a href="http://www.anu.edu.au/">The Australian National University</a> have found that a serious fungal disease is responsible for the population drop of over 500 amphibian species, including 90 <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fossils-link-mysterious-amphibians/">amphibian</a> extinctions within the last five decades. The study is published in <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

Called chytridiomycosis, the fungal infection eats away at amphibians’ skin. It’s posited to be responsible for the largest loss of biodiversity due to a disease and has been found in over 60 countries. Amphibians located in Australia, Central America and South America have suffered the brunt of the infection.

"The disease is caused by chytrid fungus, which likely originated in Asia where local amphibians appear to have resistance to the disease," said lead researcher Dr. Ben Scheele from the <a href="https://fennerschool.anu.edu.au/">ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society</a>. "[Chytridiomycosis] has caused mass amphibian extinctions worldwide. We've lost some really amazing species."

In Australia, more than 40 frog species have declined during the last 30 years due to chytridiomycosis. Seven of those species have gone extinct, Dr. Scheele notes.

"Globalisation and wildlife trade are the main causes of this global pandemic and are enabling the spread of disease to continue," he said. "Humans are moving plants and animals around the world at an increasingly rapid rate, introducing pathogens into new areas."

And because chytridiomycosis is so hard to remove from an area, mostly because some species can live with it and therefore carry it, once it affects a single population, it’s only a matter of time before another amphibian species catches it.

Improved biosecurity and wildlife trade regulation are a must in order to thwart the disease from spreading further, and to prevent other diseases from taking hold. "We've got to do everything possible to stop future pandemics, by having better control over wildlife trade around the world,” Dr. Scheele said.

Furthermore, knowing what species are at risk for catching the fungal disease can aid future conservation efforts to better protect these amphibians from extinction.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Aldemar Acevedo Rincon

Fungal disease caused global amphibian mass extinction

Researchers from The Australian National University have found that a...

The harmful relationship between sea turtles and light pollution has emerged as an important consideration in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/baby-sea-turtles-dying-plastic/">sea turtle</a> conservation. What is less known is the relationship between sea turtles and the tourists who visit them, and subsequently encourage increased development along pristine shorelines.

Light is an important navigation tool for sea turtles. But human interference through artificial light threatens to distort sea turtles’ ability to navigate and survive.

When newborn sea turtles first hatch on the beach they will stay beneath the sand and wait to emerge until nighttime after the temperature has cooled down, according to the<a href="https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/threats/artificial-lighting/"> Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission</a>.

Hatchlings will instinctively move towards the brightest area, which would naturally be the ocean, glowing from the reflection of the night sky. In an era of rapid human expansion, this is often not the case. Turtles may mistakenly follow the light shining from street lights and buildings where they are at an increased risk of mortality from fatigue, predation, dehydration, and collision with vehicles.

Light pollution may also impact mother sea turtles as they attempt to nest. In 2014, a<a href="https://conserveturtles.org/lights-out-for-sea-turtles/"> loggerhead turtle</a> looking to nest became disoriented by lights from a nearby condo and wandering into a street where she was struck and killed by a vehicle. Mothers may also refuse to nest on beaches where there are high levels of light pollution making it more difficult for her to successfully nest.

Similar to the glow of artificial lights, the scale of this problem is wide-reaching. It is<a href="https://www.darksky.org/our-work/sea-turtle-conservation/"> estimated</a> that millions of sea turtle hatchlings die as a result of light pollution every year in Florida alone. Sea turtles are considered among the<a href="https://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2007/seaturtles2.pdf"> world’s most imperiled wildlife</a> and six of the seven species are at risk of extinction.

Despite the dire state of the world’s sea turtles, light pollution is becoming increasingly more prevalent. A 2019<a href="https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acv.12480"> study</a> found that less than one-third of the world’s Key Biodiversity Areas have completely pristine night skies and around one-half lie entirely under artificially bright skies.

Light pollution may be especially exacerbated near coastal destinations where tourists flock to visit sea turtles in person. Although many tourists likely visit sea turtles for altruistic reasons, the boom of this industry encourages increased development along shorelines. With urbanization comes lights from hotels, condos, restaurants, street lights and vehicles.

Compounding the issue further is the fact that many sea turtles hatch during the peak tourist season of summer and early fall.

Researchers examining the effect of tourism on sea turtle conservation on the island of Sal, Cape Verde Islands<a href="http://193.136.21.50/bitstream/10961/1547/1/Taylor%20%26%20Cozens%20Tourism-Turtles%20Sal.pdf"> found</a> a marked increase in the percentage of nests that needed to be moved each year due to light pollution. At one popular tourist spot, all of the sea turtle nests needed to be moved for two consecutive years.

In the United States, sea turtle tourism is prevalent in Florida, the home to<a href="https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-threats-artificial-lighting/"> over 90%</a> of all sea turtle nesting in the continental United States and the largest population of loggerheads in the Western Hemisphere.

As an ecologically significant sea turtle hot-spot, the government and conservation groups have worked to control the state’s light pollution. These programs look to use the latest technology to mitigate the glow of artificial lights or simply encourage private properties to use less light altogether. To date,<a href="https://f50006a.eos-intl.net/ELIBSQL12_F50006A_Documents/TR-2Rev2.pdf"> at least 82 municipalities</a> in Florida have adopted lighting ordinances to regulate artificial lighting.

<a href="https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rse2.12">Research</a> shows that these conservation initiatives have successfully reduced light pollution on beaches despite Florida’s expanding coastal development.

Mitigating light pollution can be an opportunity for the tourism sector to attract eco-conscious travelers and create a cozy and intimate environment by using soft lighting and candles at night.

Tourists can help encourage sustainable tourism by enquiring about light pollution before booking a stay at a coastal hotel. Additionally, local governments should not wait on private businesses to address light pollution and should designate priority areas for sea turtle conservation and adopt lighting ordinances.

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Tourism can worsen deadly light pollution in sea turtle habitats

The harmful relationship between sea turtles and light pollution has...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epa-plan-mercury-emissions/">Mercury contamination</a> has spread to peregrine falcons both in the United States and worldwide, according to new research.

Joe Barnes, a <a href="http://www.ndow.org/">Nevada Department of Wildlife</a> biologist, has spent the past decade testing peregrines for mercury contamination in Nevada, Washington, Maryland, and along the Gulf Coast of Texas.

So far, over 700 birds have been tested by Barnes, and every single one showed signs of mercury contamination.

At Lake Mead in Nevada, adult peregrines had mercury levels of 17 parts per million, and along the west coast of Washington state, peregrines had mercury levels of 23 parts per million.

Falcons that typically migrate from remote regions like Greenland or Alaska still contained lower levels of mercury in their feathers despite being far away from cities and pollution.

“Every single one of them was impacted, regardless of whether they live in wide-open desert or Lake Mead or Greenland or coastal British Columbia,” Barnes told the <a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/peregrine-falcons-act-as-mercury-bellwether-nevada-study-shows-1640798/">Las Vegas Review-Journal</a>.

Barnes published his latest findings in a new study in the Journal of Raptor Research.

Trapping falcons to test their feathers for mercury levels is not an easy feat, and Barnes has to use live pigeons to snare one of nature’s fastest predators. Barnes also analyzes feathers left behind in falcon nests from a meal.

Peregrines are raptors and ingest mercury through their prey which includes almost anything that flies. According to Barnes, they are one of the most impacted species when it comes to mercury contamination.

Mercury is a naturally occurring heavy metal, but industrial operations have increased mercury pollution drastically over the years.

The widespread contamination of mercury in peregrines is especially problematic because mercury levels between five and 15 parts per million have been shown to impact breeding.

So far, peregrine populations seem unaffected by mercury contamination but continued monitoring and reducing mercury exposure is necessary for future ecosystem health.

“Mercury pollution is a global issue, and even low levels of exposure can impact human and wildlife health,” Ryan Bourbour, a biologist at the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis</a>, told the <a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/peregrine-falcons-act-as-mercury-bellwether-nevada-study-shows-1640798/">Las Vegas Review-Journal</a>.  “So assessing exposure levels in top predators, such as peregrine falcons, can help us biomonitor mercury pollution trends, which may have conservation implications and even human health implications.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Peregrine falcons from both coasts found contaminated with mercury

Mercury contamination has spread to peregrine falcons both in the...

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?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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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

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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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

[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"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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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

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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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