In the natural world, family often defines survival strategies. Across species, cooperation among relatives has evolved into a powerful tool to ensure success in challenging environments. Yet few creatures embody this principle so intricately as the long-tailed tit.



Found flitting through British gardens, these small birds reveal extraordinary loyalty to their kin. Far from fleeting connections, long-tailed tits show unwavering commitment to family, even during the upheaval of migration. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cooperation-in-animal-societies">Cooperation in animal societies</h2>



Recent research from the <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sheffield</a> brings the hidden social lives of long-tailed tits into sharp focus, offering new insights into how cooperation shapes animal societies.



Decades of careful observation and rigorous analysis culminated in a study that redefines what we know about the evolution of social behaviors. 



Through the lives of these tiny <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-adapt-their-survival-strategies-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a>, we glimpse powerful lessons about kinship, resilience, and the surprising complexity of animal communities.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-tailed-tits-stay-loyal-to-family">Long-tailed tits stay loyal to family</h2>



The study, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, draws on an extraordinary 30-year dataset. It confirms that long-tailed tits retain strong family bonds throughout migratory movements - a phenomenon never before documented so consistently in cooperative <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-brains-and-wide-ranges-cant-save-birds-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a>.



Long-tailed tits migrate not as isolated individuals but as tightly knit family units. This behavior ensures that when they arrive at new locations, they are surrounded by familiar, trusted kin ready to support each other.



"This 30-year study is unique in its depth and has allowed us to understand the evolution of cooperation in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. The discovery of family ties persisting through migration is particularly exciting," noted Dr. Jennifer Morinay, co-lead author of the research.



"These tiny <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-evolution-timeline-pushed-back-20-million-years-by-baminornis-zhenghensis-discovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> essentially travel with their support network, ensuring that when they reach their new location, they have their kin ready to assist. It highlights the profound importance of family in their social structure."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-groups-survive-together">Family groups survive together</h2>



The research identifies several intertwined processes that create and sustain these family structures. Limited natal dispersal ensures many young birds settle close to their birthplace. Even when they do move, long-tailed tits often migrate alongside their siblings, keeping family bonds intact across vast distances.



At the same time, environmental pressures, particularly high predation rates, play a significant role. Frequent nest failures result in clusters of surviving families, making the presence of close kin nearby more likely. Together, these ecological and demographic factors form what scientists term "kin neighborhoods."



Incredibly, even migratory long-tailed tits, such as those studied in Estonia, preserve these ties during long journeys. Studies found that 82% of migratory flocks included at least one first-order relative. These findings challenge longstanding assumptions that migration disrupts social cohesion among birds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-roots-of-helping-behavior">Evolutionary roots of helping behavior</h2>



Long-tailed tits do not only stick close to their families; they actively help them. When breeding attempts fail, many individuals redirect their efforts to assist <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-birds-are-at-great-risk-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">relatives</a> raising broods. This redirected helping strengthens the survival chances of their kin’s offspring, ultimately boosting their own inclusive fitness.



"The push and pull between cooperation and competition is something we readily recognize in our own lives. This study demonstrates that these same fundamental tensions are at play in the social dynamics of long-tailed tits and likely many other species," noted Professor Ben Hatchwell, co-lead author of the study.



"Our long-term research provides significant insights into the ecological and social conditions that favour cooperative behaviour and the evolutionary forces that sculpt these intricate social interactions."



Helping decisions are not random acts of kindness. They are influenced by various factors including the bird’s own breeding success, its relatedness to nearby individuals, and the strength of prior social bonds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mistakes-in-kin-recognition">Mistakes in kin recognition</h2>



Despite their strong social instincts, long-tailed tits sometimes help unrelated individuals. 



About 30% of helpers were found assisting nests of non-kin. Scientists believe this stems from errors in kin recognition rather than a deliberate choice.



The birds rely heavily on learned acoustic cues to identify relatives. Calls learned during the nestling stage help them recognize kin, but these vocal cues are not always completely reliable. Studies show overlap in call similarities between kin and non-kin, leading to occasional misdirected care.



Efforts are ongoing to determine whether other cues, such as olfactory signals, also influence how long-tailed tits recognize their family and make crucial helping decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environment-shapes-cooperation">Environment shapes cooperation</h2>



The study also shows how environmental pressures influence the rates of cooperation. Moderate levels of nest predation foster the highest levels of helping behaviour. 



If predation is too low, there are fewer failed breeders needing alternative strategies. If too high, there are simply fewer successful nests available to help.



Shorter breeding seasons similarly encourage cooperation. With less time to attempt new broods after failure, many birds abandon independent breeding and instead opt to help their kin.



Interestingly, overall population density did not seem to impact cooperation rates, suggesting that the quality of family connections matters more than simple numbers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-choosing-where-to-live">Choosing where to live</h2>



Where a bird chooses to settle has long-term fitness consequences. Males who stay close to their natal territory accrue higher indirect fitness by helping relatives. Conversely, males who disperse far have fewer opportunities to help and lower overall inclusive fitness.



Females experience a different dynamic. Those who disperse farther tend to achieve slightly better direct reproductive success, likely because dispersal reduces inbreeding risks.



These differing pressures create a fascinating tug-of-war, shaping dispersal behaviours across generations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-ties-of-long-tailed-tits">Family ties of long-tailed tits </h2>



Perhaps the most striking revelation is that migration, once believed to hinder the evolution of cooperation, does not necessarily break social bonds. Long-tailed tits maintain their family ties even after traveling hundreds of kilometres.



This finding challenges traditional theories and highlights the incredible flexibility of social strategies in the natural world. Stable territorial groups are not the only route to successful cooperation. 



Dynamic, migratory species can also evolve and sustain sophisticated social systems based on family loyalty.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-long-tailed-tits-recognize-family">How do long-tailed tits recognize family?</h2>



Looking ahead, the researchers aim to untangle the specific mechanisms that allow long-tailed tits to recognize and remember their kin.



Current efforts focus on understanding the role of calls, scents, and social associations built during early life stages. Scientists are investigating whether maintaining winter flock associations with relatives influences recognition in later breeding seasons.



These studies promise to deepen our understanding of how cooperation, kinship, and social cognition evolve across species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-birds-with-mighty-hearts">Tiny birds with mighty hearts</h2>



Through the lives of long-tailed tits, we see how powerful, enduring, and flexible family bonds can be, even in a world full of risks and change.



The study from Sheffield shows that nature’s loyalty is not reserved for mammals or large social species alone. In every tiny flutter of a long-tailed tit’s wing, there lies a rich story of kinship, survival, and the enduring power of cooperation.



The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2656.14237" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Animal Ecology</a>. 



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Long-tailed tits migrate in family units and maintain lasting bonds

In the natural world, family often defines survival strategies. Across species, cooperation among relatives has evolved into a powerful tool to ensure success in challenging environments. Yet few creatures embody this principle so intricately as the long-tailed tit. Found flitting through British gardens, these small birds reveal extraordinary loyalty to their kin. Far from fleeting connections, long-tailed tits show unwavering commitment to family, even during the upheaval of migration. Cooperation in animal societies Recent research from the University of Sheffield brings the hidden social lives of long-tailed...

Giant water bugs are fierce and fearless predators. Sharks, killer whales, leopard seals, and crocodiles are just a few of the fiercest aquatic predators known to exist, but a new study shows that giant water bugs also deserve a spot at the top of the list.

You would be hard pressed to find an aquatic insect more aggressive than giant water bugs, which have been known to go after ducks, fish, snakes, and even turtles. 

A new study published in the journal Entomological Science compiles decades of research on water bugs. 

The research was conducted by Shin-ya Ohba from <a href="http://www.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/en/">Nagasaki University</a>, and the study provides a comprehensive view of the insects and insight into their ecology and hunting strategies.

There are 150 known species of giant water bug, and one thing all giant water bugs have in common is their fearlessness. Giant water bugs are fierce and fearless predators

Some giant water bugs can take down prey ten times its size, and the bugs are able to perch on aquatic plants, blending into the background and waiting for a fish or snake to come across its path. 

“They just take up a position holding onto a plant in the water, and anything that moves in front of them, they’ll grab it and try to eat it,” Charles Swart, a senior lecturer at<a href="https://www.trincoll.edu/"> Trinity College</a> who has studied giant water bugs but was not involved in the study, told <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/04/giant-water-bugs-ducklings-snakes-predators/">National Geographic.</a>

Once an unlucky prey is caught, the giant water bug’s strong front legs keep the prey immobilized as the bug starts to feed on their victim in a particularly brutal manner. 

The giant water bug bites down on their prey, injecting enzymes and chemicals into the animal through a sharp straw-like proboscis that the bug then uses to suck up the broken down insides. 

For larger prey, it can take hours for the water bug to finish feeding and unfortunately for the prey, it’s alive for a portion of that time. 

Giant water bugs will attack pretty much anything crosses its path, even humans, but although their bite is painful, it is not known if the bite is venomous. 

Male giant water bugs are tasked with caring for young, and in some giant water bug species, a female will kill the eggs of her competitor to ensure that a male will only carry her offspring. 

Like any top predator, giant water bugs play a key role in their respective aquatic ecosystems and it is essential to study the species and also ensure that their aquatic habitats are protected. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Giant water bugs are fierce and fearless predators

Giant water bugs are fierce and fearless predators. Sharks, killer...

Pet parents talk to their four-legged friends like just another member of the family. Although dogs can recognize key phrases and are easy to train with commands, do cats have the same ability to pick out words and phrases?

A new study shows that cats can recognize their names and are able to discriminate their names from other words, which could confirm that cats can understand their owners more than they are given credit for. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/">Sophia University</a>, the <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/index.html">University of Tokyo</a> and the <a href="http://www.riken.jp/en/research/labs/cbs/">RIKEN Center for Brain Science</a> wanted to test a cat’s ability to understand different words, particularly its name. 

Investigating the communication skills and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cats-friendly-cues-humans/">abilities of domestic cats</a> is something studies have only begun to explore. 

Previous research has shown that cats can learn to understand human gestures like pointing to find hidden food, but as far as learning words, few studies have delved into this aspect of cat-human interactions. 

The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports. 

78 domestic cats from homes and cat cafes took part in the study and the researchers set up several experiments where cats were played recordings of someone saying the cat’s name in a string of common nouns. 

The researchers monitored the cats as they heard the words and made a note of any indicators that the cat was reacting or understanding a specific word. 

Over half of the cats reacted to the recordings, but as they listened to the same recording over and over, the cats lost interest in the common nouns and only perked up at the sound of their name. 

This loss of interest is called habituation, but the cats responded to their names, discriminating their name from even other similar sounding words. 

For the cats from the cat cafe, the cats responded to their own names as well as the names of other cats in the cafe with the same level of interest. 

The researchers say that to a cat, the sound of their name could be associated with food, rewards, or play time which is why a cat is more responsive to it. 

“You know, there are so many studies about dogs’ ability to communicate with humans,” said Atsuko Saito, a lead author of the study. “We think it is important to show cats’ ability as well as dogs. [Such research] will help to make both cat and human welfare better.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cats can recognize their own name from other sounds

Pet parents talk to their four-legged friends like just another...

Striking images captured on the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/galapagos-islands-invasive-species/">Galapagos Islands</a> by photographer and naturalist Tui De Roy illustrate the impacts of global warming, as marine iguanas struggle to survive. Despite the resilient nature of the iguanas, the species is starving to death as their primary food source vanishes. 

“Marine iguanas live hard lives: all they need is tropical sun to keep warm, black lava to bask on, cold seas full of seaweed to feed on; that’s it, no frills,” said De Roy.

“This makes them the perfect subject to illustrate the otherworldly qualities of the volcanic Galapagos Islands. But they are also quite vulnerable: when the cold ocean currents are replaced by warm waters, the seaweed dies, and so do the iguanas.”

The renowned photographer grew up on the islands and has observed the iguanas for many years. She has witnessed thousands of iguanas die every time there is a sustained period of warm weather, or an El Nino event.

[caption id="attachment_1870831" align="aligncenter" width="627"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/iguanas.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870831 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/iguanas.jpg" alt="" width="627" height="402" /></a> Image Credit: Tui De Roy[/caption]

Many scientists predict that climate change will further intensify the El Niño effect, a period of unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Marine life are directly affected due to a lack of upwelling, which brings cold water to the surface.

[caption id="attachment_1870832" align="aligncenter" width="634"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/galapagos.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870832 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/galapagos.jpg" alt="" width="634" height="930" /></a> Image Credit: Tui De Roy[/caption]

The vulnerable iguanas in the Galapagos have been responding to a lack of food by literally shrinking their skeleton. 

“They have the ability to shrink their bodies - even their skeleton - by as much as 20 percent in overall length in order to resist starvation until the cold waters return,” explained De Roy. “But if the warm spell lasts more than 3-4 months, thousands of iguanas die.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Shocking photos of Galapagos iguanas struggling to survive climate change

Striking images captured on the Galapagos Islands by photographer and...

Footage of sea snakes swimming at around 800 feet deep in the ocean, an area called the “twilight zone,” has baffled marine biologists. 

Sea snakes live in the tropical waters of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-snakes-atlantic-ocean/">Indian and Pacific Oceans</a> and typically swim in shallow water habitats like coral reefs. 

Researchers have known that sea snakes are able to deal with decompression sickness, more commonly referred to as “the bends,” which is what happens when divers and swimmers surface to fast. 

However, snakes still require oxygen to breathe, and so it was thought that deep dives were not feasible for sea snakes. 

Footage from two deep water dives was captured by a remotely operated vehicle in 2014 and 2017. The dives were part of the <a href="https://www.inpex.com.au/our-projects/ichthys-lng-project/">Ichthys LNG (liquid natural gas) Project</a> operated by <a href="https://www.inpex.com.au/">INPEX</a>, an Australian exploration, and production company. 

During these dives, sea snakes were discovered swimming hundreds of feet below the surface in the mesopelagic zone, which is called the twilight zone because of how little light makes its way down to those depths.

The mesopelagic zone spans between 200 and 1000 meters, or around 650 and 3,200 feet.

[caption id="attachment_1870810" align="aligncenter" width="422"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/sea-snake.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-1870810" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/sea-snake.png" alt="" width="422" height="289" /></a> Sea snake swimming at 240 meters in the deep ocean. Image credit: INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project[/caption]

One snake was recorded swimming at 800 feet, and another at 780 feet, and the footage was sent to researchers at the <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au/">University of Adelaide</a> to study these remarkable, record-setting dives.

“In some of the footage the snake is looking for food by poking its head into burrows in the sandy sea floor, but we don't know what type of fish they're eating or how they sense them in the dark,” said Dr. Jenna Crowe-Riddell, the lead author of a study detailing the dives published in the journal Austral Ecology. 

Prior to this study, the deepest sea snakes were known to dive was 436 feet. 

“Observations of sea snakes have typically been limited to shallow water habitats that are easily surveyed,” said Dr. Kate Sanders, a co-author of the study. “But this shows what can be achieved through industry-university collaboration.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sea snakes found diving deep into the ocean’s twilight zone

Footage of sea snakes swimming at around 800 feet deep...

Researchers have unearthed a 42.6 million-year-old four-legged whale from ancient marine sediments on the coast of Peru. This prehistoric cetacean ancestor has shed new light on how <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/overpopulation-humpback-whales/">whales</a> evolved and dispersed themselves throughout the world. Their discovery was published April 4th in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

Scientists have known that whales and dolphins originated in south Asia about 50 million years ago. Back then, their predecessor was small and walked on four hoofed legs. This newly-discovered creature displays hoofs at the tips of the whale’s “fingers” and “toes” as well as its hip and limb morphology. Because of this, researchers believe this animal could walk on land, however, the webbed appendages and otter-like tail suggest that the creature was most likely an excellent swimmer.

"This is the first indisputable record of a quadrupedal whale skeleton for the whole Pacific Ocean, probably the oldest for the Americas, and the most complete outside India and Pakistan," said Olivier Lambert of the <a href="https://www.naturalsciences.be/">Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences</a>. "When digging around the outcropping bones, we quickly realized that this was the skeleton of a quadrupedal whale, with both forelimbs and hind limbs.”

[caption id="attachment_1870814" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/whale.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870814" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/whale.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="642" /></a> Image Credit: A. Gennari[/caption]

Lambert and his fellow excavators began their dig at Peru’s Playa Media Luna in 2011. They’ve since named their discovery Peregocetus pacificus, which means "the traveling whale that reached the Pacific."

Because the Peregocetus pacificus was found in Peru, researchers believe that cetaceans traveled to the New World via the South Atlantic, beginning in the western coast of Africa and landing in South America. The whale ancestors would have had massive help from the westward surface currents and by the fact that the land masses were not as far away back then than they are today.From South America, the whales most likely migrated north to North America.

"We will keep searching in localities with layers as ancient, and even more ancient, than the ones of Playa Media Luna, so older amphibious cetaceans may be discovered in the future," Lambert concluded.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Prehistoric, four-legged whale found on Peruvian coast

Researchers have unearthed a 42.6 million-year-old four-legged whale from ancient...

When it comes to the fish we eat like tuna and salmon, mercury levels are an important concern. Heavy metals like lead and mercury from industrial operations and human activities can enter waterways and make their way up the food chain. 

Now, a new study has found that sharks have high concentrations of mercury as well as other dangerous heavy metals like arsenic and lead in their blood and yet somehow, the sharks seem to be relatively <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-adapted-changing-world/">healthy and unimpacted</a>. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> and <a href="https://www.ocearch.org/">Ocearch</a>, an organization that tags and tracks marine wildlife, conducted the study. 

While great whites seem resistant to the toxicity of some heavy metals, concerns remain about the mercury concentrations in the shark’s prey, fish we ourselves eat. 

The study was published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin and is the first of its kind to measure blood concentrations of heavy metals in wild great white sharks. 

“As top predators, sharks bio-accumulate toxins in their tissues via the food web from the prey they eat,” said Neil Hammerschlag, a study co-author. “So by measuring concentrations of toxins, such as mercury and arsenic, in the blood of white sharks, they can act as ‘ecosystem indicators’ for the health of the ecosystem, with implications for humans.” 

The researchers analyzed blood samples that were collected during a 2012 Ocearch expedition to South Africa. During the expedition, sharks were captured, had blood taken and tracking tags put on before being released. 

Blood screening results showed concentrations of 12 trace elements and 14 heavy metals, but the researchers didn’t find any indicators that these concentrations were negatively impacting the shark. 

“The results suggest that sharks may have an inherent physiological protective mechanism that mitigates the harmful effects of heavy metal exposure,” said Liza Merly, the lead author of the study.

Potential immunity to heavy metals in sharks is something that researchers say should be studied further. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Great white sharks carry high levels of mercury, arsenic in their blood

When it comes to the fish we eat like tuna...

Ticks do not necessarily flock to an unmowed lawn. When researchers discussed the solution of less frequent lawn mowing to improve the habitat for native bees, concerns were immediately raised about how this may allow ticks to thrive. The team set out to test the common assumption that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ticks-trapped-amber/">ticks</a> prefer long grass.

“The first thing people said was that letting the grass get longer would invite ticks,” said Susannah Lerman, a research ecologist with the <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/">USDA Forest Service</a> Northern Research Station. “It was clear that before we could make the case for promoting lawns as bee habitat, we had to understand the tick risk.”

The study was designed to evaluate whether less frequent lawn mowing in residential lawns across Springfield, Massachusetts, could promote floral resources to provide viable habitats for native bees. The experts surveyed for bees and blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, every three weeks. Ticks do not necessarily flock to an unmowed lawn

In 16 suburban lawns over the course of two summers, the team documented 111 bee species, which represents about one-quarter of all known bees in Massachusetts. However, a total of 144 tick drags in lawns of various lawn mowing frequencies and grass heights produced not a single tick.

“There are obvious limitations to this study in terms of establishing the risk of ticks,” said Lerman. “We sampled for a single species of tick, and our study was limited to 16 residential lawns in a single city. Still, our study has two significant takeaways: you do not necessarily invite ticks if you mow the lawn every other week instead of every week, and common assumptions about nature are always worth investigating; scientists may be surprised by what we find.”

Blacklegged ticks are known to carry Lyme disease, a tick-borne infection that is prevalent in the Northeast. Study co-author and research entomologist Vince D'Amico said that while blacklegged ticks are undoubtedly present in residential lawns, the grassy part of a property is probably too dry for the tick. 

“This species needs near 100 percent humidity for at least part of the day,” said D'Amico. “Where we have leaf litter, the ticks do very well.”

In the United States, an estimated 40 million acres of residential lawns managed in both public and private have the potential to become viable habitats for native bee species.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Ticks do not necessarily flock to an unmowed lawn

Ticks do not necessarily flock to an unmowed lawn. When...

Which natural material is five times stronger than steel and can be stretched two to four times its original length, all while being finer than a human hair? If you answered spider silk – or at least “spider webs” – then you’d be correct. And while the potential applications for this material are tremendous, harvesting it is another matter altogether. <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/peacock-spiders-mating-displays/">Spiders</a> only produce very small amounts of this silk, and when they’re grouped together, they have the bad habit of eating each other. 

Luckily, a new method of bio-manufacturing may have come up with an answer for the silk-harvesting problem. 

“My lab is interested in engineering microbes so that we can not only produce these materials, but make them even better,” says Fuzhong Zhang, Ph.D., the principal investigator of this project. “NASA is one of our funders, and they are interested in bioproduction. They’re currently developing technologies in which they can convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates that could be used as food for the microbes that we’re engineering. That way, astronauts could produce these plant-based materials in space without bringing a large amount of feedstocks.”

Other projects have tried to pair silk proteins in plants, yeast, and even goats – but the end product has not measured up to the real thing. The researchers say one of the issues is that proteins in spider silk are encoded by long, repetitive sequences of DNA, which often breakdown in other hosts. 

Zhang’s research involves implanting the proteins in bacteria, book-ended by protein sequences called split inteins, which are able to join with each other and cut out an exact protein replica. The results of this experiment were full-length proteins that – upon being removed from the bacteria – were purified, spun, and made into an exact match of spider’s silk.

Along with being used in space by <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>, this non-spider silk could be used in manufacturing bulletproof Kevlar vests and surgical sutures. The researchers are currently refining the process while also beginning to work on other materials, one of which is a protein found in mussels that could be used as an underwater adhesive.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists use bacteria to produce ulta-strong spider silk

Which natural material is five times stronger than steel and...

It’s well known that birds put on shows to attract and bond with mates.  Dances, wild vocalizations, and perhaps even elaborate nest building are all a part of the scene.  Among large animals like elk, males are likewise known to fight for access to females. Mating behavior among insects and arachnids have attracted much less attention, that is with the exception of some gruesome examples.

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/black-widow-spiders-strong-silk/">Black Widow spiders</a> earned their sinister nickname for a propensity of females to eat mates.  In a similar fashion, species of female praying mantises are known for killing males that mate with them.  Sometimes, a female will turn her head around and bite off the male’s head while they’re actually still copulating; the headless body continues.  These are only a couple of particularly lurid examples of invertebrate mating behaviors. It turns out that there is a diversity of behaviors exhibited by mating arthropods and some of these behaviors are beautiful.  

The aptly named peacock spider (Maratus volans) is a superstar when it comes to arthropod mating displays.  Peacock spiders are part of the jumping spider family (salticidae), a family of tiny, quick, far roaming spiders.  Jumping spiders often surprise humans with their swift, athletic movements but they’re harmless to us. Confined to just a small part of Australia, the peacock spider is only about 5 mm long.  In a fashion similar to the pea fowl they’re named after, the male peacock spider is vibrantly colored while the female is more drab. 

Male peacock spiders have green and yellow abdomens striped with an almost fluorescent blue.  When trying to attract a mate, the male peacock spider first waves his third pair of legs to advertise his presence to a prospective female.  If simply waving doesn’t work, the male will clap his legs together to get attention. If the female is interested and starts to approach the male, he will shake his abdomen vigorously.  As things get more interesting, the male spider will raise his abdomen so it’s vertical. The abdomen of a peacock spider is normally thin but flaps fold out of the sides of the male spider’s abdomen when he raises it, giving the abdomen a more rounded fan-like look.  With the abdomen raised and fanned out, it’s truly reminiscent of the tail of a peacock or displaying male turkey. 

The visual display is only part of the story of the peacock spider’s mating success.  Researchers have long known that the male peacock spider also ‘sings’ to his prospective mate through vibrations.  The mating display of the peacock spider was first filmed almost ten years ago by Australian biologist, Dr. Jürgen Otto, but only recently have researchers looked more closely at whether the mating display or the ‘singing’ plays the biggest role in the success of the male spider.

In an experiment, scientists observed spider mating success under different circumstances.  Male spiders displayed for an unmated female either under full spectrum light or light with reduced spectrum.  Spiders were also on a substrate that easily transmitted vibrations or that muffled them. In this way, scientists were able to tease out whether the impressive visual display or the song of vibrations was more important to interested female spiders.  Previous research published by <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2015.2222">The Royal Society</a> shows that both the vibrations and visual display have an effect and the more time a male spends displaying, the more likely his success.  This new study was the first to examine whether visual displays or vibrations were the most important. 

Unsurprisingly, given the flashy nature of the peacock spider, the visual display was found to be more important than the vibrations.  Strangely, when the researchers used reduced wavelength light but turned up its brightness, mating success increased. This detail shows that it’s contrast/patterning that the females are responding to, not necessarily color.  Interestingly, the color and pattern on male peacock spiders are produced by tiny colored hairs; like feathers on a bird’s tail. 

With the females responding to the flashy display rather than the subtle vibration, many may wonder why vibrate at all.  At some points the female spider may turn away from the displaying male, this is when he vibrates more. The vibrations seem to draw her back into watching the visual display of the male, so there may be something of an indirect aid from vibrations for the male peacock spider.  

The research was published in the November/December 2018 issue of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ary128">Behavioral Ecology</a>.  The study focused on just one species of peacock spider but it’s worth noting that according to <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(14)00591-0.pdf">Cell</a>, there are at least 40 species of spiders in the genus Maratus, many of them displaying similarly vibrant but different displays than M. Volans.  According to expert Dr. Jürgen Otto, there are now 74 named species of peacock spiders.  Many of these spiders and their impressive displays can be seen on his <a href="https://m.youtube.com/user/Peacockspiderman/featured">YouTube channel</a> or on his <a href="http://peacockspider.org">official site</a>.  Some of the spiders are nearly as bright and colorful as mantis shrimp, others are black with white skeleton-like markings.  All of the peacock spiders so far are endemic to Australia. The amazing thing is that put into context 50 spider species found in one part of Australia is next to nothing compared the global spider population and diversity.

We know so very little about the invertebrates that are so common everywhere we go on earth.  This is especially true of spiders that are omnipresent in almost every human habitation as well as lawns, farm fields, and businesses.  Spiders are like a quiet and rarely noticed force that keeps the world running smoothly. 

A paper in <a href="https://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00114-017-1440-1">The Science of Nature</a> estimated that spiders the world over eat 400 to 800 million tons of prey a year.  <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/spiders-could-eat-every-human-on-earth-and-still-be-hungry-a7654486.html">The Independent</a> points out that this is more than the weight of every human on Earth.  To put it as the paper itself does, this is 1% of the earth’s terrestrial production; 1% by mass of all animals produced in a year.  Most, roughly 90%, of these are insects. Clearly, spiders are important. Next time you see a male spider trying desperately to attract the attention of a female without being eaten by her, think kindly of all those insects the spider ate before they bit you.        

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer         

Image Credit: Dr. Jürgen Otto

Vibrant peacock spiders earn their name with bold mating displays

It’s well known that birds put on shows to attract...

On the Hawaiian island of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/endangered-birds-found-oahu/">Oahu</a>, native birds have nearly been replaced by invasive bird species. A new study has revealed that local plants now depend almost entirely on invasive birds to disperse their seeds.

The findings suggest that ecological communities dominated by non-native species can be as dynamic and stable as native communities, and that invasive species are taking on important roles in these complex ecosystems. 

Previous studies have shown that interactions between plants and animals are extremely sensitive to invasive species or extinctions. Many of these networks, however, have only been investigated in native-dominated communities where invasive species are not present. The studies may have also failed to account for the coevolved interactions between plants and animals that have formed over long time spans.

[caption id="attachment_1870783" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Native-plants-on-Oahu-depend-on-non-native-birds-for-survival-.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870783" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Native-plants-on-Oahu-depend-on-non-native-birds-for-survival-.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="434" /></a> Oahu[/caption]

As human activities drive more and more species invasions and extinctions worldwide, the new ecological communities that are emerging are not well understood. Scientists do not know how these modified ecosystems compare to native communities.

To investigate, a research team led by Jefferson Vizentin-Bugoni analyzed the bird-based seed dispersal networks on Oahu Hawaii, where invasive bird species are now dominant. The scientists identified over 100,000 seeds collected from bird feces across Oahu and found that native plants are almost entirely dependent on invasive birds for seed dispersal. 

Furthermore, the researchers discovered that the newly developed networks on Oahu strongly resemble the stable structure of networks that are still dominated by native species across the globe. According to the experts, this indicates that ecological communities can arise over a short period of time, and can do so independently of the species involved. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Main Image Credit: Jeferson Vizentin-Bugoni

Native plants on Oahu depend on non-native birds for survival

On the Hawaiian island of Oahu, native birds have nearly...

New research has revealed that spider monkeys change the pitch of their calls if they’re separated from their groups.

Agile and strong, spider monkeys spend a good portion of their lives climbing and swinging from branches and trees in the rain forests of Central and South America. 

Spider monkeys are known for their Tarzan-like maneuvers as well as their loud screeches, whinnies, and vocal calls. They are also extremely social and live in groups of 24 to 36.

When a member of the group strays out of sight, spider monkeys use specific whinnies to communicate with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monkeys-loners-nature-isolation/">isolated group member</a>, and these whinnies can vary in pitch. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.dpz.eu/en/home.html">German Primate Center</a> hypothesized that isolated spider monkeys lowered the pitch of their whinnies to help relocate their group and vice versa. 

To test this, the researchers monitored 27 female and eight male adult black-handed spider monkeys in the Lacandona Rainforest in Mexico. 

The team recorded the monkeys’ calls with microphones, and a spider monkey was considered isolated if they were more than 40 meters from the group. Over a five-month period, the researchers recorded 566 whinnies from 35 monkeys. 

After analyzing the calls, the researchers discovered that isolated spider monkeys produced lower frequency whinnies compared to calls made in a group. 

Lower frequencies travel longer distances so lowering the pitch may help improve a lost individual's chances of reconnecting with its group, the researchers say. 

Members within the group were also quick to respond to lower frequency calls from isolated spider monkeys. 

The results of the study show that spider monkeys do, in fact, lower their calls when they are separated from their group. The full findings of the study were published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0213914">PLOS ONE. </a>

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Spider monkeys lower the pitch of their calls if separated from the group

New research has revealed that spider monkeys change the pitch...

Scientists at <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/">The University of British Columbia</a> are describing the very first organism ever found that can produce chlorophyll yet does not participate in photosynthesis. The organism has been given the name corallicolid because it is found in 70 percent of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/corals-survive-bleaching-resilient/">corals</a> around the world and may ultimately help experts to protect them.

“This is the second most abundant cohabitant of coral on the planet and it hasn't been seen until now,” said study co-author Patrick Keeling. “This organism poses completely new biochemical questions. It looks like a parasite, and it's definitely not photosynthetic. But it still makes chlorophyll.”

Chlorophyll is the green pigment that allows plants to absorb energy from sunlight during photosynthesis.

“Having chlorophyll without photosynthesis is actually very dangerous because chlorophyll is very good at capturing energy, but without photosynthesis to release the energy slowly it is like living with a bomb in your cells,” explained Keeling.

Corallicolids can be found in the gastric cavity of a variety of reef-building corals, as well as black corals, fan corals, mushroom corals, and anemones. They are part of a vast group of parasites, also known as apicomplexans, that have a cellular compartment called a plastid where photosynthesis takes place.

While coral reefs were known to contain several apicomplexans, the most common one was being overlooked. Corallicolids were not only found to have a plastid, but were surprisingly found to contain all four plastid genes used in chlorophyll production.

[caption id="attachment_1870714" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/coral.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1870714" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/coral.jpeg" alt="" width="650" height="433" /></a> Researchers examining corals underwater. Image Credit: Varsha Mathur[/caption]

“It's quite a head scratcher,” said study lead author Waldan Kwong. “We don't know why these organisms are holding on to these photosynthesis genes. There's some novel biology going on here, something we haven't seen before.”

The researchers hope that a better understanding of corallicolids will provide new insights into coral habitats and how to preserve them.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Main Image Credit: Patrick Keeling Lab, UBC

First organism found that can produce chlorophyll without photosynthesis

Scientists at The University of British Columbia are describing 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

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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