Rainbow,Lorikeets

North America’s birds are disappearing, and they're vanishing at the fastest rate in the places they dominate. A new study using nearly two decades of data from citizen scientists reveals that birds are declining where they should be thriving.



The findings spotlight an ecological emergency but also highlight recovery potential. 



The analysis, conducted by researchers at the <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a>, tracked 495 bird species between 2007 and 2021 using over 36 million observations submitted to the <a href="https://ebird.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eBird</a> platform.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-declining-across-north-america">Birds declining across North America</h2>



The researchers sought to build a detailed picture of population trends across North America. The result was sobering: in 83% of species, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nature-might-repeat-evolution-under-pressure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">population</a> declines were steepest in areas where the birds were most abundant.



“We're not just seeing small shifts happening, we're documenting populations declining where they were once really abundant," said Alison Johnston, one of the researchers. 



"Locations that once provided ideal habitat and climate for these species are no longer suitable. I think this is indicative of more major shifts happening for the nature that's around us." 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-birds-decline-most-where-they-once-thrived">Birds decline most where they once thrived</h2>



Previous studies warned us about overall losses. Since 1970, North America has lost more than 25% of its breeding <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>. But knowing where declines are happening is crucial to respond effectively. 



Until now, efforts to pinpoint local declines faced a major hurdle: lack of fine-scale, consistent data across species' ranges.



Johnston’s team tackled this with a machine learning model that could handle vast and varied data inputs. It accounted for human observation behavior, which often distorts raw counts. 



The model separated real population changes from observer differences, enabling a clearer picture of regional trends.



The result: a high-resolution map of shifting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-living-in-cities-are-usually-more-colorful-and-less-brown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bird populations</a>, not just across North America, but also Central America and the Caribbean.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-even-thriving-birds-face-local-losses">Even thriving birds face local losses</h2>



While the big picture shows 75% of bird species are in decline - with 65% declining significantly - the local view is more complex.



Nearly every species (97%) shows areas of both gain and loss. That’s a hopeful sign. It suggests some areas offer refuge, while others face stress from climate change and habitat degradation.



“This is the first time we’ve had fine scale information on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-americas-birds-scientists-declare-a-full-on-emergency-in-the-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">population</a> changes across such broad spatial extents and across entire ranges of species. And that provides us a better lens to understand the changes that are happening with bird populations,” said Amanda Rodewald, co-author of the study.



Even birds considered stable at a regional level may be struggling in their core areas. And species in low-density zones sometimes fare better. 



These patterns suggest strongholds are now vulnerable, and previously marginal areas may serve as safe havens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-habitat-climate-and-human-action">Role of habitat, climate, and human action</h2>



Birds that breed in grasslands and drylands face the sharpest declines. These ecosystems are especially sensitive to habitat disruption and climate shifts. 



The findings suggest abundance itself doesn’t guarantee resilience. In fact, pressure may concentrate in places with high population density, degrading quality faster.



Not all regions show loss. The Appalachians and western mountain ranges host stable or growing populations. These areas might offer clues for restoration efforts elsewhere.



“Areas where species are increasing where they're at low abundance may be places where conservation has been successful and populations are recovering, or they may point to locations where there may be potential for recovery,” said Johnston.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-scale-of-bird-decline">The scale of bird decline</h2>



“We employed causal machine learning models and novel statistical methodologies that allowed us to estimate changes in populations with high spatial resolution while also accounting for biases that come from changes in how and where people go birding,” said Daniel Fink.



The study ran over 500,000 simulations, requiring more than 6 million hours of computing. That equates to about 85 years of work on a standard laptop. This technical effort was matched by the public’s commitment to citizen science.



“Knowledge is power. Because of the volunteers that engage in programs like eBird, because of their enthusiasm and engagement, and generosity of time, we now know more about bird populations and more about the environment than we ever have before,” said Rodewald.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smarter-conservation-starts-here">Smarter conservation starts here</h2>



The study's maps and methods help policymakers make sharper choices. 



“It’s this kind of small-scale information across broad geographies that has been lacking and it’s exactly what we need to make smart conservation decisions,” said Rodewald.



By seeing exactly where birds are declining or doing well, conservation groups can act with more precision. The insights allow them to focus on recovery where it’s most needed - and most possible.



The message is clear: North America’s birds are in crisis, even in their safest places. But with detailed insight and active stewardship, recovery is within reach.



This research was supported by foundations, <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NSF grants</a>, and supercomputing resources from <a href="https://www.psc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center</a> and <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purdue University</a>. Together, they’ve made a detailed, actionable map for the future of bird conservation.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn4381" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Birds are declining fastest where they were once common

North America’s birds are disappearing, and they're vanishing at the fastest rate in the places they dominate. A new study using nearly two decades of data from citizen scientists reveals that birds are declining where they should be thriving. The findings spotlight an ecological emergency but also highlight recovery potential. The analysis, conducted by researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, tracked 495 bird species between 2007 and 2021 using over 36 million observations submitted to the eBird platform. Birds declining across North America The researchers sought...

Cats are more friendly than you think, but take cues from humans. While dogs have long been known as man’s best friend, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dogs-not-smarter-cats/">cats</a> are famous for their grumpy and aloof attitude. Dogs run to greet us at the door when we get home, meanwhile cats knock over our favorite possessions while staring right at us. But studies show that cats are not necessarily unsocial, they just take cues from our behavior.

A recent <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376635718300998?via%3Dihub#bib0190">study</a>, published in Behavioural Processes this month, looked at the influence of human attention on cat sociability. The authors note that little research has been conducted on cat social behavior, which may be a result of the perception of cats as unsocial. 

“Although many think of cats as solitary, domestic cats are facultatively social and can live either socially or solitarily, depending on their environment and upbringing,” the authors write.Cats are more friendly than you think, but take cues from humans

For the study, researchers examined cat-human interactions to measure the cats’ time near humans, time directly interacting with humans and number of meow vocalizations. The human participants would enter the room and either sit on the floor and ignore the cat or interact with the cat by calling and petting the cat.

The researchers found that cats spent significantly more time socializing with attentive humans rather than humans who ignored them. 

Previous studies on cat behavior have also found that human behavior affects a cat’s behavior. A <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/089279389787058109">study</a> which examined first encounters between humans and cats found that cats initiated contact more quickly with humans who gave them attention over those who ignored them.

Cats have even been shown to respond to humans’ emotional cues. In a 2015 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25573289">study</a>, cats were given either a positive or negative message from their owners in the presence of an unfamiliar object. Cats in the study altered their behavior towards the object based on whether their owner was using happy or fearful tones and expressions.

Studies on cat behavior illustrate how our beliefs about cats may be too simplistic. Instead of simply being less friendly, cats may be responding to cues they receive from humans. While dogs often need direct interaction through walks and regular feedings, cats are more independent and, therefore, do not need as much attention. Cat owners may inadvertently be less attentive towards their cats, causing the cats to respond with less social interactions.

In addition, the evolutionary history of cats and dogs may play a role. According to the 2015 study, “Whereas cats’ ancestors were solitary, and today this species is dubbed ‘optionally social’ (i.e. likely to choose whether to establish strong relationships or simply tolerate social situations), dogs’ ancestor were pack-living animals and dogs today have been shown to organize in multi-male, multi-female packs when food is prevalent.”

Cats also have individual personalities which can affect their sociability levels. Just like humans, some cats may be in your face looking for attention while others prefer their own company. But overall, cats seem to want to interact with us, they just don’t always want to initiate.

Hopefully, this new research can teach us all to give our kitty companions a little more love and attention.

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Cats are more friendly than you think, but take cues from humans

Cats are more friendly than you think, but take cues...

SUE the T. rex is famous for being the most complete skeleton ever discovered of the world's most popular dinosaur. And now, hidden in the leftover sediment that once surrounded SUE's bones, experts have found the remains of a new shark species.

For decades, the leftover rock that Sue was recovered from has been stored underground. When scientists took a new look at it, they found teeth from a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/exploding-star-shark-megalodon/">shark</a> that they believe lived in a river SUE drank from.

“This shark lived at the same time as SUE the T. rex, it was part of the same world,” said study co-author Pete Makovicky, the curator of dinosaurs at the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a>. “Most of its body wasn't preserved, because sharks' skeletons are made of cartilage, but we were able to find its tiny fossilized teeth.”

The team of researchers, led by Terry Gates of <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/">North Carolina State University</a>, named the shark Galagadon nordquista. This name honors Karen Nordquist, a retired chemist and Field Museum volunteer who discovered the tiny fossils, and also references the shark’s teeth, which have a triangle shape like the spaceships in the 1980s video game Galaga.

“Galagadon was less than two feet long - it's not exactly Jaws,” said Makovicky. “It's comparable to bamboo sharks living today. It probably had a flat face and was very likely camouflage-colored, since its relatives today have a camouflage pattern. It would have eaten small invertebrates and probably spent a fair amount of time lying on the bottom of the riverbed.”

The discovery of Galagadon is shedding completely new light on the area where SUE the T. rex once lived. 

“We had always thought of the SUE locality as being by a lake formed from a partially dried-up river - the presence of this shark suggests there must have been at least some connection to marine environments,” said Makovicky. “This wasn't some Sharknado event - these animals were making their way up rivers from the sea.”

[caption id="attachment_1865592" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Galagadon-tooth.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1865592" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Galagadon-tooth.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="595" /></a> Image (c) Terry Gates[/caption]

Study co-author Eric Gorscak explained, “Today, carpet sharks, which include bamboo sharks and wobbegongs, mostly live in the waters in southeast Asia and Australia, so it's surprising to find their fossils at the SUE locality.”

“During the Late Cretaceous the continents continued to drift apart, further isolating dinosaurs and other land animals, and at the same time created the Atlantic and Indian oceans. With occasional seaways connecting these young oceans, we have found fossils of marine life flourishing globally, including Galagadonand its relatives.”

The study highlights the importance of fossils beyond those belonging to dinosaurs. 

“Every species in an ecosystem plays a supporting role, keeping the whole network together,” said Gates. “There is no way for us to understand what changed in the ecosystem during the time of the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous without knowing all the wonderful species that existed before.”

The research is published in the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-paleontology">Journal of Paleontology</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 (c) Velizar Simeonovski, Field Museum

Shark species discovered in the rock that contained SUE the T.Rex

SUE the T. rex is famous for being the most...

A giant lizard that lived almost 300 million years ago has been reconstructed in the form of a robot. The study revealed that the ancient creature was capable of more upright walking than what was previously thought.  

The investigation was focused on the remains of a lizard known as Orobates pabsti, which dates back millions of years before <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dinosaurs-nasal-passages-cool/">dinosaurs</a>. The scientists digitally scanned the fossils and matched them with well-preserved O. pabsti footprints to create computer simulations that could accurately represent the unique gait of the ancient animal. 

Reptiles, birds, and mammals known as amniotes were thought to be the first to evolve stronger muscles and limbs that were positioned well for efficient upright movement. The findings of this study, however, suggest that the development of an upright gait predated amniotes.

Study co-author Dr. John Nyakatura from <a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/">Humboldt University</a> said: “Our metrics indicate that Orobates exhibited more advanced locomotion than has previously been assumed for earlier tetrapods (four-legged animals), which suggests that advanced terrestrial locomotion preceded the diversification of crown amniote.”

O. pabsti  grew up to five feet in length and weighed around nine pounds. Much like a crocodile, it had a long body and tail with a small skull and short legs.

[caption id="attachment_1865564" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/lizard-robot.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1865564" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/lizard-robot.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="350" /></a> Image Credit: Tomislav Horvat / Kamilo Melo / EPFL Lausanne[/caption]

“To our knowledge, no reconstructions of the locomotor characteristics of stem amniotes based on multiple quantitative methods have previously been attempted,” said Dr. Nyakatura. “Previous methods have relied on anatomical features alone, ambiguous locomotor information preserved in fossils or unspecific modelling of dynamics.”

“Here we quantitatively examine plausible gaits of the stem amniote Orobates pabsti, a species that is known from a complete body fossil preserved in association with trackways.”

“We reconstruct likely gaits that match the footprints. Our metrics indicate that Orobates exhibited more advanced locomotion than has previously been assumed for earlier tetrapods.”

According to the researchers, the study sheds new light on how animals moved from the oceans to conquer land. 


The research 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

Image Credit: Tomislav Horvat / Kamilo Melo / EPFL Lausanne

Scientists reconstruct 290 million-year-old lizard as a robot

A giant lizard that lived almost 300 million years ago...

Helping plants and pollinators may be as simple as turning off street lights for a couple of hours a night.

That was the conclusion of a team of researchers from <a href="https://www.ncl.ac.uk/">Newcastle University</a> and <a href="https://www.yorku.ca/">York University</a> who wanted to determine how light affects nocturnal pollinators like moths.

"Artificial light at night is an increasingly important driver of global environmental change and sky brightness is increasing by about 6 percent a year," study co-author Dr. Darren Evans said. "Understanding the ecological impact of this artificial light on the ecosystem is vital.”

The study found that bright street lights at night draw moths upward to flit around the light source rather than pollinate as usual. That has a large effect on the plants that rely on moths for pollination, including pea, soy and rapeseed crops. 

But turning off the street lights – even if only for a couple of hours – sent moths back to the plants they prefer to feed on. 

The researchers found that while constant overnight light badly disrupted pollination, even just a partial “lights out” period had a similar effect on moths’ feeding patterns as full darkness.

"We know that light pollution significantly alters moth activity and this in turn is disrupting their role as pollinators. But what our study showed was that while full-night lighting caused significant ecological disruption, part-night lighting did not appear to have any strong effect on pollination success or quality,” Evans said.

Whether street lights use sodium or LED bulbs had no apparent effect. It wasn’t the type of light, but the amount, that seemed to throw off moth feeding patterns. 

It’s the latest in a number of studies about the effects of light pollution on humans and the world around us. Studies have shown that light pollution can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-sleep-problems/">disrupt sleep</a>, leading to chronic insomnia and dependence on sleep aids.

Light pollution from street lights doesn’t just affect humans and moths. It can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-migrating-bats/">endanger migrating bats</a>, harm the various bugs that live in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/light-pollution-streams-wetlands/">wetlands</a> and disrupt the food chain, disorient sea turtles and fool plants into thinking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-light-pollution-causes-spring-to-come-early/">spring has come early</a>.

"Often, as conservationists, we have to make difficult trade-offs between development and environmental protection,” lead author Dr. Callum Macgregor said. "However, our study suggests that turning off street lights in the middle of the night is a win-win scenario, saving energy and money for local authorities whilst simultaneously helping our nocturnal wildlife."

--

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Scientists: time to turn off street lights for a few hours a night

Helping plants and pollinators may be as simple as turning...

Mojave rattlesnakes that live in the southwestern United States and central Mexico have a lethal bite thanks to their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/venom-snakes-dangerous/">venom</a>. However, new research has revealed that the kind of venom differs depending on the region that the snakes are found.

If you’re unlucky enough to be bitten by a Mojave rattlesnake, you might experience paralysis as the toxins shut down your body or the venom may cause tissue damage. The latter had long puzzled researchers because two different types of venom do not line up with the theories of natural selection. 

For a long time, researchers thought that Mojave snakes only had neurotoxic venom (the kind that causes paralysis), but cases continued to pop up showing different symptoms after being bitten such as tissue damage, and blood thinning.  

It took decades for scientists to realize that Mojave rattlesnakes have two distinct types of venom, a neurotoxic and hemorrhagic venom. 

However, the mysteries of the rattlesnake don’t end there, which is why researchers from <a href="http://www.clemson.edu/">Clemson University</a> undertook an impressive study of the rattlesnakes using volunteer citizen scientist to examine the distribution of venoms among the species.  

The study was recently published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-35810-9">Scientific Reports</a>. 

“Prior to this paper, the ‘herp’ (herpetologists) community thought that hemorrhagic venom was really rare and was only in one location in Arizona and one location in Mexico, but we show that it's found in several places throughout the snake's distribution,” said Jason Strickland, a researcher for the study. “There were a few instances when individuals in our sample had both types of venom, which our data suggest are hybrids.”

Common logic would dictate that as the Mojave rattlesnake evolved and diversified, one type of venom would reign supreme as the species started favoring the venom type most efficient for hunting and immobilizing prey. 

An earlier <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790317304992">2018 study</a> found that there are four genetically distinct lineages of Mojave rattlesnakes in the southwestern US and Mexico. 

These lineages are breeding and mixing together but their genetic diversity isn’t shrinking, and contrary to the ideas of natural selection, one venom is not being favored over the other.  

“From an evolutionary standpoint, this is abnormal. This is not what you'd expect,” said Strickland, an author of the new study. “Gene flow should prevent this much variation. But even with the amount of gene flow we find in these populations, the selection is strong enough to maintain these specific venom types in a very local environment.” 

Researchers across five different labs in the US and Mexico collaborated on the project and enlisted the help of nearly 100 citizen scientists who were snake enthusiast and passionate about snake conservation. 

216 Mojave rattlesnakes were collected and analyzed for the study thanks to the collaborative effort of so many different researchers and volunteers. The results of the analysis showed that venom distribution depended on location. 

“What we've been able to show is that there are local optima,” said Christopher Parkinson, an author of the study. “In Texas, the neurotoxic venom type seems to be the optimum for this species. But if we go south into Mexico or over near Phoenix, something in nature is changing, where the local optimum requires a different venom type.” 

The researchers hope to dig deeper into venom distribution among Mojave rattlesnakes and see what environmental factors drove the species to evolve the way they did. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Travis Fisher

Mojave rattlesnakes different venom types defy expectations

Mojave rattlesnakes that live in the southwestern United States and...

A research team led by the <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> (WHOI) has monitored the behavior of juvenile <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/emperor-penguins-snack-fasts/">Emperor penguins</a> in the critical months when they leave their birth colony. The experts are sharing previously unknown details about when the penguins first learn how to swim, dive, and find food. 

“This study provides insights into an important, but poorly understood, part of their life cycle, which is essential to being able to better predict the species' response to future climate change,” said study lead author Sara Labrousse, a postdoctoral investigator at WHOI.

After just five months, Emperor penguin chicks are abandoned by their parents and left to fend for themselves in the harsh environment of Antarctica.

The investigation was focused on 15 juvenile penguins who were tagged before they left their colony in Terre Adélie as the weather started to get warmer, breaking up the ice and creating open waters near the nesting site.

The movements of the penguins, including diving and location data, were transmitted via satellite. Overall, more than 62,000 dives were recorded. The data showed that the juvenile penguins initially moved far north to reach warmer, open waters.

“This is when they are essentially learning how to swim,” said Labrousse. “That's not something that their parents teach them. When they first go in the water, they are very awkward and unsure of themselves. They are not the fast and graceful swimmers their parents are.”

The researchers found that once the juvenile Emperor penguins became more experienced divers, they moved south and made deeper dives among the sea ice.

“That was something that surprised us because we didn't previously know how long they were staying within the sea ice,” said Labrousse. “It turns out that they spend most of the winter diving beneath the sea ice.”

The thermocline, which is the layer of the ocean where warmer surface waters meet cooler waters below, begins to deepen in the fall. Labrousse explained that the penguins’ deeper dives were likely related to the depth of the thermocline and the seasonal change in the distribution of their prey.

“Juveniles stay at sea for five or six years before they return to the colony to mate,” said study co-author and WHOI biologist Stephanie Jenouvrier. “We need to better understand the dynamics of what happens during the time the juveniles are away from the colony. Understanding how they will respond to the changing landscape in terms of breeding and other life history stages is key to predict population responses and species persistence to future climate change.”

The study is published  in the journal <a href="https://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/meps-home/">Marine Ecology Progress Series</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Vincent Munier

How young Emperor penguins survive after their parents leave them

A research team led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution...

Most people know <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/humans-colonized-madagascar-later/">Madagascar</a> from the popular series of cartoons, portraying a wild island inhabited by a hard partying, singing, dancing lemur kingdom.  A few more people might have a more realistic view of the island nation from David Attenborough’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1842793/">mini-series</a> on Madagascar.  It’s hard to explain to someone who’s never actually visited Madagascar, the tragic beauty of the place, its people and its wildlife.

According to the <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/03/21/poverty-in-madagascar-recent-findings">World Bank</a>, 70.7% of Madagascar’s population was living in poverty in 2012 and little has changed since.  The poverty of Madagascar is stark, too. Even in relatively wealthy parts of the country, young children dressed in rags can be seen collecting pennies from drivers by filling potholes in the road by hand.  If a tourist is eating next to a window at a restaurant, it’s common for local Malagasy people to stand outside and watch sadly until given some small piece of food. 

While I was volunteering coordinating tree planting in Madagascar, I saw men lined up daily vying for day work that paid $5.00 for up to eight hours of manual labor.  <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/madagascar-drought-hunger_us_580dbb32e4b0a03911ed7540">The Huffington Post</a> reported in 2016 that almost 850,000 people in Madagascar were facing ‘alarming’ levels of hunger.  The hunger and poverty in Madagascar is caused by deep political problems, drought, and a history of outside exploitation.  With stark realities like these, it isn’t surprising that wise use of natural resources is low on the list of priorities for many. 

According to <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>, approximately 94% of Madagascar has been affected by deforestation.  This includes the 90% of forest that Madagascar has lost. Logging for money, especially of valuable hardwoods like rosewood, is part of Madagascar’s deforestation problem, but more forest is lost to slash and burn agriculture.  

Slash and burn ‘tavy’ is a common practice for clearing agricultural land for rice paddies and other crops but it’s a very short lived solution.  Quickly soils are ruined and the tavy farmer must move onto a new piece of land and repeat the slashing and burning of trees, thus pushing a quickened pace of deforestation.  Destruction of forest for short term gain is just one problem for Madagascar.

Madagascar is a unique and special place.  3.2% of the world’s plant species live in Madagascar as well as 2.8% of land vertebrates, which is pretty impressive for such a small place physically.  Most of the world’s chameleon species live only in Madagascar and all the world’s lemurs are native only to the island. Even as the forests have been going up in flames, scientists have discovered amazing, tiny chameleons that fit on the head of a match and other species new to science.  The island is bordered by reef systems already damaged by bleaching caused by a <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/7261/coral-reefs-of-southwest-madagascar">rise in temperatures</a>.  Now desperation, greed or simple necessity is driving Madagascar’s government to further threaten their oceans.  

<a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2018/12/madagascar-auctioning-a-large-swath-of-virgin-waters-for-oil-exploration/">Mongabay</a> reported in December 2018 that Madagascar’s government is opening a large area of ocean to oil exploration by the highest bidder.  In September, representatives of Madagascar’s government attended an oil industry event in Houston, to advertise the newly opened area.  <a href="https://madagascarlicensinground2018.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Flyer.pdf">A flier</a> from the Malagasy government proclaims, ‘Explore Madagascar’s Open Acreage…Let the Bidding Commence!’ 

<a href="https://madagascarlicensinground2018.com/available-data/">44 concessions</a> are now open for exploration, none of which have been explored before.  The area now open represents some 24,440 square miles in the Mozambique Channel to the west, between Madagascar and mainland Africa.  

This is exciting news for the hydrocarbon industry, <a href="https://psmag.com/environment/madagascar-opens-its-oceans-to-oil-and-gas">The Pacific Standard</a> reports.  Environmental and social groups are less pleased about the opening for oil exploration.  The environmental and economic impact of such a move hasn’t been thoroughly evaluated they argue.  

<a href="https://www.equaltimes.org/madagascar-fisheries-ravaged-by?lang=en#.XBQ46NtKj3g">Equal Times</a> reports that Madagascar’s local fishermen are already outcompeted and the fish populations devastated by foreign fishing fleets.  In 2008, an estimated 130,000 tons of fish were caught in Madagascar’s waters but illegal fishing from foreign boats threatens the livelihood of approximately 100,000 local Malagasy.  An oil spill could completely destroy a vital industry already on the verge of collapse, to say nothing of the loss of biodiversity. Four different civil society groups, led by the Antananarivo-based Research and Support Center for Development Alternatives–Indian Ocean (CRAAD-OI), drove the point home, writing in a statement last month:

“The offshore exploration and production of oil and gas on this scale goes directly against the objectives of protecting fisheries resources and preserving the marine ecosystems on which the livelihoods and food security of a large part of the Malagasy population depend.”

So far, there have been no major oil discoveries in Madagascar and the only oil development has been onshore drilling operations in the west.  The reason for excitement by the hydrocarbon industry comes from the concessions proximities to Mozambique where large reserves of natural gas were discovered offshore in 2010.

In February, representatives of the Malagasy government will continue to promote the exploration concessions in Houston and London, hoping to bolster more interest.  Any deals reached would probably take the form of profit sharing, with the Malagasy government receiving a percent of profits after a certain threshold is reached. Even if there is nothing found during exploration, conservationists worry that the exploration itself could cause problems.  

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/15/stranded-whales-sonar-underwater">The Guardian</a> reported in 2008 that 100 melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) were mysteriously beached in a shallow lagoon in Northern Madagascar.  75 of the beleaguered whales died. An independent review panel by the International Whaling Commission found that the most likely cause of the whale stranding came from a multi-beam echosounder system.  This system was being used by an Exxon Mobil survey vessel to map the area seafloor. Some of the exploration concessions also overlap with marine protected areas as well as areas managed by local fishing communities.  

The government of Madagascar argues that the exploration concessions won’t negatively impact the marine protected areas or fisheries but this seems like an untenable promise to make.  

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Madagascar opens up waters to oil exploration, endangering wildlife

Most people know Madagascar from the popular series of cartoons,...

Japan has officially withdrawn from the <a href="https://iwc.int/home">International Whaling Commission</a> (IWC) and plans to resume commercial <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/killer-whales-personality-traits/">whale</a> hunting. The move has raised concerns that other countries, such as South Korea and Russia, may follow suit.

Almost as soon as the whaling ban was established in 1986, Japan launched its scientific whaling program, which was criticized as being nothing more than a tactic to continue commercial whaling.

In 2014, the UN’s International Court of Justice ruled that Japan’s scientific whaling program was “not for purposes of scientific research.” At that time, speculation already began that Japan would leave the International Whaling Commission.  

Last month, the country announced its decision, claiming that the IWC was not committed enough to its goal of supporting sustainable commercial whaling. A statement from Japanese officials accused the IWC of being focused only on conserving numbers.

Kitty Block is the president of <a href="http://www.hsi.org/">Humane Society International</a>. On her <a href="https://blog.humanesociety.org/2019/01/japans-rogue-stance-on-whaling-deserves-worldwide-condemnation.html">blog</a>, she wrote: “'Japan would like to present itself as the wounded party, forced to leave the IWC because its reasonable requests are not being listened to. But the fact is, commercial whaling is completely unnecessary; in fact, there is no pressing economic need for it and there is plummeting demand for whale meat in Japan itself.” 

This July, Japan will resume commercial whaling in the country's own territory and will end annual expeditions in the Antarctic and Pacific Oceans. The governments of New Zealand and Australia expressed relief that the whaling campaign in the Antarctic will end, but urged Japan to remain a member of the IWC.

“We cannot allow one country to step outside of the IWC and recommence commercial whaling,” said Block. “If other countries, following Japan’s example, start to do likewise, then we may see a return to the lawless days of previous centuries and the world’s whales will suffer.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Japan will resume commercial whaling after more than 30 years

Japan has officially withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission (IWC)...

Engineers at the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California San Diego</a> are using bird feathers as a model to develop new adhesives and aerospace materials. The scientists are investigating how a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/2-billion-birds-migrate-gulf-coast/">bird</a> can capture air for lift with the underside of a feather, while using the top  to block air out for descent.

Research co-authored by Tarah Sullivan, who has a Ph.D. in Materials Science, is the first in nearly 20 years to take a detailed look at the general structure of bird feathers. Using 3D-printed structures, the experts imitated the vanes, barbs, and barbules of a feather to better understand these properties.

Sullivan is part of a team led by Marc Meyers, a professor in the Departments of Nanoengineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC San Diego.

“Professor Eduard Arzt, our co-author from Saarland University in Germany, is an amateur pilot and became fascinated by the 'bird wing' problem. Together, we started doing allometric analyses on them and result is fascinating,” said  Professor Meyers. “This shows that the synergy of scientists from different backgrounds can produce wonderful new understanding.”

The study revealed that the small structures that connect feather barbs, which are known as barbules, are spaced within 8 to 16 micrometers of one another in all birds species. This means that the spacing must play an important role in flight.

“The first time I saw feather barbules under the microscope I was in awe of their design: intricate, beautiful and functional,” said Sullivan. “As we studied feathers across many species it was amazing to find that despite the enormous differences in size of birds, barbules spacing was constant."

Sullivan has built prototypes, which she will describe in a follow up paper, to show how various materials designed to mimic a bird feather could be used for aerospace applications as well as adhesives. 

“We believe that these structures could serve as inspiration for an interlocking one-directional adhesive or a material with directionally tailored permeability.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: University of California San Diego

Bird feathers may be the new Velcro, inspiring new adhesives

Engineers at the University of California San Diego are using...

A study led by astrophysicist Adrian Melott at the <a href="https://ku.edu/">University of Kansas</a> may finally solve the mystery of what happened to the giant megalodon, a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/young-sharks-tougher-skeletons/">shark species</a> that vanished around 2.5 million years ago. 

Roaming the seas for millions of years, Megalodon was the largest shark and one of the most powerful predators in history. The enormous animals grew up to 60 feet in length and weighed as much as 100 tons.

When the famous fossil hunter Vito “Megalodon” Bertucci set out to reassemble a megalodon jaw, the project took him almost 20 years to complete. The result was the largest jaw ever reconstructed, measuring 11 feet across and almost 9 nine feet high. 

Scientists could never explain why the massive species suddenly disappeared, but the new study proposes that an exploding star may be responsible. The researchers explain that energetic particles from an exploding star would have increased the flow of atmospheric particles called muons by several hundred times. 

“We find that the radiation dose from the muons will exceed the total present surface dose from all sources at depths up to 1 km and will persist for at least the lifetime of marine megafauna,” wrote the study authors. “It is reasonable to hypothesize that this increase in radiation load may have contributed to a newly documented marine megafaunal extinction at that time.”

Muons are created when cosmic rays collide with atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere, where they travel at the speed of light and rain down on the planet from every angle. 

“While still preliminary, these results may provide clues as to what may have led to the demise of O. megalodon during the Pliocene,” wrote the researchers.

“Cooling of ocean temperatures during the Pliocene would have constrained the species to lower latitudes where ocean temperatures were warmer, whilst its preferred prey (e.g., whales) evolved traits to adapt to cooler temperatures of the higher latitudes.”

“Therefore, large climatic shifts combined with evolutionary limitations may provide the ‘smoking gun’ for the extinction of the largest shark species to ever roam the planet.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://astrobiology.com/">Astrobiology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

An exploding star may have killed off the shark megalodon

A study led by astrophysicist Adrian Melott at the University...

Pit bulls are often perceived to be an aggressive breed which affects both the animals and their owners through breed-specific legislation, housing restrictions and social disapproval. While dog bite statistics are often used to justify this viewpoint, animal advocates warn that these statistics often do not show the full story.

Pit bulls first came under the spotlight in the 1980s when news stories proliferated about pit bull attacks. These stories inspired the passage of laws to cprohibit and regulate certain breeds of dogs living in a municipality, often called breed-specific legislation.

One <a href="https://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/1979-1988-dog-bite-related-fatalities.pdf">study</a> on dog bite-related fatalities from 1979 to 1988 found that pit bulls were the most common breed involved in fatalities. A subsequent <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10997153">study</a> found that pit bulls and Rottweilers represented over half of dog bite fatalities between 1979 and 1998.

But animal advocates argue that certain factors can affect dog bite statistics. For one thing, pit bull is not a breed of dog. The term “pit bull” describes a category of dogs who have similar characteristics- similar to terrier and shepherd dogs. Breeds such as the American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier and Staffordshire bull terrier are often lumped into this classification, along with other breeds of dogs that simply resemble pit bulls. Therefore, studies that analyze dog bites may be inflating the numbers of pit bulls by including multiple breeds of dogs.

Victims and witnesses of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/anxious-people-bitten-dog/">dog bites</a> may also inadvertently misidentify the breed of the animal. A<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26403955"> study</a> of shelter staff and veterinarians found that the participants over-identified dogs as pit bulls. Only 25 pit bull-type breeds were used in the study, yet participants labeled 62 dogs as pit bulls.

Additionally, victims may be more likely to report dog bites from breeds they deem dangerous over less intimidating breeds. A<a href="https://www.savemarylandpets.org/sites/default/files/files/basic/dogbite.pdf"> report</a> by the Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions state, “Dog bite statistics are not really statistics, and they do not give an accurate picture of dogs that bite. Invariably the numbers will show that dogs from popular large breeds are a problem. This should be expected, because big dogs can physically do more damage if they do bite, and any popular breed has more individuals that could bite.”

The breed most associated with pit bulls- the American pit bull terrier- has a<a href="https://atts.org/breed-statistics/statistics-page1/"> temperament score</a> of 87.4%. The breed’s temperament is found by having trained evaluators score individuals for signs of panic, avoidance and aggression. The American pit bull terrier ranks higher than the average overall rate of 83.4% and higher than beloved species such the Golden retriever and Siberian husky. The Staffordshire bull terrier ranks even higher at 90.9%.

PetMD<a href="https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_american_pit_bull_terrier"> describes</a> the American pit bull terrier as “noted for its playful temperament and friendly nature.. and has a strong desire to please people.” Despite their affectionate nature, pit bulls have struggled to recover from their negative stigma.

Recent studies examining dog bite statistics identify factors that may predict dog attacks more accurately than breed information.<a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.243.12.1726"> Studies</a> show that improperly confined, unsterilized male dogs who have been mismanaged or abused are more likely to attack. A person’s ignorance on interacting with and identifying dog behavior may increase the chances of an attack. Multiple studies have also found that children are at an increased risk of being bitten.

The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC) and the <a href="https://www.americanbar.org/">American Bar Association</a> suggest non-breed specific, dangerous dog laws over breed-specific legislation stating that emphasis should be placed on responsible ownership. The <a href="https://www.avma.org/">American Veterinary Medical Association</a> and <a href="https://nacanet.site-ym.com">National Animal Care and Control Association</a> also stand against breed-specific legislation.

Understanding the risk factors associated with dog bites can help identify and prevent dangerous incidents. As the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals<a href="https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-pit-bulls"> states</a>, “All dogs, including pit bulls, are individuals. Treating them as such, providing them with the care, training and supervision they require, and judging them by their actions and not by their DNA or their physical appearance is the best way to ensure that dogs and people can continue to share safe and happy lives together.”

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Pit bull bite statistics do not always show the full story

Pit bulls are often perceived to be an aggressive breed...

Under a reciprocal wildlife agreement, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to transfer a small population of mountain gorillas to Zimbabwe.  Observers are concerned about this exchange of wildlife, which is supposed to help strengthen gorilla populations. 

The transfer is part of a reciprocal agreement between Zimbabwe and the DRC, with <a href="http://zimparks.org/donation-of-10-white-rhinos-to-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-drc/">Zimbabwe transferring 10 white rhinoceros</a> to the DRC.  The transfer of the rhinos has been criticized as well.  It’s unknown where the rhinos will end up in the DRC, a country with a history of violence and instability that has threatened its own population of rhinos.       

Zimpark, the official park system of Zimbabwe, has previously sold animals, including elephants to China to be put on display in zoos.  The government of Zimbabwe says the same thing won’t happen with the gorillas but outside wildlife advocates are unconvinced. 

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jul/02/outrage-alleged-plan-export-rare-animals-democratic-republic-congo-china-gorillas-endangered-species-zoos">The Guardian</a> reported last year that a letter from the DRC’s environmental minister to a Chinese company referring to a request for endangered species to be put on display in China was leaked.  The letter was posted on Twitter by environmental activists and makes requests for specific animals. The Chinese company asked for 12 mountain gorillas, 16 bonobos, 16 chimpanzees, 8 African manatees and 20 okapi.  The Okapi is an animal related to the giraffe but appearing more zebra like to a casual observer. 

All of these animals are threatened with extinction and Bonobos are found only in the DRC.  The request was apparently made for a zoo in Eastern China. These animals would necessarily be captured in the wild, as the DRC doesn’t have them in captivity already, much less any population bred in captivity.  The DRC government responded to the outcry by environmental advocacy groups stating that no agreement has been finalized with China and the deal is being evaluated under CITES, an international trade agreement restricting the sale and trade of endangered species.  

The fear of these animals being exported for display in China feeds greater fears over the rising power of China in Africa.  I’ve personally seen the quick pace of development that Chinese money can spur in Africa. In places like Equatorial Guinea large modern cities with new high rise buildings can lie within fifty miles of villages made of huts with no electricity or running water just being connected to roads within the last few years.  In Madagascar, I’ve also noticed large amounts of businesses being run by outsiders, including Chinese businesses. 

I recently talked to a paleontologist who works with crocodilian fossils in Kenya, he told me that development of roads by Chinese companies and engineers has made drives that once took 12 to 15 hours into 8 hour trips.  Development and money poured into Africa by China (and others) may sometimes have a local benefit but largely the idea is to take more than is put in. Some observers worry that as China wields a greater influence across Africa, wildlife will pay the cost.  

Adding to these fears, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/29/world/asia/china-rhino-tiger-poaching.html">The New York Times</a> reported in October that China has reversed its ban on the use of rhino and tiger parts in traditional ‘medicine’.  This fear is already partially realized in the trade of animals like pangolins for Chinese medicine but putting animals like gorillas on display in China could be just as detrimental.

The greatest fear for many wildlife advocates is that the transfer of gorillas, rhinos and other wildlife between Zimbabwe and the DRC is merely a smoke screen to allow their sale to China.    

<a href="https://conservcongo.wordpress.com/contact/about/">Conserv Congo</a>, the non-profit that leaked the letter between the DRC environmental minister and the Chinese company, seems especially concerned about the gorillas.  Quoting a UN report, they say that by the mid 2020s, gorillas could be gone from large areas of the Congo region. It’s a real possibility that the charismatic great ape could be extinct within our lifetimes, especially when government agencies are so quick to sell out their survival.       

<a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2018/11/plan-to-ship-gorillas-from-drc-to-zimbabwe-raises-alarm/">Mongabay</a> reported that even if the wildlife transferred from the DRC is housed in Zimbabwe, it isn’t clear where exactly the animals will end up.  Nyanga, a high elevation area in Manicaland province, is a possibility but it isn’t suitable for the gorillas or the Okapi. It seems likely that the animals will end up in an outside zoo enclosure, a scenario not so much better than their captive display in China unless the animals bred successfully, supporting the growth or stability of wild populations.

Another great fear of transferring gorillas is the spread of ebola.  Gorillas carry ebola, a disease known from the equatorial region of Africa, including the DRC.  Moving gorillas around Africa could spread ebola with them, causing huge problems for humans and perhaps other wildlife in Zimbabwe.  <a href="http://www.thezimbabwenewslive.com/business-49919-ebola-fears-drc-plans-to-export-gorillas-okapi-to-zimbabwe.html">Zimbabwe News Live</a> cites local concern over ebola:

“Journalist Violet Gonda said Zimbabwe was “entering uncharted territory”. Noting that gorillas in particular were sensitive animals, she wondered: “Can Zimbabwe’s fragile health care system handle Ebola risks?...Sekuru Kurasha, on Twitter, said: “Seriously, there are so many other issues that need to be dealt with in Zimbabwe right now. Gorillas aren’t native to Zimbabwe, so leave them alone. You’re failing to combat cholera and now importing ebola? Bring Investors Not Gorillas!””   

Zimpark responded to fears over ebola by saying the great apes are tested for the disease before being brought to Zimbabwe.  There is one very good question raised though: why bring a wild animal that isn’t native into a country? Whether Africa or China, it seems little good can come to gorillas captured in the wild.  It also seems unlikely that white rhinos would fare well in the DRC, a country that’s lost their own rhinoceros population largely through poaching. 

<a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2018/10/21/rhino-donation-raises-eyebrows/">The Standard</a>, a Zimbabwe news organization, reported in an article I can’t substantiate that one of the ten rhinos destined for the DRC was shot in captivity in October due to aggressive behavior towards a Zimpark employee.  The report comes from the British non-profit Bring Back our Rhinos, an organization also calling for an accounting of the death and the other rhinos set to be introduced into the DRC. Even if the rhinos are introduced successfully into the DRC, it seems unlikely that the government will be able to stop the country’s long term poaching problem.        

--

By <a href="http://mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

The trouble with ‘wildlife exchanges’ between African countries

Under a reciprocal wildlife agreement, the government of the Democratic...

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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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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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 



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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



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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



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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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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



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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



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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



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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



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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



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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



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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



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Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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