In a fascinating new study, scientists documented 34 attempts by wild killer whales to give food to humans. These rare cases spanned four oceans and 20 years. Some happened near boats, others in open water or even from the shore. 



The events highlight the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/killer-whales-use-kelp-to-massage-and-groom-each-other/">orcas</a>’ possible interest in humans and raise important questions about whale intelligence, communication, and social behavior.



“Orcas often share food with each other - it’s a prosocial activity and a way that they build relationships with each other,” said study lead author Jared Towers, of <a href="https://baycetology.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bay Cetology</a> in British Columbia, Canada. “That they also share with humans may show their interest in relating to us as well.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-lives-of-killer-whales">Social lives of killer whales</h2>



Orcas live some of the most complex social lives in the animal kingdom. They stick together in tight-knit family groups called pods, usually led by an older matriarch. 



These family units aren’t just casual gatherings - they’re lifelong bonds. Calves stay with their mothers for life, swimming, hunting, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/photographer-captures-killer-whales-wearing-fish-hats/">playing together</a>. 



In some regions, pods form larger communities or clans that share unique vocal dialects, kind of like cultural accents passed down through generations. This tight social structure helps them coordinate during hunts and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/killer-whales-use-kelp-to-massage-and-groom-each-other/">protect each other</a> from threats.



But it’s not all business. Orcas socialize for the joy of it too. They engage in what clearly looks like play - tossing kelp, breaching dramatically, or nudging one another during underwater games. 



They form friendships beyond their pods and even flirt, showing preferences and personalities. These interactions suggest that orcas have emotional lives and a sense of identity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-orcas-gave-humans">What orcas gave humans</h2>



The 34 incidents involved six distinct populations of killer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-helps-humans-have-20-minute-conversation-with-humpback-whale-named-twain/">whales</a>. They offered humans a total of 18 species: six fish, five mammals, three invertebrates, two birds, one reptile, and even one piece of seaweed.



In 97 percent of these cases, the orcas waited for a human response. Some hovered for several minutes. 



On several occasions, they tried again when the humans ignored or returned the offering. In two especially curious cases, whales retrieved birds after humans returned them, only to offer them again.



This behavior could be a form of interspecies curiosity, communication, or even social learning. As the authors suggest, these events might represent "generalized altruism" - an advanced trait observed in only a few social animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploration-more-than-play">Exploration more than play</h2>



Though play was observed in 38 percent of the interactions, the researchers argue most cases were not playful. The age of the whales varied widely, and many offered whole, fresh prey. 



In over 75 percent of ignored cases, the whales later used the prey for themselves or their group. This suggests the offerings had purpose and value, not just entertainment.



Curiosity-driven behavior, distinct from play, seemed a stronger motivator. As the study explains, animals often explore to reduce uncertainty. 



Offering food to humans might help orcas learn how we respond, just as they would with unfamiliar members of their own <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whales-blow-bubble-smoke-rings-near-humans-to-communicate/">species</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-social-intelligence-at-work">Deep social intelligence at work</h2>



Some whales returned the same item to humans multiple times. Others acted in pairs or small groups. 



Most of the 34 events involved a single whale separating from a larger group. This suggests the act was not for show. Rather, it might reflect the whale's individual decision to interact.



Interestingly, killer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-dolphin-brains-evolved-to-see-underwater-by-using-sound-echolocation/">whales</a> have also been documented cooperating with human fishers in places like Australia and Russia. The authors noted that this history could influence modern interactions, especially as human activity increases near their habitats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-whales-may-view-humans-as-companions">Whales may view humans as companions</h2>



Killer whales rank second only to humans in brain-to-body ratio. They also show advanced emotional and social behavior. 



These traits support complex social learning, reciprocal behavior, and possibly even empathy.



“Offering items to humans could simultaneously include opportunities for killer whales to practice learned cultural behavior, explore or play and in so doing learn about, manipulate or develop relationships with us,” the researchers wrote.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-humans-should-not-approach-whales">Humans should not approach whales</h2>



Despite the remarkable nature of these encounters, the researchers urge caution. Orcas can show complex and sometimes unpredictable behavior. 



While no wild killer whale has killed a person, some interactions have been intense. They warn against seeking out such encounters or encouraging the behavior without proper permissions.



Most of these whales belonged to populations that hunt near the surface and share prey frequently. 



No deep-water, fish-only populations were involved. This suggests that cooperative surface hunting may lead to more frequent and visible interspecies interactions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-minds-of-whales-and-humans">Complex minds of whales and humans</h2>



The findings challenge our assumptions about human-animal relationships. If orcas are experimenting with ways to relate to us, it means they recognize us not as threats, but as potential social partners.



These whales are not just predators. They are thinkers, observers, and maybe, in some way, explorers of culture, curiosity, memory, learning, and emotion. 



Their actions suggest complex minds in both whales and humans, capable of choice, empathy, and communication.



The study is published in the <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2026-29805-001.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Comparative Psychology</a>. 



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Killer whales are attempting to bond with humans, according to scientists

In a fascinating new study, scientists documented 34 attempts by wild killer whales to give food to humans. These rare cases spanned four oceans and 20 years. Some happened near boats, others in open water or even from the shore. The events highlight the orcas’ possible interest in humans and raise important questions about whale intelligence, communication, and social behavior. “Orcas often share food with each other - it’s a prosocial activity and a way that they build relationships with each other,” said study lead author Jared...

A new study led by researchers at the <a href="https://www.zsl.org/">Zoological Society of London</a> is warning that the genetic diversity of African lions has declined substantially since the late 19th century, leaving the animals more susceptible to reduced fitness and resilience. In the KAZA region, up to 17 percent of genetic variation has been lost among lions since 1895.

“The dramatic population decline of the African lion has made the protection of the remaining populations and the improvement of gene flow between populations of the utmost importance and has led to a number of transboundary conservation initiatives, such as the Kavango–Zambezi transfrontier conservation area (KAZA),” wrote the study authors. 

“The size of the KAZA region and its ability to support a large number of lion prides, results in it being considered one of the few remaining strongholds for the lion population.”

A drop in genetic diversity means that the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rhino-poachers-killed-lions/">lions</a> will be less capable of handling changes in their environment.

“If you lose some of those populations, or they’re not mixing, you’re going to lose the overall population’s ability to withstand change. It could be climate change, it could be disease. It’s the ability to withstand the unknown,” study lead author Simon Dures told <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a>.

Many of the lions that were killed in the KAZA region by a 19th-century British hunter, Frederick Selous, ended up at the Natural History Museum in London. The team used 27 of these samples to compare the DNA to modern lions. 


“The rapid decline observed in allelic richness and the highest levels of genetic differentiation coincide with the arrival of the first western settlers in 1890 and the subsequent rise of the colonial presence in the region after the end of the Matabele Wars in 1897,” said Dures.

“Furthermore, modern firearms became more prevalent following European settlement and predators were often persecuted as vermin, which likely contributed to the earlier decline of lions in the study region.’

“While the timing of genetic decline and colonial settlement is compelling enough to suggest causation, the evidence is not conclusive.”


According to the study authors, the findings emphasize the need for improved connectivity between protected areas in order to prevent further loss of genetic diversity in the region.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14724642">Diversity and Distributions</a>.
--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

African lions are losing their genetic diversity and resilience

A new study led by researchers at the Zoological Society...

An international team of researchers led by the <a href="https://warwick.ac.uk/">University of Warwick</a> has sequenced and analyzed the genome of the milkweed bug. The study is providing new insight into the diet and colors of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/insects-extinct-century/">insects</a>. 

The Hemiptera are a diverse insect order, with between 50,000 to 80,000 species including the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus.


“Milkweed bugs are a great species to study,” said lead investigator and species coordinator Kristen Panfilio. “They have served as a research model for ecology, metabolism, development, and genetics since the mid-twentieth century, in part because they are very easy to keep. In fact, the strain we sequenced for the genome project is also used in school classrooms, as the bugs are a beautiful red-orange and black colour throughout their life cycles.”

Milkweed is a toxic food source, and the insect’s bright red-orange color serves as a warning to predators that the bugs would taste bad. This is the same coloration seen in monarch butterflies, which share the same food source. The researchers found that the bugs and butterflies have different enzymes for handling essential amino acids.

“Having worked on wing development for over fifteen years, it is exciting that we now have access to the genome to fully analyze some of these very complex genes,” said study co-author Deniz Erezyilmaz.

[caption id="attachment_1870647" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/adult-milkweed-bug.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870647" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/adult-milkweed-bug.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="479" /></a> Adult milkweed bug, Image Credit: Jena Johnson[/caption]

The researchers also determined that species with highly specialized liquid diets tend to lose certain metabolic enzymes along with the range of their smell and taste receptors. By contrast, the milkweed bug retains a much fuller collection of sensory proteins. 

Furthermore, the genome analysis revealed that milkweed bugs and some of their relatives such as the stink bug have newly acquired genes from bacteria, some of which provide enzymes that help them digest the tough cellulose found in plant tissues. According to the researchers, knowing which genes support an invasive species' diet can help in developing pest management strategies. 

“As genome sequencing projects continue to venture out into the wider array of insect and animal diversity, knowledge of gene properties in larger genomes will be increasingly important,” said study co-author Robert Waterhouse.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/">Genome Biology</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: Deniz Erezyilmaz

Milkweed bug genome analysis reveals secrets of insect diets

An international team of researchers led by the University of...

Scientists have recently identified three new genus groups and one new species of wood-boring clams. Beyond the finding that this family tree is larger and more diverse than what was previously known, the experts noted that the clams play an important role in cleaning up the wood that accumulates in the bottom of the ocean. 

As tiny <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/clams-worms-high-methane/">clams</a> bore into waterlogged wood on the seafloor, they eat the shavings with help from special bacteria in their gills. This makes them some of the only animals on the planet that eat wood. According to the study, the creatures then live the rest of their lives with their heads down in the holes they dug, using tube-like organs called siphons to pull in water and extract oxygen from it. 

Study lead author Janet Voight is an associate curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a>.

[caption id="attachment_1870637" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/How-tiny-clams-play-an-important-role-in-keeping-ecosystems-healthy.jpeg"><img class="wp-image-1870637" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/How-tiny-clams-play-an-important-role-in-keeping-ecosystems-healthy.jpeg" alt="" width="650" height="487" /></a> Image Credit: Image Credit: Angelo Bernardino and Paulo Sumida[/caption]

“There's not just one tree-cleaner-upper in the ocean, they're really diverse,” said Voight. “Imagine living at the bottom of the ocean as a tiny swimming clam; you either have to find a sunken piece of wood or die. You wouldn't think there'd be that many kinds of clams doing this. But we've now found that there are six different groups, called genera, and around sixty different species.”

While studying the DNA of deep-sea wood-eating clams, the researchers determined that there are at least six different genera that make up the family. Three of these genera are being described for the first time, as well as one previously unknown species. Even though the clams are tiny, they can settle in massive numbers and greatly improve the health of their deep-sea ecosystems. 

“We have no idea how much wood is at the bottom of the ocean, but there's probably a lot more than we think,” said Voight. “After big storms, we estimate that millions of tons of wood are washed out to sea. What if these clams weren't there to help eat it? Think how long it would take the wood to rot. The clams contribute to the cycling of carbon, they play an integral part in making the wood into something that the other animals at the bottom of the ocean can get energy from. It could even affect sea level rise. It blows me away.”

The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mollus">Journal of Molluscan Studies</a>.
--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How tiny clams play an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy

Scientists have recently identified three new genus groups and one...

In their research to determine why so many <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/fungal-disease-mass-amphibian-extinction/">amphibian</a> species are dying out, scientists at the <a href="https://www.wlv.ac.uk/">University of Wolverhampton</a> and <a href="https://www.salford.ac.uk/">University of Salford</a> are asking for your help. The researchers are attempting to gather as much data as possible from publicly provided toad samples – in the form of either mouth swabs of living animals or toe-tips from dead toads.

“We are really interested in having as many people from across the UK helping to collect as many genetic samples as possible,” Rémi Martin, a PhD candidate conducting the research, told <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/">The Times</a>. “These samples can be in the form of ‘toe-tips’ from toads killed on roads or buccal swabs from live toads. If people want to get involved, then they should email us and we will send out a sampling pack.”

Their research is being conducted in partnership with <a href="http://amphibian-reptile-conservation.org/">Amphibian and Reptile Conservation</a> (ARC). 

“We will use the data to look at how genetic diversity in toad populations may have changed over time or by area, how this may be affecting some populations in the modern landscape, and how declines might be addressed through conservation,” Dr. John Wilkinson, the supervisor of this research who also works for the ARC, told <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/">The Times</a>. “Samples from all populations are useful but we would be particularly interested in sites with some history – that is, known not to have declined or known to have been through a decline already.”

A recent study published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a> found that 90 amphibian species have already died out as a result of a single deadly fungal disease. This disease, known as Chytrid fungus disease, is caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochyrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The fungus kills amphibians by damaging their skin, destroying their immune systems, and even causing heart failure. It is believed to be responsible for killing off hundreds of amphibian species, and could potentially be a threat to one-third of the world’s frogs and salamanders.

So if you want to help out our amphibian friends in the face of this fearless fungus, get in touch with the ARC and keep your eyes peeled for toads to sample.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How you can help frogs by cutting off their toes (after they’re dead)

In their research to determine why so many amphibian species...

One especially skilled dog recently broke the elevation record for canine mountaineers.  Dogs are actually quite commonly encountered on mountaineering trips in the Himalayas. In his book, <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Uwj-BBsM3SYC&amp;q=Key#v=snippet&amp;q=Pack&amp;f=false">Merle’s Door</a>, author Ted Kerasote recounted a climb where he carried a stray dog he named ‘the Khyi’ who was determined to follow him:

“I took off my pack and opened it wide.  Since the ropes and ice-climbing equipment were being employed on the mountain, I now had extra room.  Lifting the Khyi by his armpits, I slipped him into the pack tail-first. He didn’t protest in the least, and I continued up the ropes…Occasionally the load pulled me off my stance, my crampons scraping across the ice as I swung on the rope.  The Khyi didn’t stir. When I looked around, he met my eye and gave me a steady look, unfazed by the steep angle.”

On Mt. Hood, an 11,249 ft volcanic peak in Oregon’s Cascade mountains, a dog was attributed with saving the lives of mountaineers.  <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dog-helped-saved-mount-hood-climbers/">CBS News</a> reports that climbers cuddled up next to a black lab named Velvet when trapped on the mountain in a snowstorm.  Rescuers attributed the safety of the climbers partially to the dog’s body heat. The climbers were also able to be found by using emergency location beacons the Sheriff’s department used to locate them on the mountain and bring them down safely.  

Hiking mountains in Colorado and parts of Wyoming, it’s common to see dogs along for the trip.  Plenty of cattle dogs, labs and other mid to large sized dogs climb some of Colorado’s highest peaks each year under their own power.  I’ve also seen some chihuahuas and other small dogs partially carried to the top. Our Shih Tzu Zari has taken a ride in my pack up several Colorado peaks.  Mountains are still mountains though, and some people underestimate the hardship dogs face while climbing. 

Sometimes, dogs run into trouble and need rescuing themselves.  <a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/1870206/dog-left-die-mountain">Outside Online</a> reported in 2012 on a German Shepherd left alone at 13,000 feet elevation on the 14,264 ft Mt. Bierstadt.  The dog was left alone in cold weather with no food, no shelter and little water for seven days. The climb down from the mountain turned out to be more than the dog’s owner could handle while also taking care of his dog.  Assuming the dog died of exposure that first night, the man gave up. Fortunately for the dog, other brave volunteers climbed the mountain and took turns carrying her in a backpack on the climb down. It’s stories like this that make many mountaineers discourage dogs from tagging along on climbing trips.  

In fact, the <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mountaineering-experts-warn-climbers-against-bringing-dogs-on-difficult-trips/">Seattle Times</a> reports that mountaineers strongly discourage people from bringing dogs on any serious climbs like the one Velvet attempted on Mt. Hood.  Every climb and every dog is different though, and there is a distinction to be made between mountaineering and hiking a mountain.            

Recently, stray dog found in the Himalayas named Mera showed that it’s not always up to humans to set a dog’s climbing goals.  Mountaineers were climbing Baruntse when Mera started following them. Generally, mountaineers under such demanding and dangerous conditions discourage dogs from following them, for the safety of everyone involved.  But Mera showed herself determined and continued to persevere. 

Baruntse is by the standards of Nepal not incredibly impressive at only 23,389 ft elevation above sea level compared with the highest elevation of Mt. Everest at 29,029 ft.  By world standards though, Baruntse is very high. The highest peak in North America, Mt. Denali, is shorter at 20,310 ft elevation. Despite the obstacles of elevation, cold weather and rough terrain, Mera was determined to climb the mountain.  

<a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/2390456/first-dog-ascent-baruntse-nepal">Outside Online</a> reported earlier this year on the mountaineering expedition that Mera tagged along on.  The trip was led by Washington mountaineer <a href="https://www.alpineascents.com/guides/don-wargowsky/">Don Wargowsky</a>, who was one of the first to take a liking to Mera.  The team was about a third of their way into a month long expedition on Mera Peak when the dog Mera came running to them, earning her name.  Wargowsky supplied Mera with pieces of meat and a sleeping pad and jacket to use as a nest inside his tent. 

After Mera Peak, the team started up Baruntse where Mera truly showed her mettle.  After following Sherpas to where they were setting up fixed ropes, Mera seemed spooked by the steep terrain and refused to follow them back to base camp.  Mera spent two nights at high elevation by herself before again being reunited with the climbers. The Sherpas took her back down with them after setting up routes to higher climbing camps.  Mera’s paws were bloody and injured but she seemed undeterred.

[caption id="attachment_1870576" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Baruntse.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870576" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Baruntse.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="385" /></a> Baruntse[/caption]

Sherpas in Nepal live in an area with widespread rabies among street dogs and the animals are not always treated well.  Initially, the Sherpas seemed to only tolerate Mera but her prowess impressed everyone and it became clear that she is a very special dog.  Mera showed that not only was she tough but also determined. 

During a particularly rough part of the climb, Wargowsky tied Mera up at camp to keep her safe.  Mera just chewed through the rope and ran to catch up. Another time, Mera slipped on what could have lead to a 600 foot fall but was caught by Wargowsky.  On the day the mountaineering team was set to climb to the summit, Mera was left at 2am sleeping in the tent. 

Hours later, Mera sprinted up to the human climbers catching them after giving them a serious head start.  In the end, Mera climbed to the top of Baruntse under her own power, a challenging feet for many humans. This is, as far as anyone can tell, an elevation record for dogs.  On the descent, a harness was made for Mera and she was clipped with a carabiner into a rope to keep her safe. 

At the end of the trip, the base camp manager, a Sherpa, adopted Mera.  Because the team was flying back to Kathmandu and dogs can’t fly on such trips, someone was paid $100 to walk three days to take Mera another three days to the nearest bus ride to her new home in Kathmandu.  Mera’s name was changed to Baru in honor of her achievement. Now, Baru has healed from her mountaineering wounds and put on weight she lost, perhaps preparing for a new adventure. 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Main Image Credit: Don Wargowsky

The remarkable dog who broke a climbing record in the Himalayas

One especially skilled dog recently broke the elevation record for...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tourism-light-pollution-sea-turtle/#.XJ5D75hKhPY">Sea turtles</a> including loggerheads, Kemp’s ridleys, and green turtles are washing up on beaches on Cape Cod in ever-increasing numbers. 

The mass stranding of sea turtles in the area could be linked to climate change as the sea turtles are lulled into the Cape during the summer due to spikes in summer sea temperatures. But when winter sets in and the waters turn cold, the turtles find themselves trapped. 

The <a href="https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/wellfleet-bay">Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary</a> has seen more and more turtles stranded through the years. This year, 829 turtles were recovered from beaches, ten times more than what was recorded in 2008 and double the number of turtles stranded in 2016. 

Volunteers comb the beaches or use boats to rescue turtles in the ocean and bring them to a sea turtle hospital in New England where the goal is rehabilitation. 

Cape Cod has one of the largest annual turtle strandings in the world and exactly what drives these mass strandings is unclear. 

One <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211503">PLOS ONE study</a> recently found that warmer sea-surface temperatures were behind strandings of Kemp’s ridley turtles. 

“This is particularly alarming, considering the Gulf of Maine is predicted to continue to warm at a rapid rate in coming decades,” the researchers wrote in their study. 

2,349 Kemp’s ridleys could be stranded on beaches if the warming trends continue in the Gulf, according to the study. 

However, while warming could be driving recent strandings, some experts argue that the number of turtles that wash up on beaches is proof that the conservation measures have been successful and that more of the population has recovered compared to previous decades. 

Whatever the reason, the fact of the matter is the Cape is a deadly hook-like trap for sea turtles. 

“They know they have to leave but the Cape is like a trap — a hook within a hook,” Bob Prescott, the director of the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and a co-author on the PLOS ONE paper, told the Associated Press. “This is our worst nightmare. There are so many turtles getting cold-stunned and washing up on the beaches. There would be tides where you'd find 30, 40, 50 turtles.”

When the turtles are rescued, they often have hypothermia and pneumonia. 

It takes a long, gradual process to get the turtles warmed up and into saltwater tanks that resemble their preferred habitat. 

In the sea turtle hospital, there can be as many 150 turtles at one time depending on how many are rescued and released. 

“This is what we are here for, to get these guys released,” Adam Kennedy, a biologist at New England Aquarium's sea turtle hospital in Quincy, Massachusetts, told the AP. “It's bittersweet because you spend so much time with them, but ultimately every one of these guys getting back to the ocean helps the population.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Hundreds of sea turtles end up stranded on Cape Cod beaches each winter

Sea turtles including loggerheads, Kemp’s ridleys, and green turtles are...

A team of scientists from <a href="https://www.lsu.edu/">Louisiana State University</a> led the reconstruction of a family tree connecting all major lineages of perching birds, also known as passerines. The tree includes over 6,000 diverse species, and was pieced together using information from 221 bird specimens from 48 countries, and 56 tissue samples from the <a href="https://www.lsu.edu/mns/collections/genetic-resources.php">LSU Museum of Natural Science's Collection of Genetic Resources</a>. The tree will be published in <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> on April 1st.

Furthermore, scientists were able to extract <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sleep-deprivation-damages-dna-cancer/">DNA</a> that represents all passerine families and sequence it to see how passerines are related and how they diversified throughout history.

"In addition to inferring how these species are related, our in-depth study found that changes in global temperature or colonization of new continents were not the sole drivers of passerine diversification, as previously suggested,” said lead author Carl Oliveros, a postdoctoral researcher in the <a href="https://www.lsu.edu/science/biosci/">LSU Department of Biological Sciences</a>. “Instead, our results indicate more complex mechanisms were at play to spark bursts of passerine speciation around the globe.”

Over the past 30 years, the number of known passerine families has spiked from 46 to 137. Of those new families, Oliveros and his team identified two new African passerine species (Green Hylia and the Tit-hylia) as well as locate molecular support for the recognition of five additional passerine families previously proposed in other studies, thus bringing the new total number of passerine families to 143.

[caption id="attachment_1870589" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Cape-Sugarbird.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870589" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Cape-Sugarbird.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="433" /></a> Cape Sugarbird, Image Credit: Daniel J. Field, University of Cambridge[/caption]

"In our ongoing work piecing together the evolutionary history of all bird species, natural history museum research collections like the one we have here at the LSU Museum of Natural Science have been absolutely essential,” said co-author Brant Faircloth, an assistant professor in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences and a faculty associate at the LSU Museum of Natural Science. 

“By sequencing DNA from these invaluable specimens using new technologies,” he continued, “we can begin to understand how species evolved over the course of millions of years at a resolution that is unprecedented.”

"This study showcases the critical importance of museum collections in explaining the living world," said David Cannatella, a program director at the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a>. "By integrating modern, cutting-edge analysis of bird specimens with the legacy of natural history, the authors have uncovered valuable insights into how Earth history has influenced species diversity and what it means for the future of life on Earth."

Oliveros notes that this reconstruction of the passerine family tree is just the beginning of what scientists can do for other bird species in the future.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Main Image Credit: Daniel J. Field, University of Cambridge

New perching bird family tree reveals complex diversification process

A team of scientists from Louisiana State University led the...

A marine heat wave in Western Australia that had lasting impacts on <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/algae-neurodegenerative-disease-dolphins/">dolphin populations</a> may be a disturbing sign of things to come, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html">University of Zurich</a> (UZH). The researchers have determined that climate change will have more devastating consequences for marine mammals than what was previously realized.

In early 2011, a heat wave caused the water temperatures to rise to more than four degrees above the annual average in Shark Bay, Australia. The persistent heat caused a substantial loss of seagrass, which drives the Shark Bay ecosystem.

To investigate how this environmental damage affected the survival and reproduction of dolphins, the researchers used long-term data on hundreds of animals collected from 2007 to 2017. The study revealed that the survival rate of dolphins had dropped by 12 percent following the 2011 heat wave. The experts also noted that female dolphins were giving birth to fewer calves, even six years later. 

“The extent of the negative influence of the heat wave surprised us,” said study first author Sonja Wild. “It is particularly unusual that the reproductive success of females appears to have not returned to normal levels, even after six years.”

The heat wave did not have the same impact on all dolphins. For example, dolphins that use sponges as foraging tools were not as badly affected as those that do not use this technique.

[caption id="attachment_1870535" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dolphin-calf.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870535" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dolphin-calf.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="407"></a> Dolphin mother and calf, Image Credit: Sonja Wild[/caption]

“Nevertheless, our work raises concerns that such sudden events might have quite negative long-term effects even in groups of marine mammals that are known to adapt usually well to novel environmental conditions,” said Wild.

The study demonstrates that marine heat waves affect animals at the top of the marine food chain, and not just the organisms at the bottom. 

“Marine heat waves are likely to occur more frequently in the future due to climate change,” said study lead author Professor Michael Krützen. “This is worrying not only for the long-term prospects of marine mammal populations, but also for the entire oceanic ecosystems.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</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: Sonja Wild

Marine heat waves threaten the survival of dolphins and other mammals

A marine heat wave in Western Australia that had lasting...

Romeo, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/animals/sehuencas-water-frog-telmatobius-yuracare/#.XJ5ulphKhPY">Sehuencas water frog</a> collected from Bolivia ten years ago, has finally found his Juliet and the two seem to be settling in quite well together, according to the <a href="https://www.globalwildlife.org/">Global Wildlife Conservation</a> (GWC). 

It was believed that Romeo was one of the last of his kind and the hunt was on to find a mate fast. About a year after Romeo settled into captivity, the lonely frog started calling for a mate, but over the years those musical calls began slowing down. 

“When biologists collected Romeo 10 years ago, we knew the Sehuencas water frog, like other amphibians in Bolivia, was in trouble, but we had no idea we wouldn’t be able to find a single other individual in all this time,” said Arturo Muñoz, GWC associate conservation scientist.

A massive campaign was launched to find a Juliet for Romeo and help save the frogs from extinction. Last February, Global Wildlife Conservation, Match.com, and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MUSEOdOrbigny/">Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny</a> where Romeo lives, teamed up to give Romeo a global platform and even his very own <a href="https://www.globalwildlife.org/press-room/single-frog-seeks-mate-on-match-to-save-his-species/">dating profile on Match.com</a>.

The goal was to use Romeo’s profile to help raise funds for expeditions into areas of Bolivia where Sehuencas water frogs were once abundant and hopefully find Romeo’s other half.

After raising $25,000 and receiving worldwide attention, the Bolivian expeditions were hugely successful, and Romeo is now no longer the world’s loneliest frog. 

Juliet, a female of the species, was discovered in January of this year, and after taking careful measures to ensure that Juliet was cleared a deadly infectious disease called chytridiomycosis, the two went on their “first date.”

[caption id="attachment_1870515" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/frogs.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870515" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/frogs.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="319" /></a> Image Credit: Global Wildlife Conservation[/caption]

Researchers introduced the two frogs into a single tank to see how they would interact, and their first meeting went so well that Juliet moved into Romeo’s aquarium soon after. 

“When the fate of an entire species is on the line, there’s really no time for taking it slow before committing to moving in together,” said Teresa Camacho Badani, the museum’s chief of herpetology. “Romeo has been really sweet to Juliet, following her around the aquarium and sacrificing his worm meals for her. After he’s been alone for so long, it’s wonderful to see him with a mate finally.”

Romeo even started calling for a mate again when Juliet moved in but as far actual mating goes, the once single bachelor is having a hard time figuring out the right positions, according to Global Wildlife Conservation.

When frogs mate, the male takes a position called amplexus where he grasps the female and holds on, sometimes for weeks or months, until he can fertilize the female's eggs. 

Romeo has been able to get into the amplexus position but only a few times and not for very long. Still, having the two frogs together has provided a unique research opportunity to monitor their interacting together. 

“For now we’re keeping them together, and observing them, which as simple as it sounds, is already revealing previously unknown behaviors and answering natural history questions about this relatively unknown species,” said Chris Jordan, Global Wildlife Conservation’s Central America, and Tropical Andes coordinator. “It has served as a reminder of how little we know about a lot of the species with which we share this planet.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: <a href="https://www.globalwildlife.org/">Global Wildlife Conservation</a>

World's loneliest water frog finally gets a shot at love

Romeo, a Sehuencas water frog collected from Bolivia ten years...

Dubbed the “strangest parrot on Earth,” New Zealand's kakapo (caw-caw-poe) were on the brink of endangerment less than 50 years ago. But now, having found an entirely new population of kakapo, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-zealand-megathrust-earthquake/">New Zealand</a> conservationists are working hard to keep the population safe and grow their numbers.

The nocturnal kakapos have owl-like facial features. Standing at about two feet tall and boasting plump, green feathers, they are only able to waddle and climb rather than fly. Further, the kakapo can live between 60 and 90 years.

"As the largest parrot on Earth, (they are) quite the sight in person," Wes Sechrest of <a href="https://www.globalwildlife.org/">Global Wildlife Conservation</a> told the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/new-zealand-aims-to-save-the-strangest-parrot-on-earth/2019/03/22/9516a07e-3619-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html">Washington Post</a>. "They have a teddy-bear quality to them with their soft feathers, wide eyes and owl-like expressions." 

In 1977, after humans depleted the kakapos’ resources and predators helped wipe out the majority of the population, only 18 live kakapos — all male — were recorded. That is, however, until scientists discovered an entirely new population of kakapos. Conservationists blended the two groups on three small predator-free islands. Today, there are about 147 adult birds in New Zealand — about triple the population in 1995.

Because kakapos only breed when fruit-bearing trees bloom, this means that the years the trees don’t bloom, there is no kakapo breeding. So, scientists sometimes partake in assisted breeding. Females then lay up to four eggs, which hatch within 30 days, and are heavily monitored by conservationists via nest cameras, infrared beams, microchips, and radio transmitters fitted under the birds' wings. If chicks need help hatching, then eggs are placed into incubators while the mothers watch over “smart eggs” that wiggle and crack like real eggs to prepare the mother for caretaking.

You can follow kakapo news get involved in the conservation process and recovery efforts <a href="http://doc.govt.nz/our-work/kakapo-recovery">here</a>.

"Kakapo are amazing birds, unlike anything else on Earth," scientist Andrew Digby told the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/new-zealand-aims-to-save-the-strangest-parrot-on-earth/2019/03/22/9516a07e-3619-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html">Washington Post</a>. "But there are lots of other endangered species, including some near where you live. Once these species are gone, we'll never get them back. If you're interested, get involved in conservation. The best way to start is to volunteer at a reserve or sanctuary near where you live" and to join or learn about conservation groups.”

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/docnz/8528623525/">Department of Conservation</a>

New Zealand works to save the world’s largest parrot

Dubbed the “strangest parrot on Earth,” New Zealand's kakapo (caw-caw-poe)...

Scientists to use advanced IVF method to save the northern white rhino. Scientists at the <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a> are determined to save the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/northern-white-rhino-died/">Northern White Rhinoceros</a>, despite the fact that the animals are all but wiped out. In a desperate attempt to save the species, the team will use an advanced method of egg production and IVF treatment. 

After the last known male died last year, the Northern White rhino species has been narrowed to just two remaining females, Najin and Fatu. To further complicate matters, neither of these animals are capable of carrying a baby to term. Scientists to use advanced IVF method to save the northern white rhino

The Oxford researchers plan to remove ovarian tissue from the females, which will be stimulated to produce a potentially large number of eggs. Using sperm previously collected from males of the same species, the team will fertilize the eggs and implant the embryos into surrogate mothers. 

While this technique has been successfully performed in mice for many years, it has never been tested in a rhinoceros. The scientists are conducting a series of trials with ovarian tissue from a Southern White Rhinoceros to practice the procedure.


Dr. Suzannah Williams of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Women's &amp; Reproductive Health leads the <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2019/03/26/oxford-fertility-scientists-launch-last-ditch-bid-save-extinct/">Rhino Fertility Project</a>.

“With the death of the last male, Sudan, the Northern White Rhino has passed the point where it can be saved naturally and is a shade away from extinction. This will add yet another species to the list of those wiped out by humans,” said Dr. Williams.

“What is exciting about this research is that it could enable us to pull critically endangered species back from the brink by utilizing ovarian tissue from old or injured animals to produce offspring.”

“Once genetic variation within a population has been lost, it is lost forever. This makes it important for us to be able to maintain as many breeding individuals as possible in any conservation programme, to maximise genetic diversity of future populations. This will be a huge buffer against disease and ill health in the long-term, and give the new herds better genetic ability to adapt to changing environments in the future.”

Dr. Williams said that some researchers are exploring the possibility of using the remaining Northern White Rhino sperm to cross-breed with Southern White Rhinos to create a hybrid population, but she wants to focus on saving the Northern White Rhino as a unique species.

“If successful, this technique would be a powerful tool in the global effort to conserve endangered species.”

The research is funded by <a href="https://www.uopeople.edu/tuition-free/our-scholarships/fondation-hoffmann-scholarship/">Fondation Hoffmann</a>.
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Scientists to use advanced IVF method to save the northern white rhino

Scientists to use advanced IVF method to save the northern...

Pumpkin toadlets are colorful<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-golden-frog-species-ethiopia/#.XJ0ro5hKhPY"> miniature frogs</a> that live in the Brazilian Atlantic, but now researchers have discovered that these frogs are fluorescent.

In a new study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers led by <a href="https://nyuad.nyu.edu/">New York University Abu Dhabi </a>describe fluorescent patterns on the Pumpkin toadlet’s back and head, theorizing that these markings may help attract mates.

The researchers were studying the toadlets during mating season and the sounds they made. It was soon discovered that the frog couldn’t hear its own mating calls and so the researchers tried to find other visual cues that the frog might use for mating.

After viewing the frogs under an ultraviolet lamp, a series of small bony plates located on the back and head started glowing under the skin.

[caption id="attachment_1870432" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/pumpkin-toadlet.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1870432" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/pumpkin-toadlet.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="326" /></a> Pumpkin toadlet under natural light (left) and ultra-violet light (right). Image Credit: NYU Abu Dhabi Postdoctoral Associate Sandra Goutte[/caption]

The fluorescence is only visible in areas where the skin is extremely thin even though the frog’s whole skeleton is fluorescent. Once ultraviolet light passes through the frog, its skeleton reflects fluorescent light, and the bones under the thin skin appear bluish-white.

The researchers are not sure exactly what purpose this fluorescence serves and say future research is required to explore these visual cues better.

“The fluorescent patterns are only visible to the human eye under a UV lamp. In nature, if they were visible to other animals, they could be used as intra-specific communication signals or as reinforcement of their aposematic coloration, warning potential predators of their toxicity,” said Sandra Goutte, the leader of the study. “However, more research on the behavior of these frogs and their predators is needed to pinpoint the potential function of this unique luminescence.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: NYU Abu Dhabi Postdoctoral Associate Sandra Goutte

Tiny Brazilian frogs found to exhibit fluorescent patterns

Pumpkin toadlets are colorful miniature frogs that live in the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[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



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

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

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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"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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



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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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