The expansive journey of a young whale, tracked as she ventured across the Mediterranean Sea, serves as a poignant reminder of the multitude of threats marine creatures face today. 



A recent study highlights the vast distances these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-20-minute-conversation-with-a-humpback-whale-named-twain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">majestic beings</a> cover and the myriad dangers they encounter along the way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Young whale's journey in Mediterranean</h2>



Scientists tracked the movements of various marine species, including Cuvier’s beaked whales, bottlenose dolphins, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/sperm-whale-physeter-macrocephalus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sperm whales</a>, off the coast of Israel. 



Utilizing advanced tracking technology, they observed these species to understand their migration patterns and the challenges they face. 



Among the animals they studied, a young adult male sperm whale stood out due to its remarkable journey. This particular whale, previously spotted off the coast of southern France, exhibited an extraordinary range of travel. 



A dedicated team of researchers from Greenpeace, the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Exeter</a>, and the <a href="https://www.haifa.ac.il/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Haifa</a>, observed a unique <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/whales-face-increasing-dangers-along-their-migration-routes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migration</a> pattern in this particular whale.



It covered the longest recorded distance for a sperm whale within the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollution-in-the-mediterranean-sea-is-an-urgent-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean Sea</a>. This unprecedented movement not only highlights the whale's incredible endurance but also underscores the interconnectedness of marine habitats across the region. 



The whale’s journey serves as a crucial data point, illustrating the vast distances these creatures travel and the various threats they encounter, including heavy maritime traffic, pollution, and noise, which pose significant risks to their survival.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-young-whale-s-fight-for-survival">Young whale's fight for survival</h2>



The young whale's journey, filled with obstacles, underscores the perilous conditions marine animals endure. 



“Marine life in the Mediterranean faces numerous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-poses-unknown-threats-to-whales/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">threats</a> -- from fishing and pollution to noise and boat strikes,” explained Dr. Kirsten Thompson, from the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at the University of Exeter. 



She noted the whale likely navigated through either the Sicily Channel or the Strait of Messina -- both heavily trafficked and hazardous routes for deep-diving species like sperm whales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unified-call-for-conservation">Unified call for conservation</h2>



This research transcends being a mere account of migration; it serves as a powerful call to action for the protection of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/top-marine-predators-may-suffer-massive-habitat-loss-by-2100/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine habitats</a>. 



The study's findings revealed that the vocal patterns of whales off the Israeli coast matched those of whales across the Mediterranean. This match indicates a connected regional population, suggesting that these whales migrate and interact across vast distances. 



Such interconnectedness underscores the necessity for comprehensive conservation efforts that span national borders. Marine habitats face numerous threats, including <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-and-habitat-degradation-have-devastated-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">overfishing</a>, pollution, and maritime traffic, which endanger the lives of these majestic creatures. 



By highlighting the shared vocal patterns, the study on young whale across the Mediterranean emphasizes that protecting one region is insufficient. 



Effective conservation requires international collaboration and coordinated efforts to ensure the survival of these species. 



The research underscores the urgent need for protective measures and policy changes to safeguard the rich biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring a healthier environment for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-impacting-marine-life-more-than-we-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine life</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovative-solutions-for-marine-safety">Innovative solutions for marine safety</h2>



Dr. Thompson suggested that installing listening devices in narrow and shallow seas could pioneer an alert system to prevent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-new-approach-to-protecting-whales-from-ship-strikes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ship strikes</a> -- a significant threat to whales. This technological intervention could form a protective barrier around these vulnerable giants of the sea.



“The Mediterranean is the busiest sea in the world, with rich wildlife and a high human population. Unfortunately, some species like these threatened whales are facing further industrial development, with oil and gas exploration and the construction of a new gas pipeline between the eastern basin and Italy,” Dr. Thompson added. 



She highlighted how such developments not only challenge EU environmental protection laws but also threaten the survival of marine wildlife.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safeguarding-our-seas">Safeguarding our seas</h2>



The conclusions of this study of the young whale venturing across the Mediterranean Sea are based on visual-acoustic surveys conducted over a two-month period.



During that time, scientists captured multiple interactions with these magnificent creatures. The findings highlight the urgent need for further research to protect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dramatic-increase-in-shipping-traffic-threatens-marine-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine life</a> in the Eastern Mediterranean effectively.



By chronicling the journey and challenges faced by a young whale, the researchers aim to illuminate the widespread issues impacting all marine inhabitants. 



The adoption of advanced monitoring technologies coupled with stringent conservation measures is essential for creating a safer environment for the region’s marine species. 



These efforts are vital not only for preserving biodiversity but also for upholding the ecological integrity of one of the world’s most historically important seas.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aqc.4155" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems</a>.



-----



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



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



-----

Young whale's epic voyage exposes perils of the Mediterranean

The expansive journey of a young whale, tracked as she ventured across the Mediterranean Sea, serves as a poignant reminder of the multitude of threats marine creatures face today. A recent study highlights the vast distances these majestic beings cover and the myriad dangers they encounter along the way. Young whale's journey in Mediterranean Scientists tracked the movements of various marine species, including Cuvier’s beaked whales, bottlenose dolphins, and sperm whales, off the coast of Israel. Utilizing advanced tracking technology, they observed these species to understand their...

Tardigrades may be about half a millimeter in length, but don’t let their size fool you. These tiny survivors can withstand temperatures ranging from -457 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit – that’s not a typo. 

They can survive radiation at doses hundreds of times higher than amounts that would kill humans. They’re found all over the world in even the most extreme environs.

A new study is shedding light on how the diminutive creatures – also called water bears – do it.

One of the extremes tardigrades can survive is being dried out for long periods – up to five years. Though they’re not the only species that can survive desiccation, they don’t seem to work the same way brine shrimp or yeast do. Those creatures rely on the sugar trehalose to protect their cells when they’re dehydrated.

“How tardigrades survive desiccation has remained a mystery for more than 250 years. Trehalose, a disaccharide essential for several organisms to survive drying, is detected at low levels or not at all in some tardigrade species, indicating that tardigrades possess potentially novel mechanisms for surviving desiccation,” a team of scientists led by Dr. Thomas Boothby of the <a href="http://www.unc.edu/">University of North Carolina</a> wrote in the study.

So the scientists set out to figure out what mechanism the tiny survivors use instead.

They did that by studying tardigrades in unstressed, dehydrated and frozen states, including taking a peek at their genes. What they discovered is that one set of genes is expressed at a high level when the little creatures become dehydrated. These “intrinsically disordered proteins,” or TDPs, essentially turn water bears into glass, they reported.

 The scientists found similar genetic expressions in yeast, but due to a different protein, which may indicate convergent evolution, the scientists said.

The discovery goes beyond just figuring out how tiny survivors like tardigrades work their biological magic. 

“More broadly, our study highlights the diversity and functional role of disordered proteins in mediating stress tolerance,” the scientists wrote. “We anticipate that this work will serve as a foundation for pursuing long-term goals of the desiccation tolerance field, including the engineering of drought-resistant crops and the stabilization of sensitive pharmaceuticals and cells in a dry state.”

The study was published in <a href="http://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/fulltext/S1097-2765(17)30133-8">Molecular Cell</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Tiny survivors: how tardigrades withstand extreme conditions

Tardigrades may be about half a millimeter in length, but...

It’s long been known that the purpose of the fancy plumage of the peacock is to catch the eye of potential mates. The longer and wider and fancier the trail of colorful feathers, the more favorable notice it will get by mate-seeking peahens. 

But now new research, conducted by evolutionary biologists at <a href="https://www.tamu.edu/">Texas A&amp;M University</a>, indicates that the plumage also attracts the attention of other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimps-learnbeta-females/">males</a> – most likely for competitive reasons. Just sizing up the competition, so to speak.

The lynchpin of the study was the tiny headgear cameras that had to be attached to each peacock and peahen to track their eye movements as they interacted with others of their kind. What the researchers found is that the peacocks spent about one-third of their time checking out the base of the plumage of the peacock – the same area the peahens focused on. The width of this lower section of the plumage serves as an indication of the length of the feather trail.

The headgear had two cameras, so researchers could track both the movement of the eyes and the views seen by the birds.

What might have been the most surprising element of the research was in what the peacocks weren’t spending much time or attention on at all.

“They allocated less than 5 percent of their time during our sample periods gazing at females,” said the study, which was published in the current issue of the Journal of Experimental Biology.

--

Written by David Searls, Earth.com staff writer

Source:<a href="http://jeb.biologists.org/"> Journal of Experimental Biology</a>

Peacock plumage display catches the eye of other males too

It’s long been known that the purpose of the fancy...

Are we looking at a future with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wild-african-elephants-sleep-less-mammal/">elephants</a> the size of horses? How about pocket-size dogs? It probably won’t get that bad, but global warming could realistically result in some mammals being reduced rather remarkably in size. That’s the result of a study of fossils found at the Bighorn Basin in Wyoming led by Abigail D’Ambrosia, a researcher at the <a href="http://www.unh.edu/">University of New Hampshire</a>. Her team’s results were documented in the latest issue of Science Advances.

The shrinkage of mammals over time – millions of years – was dramatic. One of D’Ambrosia’s team’s findings, based on the teeth size of fossils, was that an early, very small horse, experienced a 17 percent size reduction.

“These guys were probably about the size of maybe a dog, then they dwarfed,” said D'Ambrosia. “They may have gone down to the size of a cat.”

Another example found by the team was the earliest known primate. It lost about four percent of its body size during that warming trend, interrupting a period of steady growth.

An earlier study of fossils at the same site drew the same conclusions regarding mammal shrinkage during an earlier period of heat-up, some 56 million years ago.

Animal shrinkage can actually be seen today. There’s a scientific principle known as Bergmann’s rule that states that larger animals are generally found in colder regions and smaller animals in hotter environments. Think of such Ice Age behemoths as the woolly mammoth. In warmer climes, smaller animals can burrow to cool off. Also, smaller warm-blooded animals are more adaptable to heat because they tend to have more skin or fur per pound, so the body heat can more easily be vented.

--

Written by David Searls, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Source:<a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/"> Science Advances</a>

Do mammals shrink when the planet warms?

Are we looking at a future with elephants the size...

Human millennials get a lot of flack these days for still getting financial support from their parents well into their 20s. But it turns out that they’re certainly not the only ones! According to a recent study, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-galapagos-islands-are-struggling-from-the-growth-of-ecotourism/">Galapagos</a> penguins who have already left the nest still sometimes turn to their parents for supplemental food and nourishment.

The study was performed by researchers from the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> who studied five different instances of penguin-parent relationships in the wild from February 2006 to July 2015. 

According to their research, the parent penguins are much more likely to oblige to their offspring’s requests when food is bountiful. 

“Through field seasons over the years when we were observing penguin behavior in the Galapagos Islands, we saw these isolated instances of adults feeding individuals who had obviously fledged and left the nest,” said Dee Boersma, a biology professor at the <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a> who led the study. “And now we’ve collected enough field observations to say that post-fledging parental care is a normal – though probably rare – part of Galapagos penguin behavior.”

The team observed that the grown offspring would wait on the beach for their parents to return from the water and ask for food using vocalizations. Although some parents would ignore the requests, others would regurgitate food for their offspring. Often times, this would depend on how much food was available.

“When climate patterns are ideal, ocean currents bring plenty of fish to the Galapagos for the penguins,” said Boersma “But when you get a strong El Nino, the adults struggle to feed themselves and meet the energy demands of their own bodies. Galapagos penguins have adapted themselves not to the seasons, but to the whims of the bounty of the ocean.’

--

By Rory Arnold, Earth.com Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.washington.edu/">University of Washington</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170314135439.htm">Science Daily</a>

Just like millennials, grown penguins still mooch off parents

Human millennials get a lot of flack these days for...

The polka dot tree frog has a colorful hidden life. When shone under ultraviolet light, this Amazon frog turns a fluorescent green, making it the first fluorescent frog ever discovered. The vivid coloration is quite an upgrade from its normal muddy shade of brown with red spots (hence the name). Under the special lighting, its color brightens some 30 percent.

Scientists made the discovery by accident when they shone their UV lights on the frog to examine its skin pigmentation.

Not only is the unexpected coloration a rarity to the frog world, but it’s the first vertebrate discovered that makes the color change in this way. Some sea animals such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/researchers-compile-jellyfish-types/">jellyfish</a> can accomplish this, but the few fluorescent land animals use a different approach.

“This is very different from fluorophores found in other vertebrates, which are usually proteins or polyenic chains,” said study co-author Dr. Maria Gabriella Lagoria, a photochemist with the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum at the <a href="http://www.uba.ar/">University of Buenos Aires</a>.

The way the tree frog makes the color change is with secretions from its lymph and glands.

The researchers said that the hidden life of this otherwise unremarkable frog might mean that other amphibians, especially those with the translucent skin of the polka dot tree frog, might have exhibit similar characteristics under UV lighting. Scientists should carry UV flashlights with them in the field to see if that’s true, one of the researchers suggested.

The finding was reported in the pages of <a href="https://www.chemistryworld.com/">Chemistry World</a>.

--

By <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer David Searls

Source:<a href="https://www.chemistryworld.com/"> Chemistry World</a>, Julian Faivovich &amp; Carlos Taboada

The colorful hidden life of the polka dot tree frog

The polka dot tree frog has a colorful hidden life....

Did relatively complex life on Earth begin hundreds of million years earlier than we thought? That’s what’s suggested by the discovery of a red algae-like plant fossil that, at 1.6 billion years old, is evidence of the earliest plant known.

The first single-cell organism is known to be a couple billion year older than this discovery, but the red algae plant fossil is evidence of a more complex form of life, known as eukaryotes. This form, which includes humans and other animals, plants and even fungi, are indicated by the presence of a cell with a nucleus and other structures in a membrane.

Before this finding, the earliest evidence of red algae was some 400 million years more recent.

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.nrm.se/en/16.html">Swedish Museum of Natural History</a> made their find in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-crisis-india/">India</a>, in what would have been shallow water when the plant lived, and published their findings in PLOS Biology. They stressed that their identification of the fossil as red algae could not be conclusive.

“You cannot be 100 percent sure about material this ancient, as there is no DNA remaining, but the characters agree quite well with the morphology and structure of red algae,” the museum’s Professor Stefan Bengtsontold explained to <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39267153">BBC News</a>.

In addition to the unanswered questions due to the lack of DNA, some scientist question whether red algae should even be called plant life or if it would more accurately fall into a class of its own.

[caption id="attachment_131547" align="aligncenter" width="996"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5saXZlc2NpZW5jZS5jb20vaW1hZ2VzL2kvMDAwLzA5MC8zMjgvb3JpZ2luYWwvb2xkZXN0LXBsYW50LWxpa2UtZm9zc2lsLmpwZw.jpg"><img class="wp-image-131547 size-large" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5saXZlc2NpZW5jZS5jb20vaW1hZ2VzL2kvMDAwLzA5MC8zMjgvb3JpZ2luYWwvb2xkZXN0LXBsYW50LWxpa2UtZm9zc2lsLmpwZw-1024x369.jpg" width="996" height="359" /></a> Image Credit: Stefan Bengtson[/caption]

--

By <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer David Searls

Source:<a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/"> PLOS Biology</a>

Plant fossil dates complex life back another 400 million years

Did relatively complex life on Earth begin hundreds of million...

Is there a more idyllic vacation for two than your own island hideaway? Just you and your beloved and nature. Well, and millions of rats. 

Global stowaways 

Rats have the troubling ability to sneak onto shipping vessels and get off at planned destinations. Or to survive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shipwrecks-in-us-waters-pose-environmental-threats-3/">shipwrecks</a> and end up on the first patch of land they can swim onto. And those patches are just about everywhere. 

Their talents for stowing away are so legendary that the black rat is also known as the ship rat. They’ve hidden in freight or supply crates or traipsed across rope lines to get into vessels for centuries. They came to Hawaii and New Zealand aboard Polynesian canoes. (We too wondered how large those canoes would have to be for rats to go unnoticed.) It’s said that three rat species from Europe and Asia have become established in 90 percent of the world’s islands and island chains. 

For instance, millions of the nasty rodents on South Georgia Island in the South Atlantic descended from the ships of Captain James Cooke, who came ashore in 1775, and the late eighteenth-century whaling and sealing vessels that followed. A four-year period of rat eradication began in 2011. 

You might not have wanted to put South Georgia Island on your trip itinerary even if it wasn’t for the wildlife. There’s permanent ice and snow at the higher regions and it’s pretty cold year-round throughout. Still, there’s a tourism industry here, with cruise ships and sailing yacht travelers stopping by, apparently, just to say they did.

You think it’s only the old wooden ships of yesteryear freighting the problem? Think again. Tourists have complained about cruise ship infestations, and headlines such as “Ghost ship carrying cannibal rats could be headed to Britain” filled the media a couple years back. It seems that a Soviet-era cruise ship used for the entertainment of Communist uppity-ups (we’re all equal, but some are more equal than others) ended up abandoned for debts owed. Eventually, the Canadian government let it drift…with a cargo full of hungry, and ultimately, cannibalistic rats. 

While you’ll probably stay out of volcanic or Antarctic rocks, the Galapagos Islands off of Ecuador is a chain you might very well want to visit. It offers more of a white sand, blue sea, traditional island adventure. Find yourself a hammock, but please stay away from the chain’s Pinzon Island. Its 180 million rats – pegged at about 10 per square yard – feasted on the island’s bird and tortoise shells until eradication efforts began in 2012.

Much farther north, there’s an entire chain of islands named for their invasive population. The Rat Islands in southwest Alaska are believed to be rat-free since 2009, but that threat has been replaced by volcanic activity and earthquakes. A major quake in 1965 measured 8.7 on the Richter scale.

Beyond the ick factor

The threat goes well beyond the ‘ick’ factor. In addition to causing salmonella, rat-bite fever, rabies and bubonic plague, among other diseases, the rodents eagerly destroy native species. 

“Invasive rats are likely the single largest threat to seabirds,” said Bernie Tershy, co-author of a 2008 study of global seabird populations, as reported by the National Geographic Society. 

It’s because of this that rat eradication efforts (called “raticides,” naturally) have been undergone all over the world over the last decade or so. New Zealand, for instance, has destroyed the invasive rat populations in more than 100 islands.

Regardless of climate or food sources, rats can live just about anywhere. But don’t let that stop you from your idyllic tropical island vacation. But we advise staying away from Pinzon Island – even if it only contains 180 million brittle rodent skeletons by now.

--

By David Searls, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Rats have infested the world’s islands

Is there a more idyllic vacation for two than your...

The most famous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-hear-preys-heartbeat-important/">shark</a> film of all time, Jaws, was primarily filmed in the waters of Martha’s Vineyard, just off the coast off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Still, the memorable shark flick did little to stop locals from enjoying a dip in Cape’s sandy beaches. While there hasn’t been a human death from a shark attack in Massachusetts since 1936, there is new cause for concern. New data shows that great white sharks are swimming toward Cape Cod in rising numbers for the second straight year. 

According to a new study performed by a team of scientists at the <a href="http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dmf/">Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries</a>, the number of sharks in the waters off Cape Cod continues to grow. Greg Skomal, senior scientist at the organization, emphasizes that while the sharks are chasing seals, not humans, it is still a very important trend to monitor. 

“How long does it stay and where does it go are the questions we’re trying to answer,” said Skomal. “But for the towns, it’s a public safety issue.”

The study was funded by the <a href="http://www.atlanticwhiteshark.org/">Atlantic White Shark Conservancy</a> and identified at least 147 white sharks in the summer of 2016. While this was only slightly more than the number found in 2015, it is almost double the number spotted in 2014. Additionally, more than 50% of the sharks found in 2016 were not present in 2015.

There also appear to be an increasing number of young sharks, which suggests that the overall great white shark population is also on the rise.

“Last summer, we saw greater numbers of smaller sharks, including juveniles, and that tells us that the population is rebuilding,” said Skomal.

While researchers continue to monitor the shifts in shark populations, Cape Cod locals remain grateful. 

“The fact that they have an eye on the situation from the air is crucial,” said Nathan Sears, Natural Resources Manager for the town of Orleans, Massachusetts. “And if they spot a shark in the swimming area, we’ll close the beach.”

--

By Rory Arnold, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/12/great-white-sharks-cape-cod-massachusetts">The Guardian</a>

Sharks swimming toward Cape Cod in rising numbers

The most famous shark film of all time, Jaws, was...

Antibiotics kill bacteria. We’ve known that since the 1920s. But we’re also learning more about how the overuse of antibiotics can cause more harm than good. That lesson was reinforced through experiments conducted on honeybees by researchers at the <a href="http://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas at Austin</a>, led by professor Nancy Moran and postdoctoral researcher Kasie Raymann.

The team found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bumblebees-smarter-thought/">bees</a> that were fed tetracycline, a common antibiotic, in a sweet syrup were twice as likely to end up dead in one week as a control group of the colony given the sweet syrup without antibiotics. The working theory is that the antibiotics cleared out the bees’ gut bacteria, a “good” protective bacteria, which then allowed a pathogen to wreak havoc on the bees’ systems.

This experiment was conducted for two reasons. Bees’ gut bacteria are very much like our own, and commercial beekeepers use antibiotics to protect their hives from bacterial infection.

That’s understandable. Bacterial infection is among the leading suspected causes of “colony collapse,” the sudden and still mysterious deaths of entire colonies of honeybees.

“Our study suggests that perturbing the gut microbiome of honeybees is a factor, perhaps one of many, that could make them more susceptible to declining and to the colony collapsing,” said Moran. “Antibiotics may have been an underappreciated factor in colony collapse.”

In addition to being a warning to beekeepers, the results have human ramifications as well. In addition to having gut bacteria much like the bees, humans are similarly vulnerable to the same pathogens that ravaged the bees when the antibiotics destroyed the good bacteria and left them defenseless.   

“We aren't suggesting people stop using antibiotics,” Moran said. “Antibiotics save lives. We definitely need them. We just need to be careful how we use them.”

The study was published today in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/">PLOS Biology</a>.

-- 

By David Searls, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/"> PLOS Biology</a>

Overuse of antibiotics may cause death for bees

Antibiotics kill bacteria. We’ve known that since the 1920s. But...

Ignore the punny title if you can. Cowspiracy, now streaming on Netflix, offers a powerful and provocative indictment of animal agriculture as the number one global cause of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The film’s producer/director team of Kip Andersen (who’s also the documentary’s narrator) and Keegan Kuhn states that 51 percent of carbon emissions can be blamed on livestock, particularly cattle. That’s more than the CO2 emissions of oil and gas.

That figure has been challenged, however, by the Union of Concerned Scientists. The organization said that it came from a 2009 Worldwatch Institute report that was never peer-reviewed by the scientific community. The actual figure is 15 percent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wind-farms-emissions-great-britain/">carbon emission</a> contribution by livestock, a still-significant number, but far below the contribution of fossil fuels. The scientist group also said that Cowspiracy overstated the methane produced by cows. <a href="http://blog.ucsusa.org/doug-boucher/cowspiracy-movie-review">Here’s the scientists' argument</a>.

At any rate, Andersen and Kuhn make strong (and, presumably unchallenged) cases for other environmental damage caused by livestock production. For instance, they say that while the shale oil production method known as fracking uses 100 billion gallons of water, livestock consume 34 trillion gallons annually, from hydration to water usage in the production of grains to feed them.

Putting this in another light, Cowspiracy reports on how environmental agencies encourage individuals to take shorter showers to conserve water. But one hamburger consumes 660 gallons of water, the equivalent, says Andersen, to his showering over a two-month period. While domestic water use is five percent of total U.S. consumption, animal agriculture uses 55 percent, the filmmakers say.

The pair further blames livestock for deforestation, the overhunting of predators and cattle waste runoff into rivers and oceans. (Livestock produce 130 times more waste than humans, the film claims.)

The “conspiracy” in Cowspiracy has to do with silence. Federal and state agencies and environmental groups including Greenpeace, Sierra Club and many others say little about animal agriculture as a planetary villain or refuse to be interviewed at all.

One anti-animal ag activist said that the groups don’t want to lose their funding. This question of funding, from the animal agriculture industry to environmental groups, specifically Greenpeace, was put to one beef industry spokesperson who’d been otherwise cooperative. She twice responded that she’d prefer not to answer that question.

(In fairness, the groups’ lack of emphasis on animal ag as an environmental hazard could also be connected to the challenges put forth by the Union of Concerned Scientists.)

An Amazon Watch spokesperson discussed the very real threat of being killed for outspokenness as another reason activists might be silent. It was stated that over the last 20 years, more than 1,100 rainforest defenders have been killed in Brazil, presumable by cattle ranching interests. One of those was Sister Dorothy Stang, an American assassinated for speaking out against the industry.

In America, the threat is lawsuits. A former cattleman interviewed on the documentary was sued by the cattle industry under federal food disparagement laws for claims he made on Oprah.

The film’s producers took one odd side trip that seemed a better fit for another documentary in discussing fishing methods that are depopulating the oceans.

They also make clear that, after detailing the unsustainability practices associated with meat, fish and dairy, that their suggested solution is a plant-based diet. That point is made in horrific detail when we see tightly caged cows and chickens, and when an adorable little girl cuddles a couple free-ranging pigs at her folks’ pastoral organic farm and states in a matter-of-fact way that she shouldn’t get close to them. They’re going to be killed soon, her mother pleasantly explains. And finally, there was the scene of a pair of ducks graphically being butchered by a backyard farmer – a scene I had to fast-forward through.

How can such a film influence viewers? I had lunch at a natural food market after watching Cowspiracy. Almost everything on the menu contained chicken, bacon or cheese. I passed up the carrot hot dog and settled on the veggie melt. It was delicious, though not as filling or affordable as a Big Mac.

--

By David Searls, Earth.com Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.cowspiracy.com">Cowspiracy Official Website</a>

Film Review, Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

Ignore the punny title if you can. Cowspiracy, now streaming...

Last week, a white rhinoceros named Vince was killed by poachers at a wildlife park near Paris. The assailants broke in overnight and shot Vince three times in the head and then removed his eight-inch horn using a chainsaw. 

Demand for the rhinoceros horn has recently skyrocketed in Asia and Africa, currently valued at nearly triple the price of gold. The horn is made of keratin and is ground down into a powder and used for medicinal purposes. Urban myths say it can cure anything from cancer to a hangover.

According <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/10/high-price-of-rhino-horn-leaves-bloody-trail-across-the-globe">The Guardian</a>, more than three rhinos are killed every day in southern Africa. While rhinoceros horn trade is illegal, continued poaching has put the species at risk of extinction.

According to Dan Ashe, President and Chief Executive of the <a href="https://www.aza.org/">Association of Zoos and Aquariums</a>, over 90 zoos in the United States follow strict security requirements for the housing of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-rhinos-nearing-extinction/">rhinos</a>. But he admitted that the danger of poaching still poses a strong threat to the well being of every rhinoceros.

"Nobody is insulated from this potential; we have made sure our members are aware of what occurred in Paris and they are quite vigilant,” said Ashe. “Everybody is sobered.”

Ashe says that the rhino horns can be sold on the black market for as much as $500,000 to $1 million. 

"Imagine an animal running around with a big gold horn,” he said, “The value is extraordinary, and unfortunately there are criminals out there that will take a risk."

Others have argued for an increase in security protocols as a result of the attack and strong demand for the rhinoceros horn.

"If there is a change of criminal strategy and a swing from robbery in museums to crude crime of animals, it will also imply a change of means of protection for the zoos and African reserves which are in Europe," said Jacques-Olivier Barthes, spokesman for the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/">World Wildlife Fund</a> in France.

--

By Rory Arnold, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RHINOCEROS_ATTACK_ZOOS?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-03-11-06-45-24">AP</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/10/high-price-of-rhino-horn-leaves-bloody-trail-across-the-globe">The Guardian </a>

Rhinoceros poaching in Paris puts zoos worldwide on high alert

Last week, a white rhinoceros named Vince was killed by...

A new vaccine could protect chimpanzees and gorillas from the deadly Ebola virus – if it’s ever approved for use in the wild.

Like humans, gorillas and chimps can catch the virus, and outbreaks can wipe out large numbers of the primates. 

Now, scientists are hoping that a vaccine developed in response to a major human outbreak more than three years ago has led to a similar inoculation for the apes.

“In 2014 the world was gripped by fears of an Ebola virus (EBOV) pandemic. Few people realized that Ebola had already inflicted pandemic scale mortality on our closest relatives, killing about one third of the world’s gorillas and countless chimpanzees,” the researchers wrote in a new study, published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/articles/srep43339">Scientific Reports</a>.

In late 2013, an epidemic of the Ebola virus took hold in West Africa. By the time it was brought under control a year ago, more than 11,000 people had died around the world. The virus spread to several countries in West Africa along with the United States, United Kingdom, Spain and Italy.

The epidemic – the largest ever outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, which causes pain, fever, chills, sweating, hemorrhaging and other symptoms – spurred efforts to create a vaccine.

At least one vaccine has been created for humans, and is undergoing successful trials in West Africa. 

But it raised the question, what about a vaccine for gorillas and chimps? The Ebola virus often ravages their populations, too. For them, it’s much more deadly; during an Ebola outbreak among primates, the death toll is often more than 90 percent of those infected, scientists said.

The study, led by Dr. Peter Walsh of the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a>, developed an oral vaccine using an oral rabies vaccine already in use. 

The researchers tested the oral vaccine on captive chimpanzees at the <a href="http://nirc.louisiana.edu/">New Iberia Research Center</a> in Louisiana. Testing lasted 28 days, at which point new Endangered Species Act regulations took effect banning invasive testing on chimpanzees. 

While testing the effects of the vaccine on the chimps as well as its effectiveness, researchers also studied the psychological effects the testing had on their subjects. 

"We sought both to objectively quantify the level of stress experienced by study chimpanzees and to differentiate between chronic stress induced by social isolation or confinement in small experimental cages and acute stress induced by the vaccine or experimental procedures," they wrote.

According to the scientists, the oral vaccine was hugely effective. Testing showed a strong immune response against the Ebola virus in the chimps, they said. 

“The psychological pathologies (e.g. repetitive behavior, severe lethargy, self-harm) often seen in victims of severe trauma, chronic psychological stress or extreme social isolation were entirely absent in study chimpanzee,” the researchers added.

Testing showed few physiological responses to stress, and those chimps that did exhibit stress were already showing signs of it before the study, the scientists said.

The research team is now looking at how the vaccine could be distributed to wild chimpanzee populations, including through heat-stabilized bait. 

However, the ethical hurdles of testing on chimps may put up a roadblock to the vaccine being used in wild populations. Aside from pushback against recombinant vaccines, there is now a shortage of test populations, the scientists said.

“It seems likely that further safety and immunogenicity trials on captive chimpanzees will not be part of the development program,” the team wrote. “In principle, research that benefits wild chimpanzee conservation is exempt under the new ESA regulations banning medical research on chimpanzees. In practice, all of the biomedical facilities that held chimpanzees have or are in the process of “retiring” their populations to sanctuaries.”

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Vaccine could protect chimps from Ebola virus

A new vaccine could protect chimpanzees and gorillas from the...

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



---



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



---



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



---



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



---



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"]</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



---



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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...