Researchers at the <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Berkeley</a> have recently found that green-rumped <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-parrots-explain-dinosaurs-fly/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">parrotlets</a> frequently engage in both infanticide and adoption to gain mating advantages and secure valuable nesting sites. 



The research, spanning nearly three decades, sheds light on the complex social behaviors of these small South American parrots, suggesting that their actions are driven by both competition and opportunity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-estate-and-love">Real estate and love</h2>



“In parrotlets, infanticide and adoption revolve around real estate and love,” said lead author Steven Beissinger, a professor of environmental science, policy, and management at UC Berkeley.&nbsp;



“Most of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/male-baboons-will-kill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infanticide</a> attacks happened when a breeding pair was attacked by another pair that was trying to take over a coveted nest site. It also occurred when males wanted to breed with a widow who already had offspring - but we were surprised to find that these new males were just as likely to adopt the offspring as attack them.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-research-nbsp">Focus of the research&nbsp;</h2>



The study began in 1988 when Beissinger started observing a community of these parrotlets on a Venezuelan cattle ranch. Unlike their forest-dwelling kin, green-rumped parrotlets prefer nesting in open areas, which allowed for detailed observation.&nbsp;



To facilitate this, Beissinger installed artificial nesting sites made from large PVC pipes across the ranch and used color-banding to track individual birds and their familial relationships.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-of-infanticide-among-parrots">Discovery of infanticide among parrots</h2>



The initial discovery of infanticide came unexpectedly. “We couldn’t tell if something had attacked them, or if they had died from disease, or something else,” Beissinger recounted. “But when we were watching some of the nests, all of a sudden in went a male who didn't belong - who wasn't a parent at that nest - and out he came with a little bit of blood on his beak.”



This observation prompted a closer examination of infanticide among the parrots, which revealed that it was a common strategy employed by birds trying to secure a prime nesting site. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parrot-infanticide-and-population-density-nbsp">Parrot infanticide and population density&nbsp;</h2>



The study, which included data from more than 2,700 nests observed from 1988 to 2015, found that attacks often occurred during periods of high population density, which increased competition for nesting sites.



“At low population levels, it's all love and peace, right? But then when you get to high population densities, it's a bloodbath,” said senior author Karl Berg, an associate professor of biology at the <a href="https://www.utrgv.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Texas Rio Grande Valley</a>. 



“It's not that everybody's born a killer, but the urge to breed is very strong. When the resources provided by the environment aren't enough for all individuals to breed, they seek out alternative strategies. Unfortunately, that involves killing innocent little offspring.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adoption-as-a-non-violent-strategy-nbsp">Adoption as a non-violent strategy&nbsp;</h2>



Interestingly, the study also found that new mates of widowed parrots were just as likely to adopt existing offspring as to commit infanticide. This finding suggests a complex calculation where adoption might also serve as a non-violent strategy for ensuring genetic continuity.



“Adoption may be a lot easier to accept than infanticide, but it's actually more difficult to understand because it challenges Darwin's ideas about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-selection-molding-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural selection</a>,” Berg explained. 



“It was very interesting to see that the reproductive fitness outcomes were about even between adoption and infanticide and suggests that they have an alternative strategy - adoption may be a non-violent means of getting genes into the next generation.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adoption-among-male-parrots-nbsp">Adoption among male parrots&nbsp;</h2>



Moreover, the study highlighted that males who adopted were able to start breeding at younger ages and secured bonds with widowed females, gaining both a new mate and a nest site.&nbsp;



“Stepfathers scored love - a new mate - and real estate - a nest site!” Beissinger concluded, emphasizing the multifaceted strategies these birds employ to thrive in their complex social and environmental landscape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-green-rumped-parrotlets">Green-rumped parrotlets</h2>



Green-rumped parrotlets are charming little birds, part of the parrot family, known scientifically as Forpus passerinus. They are the smallest members of the parrot family found in the Americas, measuring just about 5 inches in length. These birds are particularly noted for their vibrant green plumage, which helps them blend seamlessly into their natural habitat.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-habitat">Habitat</h3>



Native to northern South America, green-rumped parrotlets thrive in a variety of environments, from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-birds-can-handle-climate-variability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tropical forests</a> to savannahs. They exhibit a strong preference for areas with abundant fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, which constitute a major part of their diet, along with seeds and small insects.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-lives">Social lives</h3>



Socially, green-rumped parrotlets are fascinating creatures. They are generally seen in pairs or small flocks when not breeding. During the breeding season, they become more territorial and prefer solitude or the company of their mate. They nest in tree cavities where the female lays between four to six eggs, which she incubates for about 18 days.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-communication">Communication</h3>



What sets these birds apart in the parrot family is their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parrots-prefer-talking-live-video-calls-more-than-watching-videos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">communication</a>. Research has shown that green-rumped parrotlets have a complex system of calls and can even use specific calls to identify their family members, a trait once thought to be exclusive to much larger parrots.



Despite their resilience and adaptability, habitat destruction poses a significant threat to their populations. However, green-rumped parrotlets are not currently listed as endangered due to their widespread distribution and stable population numbers in the wild.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2317305121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Infanticide or adoption? Why parrots kill each other's chicks

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have recently found that green-rumped parrotlets frequently engage in both infanticide and adoption to gain mating advantages and secure valuable nesting sites.  The research, spanning nearly three decades, sheds light on the complex social behaviors of these small South American parrots, suggesting that their actions are driven by both competition and opportunity. Real estate and love “In parrotlets, infanticide and adoption revolve around real estate and love,” said lead author Steven Beissinger, a professor of environmental science, policy, and management...

Hundreds of baby southern right whales have been washing up dead along the coast of Argentina’s Valdés Peninsula. Now, researchers are launching an effort to find out what's causing the mysterious whale deaths.

Scientists will track calves, as well as adult whales, by tagging them and tracking them via satellite. They’ll also take DNA samples, enabling them to tell individual whales apart. The effort will be funded by the <a href="https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en">EU</a> and the UK <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs">Department of Environment, Food &amp; Rural Affairs</a>. 

Discovering the cause of the whale deaths has scientists in a race against time. “There are only a few thousand southern right whales left on the planet,” said geneticist Jennifer Jackson, of the<a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk"> British Antarctic Survey</a>, Cambridge. She is leading the project and believes that the answers lie in the sub-Antarctic where the southern right whales feed. 

The species has faced various factors that has led to their decreasing numbers over the years. Their name comes from the whaling industry in which they were deemed as the “right whales” for hunters to target due to their slow speed, as well as their tendency to float after being killed. Right whales also yield large amounts of oil. Mother right whales stay close to their young, swimming with them in shallow waters and making them a prime target for whalers. 

Once hunting of the southern right whale was banned in 1940, their numbers started to recover. Scientists aren’t certain what’s causing the current deaths, but they have theories. They wonder if a lack of krill – the whales’ primary food source – could be killing them off. Toxic algae could also be a factor. Kelp gulls are another potential source of problems for southern right whales, as they’re known for attacking calves. 

As researchers track the whales, they’ll also do survey numbers of krill, as well as look at individual whales’ hormone levels and reproductive status. Jackson is hoping that this will paint a broad picture of what’s happening to the whales and whether scientists can do anything to stop it.

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Source: Jennifer Jackson, <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk">British Antarctic Survey</a>

Scientists investigate mysterious baby whale deaths

Hundreds of baby southern right whales have been washing up...

A flock of snow geese that flew over Montana this winter simply ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. The way they met their tragic end has put a toxic race against time back in the headlines. 

The geese were migrating over Montana when a sudden snowstorm blew them off course. They ended up in the Berkeley Pit, a site that’s brimming with toxic waste runoff from an abandoned mining system in the area. Approximately 3,000 of the geese died in the poisonous pond.

The Berkeley Pit is part of the largest <a href="https://www.epa.gov/superfund">Superfund</a> site in the country. It’s connected to mines that were formerly run by the Anaconda Copper Co. They tunneled through the area for over a hundred years, searching for gold, silver, zinc, manganese, lead, and copper. The mine closed in 1982 and the tunnels began to fill with water – contaminated water that eventually spilled into the Berkeley Pit. 

Water levels in the pit have continued to rise, with experts predicting an overflow in 2023. Once this happens, the toxic brew could end up in the city’s groundwater. To prevent this from happening, several agencies have sprung into action. <a href="https://www.arco.com">Atlantic Richfield</a>, the company that now owns Anaconda Copper, the <a href="https://www.epa.gov">Environmental Protection Agency</a>, and <a href="https://www.montanaresources.com">Montana Resources</a>, owners of an adjacent pit, are hoping that a nearby water treatment plant may be the answer to their looming problem. 

The Horseshoe Bend plant currently treats over 4 million gallons of water each day – water that would otherwise run into the Berkeley Pit. Officials are working to ensure that by 2023, the plant will be capable of handling 7 million gallons a day. They’re hoping that this will prevent the toxic water from flowing into nearby Silver Bow Creek. 

For the unfortunate group of snow geese, addressing the problem comes too late. For the residents of Butte, the race is on.  

--
By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Snow geese deaths highlight race for time against toxic pit

A flock of snow geese that flew over Montana this...

<a href="http://us.pg.com/">Procter &amp; Gamble</a> are hoping to cut down on ocean trash with new shampoo bottles that are recyclable and made out of beach plastic.

The American manufacturer teamed up with <a href="https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/">TerraCycle</a> and <a href="http://www.suez-environnement.com/">Suez</a>, environmental management companies, to create the new shampoo bottles. They’re the first shampoo bottles in the world made with up to 25 percent post-consumer beach plastic, the company said.

P&amp;G manufactures Pantene, Head &amp; Shoulders, Herbal Essences, and other shampoo brands.

More companies are becoming aware of how plastic trash can end up on beaches worldwide. Scientists are also learning more about the effect plastics have on the ocean’s ecosystems.

Scientists have known for a while now that at least some plastic gets into the ocean. Recent studies have shown the problem is getting worse.

In August, a study found high concentrations of microplastics – tiny, broken-down pieces of non-biodegradable plastic – in the most <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/scientists-find-plastic-in-the-most-remote-parts-of-the-ocean/">remote parts of the ocean</a>. Other studies in 2016 found that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ninety-percent-of-seabirds-have-plastic-in-their-guts-2/">seabirds</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/troubling-trend-fish-love-eating-plastic/">fish</a>, and a number of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/first-evidence-that-deep-sea-animals-are-ingesting-plastics/">marine creatures</a> eat plastic trash and microplastics.

Those microparticles of decaying plastic cause health problems and can even lead to death for some sea creatures.

P&amp;G already uses post-consumer plastics in packaging for its products, and has for more than two decades. The company hopes to double the amount of recycled plastic is uses by 2020.

P&amp;G announced its plans for shampoo bottles made with beach plastic in Davos, where the World Economic Forum is being held.

It was joined by <a href="https://www.unilever.com/">Unilever</a>, which pledged that all of its plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. The two multi-nationals also made a pledge, along with Amcor, Mars, Coca-Cola, and other corporations, to ensure that at least 70 percent of plastic packaging can be reused or recycled globally.

Currently, only 14 percent of plastic used worldwide is recycled.

—

By Kyla Cathey / Earth.com staff writer

Beach plastic used to make recyclable shampoo bottles

Procter &amp; Gamble are hoping to cut down on ocean...

It’s a common scene in parks and backyards everywhere: <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/negotiating-world-dog-walking/">dog</a> owners throwing frisbees and balls while their canine companions happily chase them down and retrieve them. Common knowledge says that playing fetch is great way to get both humans and doggies outdoors, as well as a great way for both to get exercise. What dog owners may not realize is that this seemingly innocent game of playing fetch poses a real injury risk for their dogs. 

The problem lies in dogs retrieving heavy sticks and toys. Experts think this additional weight puts strain on the dog’s neck and front legs and could potentially harm them. Additional strain happens when the dogs reach down to pick up the item because they tilt forward “like a seesaw.” 

Even dogs such as retrievers that have traditionally been used to do jobs such as work and hunt can be injured while carrying things. Barbara Bockstahler of the<a href="https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/"> University of Veterinary Medicine</a> in Vienna said that “the additional weight is physically burdensome for them.” 

Researchers tested dogs by walking them over a pressure plate with and without various-sized loads in their mouths. They found that when a dog carries a lighter load, 60% of the dog’s weight is placed on its front legs. With a larger load, as much as three-quarters of the dogs weight shifts to its front legs.

“This is comparable to a human holding a weight in his hand, who slightly tilts backwards and therefore shifts his body weight to his heels,” Dr Bockstahler said.

This can cause the joints and tendons of the dog’s legs to be strained. Rather than heavy sticks and treats, experts suggest that dog owners use light toys and tennis balls in games of fetch. The study was published in the journal <a href="http://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-016-0715-7">BMC Veterinary Research</a>.

–

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Barbara Bockstahler, <a href="https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/">University of Veterinary Medicine</a>

How playing fetch with Fido could actually hurt him

It’s a common scene in parks and backyards everywhere: dog...

It’s been an odd week for ant news. As <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-wasp-ant-butt/">we reported</a> earlier this week, scientists discovered a wasp with a protrusion on its butt that resembles an ant’s head. Now, new studies reveal that ants change jobs and are also adept at navigating and walking backwards. 

It’s not all the same old drudgery for worker ants, it seems. A study out of the <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html">University of Lausanne</a> in Switzerland and published in the journal <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org">Science</a> reveals that ants change jobs as they age. Younger ants are responsible for taking care of the queen and nursing the young. As ants get older, they’re charged with cleaning the colony. The oldest ants venture outside of the nest to search for food. 

Speaking of foraging for food, another study published in the journal <a href="https://secure.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/action/consumeSsoCookie?redirectUri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cell.com%2Faction%2FconsumeSharedSessionAction%3FJSESSIONID%3Daaa3k7WpctwG2dGvMj1Mv%26MAID%3DvkF6H9QKiDjcAWx1O1Z%252F4Q%253D%253D%26SERVER%3DWZ6myaEXBLHj3ZzqSv9HPw%253D%253D%26ORIGIN%3D968708915%26RD%3DRD&amp;acw=e8f7-efc63f1b9519ef867b4c96eebdfa93343ae%7C%24%7C68A7329D7F388736756E86097A52AF03AD45D41050945EC5176BD469BA04F1A63467C02ED9AF4285A1FADDF061BE9B426BC7E57929CBF4D5A2F71CEDB4D14412A4C9417321A0889204A8173B0A7DBE4B9A9932F914FA387ECFA097A2401BD885D74FDB647D9EF376A6A03DE8872687497A6E5DCDB03A574D131E4B9E159EC187&amp;utt=d8f7-efc63f1b9519ef867b4c96eebdfa93343ae">Current Biology</a> explains why ants are so good at it. Scientists have long known that ants can walk backwards while carrying food that’s many times their body weight. They also knew that ants find their way to and from the nest by using visual knowledge and the position of the sun. 

What they didn’t realize is because of their amazing memories, ants can do all of this at once. 

While toting food and walking backwards, ants need only glance over their tiny shoulders to note the position of the sun and their direction of travel. After that, they can proceed all the way to the nest while facing in the opposite direction, having memorized the route. 

Why is it important for humans to understand ant behavior? Apart from general fascination, we observe ants because they help us build better robots. According to Professor Barbara Webb of <a href="http://www.ed.ac.uk/">Edinburgh University</a>, “Understanding [ants’] behavior gives us new insights into brain function, and has inspired us to build robot systems that mimic their functions.”

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Sources: <a href="https://www.unil.ch/central/en/home.html">University in Lausanne</a>,<a href="http://www.ed.ac.uk/"> Edinburgh University</a>

Studies show ants change jobs over their lifespan

It’s been an odd week for ant news. As we...

You could soon see scientists driving cars plastered with bumper stickers that say, “My baboon does math as well as your honor student.” This is because a research study has revealed that baboons and rhesus monkeys have incredible mathematical abilities. In fact, the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/primates-danger-extinction/">primates</a> could go head-to-head with human children. 

While baboons won’t be doing advanced calculus anytime soon, they can distinguish between large and small quantities. They can do this even when researchers spread the objects out to make them appear more numerous, according to Professor Jessica Cantlon of <a href="https://www.rochester.edu">Rochester University</a>. The study was published by Cantlon’s team and the <a href="http://senecaparkzoo.org">Seneca Park Zoo</a> in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.  

To compare the primates’ results to humans, scientists worked with a few different groups. Among them was the Tsimane’ people of Bolivia. They dwell in a remote area of the rainforest there and are considered a “low numeracy” cultural group. Scientists also studied the mathematical abilities of American children and adults. 

In the U.S., scientists conducted the tests using touch screen monitors. Because of their limited exposure to computer technology, the Tsimane’ people used laminated cards. The tasks didn’t involve any verbal descriptions in order to ensure that it could be carried out in similar way with each group.

All of the groups involved in the study were able to effectively distinguish between a large and small number of dots, regardless of the surface area in which the dots were located. 

Stephen Ferrigno, a co-author of the study, believes that the findings indicate an evolutionary basis for extracting numerical information. The study also showed that humans have a bias towards numbers versus surface area. Math education also plays a part in increasing this bias. 

“As children get older, they are more likely to represent numerical information as opposed to other quantitative information,” said Ferrigno. “Similarly, when Tsimane’ adults had more math education, they were more likely to represent numbers as opposed to other dimensions.”

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: Jessica Canton and Stephen Ferrigno, <a href="https://www.rochester.edu">Rochester University</a>

<a href="http://senecaparkzoo.org">Seneca Park Zoo</a>

Monkey business: Baboons have math abilities on par with kids

You could soon see scientists driving cars plastered with bumper...

In previews of the film, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1753383/">A Dog’s Purpose</a> promises to be a tear-jerker, telling the story of a loving canine who is reborn again and again as he learns and seeks out his purpose in this world. But a recently-released behind-the-scenes video has outraged pet lovers and animal rights activists due to alleged animal cruelty.

In the video, an animal trainer on the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/animal-abuse-allegations-hollywood/">set of the film</a> pushes a frightened German Shepherd into a pool of churning water. A voice can be heard off camera telling the trainer,  “He ain’t gonna calm down ‘til he goes in the water. Just got to throw him in.” The dog frantically tries to claw its way back up the side of the pool to no avail.

The video is edited and cuts to another part in which the dog, immersed and struggling to keep its head above the turbulent water, suddenly goes under. A voice yells, “Cut it!” as onlookers rush towards the edge of the pool.

<a href="http://www.peta.org/">PETA</a> is calling for a boycott of the film “in order to send the message that dogs and other animals should be treated humanely, not as movie props."

The <a href="https://www.americanhumane.org">American Humane Society</a>, which had a representative present on the set of the film, told the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a> that they are hiring an independent investigator to look into the alleged animal cruelty incident. They have put the representative who was involved with the film on administrative leave.

Director Lasse Halström said on Twitter that while he did not witness the incident, he was “disturbed by the video” that was released.

“We were all committed to providing a loving and safe environment for all the animals in the film,” he tweeted. “I have been promised that a thorough investigation into this situation is underway and that any wrongdoing will be reported and punished.”

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Animal cruelty video sparks calls to boycott ‘A Dog’s Purpose’

In previews of the film, A Dog’s Purpose promises to...

Dogs simply love heading outside for a walk. This daily <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/the-truth-about-dog-dreams/">dog</a> walking ritual between pet and owner serves as a bonding experience – one that researchers have discovered is more complex than people originally thought.

A recent study published in <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rscg20/current">Social &amp; Cultural Geography</a> shows that dog walks actually involve constant negotiation about where to walk, how long to walk, and how the walk will take place. Dog owners often make these decisions based on their perception of their pet’s personality, likes, and dislikes. 

Taking a dog for a walk involves more than simply heading out the door for a bit of exercise. Louis Platt, lecturer at <a href="http://www2.mmu.ac.uk">Manchester Metropolitan University</a> and co-author of the study, says that dog walking is a shared experience between the dog and owner. Humans want to see their dogs have fun and wish to provide a safe, stress-free environment in which that can happen. 

This is why dog owners tailor their walk schedule and journey to their dog’s individual needs. Many owners hit the great outdoors with their canine companions because they feel that it’s where their pets can let loose and demonstrate the “doggyness” that is so often denied to them while indoors. 

Owners spoke of heading to their dog’s “favorite park” or areas where they felt the dog enjoyed frolicking. They also customize the length of their walks according to what they felt their dog would most enjoy. One study participant said that long daily walks were part of her dog’s “right” to a good life. 

Caution and anxiety also play a role in dog owner’s decisions about where and how to walk. People with large or aggressive dogs tend to avoid paths where they might meet other dogs, lots of people, or small children. Letting their canines off leash was another activity where dog owners took special care. Many of them expressed concern at the idea of their dog wandering away. Owners who approve of off-leash dog walking feel that this is “the dog’s time” to be itself. 

From when to leash up to where to head out, there’s definitely more to dog walking than lifting legs and wagging tails.

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Source: Louis Platt, <a href="http://www2.mmu.ac.uk">Manchester Metropolitan University</a>

Negotiating the world of dog walking

Dogs simply love heading outside for a walk. This daily...

This summer’s blockbuster War for the Planet of the Apes couldn’t be more timely. It is currently being argued that many of the world's primates are battling mankind for their very lives.

A study published Wednesday asserts that about 60% of earth’s non-human primate species is in grave danger of becoming extinct. The research was conducted by scientists from all over the globe and is understood to be the most exhaustive study on primates ever conducted. The study, which appeared in the peer-reviewed journal<a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org"> Science Advances</a> also warns that about 75% of apes and monkeys show declining populations.

“This is truly the 11th hour for many of these creatures,” said Paul Garber, an anthropology professor from the <a href="http://www.anthro.illinois.edu/people/p-garber">University of Illinois</a> who co-led the study.

According to the study, the expansion of human populations into countries with primates is the main cause for the threat. Climate change, hunting and the illegal pet trade, as well as loss of habitat resulting from mining, logging and agriculture are all contributing to the decline.

The Hainan gibbon population, native to China, has dropped to fewer than 30. That is, there are fewer than 30 of these animals left on earth. The population of the Grauer’s gorilla is currently around 3,800, dropping in the last 20 years from 17,000. Three hundred of the 500 species of primates in the world are threatened or endangered. Without a global prioritization of conservation, these and many other species will be wiped out in the next 25 years.

Garber adds that the threatened and endangered status of these primates should be seen as a warning. Humans will eventually face a similar fate if “we continue to pollute the environment.”

As we <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/endangered-species-act-endangered/">reported</a> earlier this week, the GOP are looking to scale back much of the Endangered Species Act. 

“Any species that gets in the way of a congressional initiative or some kind of development will be clearly at risk,” says Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of<a href="http://www.defenders.org"> Defenders of Wildlife</a> and a former<a href="https://www.fws.gov"> Fish and Wildlife Service</a> director under President Clinton. “The political lineup is as unfavorable to the Endangered Species Act as I can remember.”

“The problem seems far away but there are a few easy things consumers in the U.S. can do to help take some of the pressure off,” adds Jan Vertefeuille of the<a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org"> World Wildlife Fund.</a> Insisting on products like responsibly harvested wood and recycled paper can actually help.

--

By Darryl Joseph, Earth.com Staff Writer

Most primates in danger of extinction

This summer’s blockbuster War for the Planet of the Apes...

Male <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/baboon-ancient-human-speech/">baboons</a> may resort to murder in order to reproduce faster 

Male baboons are so determined to sow their wild oats that they may consider bloodthirsty measures, a new study reveals.

When faced with a group that consists of low numbers of fertile females, male baboons resort to violence – killing infant baboons sired by other males, as well as attacking pregnant females in an attempt to cause them to miscarry. 

This behavior helps ensure that the male will be able to sire its own offspring while preventing successful reproduction by other males in the group. It’s the baboons’ way of trying to “survive and reproduce,” said study author Matthew Zipple of<a href="https://www.duke.edu"> Duke University</a>. 

Male baboons typically engage in this type of violent behavior in situations where they have few opportunities to mate. Low populations of fertile females can be caused by food shortages, among other factors.

"When reproductive opportunities abound, this behavior is less frequent,” Zipple said.

The study was published in the journal<a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org"> Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>. It came about after researchers, while looking through baboon census records, noticed an increase in infant deaths shortly after a new male was introduced to the group. The deaths were only limited to infants; the numbers did not reflect similar statistics amongst one- and two-year-old baboons.

While past studies have shown that animals such as <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/study-trophy-hunting-lions-can-save-species/">lions</a>, dolphins, and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ticklish-rats-researchers-tickeled-pink/">rodents </a>also commit infanticide, this data helps back theories about why these killings occur. Researchers believe that when a male baboon kills an infant or a fetus, it shortens the time they must wait to mate with the mother.

If a mother baboon gives birth to a baby, it takes at least a year for her to be ready to reproduce again. If that baby dies as a fetus or infant, she can be ready in a mere 41 days.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Matthew Zipple,<a href="https://www.duke.edu"> Duke University</a>

Male baboons will kill to reproduce faster

Male baboons may resort to murder in order to reproduce...

Some of the world’s favorite celebrities passed away in 2016. Alan Rickman, Muhammad Ali, Carrie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds were just a few of those we mourned as the year came to a close.

It wasn’t just human celebrities we lost last year, though. Let’s not forget the favorite celebrities of the Animal Kingdom who left us in 2016, too.
<ol>
 	<li><a href="http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/blogs/the_slatest/2016/05/30/full_video_shows_harambe_the_gorilla_dragging_child_before_he_was_shot/harambecincinnatizoo.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg">Harambe the gorilla</a></li>
</ol>
The most memorable loss of 2016 was Harambe, who was shot after a toddler fell into his enclosure at the <a href="http://cincinnatizoo.org/">Cincinnati Zoo</a>.

His death sparked grief and outrage, along with some truly strange Internet memes. It also inspired discussions about the ethics of keeping animals in zoos, safe animal handling practices, and conservation of endangered species.

“For people who want to know more about what was going on in Harambe’s head and heart, think about your companion dog, for example. How do they respond when someone trespasses into where they feel safe?” Merc Bekoff wrote in <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/why-was-harambe-the-gorilla-in-a-zoo-in-the-first-place/">Scientific American</a>.
<ol start="2">
 	<li><a href="http://images.csmonitor.com/csmarchives/2009/11/article_photo1_315.jpg?alias=standard_600x400">Courage the turkey</a></li>
</ol>
Courage was the first turkey President Barack Obama ever pardoned, during his first Thanksgiving as president in 2009.

The tom turkey went on to live a long life at the Happiest Place on Earth: Big Thunder Ranch at Disneyland in California.

Courage died just before Thanksgiving – and just after Election Day – in November 2016. The average male turkey lives about two years; Courage was at least 7 when he died of old age.
<ol start="3">
 	<li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/features/yell/slidefile/mammals/wolf/Images/17120.jpg">778M, the last of the Druid wolves</a></li>
</ol>
The Druid wolf pack was once one of the largest and most famous of the wolf packs that made Yellowstone home. 778M, born in 2007, was its last surviving member. He split off from the pack a short time before the other members were wiped out by mange.

“He would fight at the drop of the hat, and he was willing to run right into battle,” Yellowstone biologist Rick McIntyre told the <a href="http://www.mailtribune.com/entertainmentlife/20161211/last-of-druids">Mail Tribune</a>.

He was shot and killed by a hunter outside the park in November.
<ol start="4">
 	<li><a href="http://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/11022015-grizzly-1020x661.jpg">Scarface, the Yellowstone grizzly</a></li>
</ol>
778M wasn’t the only one of Yellowstone’s favorite celebrities to pass away in 2016.

Scarface was 25, old in bear years, but he didn’t die of natural causes. He was killed by a hunter right outside of the park’s northern border in April.

Scarface got his nickname from, well, his scarred face and ragged ear, earned in battle with other bears.

He was a favorite of park visitors – and biologists. With more than 15 captures and releases, he was one of the country’s most studied bears.
<ol start="5">
 	<li><a href="http://img2-azcdn.newser.com/image/1086311-12-20161003102314.jpeg">Toughie, the last of his species</a></li>
</ol>
Toughie was the last Rabb’s fringe-limbed treefrog on Earth.

The frog species was discovered in 2005, just before it was wiped out by habitat loss and disease. The last wild member of the species was heard in 2007.

Toughie was a survivor. He was 12 when he died at the <a href="http://atlantabg.org/">Atlanta Botanical Garden</a> in September, and his species died with him.
<ol start="6">
 	<li><a href="http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/161230115744-02-pan-pan-china-panda-super-tease.jpg">Pan Pan, the panda patriarch</a></li>
</ol>
Pan Pan broke the mold for pandas. Scientists have struggled to convince pandas to reproduce in captivity.

Pan Pan, on the other hand, is estimated to have more than 130 descendants, a quarter of the population of pandas in captivity. His virility and age – he was the oldest male panda in captivity – earned him the nickname “Panda Grandpa.”

“I think the pandas in captivity and in the zoos will be helpful to educate people about the importance of conservation,” Dr. Jianguo Liu of Michigan State University told <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/30/507539383/-panda-grandpa-pan-pan-dies-in-china">NPR</a>.
<ol start="7">
 	<li><a href="http://www.oneindia.com/img/2016/05/tiger-601-30-1464603333.jpg">Machli, the tiger matriarch</a></li>
</ol>
The Bengal tigress called the Queen of Ranthambore was believed to be the oldest in the wild when she died, between 19 and 20 years old.

She was also one of India’s favorite celebrities, due to her role in helping to repopulate the tiger community in <a href="http://www.ranthamborenationalpark.com/">Ranthambore National Park</a>.

“Amongst the 62 tigers of Ranthambore, what made Machli so special was her comfort level with the humans, and how she held lensmen (and women) in awe of her grace,” the park wrote on its website.

The Indian government issued a commemorative stamp in her honor. She passed away from old age on August 18.
<ol start="8">
 	<li><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1936301.1410453934!/img/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/article_750/bretagne.JPG">Bretagne, the last 9/11 rescue dog</a></li>
</ol>
On Sept. 11, 2001, after a terror attack brought down the World Trade Center, rescuers poured into Ground Zero to try and find survivors. Search-and-rescue dogs like Bretagne also did their part.

But at 16, she had severe arthritis and was showing signs of cancer. The Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department made the tough decision to have her put to sleep in June.

“Some may say that the most a dog could be is a pet. However, to the over 400 members of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, Bretagne was a civil servant, a hero and is family,” the department told the <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/cyfair/news/article/Firefighters-bid-farewell-to-last-known-9-11-7966974.php">Houston Chronicle</a>.
<ol start="9">
 	<li><a href="http://qatar.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/scooter-the-siamese-cat.jpg">Scooter, the world’s oldest cat</a></li>
</ol>
Just days after the Guinness Book named 30-year-old Scooter the world’s oldest cat, he died of old age. According to veterinarians, in human years, he would have been 136.

Scooter’s owner credited the Siamese cat’s long life to staying active. He also reportedly traveled with his owner to 45 of the 50 states.
<ol start="10">
 	<li><a href="http://static.lakana.com/media.fox29.com/photo/2016/12/30/african%20lion%20Zenda_1483121592509_2480841_ver1.0.png">Zenda, the oldest lion in the U.S.</a></li>
</ol>
As the year came to a close, the <a href="http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/">Philadelphia Zoo</a> was forced to say goodbye to one of its favorite celebrities, a 25-year-old lion who was loved by her keeper and the zoo’s guests alike.

Zenda was known as a peacemaker – an odd role for a lion.

“She was the one that held everyone together,” Kay Buffamonte, her keeper for 24 years, told <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/real-time/Philadelphia-Zoo-lion-Zenda-dies-Dec-29-2016.html">Philly.com</a>.

After her health rapidly declined, the zoo was forced to make the difficult decision to end her life on Dec. 30, 2016.
<ol start="11">
 	<li><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2017/01/18/Gorilla-Colo-2006-0001-Grahm-S-Jones-Columbus-Zoo-and-Aquarium-large_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwfSVWeZ_vEN7c6bHu2jJnT8.jpg">Colo, America's oldest Gorilla </a></li>
</ol>
Beloved Colo died just earlier this week after leading a long and happy life at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. She died in her sleep overnight less than a month after her 60th birthday. In a statementzoo president Tom Stalf said "Colo touched the hearts of generations of people who came to see her and those that cared for her over her long lifetime, she was an ambassador for gorillas and inspired people to learn more about the critically endangered species and motivated them to protect gorillas in their native habitat."

—

By Kyla Cathey / Earth.com staff writer

&nbsp;

Remembering 10 favorite animal celebrities we lost last year

Some of the world’s favorite celebrities passed away in 2016....

Moth with golden combover is named after Donald Trump

A minuscule moth with a familiar, golden coif was just named after the man who will soon be the 45th president of the United States.  

Neopalpa donaldtrumpi was discovered in California by evolutionary biologist Vazrick Nazari, of Ottawa, Canada. He named the moth after president-elect Donald Trump due to the resemblance between the golden, side-swept fur that tops its head and Trump’s signature hairstyle.

The moth has rough, yellowish-white scales on its head with an off-white body and wings that are often brown or grayish-brown. 

The species is native to Southern California and the Mexican state of Baja, California – quite ironic for a moth that was named after a candidate who ran on often fiery rhetoric around building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The moth is incredibly small, with a wingspan of just over a centimeter. It belongs to the family Gelechiidae, also known as twirler moths. When disturbed, twirler moths frequently twirl in circles.   

Nazari says that he hopes the moth’s name will encourage Mr. Trump and the general public to pay attention to conservation efforts in the U.S. Many delicate ecosystems “contain many undiscovered and undescribed species, and deserve to be protected for future generations,” he told <a href="http://www.livescience.com">Live Science</a>.   

Mr. Trump won’t be the first president to have a scientific namesake; researchers have named nine species after President Barack Obama. Scientists have also named species after characters from Star Wars, actors such as Johnny Depp, and music legends Beyoncé and Johnny Cash.  

Neopalpa donaldtrumpi isn't the only insect with a Trump-like hairstyle. The<a href="http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/Creatures/MISC/MOTHS/puss.htm"> puss caterpillar</a> also has a distinctive golden hairdo. Experts don’t recommend that people grab a puss caterpillar because the tiny creatures can deliver a painful sting. 

--

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="http://www.livescience.com"> Live Science</a>

Image: Vazrick Nazari

Moth with 'golden flake hairstyle' named after Donald Trump

Moth with golden combover is named after Donald Trump A...

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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



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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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

[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

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

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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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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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;



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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

Satellites have become essential to our survival

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