Before there were dinosaurs, before trees covered the land, fish were already hard at work shaping Earth’s future. They did this with a single powerful innovation: jaws.



Jaws weren’t just for biting. Fish used them for all sorts of tasks - cracking shells, digging into the seafloor, defending themselves, and even carrying their young.



This one tool gave early vertebrates - including our distant ancestors - a huge advantage. But not all fish jaws evolved the same way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-twist-in-fish-jaw-evolution">Surprising twist in fish jaw evolution</h2>



Roughly 400 million years ago, fish ruled the seas. Two big groups stood out: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coelacanth-ngamugawi-wirngarri-new-species-living-fossil-fish-survived-over-400-million-years/">lobe-finned fishes</a> and ray-finned fishes. 



Lobe-finned fishes had fleshy, muscular fins that helped them move in different ways. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/319-million-year-old-fish-holds-clues-about-brain-evolution/">Ray-finned fishes</a> had lighter, more flexible fins supported by thin spines.



Today, ray-finned fishes dominate the oceans, rivers, and lakes. They include about 33,000 species - from goldfish to tuna. 



Lobe-finned fishes, on the other hand, are nearly extinct. Only eight species are known to exist today, including the coelacanth and the lungfish. But a new study from the <a href="https://umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> flips the story.



The research shows that between 359 and 423 million years ago, lobe-finned fishes were the ones leading the evolutionary race. 



Their jaws were changing fast, adapting in all sorts of new ways. Meanwhile, the ray-finned fishes were evolving far more slowly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-answers-in-ancient-jaw-bones">Finding answers in ancient jaw bones</h2>



The researchers used CT scans to create 3D models of 86 fossilized fish jaws from the Silurian and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/at-least-two-of-earths-mass-extinctions-caused-by-massive-supernova-explosions/">Devonian Periods</a> - dating back to around 443 million years ago. That’s older than the first forests.



The team digitally mapped these jaws to study both their shape and how they worked. To measure the strength of a fish's bite, they calculated something called mechanical advantage.



Emily Troyer is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan and lead author of the study. She explained that essentially, the higher the mechanical advantage of the jaw, the stronger the bite force.



The results showed something no one expected. "This is a really striking result, primarily because <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lungfish-genome-discovery-explains-how-fish-first-walked-onto-land/">lungfish</a> and coelacanths today are represented by only eight living species, with not much jaw diversity going on," Troyer said. 



"However, if we look back in time 400 or so million years, we see this striking inversion. During the Devonian, we have a lot more species and a lot more innovation within their jaws." 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Dipterus-fish_whole-skeleton_credit-Troyer-UMichigan_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Dipterus-fish_whole-skeleton_credit-Troyer-UMichigan_1s.webp" alt="Whole skeleton of Dipterus, an extinct lungfish from the middle Devonian period. Specimen (UMMP 16140) from the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology. Credit: E.M. Troyer/UMichigan" class="wp-image-1984595"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Whole skeleton of Dipterus, an extinct lungfish from the middle Devonian period. Specimen (UMMP 16140) from the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology. Click image to enlarge. Credit: E.M. Troyer/UMichigan</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lungfish-jaws-lead-the-way">Lungfish jaws lead the way</h2>



Lungfish jaws, in particular, went through a major shift during the Devonian Period. Their jaws became larger, thicker, and packed with powerful muscles. This likely helped them crush hard-shelled prey, like early clams and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-crustaceans-have-what-it-takes-to-survive-climate-change/">crustaceans</a>.



"With their really hefty jaws, they were able to eat really hard food," Troyer said. "We think these new feeding strategies might be causing jaws to need to be shaped like this, and that some of these major innovations are associated with their ecosystems during this time."



Rafael Rivero-Vega, co-first author of the study and a recent doctoral graduate, scanned nearly every complete lobe-finned fish jaw fossil available. 



He mapped out their key features to study something called adaptive radiation. That’s when animals quickly evolve into many different forms because their environment pushes them to adapt.



Rivero-Vega saw clear patterns. "Some fishes were diversifying their jaws rapidly in shape and size, only later to stay essentially unchanged once they filled a specialized niche," he said. 



"Others had similar characteristics but a wider variety of shapes and sizes, and yet others had similar form but wouldn't change until after they had already transitioned onto land."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fish-jaw-innovation-changed-the-future">Fish jaw innovation changed the future</h2>



This research shows that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-evolution-not-random-can-be-predicted-pangenome-genetic-history/">evolution</a> doesn’t follow a straight line. Just because a group is successful now doesn’t mean it always was. 



Lobe-finned fishes once led the way in jaw innovation, helping set the stage for major changes in vertebrate life - including the eventual rise of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.



"When you're looking at evolution, you can learn so much from looking at the past," Troyer said. "Without the fossil record, we would have no idea of this inverted role reversal."



The study also highlights the importance of old bones. Even though only a few lobe-finned fishes are still around, their ancient fossils tell a story that would otherwise have been be lost.



"It's a great example of how innovations in shape, form, and function can be explored by different fish groups at their own pace, as long as they experience the appropriate evolutionary pressures," said Rivero-Vega. 



"All of this happened hundreds of millions of years before the dinosaurs. Fishes are awesome."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960982225010395" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">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/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

How ancient fish jaws built the path to modern land animals

Before there were dinosaurs, before trees covered the land, fish were already hard at work shaping Earth’s future. They did this with a single powerful innovation: jaws. Jaws weren’t just for biting. Fish used them for all sorts of tasks - cracking shells, digging into the seafloor, defending themselves, and even carrying their young. This one tool gave early vertebrates - including our distant ancestors - a huge advantage. But not all fish jaws evolved the same way. Surprising twist in fish jaw evolution Roughly 400 million...

A new study by Dr. Grant Lipman, a clinical associate professor of Emergency Medicine at the <a href="http://med.stanford.edu/">Stanford School of Medicine</a>, has found that drought is a good predictor of fewer snakebites.

Dr. Lipman, who routinely treats patients with venomous snakebites, said: “I wondered if there are more snake bites during droughts.” 

To investigate, he developed a study with a team of researchers including co-lead author Dr. Caleb Phillips, an adjunct assistant professor of Computer Science at the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado-Boulder</a>.


“We set out to prove that, yes, there are more snakebites during high drought time especially since that's what we were taught,” said Dr. Lipman.

The experts were surprised to find that the number of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/how-just-a-few-drops-of-viper-venom-call-kill-you/">snakebites</a> actually decreases after a drought, but increases after periods of rainy weather. 

The study also revealed that an increase in weather extremes caused by climate change has a direct influence on snakebite incidence in California. According to the study authors, this could be useful to help guide public health measures, such as determining the best distribution of antivenom supplies.

The analysis was focused on 20 years of snakebite data from every phone call made to the California Poison Control System from 1997 to 2017. 

A total of 5,365 snake bites were reported, all of which were from rattlesnakes. The average age of patients was found to be 37, and the researchers also determined that five deaths occurred over the study period. Most of the fatalities involved male victims who were at home in the backyard when they were bitten.

“The most common comment I usually hear from snakebite victims in the emergency room is: ‘I was just minding my own business,’” said Dr. Lipman “Usually, though, it's the snakes that were minding their own business, having a nice nap. It's people who tend to disturb them.”

The experts determined that snakebite incidence decreased by 10 percent following a drought, and increased by 10 percent following high levels of precipitation. The researchers theorize that an increase in rainfall results in accelerated shrub growth, which boosts the presence of rodents - the primary food source of snakes. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ictx20">Clinical Toxicology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A decrease in rainfall is actually linked to fewer snakebites

A new study by Dr. Grant Lipman, a clinical associate...

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/largest-extinction-event-ever/">Extinction</a> is (ironically) a part of life in nature. Some animals become unfit for their changing environment or are outcompeted by other species, and their population numbers ultimately dwindle to zero. Although too often these days, it seems that species’ extinctions are a result of human impact, whether through hunting or environmental destruction. This seems to be the case in the recently-announced extinction of eight bird species that were previously listed as endangered species.

<a href="https://www.birdlife.org/">BirdLife International</a>, a group of conservation non-governmental organizations based in the UK, performed a statistical analysis of endangered species, examining 51 species labeled “critically endangered” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red list. The results of their analysis showed that eight bird species should now be added to the list of confirmed or “highly likely” extinctions.

Four of the extinctions are species native to Brazil, including the Spix’s macaw – a brilliant blue species of parrot that was a main character in the animated move Rio. The last known wild sighting of this bird was in 2000, although captive birds are still breeding in restoration programs. The three other species, the poo-uli, cryptic treehunter, and Alagoas foliage-gleaner, may be gone forever. 

The poo-uli was only found on the island of Maui in Hawaii, and has not been seen since 2004. Captive breeding of this species has been wholly unsuccessful. Since its discovery in north-eastern Brazil in 2002, the cryptic treehunter has not been seen in the wild since 2007, likely due to loss of habitat. Additionally, the Alagoas foliage-gleaner – a small forest bird native to Brazil – is believed to have become extinct in 2011 due to heavy deforestation. Clearly, human activity has been devastating to these bird populations.

Two of the eight species to be reclassified as extinct include the glaucous macaw and the Pernambuco pygmy-owl, both of which have had their habitats destroyed by humans for farming and logging. Further analysis from BirdLife International has found that extinctions are only increasing, particularly in South America, where habitat due to unsustainable agriculture, drainage, and logging is prominent.

“Because we know birds better than any other taxonomic class we know which other species are most at risk,” says Stuart Butchart, the chief scientist at BirdLife International. “We hope this study will inspire a redoubling of efforts to prevent other extinctions.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation

Eight species of birds to be declared as extinct

Extinction is (ironically) a part of life in nature. Some...

The role of monitoring species populations in wildlife management and environmental conservation cannot be understated. Monitoring allows researchers to track <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/population-declines-underway-extinct/">population declines</a>, understand how climate change is impacting certain ecosystems, and even project future trends for a species’ survival. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.penguins.org.au/">Phillip Island Nature Parks</a> in Victoria, Australia shows just how effective long-term monitoring programs can be in tracking population numbers over time. 

The study was published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0200253">PLOS ONE</a> and examines how many fur seal pups have been born since species-wide protection was first implemented in 1975. 

For the first time ever since those protections were put in place, seal pup numbers have declined,  which was discovered after the researchers reviewed the monitoring data through the years. 

Fur seals are a key predator in Australia, but the species is facing many challenges including ecotourism and fishing operations. Understanding how populations are changing in response to these challenges is crucial for <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/tracking-marine-predators-conservation/">conservation</a> and ensuring their continued survival. 

The researchers reviewed live seal pup census data gathered in the summers of 2002, 2007, and 2013 thanks to a large-scale monitoring program. 

After reviewing the data, the team found that the monitoring program was both accurate and effective in its recording of seal pup census information.

The research also showed that since 2007, seal pup populations have been declining by around 4.2 percent every year, the first ever declines since the 1970s. 

The researchers say that that the results could help with implementing and assessing other monitoring programs for different species and ecosystems. 

“As wildlife managers it is important for us to regularly review our monitoring programs to examine the reliability of the information we have collected, and also to identify enhancements which may assist in a greater understanding of any population changes detected,” said Roland Pick, the communications executive for Phillip Island Nature Parks. “We are currently using drone technology and Citizen Science programs at Phillip Island Nature Parks to enhance our monitoring of Seal Rocks as the largest breeding colony for the species.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Phillip Island Nature Parks

Fur seal pup populations down for the first time since the 1970s

The role of monitoring species populations in wildlife management and...

Many people enjoy putting out bird feeders in their yards and gardens and watching as many different colorful birds stop by for a bite. However, have you ever considered the environmental impacts of bird feeders and if they actually <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-feeders-helping-birds/">benefit the birds themselves</a>? 

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> and the <a href="https://www.bto.org/">British Trust for Ornithology</a> conducted a new study to investigate how bird feeders benefit garden birds and found that bigger, more dominant species get first dibs of the feed. 

The study was published in the journal PlOS ONE and it’s one of the few studies aimed at determining the impacts of bird feeders. 

“Bird feeding has become increasingly popular in the UK and throughout much of the world in recent decades,” said Jon Blount, the senior author of the study. “However, its impacts are still poorly understood. Bird feeders create a concentrated food source which can result in more quarrels between individuals of different species, which we predicted would lead to the formation of a dominance hierarchy.”

For the study, the researchers observed birds that flocked to feeders placed around the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall. 

Larger birds like the house sparrow and greenfinch spent more time at the feeder and got first dibs on better food like sunflower hearts. The smaller bird species like blue tits had less time at the feeder and were left with lower quality seeds that were more difficult to eat. 

The researchers found that weight and size were a major indicator of dominance. When two birds interacted at the feeders, the one that ended up staying at the feeder was considered the winner, and the winners were larger garden birds. 

“Our findings show that larger, heavier species get better access to food - so if the aim of bird feeders is to benefit all species, we need to investigate ways to achieve this, such as different mixes of foods and feeder designs,” said Blount. 

The results show that bird feeders are not just simple garden accessories but also unfairly benefit some bird species over others. 

Bird feeders can offer much-needed food during winter or harsh weather, but the researchers say that more work is needed in order to make sure that bird feeders can sustain and benefit all species equally. 

“With more and more people feeding the birds in their gardens it is more important than ever that we understand any implications this might have for the birds themselves,” said Kate Plummer, a joint first author of the study. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Bird feeders often monopolized by larger, dominant birds

Many people enjoy putting out bird feeders in their yards...

A new study has revealed that birds at more northern latitudes mature faster, start reproducing younger, and live shorter lives. The researchers believe this is likely the birds’ response to higher seasonal variation in resources.

According to the experts, the lives of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/traffic-noise-birds-aging/">birds</a> progress at a faster rate the farther away they are from the equator. For the first time, scientists have recognized this pattern in birds' feathers, with northern birds completing their annual molt faster compared to birds in the tropics.


Study author Ryan Terrill of <a href="https://www.lsu.edu/">Louisiana State University</a> examined museum specimens of four bird species with ranges that span across both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. 

Feather growth has slight differences between day and night during a bird's annual molt, and these conditions are reflected in visible pairs of light-colored bars. Each pair of bars represents 24 hours of growth. 

Terrill was able to determine the rates at which individual feathers grew by measuring their spacing. Across all four species, individuals in higher latitudes had grown their feathers faster.

Terrill has two theories to explain this pattern of accelerated growth. First, where the availability of food changes with the seasons, birds may need to molt faster so that they have the necessary resources. Second, birds at higher latitudes tend to be more invested in producing offspring than in extending their own survival. Therefore, the faster production of sub-quality feathers may be an acceptable tradeoff.

“Working with museum specimens was a lot of fun. One of my favorite things about museum specimens is using them in ways that other folks might not consider, and especially using them in ways for which the original collector couldn't have known they might be useful,” said Terrill. 

“It wasn't until recently that many people considered that how feathers grow might be important for birds or realized that you could measure feather growth rates on specimens, and I hope this study will publicize yet another way that museum specimens are useful for understanding birds.”

Peter Pyle, who was not involved with this particular study, is an expert on bird molt patterns at <a href="https://www.birdpop.org/">The Institute for Bird Populations</a>.

“Most aspects of avian molt, with the exception of feather-replacement sequence, are thought to be rather flexible. The timing, location, and extent of molts appear to respond quickly to environmental constraints, even within populations of the same species occurring at different latitudes, as either permanent or winter residents,” said Pyle.

“Yet molt strategies remain vastly understudied compared to other avian topics such as breeding, migration, and behavioral responses. This paper shows that a fourth component of molt, feather growth rate, also appears to vary, with equatorial populations showing slower molt intensity than those of higher latitudes.”

“The author ties this nicely in to other studies suggesting a decelerated pace of other life history traits in less seasonal environments, perhaps as a function of slower basal metabolic rates.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://www.americanornithologypubs.org/loi/tauk">The Auk: Ornithological Advances</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: R. Terrill

The rate of a bird’s life can be tracked to its feathers

A new study has revealed that birds at more northern...

A team of ecologists from the <a href="http://www.glos.ac.uk/">University of Gloucestershire</a> searched <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/russian-trolls-twitter-vaccines/">Twitter</a> using both text and hashtags for any observations on popular ecological phenomena across the UK, such as the emergence of flying ants and starling murmurations. The data gathered from the tweets was compared to three related studies, and was found to be accurate and reliable. 

The researchers determined that the “Twitter-mined” data was able to replicate many of the temporal findings of the published research, such as the dates and times of ant mating flights or house spider sightings. In addition, the analysis of photos uploaded in tweets reproduced the gender ratios of house spiders.

“The retrospective analysis of social media has been used widely to detect earthquakes or political sentiment, but not so much in ecological research,” said study lead author Professor Adam Hart. “Our study shows that passive citizen science, where we gain information and access to photos indirectly through Twitter or other social media channels such as Facebook and Flickr, can indeed generate robust and interesting data.”

Tweets automatically generate a date and time stamp, and people usually post on the same day of a sighting.

“It is perhaps the immediacy of Twitter, the ‘urgency’ of the phenomena and the desire to connect with other users that have produced so many usable tweets,” said Professor Hart. “The emergence of winged ants is also popular in the media and hashtags like #flyingantday often trend on Twitter.”


It is more challenging to pinpoint the location of a sighting through Twitter because it is rarely published in posts. Twitter has recently launched the option of having latitude and longitude automatically added to tweets via “share precise location,” which could grant researchers better access to location data. 

“Twitter can provide a valuable tool for phenological studies of charismatic events and species,” said Professor Hart. “Dog owners noting ticks on their animals, or the timing of frog spawning or foxes mating are just some of the questions that could be explored.”

The researchers encourage members of the public to participate in ecological studies, and recommend for users to promote specific hashtags that will make it much easier to search through Twitter archives.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/2041210X">Methods in Ecology and Evolution</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sometimes Twitter can provide reliable data for studying animals

A team of ecologists from the University of Gloucestershire searched...

It is still somewhat of a mystery how coral reef fish develop such brilliant colors and complex patterns, and it is also not yet clear how these markings evolve throughout their lives. A recent study is providing new insight into the various stripe patterns found on <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/hollywood-boost-conservation-efforts/">clownfish</a>. The research has also revealed how these patterns change as individuals grow into adulthood. 

The researchers had previously observed that at least nine species of clownfish have more stripes as juveniles compared to when they are adults, which prompted the current investigation into the development of stripes across the evolution of clownfish.

“We show that the ancestor of today's clownfish possessed three white stripes. Then, as some species evolved they lost stripes and we reveal a surprising similarity between this loss of stripes during species evolution and the development of different stripe patterns in individuals from different species today,” explained study co-author Dr. Vincent Laudet of <a href="http://www.sorbonne-universite.fr/en">Sorbonne University</a>.


The study was focused on two species of clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris and Amphiprion frenatus, which have three stripes or a single head stripe, respectively. 

The researchers discovered that shortly after hatching, neither species of larvae had any stripes. The species were also found to develop stripes on the head and on the trunk at the same time. Ultimately, A. oscellaris acquired a third stripe near the tail, while A. frenatus lost the trunk stripe before reaching adulthood.


“Interestingly, every clownfish species existing today gains stripes from front to back after they are born, before individuals of some species lose stripes again from back to front as they grow into adults, which is similar to the loss of stripes observed during clownfish evolution; while all clownfish started out with three stripes - that is their last common ancestor had three stripes - as they diversified into what are now 30 different species, some clownfish lost stripes in a pattern that is similar to how today's clownfish lose stripes as they grow up,” explained Dr. Laudet.

“It is also interesting that while clownfish species vary in their number of stripes from zero to three, there is limited variation in how these stripes are organized. In all two-striped species, the stripe nearest the tail has been lost, while the head and the trunk stripes are retained. All one-striped species have retained the head stripe and have lost the trunk and tailfin stripes. So, some fish have no stripes at all, while others have one stripe near the head, one stripe each near the head and on the trunk, or three stripes near the head, on the trunk, and near the tail, but you will never find a clownfish with just one stripe near the tail, or one stripe near the tail and one near the head.”


The study authors theorized that the different stripe patterns may allow clownfish to recognize individuals belonging to the same species, including potential mating partners. 

“Because coral reef fishes provide examples of complex color patterns, they offer a unique opportunity to better understand the origin of these traits,” said Dr. Laudet. “Unraveling the mysteries of why pigmentation patterns from coral reef fish are so diverse, how they evolved and where their diversity originated will help us to understand the formation of very complex phenotypes.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/">BMC Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How and when do clownfish get their vibrant stripes?

It is still somewhat of a mystery how coral reef...

Earlier this year it was reported that there were more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tigers-captive-us-nature/">tigers in captivity than in the wild</a>. The news was just one in a long line of studies that emphasizes how the world’s big cats are highly endangered.

However, the birth of two lion cubs at the <a href="http://lodge.ukutula.co.za/ukutula/ucc/">Ukutulu Game Reserve and Conservation Centre</a> in South Africa via artificial insemination offers hope to saving species like tigers, of which there are less than 4,000 in the wild, and snow leopards, of which there are less than 7,000 left in the world. 

According to the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6126743/Birth-worlds-test-tube-lion-cubs.html">Daily Mail,</a> experts from the <a href="https://www.up.ac.za/">University of Pretoria</a> pioneered in vitro fertilization research for big cats and their efforts led to the birth of two “test-tube” cubs, a male and female. 

The sperm of a male lion was placed inside a lioness in the Ukutulu Game Reserve and three months later the cubs were born. Both cubs are healthy and thriving in the reserve. 

“When they are big enough they will be introduced to the other lions but that will be some time yet but meanwhile they are happy and healthy and playful and leading us a merry dance,” Willi Jacobs, the owner of the Game Reserve told the Daily Mail. “This research although done on lions will benefit all the highly or critically endangered species in the world and will benefit so many types of big cat close to the danger of extinction.” 

Big cat species like tigers and snow leopards are among the many species whose populations are steadily decreasing due habitat loss and degradation and human activities. 

Many are endangered which is why this new breakthrough has so much promise. Artificial insemination could help bring some big cat species back from the brink and ensure their continued survival. 

“This was a world first for lions and now we start a journey and the idea is to improve our knowledge and understanding of the big cats and move the research quickly forward,” Isabel Callealta, the lead researcher on the project, told the Daily Mail. “The research will hopefully mean we can start working towards carrying out similar procedures on some of the much rarer big cats like the snow leopard and the tiger in the future.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: <a href="https://www.up.ac.za/">University of Pretoria</a>

Birth of first test-tube lion cubs could help save big cats

Earlier this year it was reported that there were more...

Great white shark sightings, which have become a way of life in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/shark-sightings-cape-cod/">Cape Cod</a> this summer, are causing major concerns for the safety of swimmers. Experts say that the rapidly increasing population of gray seals is primarily to blame. 

Leslie Reynolds, chief ranger at the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm">Cape Cod National Seashore</a>, explained that the white sharks are feeding on seals and the seals are coming closer to shore. Swimmers have been warned to stay away from the seals and to stay out of deep water.

Charter boat captain Doug Brown told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/">CNBC</a>, “The sharks come right up out of the water to grab the bait. They are not bashful. I have been out in the bay all my life, but I've never seen great whites to this amount. They are sometimes right under my boat.”

There is some evidence that the presence of younger great white sharks is contributing to the abnormal activity. 

Dr. Greg Skomal of the <a href="https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-marine-fisheries">Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries</a> (DMF) has led a study on white sharks in the North Atlantic for nearly five years. The team spotted 149 great white sharks off of Cape Cod in July alone, which is nearly twice the number observed last July.

Data from the study is still being analyzed, but Dr. Skomal said smaller great whites that measure about eight to 10 feet likely appeared in larger numbers this year. He explained that these younger sharks could be responsible for some of the encounters that have recently gone viral, particularly those where sharks are snatching fish off of anglers' hooks.

According to Dr. Skomal, smaller sharks tend to feed on large fish like striped bass, while larger adult sharks usually feed on seals.

“Cape Cod may represent a productive feeding ground not just for mature white sharks, but also for juveniles. It's something we'll certainly be watching out for.”

Dr. Skomal added, “If anything, it's indicative of a healthy population. As the white shark rebounds across the East Coast, we should be seeing a broader range of sizes.”

--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Great white shark sightings have exploded this summer in Cape Cod

Great white shark sightings, which have become a way of...

<a href="https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/woman-gets-a-surprise-when-her-rescue-dogs-turned-out-to-be-something-else/">IFL Science</a> reported earlier this year that a woman in Croatia found puppies abandoned in a box at an animal shelter and did what many of us would: she promptly adopted them.  The only hang up is that the animals in the box weren’t puppies, they were wild jackals. 

Many think of jackals as being an African animal and primarily they are; there are three species of Jackal in Africa and only four species worldwide.  The Golden Jackal, like those mistaken for dogs in Croatia is found in south-eastern Europe and southern Asia. The IUCN red list considers the golden jackal of least concern since it’s widespread and has a large population.  

Unfortunately for the jackal pups, by the time their true identity was discovered, they’d spent too much time with humans to ever be released into the wild.  Marina, the woman who found the puppies, is the first person in Croatia to gain permission to keep jackals as pets and hopes that these domesticated jackals will be ambassadors for their species.

It’s not too hard to imagine mistaking a jackal for a domestic dog, they’re very similar.  To my eyes, jackals look very similar to western coyotes which can hybridize successfully with domestic dogs.  Jackals have also been known to hybridize in captivity with dogs. There have also been some confirmed cases of dog-jackal hybrids in the wild in Croatia.  Hybridization experiments in Germany between jackals and poodles showed a decrease in fertility in the hybrids. 

Not too much different than a jackal, as <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/china/article-5704179/Pet-owner-shocked-cute-puppy-bought-raised-year-actually-FOX.html">The Daily Mail</a> reported in May 2018 that a woman bought a fox thinking it was a Japanese Spitz, a breed of dog.  After three months of no barking the ‘dog’ became suspicious and the woman took her pet to a zoo. The zoo confirmed the woman’s suspicions and she ended up donating her fox pet to the zoo for better care. 

<a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/544717/cases-of-mistaken-dog-identity">Earlier this year</a>, a coyote was also thought to be a domestic dog and taken to police in Illinois, where it was eventually turned over to a wildlife rescue facility.   

<a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/05/black-bear-dog-adoption-animals-spd/">National Geographic</a> reported of a mix up that’s harder to understand also in May and also in China.  A family had what they thought was a Tibetan Mastiff, a rather large breed of dog.  The dog kept growing and demanding more food than even a mastiff and the family became concerned.  After two years, it became obvious that their pet wasn’t a dog at all. In the end the animal turned out to be an endangered Asiatic Black Bear, an animal of value if sold on the black market.  The bear is now taken care of by a wildlife rescue organization. It’s hard not to wonder if this is entirely a case of mistaken identity or if it’s a case of wildlife trafficking gone wrong. 

Near San Antonio, Texas, <a href="https://people.com/pets/cases-of-mistaken-animal-identity-dog-is-bear/#you-go-to-be-kitten-me">People</a> reported that a family encountered two kittens they thought needed help.  When they tried to feed the kittens, the cats bit them and the people called animal control.  When an animal control officer arrived, he identified the kittens as infant bobcats. The bobcats are now in a wildlife facility.  

<a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/ferrets-rodents-sold-as-toy-poodles-argentina_n_3037094.html">The Huffington Post</a> reported in 2013 that a man in Argentina was selling what he said were toy poodles at a bazaar stand.  A man took one of the toy poodles he purchased to a vet and learned that it was actually a ferret. The man selling the ferrets apparently doped them on steroids to make them larger and gave them fancy haircuts to make them look more like poodles.  Apparently ferrets on steroids aren’t unknown in Argentina. 

<a href="https://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/um-no-ferrets-on-steroids-are-being-sold-as-toy-poodles">Dogster</a> seems a little dubious that people could be so easily duped into mistaking a ferret for a dog and with good reason.  It’s a little hard to believe some of these cases of mistaken identity. Who’s never seen a dog in close quarters? There are some urban legends that are even more far-fetched.  <a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sheepish-discovery/">Snopes</a> debunked a story of a Japanese actress being sold a sheep as a toy poodle.  

There are some more believable cases of mistaken identity.  <a href="https://people.com/pets/cases-of-mistaken-animal-identity-dog-is-bear/#feline-fiasco">People</a> reported that in 2014, a woman in Connecticut heard a scratching at her at night door and let an animal in that she thought was her cat.  Later the woman tried to pick up the cat to pet her and was bitten by what turned out to be a wild raccoon. 

The idea of a wild animal being mistaken for a <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/dogs-helped-humans-exclude/">dog</a> or cat may seem like little more than a funny mix up.  The implications are much broader than you initially think, though. If we can live with wild animals for months or even years peacefully or without guessing their true identity, what does it mean about domestication?  Can wild animals be tamed? 

It’s suspected that dogs were domesticated in cooperation with the dogs themselves.  Instead of a model of humans unilaterally training dogs, wolves may have actively participated in becoming domesticated dogs.  Wolves may have followed humans for long periods, eating scraps and slowly becoming socialized to humans. It may have happened quicker than one may suspect if you take the accounts of mistaken identity seriously.  If someone can live with a wild bear peacefully for years thinking it a dog, how short of a time would it take for a wolf to become accustomed to human companionship? Famed naturalist Adolph Murie kept a wolf as a pet with relatively good success.   

Today wolves and wolf hybrids are sometimes kept as pets, in the US and elsewhere.  There is also a rising trend in keeping wild cats, raccoons and other animals as pets.  In the long term, cats, dogs and other domestics did arise from wild animals but in the short term, what does this mean for individual animals?  

Keeping wild animals is something many (including myself) have a dim view of.  Dogs are different from wolves and dogs are very different from either. It’s true that humans are animals but we’ve also changed our lives to be very different from our wild relatives.  It’s more of an interesting comment on how little we observe the natural world around us that we can mistake a wild creature for a dog than anything it says about the animals.               

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

When wild animals are mistaken for pets

IFL Science reported earlier this year that a woman in...

Evolution research can show us many things about the living world and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fireless-fireflies/">how it came to be</a>. All of the animals on Earth evolved from unicellular ancestors or single-celled organisms. From these, 30 or 40 distinct anatomical designs were formed. But how did these designs, or animal blueprints come to be?

This is topic of much debate as some scientists believe that the designs originated in a single burst during the Cambrian explosion while others believe it happened gradually over a long period of time.

Researchers led by the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a> set out to try and better understand how this evolutionary groundwork happened. 

The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

In order to investigate the evolution of animal blueprints the researchers compiled lists of features that were either present or absent across all living animal groups.

“This allowed us to create a 'shape space' for animal body plans, quantifying their similarities and differences,” said Philip Donoghue, a professor at the University of Bristol. “Our results show that fundamental evolutionary change was not limited to an early burst of evolutionary experimentation. Animal designs have continued to evolve to the present day - not gradually as Darwin predicted - but in fits and starts, episodically through their evolutionary history.”

What was difficult was finding a way to incorporate extinct species in the research to see how they fit into different molds/plans. 

“One of the problems we had is that our study is mostly based on living species and we needed to include fossils,” said Mark Puttick, a co-author of the study. “We solved the problem through a combination of analyzing the fossils and using computer models of evolution.”

Next, the researchers worked on figuring out what were the underlying driving mechanisms of the different designs.

“The differences in anatomical designs correlate with regulatory gene sets, but not the type or diversity of proteins,” said Jenny Greenwood, a fellow co-author of the study. “This indicates that it is the evolution of genetic regulation of embryology that precipitated the evolution of animal biodiversity.”

The study provides crucial insight into the evolution of different animal designs dating back to their earliest beginnings and the genetic mechanisms that drove each evolutionary track.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit; Jakob Vinther, <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a>

How the diverse shapes of the Earth’s species evolved

Evolution research can show us many things about the living...

Some animals haunt the dreams of those who seek them. Like the cities of gold that propelled Coronado and the fountain of youth that drove Ponce de Leon, these creatures drive people to obsession. While such quests are often quixotic—no one has yet made a verified sighting of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lost-extinctions-animals/">thylacine</a> in modern times and the notion that Carcharocles megalodon still plies the deeps is thought to be pure fantasy—sometimes, just sometimes, determination pays off.

So it is with the Australian night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis), a small, green, ground-dwelling bird that, as its name suggests, is nocturnal.

This unassuming psittacine has been the focus of a small but driven cadre of birders and ornithologists for decades. It was first discovered in 1845 by explorer John McDouall Stuart, who appropriately enough for this story <a href="https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/s/stuart/john_mcdouall/journals/complete.html">searched for a non-existent inland sea</a> that supposedly occupied the centre of Australia. 

Sixteen years later, it was formally described by famed English ornithologist John Gould. Even up to the 1870s, specimens were readily captured; during the 1860s and 70s, naturalist F.W. Andrews collected the majority of the 23 known specimens. The bird was thought to be extinct by 1912, when the last living specimen was shot. (That specimen rotted and was eventually lost.) 

Until 1979, no reliable sightings were recorded, though some 70 putative reports were made. That year, a museum curator on a camel-back expedition spotted one briefly. Ten years later, Dick Smith, the businessman and conservationist who founded Australian Geographic, offered up $25,000 for convincing proof of the bird’s continued existence.

<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Walter_Boles/publication/261711047_A_Recent_Specimen_of_the_Night_Parrot_Geopsittacus_Occidentalis/links/54b498e40cf28ebe92e4808d/A-Recent-Specimen-of-the-Night-Parrot-Geopsittacus-Occidentalis.pdf">In 1990</a>, Australian Museum scientists discovered a decayed and shriveled specimen on a roadside in Queensland, quite by accident. They had pulled over to take a bathroom break and noticed a small, greenish corpse, feathers fluttering in the wind. It was indeed a night parrot. The scientists claimed the reward and donated it to the museum. The species was clearly still alive and breeding. 

But it was another 15 years until <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49279333_The_Night_Parrot_Pezoporus_occidentalis_in_northern_Western_Australia_A_recent_sighting_from_the_Pilbara_region">another reliable sighting</a> occurred in 2005. Scientists conducting a mining risk assessment in Pilbara, Western Australia spotted three birds. As a result of this discovery, the mining company was required to compile a comprehensive <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2010/5696/2010-5696-approved-management-plan.pdf">management plan</a> for the region in order to offset risks to the population. The next year, another dead parrot, this one a juvenile, was found in Diamantina National Park in Queensland. In a macabre twist, the bird appeared to have decapitated itself by flying into a barbed wire fence. 

The trail was getting hotter, to the encouragement of several groups of scientists who were on the hunt. Then, in 2013, John Young, a naturalist who claims to have spent some 17,000 hours searching for the parrot, announced that he had succeeded. After intensive searches in southwestern Queensland, he captured photographs and sound <a href="https://nightparrot.com.au/index.php/resources/night-parrot-calls/">recordings of the night parrot</a>, the first ever. 

In response, the conservation group Bush Heritage and the Queensland government established the <a href="https://www.bushheritage.org.au/places-we-protect/queensland/pullen-pullen">Pullen Pullen Reserve</a> to protect the population. “Pullen-pullen” is an indigenous word for the night parrot. The exact location of the 56,000 hectare area has not been disclosed in order to deter poachers from capturing specimens for the exotic pet trade. There are thought to be somewhere between 30 and 100 night parrots in the reserve and surrounding arid grassland. GPS tagging of the birds in the reserve has shed light on their habits; notably, they may fly close to 30 miles in a night, likely in search of water.

In 2016, live birds were spotted in Diamantina National Park, where the decapitated bird had been discovered in 2006. Then, in 2017, calls were heard in Goneaway National Park and a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/23/night-parrot-sighting-confirmed-in-western-australia-for-first-time-in-100-years">specimen was photographed</a> in Western Australia, some 1,200 miles away. A single feather was found lining the nest of a zebra finch nest, located under a wedge-tailed eagle nest, in Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary that year as well, expanding the known range of the night parrot to include South Australia. 

So, if these birds have persisted across such a large stretch of territory, why has it been so difficult to locate them? For one, most of the areas in which they have been found are incredibly remote and sparsely populated, making research expeditions difficult. Even in these distant locations, they are subject to predation by both native mammals and, more distressingly, invasives such as cats and foxes, making the small populations hard to maintain. And their nocturnal habits don’t help. 

They’re also cryptically colored—a mix of light green and yellow, with black barring. Their plumage and plump form somewhat resembles that of the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), a much larger species of New Zealand parrot that, like the night parrot, is ground-dwelling. (Kakapos are, unlike the night parrot, flightless.) They spend the daylight hours in tunnels formed in clumps of sharp spinifex grass (Triodia sp.), where they also rear their young. The parrots appear to prefer large clumps, some of which may be up to 90 years old. In some areas of Australia, uncontrolled burns have wiped out viable spinifex habitat, so populations are likely fragmented. Encouragingly, in the areas where the birds have been rediscovered, the spinifex clumps are widely separated and often adjacent to rocky outcrops or salt pans, which reduce the chance of fire spreading unchecked. Nestled in their spiny homes, and only emerging at night, their clandestine lifestyle is perfect for evading the prying eyes of humans. 

The dogged bipeds who finally located them are intent on preserving their ability to do so. 

--

By <a href="mailto:rtpallardy@gmail.com">Richard Pallardy</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer
Image Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/36203633623/in/photolist-Xac5XH-rGemh8">Biodiversity Heritage Library</a>

Because the night: A parrot after dark

Some animals haunt the dreams of those who seek them....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.



Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.



The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators. Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas. These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.



Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.



-----



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.



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.



-----

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.



Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.



The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.



Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."



This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.



Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet Archaeopteris: the first modern tree</h2>



The star of this ancient forest is Archaeopteris – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.



William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.



Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.



This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified Eospermatopteris, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.



All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.



Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."



The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.



Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.



Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.



These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.



The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



-----



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.



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.



-----

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?



The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What was acid rain?</h2>



Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The science behind it</h2>



Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.



While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The crisis at its peak</h2>



During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Environmental devastation</h2>



The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.



By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.



Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Economic impact</h2>



Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The solution: government action and technology</h2>



Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Clean Air Act of 1990</h2>



The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cap-and-trade success</h2>



Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.



The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Technology advances</h2>



Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.



The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today">Why we don't hear about it today</h2>



Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Success doesn't make news</h2>



There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mission accomplished</h2>



The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone">Is it really gone?</h2>



The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.



EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What this teaches us</h2>



The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.



Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.



Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.



This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.



Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Sources: This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



1. Is acid rain completely gone? No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.



2. How long did solving take? Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.



3. What made the solution successful? Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.



4. Do other countries have acid rain problems? Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.



5. Could acid rain return? Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.



6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"? The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</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.



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.



-----

The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Fresh,Radish,Harvest,On,Soil,In,Garden.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex
</div></figure>







Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving fall garden, and this guide lays out the best vegetables and herbs to plant now for a fruitful autumn harvest. 



Fast-growing leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula perform especially well in the waning summer heat, with harvests beginning as soon as 30 days. 



These cool-season crops relish the transition into fall, offering repeated yields with cut-and-come-again methods.



Root vegetables like radishes, carrots, and beets also excel during this period. Radishes deliver satisfaction in under a month, while carrots and beets mature in about two months. Employing succession planting ensures a continuous stream of produce deep into the cooler months. 



For a boost of fresh flavor, herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and chervil are excellent picks. These heat-loving varieties flourish in July’s warmth and are harvest-ready in about 30 days, especially when sown continuously.



Gardeners in zones 6 through 9 can benefit from planting bush beans and snap peas, which don’t require trellising and are ideal for compact plots. 



Maturing in 50–60 days, they’re a smart choice for quick, protein-rich harvests. For those in hotter regions, heat-tolerant crops such as okra and southern peas provide reliable yields and thrive in scorching conditions.



This guide emphasizes more than crop selection—it highlights the importance of timing, soil preparation, and ongoing sowing techniques. 



With thoughtful planning and attention to regional climate needs, even late-summer gardeners can enjoy fresh salads, hearty stews, and the satisfaction of a robust, homegrown harvest well into fall.



-----



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.



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.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



-----

What to plant in your garden in mid-July

https://youtu.be/Fi2OeEwuzRM?si=vTyd2m9FMmtyWkex Mid-July is an opportune time to kick-start a thriving...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU
</div></figure>



A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</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.



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.



-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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



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



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<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...

News coming your way