Rainbow,Lorikeets

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Previous studies warned us about overall losses. Since 1970, North America has lost more than 25% of its breeding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-brains-and-wide-ranges-cant-save-birds-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a>. But knowing where declines are happening is crucial to respond effectively. 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Birds are declining fastest where they were once common

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

Zebrafish may be as small as your thumb but they are widely studied in the scientific world because of their restorative and healing abilities. Yes, a member of the minnow family is helping scientists unlock the keys to potentially healing cancer, muscular dystrophy, and now, with new research, even spinal cord injuries.

The study was published in the journal, Nature Communications, and conducted by scientists at the <a href="http://www.ed.ac.uk/centre-neuroregeneration">University of Edinburgh's Centre for Neuroregeneration</a>. The researchers were able to isolate important molecules in zebrafish that jump-start regeneration in damaged nerve fibers.

After an injury in zebrafish, cells known as fibroblasts would go to the affected area and begin to produce a molecule, collagen 12, that prompts regrowth and actually restores the damaged nerve fibers.

This could potentially open up new studies to find treatments for spinal cord injuries in humans. Spinal cord injuries, as of now, are permanent. But thanks to the zebrafish, scientists may be able to unlock ways to restore and repair nerve damage due to spinal cord injury. And like the zebrafish reconnect those nerve fibers.

Amazingly, scientists have found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zebrafish-insight-human-hearing-loss/">zebrafish</a> are able to heal fully from a spinal cord injury in just four weeks or less. And now, with this study, the research team at Edinburgh have pinpointed the molecules responsible for this incredible speedy healing.

Dr. Thomas Becker from the Centre for Neuroregeneration said about the next phases of the study, "We next plan to check whether triggering these signals in other animals can help them to repair nerve connections damaged by spinal cord injuries."

The zebrafish may be a tiny tropical fish but its ability to restore damaged nerve fibers and biological makeup has been of interest to scientists for quite some time now. Potentially holding within its 2-4-centimeter striped body new ways to understand and treat spinal cord injuries and much more.

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Zebrafish may hold the cure for spinal cord injuries

Zebrafish may be as small as your thumb but they...

A new study that appeared in the journal, Child Development, from researchers at the <a href="http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/">University of Birmingham</a> and <a href="https://www.dur.ac.uk/">Durham University</a> in the United Kingdom looked at both bonobos and human children and their ability to mimic actions. The results found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/friendly-bonobos-aggressive-mating/">bonobos</a> and children imitate the world around them very differently. 

For example, children would mimic things that had no purpose. Zanna Clay, the lead author of the study said: “Children's tendency to imitate in this way likely represents a critical piece of the puzzle as to why human cultures differ so profoundly from those of great apes."

One of the ways the team discovered this was to show both bonobos and children a box with a reward in it. Researchers would then perform some unnecessary action before opening the box, the children tried to copy whatever actions they saw and the bonobos did not. The results showed that imitating for simply the sake of imitating may be singularly human. 

The reason bonobos were chosen, besides being our closest living relative, is that they tend to be better with sociocognitive undertakings when compared to another close relative, the chimpanzees.

The study was on the smaller side, looking at 77 children aged 3-5 in the UK and 46 bonobos living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But Clay and the research team’s findings still shed light on the difference in behavioral development between bonobos and children. Pointing out social and cultural differences in regards to our reactions to the world around us.

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/earth/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Humans and bonobos mimic in very different ways

A new study that appeared in the journal, Child Development,...

Nothing gets your pooch’s tail wagging and excitement up like the w-word, walk. That and maybe seeing you after a long absence. Well, let’s face it, dogs are pretty easily pleased overall. That’s why we love them. But one study out of the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a> and Center for Diet and Activity Research at the <a href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> showed that owning a dog and walking them regularly had a hugely positive impact on keeping older adults more active.

The results were found using data from the EPIC Norfolk cohort study, which currently looks at the health of residents of Norfolk. 

The study particularly focused on those who were less likely to be active later in life and in climates with bouts of bad weather. Research teams looked at over 3,000 adults who were asked if they owned a dog and were given an accelerometer to wear for seven days to measure physical activity. 

The end results found that those who owned a dog were far more active than those who weren’t (30 minutes more), even if the weather was poor. After all, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainfall-carbon-emissions-soil-microbes/">rain</a> or shine, Rover has to go. In fact, this is one thing professor and project lead Andy Jones mentioned in his findings.  He said, “Being driven by something other than our own needs might be a really potent motivator and we need to find ways of tapping into it when designing exercise interventions in the future."

The confirmed findings, although not suggesting that everyone get out and buy a puppy, were helpful to show even small ways that can counter inactivity later in life no matter the weather. According to the study, bad weather was one of the biggest hindrances to regular exercise.

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By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dog walking found to keep older adults more active

Nothing gets your pooch’s tail wagging and excitement up like...

In a strange, natural phenomenon, humans are able to experience empathy for the pain of other humans. But could mice be capable of this as well?

This brain activity occurs in the somatosensory cortex, the insula (INS), and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) – the same regions that are associated with pain itself. Often, we’ll associate phenomena such as this to an ability that is unique in humans, given its complexity. But researcher Monique Smith and her colleagues set out to determine whether or not this same trait occurs in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mice-no-smell-burn-fat/">mice</a>.

The research team had previously shown that “bystander” mice kept with other mice undergoing withdrawal from opioids or alcohol experienced hyperalgesia – which is a heightened sensitivity to pain – similar to the induced-withdrawal mice. Now they wanted to determine whether or not this social transfer of pain was resulting in the same brain region as it was in humans.

In their study, they compared the brain activity of “primary” mice with access to increasing concentrations of ethanol to that of “bystander” mice housed in the same room. 

They found that primary mice exhibited increased activity in the dorsal medial hypothalamus once their access to alcohol was cut off. This is likely indicative of this region’s role in alcohol withdrawal. At the same time, bystander mice showed increased activity in the ACC and INS. Furthermore, they found that hyperalgesia could be reversed in both primary and bystander mice by inhibiting activity in the ACC.

Ultimately, these findings point to a potential neural overlap between physically-induced and socially-transferred hyperalgesia, increasing our understanding of both pain and empathy for pain in mice – and possibly humans as well.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.sfn.org/">Society for Neuroscience</a>

Study reveals that mice are capable of empathy

In a strange, natural phenomenon, humans are able to experience...

Dogs have become much more friendly with humans after their genetic divergence with wolves thousands of years ago. Researchers have now identified a genetic marker in domestic dogs that is also found in people who have Williams-Beuren syndrome, a developmental condition that causes extremely sociable and outgoing behavior.

“The genetic basis for the behavioral divergence between dogs and wolves has been poorly understood, especially with regard to dogs’ success in human environments,” said Monique Udell, an animal scientist at Oregon State University.

Researchers from <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a> and <a href="http://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a> developed problem-solving tasks to evaluate 18 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-developed-wolves-europe/">domesticated</a> dogs and 10 human-socialized wolves. 

For the first experiment, the animals were given boxes containing sausages, and were allowed two minutes to figure out how to open the boxes. A person was placed in the room in order to test the responses of both groups to the presence of a human. The dog most often abandoned the task and focused their attention on the person, while the wolf was not concerned with the individual and attempted to complete their challenge.

In a second evaluation, a person was placed inside of a marked circle. First, the human attempted to make contact with the animals and called out their names. Next, the individual sat inside the circle without attempting any physical contact. Both wolves and dogs immediately approached the person in both phases of the test. However, the wolf lost interest within seconds and wandered away, while the dog stuck around for long periods of time.

The team used molecular tools to analyze blood samples from the animals. The blood tests revealed that dogs have the same genetic markers of people who suffer from Williams-Beuren syndrome, a condition that is characterized by hypersocial behavior.

“It was once thought that during domestication dogs had evolved an advanced form of social cognition that wolves lacked,” explained Udell. “This new evidence would suggest that dogs instead have a genetic condition that can lead to an exaggerated motivation to seek social contact compared to wolves.”

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a>

The real reason why dogs are so friendly and love everybody

Dogs have become much more friendly with humans after their...

Climate change is set to reshape our coastlines, weather events, economies, and basic daily life. But it could also bring along the the end of some of our most lovable animals species. Remember Arthur the Aardvark?

The aardvark, a nocturnal, burrowing mammal in Africa, could be threatened with extinction by climate change, according to a new study.

The study was performed by researchers at the <a href="https://www.wits.ac.za/">University of Witwatersrand</a> and published in the journal <a href="http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/13/7/20170301">Biology Letters</a>.

“Our results do not bode well for the future of aardvarks facing climate change,” the authors wrote. ”Their survival may be threatened by climate change via direct and indirect effects of increasing heat and aridity.”

The researchers implanted devices to measure temperature and activity of six adult aardvarks in the Kalahari desert. Five of the six were found dead during a severe summer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fluctuating-sea-temperature-droughts/">drought</a> in 2013.

The aardvarks “did not exhibit sufficient physiological plasticity to survive a summer drought in a semi-arid desert,” the study found.

The drought also appeared to reduce aardvark prey, such as ants and termites, the study said.

A drop in the aardvark population could also affect other species who live in their burrows to escape.

“The burrows excavated by aardvarks provide thermal refugia for at least 27 vertebrate species,” the study said. “With climate change, these refugia will become increasingly important for those species to buffer climatic extremes.”

This, in turn, could cause an “ecological cascade,” as seen with digging mammals in Australia, the researchers added.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/13/7/20170301">Biology Letters</a>

Climate change threatens the future of the aardvark

Climate change is set to reshape our coastlines, weather events,...

Scientists have discovered that male northern elephant seals have a talent previously believed to be unique to humans. Research revealed that these mammals have the ability to recognize their rivals according to the timing and the tone of vocalizations.

"This is the first natural example where on a daily basis, an animal uses the memory and the perception of rhythm to recognize other members of the population," said first author Nicolas Mathevon. "There have been experiments with other mammals showing that they can detect rhythm, but only with conditioning."

The research team focused their study on an elephant seal colony in California’s Año Nuevo State Park for several years. Mathevon explained that the researchers were able to recognize many of the individual animals just by the rhythm of their voices. The scientists developed a test to determine if the elephant seals were able to make these distinctions in the same way. 

The experiment was based on the social behavior of the colony's beta males, who become submissive and retreat at the sound of a robust alpha male call. On the other hand, the beta males confront or ignore other beta males and weaker outside <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-determines-social-dominance/">males</a>.

The scientists altered the pitch and the tempo of the alpha male calls, and observed the responses of the beta males. If the computer-modified call closely resembled the sound of an alpha male call, the beta males fled the scene. If the alteration was more extreme, the beta males did not retreat. 

The findings of the study, published today in <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>, suggest that the seals are perceptive to both the rhythm and tone of the calls when identifying potential rivals.

"It is possible that maybe the ability to perceive rhythm is actually very general in animals, but it's extremely important for elephant seals, to the point of survival, explained Mathevon. “Competing for females, the males fight very violently, even to the point of killing one another. So it's very important for them to accurately recognize the voices, to be able to choose the right strategy, to know to avoid a fight with a dominant male, or even to start a fight with an inferior one."

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>

Image: Nicolas Mathevon

Elephant seals can identify rivals by the rhythm of their calls

Scientists have discovered that male northern elephant seals have a...

The modern dogs we know and love emerged 20,000 to 40,000 years ago in Europe from the domestication of a population of gray wolves, according to a new study.

An international research team led by Krishna R. Veeramah of <a href="http://www.stonybrook.edu/">Stony Brook University</a> analyzed DNA from two prehistoric <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/test-predicts-best-guide-dogs/">dogs</a> from Germany. The genomes of the dogs were the probable ancestors of modern European dogs, the study concluded.

In 2016, an <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/">Oxford University</a> research team used emerging paleogenomics techniques on DNA from a dog that lived 5,000 years ago in Ireland. The Oxford scientists suggested dogs were domesticated not once, but twice. An indigenous dog population domesticated in Europe was replaced by incoming migrants domesticated independently in East Asia sometime during the Neolithic era, they suggested.

The new study reached a different conclusion.

“Contrary to the results of this previous analysis, we found that our ancient dogs from the same time period were very similar to modern European dogs, including the majority of breed dogs people keep as pets,” Veeramah said. “This suggests that there was no mass Neolithic replacement that occurred on the continent and that there was likely only a single domestication event for the dogs observed in the fossil record from the Stone Age that we also see and live with today.”

Dogs were the first animal to be domesticated by humans, the study said. The oldest dog fossils that can be clearly distinguished from wolves are from the region of what is now Germany from around 15,000 years ago.

The new study found evidence that the 5,000-year-old dog from Ireland was a mixture of European dogs and something that resembles current central Asian/Indian dogs. This may reflect that people moving into Europe from the Asian Steppes at the beginning of the Bronze Age brought their own dogs with them, the study said.

The research was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.stonybrook.edu/">Stony Brook University</a>

Study: Modern day dogs developed from wolves in Europe

The modern dogs we know and love emerged 20,000 to...

Bamboo sharks use their shoulders to serve as tongues to help them eat, according to a new <a href="http://www.brown.edu/">Brown University</a> study.

The sharks pull their "shoulder girdles" back, creating the suction required to push food through the back of the mouth and into the digestive tract, said Ariel Camp, a postdoctoral researcher at Brown University and lead author of the study.

"They have this long pharynx, and they have to keep food moving down it," Camp said. "We think this is part of a 'hydrodynamic tongue.' Sharks and fishes that don't have a tongue control the motion of fluid within their mouths to manipulate food."

Researchers used a technology developed at Brown called X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM). It combines CT scans of the skeleton with high-speed, high-resolution X-ray movies. Tiny implanted metal markers create precise images of how bones and muscles move within animals and people.

The team used XROMM to watch three bamboo sharks eat pieces of squid and herring.

Bamboo sharks are among several species that use suction to slurp up prey out of rocky crevices or silt, Camp said. Opening their mouths widely and quickly, sometimes using muscles deep in their bodies, can create the suction they need.

The shoulder girdle is not connected directly to the jaws or head, so many scientists suspected it wasn’t involved in suction feeding.

However, the XROMM measured a swing in the shoulder girdle of all three sharks tested while they were eating. Just a fraction of a second after the sharks closed their mouths, the cartilage quickly rotated from head to tail by about 11 degrees.

Camp suspects other suction-feeding sharks move their shoulders the same way. The research may help scientists better understand how the shoulder girdle evolved in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-secret-longer-life-humans/">sharks</a> and other fish, and could help explain how some creatures eventually made it into land, she added.

"The girdle shows up [in the fossil record], around the time that jaws evolved," Camp said. "We aren't sure exactly what structures it evolved from or how that happened. Part of understanding that history is understanding what were the functions this structure had to carry out."

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.brown.edu/">Brown University</a>

How sharks use their shoulders to eat

Bamboo sharks use their shoulders to serve as tongues to...

In an effort to meet the worldwide demand for chicken, scientists have examined how best to maximize size and weight in chickens. Swedish researchers have now identified genetic “hotspots” that influence weight in chickens.

The <a href="https://www.uu.se/en/">Uppsula University</a> scientists used two lines of White Plymouth Rock chickens, which have been bred since 1957 for their high and low weights, to gain a better understanding of the genetic architecture behind chicken weight.

The scientists identified 20 different genetic points that explained more than 60 percent of the genetic variance for the selected trait of either high or low weight.

"Our work with this long-term selection experiment has revealed that different variants at many genetic loci (points) contribute to the large divergence between the lines selected for high and low weight," said corresponding author Orjan Carlborg. "This is an interesting experimental illustration of how even small and phenotypically homogenous populations, such as the founders of our divergent lines, can harbor many genetic variants that do not diversify the population normally.”

The researchers further focused on seven of the genetic hotspots, known as quantitative trait loci. Only two could be more mapped to a single, well-defined loci; the other five contained linked loci with multiple gene variants.

The detailed dissection of the loci provides “a deeper understanding of the genome-wide mechanisms involved in the long-term selection responses,” the scientists said.

They hope to further explore their findings to increase understanding of the genetic mechanisms of chicken body-weight <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-high-income-countries-making-progress-with-climate-adaptation/">adaptation</a>.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mbe">Molecular Biology and Evolution</a>.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mbe">Molecular Biology and Evolution</a>

Image: Paul B. Siegel

Study examines chicken weight to keep up with demand

In an effort to meet the worldwide demand for chicken,...

The sheer size and weight of the Tyrannosaurus rex would have made it impossible for the giant dinosaur to run, according to a new study.

The creature’s leg bones would have buckled under its own weight, the <a href="http://www.manchester.ac.uk/">University of Manchester</a> study said, contradicting previous estimates that the T-rex could run at speeds up to 45mph.

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-species-dinosaur-canadian/">dinosaur</a> was limited to walking speeds of about 12 mph. This is less than half the speed of the fastest man on Earth, Usain Bolt, whose personal record hit 27.8 mph.

“The running ability of T. rex and other similarly giant dinosaurs has been intensely debated amongst paleontologist for decades,” said William Sellers, lead author of the study. “However, different studies using differing methodologies have produced a very wide range of top speed estimates and we say there is a need to develop techniques that can improve these predictions.”

The new study extensively examined the gait and biomechanics of the world’s most famous dinosaur. It used high performance computing technology to create a new simulation model to test the findings.

The results demonstrate any running gaits for Tyrannosaurus rex would probably lead to “unacceptably high skeletal loads,” and would simply break the dinosaur’s legs.

“Here we present a new approach that combines two separate biomechanical techniques to demonstrate that true running gaits would probably lead to unacceptably high skeletal loads in T. rex,” Sellers said.

The findings have forced scientists to re-examine how T-rex caught its prey, Sellers told <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-science-trex-running-idUSKBN1A3182">Reuters</a>.

"It certainly would not have been able to chase down faster-moving prey animals," said Sellers. "That leaves other hunting options such as ambush, and of course it means that (discredited) ideas such as 'T-rex the scavenger' have to be reconsidered."

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.manchester.ac.uk/">University of Manchester</a>, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-science-trex-running-idUSKBN1A3182">Reuters </a>

Why the Tyrannosaurus rex was too big to run

The sheer size and weight of the Tyrannosaurus rex would...

A new species of dinosaur has been identified by Canadian scientists and named after esteemed paleontologist Philip J. Currie. The name Albertavenator curriei, which means “Currie’s Alberta hunter,” honors Currie for decades of work focused on predatory dinosaurs of Alberta.

The bones of Albertavenator were initially thought to belong to Troodon, which lived 5 million years before Albertavenator. Both of the closely-related dinosaurs were around the same size as humans, walked on two legs, and were covered in feathers. 

Scientists from the <a href="https://dinomuseum.ca/">Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum</a> and the <a href="http://www.rom.on.ca/en">Royal Ontario Museum</a> distinguished Albertavenator from its predecessor Troodon through a meticulous comparison of bones found in the dinosaurs’ heads. They discovered the skull of Albertavenator was noticeably shorter and more robust than that of Troodon. 

Dr. David Evans, Senior Curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the Royal Ontario Museum, led the study.

"The delicate bones of these small feathered dinosaurs are very rare. We were lucky to have a critical piece of the skull that allowed us to distinguish Albertaventaor as a new species." said Dr. Evans. "We hope to find a more complete skeleton of Albertavenator in the future, as this would tell us so much more about this fascinating animal."

It is challenging for scientists to identify new species from fragmentary fossils. Also, hundreds of teeth found in Alberta will not be helpful in this study considering that teeth of Albertavenator would closely resemble teeth of Troodon.

"It was only through our detailed anatomical and statistical comparisons of the skull bones that we were able to distinguish between Albertavenator and Troodon," said Thomas Cullen, a Ph.D. student of Evans at the University of Toronto and co-author of the study.

The identification of this new species indicates that small dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous of North America were more diverse than research has shown. Derek Larson is the co-author on the study and Assistant Curator of the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum.

"This discovery really highlights the importance of finding and examining skeletal material from these rare dinosaurs," said Larson.

This is not the first time a new species of dinosaur has been identified by re-examining museum research collections. The study, published today in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, suggests that revisiting fossil collections could uncover more dinosaur species.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.rom.on.ca/en">Royal Ontario Museum</a>

Image: © Oliver Demuth

New species of dinosaur named after Canadian science star

A new species of dinosaur has been identified by Canadian...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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

Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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