When naturalists tally the frogs in a farm pond or the orchids in a mountain meadow they always encounter the same rule of thumb: when you survey a larger range, the more species you find. The relationship seems simple, yet ecologists have puzzled over an odd signature hidden in species distribution data for nearly a century.



As one zooms out from local plots to regional landscapes. the tally of new species first soars. Then, it plateaus, taking off again at continental and global scales. That curious “S-shaped” curve is technically, the three-phase species–area relationship. 



It has appeared in everything from beetles to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-wings-have-a-surprising-effect-on-island-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a> and from coral reefs to desert shrubs. Until now, no single mathematical framework explained why the curve changes its slope where it does.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-species-distributions">Predicting species distributions </h2>



A collaboration of researchers spanning Portugal, Germany, the United States and South Africa has now filled that theoretical gap. 



The experts combined basic geometry with giant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-are-the-biggest-drivers-of-biodiversity-loss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> datasets to show that the three phases arise inevitably from the way individual species spread their geographic ranges across Earth’s surface.



The team's model not only reproduces the classic patterns, it also generates equations that predict how many species should occur at the precise break points between phases - a feat with direct relevance for conservation planners who must estimate extinctions as habitats are lost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-range-size-affects-species-distributions">Range size affects species distributions</h2>



Ecologists formalized the species-area relationship (SAR) in the early twentieth century, discovering that a log-log plot of cumulative species versus area usually forms a straight line. Yet when studies started to cover larger domains, investigators found the line was actually composed of three segments.



In the first segment, from local quadrants to perhaps a few hundred square kilometers, adding more land brings a flood of new species because each little patch contains slightly different microhabitats. In the middle segment, spanning thousands of square kilometers, the pace slackens; the same bird species, for instance, occupy most forests inside a biogeographic region. 



Beyond that, when continents are added, evolutionary history enters the picture and the slope shoots up again as entirely different faunas come into view. Empirically describing those bends was straightforward; explaining them from first principles proved harder. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-individual-ranges-of-species">Individual ranges of species</h2>



“We demonstrated that the individual geographical ranges of all species within the studied areas shape the typical species distribution patterns we observe across the globe,” said lead author Luís Borda-de-Água of <a href="https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CIBIO</a> in Portugal.



By mathematically stacking these ranges like overlapping tiles on a floor plan, the team showed that the SAR’s inflection points fall where the average range size of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-temperature-extremes-change-the-distribution-of-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resident species</a> equals the sampling area. At small scales most ranges eclipse the plot, so each extra hectare introduces new species.



At intermediate scales the plot begins to rival range size, so fewer novelties appear. At the largest scales even the widest-ranging species occupy only one continent, restoring the steep climb.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-patterns-and-crunching-records">Testing patterns and crunching records</h2>



To test the idea the researchers turned to the <a href="https://www.gbif.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Biodiversity Information Facility</a>, a compendium of citizen-science sightings and museum records. They extracted roughly 700 million geo-referenced observations spanning birds, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/over-40-of-amphibians-face-extinction-due-to-escalating-climate-threats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amphibians</a>, mammals and vascular plants.



For each taxonomic group they generated empirical SARs and compared them with the theoretical predictions. The correspondence was striking: predicted transition points - where the slope of the SAR changes - matched the observed curves within confidence bounds for all groups.



Borda-de-Água noted that this is a major step forward in ecology because it links a macroecological pattern to a simple, measurable property - range size - without invoking mysterious external factors. 



Senior author Henrique Pereira is a research professor at the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research <a href="https://www.idiv.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(iDiv</a>) and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. 



Pereira emphasized the significance of the research. “Discovering fundamental principles in ecology is just as thrilling as breakthroughs in physics.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-stakes-for-a-shrinking-planet"><a></a>Practical stakes for a shrinking planet</h2>



Beyond intellectual satisfaction the model carries weighty consequences for biodiversity assessments. International panels such as IPBES rely on SARs to translate lost habitat into predicted extinctions. 



If analysts know where a landscape sits on the three-phase curve they can apply the correct slope and avoid over- or under-estimating risk. The new equations provide exactly that guidance. 



Suppose a logged forest fragment still covers more area than the average range of its endemic beetles; species losses may be modest. But once destruction pushes the fragment below the first transition threshold, disappearing hectares cause a much steeper decline in species count.



Because the theory is scale-free it can also help conservationists decide whether sampling has been adequate. If observed species richness does not yet reach the slowdown phase, additional survey work is warranted before managers proclaim an inventory complete.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shifting-species-distributions">Shifting species distributions </h2>



The authors acknowledge that species’ ranges are not static. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-action-and-biodiversity-striking-the-right-balance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate change</a>, invasive species, and land-use shifts continually redraw distribution maps. 



Incorporating dynamic range models into the three-phase framework will be a priority, as will extending tests to marine organisms and microbes, whose ranges are harder to delineate.



Still, the study offers a rare optimism amid grim extinction headlines. By revealing the geometry behind one of ecology’s most robust laws, scientists gain a clearer lens through which to view and perhaps mitigate humanity’s impact on life’s diversity.



As Pereira puts it, advances like these “unveil hidden patterns that have been shaping life on Earth for millions of years,” providing the knowledge base needed to steer those patterns, responsibly, into the future.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59239-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Saving biodiversity: Scientists discover hidden pattern guiding species distributions

When naturalists tally the frogs in a farm pond or the orchids in a mountain meadow they always encounter the same rule of thumb: when you survey a larger range, the more species you find. The relationship seems simple, yet ecologists have puzzled over an odd signature hidden in species distribution data for nearly a century. As one zooms out from local plots to regional landscapes. the tally of new species first soars. Then, it plateaus, taking off again at continental and global scales. That curious “S-shaped”...

Thousands of square miles of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-ice-record/">sea ice</a> melted prematurely off the coast of Alaska this year due to an unseasonably warm Arctic winter. A new study led by the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a> and the <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">University of Wyoming</a> explored the challenges that the thinning, faster-moving ice is creating for polar bears.

Researchers have previously documented a decline in abundance, health, and reproduction of polar bears. A new study, published in <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2486">Global Change Biology</a>, provides an unprecedented account of the effect that accelerated sea ice drift has on polar bears.

Rapidly-moving sea ice is creating a need for the bears to access more food so that they have more energy to navigate treacherous terrain. At the same time, hunting opportunities are becoming more limited.

Dr. George Durner is a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and lead author of the report.

Dr. Durner compared the shifting ice to a treadmill picking up speed with the wind and ocean currents. The findings of the study revealed that polar bears will have to consume 1-3 more seals per year to compensate for the extra energy expelled as they make their way across the faster-moving ice. To make matters worse, the thinning ice becomes less and less suitable for hunting seals and the polar bears must walk further.

“Increased sea ice drift rates likely exacerbate the physiological stress due to reduced foraging opportunity already experienced by many polar bears in the warming Arctic, adding yet another ‘straw to the camel’s back’,” said Dr. Durner.

The researchers tracked adult female polar bears using radio collars in Alaska's Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea. They paired this information with sea drift data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, which was the result of complex analyses that produced ice drift values of over 77,000 bear locations.

The data had been collected over two time periods from 1987-1998 and 1999-2013. In the second time period, ice drift had sped up and sea ice was becoming more brittle and less abundant. Compared to the previous time frame, adult female bears needed significantly more calories to survive.

“For the polar bear, the Arctic is becoming a more expensive place to live in,” said Dr. Durner.

According to the U.S. polar bear recovery plan, it is unlikely the polar bears will survive if climate change is not addressed. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a>

Accelerated sea ice creates serious challenges for polar bears

Thousands of square miles of sea ice melted prematurely off...

Emperor penguins may not survive the loss of their breeding and feeding grounds from climate change, a new study said.

The 54 colonies that exist today will face “devastating declines” by the end of this century, according to the study by <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a>, which recommends listing of the Emperor penguin as an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/endangered-species-location-data-risk/">endangered species</a>.

“Based on this study, we conclude that the prospects look grim at the end of 2100, with a projected global population decline as low as 40 percent and up to 99 percent over three generations,” said Stephanie Jenouvrier, WHOI biologist and lead author of the study.

Projected melting of Antarctic sea ice through 2100 will strip Emperor penguins of their breeding and feeding grounds and put populations at risk, the study said. The penguins may not be spared by moving to new locations, the researchers concluded.

In order to determine whether migration will ultimately help Emperor penguins defend against population decline, Jenouvrier worked with mathematicians to develop a sophisticated demographic model of penguin colonies based on data collected at Pointe Géologie, one of the few places where long-term Emperor penguin studies have been conducted.

The model tracks the population connectivity between penguins as they take their chances moving to new habitats offering better sea ice conditions. 

"It's like we've added roads between the cities the penguins live in and now get to see what happens when they travel between them," she said.

A range of model inputs were used, including penguin dispersal distance, behavior and rate of migration. The model also factors in end-of-century sea ice forecasts from climate projection models to predict the fate of each colony.

In some cases, dispersal boosted populations whereas in other cases, it led to dramatic declines.

"We saw sustained populations through 2036, at which point there was an 'ecological rescue' that reversed the anticipated decline expected without dispersion for about a ten-year period," Jenouvrier explained. "During that time, the penguins made wise choices in terms of selecting the highest-quality habitat they could reach.”

But the “rescue” was only short-lived, and started plummeting in 2046, the study found. 

When the scenarios were averaged, the model painted “a very grim picture through 2100, regardless of how far penguins travelled or how wise their habitat selections were," Jenouvrier said.

The new modeling technique is key to informing policy around "much-needed protections" for the Emperor penguin, the authors said.

--

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.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a>

Study paints bleak future for Emperor penguins

Emperor penguins may not survive the loss of their breeding...

Soft shelled turtles, considered a delicacy in China, are likely spreading cholera, a new study said.

The research was motivated by discovery that consumption of cholera-carrying soft shelled turtles had caused outbreaks of the disease in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/japan-china-fossil-fuel-sea-floor/">China</a>, said corresponding author Biao Kan. 

"Cholera is a life-threatening diarrheal disease," said Kan, professor of Pathogenic Biology and Infectious Disease control, at the <a href="http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/">Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention</a> in Beijing.

Researchers inserted genes producing bioluminescent proteins into Vibrio cholerae enabling them to directly observe the pathogens colonizing the turtles. Investigators dipped the the turtles into a phosphate-buffered saline solution containing the now bioluminescent bacteria, serogroup 0139.

Over the next four days, the researchers checked the turtles at 24-hour intervals. They first detected light signals at 24 hours. At 96 hours, the entire dorsal side of the turtles' shells was emitting bioluminescence. 

During the last decade, China has seen less than 200 cases of cholera annually, according to Kan. But he said that of the 39 diseases surveilled under China's Law of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, cholera is in the most dangerous category, along with plague.

He also noted that the O139 serogroup, the major strain spread by the turtles, is an emerging disease in China.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://aem.asm.org/">Applied and Environmental Microbiology</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://www.asm.org/">American Society for Microbiology</a>

Soft shelled turtles likely spreading cholera in China

Soft shelled turtles, considered a delicacy in China, are likely...

Wolves and domesticated dogs can sense inequality, a new study found.

The animals stopped participating in the experiment if they were not rewarded for a task but a fellow animal was, according to the study by the <a href="http://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/">University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna</a>.

Previous studies on dogs detected a sensitivity to inequality, but it was believed to have resulted from domestication. The new study found that wolves share the same sensitivity, which indicates dogs inherited this ability from their common ancestor, according to the research published in the journal <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a>.

In the experiments, two animals, one labelled the test animal, the other a partner, were placed in adjacent enclosures. In order to get a reward, the animals had to press a button with their paws.

When the partners received a treat but the test animals either received no treat or a lower quality reward, the test animals stopped participating.

However, when there was only one animal in the experiment, they continued to participate even after receiving no reward for performing the task.

“This showed that the fact that they themselves had not received a reward was not the only reason why they stopped cooperating with the trainer," said one of the researchers, Friederike Range. "They refuse to cooperate because the other one got something, but they themselves did not."

Both wolves and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-sniffing-cancer-cells/">dogs</a> reacted similarly in the experiment, although wolves were more sensitive to inequality than dogs.

Wolves that had experienced inequity kept aloof from humans but dogs did not, the researchers found.

“At this point, domestication seems to influence the dogs' behavior,” Range said. “Their close contact to humans as pets could, thus, rather reduce their behaviour in such situations than trigger it."

Recognizing inequity is an important social skill in humans and has been shown in different species of primates, the study said. But there has been little research on the topic in other species, according to the authors. 

--

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.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/">University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna</a>

Photo Credit: Robert Bayer

Study: Wolves, dogs understand inequality

Wolves and domesticated dogs can sense inequality, a new study...

Animals have starred in more Hollywood films than John Wayne and John Carradine combined. In fact, The Horse in Motion was the first film ever made, way back in 1878. It’s all of 15 seconds long and can be seen in its entirety <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIQBfQuLXDY">here</a>. Not much on plot, and the character development is pretty stilted, so we won’t include it in this roundup. 

We’ll also leave out 1928’s Steamboat Willy, though it introduced the world to a certain four-fingered, white gloved talking mouse who’d later be a bigger star than Tom Hanks. For this list, we’re only going to look at live-action films (with one memorable exception) with non-human stars that have become household names. 

&nbsp;

Noble horses

All <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trump-budget-wild-horses/">horses</a> are noble, or at least the ones that become stars. They’re heroic, loyal, dignified, and they make the world a better place. 

My Friend Flicka (1943) -- Roddy McDowell is a teenager whose friend is a horse. 

National Velvet (1944) -- This time it’s a young girl who loves her ride. Made a superstar of a beautiful preteen Elizabeth Taylor. To show you how long Angela Lansbury’s been in the game, she was in this film too.

Black Beauty (1946) -- This one got made because of the smash success of National Velvet two years before.  And then made again (1994) and again (2015).

The Black Stallion (1979) -- Another teenager, another noble horse. On a desert island this time.

Seabiscuit (2003) -- No teenagers in this somewhat true story of a Depression-era racehorse, but jockey Tobey Maguire looks pretty young.

&nbsp;

Tearjerkers

You can’t watch too many animal movies without occasionally getting a little dust in your eye. Here are some of the worst (or best) offenders.

Bambi (1941) -- This is our one exception to the live-action-only rule because…it’s Bambi, the film that left generations of kids sobbing in their seats. Men with guns can be such jerks. 

Old Yeller (1957) -- We all know what happens to the mutt in the end, right?

Free Willy (1993) -- Admit it, you had to wipe a tear away when killer whale Willy gets freed. No matter how old you were.

&nbsp;

Adventurers on Four Legs (or None at All)

These are the animals you’d want to have your back in a dark alley.

Lassie Come Home (1943) -- This was the first of the films about the heroic female collie. It starred Elizabeth Taylor and Roddy McDowell, two young actors who apparently loved making animal pics. If you had kids and Lassie, you’d never need a babysitter.

Flipper (1963) -- The dolphin was basically the Lassie of the sea. A star of film and television.

The Incredible Journey (1963) -- Two dogs and a cat on an epic trek home. They’ve all got each other’s backs. It was remade in 1993 as Homeward Bound: the Incredible Journey.

Gentle Giant (1967) -- This one might not be all that familiar, but you know its star: Gentle Ben. If your best friend’s a giant Alaskan brown bear, there are no bullies at your school.  

&nbsp;

Those Wacky Critters

In this category of films, the animals play it for laughs. 

Francis the Talking Mule (1950) -- The title says it all. Many sequels later, Francis was still talking.

Bedtime for Bonzo (1951) -- There have been plenty of movies made about goofy primates, but only one starring a future President of the United States. We’re not sure Ronald Reagan wanted this to be one of his most memorable films, but it’s worth a watch.

Babe (1995) -- It’s a pig that learns to herd sheep, of course. Huge hit. Naturally, there was a sequel.

Beethoven (1992) -- The slobbery St. Bernard causes all kinds of trouble to film dad Charles Grodin, but the big dog’s as lovable as he is damaging to fine fabrics and glassware. Plenty of sequels.

Air Bud (1997) -- This once homeless golden retriever has the uncanny ability to play basketball…and, in sequels, football and soccer. And to have puppies that are just as athletically graced.

Marley &amp; Me (2008) -- He’s the world’s worst dog, but you can’t hold anything against him for long.

&nbsp;

Not So Adorable

Not all animals are cute, cuddly and loyal. Here are a few who kept you or your kids awake at night.

King Kong (1933)  -- Depending on your perspective, you might put this much-remade classic in the Tearjerker category. Can you really blame the big ape?

Jaws (1975) -- Did the great white shark even have a name? We know it by its most striking feature, and that’s enough. 

Cujo (1983) -- Blame the rabies, not the dog. But do not let Cujo into your car.

--

By <a href="mailto:DSearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Earth.com presents: Animals who became movie stars

Animals have starred in more Hollywood films than John Wayne...

Owning a dog may help keep older adults more physically active, according to a new study.

"We found that dog owners aged 65 and over spent on average an additional 22 minutes walking, taking an extra 2,760 steps per day when compared to people who didn't own a dog,” said Philippa Dall, senior research fellow at <a href="http://www.gcu.ac.uk/">Glasgow Caledonian University</a>.

The additional time spent walking each week is enough to meet <a href="http://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a> recommendations of at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, Dall said.

Dog owners also had fewer continuous periods of sitting down than non-owners, although the total time spent sitting down did not differ between the two groups, the researchers found.

The study used data on patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior in 43 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/understand-dogs-language-aggression/">dog</a> owners  from three regions in the U.K., comparing with members of a control group.

Researchers monitored the time spent walking moderately, time spent standing, total time spent sitting, as well as the number of times people sat down and how long they sat down for. Dog owners and those in the control groups were matched on a range of variables such as gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

The study provides opportunities to gain greater insight by “providing objective data on both the intensity and patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior,” Dall said.

Previous research has relied primarily on self reporting surveys rather than direct observational monitoring. 

“This allows closer scrutiny of the potential relationship between changes in physical activity due to dog ownership and health," Dall said.

Since the study was observational, it could not establish cause and effect or allow for conclusions about whether more active people are likely to own dogs or whether dogs make people more active. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/">BMC Public Health</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://www.biomedcentral.com/">BioMed Central</a>

Study: Having a dog helps older people stay active

Owning a dog may help keep older adults more physically...

The evolutionary history of whales includes a dramatic transformation from bodies suited for land to bodies adapted for life in the water. Whales known as protocetes lived both in the water and on land. A new study indicates that the extraordinary hearing abilities of whales evolved after they became fully aquatic.

Around 30 million years ago, whales split into two varieties - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossil-discovery-baleen-whales/">baleen</a> and toothed. Both types of whales have exceptional hearing, but there are unmistakable differences. Baleen whales can hear sound waves at a frequency below the range of audible sound, known as infrasonic sounds. Toothed whales rely on ultrasonic frequencies to communicate over long distances, which are sounds that are too high for humans to hear.

Researchers examined fossils from ancient whales to analyze these distinct hearing capabilities. The study, published today in Current Biology, reveals that protocetes had more limited hearing. The hearing of these extinct whales was much like that of their terrestrial relatives, which were even-toed ungulates such as hogs and hippos. 

"We found that the cochlea of protocetes was distinct from that of extant whales and dolphins and that they had hearing capacities close to those of their terrestrial relatives," explained analyst Maeva Orliac of <a href="http://www.cnrs.com/">CNRS</a> and <a href="http://www.umontpellier.fr/">Université de Montpellier</a> in France.

The researchers analyzed whale remains that originated in West Africa 45 million years ago. Micro-CT scans allowed the team to look inside the structures of the fossils. The scientists closely examined the internal cavities of the petrosal bone, which houses the hearing organ.

"Based on the scans provided by the scanner, we could extract a virtual mold of the hollow cavity that used to contain the hearing organ when the animal was alive," Orliac said. "This process was long and difficult because this cavity was filled with sediments and partly recrystallized and because the petrosal bone in cetaceans is particularly thick and dense, which lowers the quality of the images and sometimes impedes analyzing them."

The findings indicate that early cetaceans did not have a sophisticated hearing system that allowed them to communicate over long distances. The highly specialized hearing found in modern whales came after they lived full-time in the sea. 

More research will be conducted on early cetaceans to get a better timeline of their evolutionary history. The researchers say this history is more complex than previously believed. 
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="http://www.cnrs.com/">CNRS</a>

Image Credit: Drawing © M.J. Orliac, based on the reconstruction of the skull drawn by Róisín Mourlam

Early whales had limited hearing like their relatives on land

The evolutionary history of whales includes a dramatic transformation from...

Think animal shelters and rescues are the same thing? Think again.

Isn’t it just common sense that if you adopted a dog or other pet from an animal shelter you participated in an animal rescue? That’s especially easy to believe if the pet in question was otherwise headed for a bad fate. Even more confusing, the two terms are used almost synonymously in a lot of communities. 

The fact is, there are several differences. Let’s take an up-close look at both terms and see what they could mean in your own pet adoption strategy.

&nbsp;

Animal Shelters

These have been around a long time, and they’re pretty much what you think they are. Sometimes called animal pounds, they’re facilities that are usually community-owned and operated by a mostly volunteer staff.

While no-kill animal shelters exist, these facilities are all too often associated with being the last mortal homes of lost, abandoned or mistreated animals that fail to find new owners. Therefore, one of the top advantages of looking for a dog or other pet at an animal shelter is that it might literally be a lifesaving move. 

Animal shelters are also a convenient way of finding a new loved one since all of the available animals are in one place that’s probably not far from your home. Often your pet will be neutered and given all shots before you take it home, though you’ll pay for the vet care through what might be a fairly steep adoption fee.

The downside to animal shelter adoption can be the fact that the animals are contained in small cages in an unfamiliar space full of barking, squawking animals, and that can affect their behavior. Upon meeting them, they might appear to be stressed, frightened or even aggressive in demeanor. Rather than reflecting their true personalities, this might be merely a side effect of the environment imposed on them. As a result, you might end up passing up on what could have been an ideal companion. In addition, the volunteer staff might know little about the animal’s health or suitability for adoption into a home with small children or other animals. 

&nbsp;

Animal Rescue

Animal rescue organizations are privately run non-profit groups that take in abused animals and care for them in a sort of “foster” arrangement until proper forever homes can be found. Different organizations might specialize in rescuing horses, ferrets, exotic birds or other species. Some refine their mission along even narrower lines, such as by taking in particular species or subspecies. Consider, for instance, <a href="http://www.esgao.org/">Erie Shore Greyhound Adoption of Ohio</a> and <a href="http://www.pbrc.net/">Pitbull Rescue Center</a>. Other sanctuaries offer temporary or permanent homes for a range of found or mistreated animals.

One aspect of an animal rescue is that no animals are ever put down because permanent homes can’t be found. 

Advantages to those hoping to adopt are that rescued animals aren’t caged, so they don’t feel stressed, and their caregivers often know them on more of a one-to-one basis. They’re always properly cared for and in as good of health as possible. 

On the other hand, the nearest rescue might be on a farm that could be a distance from you. There might only be a single animal at the location, in which case you wouldn’t have the convenience of multipe options, and your search might take longer. And finally, the rescue organization might require multiple visits before authorizing the adoption, and even insist on home visits months after the adoption is finalized. 

This just emphasizes the love the rescuers show their charges and the seriousness with which they take their responsibility for the animals’ welfare. 

&nbsp;

Which is Right for You?

The good news is that both types of organizations are doing their best to save the lives of the dogs and other animals in their care and to help you find the lifetime companion that’s right for you. 

Perhaps you’ll decide that finding the ideal pet is more important to you than the location where it’s found. Never feel rushed into making a selection and be sure that, regardless of where you conduct your search, you find out all you know about your prospective new family member and feel confident that you’re bringing the right loved one into your life. 

--

<a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Original Feature by <a href="mailto:DSearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

What’s the difference between animal shelters and animal rescues?

Think animal shelters and rescues are the same thing? Think...

Most female Steller sea lions breed at or near the rookery where they were born, according to a new study.

Understanding dispersal patterns is critical for measuring changes in the population of an animal species and helps with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/genetic-study-humpback-whales/">conservation</a> efforts, according to the study by Kelly Hastings and colleagues from the <a href="http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/">Alaska Department of Fish and Game</a>.

The study found that most female sea lions tended to breed at the rookeries where they were born, with fewer than 3 percent switching rookeries between years. When females did move before breeding, they tended to select rookeries that were nearby and had a higher population of other sea lions.

The authors monitored 369 Steller sea lion females that had been marked as pups in the rookeries where they were born in southeastern Alaska. They gathered observation and recapture data between 2001 and 2015 to assess how frequently breeding females switched rookery. 

The results suggest that familiarity with neighboring females and knowledge of the topography of the site (for both giving birth to pups and foraging) could be crucial components of their reproduction and thus, the conservation of their species.

Previous studies have shown that Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) males tend to disperse more frequently than the females, but little was known about the movements of breeding females.

The study is published in the open-access journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS One</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://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS One</a>

Photo Credit: David B. Ledig/USFWS

Stellar sea lions stick close to home when breeding

Most female Steller sea lions breed at or near the...

New research challenges a widely publicized 2016 study that concluded eastern and red wolves are not distinct species, but rather recent hybrids of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/us-court-orders-new-recovery-plan-mexican-gray-wolf/">gray wolves</a> and coyotes.

In the new report, a team headed by <a href="https://www.uidaho.edu/">University of Idaho</a> researchers argues that the genomic data and analyses of the 2016 study do not definitively prove recent hybridization -- but rather provide support for the genetic and evolutionary distinctiveness of red and eastern wolves.

"The history of these species is complex and certainly contains evidence for hybridization in the past. The question is timing," said Paul Hohenlohe, a University of Idaho assistant Professor of Biological Sciences. "The data and analyses aren't actually a good test of recent vs. older hybridization. In fact, the data are consistent with red and eastern wolves having a long evolutionary history as distinct lineages."

The authors of the new study, published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/7/e1501714.full">Science Advances</a>, urge policymakers not to close the case on the origins of red and eastern wolves when making conservation decisions.

"Policymakers are making decisions about how much money, effort and energy to put into recovery and management efforts of the red wolf and eastern wolf," said University of Idaho professor Lisette Waits, who has served on <a href="https://www.fws.gov/">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</a> recovery teams for the red wolf. “It is important for them to understand that the conclusions stated in the vonHoldt et al paper are not universally supported by the scientific community, and there are alternative interpretations and remaining questions about the evolutionary history of canids in North America."

The previous study was led by <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton University</a>'s Bridgett vonHoldt and also published in <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/7/e1501714.full"> Science Advances</a> in 2016. The University of Idaho’s team questions the vonHoldt study's use of genomic data from a few individual coyotes and eastern wolves that may not be the best representatives of those groups, as well as the authors' conclusion that genomic data demonstrate a lack of unique ancestry in red and eastern wolves

Hohenlohe, Waits, and their collaborators are conducting further analyses about red and eastern wolf origins, and expect to continue to generate new data and hypotheses about the evolutionary relationships among these species, the gray wolf, and the coyote.

“Genomics is an exciting new contribution to wildlife conservation, but it brings with it a responsibility to provide a coherent interpretation of complex data within the context of natural history," said co-lead author of the new study, Linda Rutledge, a research associate in the Biology Department at<a href="https://www.trentu.ca"> Trent University</a> in Ontario. "This is especially important for species at risk of extinction where the consequences involve the permanent loss of evolutionary potential. We get closer to the evolutionary truth when we use a holistic approach that includes multiple sources of information."

--

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://www.uidaho.edu/">University of Idaho</a>

New study challenges eastern wolves hybrid theory

New research challenges a widely publicized 2016 study that concluded...

One of the problems with identifying new species is that you don’t always know whether you’re actually documenting an entirely new animal, or whether it’s just a slightly different looking version of a known species. This is especially true when it comes to deep sea creatures, as they have only been studied in detail for a short period of time. A recent study published in <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/smar20">Marine Biology Research</a> seeks to solve this problem using the physical characteristics of two very similar deep sea octopus species, which live at depths up to 9,500 feet. 

Both species are pink or purple in color, but the biggest distinction is that one species lives in the Atlantic and the other lives in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/typhoon-songda-moves-in-the-open-pacific-ocean/">Pacific</a>.

Both species were given their respective names years ago; Graneledone verrucosa and Graneledone pacifica (guess which one lives in the Pacific). But no study had yet compared the species in detail.

So how did they determine which is which? Unfortunately for the octopuses and their self-esteem, these researchers focused on their warts. Both species have bumpy warts on their mantle (the “head” of the octopus) as well as their arms. But the Pacific octopus is even wartier than the Atlantic species, as their bumps extend down their arms and mantles. 

“Being able to tell different species apart is the basis for understanding those species,” says lead author Janet Voight, Associate Curator of Invertebrates at <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">The Field Museum</a> in Chicago. “You can’t really talk about a species if you can’t separate it from others like it, or tell if a species is endangered, if you can’t tell what the species is.”

The researchers analyzed 72 octopus specimens to assess their wart situations, eventually developing a method to determine the small differences that separated the two species. “Nobody has sat down with dozens of these octopuses and compared them,” explains Voight. “There are so many things like that in museum collections, just waiting for the right scientist to come along and use the information they offer.”

Voight stresses the importance of museums having a wide array of specimens for researchers to compare, saying, “If you only have two individuals, you don’t know what’s important and what’s not--it'd be like meeting a person with blonde hair and a person with brown hair and concluding that they must be different species.”

This type of study is especially important in circumstances where DNA analysis might not be possible due to problems with tissue preservation or, in the case of these deep sea octopuses, problems easily accessing the species in their natural habitat.

Their extensive research may have already paid off, as Voight believes they came across a new species of octopus while assessing video footage from the Atlantic. They noted that the wart pattern didn’t match the species in that region.

The researchers believe their new-found ability to differentiate these species will help increase the understanding of biodiversity and evolution in deep sea creatures. Voight also thinks that understanding the physical nuances of unfamiliar species will help us get to know these animals better. “Octopuses are only distantly related to us, but we have so much in common,” she explains. “Our eyes are very similar. They change their behavior based on past experiences--they learn. Deep-sea octopuses are some of the smartest animals we know.”

--

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.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a>

Image Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association

Deep sea octopus species can be identified by their warts

One of the problems with identifying new species is that...

5 out of 16 extinct species of ducks could not fly, according to a study that used a new mathematical model to analyze fossils.

It can be difficult to determine from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/insect-fossils-indian-amber/">fossils</a> alone whether or not an extinct bird could fly.

Junya Watanabe of <a href="http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en">Kyoto University</a> developed a mathematical model that was able to separate flightless and flying species based on their wing and leg bones. The math confirmed that flightless species have relatively small wings and relatively large legs.

Watanabe applied the model to fossil specimens from 16 extinct species of a bird family called  anatids that includes ducks and geese. He identified 5 of the species as flightless, ranging from a land-dwelling duck from New Zealand to a South American duck that propelled itself underwater with its feet.

“One of the most exciting things was to find interesting fossils that were previously unidentified in museum drawers," says Watanabe. "What is interesting in fossil flightless anatids is their great diversity; they inhabited remote islands and continental margins, some of them were specialized for underwater diving and others for grazing, and some were rather gigantic while others were diminutive."

Watanabe developed a valuable statistical tool for evaluating whether a bird was capable of powered flight or not, said Helen James, Curator of Birds at the Smithsonian Institution's <a href="https://naturalhistory.si.edu/">National Museum of Natural History</a>.

“Other researchers will appreciate that he offers a way to assess limb proportions even in fossil species where the bones of individual birds have become disassociated from each other,” James said. “Disassociation of skeletons in fossil sites has been a persistent barrier to these types of sophisticated statistical analyses, and Dr. Watanabe has taken an important step towards overcoming that problem.”

The study is published in the journal The Auk: Ornithological Advances.

--

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.americanornithology.org/content/aos-publications">American Ornithological Society Publications Office</a>

New model determines whether extinct ducks could fly

5 out of 16 extinct species of ducks could not...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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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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