Sebecid fossils are changing everything we thought we knew about the ancient Caribbean. Imagine a crocodile built like a greyhound - tall, fast, and fully land-dwelling. These agile predators, some stretching up to 20 feet long, once ruled South American landscapes after the extinction of the dinosaurs.



Scientists believed they vanished around 11 million years ago. But a surprising discovery in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caribbean-salt-affects-global-climate-study-reveals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caribbean</a> tells a different story - one that begins with a few unusual fossilized teeth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-fossil-discovery-changed-the-story">A fossil discovery changed the story</h2>



Back in the 1990s, scientists discovered a pair of fossilized teeth in Cuba. The teeth, about 18 million years old, were serrated and sharp - built for tearing meat.



Then came another one in Puerto Rico, dated to 29 million years ago. The shape of these fossils clearly pointed to a large predator. 



But researchers were baffled. Until then, they thought the Caribbean had no land predators of that size. Without more bones to go on, the mystery sat unsolved.



Then in early 2023, something changed. A new fossil tooth turned up in the Dominican Republic, but this time it came with two vertebrae. It was a small clue, but it changed everything. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-large-predators-in-the-caribbean">Large predators in the Caribbean </h2>



The fossils confirmed the presence of a sebecid. That meant the Caribbean had been a safe haven for these large, land-based predators. They were still roaming these islands five million years after disappearing everywhere else.



This new discovery comes from a research team led by scientists from the <a href="https://www.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Florida</a>. 



“That emotion of finding the fossil and realizing what it is, it’s indescribable,” said Lazaro Viñola Lopez, the study's lead author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crocodiles-that-ran-like-dinosaurs">Crocodiles that ran like dinosaurs</h2>



Sebecids were part of a long-extinct family of crocodile relatives called notosuchians. Unlike <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-amphibians-swam-like-modern-crocodiles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modern crocodiles</a> that lurk in rivers and swamps, sebecids were fully land-dwelling. 



They ran on strong limbs and hunted like the carnivorous dinosaurs that came before them. Some were enormous. 



Sebecids had armored bodies with tough bony plates beneath their skin. Their teeth were made for slashing meat, not catching fish.



When the mass extinction 66 million years ago wiped out most life, only the sebecids from the notosuchian line managed to survive in South America. With <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nuclear-winter-dinosaurs-were-likely-killed-by-dust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dinosaurs</a> gone, they rose to dominate the food chain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sebecids-may-have-crossed-the-sea">Sebecids may have crossed the sea</h2>



How did a sebecid get to the Caribbean? The ocean has always been a serious barrier for land animals. That’s where the GAARlandia hypothesis comes in. 



The theory suggests there was once a chain of temporary land bridges or stepping-stone islands between South America and the Caribbean. 



These paths may have allowed animals like sebecids to migrate and settle. If the other teeth found across the Caribbean also belonged to sebecids, it means these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/past-climate-change-drove-the-rapid-evolution-of-reptiles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reptiles</a> weren’t just visitors. They were long-term residents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-land-bridges-reshaped-ecosystems">Land bridges reshaped ecosystems </h2>



The land bridges may have shaped island ecosystems for millions of years. Now that they’re gone, smaller animals like birds, snakes, and native crocodiles have taken their place.



“You wouldn’t have been able to predict this looking at the modern ecosystem,” said a paleontologist from the Florida Museum of Natural History. 



“The presence of a large predator is really different than we imagined before, and it’s exciting to think about what might be discovered next in the Caribbean fossil record as we explore back further in time.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-secrets-of-the-caribbean">Fossil secrets of the Caribbean </h2>



Scientists often describe islands as natural museums. Their isolation makes them safe places for rare plants and animals to hang on after they’ve vanished elsewhere. But the Caribbean still holds many sebecid secrets - especially from deep in the past.



Until now, most Caribbean fossils have been found in caves and water-filled sinkholes called blue holes. Caves protect bones from the elements, while blue holes prevent decay by cutting off oxygen. 



These places have been valuable but only give a narrow view into recent biodiversity. They don’t tell us much about ancient species like sebecids.



Today, researchers are switching tactics. Instead of relying on caves and sinkholes, they’re going after older fossils in harder-to-reach spots.



“This is like a renaissance,” said Viñola-Lopez, describing the new wave of excitement in Caribbean paleontology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vanishing-fossil-sites">Vanishing fossil sites </h2>



In the Caribbean, fossil sites vanish quickly. Rain, wind, and forests erase rocky outcrops fast. When workers cut new roads or dig into hills, researchers have to act fast. 



That’s how the sebecid fossils were found. Road work in the Dominican Republic exposed the fossil bed just in time.



A graduate student from the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez was studying the rocks in the area and spotted the site. He notified his colleagues, and soon after, the team from the University of Florida arrived to excavate the bones.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-surprises-to-come">More surprises to come</h2>



The sebecid fossils are only one piece of a much larger puzzle. In recent years, researchers have also found the first signs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mosasaurs-had-fierce-survival-strategies-including-cannibalism/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mosasaurs</a> - massive sea reptiles - in the Caribbean. 



The experts have identified the region’s oldest ground sloth fossils. And new work is hinting that early human arrival may have led to the extinction of native rodents.



It’s clear there’s more to uncover. “The sebecid is only the tip of the iceberg,” said Viñola-Lopez. And with more eyes now turned to the Caribbean, who knows what ancient giants might turn up next?



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2024.2891" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



Image Credit: Illustration by Jorge Machuky



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Giant crocodile in the Caribbean? Fossils reveal a lost apex predator

Sebecid fossils are changing everything we thought we knew about the ancient Caribbean. Imagine a crocodile built like a greyhound - tall, fast, and fully land-dwelling. These agile predators, some stretching up to 20 feet long, once ruled South American landscapes after the extinction of the dinosaurs. Scientists believed they vanished around 11 million years ago. But a surprising discovery in the Caribbean tells a different story - one that begins with a few unusual fossilized teeth. A fossil discovery changed the story Back in the 1990s,...

Some grizzly bears in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstone-wolves-hunting-bison/">Yellowstone National Park</a> are eating more plants and berries after climate change has caused a decline of whitebark pine trees, which provide food for the animals.

Shorter and milder winters have increased beetle infestations of the whitebark pine, which are now listed as endangered by the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a>. 

A new study by scientists at the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California San Diego</a> and <a href="http://www.unity.edu/">Unity College</a> found that some grizzlies at Yellowstone continue to forage for whitebark pine seeds while others are shifting to plants and berries.

"Whitebark pine trees have declined due to an introduced fungal disease called blister rust, and, more recently, to increased infestation by the mountain pine beetle, which is exacerbated by climate change," said study coauthor Carolyn Kurle, an assistant professor at UC San Diego's Division of Biological Sciences. "Such declines further highlight the need to monitor diets of grizzlies as the environment continues to change."

Lead author Jack Hopkins, an assistant professor at Unity College, and his team measured stable isotopes in bear hair and related their abundances to those found in their foods.

"Stable isotope analysis is a powerful ecological tool for reconstructing the diets of animals," said Hopkins. "Instead of investigating the diets of animals based on what's eliminated (feces), we estimate the importance of major food sources to animals based on what's assimilated into their tissues.”

Previous research has shown that whitebark pine seeds are raided by grizzlies in the fall, fueling reproduction and ensuring the survival of grizzlies in the region. One of the main reasons grizzly bears have remained protected for decades is because it has not been clear how declines in whitebark pine trees will impact population trends over the long term.

Since the new study is limited to a small area in the region and a small number of bears, the researchers recommend a large-scale study and urge others to use their new modeling framework to investigate the diets of other species of concern.

"Such analyses could be used to monitor grizzly bear recovery efforts and inform other wildlife conservation and management programs worldwide," Hopkins 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="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California San Diego</a>

Climate change forces Yellowstone grizzly bears to change diet

Some grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park are eating more...

If you’ve ever wondered what baleen whales may have looked like over 30 million years ago, you’re in luck. Researchers’ analysis of a 36.4-million-year-old fossil has revealed some interesting anatomical differences from the whales we know today.

Scientists discovered this specimen in the Pisco Basin in Southern Peru. It is now the oldest known member of the mysticete group, which includes the humpback whale, blue whale, and the right whale. They believe the animal was between 3.75 and 4 meters long, which makes it smaller than any of its living relatives. But they found the most important difference hiding in its skull.

Modern members of the mysticete group have baleen instead of teeth, which allows them to filter ocean water and feed on the tiny marine animals that get trapped in the baleen. Surprisingly, this fossil had actual teeth, leading the paleontologists to call it Mystacodon, which means “toothed mysticete.”

Further analysis of this fossil suggested that prior to baleen whales losing their teeth, they might have been suction feeders, diving to the ocean floor and inhaling prey into their mouths. “This find by our Peruvian colleague Mario Urbina fills a major gap in the history of the group, and it provides clues about the ecology of early mysticetes,” says paleontologist and study co-author Olivier Lambert of the <a href="https://www.naturalsciences.be/">Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences</a>.

Unlike members of the basilosaurid group, which contains whales believed to be active hunters, Mystacodon’s teeth showed a different pattern of wear and tear. This led researchers to suggest that the Mystacodon may represent an intermediate step between active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hunting-reduces-populations/">hunting</a> and filter feeding, bridging a divide between ancient basilosaurids and modern mysticetes.

“For a long time, Creationists took the evolution of whales as a favorite target to say that, ‘Well, you say that whales come from a terrestrial ancestor, but you can’t prove it. You can’t show the intermediary steps in this evolution,’” says Lambert. “And that was true, maybe thirty years ago. But now, with more teams working on the subject, we have a far more convincing scenario.”

The researchers believe this finding is also evidence of the predictive power of the theory of evolution. But this difference in teeth and hunting-style wasn’t their only discovery.

While observing the fossil’s pelvis, the team found another anatomical anomaly in the form of fully articulated, tiny vestigial hind limbs that stuck out from the whale’s body. Before this find, paleontologists had thought that whales lost their hip articulation before baleen whales and modern toothed whales diverged. This may no longer be the case. The articulation of these tiny limbs with the pelvis suggests that mysticetes and modern toothed whales may have actually both lost this feature independently.

Hoping to carry on the momentum from these exciting discoveries, Lambert and his team plan on returning to the excavation site in Peru to search for more whale fossils from different epochs.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Cell Press

Photo Credit: Alberto Gennari

New fossil discovery changes evolutionary history of baleen whales

If you’ve ever wondered what baleen whales may have looked...

Your world: The greatest giraffes of Instagram. Giraffes have certainly been in the news a lot these days. Last month, April the Giraffe achieved internet stardom with a live stream video of her giving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-gorilla-born-human-care-turns-60/">birth</a>. Sadly though, last month also saw giraffes being added to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/endangered-status-giraffes/">endangered species</a> watch list.

Here at <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>, we wanted to take a moment to appreciate our goofy, cuddly, and silly giraffe friends. In this edition of our recurring Your World feature, we take a look at the greatest giraffes of Instagram.

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Your world: The greatest giraffes of Instagram

Your world: The greatest giraffes of Instagram. Giraffes have certainly...

The numbers of commercial honey bees have been steadily declining for years. Varroa mites have contributed to this problem and have become a major pest for honey bee populations. An emerging study shows that these destructive mites are using the conditions of managed bee colonies to their advantage, and they are thriving. 

A study was led by Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, Ph.D., who is a research leader and location coordinator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service's Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona. The results showed that Varroa mites are capable of infesting commercial bee populations to a devastating degree.

"Colony losses in the U.S. are at unsustainable levels for commercial beekeepers. These beekeepers supply colonies for the pollination of crops that represent one-third of U.S. agriculture and are essential components of heart healthy and cancer-prevention diets,” explained Dr. DeGrandi-Hoffman. 

Populations of honey bees in the wild have a natural defense to mite infestations through a process called “swarming.” This happens when colonies become too large and bees split off to form new colonies. This practice thins out the mites and also slows the spread of infection. Unfortunately, swarming is prevented in commercial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antibiotics-responsible-bee-deaths/">bee</a> populations because the colonies are too close together.

Dr. DeGrandi-Hoffman led a team in a study of 120 honey bee colonies in one commercial bee operation over the course of 11 months. They compared populations treated with a mite insecticide called miticide. Some of the honey bee colonies had been treated with miticide in spring and fall, while others were only treated in the fall. More than half the colonies were lost - regardless of the amount of miticide treatment. 

The Varroa mites spread rapidly from one managed bee population to the next. They cripple a group of bees with infection, which entices stronger bees to come and rob the weakened population. This presents an opportunity for the mites to hitch a ride to a new population and continue their destruction. The researchers believe this infestation strategy by Varroa mites explains why the miticide was ineffective. 

"This research provides evidence that the tried and true ways of controlling Varroa are no longer feasible, and that new methods that are designed for control of a migratory pest are required,” said Dr. DeGrandi-Hoffman.

The study will be published in an article next week in the <a href="http://www.entsoc.org/">Entomological Society of America</a>'s Environmental Entomology. 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="http://www.entsoc.org/">Entomological Society of America</a>

Varroa mites taking advantage of already vulnerable honey bees

The numbers of commercial honey bees have been steadily declining...

Back in 1993, farmers in the Henan Province of China found fossils of eggs that were up to almost 18 inches long and weighed more than 10 pounds – they would end up being some of the largest dinosaur eggs ever discovered. They were found in a ring-shaped nest that was roughly 2-3 meters in diameter and contained over two dozen eggs. 

The fossils were exported out of China to the United States, where they became world renowned after being featured in a 1996 issue of National Geographic. Despite this notoriety, they had yet to be linked to a species or even given a name, until now…

Recently, the eggs were returned to China and kept at the Henan Geological Museum. Due to this repatriation, an international team of scientists were finally able to study them.

“This particular fossil was outside the country for over 20 years and its return to China finally allowed us to properly study the specimen and name a new dinosaur species, Beibeilong sinensis or baby dragon from China.” says Professor Lü Junchang, a paleontologist at the <a href="http://210.73.59.177/geology/tabid/183/language/en-US/Default.aspx">Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences</a>.

By studying the bones of an embryo that had died while hatching, the researchers found that this was a new species of oviraptorosar – a type of feathered, wing-bearing, beaked dinosaur that is closely related to birds. Bones of an adult have yet to be discovered, but scientists believe a mature Beibeilong sinensis would be about 16 feet long and weigh in at 3 tons. 

“Thanks to this fossil, we now know that these eggs were laid by a gigantic oviraptorosaur, a dinosaur that would have looked a lot like an overgrown cassowary. It would have been a sight to behold with a three ton animal like this sitting on its nest of eggs,” says Dr. Darla Zelenitzky, a professor at the <a href="http://www.ucalgary.ca/">University of Calgary</a>.

The species is believed to have lived around 90 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period, and is the largest known dinosaur to have sat on its nest and cared for its young. 

More information on this exciting dinosaur species can be found in the journal Nature Communications.

--

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="http://www.ucalgary.ca/">University of Calgary</a>

Illustration by Zhao Chuang

Massive dinosaur eggs belonged to a new dino species

Back in 1993, farmers in the Henan Province of China...

The planet’s species are now vanishing at the fastest rate since the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alpine-plants-extinction-risks/">extinction</a> of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Of all species that have existed on Earth, over 99 percent are now extinct. Many species are currently at risk due to human activities that result in global warming and habitat loss. 

When the conservation status of a species reaches “endangered,” it is likely this species could disappear forever. The following is a list of some of the cutest animals on the planet that are now on the endangered list, and at serious risk of extinction.

Red Panda

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_563955424.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-351247" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_563955424-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>

Red pandas have furry bodies that resemble bear cubs and white face markings like raccoons. They weigh around 10 pounds and are not much larger than house cats. Red pandas live rather solitary lives and are thought to be shy animals. When they do communicate, they chatter or squeak like chipmunks. 

The red panda is nicknamed “firefox” for its reddish-orange coat and black limbs. These animals are skilled acrobats that spend most of their time in the treetops. Red pandas are perceived as lazy because their bamboo diet slows their metabolism.

Red pandas can be found in the forests of the Eastern Himalayas and the mountains of Nepal and Myanmar. They are mainly endangered due to deforestation. Global warming and human activity such as logging have added pressure to their rapidly vanishing forest habitats. They are also hunted for their thick, warm fur.

Golden Lion Tamarin

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_54861250.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-351246" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_54861250-300x288.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="288" /></a>

The golden lion tamarin is a small monkey with long, silky hair that frames its face. This tiny monkey weighs under two pounds. The distinctive, fiery-gold color of its hair is thought to be lightened by the sun and also from cartenoids in its diet.

These sociable monkeys move in groups and sleep in hollow trees. Golden lion tamarins move very fast and swing from vines to trees, rarely ever coming down to the ground. They communicate with each other by marking their territory with a musky-scented substance, and also use a variety of sounds. Screeching noises usually mean they are playing.

Located in the tropical rainforests of Brazil, golden lion tamarins are in danger due to habitat loss. Their native forests are being cleared for agriculture and ranching. These tiny monkeys are also hunted and killed or captured for the pet trade. At one point, locals mistakenly believe they carried yellow fever and malaria and killed many of them.

Sea Otters

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_329008838.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-351245" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_329008838-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>

While sea otters are the biggest members of the weasel family, they are among the smallest marine mammals, weighing an average of 49 to 99 pounds. These animals have thick, puffy fur with facial features that resemble small polar bears. Sea otters often look like they are laughing and smiling. 

Sea otters must keep their dense fur clean so that it stays waterproof. They spend a lot of their time grooming, and roll in the water frequently while eating to keep food scraps out of their fur. Sea otters are equipped with pouches to store food that they bring up to the surface for meals. They float on their backs and eat with their forepaws, using rocks and other tools to break open shellfish. 

Although they spend most of their waking hours alone, these sea creatures rest together in single-sex groups called rafts. They sometimes drape kelp over their bodies or hold hands while they are sleeping to keep from floating away. 

Sea otters can be found in the coastal waters of the Northern Pacific. They are often victims of oil spills and habitat degradation from pollution. They are also shot and hunted by humans. 

Pileated Gibbons

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_301440299.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-351244" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_301440299-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>

Pileated gibbons are small acrobatic apes with shaggy fur. The females are silver or beige with a black head and belly, and the males are all black. Pileated gibbons have oversized arms and commanding legs. With graceful yet powerful movement, these creatures can launch themselves over 50 feet to the nearest tree. They move through the jungle at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. 

Pileated gibbons live and rest high in the trees in small family groups. They are known for loud vocalizations that sound like songs, and the males and females “perform” duets together. These iconic animals bond by grooming each other. 

Found in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, the habitats of pileated gibbons are being destroyed as their native forests are turned into farmland. This has led to extinction in some regions. They are also hunted and captured for their meat.

Galapagos Penguins

<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_296162420.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-351243" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/shutterstock_296162420-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>

The Galapagos penguins are the second smallest penguin species. They weigh only 5 pounds and stand about 16 inches tall. They have slender beaks and sport the shape of an upside-down horseshoe on their bellies. Their black and white colors help camouflage them from predators both inside of the water and out.

The Galapagos penguins are the only penguin species that live and breed in a tropical climate north of the equator. This unique penguin species is restricted to the Galapagos Islands because a cold undercurrent of water is pulled here from Antarctica. They live in colonies and hunt in groups, yet are very territorial over their nests. These tiny penguins communicate with vocalizations and body movements.

Global warming and other disturbances of their habitats have resulted in the endangerment of the Galapagos penguins. The introduction of new, invasive species and human activities such as fishing also threaten the survival of these penguins. 

There are many ways that we can help save these and other threatened species. A great way to start is to learn about endangered species in your local area. Buy sustainable products and reduce water waste to help protect natural habitats. 

&nbsp;

For more ideas, check out this list of “<a href="http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/20-extraordinary-things-you-can-do-to-save-endangered-species.php">20 Extraordinary Things You Can Do To Save Endangered Species</a>.” 

You can also participate in <a href="http://www.endangered.org/campaigns/endangered-species-day/">Endangered Species Day</a> on May 19th, 2017.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://Earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Some of Earth’s most adorable animals are facing extinction

The planet’s species are now vanishing at the fastest rate...

Climate change could put lizard populations at risk by reducing their gut bacteria, according to a new study.

Scientists from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> and the <a href="http://en.univ-toulouse.fr/">University of Toulouse</a> conducted experiments to see how warming global temperatures might affect lizards’ health. They placed lizards in temperature-controlled enclosures, then tested their gut bacteria to see if it changed due to temperature fluctuations.

What they found was that a temperature increase of only 2 to 3 degrees Celsius could cause the loss of more than a third of the lizards’ gut bacteria. The amount they raised the temperature was based on current projections for climate change.

"Our research shows that a relatively small rise in temperature can have a major impact on the gut bacteria in common lizards," said Dr. Elvire Bestion of the University of Exeter.

The lizards living in warmer enclosures didn’t just have less gut bacteria. Their gut microcosms also showed less diversity, and their survival was at risk, the researchers said.

The research shows a side effect of climate change that has not been well studied, Bestion and her colleagues said.

"We are only now starting to understand the importance of gut microbiota in the physiology of all species, including humans," she said. "These bacteria are linked to everything from digestion to immunity and obesity.”

Very few studies have been done to determine whether climate change will have an effect on gut bacteria in the animal kingdom or in humans, Bestion pointed out.

More testing is needed, the researchers said – not just in lizards, but in other cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians.

"Given the importance of bacteria to digestion, it is crucial that more research is now carried out to investigate this overlooked effect of climate change,” Bestion said.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Could global warming put lizards' gut bacteria at risk?

Climate change could put lizard populations at risk by reducing...

A deadly parasitic tumor has been attacking Tasmanian devil populations since at least 1996. Devil facial tumor disease is not a virus, but it is transmissible, and in almost every case it leads to cancer and death.

Scientists have been working to figure out the cause – and develop a potential treatment – for the disease for the past two decades. They’re in a race against time. Without a treatment, the Tasmanian devil could be extinct in another two decades.

An international team of biologists from Australia and the United States may have made a breakthrough in figuring out the disease, one of only three known transmissible types of cancers in mammals.

“We've had incremental progress in our understanding of devil facial tumor disease over the past two decades,” lead author Dr. Andy Flies said in a press release. “Low genetic diversity was initially thought to be the primary reason for the fatal transmissible tumors, but more recently it was discovered that DFT cells hide from the immune system by not expressing key immune recognition molecules, a sort of invisibility cloak for cancer cells.”

Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease was first recorded among wild devil populations in 1996. From 1996 to 2006, the number of Tasmanian devils in the wild decreased by an estimated 60 percent, according to the <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/40540/0">IUCN Red List</a>, which tracks endangered species and the threats they face.

Now, Flies and his colleagues may have discovered an important clue in the fight against DFTD. They’ve discovered high levels of a molecule called PD-L1 on samples of the tumors. The molecule may keep the devils’ immune system from attacking the tumors before they grow out of control.

“The immune system plays a vital role in protecting an animal from pathogens and cancers through various immunosurveillance and effector mechanisms. The pathogenic cells and/or microbes that escape or neutralize host immunity produce more surviving descendants that are in turn more effective at evading immune responses,” the researchers wrote in their study.

By uncovering “checkpoint molecules” like PD-L1, biologists can begin to understand the disease and develop a more effective treatment for it. Flies hopes that the research, along with work by other scientists, can be used to develop a vaccine for the disease.

The study has been published in the journal <a href="http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00513/full">Frontiers in Immunology</a>. Funding was provided by the <a href="http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/?">Morris Animal Foundation</a>, which invests in research into animal health issues.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Biologists unraveling mystery of deadly Tasmanian devil tumor

A deadly parasitic tumor has been attacking Tasmanian devil populations...

Humans aren’t the only species trying to get fit for summer, according to a new study published in the open access journal <a href="http://zookeys.pensoft.net/">ZooKeys</a>. The study, led by Dr. Shino Furusaka from <a href="http://web.tuat.ac.jp/~ieas/english/index.html">Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology</a>, found that Asiatic black bears focus on finding protein-rich food leading up to the summer so that they can replace fat tissue from the previous year’s hibernation with lean muscle mass.

By following a large number of black bears in an area of roughly 60 km2 in Japan’s Ashio-Nikko mountains, the research team was able to directly observe the bears’ food preferences and habits. They made these observations from April to July in both 2014 and 2014, keeping a distance of at least 200 meters from individual bears.

The scientists would document what plant species the bears consumed, then study their nutritional content. Although food availability was a factor, it seemed like the bears were more attracted to food that was high in protein while being low in fiber. The researchers believe this is because the bears’ stomachs would have a hard time digesting fiber. Furthermore, this protein-rich diet helps rebuild muscle mass that was lost over hibernation while also replacing fat the bear burned during its winter slumber.

The study details how the bears actually changed their food preferences as it got closer to summer, which means that the nutrients within their diets changed as well. Bears would begin the spring by eating grass and then leaves as trees began to experience the leaf flush. Flowers were also on the menu as they began to bloom. During the early summer, the bears would mainly eat ants as well as bees, supplementing this insect diet with grass and sika deer carcasses. 

When the researchers went back and checked the nutritional content of the same plants the bears had been devouring a few weeks previously, they discovered that these plants were now lower in protein and richer in fiber.

The authors also believe that the calories in different foods were not related to the choice of food, so the key factor for determining a bear’s diet must be the amount of protein, as long as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/new-hair-fiber-analysis-technique/">fiber</a> content is low enough to be digested.

Gaining this type of insight into the food habits and preferences of different animals is integral to understanding how they survive and how we can help maintain and preserve their habitats. Further research could provide even more information on the feeding habits of these interesting creatures.

--

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="http://pensoft.net/">Pensoft Publishers</a>

Image Credit: Hiroshi Yokota

Asiatic black bears focus on protein to bulk up for the summer

Humans aren’t the only species trying to get fit for...

Ice Age climate change altered the evolution of tiny, hand-standing skunks, a new study said.

"By analyzing western spotted skunk DNA, we learned that Ice Age climate change played a crucial role in their evolution," said lead author Adam Ferguson, Collections Manager of Mammals at <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">The Field Museum</a> in Chicago and affiliate of <a href="https://www.ttu.edu/">Texas Tech University</a>. "Over the past million years, changing climates isolated groups of spotted skunks in regions with suitable abiotic conditions, giving rise to genetic subdivisions that we still see today."

Western spotted skunks, smaller than the striped variety, have coats that are an almost maze-like pattern of black and white swirls. They often do handstands, hind legs and fluffy tail in the air, as they unleash smelly chemicals to ward off predators. These impressive skunks are found throughout the Western U.S. and Mexico.

During the Ice Age, western North America was mostly covered by glaciers. But there were also patches of suitable climates, called refugia, for the skunks separated by patches of unsuitable climates.

“When we analyzed the DNA of spotted skunks living today, we found three groups that correspond to three different climate refugia,"Ferguson said. "That means that for spotted skunk evolution, climate change appears to have been a more important factor than geographical barriers.”

Small carnivores such as skunks haven’t been extensively studied about how they responded to changing climates, Ferguson said.

"What we know about the past can inform what we expect to see in the future," he said. says "Understanding these genetic subdivisions that happened as a result of changing climatic conditions can help us conserve skunks and other animals in the future."

The study was published in the journal <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2045-7758">Ecology 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://www.fieldmuseum.org/">The Field Museum</a>

What skunks can teach us about coping with climate change

Ice Age climate change altered the evolution of tiny, hand-standing...

If you’re a fan of the Finding Nemo and Finding Dory movies, you’ll certainly remember Marlon. He’s the anemonefish who is also Nemo’s overprotective and loving dad. But as it turns out, Marlon’s parenting skills may actually be inherent. A new study has found that a specific hormone is the reason why anemonefish are the ultimate doting dads.

Males have such strong parenting instincts that they even bachelors will care for eggs from another nest as if they were his own, according to the study by the <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.</a>

The strong paternal instinct is triggered by in part by a signaling molecule almost identical to oxytocin -- known as the love hormone in humans and also associated with mothering, the study said. When researchers blocked this hormone, known as isotocin, in the male fish, the dads stopped tending to their young. It’s not the first st study to show that isotocin regulates <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grown-penguins-mooch-parents/">paternal</a> care in fish, but is the first to focus on the anemonefish.

"Because the fish are so committed to their role as fathers, we're able in the lab to dissociate their parental behavior -- the fanning and the nipping-- from behaviors associated with courtship, territory defense and nest defense," said University of Illinois graduate student Ross DeAngelis, who led the study with psychology professor Justin Rhodes. "This allows us to look at how the brain regulates male parental care in isolation from other behaviors that occur simultaneously."

The researchers also analyzed how another hormone, arginine vasotocin, influences paternal care in anemonefish. Other studies suggest the hormone plays a role in regulating dominance, aggression and courtship.

When the researchers blocked vasotocin in one of a pair of male anemonefish, the treated males displayed significantly less aggression than the untreated counterparts. Blocking vasotocin in anemonefish fathers, however, made dutiful dads even more attentive to their offspring.

"We were surprised by this because these fish display such a high level of parental effort in the laboratory that it's hard to imagine there being an increase," DeAngelis said. "Our hypothesis is that by blocking vasotocin signaling, you're reducing vigilance and nest defense, allowing a greater allotted effort to be directed toward parental care."

--

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://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</a>

Finding Nemo called it: the reason why anemonefish are great dads

If you’re a fan of the Finding Nemo and Finding...

Using a new deep-sea technology, scientists at <a href="http://www.mbari.org/">Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute</a> have gained new insights into how giant larvaceans, a species of zooplankton, help transfer carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean.

The plankton, about the size of a pinky finger, live in the upper 400 meters of the ocean and build filtering "houses" that are so fragile that they can’t be removed for lab analysis. The particles contain organic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-emissions-income-gap/">carbon</a>, some of which originated as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

When the larvaceans discard their old, nutrient-rich houses, the structures sink to the sea floor, which contributes to moving organic materials into deeper water.

Once on the seafloor, the carbon is either consumed by animals or buried in sediment, making  it unlikely to return to the atmosphere for millions of years.

Instead of trying to build a tank large enough to harbor a giant larvacean and its house, MBARI Principal Engineer Kakani Katija has been investigating ways to study larvaceans in the open ocean, using a technique called particle image velocimetry (PIV).

The system includes  a laser that emits a thin sheet of light and a video camera that records tiny particles in the water, which are lit up by the laser.

Researchers tested the system, mounted on a small remotely operated vehicle, 4,000 feet below the surface of Monterey Bay.

“We were all shocked by how well it worked,” said Katija. “There was a lot of oohing and aahing in the control room. It wasn’t just the scientists who were shocked and amazed—it was everyone on the research vessel.”

Katija’s calculations showed that each giant larvacean in Monterey Bay could filter up to 76 liters (20 gallons) of water per hour.This is four times higher than previous estimates for giant larvaceans and five times higher than filtering rates by other gelatinous open-ocean filter feeders, such as salps.

“Now that DeepPIV is available to the oceanographic community it opens up all kinds of possibilities,” Katija 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.mbari.org/">Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute</a>

Deep dive discovers sea creature’s massive carbon impact

Using a new deep-sea technology, scientists at Monterey Bay Aquarium...

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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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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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;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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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



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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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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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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 



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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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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 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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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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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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



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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



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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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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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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



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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



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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



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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



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Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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