Young aspen trees in Yellowstone are doing something they have not done in almost 100 years. Rather than sprouting and being eaten back to nubs by elk and bison, they're actually growing into tall, adult forest trees rising up towards the canopy.



This matters more than it might seem, because it shows what happens when a missing piece of an ecosystem returns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-yellowstone-aspens-and-elk">Yellowstone, aspens, and elk</h2>



In the 1920s, people <a href="https://www.yellowstone.org/wolf-project/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eliminated wolves in Yellowstone</a>. At the time, with limited scientific knowledge, managers believed it was the right thing to do.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/from-wolves-to-dogs-did-domestication-begin-without-human-help/">Without wolves</a>, elk herds grew very large. Elk love to eat aspen shoots - the tender young growth is highly palatable to them.



For roughly 70 years, elk browsed aspen sprouts down to stub height, and the trees couldn't grow. 



If you had walked through Yellowstone in the 1980s, you would have seen many tiny aspen shoots covering the ground, but almost no young trees gaining height. 



The forest's regeneration was stalled. Old trees died, and no new ones replaced them.



In 1995 and 1996, park managers reintroduced wolves into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstone-supervolcano-eruption-study-sparks-new-debate-on-where-and-when-it-will-erupt/">Yellowstone Park ecosystem</a>. Scientists hoped and wondered whether this would change anything for the trees.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-aspen-matter-to-yellowstone">Why aspen matter to Yellowstone</h2>



Aspen groves provide habitat for many species. Birds nest in them. Beavers eat the bark and use the wood for dams. Butterflies and moths lay eggs on the leaves. 



Their canopy admits enough light for wildflowers and shrubs to grow beneath. When it rains, aspen groves hold water in the soil better than some other forest types.



In short, when aspen return, dozens of other species benefit. More trees support more insects, which in turn support more birds, enriching the ecosystem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-checking-the-trees-three-decades-later">Checking the trees three decades later</h2>



<a href="https://fwcs.oregonstate.edu/users/luke-painter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luke Painter</a>, an ecologist at <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon State University</a>, sought clear answers. His team returned to 87 aspen stands across Yellowstone that scientists had previously surveyed. 



They measured thousands of young trees, looked for bite marks, and counted how many stems were tall enough that elk could no longer reach the tips.



About a third of these stands now have many tall young aspens pushing toward the canopy. 



"About 26 of the 87 aspen stands we examined had large numbers of tall saplings throughout, a remarkable change from the 1990s when surveys found none at all," Painter said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-wolves-matter-to-yellowstone-aspens">Why wolves matter to Yellowstone aspens</h2>



Breaking it all down, the conclusions of this study are pretty simple. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wolves-move-pups-across-mountains-to-adapt-to-climate-pressure/">Wolves hunt elk</a>. When wolves came back, two things happened. First, elk numbers declined from unusually high levels. Second, elk changed their behavior. They spent less time in the same areas feeding.



With fewer elk and shorter feeding bouts, more aspen shoots survived long enough to exceed the browsing zone - about six to seven feet high. 



Once a sapling reaches that height, elk cannot easily reach the growing tip. The tree continues to grow.



"The reintroduction of large carnivores has initiated a recovery process that had been shut down for decades," Painter explained.



Scientists call this a <a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/trophic-cascades-across-diverse-plant-ecosystems-80060347/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trophic cascade</a> - when adding or removing one species causes changes that ripple through the whole system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-places-recover-others-don-t">Some places recover, others don't</h2>



Unfortunately, not every aspen stand has recovered yet. Some valleys still have many short, heavily browsed shoots, because it's not only elk eating them anymore. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/yellowstones-iconic-bison-have-merged-into-a-single-herd/">Bison herds have grown</a>, and bison browse on aspen as well. They are strong enough to break young trees. 



"Increasing numbers of bison may be emerging as a new constraint to aspen in some areas," Painter confirmed.



Additionally, winter snow depth varies; droughts stress trees; bears and mountain lions also hunt elk; and hunting outside the park influences elk distribution. 



All of these factors interact, which is why some sites show strong recovery, others show moderate recovery, and a few have changed very little.



The key pattern is that places with many tall saplings experience little browsing, and aspen groves that remain popular eating grounds today stay short. 



This fact is the strongest indication that tree recovery is linked directly to wolf presence, not solely to weather or soil conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proof-in-the-measurements">Proof in the measurements</h2>



Painter's team did not rely on casual observation. They used the same methods as earlier researchers, measuring the same plots. 



They counted recruitment - when young trees surpass browsing height and begin progressing toward maturity. This measure is crucial. Sprouts are insufficient if they never grow; without recruitment, the forest cannot replace itself.



The results are robust. After being stalled for most of a century, Yellowstone's aspens are increasing in height. In recovering stands today, you will see saplings - six, eight, or ten feet tall - that were not present in the 1990s.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-yellowstone-s-aspens">The future of Yellowstone's aspens</h2>



"This is a remarkable case of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-viruses-found-in-yellowstones-hot-springs-may-be-near-the-root-of-all-life-on-earth/">ecological restoration</a>," Painter concluded. "Wolf reintroduction is yielding long-term ecological changes contributing to increased biodiversity and habitat diversity."



Trees grow slowly, so even with wolves restored, it will take decades for these young aspens to form a full-grown forest. 



Some areas might never fully recover if bison numbers continue to rise or if the climate becomes too hot and dry.



Thanks to the work of Painter and his team, scientists are now certain that restoring the Yellowstone predator has restarted aspen forest regeneration. Not everywhere and not perfectly, but enough to be measured, creating hope for the future.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112725004499?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forest Ecology and Management</a>.



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Yellowstone's aspen trees are growing again thanks to the reintroduction of wolves

Young aspen trees in Yellowstone are doing something they have not done in almost 100 years. Rather than sprouting and being eaten back to nubs by elk and bison, they're actually growing into tall, adult forest trees rising up towards the canopy. This matters more than it might seem, because it shows what happens when a missing piece of an ecosystem returns. Yellowstone, aspens, and elk In the 1920s, people eliminated wolves in Yellowstone. At the time, with limited scientific knowledge, managers believed it was the right...

Over the next few decades, climate change will test communities in ways that go well beyond storms or heat waves. The pressure point is socioeconomic vulnerability, the conditions that determine whether people can prepare, respond, and recover.



A new global projections <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-05732-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">database</a> looks ahead from 2020 to 2100 and tracks how social factors may raise or lower that vulnerability. 



The database translates hard to compare realities into a single scale, then follows three different development <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-wins-in-2025-came-from-unexpected-places/">paths</a> to show what changes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-climate-vulnerability-matters">Why climate vulnerability matters</h2>



The study was led by Dr. Janine Huisman, a researcher at Radboud University’s <a href="https://globaldatalab.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Data Lab</a>. Her team worked with Climate Analytics to build a forward looking tool that focuses on people, not just physics.



In climate science, risk arises from the interaction of hazards, exposure, and vulnerability. Hazards are the physical events, exposure is what lies in their path, and vulnerability is the human system’s sensitivity and capacity to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-is-just-three-years-away-from-dangerous-carbon-milestone/">adapt</a>.



This framing matters because cutting risk is not only about predicting the next flood. It is also about strengthening the social systems that keep losses from spiraling.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-index-works">How the index works</h2>



The team published a peer-reviewed paper that turns 11 indicators into a single index and then projects it to 2100. The index includes seven domains: the economy, education, health, gender, infrastructure, governance, and demographics.



Gender inequality is measured with the UNDP’s <a href="https://hdr.undp.org/gender-development-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GDI</a>. Governance uses the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, while education relies on mean years of schooling.



“The GVI quantifies how societies are likely to respond to climate hazards,” said Dr. Huisman. The index emphasizes social conditions that shape readiness and recovery.



Countries with higher education and stronger health tend to anticipate change and adjust faster. Better infrastructure improves evacuation, communication, and emergency <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hot-oceans-weaken-earths-carbon-sink/">response</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-climate-vulnerability-paths">Future climate vulnerability paths</h2>



Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (<a href="https://earth.gov/sealevel/faq/124/what-are-shared-socioeconomic-pathways-or-ssps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SSPs</a>) are stories that scientists use to think about different possible futures for the world. Each pathway describes how people, governments, and economies might change over the next century.&nbsp;



They include ideas about things like how fast populations grow, how much technology improves, and whether countries work together or stay divided. By comparing these different futures, researchers can see how social and economic choices affect our ability to handle climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-same-climate-hazard-different-outcomes">Same climate hazard, different outcomes </h2>



The projections follow the IIASA SSP <a href="https://data.ece.iiasa.ac.at/ssp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">database</a>, using three paths that researchers often pair with climate models. SSP1 ("Sustainability") is a green road with gains in health and education and lower inequality.



SSP2 ("Middle of the Road") continues mixed trends and uneven development. SSP3 ("Regional Rivalry") is a rocky road with fragmentation, weaker cooperation, and high challenges for mitigation and adaptation.



Each path reshapes vulnerability not by changing the weather, but by changing social capacity. That is why the same hazard can produce very different outcomes across scenarios.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-projections-show">What the projections show</h2>



Under SSP1, the median vulnerability falls steadily this century, with the largest improvements in today’s most vulnerable countries. Under SSP3, change is slow, and large gaps persist between regions with high and low capacity.



Regional patterns remain visible in the mid-century maps. Northern America, Northern and Western Europe, and Australia and New Zealand sit at the low end of vulnerability by 2050 and 2100, while parts of Africa, Southern Asia, and Pacific Island States remain higher.



The gap is smallest in SSP1, wider in SSP2, and widest in SSP3. That spread reflects the storylines behind each pathway.



The projections also show that countries starting in the highest vulnerability group can, under SSP1, approach today’s low vulnerability levels by century’s end. Starting points still matter, but the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astonishing-global-heat-in-january-2025-defied-climate-expectations/">social</a> trajectory matters more.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-directing-resources-where-they-re-needed">Directing resources where they're needed</h2>



The <a href="https://www.v-20.org/the-voluntary-carbon-markets-integrity-initiative-and-climate-vulnerable-forum-and-its-v20-finance-ministers-partner-to-leverage-carbon-markets-in-support-of-climate-prosperity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vulnerable Twenty</a> (V20) countries are home to over one-fifth of the world’s population but produce only about 5 percent of global emissions. 



The researchers called for projections that prioritize human capacity, since funding and policy decisions often hinge on those measures.



“This allows policymakers and scholars to assess whether countries remain vulnerable under traditional energy use patterns, or whether vulnerabilities persist even in a rapid transition to renewable energy,” explained Dr. Rosanne Martyr of Climate Analytics.



The scenarios make it possible to test policy ideas against different social futures. The result is a tool that can support international finance decisions, loss and damage debates, and national planning. 



The database provides a clearer rationale for directing resources to places where social drivers keep risk high.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-index-with-a-stable-formula">Global index with a stable formula </h2>



The projections <a href="https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Projections_of_climate_change_vulnerability_along_the_Shared_Socioeconomic_Pathways_2020-2100/28350935" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dataset</a> is openly available and arrives in multiple formats. Researchers and agencies can compute country scores every five years and compare them with hazard and exposure layers.



Because the index uses a stable formula, values are comparable across regions and time. That consistency helps avoid moving goalposts when tracking progress.



The tool can be paired with drought, flood, or heat wave maps to estimate risk where people live and work. It also helps identify social levers that can shift outcomes before hazards strike.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-limits-of-climate-vulnerability-index">Limits of climate vulnerability index</h2>



The projections focus on human systems, not on changing hazard patterns. They are designed to complement, not replace, physical climate impact drivers.



Some indicators, like safely-managed drinking water, are not projected, and the authors tested the sensitivity of the index to such gaps. They report very strong correlations between reduced and full indicator sets, suggesting the composite remains stable.



Telephone access and electricity were modeled to saturate at different times across scenarios. That choice reflects real-world adoption curves, with uncertainty acknowledged in robustness checks.



The index is at national scale for now. Within-country differences can be large, and the team notes that a subnational extension is a priority.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next</h2>



The authors plan to extend the index to states and provinces so that planners can target investments where they matter most. That finer lens should make adaptation more practical and less blunt.



The database will live on the Global Data Lab <a href="https://globaldatalab.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">site</a>, with updates and visualizations to support wider use. As methods improve, future versions can incorporate better projections for difficult indicators.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-05732-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Data</a>.



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Where will climate change hit hardest? Global index reveals vulnerability

Over the next few decades, climate change will test communities...

Extinction has always been part of life. Some events were enormous, like the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs. Others unfolded more quietly, reshaping ecosystems. 



Today, people are driving species toward extinction at alarming rates through habitat destruction, invasive species, and climate change. 



But does this mean Earth is in the midst of a new mass extinction? Not quite, according to a recent study led by John Wiens of the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona</a> and Kristen Saban of <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvard University</a>. 



Their findings show that while many species have disappeared, entire genera are not vanishing at the same pace. The loss of higher taxonomic groups is rare, often localized, and has slowed in recent decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-genus-extinctions-matter">Why genus extinctions matter</h2>



Species matter, but a genus carries more weight. Each genus represents unique evolutionary history, sometimes stretching back millions of years. Losing one can erase distinct genetic, ecological, and functional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/prediction-how-and-when-humans-and-mammals-will-face-next-mass-extinction/">traits</a>. 



The tuatara offers a stark example. It is the only living member of a reptile lineage that dates back more than 250 million years. If it vanished, an entire evolutionary branch would be gone forever.



Wiens and Saban reviewed more than 22,000 genera from the IUCN database. They wanted to know if higher-level losses were stacking up. 



The researchers identified 102 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thousands-of-animal-species-face-extinction-from-climate-change/">extinct</a> genera in the past 500 years, less than half a percent of those assessed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genus-level-extinction-is-uncommon">Genus-level extinction is uncommon</h2>



The extinctions weren’t evenly spread. Birds have lost 37 genera and mammals 21 - together making up about 1.6% of their total. 



Other groups fared far better: amphibians lost just one genus, reptiles three, and ray-finned fishes four. Arthropods lost 11 genera, plants 12, and mollusks 14 - though most mollusk losses were limited to isolated islands.



These findings highlight a bias. Mammals and birds, both studied closely, show higher genus-level losses. Insects, though far more numerous, are under-assessed. 



Even so, the data suggest that genus-level extinction is still uncommon compared to species-level decline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-island-effect">The island effect</h2>



Most genus-level extinctions happened on islands. About three out of four <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-chaos-the-mass-extinction-that-reshaped-life-on-earth/">extinct</a> genera were island endemics. 



Isolated ecosystems magnify vulnerability. Invasive predators, hunting, and habitat change hit harder where species have nowhere else to go.



Examples are scattered across the globe. The Mascarene Islands lost multiple bird genera. The West Indies saw mammals disappear. Saint Helena’s mollusks were especially affected. 



Even freshwater systems showed vulnerability. All four extinct genera of ray-finned fishes lived in rivers or lakes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slowdown-in-extinction-rates">Slowdown in extinction rates </h2>



Extinction rates climbed between the 1500s and 1800s, hitting their peak in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The decades with the most losses were the 1890s, 1900s, and 1930s. 



Since then, rates have slowed. That finding directly challenges earlier claims that extinctions are speeding up.



Why the slowdown? One reason may be conservation. Efforts to protect birds and mammals in the past century appear to have worked. 



Another possible explanation for the slowdown is timing. Many of the most fragile lineages, especially on islands, disappeared over a century ago. What remains may be more resilient, at least against the threats of that time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-counting-extinctions-is-challenging">Counting extinctions is challenging</h2>



Counting extinctions isn’t simple. Insects, for example, are underrepresented in the IUCN database. They make up nearly half of all species, but few genera are assessed. 



Even with that gap, genus-level extinction remains below half a percent for insects and other groups.



Another factor is classification. Birds and mammals often have fewer species per genus. This makes them more likely to lose entire genera when species vanish. 



Reptiles and amphibians, which pack more species into each genus, appear less vulnerable in this way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-but-uncertain-patterns">Possible but uncertain patterns</h2>



The study also tracked 37 genera listed as “possibly extinct.” Most of them were monotypic, consisting of only one species. Many were island or freshwater specialists, echoing the confirmed extinction patterns. 



If all of the possible extinctions were confirmed, the total number would rise slightly. But even then, the trend of rarity and slowdown would hold.



The big picture is clear: the crisis is real, but it looks different when measured at higher levels of classification.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-extinctions-must-be-stopped">Why extinctions must be stopped</h2>



“A recent study suggested that extinctions of animal genera are rapidly accelerating and that these extinctions endanger human survival," said Wiens.



"We found instead that extinctions of genera are very rare across plants and animals, that they were mostly of genera found only on islands, and that these extinctions actually slowed down over the last 100 years instead of rapidly accelerating."



According to Wiens, there was never any evidence that these extinctions, which peaked ~100 years ago and occurred mostly on isolated islands, endanger human survival. 



"We argue that the reason why future extinctions must be stopped is not because they threaten humans, but because it is morally wrong for humans to drive other species to extinction.”



Saban highlighted another important issue - how science is communicated. “Now more than ever, given the widespread mistrust in science, it is important that we conduct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-was-thriving-before-earths-greatest-mass-extinction/">conservation</a> research carefully and present it accurately,” she said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-irreplaceable-value-of-species">Irreplaceable value of species</h2>



So, what does this mean? We are not in a mass extinction at the genus level. But that does not soften the blow of losing hundreds of species. 



Threats are changing. In the past, invasive species and overhunting drove island losses. Now, climate change and habitat destruction loom large.



The study urges caution. Scientists should avoid exaggerating extinction trends but must still stress urgency. Every extinction matters, not just for ecosystems but as a moral responsibility. 



Humanity has the choice to act, not because its survival depends on every genus, but because each species adds irreplaceable value to Earth’s living fabric.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003356" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Biology</a>.



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Species are vanishing at an unprecedented rate, but we're not yet at "mass extinction" levels

Extinction has always been part of life. Some events were...

Anxiety seeps into daily life. It disrupts focus at work, strains relationships, and turns even small tasks into stress triggers. Standard treatments are available, but they do not work for everyone. 



Many people cannot tolerate antidepressants in the long term, while others see no real relief. This gap has researchers asking a bold question: can psychedelics like LSD help?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lsd-tested-for-anxiety">LSD tested for anxiety</h2>



A research team at <a href="https://mindmed.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindMed</a> in New York recently carried out the first modern trial of LSD for generalised anxiety <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-microbes-have-an-unexpected-link-to-anxiety/">disorder</a>. The goal was to test whether a single dose could reduce symptoms when standard care fails.



LSD is famous for its hallucinogenic effects, but scientists believe it does more. It boosts serotonin, a chemical that influences mood, and may help the brain form new thought patterns that break cycles of fear and worry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-current-anxiety-care-fails">Why current anxiety care fails</h2>



Generalized anxiety disorder goes far beyond occasional stress. It causes constant, broad worry about money, relationships, health, and even everyday routines. 



Current treatment usually combines therapy with drugs such as SSRIs. These options help some people, but many experience only modest improvement or none at all. Others cannot handle side effects like emotional numbness.



The fact that antidepressants only work while taken daily adds another layer of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/practicing-mindfulness-can-quiet-the-noise-of-anxiety/">frustration</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lsd-reduces-anxiety-symptoms">LSD reduces anxiety symptoms</h2>



The study included 198 adults diagnosed with severe anxiety. Participants gradually stopped their medications before entering the trial, though those already in therapy continued.



The individuals rated their symptoms - such as worry, tension, and poor focus - on a standard scale. Average scores were 30 out of 56, well above the threshold that defines severe anxiety.



Participants were randomly split into five groups. Four groups received LSD in doses from 25 to 200 micrograms. One group received <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513296/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">placebo</a> pills. 



The results were striking. Those who took 100 or 200 micrograms felt noticeable relief within a day.



A month later, their anxiety scores had dropped by about 20 points, and nearly half reached remission. In contrast, the lower doses offered no more benefit than the placebo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-placebo-effect">The placebo effect</h2>



Even the placebo group improved somewhat. Their scores dropped by 14 to 17 points, and one in five achieved remission. 



This outcome is common in anxiety studies, where the attention, care, and expectation built into a trial provide comfort.



Still, the higher-dose LSD groups clearly outperformed placebo group, showing that the drug itself delivered an additional benefit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-side-effects-and-complications">Side effects and complications</h2>



The trial also revealed side effects. Some participants reported nausea or headaches within hours of taking the drug. Hallucinations and changes in visual perception were more common at higher doses. 



Many participants guessed correctly whether they had received LSD, making it harder to fully separate the psychological impact of knowing from the direct biological effects. 



Yet the size of the improvement left researchers confident that LSD was responsible for more than expectation alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lsd-for-anxiety-relief">LSD for anxiety relief</h2>



Independent reviewers described the results as a major step forward. They considered the reductions in anxiety both statistically solid and clinically meaningful. 



In plain terms, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mdma-lsd-psychedelics-enhance-feelings-of-connection-even-between-strangers/">drug</a> offered relief big enough to make daily life easier, not just a small change on paper.



The experts emphasized that such outcomes matter most when improvements translate into real-world functioning, allowing people to work, connect socially, and manage daily responsibilities with far less distress and uncertainty.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-lies-ahead">What lies ahead</h2>



The findings convinced regulators as well. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted LSD therapy from MindMed a special status that speeds development of drugs with strong potential.



Larger and longer trials are now in progress, designed to track benefits beyond three months and to untangle whether improvements come mainly from brain chemistry or from the psychological weight of the psychedelic experience.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lasting-relief-from-a-single-dose">Lasting relief from a single dose</h2>



LSD is not ready to become a mainstream treatment. Outside of controlled studies, it can be unpredictable and sometimes risky. But this research adds to the growing evidence that psychedelics may hold medical value that was once dismissed.



For people with anxiety who gain little from standard care, the idea of lasting relief from a single dose represents more than hope - it signals a possible shift in how we think about treatment. 



Researchers emphasize the need for ongoing trials to confirm safety, clarify long-term effects, and establish appropriate dosing. Still, the growing evidence points to a future where psychiatry could move beyond conventional medications and embrace once-unthinkable psychedelic-based <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-health-may-be-the-key-to-anxiety-relief/">therapies</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2838505" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JAMA</a>.



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Single dose of LSD may reduce anxiety symptoms for months

Anxiety seeps into daily life. It disrupts focus at work,...

Parents pass down more than genes. Their everyday choices shape how children see the world. 



A new study from São Paulo State University (<a href="https://www.international.unesp.br" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESP</a>) in Brazil shows how this works with physical activity. Children copy the habits of their parents, whether active or sedentary.



The researchers tracked 182 children and teenagers, aged 6 to 17, along with their parents. They used accelerometers, devices that measure movement with precision. 



The results were clear: children with inactive parents spent more time sitting. Children with active <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parent-children-relationships-are-key-to-lifelong-well-being/">parents</a> were less sedentary.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mothers-play-a-bigger-role">Mothers play a bigger role</h2>



The study also revealed something striking. Mothers influenced their children’s activity levels more strongly than fathers. Their effect was more than double. 



The exact reason is still uncertain, but daily routines could explain part of it. Mothers often spend more time shaping schedules around meals, homework, and television.



“The results indicate that parents’ level of physical activity can directly influence their children’s habits. In other words, when parents maintain a more active routine, their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/singing-to-babies-is-a-powerful-way-to-boost-their-mood/">children</a> are less likely to remain seated for long periods,” Diego Christofaro noted. 



Christofaro is a professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT-UNESP) at the Presidente Prudente campus and the lead author of the article published in the journal Sports Medicine and Health Science.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sedentary-lifestyles-rising">Sedentary lifestyles rising</h2>



The findings matter because inactivity in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/even-before-they-crawl-babies-can-feel-their-own-heartbeat/">childhood</a> is already a public health concern. In Brazil, 11% to 38% of children and adolescents are overweight. Sedentary routines contribute directly to this problem. 



The risks go beyond weight gain. Research links too much sitting with heart problems, back pain, poor sleep, anxiety, and depression.



Once these patterns start, they are hard to change. A child who spends long hours sitting is likely to carry those habits into adult life. That makes early action vital.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kids-copy-parents-activity">Kids copy parents’ activity</h2>



The home environment explains much of this. Children often copy their parents’ screen habits. If parents watch hours of television, children usually do too. When limits on screen time are missing, the hours grow longer.



But the opposite is also true. When parents swap sitting for exercise, children follow their lead. 



In one Canadian study, every 20 minutes of vigorous parental activity added 5 to 10 minutes of moderate activity in children. Kids don’t just listen to words; they notice actions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parents-education-shapes-activity">Parents’ education shapes activity</h2>



Education changes the picture as well. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/parents-who-use-humor-have-better-relationships-with-their-children/">Parents</a> with higher education levels tend to set more structured routines. They often balance screen time with sports or outdoor play. 



Parents with higher levels of education also recognize the harm of excessive sitting and take steps to prevent it.



Awareness is powerful. A parent who knows the risks of long sedentary hours is more likely to limit television, encourage outdoor play, or join their child in activity. Those choices add up over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-value-of-support">The value of support</h2>



Support at home makes staying active easier. Equipment, safe spaces, and shared activities all matter. Families who play sports together or go for walks often see children grow up more active. 



Shared routines also create memories, tying positive feelings to exercise and movement. 



On the other hand, when support is missing, even motivated children face obstacles. A lack of safe places to play or no encouragement from parents can keep them sitting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-message-for-public-health">A message for public health</h2>



“Sedentary habits are the result of multiple factors, such as lack of access, time, and places where physical activity can be practiced,” noted Christofaro. 



“However, our study shows that parents’ habits can affect their children’s health. Therefore, we believe that these results can support public policies and campaigns aimed at promoting a more active lifestyle in the family environment.”



The study showed that parent-child links in sedentary behavior appeared only when parents were insufficiently active. In families where parents stayed active, those links weakened. That means active parents can protect children from inheriting sedentary patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parents-set-activity-goals">Parents set activity goals</h2>



Brazil’s health guidelines recommend that children and adolescents spend at least 60 minutes a day on moderate to vigorous physical activity. 



Parents should aim for 150 minutes of activity each week. These targets are not just numbers. They represent habits that can shape family health across generations.



Children copy what they see. Parents who sit less and move more give their children a model worth repeating. Small daily choices - walking instead of sitting, playing instead of watching - can ripple through a child’s life, reducing risks and building healthier futures.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666337625000691?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sports Medicine and Health Science</a>.



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Family fitness: Active parents raise active kids

Parents pass down more than genes. Their everyday choices shape...

At first glance, corals appear as immobile, silent structures beneath the ocean surface. Yet these organisms hold sensory abilities that scientists are only beginning to appreciate. Though they lack eyes, corals can sense light in surprising ways, adapting to their environment with delicate precision.



Researchers at <a href="https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Osaka Metropolitan University</a>’s Graduate School of Science have recently revealed a unique mechanism that allows corals to detect different types of light.



The research shows that light-sensitive proteins called opsins rely on chloride ions to shift between ultraviolet (UV) and visible light sensitivity depending on pH. This finding broadens our understanding of vision beyond creatures with eyes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-corals-sense-light">How corals sense light</h2>



Opsins are proteins central to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/super-corals-could-help-reefs-survive-a-warming-world/">animal</a> vision. They bind with retinal, a molecule that naturally absorbs only UV light. To detect visible light, retinal forms a bond called a Schiff base with an opsin.



This bond is positively charged and usually stabilized by a negatively charged amino acid. Without that stabilizer, most opsins would not function. 



The absence of stability would prevent the pigment from maintaining its configuration, disrupting the conversion of light into biochemical signals, and ultimately halting the process animals rely on to sense and respond to their visual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-coral-collapse-may-help-save-the-great-barrier-reef/">environment</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-special-opsins-found-in-corals">Special opsins found in corals</h2>



Anthozoans, a group that includes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brain-corals-are-quietly-storing-massive-amounts-of-carbon/">corals</a> and sea anemones, have their own special opsins known as ASO-II. Unlike mammalian opsins, some ASO-II proteins lack the stabilizing amino acids. 



“Some ASO-II opsins of reef-building corals lack the usual counterion amino acids found in other animal opsins,” explained Akihisa Terakita, professor at Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Science.



The absence of counterion amino acids posed a major question. How could these coral opsins maintain sensitivity to visible light without them?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-molecular-switch-for-light-sensing">A molecular switch for light sensing</h2>



The research team studied ASO-II opsins in the reef-building coral Acropora tenuis. Using spectroscopy, mutational analysis, and simulations, they discovered a novel process. 



Instead of amino acids, the opsins employ chloride ions from their surroundings as counterions. This marks the first known case of an opsin using inorganic ions for stabilization.



“We found that chloride ions stabilize the Schiff base more weakly than amino acids do, so the opsin can reversibly switch between visible-light sensitivity and UV sensitivity depending on the pH," said Yusuke Sakai, first author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-light-sensing-and-ph-levels">Light sensing and pH levels</h2>



The mechanism hinges on pH conditions. At low pH, protons increase, causing the Schiff base to remain positively charged and absorb longer wavelengths, including visible light.



Chloride ions then provide stability. In higher pH conditions, fewer protons lead to deprotonation, and the opsin shifts back to UV sensitivity. This reversible system allows corals to adapt light detection based on cellular chemistry. 



By shifting sensitivity depending on proton balance, corals essentially carry a molecular switch that tunes vision-like processes.



This adaptability ensures they respond effectively to microenvironmental changes, such as metabolic activity, photosynthesis, or stress events, enabling a dynamic balance between UV and visible light sensing crucial for survival and growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-symbiosis-affects-coral-light-sensing">Symbiosis affects coral light sensing</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-impacts-will-overwhelm-our-oceans-by-the-mid-century/">Corals</a> live closely with algae that generate energy through photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis changes the internal pH within coral cells, potentially influencing opsin sensitivity. 



This suggests corals might tune their light detection to align with the algae’s activity. Such dynamic sensing adds new depth to our knowledge of coral symbiosis.



The study adds further perspective. It highlights how light perception can shape coral responses to both internal and external signals. Opsins do not act in isolation; they interact with cellular pathways involving calcium signaling, gene expression, and metabolic control.



By linking light detection with biochemical responses, corals may adjust processes such as skeletal growth and symbiont regulation. This suggests that vision-like mechanisms contribute to how corals balance energy demands with environmental conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pushing-the-boundaries-of-technology">Pushing the boundaries of technology </h2>



Professor Mitsumasa Koyanagi suggests that beyond ecology, this discovery opens technological doors.



"The ASO-II opsin of Acropora tenuis was shown to regulate calcium ions in a light-dependent way, hinting at potential applications as an optogenetic tool whose wavelength sensitivity changes with pH,” said Professor Koyanagi.



The broader theory of opsin diversity presented in the paper supports this potential. By revealing how proteins can rely on unconventional counterions, the researchers have opened the door to designing light-sensitive tools that adapt to shifting chemical environments. 



Such advances could one day enable precise regulation of cellular activity, pushing the boundaries of optogenetics in medicine and biotechnology.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/105451" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eLife</a>.



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Corals reveal a surprising new way to see light

At first glance, corals appear as immobile, silent structures beneath...

Most of us dread brushing and flossing. But what if your mouth could clean itself? Scientists are working on ways to hack the bacteria in your mouth so they do the dirty work for you - literally.



The idea is simple: help the good bacteria grow strong and push the bad ones out. If it works, it could mean fewer cavities, less scraping at the dentist and, maybe one day, no more brushing or flossing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bacteria-battle-inside-your-mouth">Bacteria battle inside your mouth</h2>



Your mouth is home to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-in-your-mouth-multiply-in-a-very-unique-way/">hundreds of kinds</a> of bacteria. Some help you, and others hurt you. Right now, they’re all battling it out for space on your teeth.



The sticky film you feel after a long day? That’s a biofilm - a mix of bacteria all building a home together on your enamel. Some of them eat sugar and make acid, which wears away your teeth and causes cavities.



For years, researchers focused on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mouth-microbes-reflect-your-lifestyle-choices/">identifying</a> the bad bacteria - like Streptococcus mutans - and targeting those. But there’s a catch. Even within a single species of bacteria, there are hundreds of strains. That makes things complicated.



So, instead of trying to classify every strain, a research team led by scientists at <a href="https://www.berkeley.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UC Berkeley</a> is zooming in on the bacteria’s DNA - specifically, the parts of it that drive how bacteria act in your <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-says-mouth-bacteria-play-key-role-in-heart-attacks-upending-conventional-wisdom/">mouth</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-molecules-that-help-bacteria-stick">Molecules that help bacteria stick</h2>



By digging into a huge database of bacterial DNA from saliva samples, the researchers found something interesting. 



A group of genes - called a gene cluster - showed up in strains that were more often linked to the presence of cavities. This cluster produces two molecules that help bacteria stick to each other and to your teeth.



One molecule makes bacteria clump up like glue. The other enables bacteria to make molecules that join and form chains, like a string. Together, these sticky molecules help bacteria form a strong biofilm - that gunky layer you feel on your teeth when you haven’t brushed.



Not all strains have this cluster. But some of the worst <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bronze-age-teeth-discovery-highlight-the-evolution-of-the-human-diet/">cavity-causing</a> strains do, including the infamous S. mutans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smarter-bacteria-for-teeth-cleaning">Smarter bacteria for teeth cleaning</h2>



The scientists believe they can take these sticky-making genes and move them into bacteria that are actually good for your mouth.



<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/streptococcus-salivarius" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Streptococcus salivarius</a> already supports a healthy mouth but struggles to stick to your teeth, which makes it a weak probiotic.



By boosting it with the sticky genes, researchers think they can help S. salivarius form a stronger biofilm. That way, the helpful bacteria can push out the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-dental-hygiene-is-directly-linked-to-decrease-in-brain-volume-and-mental-decline/">harmful</a> ones and take over the neighborhood - possibly reducing the need for constant brushing.



"Particular strains belonging to the same species can be a pathogen or a commensal or even probiotic," explained Wenjun Zhang, a chemical and biomolecular engineering professor at UC Berkeley who led the research.



"After we better understand these molecules' activity and how they can promote strong biofilm formation, we can introduce them to the good bacteria so that the good bacteria can now form strong biofilms and outcompete all the bad ones."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-these-molecules-special">What makes these molecules special</h2>



The gene cluster includes about 15 pieces of DNA. These don’t keep the bacteria alive - they’re part of what’s called a "specialized" metabolic pathway. In simple terms, they let bacteria make extra tools to help them compete.



Some bacteria use these extra genes to produce antibiotics. Others use them to grab more nutrients. In this case, the genes make sticky molecules that help bacteria hold on to your teeth better.



These specialized metabolites enhance survival in certain ways, noted McKenna Yao a Berkeley graduate student and co-first author of the study. 



"Many, for example, are antibiotics, so they can kill other bugs, or others are involved in metal acquisition - they help the bacteria monopolize the resources in their environmental niche," said Yao.



"Being able to produce these, especially in a microbial community, helps the bacteria boot out the other guy and guard their resources.”



The researchers named the sticky molecules mutanoclumpins. They think that if they can fully understand how these work, they could either stop bad bacteria from making them or help good bacteria use them better.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brushing-teeth-still-matters-for-now">Brushing teeth still matters - for now</h2>



This isn’t the team’s first discovery. A couple of years ago, they found a different gene cluster that produces an unknown antibiotic in oral bacteria. Another one made a different type of sticky molecule. 



This new discovery adds a further piece to the puzzle of how bacteria in your mouth work together - or against each other.



"We are looking for something which is correlated with cavities, with disease. If one day we can prove that, under certain conditions, this is really a bad molecule you want to prevent, we might develop genetic or chemical inhibitors to inhibit their production, so hopefully the bacteria will not make them, and you have fewer cavities," Zhang said. 



"Meanwhile, we also look at other molecules correlated with health, allowing a simple strategy to directly engineer the microbes to make more of them."



The future goal is to build a full map of all these special molecules - to see what exactly your oral bacteria are up to. That could lead to smarter ways of managing oral health, with engineered probiotics doing most of the work. But for now, brushing still matters.



"The best way you can remove the <a href="https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/ijodh/international-journal-of-oral-and-dental-health-ijodh-7-127.php?jid=ijodh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biofilm</a> on your teeth is to brush," Yao said. "We believe that there's actually a better way of disrupting that biofilm, but we're just beginning to understand what the complexity is within the mouth."



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2504492122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Beyond brushing teeth: Can our mouth clean itself?

Most of us dread brushing and flossing. But what if...

Most of what we learn about ancient animals comes from hard parts - shells, bones, and sometimes soft tissues that have been transformed into fossils over eons. How does this happen? The key lies in the chemistry around a carcass. 



As microbes move in, they use up oxygen and flip the local conditions from oxidizing to reducing within minutes to days. Those shifts decide whether tissues vanish or get copied by minerals and locked into rock.



A recent experiment asked a clear question with big consequences: if different animals decay in the same water, will they create the same chemistry above their bodies, or does each one build its own microenvironment? 



The answers derived from a study led by the University of Lausanne (<a href="https://www.unil.ch/unil/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNIL</a>) points straight to why some animals transform into fossils when they die, but most simply return to dust.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-animals-become-fossils">How animals become fossils</h2>



Researchers placed four aquatic animals - a shrimp, a snail, a starfish, and a planarian flatworm - into sealed jars of gently oxygenated water. For seven days, they measured <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/oxidation-reduction-potential" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oxidation-reduction potential</a> (ORP) just above each carcass. 



ORP, recorded in millivolts, indicates whether conditions favor oxidation (positive values) or reduction (negative values). 



As microbes burn oxygen and switch to other electron acceptors, ORP drops. Each animal drove a different chemical path. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrimp-crisis-alarming-virus-threatens-global-seafood-supplies/">Shrimp</a> pulled ORP down the fastest and deepest, sometimes reaching values linked to methanogenesis. Snails also pushed conditions into strongly reducing ranges, but not as rapidly or as far. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-thats-melting-starfish-alive-has-finally-been-identified/">Starfish</a> moved more slowly and ended near the snails after a week. Planarians barely shifted from the starting conditions, much like control jars without an animal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-minerals-in-the-ground">Minerals in the ground</h2>



Different redox windows favor different preservation routes. In oxygen-rich water, soft tissues usually break down quickly. 



Under reducing conditions, minerals can grow on or within tissues and capture detail before it’s lost. When sulfate reduces to sulfide and iron is present, iron sulfide (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fools-gold-may-be-a-valuable-source-of-lithium/">pyrite</a>) can form, producing pyritization. 



In other reducing ranges, phosphorus released during decay can bind into calcium phosphate, producing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatization" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phosphatization</a>.



Because shrimp and snails spent time in reducing “sweet spots,” their remains would be more likely to acquire pyrite or calcium phosphate coatings. Planarians, which stayed closer to oxygenated conditions, were less likely to mineralize that way. 



A single sediment bed can therefore hold different preservation styles side by side, driven by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-found-alive-sealed-inside-rock-after-2-billion-years/">microenvironments</a> that different carcasses create.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossils-and-animal-size">Fossils and animal size</h2>



Size helps. Larger bodies feed microbes more and draw down oxygen faster, so they reach reducing conditions sooner. But size wasn’t the whole story. 



The team normalized results by body mass and subtracted the weight of mineralized parts, such as shells, that don’t decay. Even after those corrections, the taxa did not line up the same way.



Composition mattered. Bodies richer in protein relative to lipid produced stronger ORP drops on a per-mass basis. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/apple-snails-regrow-their-eyes-and-may-help-humans-do-the-same/">Planarians</a> are small and protein-heavy with little fat, giving them a larger per-mass chemical impact than size alone would predict. 



Shrimp carry more lipid, which degrades more slowly and blunts the per-mass effect, even though a whole shrimp still drove ORP very negative due to overall size, surface area, and varied tissues.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-the-lab-into-the-real-world">From the lab into the real world</h2>



Several jars showed an ORP rebound after about five days. Conditions became less reducing. That pattern likely reflects microbial succession. 



Early colonizers use easy fuels and drain oxygen quickly. Later arrivals run different reactions that tilt the chemistry back toward less extreme values. The decay path bends as the microbial roster changes.



These trials used freshwater at room temperature in sealed, gently oxygenated jars. Natural settings vary. Salty seawater alters protein behavior while cold mud slows reactions. 



Flowing pore water can deliver new oxidants. Starfish are marine animals, and in seawater their decay chemistry can shift. 



Sediments also matter. Many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-video-footage-of-an-elusive-deep-sea-predator-pacific-sleeper-shark/">carcasses land in mud</a> that limits oxygen flow and sets up reducing pockets faster than open water.



The specific numbers will change with the setting, but the pattern holds: taxon identity and tissue chemistry steer decay chemistry under the same starting conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-it-all-means">What it all means</h2>



“This means that, in nature, two animals buried side by side could have vastly different fates as fossils, simply because of differences in size or body chemistry,” affirms Nora Corthésy, Ph.D. student at the University of Lausanne and lead author of the study. 



“One might vanish entirely, while the other could be immortalized in stone,” adds Farid Saleh, Swiss National Science Foundation (<a href="https://www.snf.ch/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SNSF)</a> Ambizione Fellow at UNIL, and senior author of the paper.



According to this study, animals such as large arthropods are more likely to be preserved than small planarians or other aquatic worms. 



“This could explain why fossil communities dating from the <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/cambrian/cambrian.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cambrian</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/ordovician-period" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ordovician</a> periods (around 500 million years ago) are dominated by arthropods,” states Corthésy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preservation-of-animal-fossils">Preservation of animal fossils</h2>



Geologists often picture redox conditions stacked vertically in sediment - from oxygenated at the top to more reducing with depth. That vertical model explains shifts in preservation with burial depth. This study adds a lateral view. 



Two carcasses lying inches apart can generate different chemical zones and end up preserved by different mineral pathways, even when the surrounding mud looks uniform. 



That helps explain mixed beds where pyritized and phosphatized fossils sit together and why some groups appear repeatedly while others fade.



The chemistry above a carcass is not one-size-fits-all. It changes with body size and, crucially, with what the body is made of. Those differences decide which minerals, if any, have time to copy soft parts before they disappear. 



That is why a shrimp and a snail, decaying close together, can leave very different signatures in stone - and why the fossil record, with all its gaps and surprises, makes more sense when you follow the chemistry.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59372-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communication</a>.



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Some animals survive millions of years in stone, but most simply vanish, now we know why

Most of what we learn about ancient animals comes from...

Honeybees can travel several miles from their hive and still make a straight line back home. Their secret isn’t scent trails or landmarks, but the way they read the sky. By detecting subtle polarization patterns in scattered sunlight, bees turn the heavens into a compass.



A new study shows how a specialized region at the top of the bee's eye sharpens this celestial map. Neighboring light sensors share information, producing a steadier signal that prioritizes reliability over fine detail.



The researchers say this built-in teamwork explains how bees keep their bearings even when clouds or obstacles break up the view. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-built-in-bee-sky-compass">A built-in bee sky compass</h2>



James Foster, a neurobiologist at the <a href="https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/">University of Konstanz</a>, and his team focused on the dorsal rim area, a narrow strip of sky-facing facets used for detecting polarized light.



Many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/very-little-is-known-about-99-of-all-insects-on-earth/">insects</a> use polarization patterns in the sky as a compass, and honeybees are a classic case. That pattern shifts with the sun across the day and stays readable even when clouds pass by.



The bee's eye is made of thousands of ommatidia that each sample a small patch of the world. A specialized dorsal rim area at the top handles the polarized sky and feeds information into the navigation system.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bee-polarization-detection-in-action">Bee polarization detection in action </h2>



Within each dorsal rim facet, a pair of UV-tuned photoreceptor cells points at different angles, which makes them sensitive to how skylight is polarized. Together, they report the orientation of the electric field, a signal bees can use for heading.



When researchers cover the dorsal rim area with paint, tethered bees lose clear orientation to a rotating polarization stimulus. That result shows how central this small eye strip is to the compass.



The new paper maps receptive field sizes and sensitivities across the eye. It finds that dorsal rim fields are much wider than those in the main retina, and that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unexpected-find-inside-the-eye-of-a-tiny-wasp-megaphragma-viggianii/">dorsal rim</a> cells are less absolutely sensitive while remaining tuned to polarization.



Earlier work proposed that corneal pore canals scatter light and widen each dorsal rim sampling zone. The new data add a second mechanism at the level of neural wiring.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bees-make-a-blur-that-helps">Bees make a blur that helps</h2>



The recordings reveal that some dorsal rim cells share signals with neighbors, a form of spatial summation that happens right in the retina. Pooling inputs makes a coarser image, but it boosts the stability of the polarization map.



That tradeoff helps when clouds or branches interrupt the view. A robust map matters more than high detail for keeping a straight course.



"But this is exactly what makes this part of the eye particularly good at detecting large-scale polarization patterns in the sky," said Foster. The effect turns a less detailed picture into a more reliable compass readout.



Evidence for cell-to-cell coupling appeared in about six dorsal rim recordings, roughly a quarter of the cases examined. Small timing differences between peaks and slight offsets in preferred polarization angles ruled out simple optical artifacts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-eye-to-compass-neurons">From eye to compass neurons</h2>



The finding fits with what is known about downstream circuits in other insects. In fruit flies, the medulla carries <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bull-ants-use-moonlight-for-nighttime-navigation/">polarization</a> signals from dorsal rim photoreceptors toward compass neurons in the central complex.



Bees likely use a similar division of labor. The dorsal rim area cleans up the signal early, and later stages compute heading and route choices.



"Cameras pointed at the sky could serve as a kind of backup compass if GPS and magnetic signals are unreliable or fail," said Foster. That idea borrows a page from an eye that solves the compass problem with simple parts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-bee-eye-responses">Mapping bee eye responses</h2>



The team recorded ultraviolet sensitive cells in 17 honeybees and 31 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bees-spread-viruses-to-bumblebees-in-the-spring/">bumblebees</a>, sampling the main retina, the marginal zone next to the dorsal rim, and the dorsal rim itself. Those measurements let them compare spatial tuning, polarization sensitivity, and response curves.



Dorsal rim fields were the widest, with mean widths near 7 degrees in honeybee and near 6 degrees in bumblebee. Main retina fields sat near 2 to 3 degrees and dropped off much more quickly away from the center.



Main retina and marginal cells were around 10 times more sensitive to light than dorsal rim cells. Even so, dorsal rim cells had steeper response slopes that help encode small changes in a bright sky without saturating.



In a subset of dorsal rim recordings, maps showed two or more islands of high sensitivity separated by low areas. 



Millisecond-level delays between islands and small shifts in preferred polarization angles pointed to shared signals from neighboring units rather than a single broad optical lobe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-s-blueprint-for-sensors">Nature’s blueprint for sensors</h2>



Pooling at the photoreceptor level smooths over the patchwork in skylight that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clouds-have-become-less-reflective-making-global-warming-worse/">clouds</a> can produce. A cleaner polarization pattern in bee's eyes leads to a steadier internal compass that ignores minor distractions above.



Engineers can copy this approach with a simple sensor aimed upward. A polarization channel could serve as a low-cost backup when radio or magnetic cues are weak or noisy. 



This strategy may help future autonomous systems keep their bearings even when signals fail.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0234" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biology Letters</a>.



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Hidden eye sensors help bees find their way home

Honeybees can travel several miles from their hive and still...

The first weekend of September offers two dazzling lunar shows, depending on where you live. Across parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, the skies will host a total lunar eclipse.&nbsp;



For more than five hours, Earth will line up perfectly between the Sun and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-is-the-black-moon-in-2025-and-why-does-it-occur/">Moon</a>, casting a deep shadow across the lunar surface.&nbsp;



During totality, which will last 82 minutes, only red light will filter through Earth’s atmosphere and reach the Moon. That’s what gives the lunar face its striking copper hue, earning the name “blood moon.”



Here in the United States, the eclipse will stay below the horizon. The wait won’t be long, though. According to <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, the next blood moon lunar eclipse that will be visible from America will occur on March 3, 2026.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-a-total-lunar-eclipse">Understanding a total lunar eclipse</h2>



A total <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/total-lunar-eclipse-will-paint-the-moon-blood-red-tomorrow/">lunar eclipse</a> happens when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the Moon’s surface. 



Instead of going completely dark, the Moon usually glows a deep red or copper color. That’s because Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters sunlight, letting only the longer, reddish wavelengths reach the Moon. 



It’s the same effect that makes sunsets look red, but in this case the Earth is creating a “sunset glow” that wraps all the way around and paints the Moon.



Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye - no special glasses are needed. They also last much longer: totality can stretch for over an hour, compared to just a few minutes for a total solar eclipse. 



Anyone on the night side of Earth can see it, which makes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/harvest-moon-2024-will-feature-a-partial-lunar-eclipse/">lunar eclipses</a> more common to experience. 



For astronomers, these events are chances to study Earth’s atmosphere, since the way light bends and colors the Moon gives clues about dust, clouds, and even volcanic ash floating around our planet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-final-full-moon-of-summer">Final full moon of summer</h2>



On Sunday, September 7, the Corn Moon will reach its peak illumination at 2:09 p.m. EDT. That moment takes place below the horizon for U.S. viewers, but the full moon will climb into the eastern sky, glowing bright and round by nightfall.



The Old Farmer’s Almanac notes that the Moon will look nearly full on both the nights before and after September 7. For sky watchers, that means an extended window to catch a glimpse.



Near the horizon, the Moon may appear golden or orange for a while, but as it rises higher, the glow will shift to a clearer white.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-it-called-the-corn-moon">Why is it called the Corn Moon?</h2>



The name Corn Moon traces back to the Algonquin tribes in the northeastern United States. 



Late summer was the time to gather their staple crops of corn, beans, pumpkins, squash, and wild rice.&nbsp;The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildlife-vehicle-collisions-surge-during-full-moon-nights/">full moon</a> served as a seasonal marker for this period of abundance and labor.



European traditions gave their own names to the September moon. Some called it the Fruit Moon, marking the ripening of orchard crops.



Others referred to it as the Barley Moon in recognition of the grain harvest. Each name reflects a calendar rooted in the cycles of planting and gathering.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-harvest-moon-is-next">The Harvest Moon is next</h2>



It’s tempting to confuse the Corn Moon with the better-known Harvest Moon, but the two aren’t the same.&nbsp;



The Harvest Moon is the full moon that falls closest to the autumn equinox. In 2025, that moment comes on October 7, which also happens to be the first supermoon of the year.



By contrast, the Corn Moon always comes in September. It marks the bridge between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/this-weekends-sturgeon-moon-marks-a-turning-point-in-summer/">summer</a> and fall, when fields in the Northern Hemisphere are still heavy with late crops, but the days are growing shorter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lunar-calendar-of-2025">The lunar calendar of 2025</h2>



This year’s lunar calendar is a busy one. September’s Corn Moon is the ninth full moon of 2025.



There will be 12 full moons in total, including three supermoons. Two of those full moons will coincide with total lunar eclipses, offering the dramatic blood moon display.



The calendar has long served as a guide for both farmers and sky watchers. Each name tells a story about the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seasonal-timing-can-change-quickly-over-short-distances/">season</a> - what’s ripening, what’s ready, and what’s just around the corner.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-seasonal-marker-in-the-sky">A seasonal marker in the sky</h2>



For the Algonquin and other Native American tribes, September’s full moon was more than a sign of the corn harvest. Some called it the Corn Maker Moon or Corn Harvest Moon.&nbsp;



These names reflected not only the practical importance of gathering food but also the deep connection between community life and the cycles of nature.&nbsp;



The moon served as both a calendar and a cultural marker, guiding traditions that tied the sky to the land.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-symbolic-meaning-of-the-corn-moon">Symbolic meaning of the Corn Moon </h2>



Beyond the fields, the Corn Moon has taken on symbolic meaning. Some traditions frame it as a time of reflection and release - a moment to let go of stagnant energy and welcome change.&nbsp;



September’s full moon is also viewed as a time to embrace growth and intuition as the seasons shift.&nbsp;



The Corn Moon returns each year as summer fades into fall. It serves as a reminder of how the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-one-side-of-the-moon-still-glows-from-within/">Moon</a> has always been more than just a light in the night sky - it’s a companion through the seasons.



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This weekend's "Corn Moon" and total lunar eclipse usher in a beautiful end to summer

The first weekend of September offers two dazzling lunar shows,...

Household energy costs do not hit everyone equally. Some families spend a much larger share of their income keeping the lights and heat on, and that strain adds up over time.



A large national analysis looked at what happens when homes install rooftop solar, and the results point to real relief. The picture is nuanced, and the numbers tell an important story.



<a href="https://emp.lbl.gov/people/sydney-forrester" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sydney P. Forrester</a> of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (<a href="https://www.lbl.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LBL</a>) led the analysis. The <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48967-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> helps separate hopeful claims from what the data actually show.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-panels-and-energy-burden">Solar panels and energy burden</h2>



The term <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/16.%20How%20high%20are%20household%20energy%20burdens_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy burden</a> refers to the share of a household’s gross income that goes to energy bills like electricity, gas, and heating fuel. 



By definition, a high burden begins above 6 percent of income, while a severe burden begins above 10 percent.



Those thresholds matter because a high or severe burden often forces tradeoffs that affect comfort, health, and stability. When energy takes too big a slice of income, it can crowd out essentials and reduce options.



Policymakers use this metric to track equity and target support to households under pressure. Clear definitions help programs focus on the people who need help most.



Cutting energy burden is not only about saving money. It is also about reducing the risk that families have to ration heat or power during unsafe conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-found">What the researchers found</h2>



The new study examined roughly 500,000 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floating-solar-panels-could-power-every-home-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. households</a> that adopted rooftop solar. It found that the median energy burden fell from 3.3 percent to 2.6 percent across adopters.



The authors put it plainly, “rooftop solar reduces energy burden across a majority of adopters during our study period from a median of 3.3% to 2.6%,” wrote Forrester. That is a national view, not a single city snapshot.



Low income and moderate income households also saw declines. Median burden dropped from 7.7 percent to 6.2 percent for low income households, and from 4.1 percent to 3.3 percent for moderate income households.



The share of low income households facing high or severe burden fell from 67 percent to 52 percent after adoption. For moderate income households, the share fell from 21 percent to 13 percent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-panel-results-differ">Solar panel results differ</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-panels-are-1000-times-more-powerful-with-new-tech-breakthrough/">Solar</a> does not play out the same way in every region. The study reports larger average reductions in the West, smaller in the Midwest and Northeast, and increases for the median household in the South due to cheaper electricity that limits bill reductions.



Income levels shape outcomes as well. When energy already costs a high share of income, even moderate bill cuts can matter a lot.



Heating fuel type also influences results. Homes that rely on propane or fuel oil have higher burdens that solar cannot fully offset because those fuels are not displaced by on site generation.



Weather, housing stock, and local tariffs round out the picture. Those details explain why two similar systems in different places can yield very different financial outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loans-leases-and-the-fine-print">Loans, leases, and the fine print</h2>



There is a difference between what the utility bill shows and what the full budget feels like. The study compared bill savings alone to net savings after including off bill costs like loan or lease payments and incentives.



On bills alone, the median customer saved about 1,987 dollars per year. After counting loans or leases, the median net savings was about 691 dollars per year.



That gap is not a trick, it reflects financing and incentive structures. It also shows why simple bill comparisons can overstate what households actually keep.



The ownership model matters. Lease customers, on average, saw slightly larger percentage point burden reductions than loan financed owners, but they tended to start with higher burdens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-household-savings-from-solar-panels">Household savings from solar panels</h2>



Solar helps many households, but it is not a magic switch. You still need to look at total costs, incentives, and how your utility credits excess generation through <a href="https://seia.org/net-metering/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">net metering</a> if it applies in your area.



Comparing quotes from vetted installers can lower upfront costs and clarify long term terms. Transparent proposals make it easier to choose a system size and financing plan that fits your usage.



If your home uses natural gas, fuel oil, or propane for heat, solar will not touch those costs directly. You might see bill relief on electricity but still face high heating expenses in winter.



Pairing solar with weatherization and efficient electric heating can change the math. Insulation, air sealing, and heat pumps lower total energy needs, which lowers burden.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-policy-and-equity-angles">Policy and equity angles</h2>



“Policymakers at the federal and state level have begun to incorporate energy burden into equity goals and program evaluations,” wrote Forrester. That framing reflects a shift toward measuring whether programs reduce strain on households.



Results in the South underline a key point. Where electricity is cheap, solar may not reduce bills enough to cover financing costs in the short term, even if burdens remain relatively low.



For households with very high burdens, solar may help but not solve the problem. Pairing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-cells-made-from-moon-dust-work-incredibly-well-providing-hope-for-lunar-colonies/">solar</a> incentives with weatherization and targeted bill assistance can bring burdens below 6 percent.



Data like these help agencies set realistic goals. They also help identify groups that need tailored support, such as households heated by fuel oil or propane.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-panels-and-the-future">Solar panels and the future</h2>



The analysis used modeled hourly household loads tied to real homes, which allows coverage of many places but adds uncertainty. That approach is standard when metered data are not available at the needed scale.



Tariff assumptions reflect 2021 conditions and may differ from more recent rate reforms in some states. Changing compensation structures for exported solar can shift household outcomes.



Income estimates came from 2021 data to match the study period. That choice captures the right year for burden calculations but can differ from income at the time of adoption.



Future studies can track newer tariffs, time of use rates, and evolving incentive designs. They can also follow households over time to see how savings hold up across years.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48967-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Solar panels save families an average of $2,000 a year, according to a new study

Household energy costs do not hit everyone equally. Some families...

Methane might not grab headlines the way carbon dioxide does, but it punches way above its weight in the climate crisis. It’s warming the planet fast - and unlike CO₂, it doesn’t stick around for centuries. 



That means cutting methane emissions now could cool things off faster than anything else on the table.



New research shows that the world’s methane emissions continue to rise steadily, and global trade accounts for nearly one-third of them. This is not good news. Worse is that the largest increases are occurring in the developing world, particularly in Asia and the Pacific. 



Those places are growing rapidly - more factories, more agriculture, more energy generation - all of which drive methane emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-making-it-worse">What's making it worse</h2>



The report tracks methane emissions across 164 countries and 120 economic sectors from 1990 to 2023. It’s the most detailed analysis of its kind. 



The findings show that while developed countries have figured out how to grow their economies and lower methane <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-new-source-of-methane-emissions-discovered-glacial-fracking-arctic/">output</a>, developing regions haven’t had the same success. Their methane emissions are climbing.



Industrial growth in these countries is booming, especially in places with limited access to cleaner technologies. That means the gains made by wealthier nations are being canceled out by rising emissions elsewhere.



“Global trade is responsible for approximately 30% of methane emissions,” noted the researchers. 



As trade patterns shift - especially between developing countries in what's called South–South trade - more emissions are coming from places that don’t yet have the infrastructure or regulation to manage them well.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-methane-emissions-are-a-big-deal">Why methane emissions are a big deal</h2>



Methane doesn’t last as long in the air as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-are-releasing-a-massive-amount-of-carbon-dioxide-into-the-air/">carbon dioxide</a>, but it’s about 80 times more powerful at trapping heat over a 20-year period. It’s also responsible for about 30% of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/limiting-global-warming-to-1-5-degrees-celsius-would-save-billions-of-lives/">global warming</a> since the industrial era began.



And it doesn’t just heat up the planet. Methane also contributes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-confirmed-as-a-major-risk-factor-for-dementia/">air pollution</a> that causes around 1 million premature deaths every year.



Because it breaks down more quickly than CO₂, slashing methane emissions could help stabilize global temperatures within years - not decades.



“Methane has a short atmospheric lifespan, which means reductions today can have an immediate impact,” said Professor Yuli Shan from the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a>, the study’s lead author. 



“As we approach <a href="https://sdg.iisd.org/events/2025-un-climate-change-conference-unfccc-cop-30/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COP30</a>, our findings underscore the need for coordinated global action, especially in developing regions where emissions are rising fastest.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-causes-methane-emissions">What causes methane emissions</h2>



Some of the biggest sources of methane are familiar: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expanding-oil-and-gas-fields-threaten-global-climate-goals/">oil and gas</a> drilling, <a href="https://clear.ucdavis.edu/explainers/why-do-cattle-produce-methane-and-what-can-we-do-about-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">livestock</a>, fertilizer production, and waste. 



But the study points out one sector in particular that needs more attention: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildlife-may-be-the-answer-to-dwindling-fertilizer-ingredient/">fertilizer</a>. Its manufacture produces a lot of methane emissions, and the demand is only growing.



There are ways to cut these emissions. The study suggests advanced leak detection in oil and gas operations, better feed for livestock to reduce emissions from digestion, and smarter waste management systems. 



The research also points to the role of consumers. Choosing to eat less red meat, for example, can reduce demand from high-emission industries.



“This study provides a roadmap for policymakers to integrate methane into national climate strategies,” said co-author Professor Klaus Hubacek from the University of Groningen. “It’s not just about where emissions occur, but why - and that requires looking at the entire supply chain.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technology-is-working">Technology is working</h2>



Despite the increase in total methane emissions, there has been an improvement. Between 1998 and 2023, the global average methane emission coefficient fell by almost 67 percent. 



In other words, it takes a great deal less methane to generate the same economic activity than it did 25 years ago.



Developed nations have demonstrated that it is possible to expand the economy while reducing methane emissions simultaneously. They’ve done it through cleaner production methods and smarter energy use. But without help, developing nations can’t easily follow that path.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bottom-line">The bottom line</h2>



The climate fight is already hard enough. Allowing methane to continue rising makes it harder. 



This new research makes one thing clear: cutting methane - especially in fast-growing regions - can have a quick and powerful effect on the planet’s temperature and public health.



Methane isn’t just an environmental concern - it’s tied to our economy, our health, and our climate future. Acting now could slow warming quickly and give the world breathing room as longer-term CO₂ strategies take hold.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63383-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Global trade is fueling a dangerous rise in methane emissions

Methane might not grab headlines the way carbon dioxide does,...

Rainfall in Asia decides harvests, fills rivers, and supports billions of people. The monsoon is not just weather; it is crucial for survival. 



Scientists once thought the main monsoon drivers were located close by in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. That picture is now incomplete. New research shows that distant North America also fuels Asia’s summer rains.



The finding changes how we see global weather. It shows that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-atmosphere-has-a-memory-that-affects-the-timing-of-monsoons/">climate</a> is not local, no matter how it feels. A hot summer in one part of the world can help shape storms and rainfall across an ocean.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-continents-for-monsoon">Testing continents for monsoon</h2>



Researchers from the University of Bristol and the <a href="https://english.cas.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a> used powerful climate models to test how continents matter. They first created a “water world” without land. Then they added continents step by step.



Most additions made only small changes. Africa pushed more rain into the Indian Ocean. Australia had little effect. Antarctica barely registered. 



But when North America entered the picture, rainfall in Asia jumped. In some areas, the boost reached nearly a quarter more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-mud-reveals-what-may-supercharge-monsoons-in-australia/">rain</a> than before.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-as-a-monsoon-driver">Heat as a monsoon driver</h2>



Why would North America matter so much? Land heats faster than oceans. In summer, North America turns into a giant heat source.



That heating lowers pressure and strengthens the high-pressure system over the North Pacific. Winds push harder toward Asia, pulling ocean moisture westward. The result is stronger monsoon rains.



This matches the Rodwell-Hoskins theory: heat in one region creates waves that ripple through the atmosphere. Those waves can strengthen or weaken storms far away. In this case, North America’s summer heat pushes more water into Asia’s skies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tibet-and-beyond">Tibet and beyond</h2>



The Tibetan Plateau remains the heavyweight in this story. Its height and heat lift huge columns of air, feeding the monsoon. But the new study shows Tibet is not alone. 



North America produces about half as much effect on East Asia’s rainfall as Tibet. And in India, the distant continent sometimes has more influence than the Tibetan Plateau.



“In the past few decades, when people talk about what <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-land-conditions-affect-the-asian-monsoon-climate/">factors</a> would drive such a strong monsoon in Asia, they always looked at the Eurasian and African continents, especially the Himalaya and Tibetan region,” said study lead author Linlin Chen from the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>.



“These are indeed large influences. But we know Earth climate is closely connected, and now we have more evidence to show precisely how.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-north-america-and-monsoon-strength">North America and monsoon strength</h2>



The researchers also tested whether the ocean played a role. They fixed sea surface temperatures in the models and looked again. The rainfall increase faded. 



Next, the team isolated the role of land. The effect came roaring back. The land itself, not the surrounding water, drives the teleconnection.



This is significant because people change land faster than seas. Farming, urban growth, and deforestation in North America could all shape monsoon strength thousands of kilometers away. The connection is real, and it carries human fingerprints.



Geological history backs up the finding. Around 100 million years ago, parts of North America lay under a shallow seaway. Asia’s monsoon was weaker then. 



When the land rose back, heating returned and rainfall grew stronger. The story of continents moving and reshaping climate is written deep in Earth’s past. The same forces still operate today, though now amplified by human activity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-deeply-connected-systems">Earth's deeply connected systems</h2>



“This study reveals how deeply connected the Earth’s climate systems are: local changes can trigger global effects. Everyone is responsible for both the local and global climate changes,” said study co-author Paul Valdes.



That responsibility is clear. The Asian monsoon feeds over a billion people. It also brings deadly floods when it swings too far. 



Knowing that summers in North America can tip the balance means climate policy cannot stay regional. What happens in one place spreads everywhere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-risks-for-monsoon-season">Future risks for monsoon season</h2>



The study also shows why models must include both oceans and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seasonal-timing-can-change-quickly-over-short-distances/">atmosphere</a> together. Past work sometimes used only atmospheric models, missing crucial feedbacks. 



By using fully coupled models, the team uncovered important connections that had remained hidden.



 As the planet warms and land use changes, the ties between continents will grow tighter. North America’s heat will not stay at home. It will ride the winds and help decide whether Asia sees bounty or disaster in the rains.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu8589" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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How North America boost Asia's monsoon season

Rainfall in Asia decides harvests, fills rivers, and supports billions...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
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On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.



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



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



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



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



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



-----



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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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

[sendtonews key="0ynNMYkMKa-2340414-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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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



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

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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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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