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>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

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...

Earth’s surface tells a complex story, shaped not only by visible forces like tectonics and erosion but also by hidden mantle processes deep beneath our feet. One of the most important yet elusive of these is the movement and transformation of carbon in the planet’s mantle.



A recent study led by researchers at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (<a href="http://english.gig.cas.cn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GIG-CAS</a>), shines new light on how subducted carbonates reshape the mantle’s chemistry and structure.



This work reveals how carbon, under extreme pressure and temperature, controls the formation of sublithospheric diamonds and influences the long-term fate of ancient continental cores called cratons.



While carbon’s surface roles - like atmospheric CO₂ levels or ocean chemistry - are widely studied, its deep <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/science-reveals-how-to-bring-gold-to-the-surface-from-earths-mantle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a> behavior remains less understood. The new research provides compelling evidence that carbonates carried into the mantle by subducted oceanic plates do not simply vanish. 



Instead, they alter the redox state of surrounding rocks, producing contrasting geological outcomes based on the mantle’s thermal regime.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mantle-temperature-and-subducted-carbon">Mantle temperature and subducted carbon </h2>



The experiments replicated conditions found at depths between 250 and 660 kilometers using carbonatite melts and peridotite rocks containing metallic iron. These setups recreated environments in which subducted carbon-rich melts encounter different mantle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-earths-mantle-shapes-surface-topography/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">settings</a>. 



In cooler, nonplume conditions, carbonatite melts gradually reduce. This process leads to the crystallization of immobile diamonds and iron-rich metallic phases, which then attach to the base of cratons. Over time, these structures add stability to the lithosphere.



In contrast, under hotter, plume-affected conditions, the melts remain mobile and act as oxidizing agents. These oxidized melts infiltrate the mantle, dissolving elements like silicon, magnesium, and iron. 



The resulting chemical transformation weakens the lithosphere and allows the ascent of silico-carbonatite melts. These in turn oxidize the surrounding mantle, promote metasomatism, and can drive large-scale geological processes like lithosphere delamination, surface uplift, and volcanism.



"The redox state of the deep mantle is a critical factor controlling how volatiles, such as carbon, cycle between Earth's surface and its interior," said Professor YU Wang, lead author of the study. 



"Our experiments show that the fate of subducted carbon is heavily influenced by mantle temperature and redox conditions, shaping continent evolution over <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-american-continent-is-dripping-away-in-giant-blobs-of-rock-earth-mantle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">geological</a> time."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mantle-carbon-effects-on-continents">Mantle carbon effects on continents</h2>



To validate their findings, researchers compared experimental mineral products to natural inclusions from diamonds found in the Amazonia (Juína) and Kaapvaal cratons. 



These two regions provide a natural laboratory for understanding deep Earth processes due to their contrasting geological features and preserved sublithospheric diamonds.



Diamonds from Juína formed in a predominantly reduced mantle, unaffected by mantle plumes. These diamonds contain inclusions like ferropericlase with magnesium numbers (Mg#) ranging from 44 to 78 and low nickel content. 



This matches the experimental results where carbonatite melts froze entirely into diamond and iron-carbon alloys under reducing conditions. These materials, once accreted to the base of the cratonic keel, created a stable and long-lived lithosphere.



In contrast, diamonds from Kaapvaal, such as those from the Jagersfontein and Monastery mines, show inclusions that reflect formation in a fully oxidized plume environment. These diamonds contain majorite garnets with high MgO and FeO but lower calcium and sodium <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mantle-heat-shaped-earths-crust-3-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contents</a>. 



The study demonstrated that under oxidized conditions, melts penetrate and metasomatize the cratonic keel, causing eventual weakening and destabilization.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-minerals-reveal-deep-carbon-conditions">Minerals reveal deep carbon conditions</h2>



Majorite and ferropericlase inclusions serve as redox fingerprints. The team’s experiments revealed distinct chemical signatures in these minerals, based on the redox conditions under which they formed. 



In reduced environments, majorites showed higher sodium and lower calcium contents with increasing pressure. This reflects the progressive incorporation of sodium into the garnet structure as carbon was locked away as diamond.



In the Kaapvaal Craton, majorite inclusions follow different trends. Here, compositions indicate strong interaction between oxidized melts and the mantle, consistent with the presence of mantle plumes. These melts retain carbon in mobile forms and lead to the redistribution of iron and other elements throughout the lithosphere.



Ferropericlase compositions also differ sharply. In the Amazonia Craton, low-Mg# ferropericlases appear to form at lower pressures under reduced conditions. 



Some are associated with native iron or cohenite, providing further evidence of their deep and reduced origin. In plume regions, ferropericlase occurs only under very high pressures and as a minor phase, showing the dominance of silicate minerals in oxidized settings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cool-mantle-protects-hot-mantle-changes">Cool mantle protects, hot mantle changes</h2>



In regions where mantle temperatures remain moderate, subducted carbonatite melts gradually freeze as they ascend. Initially, the melt reacts with metallic iron, forming oxidized zones. 



However, as it continues to move, the redox capacity of the surrounding mantle overwhelms the melt, which then freezes into diamond. This prevents widespread oxidation and results in the buildup of reduced, carbon-rich materials beneath the craton.



Plume regions behave very differently. Here, temperatures rise significantly, and the melt does not freeze immediately. Instead, it reacts with the mantle, leading to reactive melting and the generation of oxidized, silico-carbonatite melts. 



These melts migrate upward and oxidize the lithosphere, making it chemically fertile and gravitationally unstable. This instability often leads to lithosphere delamination and volcanism.



The schematic on page 7 of the study vividly contrasts these two scenarios. In the Amazonia Craton, melt is consumed and locked in place, preserving the craton. In Kaapvaal, melt infiltration reshapes the lithosphere, triggering uplift and widespread Mesozoic magmatism.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diamonds-hold-clues-to-earth-s-past">Diamonds hold clues to Earth’s past</h2>



The geological histories of Amazonia and Kaapvaal cratons reinforce the experimental findings. The Amazonia Craton remains a low-elevation, intact landmass. Its Juína diamonds formed 450 to 610 million years ago and were retained in the keel for over 300 million years. 



These diamonds show signs of having been stored deep in the lithosphere, untouched by plume activity. They represent a preserved record of early mantle processes and carbon sequestration.



In contrast, the Kaapvaal Craton has high plateaus and evidence of lithosphere removal. Diamonds here likely formed during the Mesozoic when the region sat near the edge of the Africa Large Low Shear Velocity Province (LLSVP). 



Carbonatite melts released during slab subduction interacted with mantle plumes, leading to metasomatism, delamination, and the eruption of kimberlites. These events contributed to the breakup of Gondwana and significantly altered the landscape.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-mantle-carbon-shapes-continents">Deep mantle carbon shapes continents </h2>



This study offers powerful evidence that subducted carbon does more than disappear into the depths - it determines whether continents remain stable or are reshaped by internal forces. 



The mantle’s temperature and redox state control whether carbon forms diamonds or fuels geological upheaval. By linking lab-based experiments with real-world diamond inclusions, the researchers build a clearer picture of how Earth’s deep interior operates across geological time.



Understanding these deep processes is not just academic. It sheds light on continental evolution, the dynamics of mantle convection, and the movement of carbon through Earth’s interior. 



As the study shows, carbon may be invisible underground, but its effects stretch from the deepest mantle to the highest continental peaks.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu4985" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Carbon in Earth's mantle determines if continents remain stable or shift

Earth’s surface tells a complex story, shaped not only by...

A new line of research shows that artificial-intelligence traffic cameras can cut crashes far more effectively than earlier enforcement tools. These cameras curb collisions both where they are installed and in neighboring streets.



The findings come from a collaborative project led by scholars at the <a href="https://www.lse.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London School of Economics</a>, <a href="https://www.sysu.edu.cn/sysuen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sun Yat-sen University</a>, and the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wisconsin–Madison</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-smarter-intersections">Making smarter intersections</h2>



Drawing on five years of detailed police and sensor records from a large Chinese metropolis, the investigators compared intersections upgraded with “advanced” <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-reveals-hidden-climate-extremes-in-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a> cameras. They measured these against sites left with conventional triggered cameras or no monitoring at all. 



The team modeled the spill-over effects across the broader road network to see whether accidents simply migrated to the next junction.



Advanced cameras differ from older devices in two crucial ways. First, they run machine-learning algorithms that can flag a wide spectrum of risky actions, from illegal turns to sudden lane changes, in real time.



Second, they stream continuous video rather than grabbing single frames only when a car breaks the light. That unbroken footage gives authorities the raw evidence needed to reconstruct crashes quickly and identify fault with greater confidence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cameras-prevent-damage-and-injury">Cameras prevent damage and injury</h2>



Using a staggered event-study design, the team estimated that equipping every major intersection with the smarter cameras would have averted about 1,190 crashes a year. 



The projection translates into 496 avoided injuries or deaths and roughly one million US dollars in property damage saved. These figures place the technology alongside far costlier road-engineering interventions.



Crucially, the researchers found no evidence that the reduction was offset by new accidents at nearby junctions. Earlier “red-light” systems often had this drawback, pushing reckless drivers into less monitored streets.



“Our study shows that AI-powered traffic cameras don’t just document violations - they promote safer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stuck-in-traffic-youre-more-likely-to-grab-fast-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">driving</a> behavior and significantly reduce accidents, even in nearby areas without cameras,” said lead author Zhi Cheng, a scientist at the London School of Economics.



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traffic-robot-designed-to-help-children-cross-roads-safely/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Traffic safety</a> is a persistent and complex challenge. Our findings offer evidence that carefully deployed AI technologies can create real, system-wide improvements without unintended negative consequences,” added senior author Min-Seok Pang from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-ai-changes-driving">How AI changes driving</h2>



Behind the headline gains lie three overlapping mechanisms. The automated detection effect expands the range of punishable offenses, increasing the probability that dangerous habits will draw a fine.



Real-time recording boosts enforcement credibility by making it harder to contest citations or dispute liability.



Finally, the driver learning effect arises as motorists internalize the new surveillance environment; awareness of ubiquitous, accurate monitoring nudges them toward safer behavior well beyond the camera’s immediate field of view.



By isolating those channels, the study helps regulators grasp why earlier generations of fixed traffic cameras produced mixed or fading returns. 



Systems limited to photographing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dirty-power-the-hidden-climate-cost-of-electric-vehicles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicles</a> that ran red lights could still miss speeding, tailgating, or illegal overtakes. They also captured only isolated frames, creating loopholes for legal challenges and leaving police with little context when crashes occurred. 



Machine-learning cameras close those gaps - and do so at falling cost as computing power cheapens.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smarter-laws-safter-streets">Smarter laws, safter streets</h2>



Worldwide road deaths have hovered at distressingly high levels despite advances in vehicle safety and public awareness campaigns. In the United States alone, annual fatalities exceeded 40,000 in recent years, erasing a decade of progress.



Cities hunting for scalable, budget-friendly countermeasures have begun to experiment with AI-enhanced monitoring, yet evidence has lagged behind enthusiasm. 



The new study offers the strongest real-world evidence yet that advanced cameras improve safety without simply shifting risks elsewhere.



The authors caution that technology is only one piece of the puzzle. To maximize the benefit, municipal leaders need clear legal frameworks for data privacy, streamlined processes for adjudicating violations and outreach campaigns that explain how continuous video will be used and protected. 



Well-designed warning signage and fine schedules can reinforce the deterrent effect while maintaining public trust.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-traffic-cameras-are-evolving">AI traffic cameras are evolving</h2>



Although the dataset comes from a single Chinese city, the research design can be replicated elsewhere. Many jurisdictions already keep granular crash records and, increasingly, high-resolution traffic footage.



Integrating those archives with machine-learning analytics could reveal location-specific patterns, such as peak periods for illegal left turns. It could also identify corridors where distracted driving surges and guide the selective placement of traffic cameras.



The technology is also evolving. Newer platforms pair visual feeds with radar and lidar, allowing three-dimensional tracking of vehicles, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/active-commuting-cycling-to-work-linked-to-enormous-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cyclists</a>, and pedestrians. 



When combined with edge computing, these multisensor nodes could alert drivers in real time or trigger adaptive signal timing to diffuse congestion that often precedes collisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-safer-roads-by-design">Safer roads by design</h2>



The promise of AI enforcement aligns with the “<a href="https://visionzero.global/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vision Zero</a>” movement that seeks to eliminate traffic deaths altogether. In that framework, every fatality is a system failure rather than an inevitable cost of mobility.



Advanced cameras, the authors argue, give planners a nuanced lever: they deter risky maneuvers, clarify accountability when crashes occur and gather continuous data to refine future interventions.



Alongside redesigning streets and improving public transit, ubiquitous machine vision may help cities create safer roads. The goal is to make serious injuries the exception, not the rule.



As artificial intelligence spreads from smartphones into asphalt and stoplights, it reframes the basic social contract of driving. 



The study’s message is clear: when deftly deployed, algorithms can save lives not by replacing human judgment but by making reckless choices harder and careful habits easier.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.2023.00575?journalCode=mnsc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Management Science</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

AI traffic cameras are preventing thousands of crashes each year

A new line of research shows that artificial-intelligence traffic cameras...

Flowers captivate us with their colors, but nature often hides its most remarkable stories in what we overlook. Among Hibiscus blossoms, the bullseye pattern is a bold circle of pigment near the petal base. 



It draws pollinators like bees, making it seem indispensable. Yet in a surprising twist, many Hibiscus species have evolved to lose this feature. Why would evolution erase something so useful?



New research by scientists at the Sainsbury Laboratory, <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>, explores this very question. Their findings reveal a deep genetic mystery and a powerful reminder that what benefits one part of life’s puzzle may constrain another.



Beneath the surface of every petal lies a story of choices shaped by genetics, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteraceae-is-the-worlds-most-diverse-flowering-plant-family/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a>, and the tug-of-war between function and cost.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bees-love-bold-petal-spots">Bees love bold petal spots</h2>



The iconic bullseye pattern on Hibiscus petals serves more than aesthetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-new-window-into-the-early-evolution-of-flowering-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">appeal</a>. It functions as a visual cue that guides pollinators - particularly bumblebees - toward the reproductive heart of the flower. 



These dark spots are rich in anthocyanins, a group of pigments that reflect less ultraviolet light and enhance contrast for bee vision.



“We found that bumblebees clearly prefer flowers with large, dark bullseyes, which act as visual guides directing them to the flower’s centre,” said May Yeo, first author and PhD student in Dr. Edwige Moyroud’s group. 



This preference should, in theory, drive the evolution of increasingly bold patterns across generations.



Yet researchers noticed an odd trend. Despite the pollinators' clear bias, some species like Hibiscus verdcourtii have entirely lost these markings. Others, such as H. richardsonii, show only faint, diminished patterns. That contradiction sparked the team’s investigation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-behind-the-bullseye-pattern">Genetics behind the bullseye pattern</h2>



The researchers focused on the genetic basis for these changes and uncovered a single gene, BERRY1, that largely controls the presence or absence of bullseye markings. 



When the gene is active, the plant produces enzymes that turn on pigment synthesis in the petal base. When disrupted or deleted, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-diversity-darkspots-need-urgent-attention/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flower</a> loses its bullseye.



In H. trionum, BERRY1 works normally, helping form large purple bullseyes. In H. richardsonii, though, the gene is still present but riddled with mutations, including premature stop codons and insertion sequences. 



These defects deactivate the gene, meaning it can no longer activate downstream pigment genes like DFR1. In some populations of H. verdcourtii, BERRY1 is entirely missing, and the flowers show no sign of the pattern.



“Floral traits like bullseyes do more than look pretty - they have real impacts on plant reproduction and survival,” said Dr. Edwige Moyroud. “By tracing the genetics behind these petal patterns, we’re beginning to understand how relatively simple mutations can lead to major evolutionary changes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flowers-lost-bullseyes-through-mutations">Flowers lost bullseyes through mutations </h2>



What’s striking is not just that bullseyes disappear, but how often and how similarly this has occurred. Across various Hibiscus species, evolution has repeatedly altered the same gene to yield the same outcome: loss of the bullseye. 



This process, called replicated or convergent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-plant-diversity-can-help-combat-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolution</a>, is rare at the genetic level and offers powerful insight into how biodiversity arises.



Despite different evolutionary paths, the flowers arrive at similar solutions. These independent losses of BERRY1 or its function suggest strong selective pressure for pattern reduction in some contexts. It also hints at a deeper ecological trade-off. 



The cost of keeping the bullseye must outweigh the benefit under certain conditions, or such a change would never persist.



In effect, what seems like a visual downgrade is in fact an adaptation - one that responds to forces beyond pollination alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-losing-color-may-help-protect-flowers">Losing color may help protect flowers</h2>



Why would natural selection favor this loss? The answer may lie in the biochemistry of plant pigments. 



The same molecular pathway that makes anthocyanins (for color) also makes flavonols, which shield against UV light. These two pigment classes compete for shared building blocks.



In flowers like H. richardsonii with mutated BERRY1, the block on anthocyanin production means more resources shift to flavonols. These flavonols are invisible to bees but may offer better UV protection. Field measurements from the study showed significantly higher flavonol levels in the petal bases of bullseye-less flowers.



In high-UV environments or situations with reduced pollinator reliance, selection may favor flowers that trade color for protection. The balance between attracting insects and shielding reproductive tissues becomes critical.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flower-traits-reflect-survival">Flower traits reflect survival </h2>



This floral transformation isn’t just about pigment. It reflects how environmental pressures sculpt genetic outcomes over time. For plants, the need to reproduce must align with the need to survive.



“Understanding how floral colours and patterns have evolved gives us insight into broader questions about how diversity arises in nature,” noted Yeo. “It also opens up possibilities for improving pollinator-friendly crops and supporting biodiversity in agricultural systems.”



In agriculture, where yield and pollination are crucial, this knowledge may help design better plant varieties. By modulating genes like BERRY1, scientists could encourage desirable flower traits depending on crop and climate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-witnessing-flower-evolution-firsthand">Witnessing flower evolution firsthand </h2>



This genetic drama isn’t hidden behind lab doors. It is now on full display at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where the Moyroud team is showcasing two Hibiscus species - one with a large bullseye, and one without.



The exhibit includes live imaging with a scanning electron microscope and interactive visualizations of their results. Visitors can see firsthand how flower evolution operates on both genetic and visual levels.



The team’s contribution brings the precision of science into the public eye, transforming a garden staple into a model for evolutionary biology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bullseye-loss-shows-how-flowers-evolve">Bullseye loss shows how flowers evolve</h2>



Every petal carries a message written in molecules. In Hibiscus, that message can vanish as quickly as it appears, erased by mutation, UV rays, or changing pollinator preferences. 



The loss of a bullseye might look like a step back - but it’s often a sideways step in nature’s dance of survival.



As this research reveals, biodiversity doesn’t just emerge from change - it emerges from repetition. Nature tries the same path over and over, sometimes reaching different results, sometimes the same. 



Through it all, each bloom writes a quiet record of the forces shaping life. And sometimes, that record is written in the pattern of a flower’s fading ring.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70168" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Phytologist</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Why some Hibiscus flowers lost their bullseye patterns

Flowers captivate us with their colors, but nature often hides...

Native bees need our attention. These tiny wonders pollinate flowers that we cherish, support a variety of ecosystems, and ensure plants survive for future generations.



Their presence is closely tied to our everyday <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20188434/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">well-being</a>, from the fruit on our plates to the wildflowers that decorate natural habitats.



“Every single <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-farming-and-flower-strips-improve-honey-bee-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> is a unique product of evolution, like a work of art,” noted Dr. Kit Prendergast, a pollination ecologist at <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Curtin University</a>. There is a growing focus on researchers who study native bees in Australia.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-native-bees-reflect-nature-s-diversity">Native bees reflect nature’s diversity</h2>



Some scientists discover their calling at a young age. For Dr. Prendergast, an early fascination with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bees-are-the-latest-victims-of-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">animals</a> sparked a lifelong interest in biodiversity.



She considered academic research the perfect path to protect wildlife. Her excitement only grows when describing how native bees can be key players in maintaining healthy ecosystems.



The motivation to protect native bees also comes from human connections. People sometimes think of pollinators only in terms of honey bees, but each <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26621730/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">native species</a> has different habits, special nesting needs, and distinct floral preferences.



Highlighting these differences invites more people to see the broader picture of biodiversity, from small solitary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-honey-bee-day-protecting-our-vital-pollinators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bees</a> to those that nest in timber or hollow stems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-native-bees-in-australian-ecosystems">Native bees in Australian ecosystems</h2>



Australia is often celebrated for its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bee-vision-reveals-a-hidden-world-that-we-cannot-see/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a>, yet not everyone realizes the importance out pollinator diversity. These insects help fertilize both native and cultivated plants across dry forests, grassy meadows, and coastal zones.



They interact with specific blossoms that honey bees may ignore, allowing countless wildflowers to flourish. Preserving these native pollinators can keep entire food webs in balance, which ultimately affects birds, reptiles, and even soil quality.



Some local bees can excel in pollination scenarios that honey bees struggle with. Certain plant families are more efficiently pollinated by small, solitary foragers that visit blooms in the morning or in cooler conditions.



Well-adapted native species can pick up where introduced honey bees leave off. This complementary <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/Native_Bees_on_Wildflowers_in_Western_Au.html?id=4tsuAAAACAAJ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pollination</a> helps maintain a healthy variety of flowering plants across wide areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-every-bee-species-has-a-role-in-nature">Every bee species has a role in nature</h2>



Is it worth worrying about pollinators beyond honey bees? Every species contributes to nature’s balance in one way or another.



Some native bees provide specialized services to rare plants, while others are more general and visit flowers in gardens or along city walkways. Their presence can indicate the overall health of the environment.



Bee scientists see these creatures as part of a larger puzzle, with each species representing a different piece. This variety strengthens local ecosystems, giving them a better chance to withstand climate shifts or invasive plants.



In turn, that resilience often benefits human activities like gardening, farming, and landscape restoration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-ways-to-support-bee-communities">Simple ways to support bee communities</h2>



A mix of local flowering plants is a good step for those who want to help. Gardens with diverse blooms, especially plants indigenous to a region, give native insects a reliable buffet.



Avoiding pesticides also helps, because chemical sprays may harm not just unwanted pests but also the gentle pollinators that pass through each day.



Experts advise caution about backyard honey bee hives. A hive can be fun for hobbyists, yet its inhabitants may add stress to surrounding native bees by competing for nectar and pollen.



Broadening floral resources can reduce that strain, but a thoughtful approach to hive placement helps keep things balanced.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-native-bees-and-biodiversity">Protecting native bees and biodiversity</h2>



Some of the strongest voices for native pollinators are motivated by a desire to guard Australia’s unique biodiversity. The country is known for unusual species that are found nowhere else, and wild bees are no exception.



They are cornerstones of many delicate habitats and can signal changes in local environments if their numbers dip too low. Noticing such shifts early allows for protective measures before problems spiral into larger crises.



Dr. Prendergast studies how to safeguard these important insects. Her <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bee-science/articles/10.3389/frbee.2025.1508958/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a> aims to create pollinator-friendly spaces in both urban and rural settings.



Collaboration among neighbors, councils, and farmers can lighten the load on those small pollinators that might otherwise vanish from certain spots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-saving-honey-bees-is-not-enough">Why saving honey bees is not enough</h2>



Some folks believe that honey bees are at risk worldwide. Scientists stress that managed honey bees, while facing diseases and pests, are often better supported than wild species.



In many cases, feral honey bees outcompete local pollinators for food, which can reduce diversity around flowering sites. When people assume saving honey bees alone solves pollinator troubles, they overlook the wide range of other pollinator species.



Educational outreach is also a focus for researchers. Clear messages on how backyard actions can add up to a meaningful impact often motivate families, schools, and local groups.



Simple lawn changes, garden expansions, and native hedgerows can gradually boost wild bee numbers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ongoing-research-and-hope">Ongoing research and hope</h2>



These studies encourage positive community steps. Polls in many regions show rising public interest in pollinator gardens.



Dr. Prendergast believes that proper knowledge and local action can make a lasting difference. Sometimes, just understanding that insects can share our spaces leads to fresh ideas for gardens, parks, and farms.



Support for such research is growing. Though more funding is needed, each new survey or citizen-led project helps uncover ways to protect these pollinators.



By mapping bee habitats, testing different flower mixes, and encouraging nest sites, experts hope to maintain a safe haven for the many tiny species that live among us.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uniting-people-and-pollinators">Uniting people and pollinators</h2>



Bridging gaps between science, policy, and public involvement paves the way for healthier environments. Researchers remain eager to expand local pollinator habitats, while citizen groups press for pesticide reductions and nature-friendly landscaping.



When communities come together to protect wild pollinators, they also invest in their own future.



“Once lost, can never be replaced,” said Dr. Prendergast. That warning underscores the serious risk for bee species that fall through the cracks.



Each local species matters in ways we’re still discovering. Preserving native pollinators can be a worthy mission for anyone who cares about vibrant landscapes and stable food resources.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bee-science/articles/10.3389/frbee.2025.1508958/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Bee Science</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Backyard bee hives compete with native bees for resources

Native bees need our attention. These tiny wonders pollinate flowers...

Bursts of convection sweeping eastward across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific keep time with sub-seasonal spikes in wildfires. From California to Korea, these bursts create dry, windy windows in which flames can race unchecked. 



A recent study led by Professor Young-Min Yang of <a href="https://www.jbnu.ac.kr/web/index.do" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jeonbuk National University</a> is the first to quantify how the <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/enso/what-mjo-and-why-do-we-care" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Madden–Julian Oscillation</a> (MJO) - an immense 20- to 100-day tropical wave - modulates <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-seasons-are-now-overlapping-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfire</a> activity on a planetary scale.



The international team combined 21 years of satellite fire-emission records, fire-weather indices, and re-analysis data. The study revealed that up to one-fifth of all mid-latitude wildfire events emerge during particular MJO phases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropical-storms-and-santa-ana-winds">Tropical storms and Santa Ana winds</h2>



When the oscillation’s stormy core clusters over the eastern Indian Ocean, its upper-tropospheric divergence launches a train of <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/rossby-wave.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rossby waves</a> that reaches North America and East Asia within a week. 



The ocean waves carve high-pressure ridges, lower humidity and quicken surface <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-method-developed-to-measure-the-wind/%C3%B9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">winds</a> - textbook conditions for fast-moving wildfires.



“Our findings show that strong MJO activity in the eastern Indian Ocean can trigger atmospheric <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teleconnections-climate-events-are-deeply-connected-across-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">teleconnections</a>, leading to dry and windy weather in wildfire-prone areas like Los Angeles within days to a week,” Yang said. “This provides a crucial prediction window that could improve wildfire forecasting and risk management.”



The same mechanism reverses when deep convection slides into the western Pacific. It flips moisture and wind patterns, altering fire potential. 



California, the southeastern United States, East Asia, and eastern Australia all showed alternating pulses. These pulses of enhanced and suppressed fire emissions that marched in step with the eight-phase MJO life cycle.



On average, MJO-linked fire events contributed ten to twenty percent of seasonal burn totals in these regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-breaking-fires-in-los-angeles">Record-breaking fires in Los Angeles </h2>



The study also implicates the <a href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/ao/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic Oscillation</a> (AO). A strongly positive AO phase can funnel cold, desiccating air into mid-latitude corridors, tightening the vise that the MJO sets in motion.



The interplay may help explain why Los Angeles experienced record-breaking winter wildfires in January 2025 despite less severe long-term <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fertilizer-reduces-plant-damage-caused-by-droughts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought</a>. It may also expound on why South Korea suffered its deadliest blaze on record earlier the same month.



Yang watched the flames claim twenty-eight lives in his home country. He stresses the stakes: large-scale climate modes are now colliding with a warmer, more combustible world, boosting boreal spring and summer fire activities in many tropical and mid-latitude regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oceans-can-impact-wildfires-globally">Oceans can impact wildfires globally</h2>



To probe the mechanics, the researchers filtered daily fire-emission data with a 20- to 100-day band-pass. Researchers then compared it to the <a href="https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/background/summary/fwi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canadian Fire Weather Index</a> (FWI). 



In the southern United States, East Asia and eastern Europe, correlations between MJO-day FWI anomalies and fire output soared above 0.6. During non-MJO days they barely topped 0.3.



One notable case study traced the August 2020 Complex Fire in northern California - at the time the state’s largest - to a surge in FWI that arrived as Rossby waves arced in from an active Indian Ocean MJO phase. Another study linked the deadly 2010 Russian wildfires to a similar chain of events from the Indian Ocean.



Small-scale tests confirmed the physical underpinnings. In situ atmospheric soundings showed relative-humidity drops of up to 40 percentage points and wind-speed jumps of three to five meters per second during the high-risk phases. 



According to the experts, extreme meteorological conditions, with a potential influence from the MJO through atmospheric teleconnections, drove the 2025 Los Angeles <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/santa-ana-winds-the-hidden-spark-behind-californias-fire-surge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fires</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfire-and-ocean-ai-prediction-models">Wildfire and ocean AI prediction models</h2>



Existing numerical models already predict the Madden-Julian Oscillation two to four weeks in advance. Yang’s group is weaving those forecasts into machine-learning fire models - alongside signals from the warming tropical Indian Ocean and from Siberian heat anomalies - to flag fire-weather windows up to a month ahead.



“Our ultimate goal is to develop more reliable wildfire prediction models by incorporating MJO and AO influences,” Yang said. Because people and fuel conditions still matter, the authors note that MJO teleconnections are triggers rather than sole causes. 



Yet the added lead time could let utilities pre-position crews, help agencies schedule prescribed burns, and guide communities in high-risk corridors to tighten defensible space before Santa Ana winds or East Asian föhn events ignite embers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-changing-baseline-for-the-climate">A changing baseline for the climate</h2>



Climate projections suggest the warm-pool oceans that energize the MJO will continue to expand. If, as some modeling ocean studies indicate, that expansion strengthens the oscillation’s teleconnections, the share of wildfires paced by the MJO could rise.



The study therefore urges wildfire managers to incorporate global climate dynamics into regional plans, warning that local fire weather cannot be fully understood without its tropical heartbeat.



Wildfires may ignite on the ground, but their timing is often written in the sky. By decoding the rhythm linking equatorial thunderstorms to distant dry winds, Yang and colleagues have provided a new key for living with fires on a warming planet.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00376-025-4447-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advances in Atmospheric Sciences</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Wildfires in California linked to storms in the Indian Ocean

Bursts of convection sweeping eastward across the Indian Ocean and...

Artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to tackle one of the thorniest questions in climate policy: how to lock more carbon into the land without wrecking livelihoods or ecosystems.



Researchers at <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The University of Texas at Austin</a> and <a href="https://www.cognizant.com/us/en/services/ai/ai-lab" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cognizant AI Labs</a> have trained an evolutionary AI system on 175 years of global land-use and carbon-stock data. 



The program proposes detailed, location-specific strategies that could maximize carbon storage while minimizing economic disruption.



The results feed directly into the United Nations-backed <a href="https://www.unepfi.org/insurance/psi-projects/global-resilience-project/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Resilience Project</a>, part of the broader <a href="https://aiforgood.itu.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI for Good</a> initiative.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-digital-natural-selection"><a></a>Digital natural selection</h2>



The engine behind the work is evolutionary AI, a computational analogue of biological evolution. 



The algorithm begins with a population of policy scenarios that set different incentives for agriculture, forestry, grazing, and urban expansion. It predicts how each scenario will affect carbon fluxes, food production, and habitat value.



Scenarios that strike a poor balance among those trade-offs are eliminated. The better ones “reproduce,” exchanging features and introducing random mutations. Over hundreds of generations the surviving policies become progressively better at meeting the chosen goals.



“There’s always an outcome you want to optimize for, but there’s always a cost,” said Risto Miikkulainen, a computer scientist at UT Austin who helped launch the Global Resilience Project.



Despite the many competing trade-offs, AI can identify surprising routes to achieve desirable outcomes at different cost levels, enabling leaders to strategically choose their priorities and achieve more effective results.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-century-scale-training-set"><a></a>A century-scale training set</h2>



The team drew on a newly released global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/using-more-land-agricultural-expansion-will-harm-climate-and-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">land-use</a> archive that traces cropland, pasture, forest and urban footprints back to the mid-nineteenth century. They paired it with a model that links each land-cover type and latitude to carbon sources and sinks.



After training a prediction module on those data, they attached the evolutionary prescription module that searches for improved futures. Daniel Young, a Cognizant AI Labs researcher and doctoral student at UT Austin, noted that the AI often departed from human intuition.



Although <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reforestation-cannot-offset-carbon-emissions-from-harvesting-wood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reforestation</a> emerged as a key tactic, the system rarely recommended blanket tree-planting. It discovered that converting cropland to forest produced far larger carbon gains than converting rangeland, while carrying higher food-security costs that could sometimes be offset by yield improvements elsewhere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-a-smart-balance">Identifying a smart balance</h2>



Latitude mattered too. A hectare of new forest in a wet tropical belt stored much more carbon than the same hectare at high latitude, but displacing farms in the tropics imposed steeper social risks. 



The AI therefore concentrated large interventions where they made the biggest climate difference at the lowest societal price.



“You can obviously destroy everything and plant forests, and that would help mitigate climate change,” Young said. “But we would have destroyed rare habitats and our food supply and cities. So we need to find a balance and be smart about where we make changes.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-easing-resistance-to-climate-policy">Easing resistance to climate policy</h2>



To move the research from the lab to the legislature, the team wrapped the model in an interactive interface. Decision-makers can adjust levers such as carbon-price levels or tax credits for landowners and watch projected evolutionary AI land-use mosaics shift in response. 



They can compare how different mixes of incentives change national carbon budgets or rural employment. Land-use change already accounts for nearly a quarter of anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-deforestation-crisis-how-can-we-stop-massive-forest-losses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deforestation</a>, peat drainage, and soil disturbance.



Smart redesign could turn that sector from a source into a sink. Miikkulainen believes AI-generated roadmaps will ease political resistance by showing how targeted, incremental changes can outperform sweeping but blunt mandates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-ai-for-global-problems">Evolutionary AI for global problems</h2>



The researchers view land-use as only the first of many global problems suited to evolutionary AI. 



The same framework could, in principle, design vaccination strategies for pandemics, optimize water allocation under <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/droughts-and-extreme-weather-events-are-escalating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought</a>, or map crop choices under future rainfall patterns.



Thus, such an AI framework is about augmenting human decision-making in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-choosing-battles-maximizing-gains"><a></a>Choosing battles, maximizing gains</h2>



One striking feature of the AI’s output is its emphasis on “pick-your-battle” solutions. Because costs and benefits vary sharply by region, the best global outcome is seldom achieved by uniform rules.



Instead, the algorithm pinpoints a relatively small subset of locations where changes pack a disproportionate punch. Redirecting subsidies toward those hotspots could deliver large carbon dividends without major shocks to food markets or rural economies.



Such nuance is often hard for human planners to see amid political pressure and partial data. Evolutionary AI sidesteps those blind spots by exploring thousands of policy permutations without bias, then elevating only the most balanced results to determine land-use outcomes.



Random mutations - unlikely mixes of incentives and land conversions - occasionally reveal counter-intuitive win-wins that a committee might never consider.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-ai-and-sustainability-goals">Evolutionary AI and sustainability goals</h2>



As countries race to meet the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, tools that illuminate trade-offs and surface high-leverage actions will become indispensable.



This study shows that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-model-esm3-creates-new-protein-that-simulates-500-million-years-of-biological-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a> can do more than crunch numbers; it can evolve policy blueprints that combine climate ambition with economic realism. That, the authors argue, is the kind of decision augmentation leaders need to navigate the narrow path to a carbon-neutral, food-secure, biodiversity-rich future.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-data-science/article/discovering-effective-policies-for-landuse-planning-with-neuroevolution/F4E61DC32F113C2C3555256AAD4426B3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Data Science</a>.



Image Credit: Sam Beebe



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Evolutionary AI can balance climate goals and economic progress

Artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to tackle one of the...

Dogs aren’t the only animals that seem curious about melodies. Birds sway to rhythms, cows gather near speakers, and even cats perk up when they hear familiar tunes.&nbsp;Some zoo animals have even been seen responding to background music with calmer behavior or increased play. 



From barns to living rooms to enclosures, animals across species seem to pick up on patterns and tones that affect how they feel.



Dr. Katrina Meinkoth, an assistant professor at <a href="https://go.okstate.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oklahoma State University</a>’s College of Veterinary Medicine, found that gentle music helped her own anxious dog settle down. 



She was surprised to discover that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-triggers-unique-prediction-zones-in-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">certain harmonies</a> may reduce nervous pacing and whining.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-helps-animals-stay-calm">Music helps animals stay calm</h2>



Mild background music appears to reduce sudden startles in many animals. A 2017 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28093218/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> from the <a href="https://www.gla.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Glasgow</a> revealed that dogs exposed to certain songs had lower cortisol levels and steadier heart rate variability.



The results align with older <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/ufaw/aw/2002/00000011/00000004/art00002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">findings</a> from <a href="https://www.queensu.ca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen’s University</a> in Belfast, where soft classical pieces triggered calmer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-brain-plays-our-behaviors-like-a-music-box/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behavior</a> and less barking in kenneled dogs. 



Some veterinarians suggest that these gentle tunes can mask jarring background noises.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-affects-large-and-small-animals">Music affects large and small animals</h2>



Slow tempo chords can also influence farm species. Several <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/laban.162" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a> hint that dairy cows produce more milk in calm settings with soothing melodies.



<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347550706_Effects_of_long-term_exposure_to_music_on_behaviour_immunity_and_performance_of_piglets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swine</a> show interest in audio played at moderate volumes, though fast <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-music-help-plants-grow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rhythms</a> sometimes boost their restlessness. For shelter animals, stable background tunes can lessen reactivity and help staff manage daily chores.



Small pets often respond to familiar pitches. Parrots and parakeets have been documented bobbing heads or becoming more alert when they hear <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/music-causes-similar-emotional-experiences-and-sensations-in-all-cultures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">certain tunes</a>.



Studies in laboratory settings have noted that sudden noise spikes cause birds to startle, but consistent lower-pitch chords can <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8472833/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduce fear responses</a>. This calmer state might promote better feeding patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pitch-and-tempo-matter">Pitch and tempo matter</h2>



Gorillas and elephants in captivity sometimes appear more relaxed with select <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-doesnt-just-hear-music-it-becomes-the-rhythm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music playing</a>, though researchers emphasize the importance of volume and tempo. 



A <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2008-16424-001" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> of captive elephants found fewer repetitive motions during soft classical pieces.



In zoo habitats, moderate tones can provide a distraction from loud visitors. It is still unclear how often playlists should change, since repeated exposure may lead to boredom in some species.



Some scientists propose that animals do not perceive all musical elements the way humans do. A review at the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> reported that animals appear to respond most positively to lower pitches and slower tempo.



These structural details may mirror natural vocal calls and help regulate emotional states. Pets or captive creatures under stress might settle more quickly when they hear a style of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-orangutan-day-2024-protecting-the-people-of-the-forest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music</a> that matches their hearing range.



High-volume music can agitate skittish animals. Volume spikes or heavy metal may raise tension and spark pacing or vocal outbursts.



Experts warn that continuous loud tracks might block meaningful signals animals rely on, such as subtle calls or caretaker cues. Keeping a balanced decibel level can maintain a calm backdrop.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-animals-respond-to-live-music">How animals respond to live music </h2>



<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nibu-thomas_amazing-how-music-catches-attention-and-activity-7329346628237123585-np-z?utm_medium=ios_app&amp;rcm=ACoAACAhL9IBs9K5RHCqoSxjuR2WPJHF0BZJDsM&amp;utm_source=social_share_video_v2&amp;utm_campaign=copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Several videos have surfaced</a> on social media and video platforms showing animals approaching live music performances, even when a person is physically present and playing the instrument.



In many of these clips, animals such as elephants, horses, cats, or even wild deer appear to be drawn toward musicians playing guitar, piano, violin, or flute in outdoor or barnyard settings.&nbsp;



The animals often stand still, approach slowly, or display relaxed body language, suggesting curiosity or calmness in response to the live sound. 



While anecdotal, these moments have captured widespread attention and add to growing public interest in how animals respond to music made in real time by humans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-custom-music-for-each-species">Custom music for each species </h2>



Some animals show no reaction to ordinary human songs. However, targeted “species-appropriate” music uses frequencies close to each animal’s own calls.



Researchers at the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a> observed that specially composed <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016815911500060X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cat music</a> drew more interest from felines than standard classical tunes. This concept might extend to other species with unique vocal ranges.



Gradual exposure is often best. Start with short sessions of gentle harmonies at a moderate level.



If an animal shows signs of increased rest or decreased agitation, the chosen style may be working. Watch closely for signs of stress, such as panting, freezing, or attempts to flee the area.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-calming-music-wisely">Use calming music wisely</h2>



Not every animal needs constant sound. For some, bursts of mellow <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-reveal-how-music-can-heal-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">music can soothe</a> anxious behaviors, especially in new or chaotic environments.



Farm caretakers sometimes rotate playlists to maintain novelty and keep animals engaged. Each environment has unique acoustic challenges, so small adjustments can make a big difference.



Owners can experiment with classical, reggae, or specially crafted pieces, checking for calmer posture or quieter vocalizations. Veterinary behaviorists suggest playing music while leaving the house or during events like <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/dog-scared-of-thunder/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">storms</a>.



For wild species in sanctuaries, short intervals may reduce monotony and help staff with medical or feeding routines. The immediate payoff is often fewer stress-related issues among the animals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music-moves-all-forms-of-life">Music moves all forms of life</h2>



Music will not fix every problem, but it might bring a welcome shift in many creatures’ routines. 



Domestic pets, farm animals, and exotics all show varied responses, yet the shared theme is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/classical-music-orchestrates-a-mood-lifting-dance-in-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">improved well-being</a> when the notes hit the right frequency.



The key is to remain open to each animal’s signals. A small dose of tunes and a careful eye on behavior can reveal surprising benefits.



The study is published in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28093218/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physiology &amp; Behavior</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Music reduces anxiety in dogs, cats, and most other animal species

Dogs aren’t the only animals that seem curious about melodies....

When the conversation turns to solving the climate crisis, discussions often focus on technology, global treaties, and large-scale infrastructure overhauls that are aimed at reducing carbon emissions and driving systemic change.



Yet, there’s an equally powerful driver that often slips under the radar: lifestyle. How we live, what we eat, how we travel, what we buy - these things shape a huge share of our planet’s carbon footprint.



Now, a breakthrough study reveals just how impactful our daily choices can be. By focusing on changes made by just 23.7% of the global population - the top emitters - household consumption-based emissions could be reduced by as much as 10.4 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e).



That amounts to 40.1% of the household carbon footprint across 116 countries. This level of reduction could significantly close the gap in global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-accelerating-beyond-control-as-co2-levels-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> goals, especially as we look ahead to COP30.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifestyle-changes-for-climate-action">Lifestyle changes for climate action </h2>



The international team behind this study examined 21 low-carbon lifestyle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chatgpts-carbon-footprint-is-astronomical-and-not-sustainable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">actions</a>. These are not obscure or hypothetical; they are practical changes that households can adopt without waiting for new technologies or massive reforms.



The research captures the emissions from both direct energy use and upstream supply chain effects, and offers a complete view of consumption-related emissions.



To guide these changes, the team adopted the "avoid, shift, improve" framework. 



Avoid involves absolute reduction in consumption. Shift means changing consumption patterns toward lower-carbon alternatives. Improve focuses on efficiency gains. Each type has its place in driving emission cuts, but their effectiveness varies depending on region, infrastructure, and economic status.



Adopting low-carbon lifestyles isn’t just about making ethical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-ozone-day-2024-advancing-climate-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">choices</a> - it is now a quantifiable tool for real-world reductions in emissions.



“Our study shows that adopting low-carbon lifestyles can play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change. By targeting high-emitting households, we can achieve significant carbon reductions and move closer to our global climate targets,” said Dr. Yuli Shan from the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk">University of Birmingham</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-actions-to-limit-climate-change">Small actions to limit climate change</h2>



The researchers identified which consumption actions offer the biggest carbon payoffs. At the top of the list is reducing commercial service use. This alone can account for a 10.9% drop in emissions. 



Next is shifting to a healthy vegan diet, which reduces the intake of animal-based foods, sugar, and processed products. This lifestyle change could contribute an 8.3% reduction.



Improving energy efficiency in buildings - such as implementing passive house standards - offers a 6.0% drop. Switching from private vehicles to public transport provides another 3.6% savings. 



Even repairing or sharing appliances at home, while seemingly minor, adds a further 3.0% cut. These figures are not abstract estimates; they are based on an expansive input-output model and paired with household expenditure data, which makes them both realistic and globally applicable.



"This study, a key component of my doctoral thesis, demonstrates that adopting consumption-based low-carbon strategies is essential for climate mitigation," noted Dr. Yuru Guan, the study’s first author. 



Her comment draws attention to the growing body of research that places household decisions at the center of climate action.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-mitigation-by-region">Climate change mitigation by region</h2>



One of the more intriguing aspects of this study is how the mitigation potential differs by region. Unsurprisingly, North America tops the list, with 85.4% of its population exceeding the global per-capita carbon threshold of 4.6 tons CO2e per year.



These households account for a substantial share of global emissions, but also hold the largest potential for change.



Less expected are the findings from Sub-Saharan Africa. Although the region has a lower overall footprint, countries like Mauritius, Namibia, and Chad showed surprisingly high reduction potential. In Namibia, for instance, changing food and travel behaviors could slash emissions by up to 45.6 percent.



In Mauritius, potential savings reach 52.5%. These numbers demonstrate that even lower-emitting nations have valuable roles to play, particularly when their economic structures include carbon-heavy sectors like tourism.



"This research provides valuable insights into the potential of lifestyle changes for reducing carbon footprints. It is crucial for policymakers to consider these findings and implement strategies that encourage sustainable consumption patterns," noted Professor Klaus Hubacek from the University of Groningen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-rebound-effect-is-a-hidden-risk">The rebound effect is a hidden risk</h2>



Changing lifestyles can save money. But that’s where an issue arises - how people spend the money they save. Known as the rebound effect, this phenomenon can erode the climate benefits of low-carbon choices. 



For example, if someone saves money by flying less but then spends it on home entertainment that uses more electricity, the net emissions might not decrease as much as intended.



The study simulated three different re-spending <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-conservation-day-2024-saving-species-from-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scenarios</a> to estimate how much carbon savings might be lost. In the worst-case scenario, where all saved money is spent on carbon-intensive items, 45.8% of the gains are erased. The most optimistic case still shows a 6.5% loss, meaning rebound effects are almost unavoidable, but they can be controlled.



Rebound effects are especially strong in emerging economies. As more households reach middle-income levels, saved income tends to be spent quickly on goods and services that may carry a heavy carbon cost. 



This highlights the need for guidance, nudges, and even regulation to make sure that carbon savings aren’t lost through backdoor increases in other areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-action-needs-strong-support">Climate action needs strong support</h2>



The study’s impact goes beyond the theoretical. It presents a clear call to action for governments and institutions. 



Policies that support remote work, encourage plant-based diets, and provide incentives for energy-efficient homes are already in place in some countries. Spain and Pakistan, for instance, have supported shorter work weeks and remote work to cut energy use.



Carbon pricing, eco-labeling, and investment in cycling infrastructure are additional tools in the policy toolkit. In Europe, recent energy price crises have even pushed countries to promote energy-saving behavior through national campaigns.



However, the report also cautions against one-size-fits-all strategies. What works in a high-income urban setting may not be feasible in rural or low-income contexts. 



Policymakers must consider income, access, and readiness when crafting solutions that involve behavior change. The goal should be to enable, not burden.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consumer-behavior-and-climate-action">Consumer behavior and climate action</h2>



While supply-side solutions like renewables and carbon <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-plant-diversity-can-help-combat-climate-change/">capture</a> remain crucial, this study makes the case that they are not enough. Lifestyle changes offer a faster, often cheaper way to make immediate progress while long-term technologies mature. But they need support.



The idea is not to guilt individuals but to empower those who have the most capacity to change. The study focuses on carbon-exceeding households precisely because they have the biggest footprints and the greatest ability to make a difference.



"Reducing household demand could lead to rebound effects due to re-spendings elsewhere," the authors note. This makes it all the more important to guide consumer behavior toward low-carbon alternatives and ensure that sustainable goods are accessible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lifestyle-changes-are-crucial">Lifestyle changes are crucial</h2>



With the COP30 summit approaching, this research arrives at a critical time. Climate negotiations often stall on national pledges and technological feasibility. This study reframes the conversation by highlighting what people can do - right now, in their homes, with their choices.



The evidence is clear: when supported by thoughtful policy, lifestyle changes offer massive potential for carbon reduction. They complement, rather than replace, technological solutions.



And they show that the power to reshape our planet’s future may lie as much in our kitchens, commutes, and shopping lists as in government boardrooms.



As global leaders gather to chart a new path, this research should serve as both a guide and a challenge. Change is not only possible - it’s already in our hands.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59269-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Lifestyle changes hold the key to climate action

When the conversation turns to solving the climate crisis, discussions...

Team,Of,Ants,Delivers,Red,Currant,With,Trailer,Of,Sunflower

Sneaking aboard a minivan or clinging to the bumper of a delivery truck, small creatures like ants hitch rides on cars every day for long-distance trips across continents.



Tires roll through soil, doors brush against tree limbs, and before anyone notices, a living stowaway is on its way to a brand-new zip code. 



Seeds, moth eggs, and even mosquitoes have taken advantage of this free transit, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-many-ants-live-on-earth-at-any-point-in-time-total-number-is-astounding/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ants</a> may be the most surprising passengers of all.



Those trips can reshape local nature. 



When a species lands far from its old haunts, it meets plants and animals that have never learned to handle its tricks. Some newcomers fizzle out, yet others spread fast and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/just-a-few-ants-can-change-an-entire-colonys-social-structure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shove resident species aside</a>. 



Hitchhiking turns vehicles, built for human convenience, into silent partners in a biological shuffle that plays out across parking lots and interstates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ants-invading-by-cars">Ants invading by cars</h2>



After watching ants scurry onto car tires in Taipei, entomologist Scotty Yang, an assistant professor in Virginia Tech’s <a href="https://www.ento.vt.edu/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Department of Entomology</a>, decided to document the behavior. 



Between 2017 and 2023, he logged nine species hitching rides on everyday vehicles; seven were invasive in the places where they appeared. His notes mark the first systematic look at ants using personal cars as moving vans.



Seeds have hung on for rides of well over 200 miles, and the spongy moth is infamous for planting eggs on freight containers. 



Tiger mosquitoes have been spotted inside cars cruising across Spain. Ants add another twist: whole colonies, queen included, can march up a tire and disappear under the chassis before the driver turns the key.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-citizen-science-on-wheels">Citizen science on wheels</h2>



Yang’s project leaned on social-media posts from drivers around Taiwan who snapped photos of cars suddenly coated in ants. 



“We saw social-media posts where people were devastated about finding their cars covered in ants,” Yang said. “Although we felt sorry for them, we wanted to examine whether these events had anything in common.” 



Reports poured in about ghost ants, black cocoa ants, and several other species. Observers recorded the month, the weather, the type of car, how long it had been parked, and how many insects they counted.



Patterns emerged. 



A successful trip required three conditions: the insects had to climb the vehicle’s surface, the colony needed to be in a restless foraging or nesting mood, and the chosen nook - often a wheel well - had to remain within their preferred temperature range. 



When all three boxes were ticked, a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-perform-life-saving-amputation-surgeries-on-injured-nest-mates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">family of ants</a> could roll out like seasoned travelers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-invasive-ants-on-cars-matter">Why invasive ants on cars matter</h2>



In a new neighborhood, invasive ants tangle with local species for every crumb and hiding place. Native insects often lose those fights, and the dominoes keep falling. Birds, reptiles, and small mammals that rely on the displaced insects go hungry. 



Some ants act as bodyguards for plant-sucking pests that drip sugary honeydew, allowing the pests to damage crops longer than usual.



Urban life does not escape the trouble. Large colonies can swarm kitchens, chew insulation, or short-circuit traffic lights. 



Farmers face yield losses when ants protect sap-sipping bugs in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/evolutionary-deja-vu-the-symbiotic-relationships-of-trees-and-ants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">orchards and fields</a>, while homeowners pay for repairs after surprising electrical outages. 



Each unplanned trip in a car, then, is more than an odd anecdote; it is a potential spark for ecological and economic headaches that can stretch for years.



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



Of the 100 worst invasive species on the planet, five are ants, and two of those - the red <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-red-fire-ants-have-made-their-way-to-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">imported fire ant</a> and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-you-give-caffeine-to-ants-many-interesting-things-happen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Argentine ant</a> - are already established in Virginia. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-are-not-properly-adapting-to-warming-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warmer winters</a> over the past decade have let both inch farther north. 



Yang warns that casual rides in pickup trucks and family SUVs could speed that push. Personal vehicles, once dismissed as biologically unimportant, might be handing these tough insects fresh territory one rest-area stop at a time.



Virginia’s experience serves as a cautionary note for the broader Eastern United States. If motorists keep arriving from infested zones without checking their fenders and cargo, colonies can pop up beyond their previous limits. 



Yang hopes to launch a citizen-science network similar to the Taiwanese project so residents can flag outbreaks early, long before fire ants find a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/desert-ants-use-earths-magnetic-field-for-navigation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foothold in new counties</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-check-your-car-for-ants">Check your car for ants</h2>



Drivers can cut the odds of giving ants a lift. Parking away from overgrown curbs, brushing loose soil from tires, and rinsing wheel wells after off-road jaunts help deny the insects a foothold. 



On long trips, a quick inspection during fuel stops catches roving workers before they settle in.



Communities can pitch in, too. Local extension offices may distribute identification cards, while schools host weekend “bug check” events in parking lots. 



Early warnings from sharp-eyed citizens let pest managers respond before an ant metropolis takes root. Each small action, repeated by thousands of travelers, keeps one more invasive colony from racing down the highway.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/een.13336" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecological Entomology</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Invasive ants have found a new way to spread across the globe

Sneaking aboard a minivan or clinging to the bumper of...

More than half of the average American’s daily calories come from ultra-processed food (UPF). A new score helps measure how much of this food people actually eat, even though they may be unaware of it.



A new investigation guided by Dr. Erikka Loftfield at the <a href="https://www.cancer.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Cancer Institute</a> identifies tiny molecules in blood and urine that seem to line up with how many of these ultra-processed food products a person eats.



Researchers found that certain metabolite patterns, called <a href="https://cdas.cancer.gov/approved-projects/4913/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">poly-metabolite scores</a>, could help scientists check the accuracy of self-reported <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eating-ultra-processed-foods-makes-your-muscles-weaker-and-more-fragile/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diets</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-food-score-helps-track-hidden-intake">A food score helps track hidden intake</h2>



Many people have no idea how much ultra-processed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultra-processed-foods-make-our-bodies-age-faster/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> they actually consume. Even well-intentioned eaters might miss hidden additives, processed oils, or preservatives in everyday meals.



This new testing method offers a way to cut through the confusion. It gives researchers - and potentially doctors - a snapshot of your diet without needing you to log every bite.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-complex-eating-habits">Tracking complex eating habits</h2>



Individuals might overlook many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/health-risks-of-ultra-processed-foods-revealed-in-30-year-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">items</a> that fit into ultra-processed categories. Instant noodles, sweet packaged snacks, and store-bought pastries often fly under the radar.



The research team developed an approach to measure small <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165993602012098" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chemical markers</a> in blood and urine. They used a set of older participants who had provided detailed dietary reports across 12 months.



These markers were linked to how often a person consumed ultra-processed items. They looked like a fingerprint that matched the share of daily calories coming from those foods.



Some ultra-processed items carry more salt, sugar, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-sweeteners-erythritol-directly-linked-to-heart-attacks-and-strokes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial flavors</a> than simpler choices. These features can make them attractive and shelf-stable but also raise questions about long-term health effects.



Investigators combined both diet records and lab data to improve accuracy. This kind of measurement could catch missed details when people forget what they ate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-score-reveals-true-junk-food-levels">Score reveals true junk food levels</h2>



The team created a score that reflected this chemical signature. They tested the score on volunteers in a highly controlled inpatient setting to confirm that it worked.



“The identified poly-metabolite scores could serve as objective measures of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breaking-free-from-ultra-processed-foods-the-surprising-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UPF</a> intake in large population studies to complement or reduce reliance on self-reported dietary data. 



Poly-metabolite scores should be evaluated and iteratively improved in populations with diverse diets and a wide range of UPF intake,” added Dr. Loftfield. 



The new score might reduce guesswork in nutrition studies. Each type of marker may hold clues about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breaking-free-from-ultra-processed-foods-the-surprising-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">processed ingredients</a> that might not appear in fresh or minimally processed foods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-doctors-may-check-diet-with-a-test">Doctors may check diet with a test</h2>



In the future, your doctor might learn more from a urine test than from a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultra-processed-foods-are-harmful-to-nearly-every-part-of-the-body/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food</a> diary. If these metabolite scores become widely available, clinicians could use them to flag poor dietary patterns without needing long conversations or guesswork.



This could speed up diagnosis and allow earlier interventions for diet-related issues. It also opens the door for personalized nutrition advice, built on real chemical data rather than rough estimates.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-ultra-processed-foods">Impact of ultra-processed foods</h2>



Experts continue to investigate whether these products affect weight and disease risk. Some <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(19)30248-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence</a> shows that heavy intake of such foods can coincide with weight gain.



Advanced <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39150724/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glycation compounds</a> formed in some food processes might play a role in metabolic conditions. Researchers hope that pinpointing these markers may offer new insights.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-score-exposes-what-brands-don-t-highlight">Score exposes what brands don’t highlight</h2>



Food manufacturers often use marketing to frame ultra-processed products as convenient or fortified with nutrients. 



But the presence of these chemical signatures in blood and urine paints a different picture, one that links these foods to measurable biological changes.



As researchers get closer to pinpointing how these products affect the body, companies could face growing pressure to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-tool-lets-you-check-how-processed-your-food-is-grocerydb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reformulate their offerings</a>. 



If specific ingredients or production methods are consistently tied to the presence of harmful markers, regulators might push for transparency or even restrictions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-food-score-improves-tracking">How the food score improves tracking</h2>



Many people rely on memory when telling doctors or researchers what they ate. 



This score could someday serve as a helpful backup by offering an objective way to see whether someone’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultra-processed-foods-directly-linked-cognitive-decline-stroke-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported consumption</a> lines up with their actual exposure.



Scientists expect that future research may refine these measures for broader use. More diverse samples, including younger individuals and different cultural diets, could increase the reliability of these findings. 



Taking a closer look at blood and urine has sparked new ideas about how to identify ultra-processed food intake.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-future-health-policies">Implications for future health policies</h2>



Public health agencies could eventually use these poly-metabolite scores to improve large-scale nutrition surveillance. 



Instead of relying only on self-reports or food purchase data, officials might turn to biochemical evidence to track dietary trends across regions or demographics.



Insurance companies or employers may also show interest in using these biomarkers to assess dietary risks. While this raises ethical questions, it reflects a growing push to personalize prevention strategies based on measurable health behaviors.



The study is published in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004560" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLOS Medicine</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Quick blood test can now show exactly how much ultra-processed junk food a person eats

More than half of the average American’s daily calories come...

Our food faces growing threats as chemical, biological, and physical hazards collide with shifting economic and environmental conditions. But there’s hope on the horizon - artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful ally in detecting food contamination before it reaches our plates.



Researchers at the Universities of Birmingham, Bedfordshire, and <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford</a> have reviewed 116 studies published between 2019 and 2024.



The experts argue that only a combination of real-time <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/enduring-earth-mystery-partially-solved-artificial-intelligence-nazca-geoglyphs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence</a> tools and stronger international partnerships can keep pace with this accelerating complexity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-panorama-of-modern-food-contaminants">Panorama of modern food contaminants</h2>



The review groups hazards into three broad classes. Biological contaminants include familiar culprits - bacteria such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-it-safe-to-eat-eggs-salmonella-contamination-found-in-poultry-production-chain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salmonella</a> and E. coli, as well as viruses and parasitic protozoa.



Chemical contaminants span a spectrum from pesticide residues and industrial heavy metals to naturally occurring toxins and veterinary drugs. 



Physical contaminants take the form of unwanted objects, now increasingly represented by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/contamination-crisis-microplastics-found-in-88-of-protein-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microplastics</a>, fragments of packaging, and processing debris.



According to the authors, these disparate hazards share a common characteristic: they travel quickly through a globalized, just-in-time food system that can turn a local slip into a transcontinental outbreak.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-drivers-behind-food-risks">Key drivers behind food risks</h2>



To understand why contamination episodes appear to be multiplying, the team identified six macro forces shaping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-tongue-could-revolutionize-food-safety/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food safety</a>. Demographic change tops the list as urbanization and aging populations both alter consumption patterns and stretch distribution networks.



Economic factors follow closely, with cost pressures sometimes eroding best practice in production and transport. Environmental degradation - soil depletion, water scarcity, climate-induced weather volatility - can create new pathways for contaminants to infiltrate crops and livestock.



Geopolitical instability can disrupt supply chains or weaken regulatory oversight, while shifting consumer priorities - such as demand for minimally processed or “natural” foods - may inadvertently reduce built-in safety margins.



Finally, technological advances themselves cut both ways: they allow faster detection yet also introduce novel materials and ingredients whose safety profiles are not fully known.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-warnings-for-food-contamination">AI warnings for food contamination </h2>



“Our review shows that food contamination is a borderless threat that no nation can tackle alone,” said lead author Helen Onyeaka of the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a>.



“Pairing next-generation detection technologies with stronger international partnerships will be critical to keeping harmful contaminants out of the global food supply.”



The team highlights the promise of AI-driven systems that sift sensor data, trade records, and meteorological feeds to forecast contamination hotspots days or even weeks before pathogens bloom or toxins exceed safe limits. 



Machine-learning models can continuously refine themselves as new data arrive, offering regulators dynamic dashboards instead of static compliance snapshots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gaps-in-global-oversight"><a></a>Gaps in global oversight</h2>



Despite technological gains, the authors found glaring inconsistencies in how nations define, measure and report emerging contaminants. 



While the European Union has made strides in harmonizing pesticide residue limits, global standards for microplastic fragments or mycotoxin cocktails are still patchy.



“Science-based, transparent regulation must keep pace with the accelerating complexity of the food chain,” said co-author John Krebs, the former chair of the <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK Food Standards Agency</a>. “By integrating real-time data and global cooperation, we can modernize food safety for the challenges ahead.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-food-safety-ai-algorithms">Future of food safety: AI algorithms</h2>



The paper calls for a multi-level response. International research consortia should pool surveillance data and develop shared threat vocabularies so that a novel contaminant flagged in one region can be recognized in another before exposure spreads.



Regulatory bodies need to move toward mutual recognition of safety assessments and faster pathways for updating allowable limits. Investment in cutting-edge detection platforms must be prioritized to make supply chains more transparent.



Such platforms include biosensors that change color in the presence of toxins, handheld spectroscopes that read chemical fingerprints, and AI algorithms that parse complex patterns.



Public engagement rounds out the agenda: consumers who understand the provenance of their food and the basics of proper storage and preparation become active partners in prevention rather than passive recipients of recalls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-encouraging-signs-but-uneven-uptake"><a></a>Encouraging signs but uneven uptake</h2>



Novel tools are indeed emerging. Portable Raman spectrometers can now screen fish fillets for histamine in seconds; electrochemical biosensors detect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-listeria-outbreak-linked-to-frozen-dairy-shakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Listeria</a> in soft cheeses before they leave the factory. 



Deep-learning models use satellite imagery and humidity forecasts to predict aflatoxin surges in maize fields.



Yet adoption remains fragmented, with many small and medium-sized enterprises lacking capital or technical capacity. Governments can help by offering tax incentives, subsidized training, and open-source software packages that help detect these threats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-ai-to-detect-food-contamination">Using AI to detect food contamination </h2>



The review ends on a cautiously optimistic note. The same forces that magnify risk - global trade, digital interconnection, rapid innovation - also provide the tools to mitigate it.



If nations share data rather than hoard it, and if industry embraces intelligent monitoring rather than relying solely on end-product testing, contamination events could be intercepted well before they reach supermarket shelves.



In an era when a single click can order strawberries from another continent, the authors argue, food safety must evolve into a similarly networked enterprise. 



By balancing a set of harmonized rules with real-time analytics and an informed public, the world may yet enjoy a future where meals cross borders - and generations - without carrying invisible threats.



The study is published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479725012228?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Environmental Management</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.



-----

Future of food safety: AI can detect contamination early

Our food faces growing threats as chemical, biological, and physical...

Sharks have glided through oceans for more than 450 million years, relying on skeletons made not of bone but of stiff, mineralised cartilage.



Their vertebral columns act like coiled springs, storing and releasing energy with every tail beat, even as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/offshore-wind-farms-threaten-electric-sensitive-sharks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fish</a> reach speeds of twenty miles per hour or vault clear of the water in spinning leaps.



Scientists have long known that this mechanical efficiency stems from a cleverly reinforced spine, yet only now are researchers imaging those reinforcements at the nanoscale.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mapping-cartilage-in-3d">Mapping cartilage in 3D</h2>



A team from <a href="https://www.fau.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Florida Atlantic University</a> (FAU), the <a href="https://www.desy.de/index_eng.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Electron Synchrotron</a> (DESY), and <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NOAA Fisheries</a> used synchrotron X-ray nanotomography to map the internal architecture of blacktip shark vertebrae in three dimensions.



They paired scans with mechanical tests, squeezing tiny segments while tracking how they bent and cracked. The images revealed two layers inside the mineralized cartilage: a hard outer shell (corpus calcareum) and a softer inner core (intermediale).



Both zones are packed with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/organic-molecules-collagen-discovered-in-66-million-year-old-dinosaur-bones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collagen</a> fibers infused with bioapatite, the same calcium-phosphate mineral that stiffens human bone. Yet their arrangements differ.



Porous plates of mineralized tissue are supported by thick struts, allowing the shark skeleton to resist forces from many directions. This is essential for an animal that swims continuously and bends its body thousands of times each hour.



At even higher magnification, the scientists saw needles of bioapatite aligned with the collagen strands. They also discovered helically wound fiber layers that resemble plywood on a microscopic scale. 



Under load, those helices hinder cracks from running unchecked, distributing stress through a web of stiff mineral and stretchy protein.



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



Study senior author Vivian Merk is an assistant professor of chemistry, ocean and mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering at FAU.



“Nature builds remarkably strong materials by combining minerals with biological polymers, such as collagen - a process known as biomineralization," said Merk. "This strategy allows creatures like shrimp, crustaceans, and even humans to develop tough, resilient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dead-coral-skeletons-prevent-reefs-from-recovering/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">skeletons</a>.”



“Sharks are a striking example. Their mineral-reinforced spines work like springs, flexing and storing energy as they swim. By learning how they build such tough yet adaptable skeletons, we hope to inspire the design of next-generation materials.”



Under compression, vertebrae yielded slightly on the first cycle and cracked only after a second round of stress. Even then, the fracture plane remained confined to one mineral layer, evidence that the helices and porous scaffolds localize damage rather than letting it propagate.



“After hundreds of millions of years of evolution, we can now finally see how shark cartilage works at the nanoscale - and learn from them,” said co-author Marianne Porter, an associate professor of biological sciences at FAU.



“We’re discovering how tiny mineral structures and collagen fibers come together to create a material that’s both strong and flexible, perfectly adapted for a shark’s powerful swimming. These insights could help us design better materials by following nature’s blueprint.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shark-skeletons-inspire-design">Shark skeletons inspire design</h2>



Blacktip sharks roam warm coastal waters worldwide. Their quick turns and aerial spins place punishing loads on the spine, making them ideal models for impact-resistant design. 



The layered “sharkitecture” identified in the study could guide the development of everything from lighter body armor to longer-lasting joint implants.



“This research highlights the power of interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Stella Batalama, dean of FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. “By bringing together engineers, biologists, and materials scientists, we’ve uncovered how nature builds strong yet flexible materials.”



“The layered, fiber-reinforced structure of shark cartilage offers a compelling model for high-performance, resilient design, which holds promise for developing advanced materials from medical implants to impact-resistant gear.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cartilage-wins-in-evolution">Cartilage wins in evolution</h2>



Unlike bony fish, sharks never switch to a calcium-phosphate skeleton during development. Their cartilaginous framework, reinforced by bioapatite only at strategic sites, saves weight without sacrificing stiffness.



The new nanoscale images suggest evolution achieved that balance through multiscale ordering. Collagen fibrils form bundles, which twist into helices. These helices embed in mineral plates, which then stack into porous columns that combine load-bearing strength with flexibility.



Because collagen and bioapatite are common to many vertebrates, the principles observed in sharks could be translated to human health.



Engineers might mimic the helical layering to make fracture-resistant composites, or apply the plate-and-strut motif to maximize strength while retaining lightness in aerospace parts.



Surgeons could one day use customized implants modeled on shark cartilage to promote bone integration and reduce fatigue failure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shark-tech-from-the-deep">Shark tech from the deep</h2>



The study adds to a growing inventory of marine organisms whose microstructures inspire technology, from manta-ray-inspired filters to cephalopod-inspired <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-squid-power-their-amazing-camouflage-abilities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">camouflage</a>. Shark spines now join that list, revealing how evolution transforms humble ingredients - protein and mineral - into a mechanical masterpiece.



Further research will probe other species, life stages, and environmental stresses. Mixed-phase cartilage from hammerheads or deep-sea lantern sharks may reveal different configurations tuned to unique swimming styles or pressure regimes.



Each discovery will refine the emerging field of deep-sea biomimetics, where ancient adaptations inform tomorrow’s materials. 



For engineers seeking to reconcile strength, flexibility, and damage tolerance, few tutors rival the blacktip shark. It has been perfected by 450 million years of relentless motion through saltwater and time.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.5c02004" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Nano</a>.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Shark skeletons could lead to technological innovations

Sharks have glided through oceans for more than 450 million...

<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=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.



"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-astrobiology">Implications for astrobiology</h2>



The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.



The research, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.



—–



Like what you saw and read?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a>&nbsp;for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



—–



Check us out on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth.com</a>.



—–

Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



-----

What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.



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



-----

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

[sendtonews key="3upvlAaHgO-2256633-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



---



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



---



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

[sendtonews key="X0f6OHYoI4-2310561-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

[sendtonews key="JRaP49ISmm-2357509-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



---



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



---



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



---



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

[sendtonews key="qjvhBOBnY8-2426650-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

[sendtonews key="oL4FnPTGCV-2384527-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6HyfrAJTBI-1831843-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



---



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



---



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

News coming your way