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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

A groundbreaking new study has produced the most complete evolutionary tree of birds ever assembled.



The researchers combined decades of genetic and ecological data to trace how every known bird species is connected, creating a powerful resource for understanding the history of bird evolution and offering a foundation for future research.



The study was led by Professor Emily Jane McTavish and her team at the <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a>. They worked to gather and organize data on 9,239 bird species, pulling from nearly 300 published studies released between 1990 and 2024.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-evolutionary-map-for-birds">An evolutionary map for birds</h2>



In addition to this, the data covered another 1,000 species, bringing together a vast pool of information. This effort resulted in a single, unified <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-evolution-timeline-pushed-back-20-million-years-by-baminornis-zhenghensis-discovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evolutionary tree</a> that can easily be updated and shared as more studies are published in the future.



“People love birds, and a lot of people work on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-are-declining-fastest-where-they-were-once-common/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birds</a>. People publish scientific papers about birds' evolutionary relationships all the time,” McTavish said. “We synthesized all the data to have unified information all in one place.”



The team noted that this synthesis tree has the potential to support a wide range of research projects. It can help scientists explore key questions about bird evolution, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bird-wings-have-a-surprising-effect-on-island-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>, and ecology. 



Even more importantly, the same methods used to construct this tree could be applied to other groups of animals and plants, making it a valuable tool far beyond ornithology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-bird-evolutionary-tree-is-formed">A bird evolutionary tree is formed</h2>



The idea for this massive undertaking first took shape about four years ago. Eliot Miller, who was then working at the Cornell Lab, reached out to McTavish with the proposal. At the time, McTavish had already been involved for nearly a decade with software development for the <a href="https://tree.opentreeoflife.org/opentree/argus/opentree15.1@ott93302" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open Tree of Life</a> (OpenTree) project, which is designed to map how all living species are related.



“Many dozens of bird phylogenies (studies of evolutionary histories using genetics) get published every year, yet their findings - with implications for everything from taxonomy to our understanding of ancestral characters - aren't necessarily being used for downstream research,” Miller said.



“Our project should help to close this research loop so that these studies and their findings are better incorporated into follow-up research."



McTavish noted that even though she and Miller had not worked together before, the collaboration felt natural and productive.



“Eliot is really into birds, and the lab is full of bird experts, and they also develop birding apps such as Merlin and Ebird, so that was their side of it," said McTavish. "And I've been working on this software to combine evolutionary trees, so that was my side of it."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-all-species-on-earth">Linking all species on Earth</h2>



The OpenTree project is a large-scale collaboration between evolutionary biologists and taxonomy specialists who aim to construct an accurate and comprehensive evolutionary tree. This tree seeks to describe how every named species on Earth is related to all others. 



The platform functions like a wiki, where users can upload data manually to update relationships between species.



McTavish explained that as new studies and data reshape our understanding of how species are connected, users can add this updated information to the Tree of Life. This process ensures that the tree remains as current as possible, reflecting the latest scientific insights.



Today, the Open Tree of Life includes over 2.5 million species, and its coverage is continually expanding. Advances in genome sequencing have provided a flood of new data, helping to fill in the many gaps that remain in our understanding of life’s evolutionary history.



McTavish, who works as a biologist in the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at the School of Natural Sciences, has been developing software that can automatically integrate this steady flow of data into the OpenTree. The recent synthesis of bird species adds another critical piece to the global puzzle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead-to-future-discoveries"><a></a>Looking ahead to future discoveries</h2>



The creation of this comprehensive bird evolutionary tree is more than just an academic exercise. It provides a practical, accessible framework that other scientists can use to answer new questions.



By offering a clear picture of how bird species are related, researchers can better explore patterns of adaptation, speciation, and ecological interaction across the avian world. Moreover, the methods developed through this work are not limited to birds. 



They can be applied to a wide range of other life forms, helping scientists to construct equally detailed evolutionary maps for plants, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammalian-tree-of-life-traces-evolution-of-mammals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammals</a>, insects, reptiles, and more. This opens the door to broad, cross-species research that could reveal large-scale patterns and processes shaping life on Earth.



By building tools that automatically update as new data emerges, the OpenTree project also ensures that researchers can work with the most current knowledge available. This dynamic, living map of life’s connections has the potential to reshape not only how we understand evolution, but also how we study the world’s biodiversity.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2409658122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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All birds, one tree: Complete evolutionary map reveals hidden links

A groundbreaking new study has produced the most complete evolutionary...

It is not every day that an owl sporting a vivid orange hue appears in the wild. Bird enthusiasts have been left wide-eyed by this unusual discovery, which hints at a puzzle hidden in the bird’s genetic blueprint.



<a href="https://natsci.msu.edu/news/2024-03-msu-welcome-kevin-mcgraw.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin McGraw</a>, biology professor at Michigan State University (<a href="https://msu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MSU</a>), became intrigued by this rare coloration once photos surfaced. 



He notes that many <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-living-in-cities-are-usually-more-colorful-and-less-brown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">color variations in birds</a> can be inherited through genes that affect pigment production or be caused by environmental factors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-color-that-defied-the-norm">The color that defied the norm</h2>



“I went home feeling on cloud nine because I worked so hard and put so many hours into this owl,” said wildlife photographer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/exposingnaturethroughmylens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julie Maggert</a>, who spent days patiently trying to capture a still image. 



Orange is not a shade people typically associate with the snowy owl, a bird usually clad in white with subtle dark bars.



Some scientists point to genetic quirks called mutations as possible triggers for its unexpected look. Genes involved in melanin pathways usually shape plumage color, but rare glitches can flip that script.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hints-of-an-environmental-influence">Hints of an environmental influence</h2>



“This animal got exposed probably to something unique. But I would say we can’t be too, too sure. It could have happened to mom, and mom could have passed that on to the young,” stated Kevin McGraw at the end of his observation. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/rare-orange-snowy-owl-genetic-mutation.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orange feathers raise questions</a> about toxins or pollutants in the owl’s habitat. 



Experts in avian genetics argue that stressors such as chemicals can upset normal pigment formation. These disturbances may lead to unexpected hues that stand out in stark contrast to a snowy background.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-closer-look-at-melanin-and-color-shifts">A closer look at melanin and color shifts</h2>



The orange coloration likely stems from altered production of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/pheomelanin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pheomelanin</a>, a pigment that usually creates rusty or reddish hues in birds. 



Unlike <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/eumelanin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">eumelanin</a>, which gives feathers black or brown tones, pheomelanin can become more prominent when environmental stressors disrupt the balance between pigment pathways.



According to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/112/5/395/6272461">studi</a><a href="https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/112/5/395/6272461" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">e</a><a href="https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/112/5/395/6272461">s</a> on bird pigmentation, pollutants or oxidative stress may flip genetic switches that normally suppress pheomelanin in snowy owls. When these controls fail, colors that are typically hidden can appear in full view.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-for-wildlife-fans">Significance for wildlife fans</h2>



Seeing a bird so far removed from its typical colors prompts both awe and curiosity. People wonder if this color shift impacts the owl’s camouflage or interactions with fellow owls.



“It may be a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Maggert at the end of an interview. Bird-watchers remain excited to add such a one-of-a-kind sighting to their logs.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-orange-feathers-might-cost-the-owl">What orange feathers might cost the owl</h2>



Researchers believe the owl’s bright orange coloring might do more than turn heads - it could make survival harder. 



With its natural winter-white camouflage disrupted, the bird may be more visible to predators and less effective at sneaking up on prey.



“This animal might find it harder to forage or avoid being targeted,” noted Kevin McGraw. While striking to humans, the unusual hue could come at a price in the wild.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bigger-genetic-picture">The bigger genetic picture</h2>



Researchers have long analyzed the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/all-birds-one-tree-complete-evolutionary-map-reveals-hidden-links/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genotype to phenotype</a> connection in birds to understand how coloring evolves. 



This orange snowy owl highlights how a single event - like a genetic glitch - can make plumage stray from tradition.



Observing exotic colors can also broaden our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-and-why-tropical-birds-are-so-strikingly-colorful-and-iridescent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grasp of color variation</a> in other species. Similar anomalies, such as white orcas and blue lobsters, remind us that nature often defies straightforward expectations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-bird-science">What this means for bird science</h2>



Creamsicle’s discovery is sparking new interest in studying color mutations in wild bird populations. 



Researchers now have a fresh reason to investigate how often these mutations occur and whether environmental triggers like pollution play a recurring role.



Some scientists suggest this bird might help uncover links between pigment genes and external stressors in cold-climate species. It’s a reminder that rare sightings can push science to ask better questions and dig deeper into nature’s surprises.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-birders-can-help-scientists">How birders can help scientists</h2>



Amateur photographers and bird-watchers often <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-birds-use-biofluorescence-glowing-brightly-to-attract-mates-birds-of-paradise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spot rare traits</a> before scientists do. Maggert’s dedication shows how community observations can lead to important discoveries in wildlife biology.



Researchers encourage birders to document odd sightings with clear photos, dates, and locations. These field notes, when shared responsibly, can become useful data points in long-term studies on bird health and genetics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-ahead">Looking ahead</h2>



Scientists will continue to test feathers for chemical signatures or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-cuckoo-colors-provide-evolutionary-advantages/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unusual pigment pathways</a>. They aim to confirm whether external pollutants sparked the change or if it is purely genetic.



Either way, the orange snowy owl underscores how slight genetic changes can produce big surprises. As curiosity grows, so does our desire to preserve habitats that allow such remarkable birds to thrive.



The study is published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp7710" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Photographer captures a rare snowy owl that intrigues scientists because of its genetic mutation

It is not every day that an owl sporting a...

Humans have marveled at fossils for centuries. Yet many people still wonder why some animals leave beautifully preserved remains, while others fade without a hint of their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-modern-fossils-will-be-the-most-surprising-to-future-explorers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">existence</a>.



Scientists have tackled this question head-on at the University of Lausanne (<a href="https://www.unil.ch/unil/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNIL</a>). Shortly after conducting their experiments, lead researcher Nora Corthésy emerged with fascinating <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59372-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insights</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-some-animals-become-fossils">Why some animals become fossils</h2>



Fossils are not just <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/largest-ever-marine-reptile-ichthyotitan-severnensis-discovered-by-11-year-old-girl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bones</a>. They can include muscle impressions and even traces of internal organs.



Preservation can seem chaotic because not every creature is equally likely to become part of the rock record. 



When Farid Saleh, Swiss National Science Foundation Ambizione Fellow at UNIL, and his team looked at why this happens, they found that the chemical properties within a carcass help determine if it will eventually fossilize.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals-alter-their-surroundings">Animals alter their surroundings</h2>



During decay, certain <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shell-fossils-lapworthella-fasciculata-reveal-ancient-predator-prey-battle-517-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remains</a> spark rapid changes in oxygen levels around the body. Bigger carcasses and those packed with more proteins seem to lower local oxygen supply.



“This means that, in nature, two animals buried side by side could have vastly different fates as fossils, simply because of differences in size or body chemistry,” said Corthésy. “One might vanish entirely, while the other could be immortalized in stone” noted Saleh.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decaying-animals-control-fossil-formation">Decaying animals control fossil formation</h2>



Some <a href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993Pbio...19..107B/abstract" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> have observed that proteins break down more swiftly than lipids. This quick decay can reduce oxygen around the carcass faster, shielding the body from further breakdown.



When oxygen is scarce, different bacteria thrive by using <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/24839" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alternative elements</a> for energy. This sets the stage for a chemical environment that can swap original tissues with durable minerals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-conditions-shape-what-endures">Chemical conditions shape what endures</h2>



Scientists have linked extremely low <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59372-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">redox potential</a> to the formation of minerals like pyrite or calcium phosphate, which capture fine details of once-living organisms. 



A large, protein-rich animal can slip into this state more easily, leading to a better chance of fossilization.



Smaller creatures that do not rapidly reduce oxygen might disappear completely. That difference could explain why many fossil <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-ground-dwellers-survived-the-asteroid-impact-that-killed-the-dinosaurs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deposits</a> from hundreds of millions of years ago feature arthropods more than worms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soft-tissue-chemistry-and-fossil-survival">Soft tissue chemistry and fossil survival</h2>



Fossilization isn’t just about having hard shells or bones. The chemical composition of soft tissues - especially the amount of protein - plays a big role in what gets preserved.



This shifts the focus from structure to substance. A jelly-like creature with high protein could fossilize more readily than a tougher animal low in protein, depending on how the surrounding chemistry reacts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals-leave-different-fossil-traces">Animals leave different fossil traces</h2>



Even when animals are buried in the same spot at the same time, their bodies don’t decay the same way. A shrimp and a planarian lying inches apart can leave completely different chemical signatures in the sediment.



This means some fossil beds might look biased toward certain species, not because others weren’t there, but because their remains didn’t alter the environment enough to trigger fossilization.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-for-paleontology">Why this matters for paleontology</h2>



Understanding how size and body chemistry influence fossilization changes how paleontologists interpret ancient ecosystems. It helps separate the absence of fossils due to true extinction from those missing due to poor preservation.



This distinction matters when reconstructing evolutionary history. If some animals never had a chance to fossilize, their role in the ecosystem could be underestimated or completely overlooked.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-animals-we-ll-never-know">The animals we’ll never know</h2>



Some organisms may have lived and died without leaving any physical trace behind. If their bodies decayed quickly and didn’t create the chemical conditions needed for preservation, they might have vanished entirely from the fossil record.



This means the fossil record isn’t a complete history - it’s more like a selective snapshot. Animals with soft bodies and low protein content, such as some early worms, may have existed in abundance, but we’ll likely never find their remains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-fossil-formation">Understanding fossil formation</h2>



Different climates and <a href="https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicators-salinity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">salinity</a> can affect how proteins and lipids degrade. There may be times when tiny animals end up preserved, but scientists believe that size and body composition often tip the odds in favor of bigger, protein-loaded species.



Although modern labs cannot precisely recreate ancient seabeds or swampy shorelines, today’s experiments are bringing us closer to grasping how our planet’s story is written in stone.



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



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Study reveals why some ancient animals fossilize

Humans have marveled at fossils for centuries. Yet many people...

New research suggests that certain animals have a built-in way to reduce tick populations in nature. The discovery focuses on how animals develop immunity after being bitten, possibly paving the way for advanced tick vaccines.



The research was led by Jeb Owen, an associate professor of entomology at <a href="https://wsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington State University</a>. The findings could help ranchers, wildlife managers, and families dealing with the troubles that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tick-bites-can-trigger-lifelong-red-meat-allergies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ticks</a> bring.



Disease concerns drive a lot of interest in what makes these arachnids flourish in some places and practically vanish in others.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fewer-ticks-mean-safer-animals">Fewer ticks mean safer animals </h2>



Ticks feed on blood at different life stages and can pass infections to people, pets, and livestock. Diseases such as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/about/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rocky Mountain spotted fever</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lyme disease</a> hinge on tick abundance in a given setting, which has made scientists eager to find methods that bring numbers under control.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ticks-are-hitchhiking-on-birds-to-spread-diseases-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ticks</a> can also irritate cattle and wildlife. These animals lose energy when they spend time licking, scratching, or rubbing to find relief from tick bites. 



A further complication is the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">red-meat allergy</a>, linked to certain tick species, that can trigger severe problems after eating beef or pork.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals-build-immunity-after-tick-bites">Animals build immunity after tick bites</h2>



In this study, the scientists observed that deer mice, rabbits, and cattle gained protection once they were exposed to ticks.



After a first round of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-legged-ticks-are-naturally-repelled-by-ant-pheromones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bites</a>, the immune system began identifying key compounds in tick saliva, resulting in a faster response during future bites.



The researchers noted a crucial drop in ticks that successfully fed on hosts with prior exposure. On average, 23% fewer ticks reached adulthood, and adult females produced 32% fewer larvae once a host’s defenses were active.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immunity-reduces-ticks-across-generations">Immunity reduces ticks across generations</h2>



As part of the analysis, the team used computer simulations to predict how that reduction might play out in the real world. Their model indicated that the average growth of a tick population could drop by 68% once a host community acquired resistance.



Such resistance was found in the lab even when only a single round of tick <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-bacteria-help-plants-balance-growth-and-immunity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exposure</a> had occurred. Still, major questions remain about how quickly that protection develops in nature and how long it might last if contact with ticks decreases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-animals-show-strong-tick-resistance">Some animals show strong tick resistance</h2>



Past studies focused heavily on rodents in a lab environment, but ticks in the wild latch onto many different creatures. Cattle appeared to develop strong defenses, leading some ticks to fail at feeding or reproduce less effectively.



It is not just smaller animals that benefit. Larger hosts can face blood loss and general stress from persistent tick bites, so fewer successful tick feedings may carry big advantages for farm and ranch operations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hope-for-improved-vaccines">Hope for improved vaccines</h2>



The data could give vaccine developers new ideas about how to spark these host responses in a controlled way. Scientists have worked on anti-tick shots for years, though most efforts center on single-host ticks that stay on one animal throughout their life cycle.



“Cumulatively, across the life cycle, the impacts are very large. This gives us new insight into why tick populations go up and down,” said Owen, emphasizing its broader potential.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-studies-on-immunity-triggers">Future studies on immunity triggers</h2>



Even with this encouraging news, the researchers highlight the need to learn more about the exact signals that set off resistance. Current data show that <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/resource-library-abiotic-factor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">abiotic</a> variables like temperature and humidity still play a critical role in tick survival and spread.



More studies may explore if a single bite can trigger protection or if it takes repeated exposure to trigger significant resistance. 



That knowledge might clarify how often livestock need boosting, or whether wild animals can sustain protective immunity from one tick season to the next.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animals-with-tick-resistance">Animals with tick resistance</h2>



Some experts suggest that wildlife conservation efforts could include ways to enhance natural defenses in certain species. 



It is unclear if such approaches will ever become a practical tool, but the idea has gained traction now that a range of animals seem capable of blocking ticks.



Others see potential for disease control, since fewer ticks mean fewer infection paths for people and animals. A next step might involve field trials that check how well these resistant responses stand up under unpredictable outdoor conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-basic-tick-safety-still-matters">Basic tick safety still matters</h2>



While vaccines show promise, the usual advice still holds. Personal protection measures like wearing protective clothing and checking for ticks remain central in many parts of the United States. Keeping landscapes trimmed can also help reduce tick-friendly habitats.



Farmers and wildlife managers could benefit from this natural phenomenon if they find ways to promote or enhance the defense within their herds or local animal populations. The long-term impact might hinge on variables like environment, breed differences, and tick species.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X2500024X?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases</a>.



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Animals develop natural immunity to ticks after being bitten once

New research suggests that certain animals have a built-in way...

Mammalian sperm are unusually picky. They prefer cooler environments, thriving below normal body temperature. Yet, they must navigate the female reproductive tract, which is warmer. So how do they survive and succeed?



New research from <a href="https://medicine.washu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington University</a> School of Medicine in St. Louis explains how. Sperm use the temperature difference as a signal.



 When they enter the warmer female reproductive tract, they switch behavior. They move from calm, forward swimming to a vigorous, whip-like thrash. This change helps them pierce the egg for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-current-fertility-rate-isnt-enough-for-human-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fertilization</a>.



This discovery sheds light on male fertility. It also opens new directions for contraception.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-flips-a-sperm-switch">Heat flips a sperm switch</h2>



All mammals carry a sperm-surface protein called CatSper. It regulates ion entry, powering the tail’s strong motions. Scientists found that temperatures above 38°C (100.4°F) activate this protein.



“That hyperactive state in sperm is key for successful fertilization, and no one knew exactly how temperature triggers it,” said Polina Lishko, PhD, professor of cell biology and physiology at WashU Medicine. 



“Our work has identified a temperature-controlled switch in sperm that triggers these increased movements precisely when they are needed during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-fertility-rates-are-quickly-declining-and-little-is-being-done-about-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fertilization</a>.”



Before this study, CatSper was thought to respond only to pH and progesterone. But most mammalian sperm ignore progesterone. Temperature turns out to be the real switch.



This change explains why testicles hang outside the body. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/resveratrol-may-boost-female-fertility-naturally/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evolution</a> keeps them cool so sperm remain inactive until they reach warmer territory - then, they activate at just the right moment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mammals-evolved-to-keep-sperm-cool">Mammals evolved to keep sperm cool</h2>



Humans aren't the only species with clever cooling tricks. Dolphins pass blood through their dorsal fins to cool it before it reaches their testes. Elephants do the same through their ears. These adaptations protect the sperm’s sensitivity.



Birds, which lack CatSper, don’t need this. Their sperm do not rely on the same activation signal. This protein, and its temperature-based switch, is unique to mammals.



Using advanced tools, the researchers watched electric charges shift inside individual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/poor-semen-quality-signifies-more-than-just-fertility-problems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sperm</a>. When exposed to higher temperatures, CatSper lit up. This marked the start of vigorous movement - just in time for fertilization.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-heat-to-make-sperm-hyperactive">Using heat to make sperm hyperactive </h2>



CatSper’s exclusive presence in sperm makes it an ideal drug target. Previous attempts to block it didn’t work well. But Lishko suggests a twist: instead of blocking it, activate it too early.



“Instead of creating inhibitors, it might be possible to activate CatSper with temperature thus, prematurely switching on this channel to drain the sperm of energy, so that by the time the sperm cell is ready to do its job and enter the egg cell, it is powerless,” said Lishko.



If successful, this method could prevent fertilization without affecting the rest of the body. It may also help men struggling with infertility by ensuring proper sperm activation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ovarian-changes-reduce-fertility">Ovarian changes reduce fertility </h2>



While sperm need temperature to activate, the female reproductive system faces a different aging problem. 



The researchers examined 62 human ovaries from donors aged 20 to 77. Using advanced gene-mapping tools, they found that different ovarian regions age at different rates.



The ovarian cortex, which houses immature eggs, showed signs of decline after age 40. The follicular niche - the support system for eggs - starts breaking down. In the medulla, immune activity ramps up by age 30. These changes reduce fertility well before menopause.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-egg-support-in-aging-ovaries">Egg support in aging ovaries</h2>



Granulosa and stromal cells showed the most dramatic aging. Fibroblasts, the builders of connective tissue, multiply in aging ovaries. They deposit fibrotic proteins that stiffen the ovarian tissue.



One key factor behind this fibrosis is reduced TGF-beta signaling. This pathway helps regulate repair and inflammation. Its loss leads to unchecked buildup of scar-like tissue in the ovarian cortex.



Over time, this damages the egg’s environment, even if some eggs remain. Fertility fades not just because of egg loss, but because the surrounding support system collapses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-fertility-treatments">Future fertility treatments </h2>



These studies together offer a broader view of fertility. In men, it’s about activation - timing sperm behavior using heat. In women, it’s about preservation - protecting the ovarian environment from early decline.



New therapies might target these weak points. In men, premature CatSper activation could offer safe birth control. In women, boosting TGF-beta or controlling fibrosis might preserve fertility longer.



Understanding both perspectives - activation and aging - could help design next-generation fertility treatments that support both partners in reproduction.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58824-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Sperm have a heat-activated switch that may be key to fertility

Mammalian sperm are unusually picky. They prefer cooler environments, thriving...

Mongolia’s Gobi Desert has long been a treasure trove for dinosaur fossil hunters. But every so often, it reveals a smaller, subtler wonder that shifts how we understand ancient life.



A recent study has revealed&nbsp;Ravjaa ishiii, a new mammal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mammals-ground-dwellers-survived-the-asteroid-impact-that-killed-the-dinosaurs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> from the Late Cretaceous. Unearthed in the Bayanshiree Formation of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, this discovery expands our view of early mammalian life inland from ancient coastlines.



Named in honor of Dulduityn Danzanravjaa, a revered 19th-century Buddhist monk, and Kenichi Ishii, the former director of the Hayashibara Museum of Natural Sciences, this mouse-sized mammal belongs to the extinct family Zhelestidae. 



The study, which is published in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, was a collaboration between researchers from Japanese and Mongolian institutions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-is-from-a-new-genus">Fossil is from a new genus</h2>



During a 2019 expedition, researchers uncovered a one-centimeter partial jaw in a fluvial sandstone layer. 



This zone, which is rich in small vertebrate remains, had previously yielded only two fragmentary <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/where-did-dinosaurs-come-from-missing-fossils-hold-the-secret/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mammal</a> specimens. The jaw - catalogued as MPC-M 100s/001 - showed signs of zhelestid traits, but with unique twists.



The molars were unusually tall, and the mandible had structural features that are not seen in other zhelestids. These differences warranted the naming of a new genus and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-extinction-theories-are-challenged-by-new-research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a>.



Its presence in inland Mongolia marks a significant shift in our understanding of zhelestid distribution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tooth-structure-hints-at-fruit-based-diet-nbsp">Tooth structure hints at fruit-based diet&nbsp;</h2>



The mammal jaw’s dental features suggest that Ravjaa ishiii had a robust molar structure fit for grinding seeds and fruit. 



The new specimen's molar morphology, in particular, would support a frugivorous or omnivorous diet. Compared to other therian mammals of the period - that are mostly insectivores - Ravjaa ishiii shows a more herbivorous tendency. 



This aligns with the timing of the angiosperm expansion during the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution (KTR). These flowering plants dramatically reshaped ecosystems because they provided new food sources that animals could exploit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fossil-features-show-it-s-a-distant-cousin">Fossil features show it’s a distant cousin</h2>



A detailed phylogenetic analysis placed Ravjaa ishiii as the sister taxon to the Zhelestinae, a subclade within Zhelestidae. 



It stands apart because it lacks certain skeletal features, such as the labial mandibular foramen, and it exhibits uniquely large molars relative to its jaw height.



This makes Ravjaa ishiii not just the first zhelestid found in Mongolia, but one of the most anatomically distinct. Its molar-to-jaw size ratio is the highest known in the group.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-mammal-jaw-of-its-kind">First mammal jaw of its kind</h2>



Mongolia’s Upper Cretaceous formations, especially Djadokhta and Baruungoyot, have long been known for their rich deposits of mammal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dinosaur-fossils-reveal-hollow-bones-just-like-modern-birds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossils</a>.



However, these aeolian (wind-deposited) sites mostly lack zhelestids. Their dominance by multituberculates (another herbivorous group) suggested a different ecological makeup.



The Bayanshiree Formation, with its fluvial (river-deposited) nature, tells a different story. The increased water availability may have allowed zhelestids to thrive. Notably, no multituberculates have been found here, which hints at reduced competition.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-plant-based-diet">Signs of plant-based diet</h2>



This find may support the idea that zhelestids preferred humid conditions and possibly competed with multituberculates. Their dental adaptations reflect a dietary overlap with multituberculates, which were also mostly herbivores.



Their absence from more arid formations and presence in river-influenced zones strengthens this environmental preference hypothesis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mammal-jaw-offers-a-glimpse-into-the-past">Mammal jaw offers a glimpse into the past</h2>



"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the publication process took longer than expected, but we were finally able to establish the scientific importance of this specimen," said Tsukasa Okoshi, lead author from <a href="https://www.ous.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Okayama University of Science</a>.



"We hope this research will serve as a starting point for further taxonomic studies of other small vertebrate fossils from the same site and era, and will ultimately help uncover the rich biodiversity - including dinosaurs - that once inhabited the Gobi Desert during the age of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-americas-oldest-dinosaur-is-completely-rewriting-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dinosaurs</a>," added Okoshi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mammal-jaw-changes-dinosaur-era-story">Mammal jaw changes dinosaur-era story</h2>



"Finding such a tiny fossil in the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert feels like a gift from the Gobi Desert. It's nothing short of miraculous," noted co-author of the study, Professor Mototaka Saneyoshi.



The discovery of&nbsp;Ravjaa ishiii&nbsp;does more than add a name to a list. It opens new directions in understanding mammalian life during a time of enormous change. The Gobi Desert, which was once a river-fed plain, is still revealing its ancient secrets - one tiny jaw at a time.



This find challenges long-held assumptions about mammalian habitats in the Late Cretaceous. It also highlights the importance of even the smallest fossils in piecing together Earth’s prehistoric ecosystems.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app012132024.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acta Palaeontologica Polonica</a>.



Image Credit: Kohei Futaka.



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Jaw fossil reveals fruit-eating mammal from the dinosaur age

Mongolia’s Gobi Desert has long been a treasure trove for...

The Milky Way was the last thing a scientist expected to think about during a museum visit with his children. But when his daughters became fascinated by an image of a woman arched across the sky, their curiosity sparked an unexpected journey.



The children’s questions about the story led Dr. Or Graur deep into ancient Egyptian mythology - and possibly to a new understanding of how the Milky Way was portrayed in ancient art.



The research comes from the <a href="https://www.port.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Portsmouth</a>, where Dr. Graur's team explored how the Milky Way might have been represented by the ancient Egyptians.



The focus was on the sky-goddess Nut, a figure commonly found on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scent-of-eternity-experts-recreate-the-fragrance-of-egyptian-mummification/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Egyptian coffins</a>, and her connection to stars, the sun, and maybe even our galaxy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nut-goddess-of-the-sky">Nut: Goddess of the sky</h2>



In ancient Egyptian culture, many <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/sun-gods/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gods</a> and goddesses are tied to celestial bodies. Nut (pronounced “Noot”) is one of the most important. She represents the sky and is often painted as a naked, arched woman. 



Sometimes Nut is covered with stars or marked by sun disks, showing her role in the solar cycle. In mythology, Nut swallows the sun at night and gives birth to it again at dawn.



Her protective posture - arching over the Earth god Geb - is a symbol of how the sky shelters the world. On hundreds of ancient coffins, dating back as far as 5,000 years, Nut appears in this iconic pose. But not all images are the same.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-did-egyptians-paint-the-milky-way">Did Egyptians paint the Milky Way?</h2>



One coffin, belonging to Nesitaudjatakhet, a chantress of Amun-Re who lived around 3,000 years ago, stands out. 



On it, Nut’s body is crossed by a bold, wavy black line. It stretches from her feet to her hands, with stars spread evenly above and below. This unusual feature caught the scientist’s attention.



"I think that the undulating curve represents the Milky Way and could be a representation of the Great Rift - the dark band of dust that cuts through the Milky Way's bright band of diffused light. Comparing this depiction with a photograph of the Milky Way shows the stark similarity," explained Dr. Graur, professor of astrophysics at the University of Portsmouth.



This curved design isn’t isolated to one coffin. Similar lines can be seen in several other tombs.



"Similar undulating curves appear in four tombs in the Valley of the Kings. In the tomb of Ramesses VI, for example, the ceiling of the burial chamber is split between the Book of the Day and the Book of the Night," noted Dr. Graur. 



"Both include arched figures of Nut displayed back-to-back and separated by thick, golden undulating curves that issue from the base of Nut's head and travel above her back all the way to her rear."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nut-is-not-the-milky-way">Nut is not the Milky Way</h2>



Despite the visual similarity, Dr. Graur doesn’t believe Nut is a direct stand-in for the Milky Way. The curve is rare in Egyptian <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/visual-art-evokes-many-feelings-and-emotions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">art</a>, and that, he believes, is significant.



"I did not see a similar undulating curve in any of the other cosmological representations of Nut and it is my view that the rarity of this curve reinforces the conclusion I reached in a study of ancient texts last year, which is that although there is a connection between Nut and the Milky Way, the two are not one and the same," explained Dr. Graur.



"Nut is not a representation of the Milky Way. Instead, the Milky Way, along with the sun and the stars, is one more celestial phenomenon that can decorate Nut's body in her role as the sky."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-visualizing-the-sky-goddess">Visualizing the sky goddess</h2>



In a previous study, published in April 2024, Dr. Graur examined ancient texts like the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/egypts-pyramids-were-built-along-a-buried-branch-of-the-nile-river/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pyramid</a> Texts, the Coffin Texts, and the Book of Nut. He compared them with simulations of the night sky to argue that the Milky Way might have drawn attention to Nut’s role in the heavens.



According to this view, the galaxy’s arc might have highlighted Nut’s arms during the winter and traced her spine during the summer. But after studying more visual depictions, the picture began to change.



"The texts, on their own, suggested one way to think about the link between Nut and the Milky Way. Analyzing her visual depictions on coffins and tomb murals added a new dimension that, quite literally, painted a different picture."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-egyptians-depiction-of-the-milky-way">Egyptians' depiction of the Milky Way </h2>



The work is part of a larger project studying the mythology of the Milky Way across cultures. And it all began with a family outing.



"I chanced upon the sky-goddess Nut when I was writing a book on galaxies and looking into the mythology of the Milky Way. My interest was piqued after a visit to a museum with my daughters, where they were enchanted by the image of an arched woman and kept asking to hear stories about her," said Dr. Graur.



What started as a curious moment with children turned into a new way of thinking about how people once looked at the night sky. 



For the ancient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mystery-how-ancient-egyptians-built-pyramids-djoser-may-be-solved/">Egyptians</a>, it seems the Milky Way may have been more than just a band of light - it was another stroke in the sky goddess's painted body, a bridge between myth and stars.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciengine.com/JAHH/doi/10.3724/SP.J.140-2807.2025.01.06" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage</a>.



Image Credit: E. A. Wallis Budge, The Gods of the Egyptians, Vol. 2 (Methuen &amp; Co., 1904)



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Ancient Egyptians may have seen their goddess in the Milky Way

The Milky Way was the last thing a scientist expected...

Urban green spaces do much more than beautify cities. They shape air quality, cool heat-trapped streets, absorb floodwaters, and provide comfort to stressed populations. 



Recent work by researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) demonstrates how diverse tree populations and green infrastructure directly affect urban resilience and human well-being.



Through the FutureBioCity and GrüneLunge (Green Lung) projects, KIT scientists show that cities need not only more green - but smarter, more diverse <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-trees-might-be-misleading-us-about-climate-change-impact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">green</a>. The researchers focused on modeling green infrastructure in Karlsruhe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parks-with-many-tree-types">Parks with many tree types</h2>



The FutureBioCity project explored what makes public parks appealing. "We wanted to understand how people choose public parks, and what role the structure and composition of urban and peri-urban forests play in this choice,” said Dr. Somidh Saha, lead researcher at <a href="https://www.kit.edu/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KIT</a>.



His team blended ecological fieldwork with social surveys. Most people said they felt better in parks where they perceived a high diversity of tree species. 



“That shows that future parks should be designed to be as diverse and natural as possible so they appeal to people,” said Dr. Saha.



Although the data doesn't yet confirm whether diversity itself improves mental health, the strong preference for variety points to a clear design principle for future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-tree-layout-influences-human-health-and-mortality-rates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urban planning</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-trees-reduce-heat-and-floods">Urban trees reduce heat and floods</h2>



Green spaces do more than lift moods - they help cities manage climate risks. Concrete-heavy districts trap heat and repel rainwater, creating urban heat islands and flash floods. 



KIT’s GrüneLunge project modeled how trees and bioswales (vegetated trenches that absorb water) could reduce these effects. The team ran five-year simulations in 27 districts of Karlsruhe using the i-Tree HydroPlus model. 



The results showed that increasing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/city-trees-absorb-much-more-carbon-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree</a> cover by 30% and routing runoff into bioswales led to dramatic improvements: a 64.5% drop in hours of extreme heat and a 58% reduction in water runoff. These effects were strongest in districts with the least existing green space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soil-moisture-changes-tree-performance">Soil moisture changes tree performance </h2>



Cooling and drainage benefits vary by soil condition. Dry soils help urban trees absorb more water, reducing flood risk. 



Wet soils, however, enhance cooling via evapotranspiration - especially during heatwaves. This reveals a trade-off in how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planting-trees-in-the-wrong-place-can-make-cities-hotter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">green</a> infrastructure should be deployed: soil moisture drives different outcomes.



Another important finding: trees offer major nighttime cooling benefits. Tree canopies reduced surface heat buildup during the day, cutting nighttime temperatures by up to 5.5 °C (9.9 °F) between midnight and dawn.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prioritizing-vulnerable-communities">Prioritizing vulnerable communities </h2>



Some districts in Karlsruhe, like Palmbach, saw big gains from greening due to low starting tree cover. Others, like Innenstadt, still benefited - especially when bioswales were added.



The experts also recommend prioritizing older populations and vulnerable communities in climate planning. Linking tree planting with demographic data helps make cities safer and fairer.



But there's a caveat: tree survival depends on water. During drought, urban trees can't cool the air if they don’t have enough moisture. This makes irrigation planning crucial for long-term success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-supports-healthy-aging">Nature supports healthy aging</h2>



While these urban studies focus on physical infrastructure, they tie into broader themes in aging science. A separate review on gut aging explains how weakened gut barriers and reduced microbial diversity drive systemic inflammation. This “inflammaging” leads to cognitive decline, frailty, and disease.



Green space access and microbiome health may connect in unexpected ways. Time in biodiverse environments may help expose people to microbes that regulate immune health. Moreover, interventions like fiber-rich diets, probiotics, and polyphenols can also support healthy gut aging.



The researchers suggest tailoring these approaches to age, sex, and gut type - just as tree-planting strategies should match local demographics and climate conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-areas-need-diverse-trees">Urban areas need diverse trees </h2>



Together, these findings point to a central idea: healthy cities and healthy bodies both need diversity, resilience, and thoughtful design. 



Diverse green infrastructure can lower flood risk, reduce heat, and lift spirits. Microbial diversity in the body can slow aging and protect against disease.



If cities want to survive rising temperatures and aging populations, they must treat trees and microbes as allies - not extras. The sooner cities act, the stronger they will stand.



The results are published in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-89842-z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210670725001714?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sustainable Cities and Society</a>.



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Diverse trees reduce heat and promote healthy aging in urban areas

Urban green spaces do much more than beautify cities. They...

Ants are everywhere - underfoot, under leaves, and under-appreciated. While often overlooked, these tiny insects carry immense ecological weight. Their roles go far beyond scavenging crumbs at a picnic. Each ant species contributes uniquely to keeping ecosystems alive.



<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> aerate soil, disperse seeds, control pests, and interact with plants in complex mutualisms. They are vital to the everyday operations of ecosystems around the world.



A recent study published in Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution puts ants at the center of an ecological experiment with far-reaching implications. 



Led by scientists from the <a href="https://www.uwa.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Western Australia</a>, <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CSIRO</a>, and James Cook University (JCU), the study investigated what happens when dominant ant species are removed from their environment.



The findings offer insight into the resilience of natural systems - but also a warning. While nature compensates, it may be doing so at a cost few can see coming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nature-has-backup-ant-species">Nature has backup ant species</h2>



When the researchers removed three common ant species - Iridomyrmex purpureus, Pheidole ampla perthensis, and Tetramorium impressum - they expected a drop in ecosystem performance. These ants were key players in their local environment, handling everything from seed dispersal to scavenging.



Yet the ecosystem didn’t grind to a halt. Other ants stepped in, taking over the roles of the removed species. "<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dirt-ants-were-once-masters-of-disguise-in-the-caribbean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Insects</a> are everywhere and some people question what all these species do in ecosystems," said study lead author and <a href="https://www.jcu.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JCU</a> entomologist Dr. Peter Yeeles.



"Here, the research is showing that they provide a built-in redundancy that allows ecosystems to absorb shocks."



"Think of them like pieces of scaffolding. Remove one, or a few, and the structure still stands because each part offers a degree of redundancy to the other parts. Redundancy makes systems resilient. Without it, even small disturbances can cause big collapses."



The researchers observed that species richness increased in plots where dominant ants were suppressed. That increase contributed to higher overall multifunctionality. 



This phenomenon, called functional redundancy, refers to the presence of species that perform similar ecological roles. If one species declines, others can maintain the system by doing the same job.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ants-fill-gaps-but-bring-new-risks">Ants fill gaps, but bring new risks</h2>



While the results initially appeared positive, a deeper look revealed hidden fragilities. The shift in species dynamics introduced new risks. As rare <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-perform-life-saving-amputation-surgeries-on-injured-nest-mates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> filled the gaps, they brought with them specialization and less flexibility.



"Losing the common species can be like replacing a few reliable generalists with a team of specialists," explained Dr. Yeeles.



"You might maintain performance, but you also increase the risk if one of them goes missing. With so much reliance on specific roles, losing any more species could cause much greater ecosystem damage than before."



This change from generalist to specialist reliance may make ecosystems more efficient in the short term, but it reduces their capacity to recover from additional shocks. The safety net, once thick with backup options, becomes thinner with each lost species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-ant-species-boost-functions">Some ant species boost functions</h2>



The experts tested four ant-driven <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-destabilizing-ant-plant-relationships/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ecosystem</a> functions: granivory (seed eating), scavenging, plant protection, and myrmecochory (seed dispersal via ants). The researchers used experimental plots in southwestern Australia to measure how these functions changed when dominant ants were removed.



Interestingly, some functions improved in suppression plots. Granivory rates increased, and species richness was associated with better multifunctional performance. 



But this came with caveats. For example, the function of plant protection significantly decreased, despite higher species richness. This was linked to the removal of ants known to deter herbivores on plants.



Contrasting effects on different functions revealed that gains in one area could mean losses in another. The balance of ecological tasks - what scientists call “multifunctionality” - became harder to maintain uniformly.



As functions became more dependent on fewer species, the entire system became more sensitive to further disruptions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-ant-species-step-up">Hidden ant species step up </h2>



Another key finding of the study was that some ant species, previously minor players, became more ecologically important after dominant species were removed. These ants, once held back by competition, increased in abundance and performance. In some cases, they even enhanced specific functions.



This shift, however, was not random. Ants that had performed poorly in the presence of dominant species showed the greatest functional improvement in suppression zones. 



According to the researchers, this suggests that the removed species had been suppressing the potential of the broader community. While the community as a whole stepped up, its structure was now fundamentally different — and more sensitive to future changes.



The phenomenon aligns with the concept of “low multifunctional redundancy.” In this view, species may overlap in one function but diverge in others. For example, an ant that disperses seeds may not be as good at scavenging. 



Once the generalists disappear, specialists can't always substitute across tasks. That leaves ecosystems reliant on unique species combinations that might be hard to replace.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ants-as-ecosystem-engineers">Ants as ecosystem engineers</h2>



"It is easy to forget how important ants are in the majority of terrestrial ecosystems. They're often referred to as ecosystem engineers because they have such profound effects on the ecosystems they live in," said Dr. Yeeles.



"Some ant species are granivores, meaning they eat seeds, so they regulate plant communities."



"For example, in an agricultural setting, ants consume weed seeds, providing free weed control services. They're also important for soil structure as they dig and increase soil porosity to allow water infiltration. The list goes on."



The study reinforces just how wide-reaching ant functions can be. Their activities influence plant growth, soil health, and nutrient cycling. Remove a key species, and subtle shifts occur that cascade through the ecosystem. 



These shifts may go unnoticed at first, but they accumulate over time, reshaping entire habitats.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-at-the-bigger-picture">Looking at the bigger picture</h2>



"Globally, scientists are increasingly concerned about dramatic declines in insect populations, including many once-common species," Dr. Yeeles warned.



"We must act now to protect not only rare species, but also the everyday insects that quietly keep our world running."



The study serves as a wake-up call. Biodiversity loss is not just about rare or exotic creatures disappearing. It includes the steady erosion of common, hard-working species that form the foundation of ecosystem services. 



These services - pollination, pest control, soil fertility - directly affect human food systems, clean water, and climate resilience.



This research moves the conversation beyond simply counting species. It asks us to consider what each species does, how they interact, and what happens when we take their presence for granted. Dominant ants are not just background characters. They are the gears of a complex biological machine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-losing-ant-species-weakens-ecosystems">Losing ant species weakens ecosystems</h2>



The study provides both hope and caution. Yes, ecosystems show an impressive ability to rebound when disrupted. But compensation is not the same as recovery. Each adjustment comes with trade-offs and increased fragility. Functional redundancy acts like insurance - but only up to a point.



As we continue to alter landscapes and apply pesticides, we must recognize the quiet work of ants and other insects. Protecting biodiversity means safeguarding not only the rare but also the reliable. 



For nature to keep running smoothly, it needs all its workers - especially the ones we rarely notice.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02690-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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Earth's quiet engineers: What happens when common ant species disappear?

Ants are everywhere - underfoot, under leaves, and under-appreciated. While...

In the vast, slow-moving waters of the Florida Everglades, an endangered songbird struggles to survive. With its soft trill and modest size, the Cape Sable seaside sparrow has long evoked admiration from birdwatchers and conservationists alike. 



But beneath the surface of its fragile habitat, an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-but-mighty-the-significance-of-world-sparrow-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">invisible danger</a> is mounting - one that doesn’t just affect the bird’s health but may be robbing it of its very ability to reproduce.



The sparrow’s world is shrinking. Its native range exists only within Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Less than 2,500 individuals remain. 



While habitat degradation and water mismanagement have already strained its numbers, scientists now believe that mercury contamination poses a new and silent threat. The toxic metal has entered the bird’s food chain, disrupting mating behavior and pushing the species closer to collapse.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercury-and-sparrow-mating-opportunities">Mercury and sparrow mating opportunities </h2>



Alan Mock, a doctoral candidate at Florida International University, has been studying the sparrow for several years. His team recently published groundbreaking findings in the journal Ecotoxicology, revealing how mercury exposure impacts the reproductive success of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow. 



The research marked the first formal investigation of mercury <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sparrows-have-fewer-friends-as-they-age-just-like-most-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">concentrations</a> in this species and the results are deeply concerning.



Mock and his colleagues discovered that sparrows with higher levels of mercury were significantly less likely to find mates. These birds are already under pressure from shrinking wetland areas and unpredictable hydrological cycles. Adding mercury to the equation further complicates their fight for survival.



"This is the first research published on mercury concentrations in the Cape Sable seaside sparrow," said Mock. 



The findings suggest that male sparrows with higher mercury burdens saw a 63% decline in their likelihood of pairing with a mate - an enormous drop for a bird that only gets a limited number of breeding opportunities in a lifetime.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drying-wetlands-increase-mercury">Drying wetlands increase mercury</h2>



To understand how mercury infiltrates the sparrow’s system, researchers looked at hydrologic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weaver-birds-build-strikingly-unique-nests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">patterns</a> across three breeding seasons, from 2016 to 2018. 



They collected breast feathers from both adult and juvenile sparrows to measure total mercury concentrations (THg). These samples revealed a strong link between local water conditions and mercury levels.



Four models were used to explain how hydrologic variation influenced mercury uptake. The most accurate model showed that mercury concentrations rose with the rate of water recession during the dry season and fell when droughts in the previous season lasted longer. 



The model’s adjusted R² value was 0.82, a high level of statistical confidence that emphasizes the relationship between water conditions and mercury exposure.



In simple terms, faster-drying marshes led to greater mercury <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/penguins-are-threatened-by-mercury-contamination/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contamination</a>. This exposure occurred before the sparrows even began breeding, which meant many males were already disadvantaged before mating season began.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercury-stops-sparrows-from-breeding">Mercury stops sparrows from breeding </h2>



One of the study’s most revealing insights was that mercury didn’t significantly impact nesting success or the number of chicks fledged from active nests. 



Instead, the main issue was that many birds didn’t get to the nesting stage at all. Elevated mercury levels seemed to prevent breeding from starting - what the researchers call early breeding failure.



This nuance matters. Nest success might look unaffected when only successful pairs are considered, but a broader view shows the population-level consequences. 



Through demographic modeling, the team predicted a staggering 60% drop in population productivity due to reduced male mating success. In a species with such small numbers, even modest changes in reproductive output can have outsized effects.



Mock warned that fewer “love connections” could tip the already-vulnerable population into irreversible decline. The birds are not just missing mates; they are losing the ability to pass their genes on to future generations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mercury-s-path-from-pollution-to-predator">Mercury’s path from pollution to predator</h2>



Mercury does not originate in the Everglades. It travels there through air pollution and land runoff, eventually settling into the water. Once in wetlands, microbes convert mercury into methylmercury - a highly toxic form that accumulates in aquatic insects.



These mercury-contaminated insects form a key part of the sparrow’s diet. As the birds consume more of them, mercury accumulates in their tissues, especially in feathers. 



Unlike some pollutants that can break down or be expelled, methylmercury persists and interferes with biological processes. Its most alarming effect, in this case, is on mating behavior and reproductive timing.



As a result, the birds are left biologically ready but behaviorally blocked from reproducing. The problem grows worse with every dry season that speeds up water recession and raises mercury levels further.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-interventions-vs-global-responsibility">Local interventions vs. global responsibility</h2>



Efforts to counteract the effects of mercury contamination have mostly focused on local water management. By adjusting water levels and slowing marsh drying, it’s possible to slightly reduce mercury exposure for native sparrows and other wildlife. 



But Mock cautions that such strategies can only go so far. "We can manage recession rate and water levels to try to reduce exposure, but that's kind of putting Band-Aids on the overall mercury pollution problem."



The real cause lies further upstream - in industrial emissions and global environmental practices that allow mercury to spread through the atmosphere and across landscapes. Without international cooperation to reduce mercury emissions, efforts within the Everglades may fall short.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restoration-remains-essential">Restoration remains essential</h2>



Despite these challenges, local restoration work remains vital. Ongoing efforts to improve water quality and restore natural flow patterns could lessen the burden of mercury on the Cape Sable seaside sparrow. This requires continued investment, monitoring, and adaptive management.



The sparrow’s fate may hinge on how well scientists, policymakers, and conservationists respond to these new findings. Addressing mercury pollution is no longer just an environmental concern - it is a matter of preserving the song of one of America’s rarest birds.



By recognizing the interconnectedness of pollution, water systems, and wildlife survival, there’s still hope that the sparrow’s story can continue - not as a cautionary tale, but as one of resilience and renewal.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10646-025-02851-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecotoxicology</a>.



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Mercury pollution makes it hard for sparrows to find a partner

In the vast, slow-moving waters of the Florida Everglades, an...

Researchers investigating a type of virus that was once dismissed as a side note have shown that it may be hiding everywhere. They found that this so-called “curiosity” virus is no small player but instead a major presence in certain bacterial populations.



Professor Trevor Lithgow, who is senior author and head of the <a href="https://www.monash.edu/discovery-institute" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute</a>'s Bacterial Cell Biology Lab, is connected with the team that brought this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-recreate-an-ancient-war-trick-to-defeat-viruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discovery</a> to light. His group at <a href="https://www.monash.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monash University</a> has been examining how these viruses, known as bacteriophages (or phages), target their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-pass-down-their-memories-to-fight-viruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacterial</a> hosts. 



At least 120 research teams at the Institute explore how microorganisms adapt and spread in different conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-telomere-phages-in-bacterial-cells">Telomere phages in bacterial cells</h2>



Some phages use telomere-like structures to replicate their genomes. Because of this, they are also known as telomere <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37896796/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phages</a>. They were once overlooked, partly because researchers assumed these phages were too rare to deserve much attention.



Scientists in the current study used <a href="https://www.mpie.de/4675247/advanced-electron-microscopy-techniques" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">advanced electron microscopy</a> to check how these telomere phages assemble inside bacterial cells. They saw many viral particles, each equipped with special strategies to spread between cells.



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



One surprising twist is that telomere phages that have infected bacteria can bestow weapons on their hosts. The research team showed that these tools, called <a href="https://www.biology.utah.edu/uncategorized/tailocins-the-next-generation-of-antibiotics-might-just-come-from-understanding-the-viruses-that-infect-bacteria/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">telocins</a>, help certain infected bacteria to kill off less "friendly" strains of bacteria. 



Telocins have the potential to knock out neighboring bacteria, including variants that resist antibiotics. That finding raises hopes for new approaches to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-first-bacteria-used-oxygen-about-one-billion-years-earlier-than-we-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacterial</a> control, especially in hospital settings where <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20929376/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">antibiotic-resistant microbes</a> cause big problems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-telomere-phages-hiding-in-plain-sight">Telomere phages hiding in plain sight</h2>



The group sequenced a type of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-microbes-found-earths-deep-soil-critical-zone/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bacterium</a> that is sometimes found in people with lung infections. They noticed that telomere phages were abundant, despite years of prior scientific efforts that failed to record their existence.



“For more than 20 years of intensive bacterial genomics, telomere phages had remained hidden in plain sight. We have missed an entire aspect of biology,” said Professor Lithgow.



Specialists once wrote these viruses off as mere oddities, but they appear to be quite common and widespread. Researchers refer to telomere phages as stealthy elements that integrate seamlessly and replicate in unusual ways.



Now they recognize these phages as big influencers. They can help shape which bacteria thrive and which ones stay in check, especially in places where many bacterial types compete.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-telocins-and-their-impact">Telocins and their impact</h2>



“Our discovery of toxins that we call ‘telocins’ (for telomere-phage toxins) has a potential translation as a bacterial management strategy: ‘good’ bacteria carrying telomere phages will kill neighboring ‘bad’ <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/klebsiella/about/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Klebsiella</a>. An example of ‘bad’ bacteria would be antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella,” explained Professor Lithgow.



The scientists discovered that the phages carry instructions for these telocins. This toxin can destroy neighboring bacterial cells if they lack immunity genes that the phage also encodes.



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



Infections involving drug-resistant Klebsiella strains remain a major concern in hospitals. Some strains evade treatment, and can trigger severe complications in patients.



Telomere phages could point scientists toward creative therapies for controlling these threatening microbes. By harnessing telocins, it might be possible to target specific bacterial populations without wiping out beneficial strains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viruses-present-in-bacterial-populations">Viruses present in bacterial populations </h2>



The same investigations hint that such phages exist not only in one type of Klebsiella but also in multiple related species. This suggests there may be broad viral diversity that remains undocumented.



Further analysis indicated that telomere phages might be common in water sources and other places where these bacteria reside. Researchers say that ignoring them might be risky, given the practical value in knowing how to manipulate or 'tame' them.



Scientists used different bacterial strains to test how widespread telocin activity might be. They observed that many strains were vulnerable, which hints at how potent these toxins can be.



They are now exploring the methods these toxins use to enter and destroy target cells. Understanding each step could pave the way for more precise antibacterial tools.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phages-live-peacefully-inside-their-hosts">Phages live peacefully inside their hosts</h2>



Investigators confirmed that carrying these telomere phages typically does not slow bacterial growth in the lab. This points to a balanced coexistence where the virus “lives” inside the bacterium.



“We now want to understand how the host secretes the toxin and also understand how the toxin wheedles its way into the unsuspecting bacterial neighbors," said first author Sally Byers from the Lithgow Laboratory.



"While all of our work has been done in Klebsiella, we predict that yet to be discovered telomere phages may be common in other species of bacteria too."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viruses-and-bacterial-evolution">Viruses and bacterial evolution</h2>



These revelations stand out because they push us to challenge old assumptions. Viruses once shrugged off as bit players could actually be important forces in the evolution of bacterial populations.



They have a knack for arming their hosts with special features, which creates ripple effects in the microbial community. That dynamic might help clarify how antibiotic-resistant bacteria get an upper hand, or how some strains survive stressful environments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-work-on-virus-toxin-links">More work on virus-toxin links</h2>



Uncovering the prevalence of telomere phages is step one in a longer journey. Scientists believe there is still much to learn about these viruses in other bacterial groups.



They hope the findings will inspire deeper studies into phage-toxin partnerships. With more data, we might discover ways to control bacterial infections by turning their own viral partners against them.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phages-may-control-microbes-in-nature">Phages may control microbes in nature</h2>



Everyday environments, from soil to fresh water, could be teeming with similar viruses. Telomere phages may hold sway over the balance of microbes that live in those habitats.



If researchers manage to harness telocins outside medical settings, they might be able to limit harmful bacteria in agriculture or in waste water systems. Such efforts may help defend plants, livestock, and broader ecosystems against dangerous infections.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fighting-antibiotic-resistance">Fighting antibiotic resistance</h2>



It is clear that antibiotic resistance is a global threat that demands new tactics. These viruses could serve as a fresh line of research to guide us to target antibiotic-resistant bacteria more precisely.



Telomere phages may also help scientists figure out how to give helpful microbes a competitive edge. By doing so, we might encourage healthier ecosystems and better patient outcomes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-telomere-phages-and-microbial-biology">Telomere phages and microbial biology</h2>



Experts say the presence of telomere phages across various species of bacteria might reshape how we categorize viruses. Past labels like “rare curiosity” no longer fit, given their potentially substantial roles.



They suspect that these phages exist under our noses and have gone unnoticed for a very long time. By shining a light on them, we may upgrade our overall understanding of the way microbial life functions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions </h2>



Although telocins and phages present interesting opportunities, the work is still in its early stages. Researchers stress that real-world applications will depend on careful testing to ensure safety and reliability.



They also emphasize the need to evaluate any unintended effects on beneficial bacteria. Balanced strategies that avoid widespread harm to the broader microbial community are essential for success.



Further research will aim to identify more telomere phages. Surveying other bacterial populations could reveal how widespread these viruses are in medical, environmental, and industrial settings.



Refining phage-based methods could support modern medicine’s quest to combat resistant bacteria. Current findings suggest it is wise to keep an eye on these once-ignored viruses.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt1627" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Previously-overlooked viruses may secretly shape bacterial populations

Researchers investigating a type of virus that was once dismissed...

SPHEREx, NASA’s latest space observatory, has officially begun scanning the skies after weeks of careful preparation in orbit. Each day, it captures around 3,600 images to build a vibrant, detailed map of the universe that is unlike anything seen before.



Launched into space on March 11, the observatory was created by scientists from the <a href="https://www.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California Institute of Technology</a> (Caltech), NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other institutions. Over six weeks, the mission team checked and calibrated every part of the observatory to ensure it would perform as planned. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exploring-the-origins-of-the-universe">Exploring the origins of the universe </h2>



On May 1, SPHEREx entered its full science phase. Over the next two years, it will use its powerful infrared sensors to explore the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shapes-of-one-million-galaxies-hint-at-the-universes-origins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">origins of the universe</a>, trace the history of galaxies, and search for the ingredients of life scattered across our galaxy.



“Thanks to the hard work of teams across NASA, industry, and academia that built this mission, SPHEREx is operating just as we’d expected and will produce maps of the full sky unlike any we’ve had before,” said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, acting director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. 



“This new observatory is adding to the suite of space-based astrophysics survey missions leading up to the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Together with these other missions, SPHEREx will play a key role in answering the big questions about the universe we tackle at NASA every day."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-spherex-sees-the-universe">How SPHEREx sees the universe</h2>



SPHEREx, short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer, circles Earth roughly 14½ times a day. It follows a <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/tracking-polar-orbiting-satellites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polar orbit</a>, passing over the North and South Poles, and captures images in strips that wrap around the planet. 



Each day adds another strip. Over six months, the telescope will observe the full sky, and over 25 months, it will do this four times.



To control its movement, the spacecraft doesn’t use thrusters. Instead, it adjusts its orientation using reaction wheels, which are spinning devices inside the observatory.



Unlike some telescopes, SPHEREx doesn’t move its mirrors or detectors to shift its view. Instead, the entire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farewell-to-gaia-the-spacecraft-that-mapped-the-milky-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spacecraft</a> tilts slightly to change its pointing direction.



Each image is actually a set of six, with each detector capturing a different part of the infrared spectrum. These are called exposures. SPHEREx takes about 600 exposures every day.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-beginning-of-everything">Understanding the beginning of everything</h2>



Over two years, the observatory will generate hundreds of thousands of images. These will be woven into four complete maps of the entire sky. Scientists will use them to look for clues about what took place during the earliest moments after the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/if-the-big-bang-theory-is-correct-what-exactly-happened/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">big bang</a>.



One key moment the experts are interested in is called cosmic inflation, which occurred a fraction of a second after the universe began. During this time, the universe expanded faster than the speed of light - to a trillion-trillion times its starting size. This sudden growth left subtle traces in how matter is spread across space.



“We’re going to study what happened on the smallest size scales in the universe’s earliest moments by looking at the modern universe on the largest scales,” said Jim Fanson, the mission’s project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “I think there’s a poetic arc to that.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-echoes-of-early-universe-expansion">Echoes of early universe expansion </h2>



The positions of galaxies today still carry echoes of early universe expansion. These patterns hold the secrets to what kind of energy triggered inflation. Studying them may reveal something never seen before in nature - the kind of energy that could have powered this vast transformation.



“Some of us have been working toward this goal for 12 years,” said Jamie Bock, the mission’s principal investigator at Caltech and JPL. 



“The performance of the instrument is as good as we hoped. That means we’re going to be able to do all the amazing science we planned on and perhaps even get some unexpected discoveries.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-map-has-a-spectrum-of-possibilities">The map has a spectrum of possibilities</h2>



While SPHEREx is not the first observatory to chart the entire sky, it is the first to do so in 102 colors of infrared light. That’s far more than previous missions. 



Infrared light is invisible to human eyes but carries important information about distant stars, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-galaxies-discovery-would-upend-current-understanding-of-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxies</a>, and clouds of gas and dust.



The observatory uses a method called spectroscopy to break down light into its component wavelengths, similar to how a prism splits sunlight into a rainbow. Each color tells a different story.



For instance, this method helps determine how far away a galaxy is. That turns a flat map of galaxy locations into a 3D picture of the cosmos. Spectroscopy also lets scientists measure the total light from all galaxies that ever existed and how it has changed over billions of years.



And in our own galaxy, it will help look for key molecules that support life. Water, for example, can be detected in frozen form on dust grains. Scientists believe these icy grains were the source of Earth’s ocean water.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-spherex-could-reveal-next">What SPHEREx could reveal next</h2>



SPHEREx is expected to make over nine million measurements of interstellar clouds across the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-found-something-strange-at-core-of-milky-way-galaxy-webb-meerkat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milky Way</a>. These data will help scientists understand how chemistry varies in different space environments. It may even explain how life-friendly molecules found their way to Earth.



With a simple approach and sophisticated tools, this small spacecraft is investigating some of the biggest questions humanity has ever asked. And it’s doing it one image at a time.



Details of SPHEREx and its mission are available in this <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-spherex-space-telescope-begins-capturing-entire-sky/">press release</a> from NASA's JPL.



Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech



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SPHEREx is mapping the universe in unprecedented detail

SPHEREx, NASA’s latest space observatory, has officially begun scanning the...

<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.



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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.



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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...

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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