Can farms produce enough food to feed us while still leaving space for wildlife? A new proposal says they can.



By setting aside one-fifth of farmland for nature, and tweaking everyday practices on the rest, we can help wildlife recover without sacrificing the food on our tables.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-farming-with-wildlife-in-mind">Farming with wildlife in mind</h2>



The plan comes from ecologists at the <a href="https://www.ceh.ac.uk/">UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology</a> and the University of Alcalá in Spain. Study co-author Professor James Bullock elaborated on the importance of the research.



“Reversing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-report-calls-for-global-change-to-stop-biodiversity-loss/">biodiversity loss</a> and degradation of ecosystems is essential both for nature as well as long-term global food security. But there is no single silver bullet for nature recovery and so far it has been unclear how to integrate rewilding into agricultural landscapes," said Professor Bullock. 



“Our proposed approach moves beyond land sparing versus land sharing. We believe rewilding can be interwoven into agricultural landscapes and could be key to maintaining <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/increasing-plant-based-food-production-would-have-extremely-positive-impact/">food production</a> in a way that is sustainable in the long term for people and the planet.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dedicating-land-to-nature-recovery">Dedicating land to nature recovery</h2>



According to the study, fostering rewilding approaches alongside farming could create agroecological landscapes that accommodate biodiversity while remaining resilient and functionally connected. Certain incentives would encourage farmers to adopt this approach.



“While setting aside land for nature recovery could potentially be made a legal requirement for farmers and landowners, there is more likely to be acceptance and success of rewilding if there are incentives in the form of payments for ecosystem services and tax deductions,” noted Professor José María Rey Benayas, lead author on the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-farming-needs-wildlife">Why farming needs wildlife</h2>



Modern farming has greatly increased food production since the 1940s. But this has often come at the expense of nature. 



Clearing land, using heavy fertilizers and pesticides, and removing natural features like hedgerows have pushed many plant and animal species to the edge.



This loss doesn’t just affect wildlife - it disrupts vital services that farms depend on, such as healthy soil, natural pest control, and water retention. As these services decline, the long-term productivity and resilience of farming systems are put at risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cost-of-declining-wildlife">The cost of declining wildlife</h2>



Across Europe and beyond, once-common species are disappearing from farmland. For example, the U.K. has lost over 40 million birds since 1970, and wild bee populations have declined in more than half of European countries, according to multiple long-term surveys.



These animals aren’t just part of the scenery - they’re key to food production. Birds eat crop pests. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers that develop into fruits and vegetables. Their loss means greater reliance on artificial fertilisers, pesticides, and expensive manual labour.



Bringing wildlife back isn’t just a conservation goal - it’s a practical step toward more affordable and reliable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-cover-crops-may-be-the-future-of-sustainable-farming/">farming</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steps-to-farming-alongside-wildlife">Steps to farming alongside wildlife </h2>



The researchers suggest a four-part plan that links nature conservation with everyday farming. 



First, they recommend reserving at least 20% of farmland for nature. This space would include large patches of woodland, wetlands, and species-rich grassland to form strong core habitats. 



Second, these patches should be connected by green corridors - such as hedgerows, ponds, and strips of scrubland - that allow wildlife to move, feed, and reproduce.



Third, they propose protecting small hotspots within working fields. This would involve setting aside about 10% of cropped land for flower strips, beetle banks, and bird perches, bringing the total to the 30% global restoration goal. 



Finally, they call for small changes in daily farming practices, like reducing chemical use, planting flowers for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-face-extinction-risk-due-to-climate-change/">pollinators</a>, and letting livestock graze more freely to help spread seeds and support healthy soil.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rewilding-has-benefits-for-farmers">Rewilding has benefits for farmers</h2>



Many European regions cannot host bears or bison. However, smaller species such as lynx, wildcat, or European hare can still boost ecosystem health. Choosing the right mix depends on local conditions.



Helping wildlife can pay off in more ways than one. When farms support natural habitats, they often see practical benefits in return. 



Better soil retains more water and nutrients, which supports stronger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farmers-can-help-make-crops-more-resilient/">crops</a>. Pollinators and natural predators of pests can help increase yields in nearby fields. 



Farmers may also spend less on fertilizers and pesticides, lowering overall input costs. In some places, governments might provide payments or tax breaks to reward efforts that support biodiversity and ecosystem services.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-room-for-wildlife">Making room for wildlife</h2>



Reaching the 20% target may be challenging for small farms, but collective action can make it achievable. At the same time, each region will need to adapt the plan to fit its local conditions. 



Areas with heavily degraded farmland have the most to gain, while places with traditional, low-impact farming may require fewer changes. 



The researchers emphasize that this is just a starting point - but the message is clear: making room for wildlife alongside farming can help secure both indigenous species and food for the future.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fee.2860">Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment</a>.



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Farming for wildlife: How traditional practices can protect nature

Can farms produce enough food to feed us while still leaving space for wildlife? A new proposal says they can. By setting aside one-fifth of farmland for nature, and tweaking everyday practices on the rest, we can help wildlife recover without sacrificing the food on our tables. Farming with wildlife in mind The plan comes from ecologists at the UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology and the University of Alcalá in Spain. Study co-author Professor James Bullock elaborated on the importance of the research. “Reversing biodiversity loss...

Have you ever heard the saying, "an elephant never forgets?" Unfortunately, 2020 will be a year that African elephants will remember with sorrow.



The story is one of environmental reckoning - the result of a devastating interaction between elephants and toxic algal blooms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deadly-footprint-of-climate-change">Deadly footprint of climate change </h2>



In 2020, a shocking event unfolded in Botswana, a country that is home to one-third of all African elephants. Approximately 350 of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-elephant-day-2024-saving-the-gentle-giants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">majestic creatures</a> met a tragically premature end, with their carcasses scattered across the Okavango Delta.



The deaths were no ordinary occurrence. They ignited global concern and sparked an intense investigation.&nbsp;



A new study, led by King's College London, offers an alarming explanation. The deaths of 350 elephants in 2020 were caused by lethal blankets of toxic algae in watering holes - a deadly byproduct of <a href="https://search.app?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.earth.com%2Fnews%2Fclimate-change-earth-energy-imbalance-temperature-rise%2F&amp;utm_campaign=aga&amp;utm_source=agsadl2%2Csh%2Fx%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mystery-of-the-mass-elephant-die-off">Mystery of the mass elephant die-off </h2>



The initial discovery of elephant carcasses scattered in the northeastern sector of Botswana's Okavango Delta triggered global concern.



With no evidence of poaching, the mystery of sudden mass elephant deaths deepened. As the death toll rose to an alarming 350, a theory started to surface. Could <a href="https://search.app?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.earth.com%2Fnews%2Fhumans-have-caused-toxic-algae-blooms-since-the-bronze-age%2F&amp;utm_campaign=aga&amp;utm_source=agsadl2%2Csh%2Fx%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toxic algae</a> blooming in the elephants' watering holes be responsible?



The study was led by Ph.D. student Davide Lomeo at <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King's College London</a>. He was co-supervised by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (<a href="https://pml.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PML</a>) and the Natural History Museum.



“Botswana is home to a third of all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-elephants-have-drastically-declined-in-the-last-50-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">African elephants</a>, and this unprecedented die-off within their largest remaining population underlines the escalating concerns surrounding the impact of drought and climate change on the Okavango Delta, one of the most important ecosystems in the world,” explained Lomeo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-toxic-algae-linked-to-elephant-deaths">Toxic algae linked to elephant deaths</h2>



The investigators turned to a combination of sophisticated satellite data and spatial analysis. They scrutinized the relationships between approximately 3,000 watering holes and the locations where the deceased elephants had been found.



The analysis revealed that waterholes near the carcasses showed a dramatic increase in algal levels and frequent bloom events in 2020, when compared with previous years.



“We identified 20 waterholes, near fresh carcasses, that experienced increased algal bloom events in 2020 compared to the previous three years combined. These waterholes also exhibited the highest average algal biomass of the period 2015 – 2023,” noted Lomeo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calling-out-climate-change">Calling out climate change</h2>



The researchers pointed out the events that led to this catastrophe. A grueling dry year in 2019, the driest in decades, was abruptly followed by an extraordinarily wet year in 2020.



The sudden shift stirred up substantial amounts of sediments and nutrients from the ground, providing ideal conditions for the growth of toxic algae.



“Southern Africa is projected to become drier and hotter under climate changes and, as a result, waterholes across this region will likely be drier for more months of the year," said Lomeo.



"Our findings point to the potential negative effects on water quantity and quality, and catastrophic repercussions this could have on animals."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solutions-for-water-quality-monitoring">Solutions for water quality monitoring</h2>



To combat the threat posed by toxic algal growth, innovative technological solutions are emerging to aid in comprehensive water quality monitoring. 



Earth observation applications, such as satellite imagery and remote sensing techniques, offer the potential to detect and monitor diverse sources of contamination swiftly. 



By leveraging these advanced tools, scientists and authorities can gain valuable insights into water quality, enabling timely interventions and preventive measures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-need-for-swift-intervention">Urgent need for swift intervention </h2>



Tackling the environmental impact of toxic algal blooms requires collaboration among researchers, local authorities, and communities.



By sharing knowledge and using sustainable methods, we can protect our valuable water resources. With scientific expertise, technology, and public awareness, we can ensure clean water for future generations.



The case of Botswana's elephants sheds light on the severe ecological consequences of toxic algal proliferation.



The findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive water quality surveillance across all water bodies.



This issue is a wake-up call for Botswana and the world, and points to the urgent need to tackle climate change and its effects on ecosystems.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724076824?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science of The Total Environment</a>.



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Poisoning deaths of 350 elephants linked to climate change

Have you ever heard the saying, "an elephant never forgets?"...

About 6 million years ago, an extraordinary event occurred that restructured the Mediterranean and its water. This phenomenon, known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis, transformed the sea into a massive salt basin.



But how did a million cubic kilometers of salt come to rest in such a short time on the Mediterranean seabed? Until now, that remained a mystery.



Now, scientists have made a significant breakthrough. By analyzing chlorine isotopes found in the salt on the Mediterranean seabed, they've unveiled the two distinct phases of this intense evaporation event.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phases-of-desiccation-and-salt-accumulation">Phases of desiccation and salt accumulation</h2>



The first desiccation phase lasted approximately 35,000 years. During this time, salt deposition occurred exclusively in the eastern <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/corsica-sardinia-mediterranean-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean</a>. This was due to a restriction of the Mediterranean outflow into the Atlantic, resulting in a brine-filled basin in the east.



The second phase, however, was a different story altogether. Over less than 10,000 years, salt accumulation took place throughout the entire Mediterranean.



An expeditious evaporative event caused such a sharp decline in sea-level - 1.7-2.1 kilometers in the east, and approximately 0.85 kilometers in the west - that the Mediterranean basin lost up to 70% of its total water volume.



Moreover, change on such a monumental scale didn't occur without <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/distress-signals-earths-water-cycle-is-becoming-more-erratic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">repercussions</a>. The effects of the spectacular fall in sea level were far-reaching and not just limited to the marine environment itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-linked-to-mediterranean-water-loss">Factors linked to Mediterranean water loss</h2>



Local volcanic eruptions may have been triggered due to the release of pressure on Earth's crust. These eruptions could be thought of as Earth's reactions to the rapid loss of such a substantial amount of water weight.



Moreover, this large scale evaporative event also might have influenced global climate patterns. The drastic depression caused by the sea-level drawdown rippled outwards, affecting weather systems far and wide.



These results point towards a better understanding of not just the Messinian Salinity Crisis, but also of the ways extreme desiccation events can drastically alter ecosystems and climates on a global scale.



In the last moments of this salinity crisis, the sea-level of the Mediterranean was almost a kilometer below that of the Atlantic Ocean. This extreme difference lead to the eventual collapse of the Strait of Gibraltar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mediterranean-water-loss-and-marine-life">Mediterranean water loss and marine life</h2>



The Messinian Salinity Crisis also posed significant challenges for marine life in the Mediterranean basin. 



The extreme hypersaline conditions would have been inhospitable for most marine organisms, leading to mass extinctions of species that could not adapt. 



However, evidence suggests that some extremophilic organisms (organisms capable of surviving in highly saline environments) managed to persist during this period. 



Fossil records indicate that isolated pockets of less saline water, or refugia, may have existed, providing temporary habitats for certain species. These pockets paint a picture of resilience amidst an environment of extreme ecological stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restoration-of-the-mediterranean-water">Restoration of the Mediterranean water</h2>



The collapse of the Strait of Gibraltar acted as a gateway for the Atlantic Ocean to flow back into the Mediterranean. This sudden influx of water ended the prolonged desiccation, refilling the Mediterranean basin and restoring its water levels. 



As a result, the Mediterranean transitioned from a nearly dry, hypersaline basin dominated by thick salt deposits into a thriving open sea once again, with normal marine conditions and ecosystems returning over time. 



This event marked the resolution of the Messinian Salinity Crisis, reshaping the region's geography and ecological dynamics permanently.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-climate-challenges">Modern climate challenges</h2>



The insights gained from studying the Messinian Salinity Crisis carry valuable lessons for our understanding of current and future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-drought-has-caused-crisis-levels-of-food-and-water-scarcity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental changes</a>. 



This event showcases how rapid geological and hydrological transformations can trigger cascading effects on the climate, ecosystems, and even tectonic activity. 



Contemporary concerns about rising temperatures, altering precipitation patterns, and water scarcity echo some of the climate disruptions that may have been felt during the crisis. 



By learning from this historic event, scientists emphasize the importance of global collaboration and sustainable resource management to mitigate the impacts of looming environmental challenges on both natural systems and human societies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-study">Significance of the study</h2>



This research on the history of Mediterranean water has provided fresh insights into historical geological events, enhancing our comprehension of these past occurrences.



By examining these findings, scientists and researchers have the opportunity to improve their predictions about future geological phenomena. 



Understanding the patterns and causes of past events allows for better preparation and response strategies, potentially reducing the adverse impacts of similar events that may occur in the future. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-from-geological-history">Learning from geological history</h2>



The study emphasizes the importance of learning from past geological activities to make informed decisions that safeguard communities and environments against natural disasters. It raises a critical question: will we apply the lessons learned to protect our future? 



The findings from the study serve as a call to action, urging society to integrate historical lessons into future planning and preparedness efforts.



The study was led by G. Aloisi, a scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (<a href="https://www.cnrs.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNRS</a>), which is one of the largest governmental research organizations in France.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53781-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



Image Credit: Pibernat &amp; Garcia-Castellanos



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Mediterranean Sea lost almost all of its water, triggering a global crisis

About 6 million years ago, an extraordinary event occurred that...

We often associate wealth with a higher level of biodiversity. This notion, referred to as the "luxury effect," seems to suggest that only affluent communities can enjoy diverse ecosystems.



However, a new study offers a more nuanced view, suggesting that all communities can work towards cultivating biodiversity, regardless of their financial status.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-connection-between-biodiversity-and-wealth">Connection between biodiversity and wealth</h2>



"A positive correlation between wealth and biodiversity within cities is a commonly documented phenomenon in urban ecology that has come to be labeled as the 'luxury effect,'" wrote the study authors.



"We contend that both this language and this framing restrict our understanding of how sociopolitical power dynamics influence biodiversity within and across cities."



The researchers explained that the connection between biodiversity and wealth extends beyond just their correlation.



Madhusudan Katti, an associate professor at <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">North Carolina State University</a> (NC State), noted that biodiversity in cities is not a luxury - it is something we can work to nurture.



"Rather than just rely on the correlation of wealth and biodiversity, we wanted to understand the many ways that biodiversity intersects with different social pressures and systems," explained Professor Katti.



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



To unravel this relationship, the researchers started with a meticulous analysis of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/landscapes-with-a-mix-of-habitats-are-biodiversity-hotspots/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiverse landscapes</a>. The goal was to identify the common characteristics of these areas and decipher the social structures that enable them.



The team utilized a unique approach called the social-ecological framework, outlining how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-have-shaped-plant-biodiversity-for-thousands-of-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human actions shape nature</a> within a social context.



This framework acknowledges that societal actors play a significant role in land use and management decisions. 



"Someone decides how land will be used, whether it’s a city deciding where a park is going to go or zoning for industry," explained Professor Katti.



"Then you also have individuals in their backyards deciding what they want to do with it, whether they want a lawn, a pollinator-friendly garden, or something else.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-biodiversity-and-the-luxury-effect">Urban biodiversity and the "luxury effect"</h2>



As part of their research, the scientists introduced a new framework, the POSE approach. This model focuses on four factors - power, objectives, social/ecological context, and effort (POSE) - which together shape what is termed the "luxury effect."



For instance, homeowners with higher income may have greater control over landscape use compared to apartment dwellers. 



However, the POSE framework empowers communities with fewer resources to prioritize things within their control, such as collective organizing to boost effort.



Professor Katti is optimistic about the impact of the POSE framework. He believes that it will inspire collective action towards healthier landscapes.



The insightful research is a reminder that everyone has a part to play in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-for-biological-diversity-from-agreement-to-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nurturing biodiversity</a>.



“We want people to understand that they can influence the landscape around them even without a lot of money. This is what community groups have been doing for a long time: they organize to overcome the handicap of wealth through effort," said Professor Katti.



"Our paper is a call to action. Biodiversity is achievable, and people have the power to create it together.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-empowering-communities-with-collective-action">Empowering communities with collective action</h2>



The study reveals that biodiversity can thrive in any community when collective action and creative solutions are prioritized.



Individuals and neighborhoods can take small but impactful steps, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/urban-forests-benefit-from-diverse-native-tree-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planting native species</a>, reducing pesticide use, or advocating for shared green spaces.



These actions, when coordinated, create a ripple effect that enhances biodiversity on a larger scale.



Collaboration within communities amplifies these efforts, demonstrating that collective action can overcome economic limitations.



By working together, people can reclaim urban spaces for nature, transforming vacant lots, rooftops, and backyards into thriving habitats that support local wildlife and enrich the quality of life for residents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-biodiversity-in-urban-landscapes">Biodiversity in urban landscapes</h2>



Urban planning&nbsp;has&nbsp;a critical role in&nbsp;the&nbsp;shaping&nbsp;of&nbsp;ecosystems&nbsp;and provides&nbsp;an opportunity to&nbsp;bring biodiversity into the fabric of cities.



Simple yet effective design strategies, such as green walls, urban forests, and pollinator pathways, can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/restoring-wildlife-habitats-may-prevent-the-next-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">restore habitats</a> and reconnect fragmented ecosystems.



The POSE framework provides&nbsp;a practical approach for&nbsp;city planners and policymakers to&nbsp;evaluate&nbsp;the impact of their decisions&nbsp;on&nbsp;biodiversity.



This&nbsp;vision&nbsp;is one of&nbsp;aligning land use policies with ecological goals and engaging community stakeholders, which will help&nbsp;cities&nbsp;to&nbsp;balance development with conservation.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70049" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ecosystems</a>.



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Urban biodiversity is not a luxury - it is attainable for everyone

We often associate wealth with a higher level of biodiversity....

Thousands of years ago, a roar echoed through the Highland caves of Scotland. It was the roar of bears. But, were these the average brown bears or something more "polar" in nature? 



Using advanced methods to analyze Scottish bear fossils, researchers from the University of Aberdeen and National Museums Scotland have made a fascinating discovery. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-analyzing-the-bear-fossils">Analyzing the bear fossils </h2>



The study was led by Professor Kate Britton, an expert known for her insightful approach to ancient fauna.



The experts reevaluated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/water-bear-tardigrade-fossils-reveal-how-they-survived-several-mass-extinction-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossils</a> collected from the Inchnadamph "Bone Caves" in Sutherland. What they found was evidence of fish in the diet of bears that had been identified as brown bears.



Working closely with masters student Holland Taekema from the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Edinburgh</a>, the team used a technique known as "stable isotope data" to dig deeper into the diets of the fossilized bears.



The evidence they unearthed pointed to a marine diet dating back to 30,000 to 50,000 years ago. This means that the bears were feasting heavily on seafood long before human footprints graced Scottish lands.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-the-fossils-belong-to-polar-bears">Could the fossils belong to polar bears?</h2>



As exciting as it sounds, this revelation required a fair bit of head-scratching. After all, it's a hard shift from the grisly diet of modern brown bears.



The research suggests an intriguing possibility - could these have been polar bears frolicking in Scottish terrain amidst the Last Ice Age?



"We have identified several samples which stick out like a sore thumb both from the diets of other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coelacanth-ngamugawi-wirngarri-new-species-living-fossil-fish-survived-over-400-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bears</a> living in Scotland thousands of years ago and from what we'd expect of today's brown bears. These bears appear to have lived almost exclusively on seafood," said Professor Britton.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-polar-perspective">A polar perspective</h2>



Indeed, the frosty north is the only homeland we associate with polar bears today, but our researchers remind us that the Last Glacial Maximum brought down the seasonal sea ice limit in the North Atlantic, allowing these majestic creatures to roam further south than their current <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-life-and-environment-co-evolved-over-500-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">territories</a>.



A similar theory was hinted at in the 1990s, revolving around a bear skull with polar bear-like features. However, lack of further evidence and questions about the skull's radiocarbon dating have put a pause on accepting this interesting possibility.



Dr. Andrew Kitchener is the Principal Curator of Vertebrates at National Museums Scotland. 



"As we know that polar bears and brown bears can successfully interbreed today where their ranges overlap, it presents interesting questions about the ancestry of bears that later roamed our islands," noted Dr. Kitchener.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-ice-age-connection">The Ice Age connection</h2>



To shed light on the intriguing genetic links between modern polar bears and Ice Age European brown bears, the research team is embarking on an ambitious journey. 



By analyzing the DNA of brown bears from different regions and comparing it to the genetic makeup of present-day polar bears, they aim to uncover the ancestral ties that bind these species together. 



This comprehensive genetic analysis, coupled with the isotopic evidence from the bone caves, may hold the key to unraveling the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic fossil bears.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preserving-the-past">Preserving the past</h2>



The bears fossils, now meticulously curated by the experts at National Museums Scotland, will continue to serve as invaluable resources for ongoing research.



The team plans to go deeper into the fossil record, exploring additional bone caves and collecting further samples for analysis. 



By employing state-of-the-art techniques and collaborating with multidisciplinary experts, they hope to unlock new insights and unveil more secrets about the ancient bears that once roamed our lands. 



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



The plot only thickens as the team sets out to further explore the mystery. 



The researchers plan to unearth the connections between brown bear DNA in modern polar bears and polar bear DNA in Ice Age European brown bears. 



The challenge is to understand how this genetic data links to the isotopic evidence from the bone caves.



The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gordonia-traquairi-pig-like-creature-discovered-roamed-earth-250-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> bears will be the subject of ongoing research by a newly-appointed research fellow, Dr. Alicia Sanz Royo, at the <a href="https://www.abdn.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Aberdeen</a> in 2025.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/annales-zoologici-fennici/volume-61/issue-1/086.061.0124/The-bears-of-Scotland/10.5735/086.061.0124.short" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annales Zoologici Fennici</a>.



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Were polar bears feasting on fish in Scotland 30,000 years ago?

Thousands of years ago, a roar echoed through the Highland...

The mystery of what dinosaurs ate around 200 million years ago, as well as the role they played in their ecosystems, is one step closer to being uncovered.



And guess what has been aiding in solving this mystery? It's none other than the fossilized feces of these gigantic creatures.



The interesting findings have emerged as part of an international research endeavor exploring the hidden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-dinosaurs-benefited-from-changes-in-global-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient world</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-piecing-together-the-dinosaur-diet">Piecing together the dinosaur diet</h2>



The research team included experts from <a href="https://www.uu.se/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uppsala University</a>, who collaborated with colleagues in Norway, Poland, and Hungary.



Their approach was simple yet extraordinary. The researchers examined hundreds of samples using advanced synchrotron imaging to visualize the internal components of the fossilized feces - or coprolites - in great detail.&nbsp;



“Piecing together ‘who ate whom’ in the past is true detective work,” said study lead author Martin Qvarnström. 



“Being able to examine what animals ate and how they interacted with their environment helps us understand what enabled dinosaurs to be so successful.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-gold-mine-of-fossil-treasures">A gold mine of fossil treasures</h2>



An integral part of the research was its focus on the Polish Basin - a region from the Late <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/benggwigwishingasuchus-eremicarminis-new-triassic-crocodile-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Triassic</a> era that had been previously underexplored.



The study of this region led to revelations about dinosaur diets as well as insights into the ecosystem's structure during the Triassic period.



The experts further strengthened the findings by using additional fossils, climate data, and other evidence such as bones and footprints.



“Our research is innovative because we have chosen to understand the biology of early dinosaurs based on their dietary preferences. There were many surprising discoveries along the way.” said Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki, one of the contributing authors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dinosaur-s-dining-menu">The dinosaur's dining menu</h2>



The coprolites revealed an unexpected variety of diet for these dinosaurs that included fish, insects, large animals, plants, and even charcoal.



One species, the long-necked <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-learn-how-super-giant-sauropods-grew-to-be-so-massive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sauropods</a>, might have ingested charcoal to detoxify their stomach contents - as ferns can be toxic to herbivores.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-perspectives-on-dinosaur-evolution">New perspectives on dinosaur evolution</h2>



This research addresses a significant gap in our understanding of the first 30 million years of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-daspletosaurus-sheds-light-on-dinosaur-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dinosaur evolution</a> during the Late Triassic period. 



Though we have ample knowledge about their life and extinction, the processes that led to their rise remain a mystery. 



The findings from this research could enlighten us about prehistoric ecosystems and evolutionary processes in a manner never seen before.



However, the most important take away from this research extends beyond the realm of dinosaurs. 



"Unfortunately, climate change and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-predict-how-and-when-humans-and-mammals-will-face-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mass extinctions</a> are not just a thing of the past," noted Qvarnström. "By studying past ecosystems, we gain a better understanding of how life adapts and thrives under changing environmental conditions."



Thus, the dinosaur's recipe for survival reveals the importance of adaptability in the face of environmental changes. 



“The way to avoid extinction is to eat a lot of plants, which is exactly what the early herbivorous dinosaurs did," said Niedzwiedzki. "The reason for their evolutionary success is a true love of green and fresh plant shoots.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-into-ecosystem-interactions">Insights into ecosystem interactions</h2>



The findings from this study go beyond reconstructing what dinosaurs ate - they provide a glimpse into the intricate web of interactions within ancient ecosystems.



Fossilized feces not only reveal dietary habits but also hint at the relationships between species, such as predator-prey dynamics, competition for resources, and the role of plants in shaping these early environments. 



For instance, the discovery of charcoal in some dinosaur coprolites suggests that these creatures lived in regions prone to wildfires, and their diets likely adapted to such challenges.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecological-role-of-dinosaurs">Ecological role of dinosaurs </h2>



Moreover, the research highlights how dinosaurs may have influenced their surroundings. Large herbivores, for example, played a key role in shaping vegetation through grazing, potentially altering plant diversity and distribution.



Such insights provide a deeper understanding of how dinosaurs contributed to maintaining the balance within their ecosystems, mirroring the vital role large animals play in modern habitats.



This broader perspective not only enriches our knowledge of the Triassic period but also highlights the importance of studying ancient ecosystems to inform current conservation strategies. 



The resilience and adaptability exhibited by these prehistoric creatures may offer lessons for preserving biodiversity in the face of environmental change.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08265-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Fossilized poop reveals the diet of dinosaurs 200 million years ago

The mystery of what dinosaurs ate around 200 million years...

A breakthrough clinical trial has revealed that an injection given during asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) flare-ups is significantly more effective than the traditional treatment of steroid tablets.&nbsp;



According to findings published in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(24)00299-6/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lancet Respiratory Medicine</a>, the injection reduces the need for further treatment by 30%, offering a potential “game-changing” solution for millions worldwide.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearly-one-third-of-asthma-cases-linked-to-air-pollution/">Asthma</a> and COPD flare-ups, known as exacerbations, can be life-threatening. In the UK alone, four people with asthma and 85 with COPD tragically lose their lives each day.&nbsp;



These conditions are not only deadly but also widespread, with someone in the UK experiencing an asthma attack every 10 seconds. Combined, asthma and COPD cost the NHS £5.9 billion annually.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-targeted-approach-to-asthma-treatment-nbsp">Targeted approach to asthma treatment&nbsp;</h2>



The injection specifically targets “eosinophilic exacerbations,” which account for up to 30% of COPD flare-ups and nearly 50% of asthma attacks.&nbsp;



These exacerbations result from inflammation caused by elevated levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness.



Historically, the standard treatment for such flare-ups has been steroids like prednisolone, which reduce lung inflammation. However, these drugs come with significant side effects, including an increased risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-can-counteract-the-genetic-risk-for-diabetes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diabetes</a> and osteoporosis.&nbsp;



Furthermore, many patients do not respond adequately to steroids, leading to repeated hospitalizations or, in severe cases, death within 90 days of treatment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-the-new-asthma-treatment-nbsp">Testing the new asthma treatment&nbsp;</h2>



The ABRA trial, led by researchers from <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King's College London</a>, tested the efficacy of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/experts-have-found-powerful-antibodies-that-neutralize-all-covid-variants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">monoclonal antibody</a> called benralizumab, already approved for managing severe asthma.&nbsp;



The drug targets eosinophils, reducing lung inflammation. For the trial, the drug was repurposed as a one-time injection administered during exacerbations.



The multi-center trial, conducted at <a href="https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust</a> and <a href="https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust</a>, randomized participants into three groups.



One group received the benralizumab injection with placebo tablets, while another received standard steroid treatment (prednisolone) with a placebo injection. The third group received both the injection and standard care.



As a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, neither the participants nor the researchers knew which treatment was being administered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-game-changing-treatment-for-people-with-asthma-nbsp">Game-changing treatment for people with asthma&nbsp;</h2>



The results were striking. After 28 days, participants in the benralizumab group showed significant improvements in respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness compared to those receiving steroids.&nbsp;



By the 90-day mark, treatment failure rates were four times lower in the benralizumab group than in the steroid group.



Not only did the injection reduce the need for doctor visits or hospitalizations, but it also improved patients' overall quality of life.



“This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD,” said Professor Mona Bafadhel, lead investigator of the trial.&nbsp;



“Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations has not changed in 50 years despite causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide a year combined. The big advance in the ABRA study is the finding that targeted therapy works in asthma and COPD attacks.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-safe-and-versatile-treatment">A safe and versatile treatment</h2>



The study demonstrated that benralizumab is safe, with no significant side effects compared to past studies of the drug. 



While healthcare professionals administered the injections during the trial, the drug could potentially be delivered at home, in GP practices, or in emergency departments in the future.



Professor Bafadhel emphasized the importance of personalized treatment: “Instead of giving everyone the same treatment, we found targeting the highest risk patients with very targeted treatment, with the right level of inflammation, was much better than guessing what treatment they needed.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-a-critical-need-in-lung-health">Addressing a critical need in lung health</h2>



The findings underscore a critical gap in research and treatment for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/viruses-can-hide-in-lung-cells-and-cause-chronic-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lung</a> conditions. Dr. Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Innovation at <a href="https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Asthma + Lung UK</a>, celebrated the breakthrough but highlighted the long delay in innovation.&nbsp;



“It's appalling that this is the first new treatment for those suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years, indicating how desperately underfunded lung health research is.”



“Every four minutes in the UK, someone dies from a lung condition. Thousands more live with the terror of struggling to breathe every day,” she added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-asthma-treatment">The future of asthma treatment</h2>



The ABRA trial's success highlights the importance of collaboration between universities and healthcare systems.&nbsp;



“The ABRA trial was only possible with collaboration between the NHS and universities and shows how this close relationship can innovate health care and improve people's lives,” said lead author Sanjay Ramakrishnan, a clinical research fellow at the <a href="https://www.uwa.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Western Australia</a> and the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oxford</a>.



As researchers continue to explore benralizumab's potential, the hope is that it will transform how asthma and COPD exacerbations are managed globally.&nbsp;



“We hope these pivotal studies will change how asthma and COPD exacerbations are treated for the future, ultimately improving the health for over a billion people living with asthma and COPD across the world,” Bafadhel concluded.



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First new asthma treatment in 50 years offers hope for millions

A breakthrough clinical trial has revealed that an injection given...

The development of a big brain in humans and its connection to social bonding has been a hot topic of debate, and secrets found in fossil teeth may hold the answers.



Researchers have been studying the fossilized teeth of an early Homo species from Georgia, dating back approximately 1.77 million years.



The findings suggest that despite having a small brain and reaching adulthood at a similar pace to great apes, these early humans had a prolonged childhood. 



This could mean that the large brain of modern humans resulted from an extended childhood along with cultural transmission across generations instead of vice versa.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-childhood-big-brains">Long childhood, big brains</h2>



A team of scientists has challenged the theory that the long and extended childhoods of modern humans is directly linked to their large brains.



The team, which included specialists from Switzerland's <a href="https://www.uzh.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Zurich</a>, the <a href="https://www.esrf.fr/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European Synchrotron Radiation Facility</a> and Georgia's National Museum, analyzed dental development in an early Homo species that was almost an adult. 



The results suggest that though these early humans reached adulthood at a similar age as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/buronius-manfredschmidi-tiny-great-ape-species-lived-11-million-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">great apes</a>, their tooth development followed a longer timeline similar to modern humans.



This proposes the distinct possibility of a longer dependency on adults and an elongated childhood for these early humans.



Remarkably, the brain size of these early Homo specimens was only marginally larger than that of a chimpanzee. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-longer-childhoods-better">What makes longer childhoods better?</h2>



This made the researchers question the link between the prolonged development and cultural transmission across generations. Having a longer childhood gives species a prime opportunity to learn essential survival skills. 



During these extended early years, young individuals can observe and mimic the behaviors of adults, picking up everything from foraging and hunting techniques to recognizing dangers in their environment. 



This hands-on learning ensures that when they’re fully grown, they’re well-equipped to handle the challenges of their habitat. It’s like having extra time to go to school, but for life skills instead of math and history.



Additionally, longer childhoods foster stronger social bonds and cooperation within a group. These strong social connections can lead to better teamwork when it comes to tasks like hunting, building shelters, or protecting the group from threats. 



Moreover, the extended period of dependency helps ensure that knowledge and traditions are passed down accurately from one generation to the next. 



Eventually, this led to the development of larger brains and longer life spans, traits characteristic of modern humans.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dental-development-in-early-homo">Dental development in early Homo</h2>



An enduring assumption has been that humans' extended growth period is a consequence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-sizes-are-growing-possibly-lowering-dementia-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increased brain volume</a> since a larger organ requires more energy resources to grow. 



But analysis of the fossil's dental growth has caused researchers to question this hypothesis.



The research team used synchrotron imaging to study the dental development of a near-adult fossil of early Homo from the Dmanisi site in Georgia, dated to around 1.77 million years ago. 



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="CWxiqQg039-4024544-12187" type="single"]</div>



“Childhood and cognition do not fossilize, so we have to rely on indirect information. Teeth are ideal because they fossilize well and produce daily rings, in the same way that trees produce annual rings, which record their development,” noted study first author Christoph Zollikofer from the University of Zurich.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-brains-connection-to-teeth">Big brains' connection to teeth</h2>



“Dental development is strongly correlated with the development of the rest of the body, including brain development," explained study co-author Paul Tafforeau, scientist at the ESRF.



"Access to the details of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=fossil%20hominid&amp;start=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil</a> hominid's dental growth therefore provides a great deal of information about its general growth."



After almost two decades of research beginning in 2005, the initial results startled researchers. 



“We expected to find either dental development typical of early hominids, close to that of the great apes, or dental development close to that of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthal-genes-still-influence-modern-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modern humans</a>," said Tafforeau.



"When we obtained the first results, we couldn’t believe what we saw, because it was something different that implied faster molar crown growth than in any other fossil hominin or living great ape."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-follow-up-experiments">Follow-up experiments</h2>



In the following years, the team conducted five series of experiments and completed four full analyses, employing various methods as dental synchrotron imaging technology advanced.



As the consistent results suggested significant implications for the "big brain - long childhood" hypothesis, the scientists needed to think creatively to interpret this fossil's findings.



“It's been a slow maturation, both technically and intellectually, to finally arrive at the hypothesis we are publishing today,” said Tafforeau.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-passing-culture-through-generations">Passing culture through generations</h2>



The dental development of the studied fossil suggested that milk teeth were used longer than in great apes, implying that early Homo children were dependent on adult care for a longer duration.



This could be the first experiment evolution took towards a prolonged childhood. Despite having brains only slightly larger than australopithecines or great apes, early Homo are believed to have lived longer.



The survival of a very old individual with no teeth for several years indicates that the group sufficiently cared for him. This alludes to a three-generation structure, a key aspect of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-started-cumulative-culture-around-600000-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cultural transmission in humans</a>.



The new hypothesis begins with children's growth slowing down as cultural transmission increased. 



The accumulation of information from older to younger individuals had an advantageous effect on resource utilization and the development of complex behaviors, thus favoring a longer childhood. 



Once this mechanism was established, natural selection acted on cultural transmission, not just biological traits. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-brains-and-delayed-adulthood">Big brains and delayed adulthood</h2>



As the volume of transferrable information grew, evolution supported a larger brain and delayed adulthood, enabling a longer learning period in childhood and time to grow a bigger brain despite limited food resources.



The large brain of modern humans could be attributed to an extended childhood and a three-generation structure encouraging bio-cultural evolution. 



These mechanisms may have led to increased brain size, delayed adulthood, and longer lifespan.



The study of this exceptional fossil could motivate researchers to rethink the evolutionary mechanisms that led to Homo sapiens.



-----



The research was made possible by the European Synchrotron in Grenoble, France.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08205-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



Image &amp; Video Credit: ESRF/Paul Tafforeau, Vincent Beyrand



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Fossil teeth show why humans evolved big brains and long childhoods

The development of a big brain in humans and its...

The human body excels at maintaining internal balance in a process known as homeostasis. This vital mechanism keeps our core temperature steady at 37°C, regardless of external conditions. 



But now, breakthrough research from the Ikmi Group at EMBL Heidelberg reveals that homeostasis goes beyond internal regulation - it can actively redefine an organism’s shape.



The starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis) provides a stunning example of this phenomenon. Renowned for its extraordinary regenerative abilities, this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-anemones-use-their-shyness-survive-heatwaves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creature</a> can regrow a lost head or foot and even rebuild a complete, functional body from a sliced fragment.&nbsp;



But unlike many regenerating animals that restore parts in proportion to what remains, the sea anemone reshapes its entire body to preserve its overall form, even adjusting undamaged areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regeneration-in-sea-anemones">Regeneration in sea anemones </h2>



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/axolotls-regeneration-powers-critically-endangered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regeneration</a> is about restoring function after tissue loss or damage,” explained Aissam Ikmi, <a href="https://www.embl.org/sites/heidelberg/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMBL Heidelberg</a> Group Leader and senior author of a new study published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2024.11.001" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Developmental Cell</a>.&nbsp;



“Most research studies mainly consider patterns and sizes in regeneration, but our findings show that maintaining shape is also crucial - and it’s something the organism actively controls.”



The discovery started when Stephanie Cheung, a doctoral researcher in Ikmi’s group, noticed an unexpected phenomenon: when a sea anemone’s foot was injured, cell division occurred not only at the wound site but also at the opposite end of the body near the mouth. This hinted at signals being sent across the entire organism in response to injury.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-molecular-changes-triggered-by-injury">Molecular changes triggered by injury</h2>



Using spatial transcriptomics and advanced imaging techniques, the research team mapped gene activity across the anemone’s body during regeneration.&nbsp;



They found that injury triggered molecular changes both near and far from the wound. Cells moved, tissues reorganized, and the entire body reshaped itself to maintain its original proportions.



The extent of this reshaping depended on the severity of the injury. Losing a foot caused mild adjustments, while being cut in half led to significant remodeling.&nbsp;



A key player in this process was a family of enzymes called metalloproteases, which became more active as more tissue was lost. These enzymes helped realign tissues, not just at the wound site but throughout the body.



“Metalloprotease activity has never been shown before in animals like this,” said Petrus Steenbergen, one of the study’s lead authors and an Ikmi Group Senior Research Technician.&nbsp;



“I had to design and optimize experimental conditions for Nematostella based on the sparse literature available from other species. This took some time, but the final results were very rewarding.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-anemones-restore-their-shapes">Sea anemones restore their shapes</h2>



The team discovered that the sea anemone prioritizes restoring its shape, even after significant injury.&nbsp;



By measuring the aspect ratio - the ratio of length to width - they found that the anemone consistently returned to its pre-injury proportions. This proportional response allowed the organism to maintain its shape, even if it became smaller.



“We were able to witness the body-wide coordination that drives this remodeling,” Ikmi explained. “This proportional response allows the anemone to restore its shape, highlighting how organisms like Nematostella interpret and respond to tissue loss in a way that’s scaled to the damage incurred.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaborative-efforts-and-advanced-techniques">Collaborative efforts and advanced techniques</h2>



The study was a collaborative endeavor. Rik Korswagen’s team at the <a href="https://www.hubrecht.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubrecht Institute</a> in the Netherlands helped implement spatial transcriptomics in the sea anemone.&nbsp;



Additionally, Oliver Stegle’s team at EMBL Heidelberg and the <a href="https://www.dkfz.de/en/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Cancer Research Center</a> (DKFZ) provided bioinformatics expertise and statistical methods to analyze spatial <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/personality-has-a-profound-influence-on-gene-expression/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gene expression</a> data.



“It was a pleasure to puzzle out the findings of the study together by uniting the team’s expertise in data analysis and cell biology,” said Tobias Gerber, another of the study’s lead authors. “This work was a truly collaborative journey, and I am glad I was part of it.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions-remain-about-sea-anemone-regeneration-nbsp">Questions remain about sea anemone regeneration&nbsp;</h2>



While the research offers fascinating insights into how Nematostella maintains its shape during regeneration, it raises new questions.



“The next big question is why maintaining shape is so important,” Ikmi said. “And how does the organism sense its own shape? How does it know what it currently looks like?”



With the starlet sea anemone as their model, the team is eager to explore the mechanisms underlying these abilities. Their work holds promise for understanding how organisms heal, maintain balance, and adapt to injury, potentially unlocking new avenues in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-killifish-regeneration-may-help-us-heal-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regenerative medicine</a> and biology.



Matthew Be



Image Credit: Matthew Benton/ EMBLtMatthew Bentonhew Benton/EMBL : M: Matthew Benton/EMBLatthew Matthew BentonBenton/EM



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Sea anemones can regrow their entire body in its original shape

The human body excels at maintaining internal balance in a...

The unending stretch of the Greenland Ice Sheet, like a seasoned custodian of countless secrets, has concealed a Cold War-era ice camp beneath its surface.



This hidden camp came to light in 2024 when NASA scientist Chad Greene, aboard the Gulfstream III with his team of engineers, embarked on the expedition of a lifetime.



While probing the depths of the ice sheet about 150 miles east of Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland, the radar readings showed a <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/greenland_camp-century_hidden-base_buried-under-ice_NASA_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">curious blip that sparked their interest</a>.



The team had identified evidence of the buried remains of Camp Century.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-camp-century-city-under-the-ice">Camp Century: City under the ice</h2>



"We were looking for the bed of the&nbsp;ice, and out pops&nbsp;Camp&nbsp;Century," exclaimed Alex Gardner, a cryospheric scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (<a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JPL</a>), who had assisted in spearheading the project.



Camp Century, also affectionately known as the "city under the ice," is a vestige of the chilling days when the Cold War was in full swing. 



Constructed in 1959 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this hidden military base was etched out within the layers of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-ice-sheet-discovery-transforms-sea-level-predictions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice sheet</a> itself.



Traces of the facility, which has been abandoned since 1967, now lie encased approximately 30 meters (100 feet) beneath the icy surface, waiting to narrate their intriguing past.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-exactly-went-on-at-camp-century">What exactly went on at Camp Century?</h2>



Camp Century's main goal was to explore the feasibility of living and operating in extreme cold conditions, which was crucial during the Cold War era. 



The base was constructed using large, <a href="https://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/153000/153616/campcentury_pho_1966_lrg.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prefabricated modules connected by tunnels</a>, all insulated and heated to keep the inhabitants comfortable despite the freezing temperatures outside. 



About 25 scientists and military personnel lived there, conducting experiments in geology, hydrology, and glaciology, while also testing technologies that could support long-term Arctic missions.



One of the most intriguing aspects of Camp Century is its innovative use of nuclear power. 



The base was powered by a portable nuclear reactor, making it one of the first of its kind to operate in such harsh environments. 



However, when the base was abandoned in 1967, concerns arose about the disposal of nuclear waste left behind.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deciphering-the-indicators">Deciphering the indicators</h2>



Akin to an ultrasound meant for ice sheets, radar plays a pivotal role in unraveling the truths kept secret by nature.



Radar works on a simple principle - it emits radio waves and times their reflections back to the source. This allows scientists to map out the ice surface meticulously, along with its various internal layers, and the bedrock underneath.



Previous airborne surveys that flew over Camp Century managed to detect signs of the base encapsulated within the ice sheets. 



These surveys utilized conventional, ground-penetrating radar that aims directly downwards, which yielded a 2D profile of the ice sheet. 



This gave an impression of Camp Century's solid structures that appeared like an anomaly in the deformed layers of ice.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-generating-maps-with-advanced-technology">Generating maps with advanced technology </h2>



The April 2024 flights, however, could go a step further with NASA's <a href="https://uavsar.jpl.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UAVSAR</a> (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar) adorning the belly of the aircraft.



This cutting-edge system introduces a wider angle of view, and looks both downward and sideways, thus generating maps that teem with additional dimensions.



"In the new data, individual structures in the secret city are visible in a way that they've never been seen before," explained Greene.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-determining-the-camp-s-alignment-under-ice">Determining the camp's alignment under ice</h2>



When juxtaposed with historical maps of the base's planned layout, the parallel structures demonstrate a striking alignment with the tunnels initially built to house a myriad of facilities.



Yet, the added dimensionality comes with its own challenges in terms of interpretation. 



For instance, the long line that seems to appear "above" the base is actually the ice bed, lying at least a mile below the ice sheet's surface, and well beneath the depth of Camp Century.



This apparent "inversion" is caused by the radar's return showing part of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellite-records-a-650-foot-tsunami-in-greenland-that-lasted-9-days/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice</a> bed far in the distance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-camp-century-more-than-a-historical-curiosity">Camp Century: More than a historical curiosity</h2>



Apart from their historical significance, maps created with conventional radar have aided scientists in corroborating estimates of Camp Century's depth.



This information is crucial in estimating when the melting and thinning of the ice sheet could potentially re-expose the camp and any leftover biological, chemical, and radioactive waste buried with it.



The scientific utility of the new UAVSAR image of Camp Century remains uncertain. For the moment, it's a novelty - an amazing discovery made purely by chance. However, the principal aim of Greene and Gardner was not to capture this image of Camp Century.



Their principal objective was to "calibrate, validate, and understand the capabilities and limitations of UAVSAR for mapping the ice sheet's internal layers and the ice-bed interface," as Greene clarified.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-measuring-ice-thickness">The future of measuring ice thickness</h2>



Such instruments hold the key to a future where scientists might efficiently measure the thickness of ice sheets in similar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-transformation-ice-melt-plant-growth-vegetation-cascading-effects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environments</a> in Antarctica. Such data is critical in modeling estimates of future sea level rise.



"Without a detailed knowledge of ice thickness, it is impossible to know how the ice sheets will respond to rapidly warming oceans and atmosphere, greatly limiting our ability to project rates of sea level rise," Gardner explained.



The test flights that captured Camp Century will undoubtedly usher in the next generation of mapping campaigns focused on ice in Greenland, Antarctica, and beyond.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 



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"City under the ice": NASA finds secret base buried in Greenland

The unending stretch of the Greenland Ice Sheet, like a...

The immune systems of wild capuchin monkeys decline in performance when they experience prolonged periods of warmer temperatures, with younger monkeys appearing particularly vulnerable, according to a new study.



Anthropology doctoral student Jordan Lucore from the <a href="https://umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> led the research, which examined how temperature affects the immune systems of white-faced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/capuchin-monkeys-use-clever-tools-to-access-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">capuchins</a> in Costa Rica. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immune-performance-in-wild-monkeys">Immune performance in wild monkeys</h2>



“Rising temperatures due to climate change are predicted to threaten the persistence of wild animals, but there is little evidence that climate change has pushed species beyond their thermal tolerance,” wrote the researchers.



“The immune system is an ideal avenue to assess the effects of climate change because immune performance is sensitive to changes in temperature and immune competency can affect reproductive success.”



The findings, published in <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq6629" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>, revealed that when monkeys endured approximately two weeks of temperatures around 86°F, their generalized immune system performance declined. This system is the body's first line of defense, activating immediately upon sensing a threat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-discovery-in-thermal-resilience">Surprising discovery in thermal resilience</h2>



The results were unexpected, Lucore explained, because endothermic animals - those that regulate their body temperature, like mammals - are generally thought to be resilient to environmental temperature fluctuations.



“We think this has implications for understanding the effects of climate change because we're seeing this unlikely relationship between the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-changes-our-understanding-of-the-immune-system/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">immune system</a> and temperature in this particular study species, and we're seeing it at much lower temperatures than expected,” Lucore said. “Eighty-six degrees Fahrenheit is not that hot.”



Capuchin monkeys are considered generalists, thriving in diverse climates and ecologies, which makes the findings even more concerning. “That was another concerning thing about the results: I can't believe we're seeing this in capuchins. They are quite resilient,” Lucore noted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immune-performance-of-wild-monkeys">Immune performance of wild monkeys</h2>



To study immune system performance, Lucore focused on a biomarker called neopterin, which can be measured in urine rather than blood serum. This non-invasive approach avoided stressing the monkeys and allowed researchers to track individual animals.



Using a method called “clean catch,” the team followed the habituated monkeys until they urinated, collecting the samples with a plastic-lined basket attached to a stick. These samples were then matched to individual monkeys using field observations.



By measuring neopterin levels in the urine and modeling temperature conditions leading up to the sample collection, the researchers established a connection between prolonged <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2023-climate-change-report-record-high-temperatures-greenhouse-gases-sea-level-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high temperatures</a> and declining immune function.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-younger-monkeys-are-more-vulnerable">Younger monkeys are more vulnerable</h2>



The study found that the immune systems of younger monkeys were particularly impacted by the heat.



“We discovered that young individuals' immune systems may be particularly affected by temperature compared to the rest of the age groups,” Lucore said.&nbsp;



“This is especially important for potential health and fitness outcomes, because when you're young, you rely on your generalized immune system. Your adaptive immune system has not yet developed.”



The adaptive immune system, which recognizes specific pathogens, takes years to fully develop in young animals. During this early stage of life, a robust generalized immune system is critical for survival, making the observed decline particularly alarming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rising-temperatures-and-wild-monkeys-nbsp">Rising temperatures and wild monkeys&nbsp;</h2>



While the study provides strong evidence of temperature's immediate effects on immune performance, it remains unclear whether these impacts translate to long-term health or reproductive challenges for the monkeys.&nbsp;



Longer-term studies, potentially spanning multiple generations, are needed to assess the broader consequences.



Lucore emphasized that the findings, though specific to wild capuchins, highlight the broader impacts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-extinction-risk-is-heavily-influenced-by-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a> on wildlife.



“Climate change is happening. It's going to have effects on anyone living on Earth in ways that you may not expect, and especially on these fundamental systems that we need to survive,” Lucore said.&nbsp;



“The fact that a graduate student like me can go out there and collect rather short-term data and find strong evidence that temperatures are affecting the physiology of wild animals - I think that's a pretty important thing to keep in mind.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-research-is-needed">Further research is needed</h2>



This study highlights the need for further research into how rising temperatures affect not only capuchins but also other species dependent on stable environmental conditions.&nbsp;



As climate change accelerates, understanding these vulnerabilities becomes increasingly urgent for conservation efforts.



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Rising temperatures impact the immune system of wild monkeys

The immune systems of wild capuchin monkeys decline in performance...

With over 30,000 weather stations worldwide collecting daily data on temperature, precipitation, and other climate indicators, analyzing this immense dataset is a monumental task for researchers.&nbsp;



Traditionally, climate scientists have relied on statistical methods to interpret these datasets, but a recent breakthrough demonstrates the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize this process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-previously-unrecorded-climate-extremes">Previously unrecorded climate extremes</h2>



A team led by Étienne Plésiat of the <a href="https://www.dkrz.de/en/dkrz-partner-for-climate-research?set_language=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Climate Computing Center</a> in Hamburg, alongside colleagues from the UK and Spain, applied AI to reconstruct European climate extremes.



The research not only confirmed known climate trends but also revealed previously unrecorded extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-earth-energy-imbalance-temperature-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">events</a>.



As climate change accelerates, understanding how temperature and precipitation extremes are evolving is critical for adaptation and planning.&nbsp;



Recent studies have shown that heat and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainfall-is-increasingly-unpredictable-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rainfall</a> extremes are increasing dramatically. For instance, heavy rainfall events in some regions are now classified as “far outside the historical climate,” while heat extremes have expanded, affecting over 30% of global land areas annually compared to just 1% in 1950.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-offers-a-solution-to-data-gaps">AI offers a solution to data gaps</h2>



Despite the increasing prevalence of climate extremes, analyzing historical temperature data is challenging due to gaps in records. 



Weather stations - particularly in the early 20th century - often faced interruptions, whether due to damaged equipment, station closures, or the lack of replacements.&nbsp;



Sparse data from regions like Africa and the polar areas further complicate comprehensive analysis.



Data homogenization, a research area focused on standardizing and filling gaps in datasets, has long been used to address these issues.&nbsp;



However, traditional statistical methods often struggle in areas with scarce weather stations, leaving uncertainties in extreme climate reconstructions.



Recognizing the limitations of traditional methods, Plésiat and his colleagues turned to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-predicts-global-warmings-impact-on-extreme-weather/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI</a>, specifically neural network techniques, to reconstruct temperature extremes.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-extremes-in-europe-nbsp">Climate extremes in Europe&nbsp;</h2>



Europe, with its dense network of weather stations and long historical records - such as the Hadley Central England Temperature dataset, which dates back to 1659 - offered an ideal testing ground.



The team’s AI, dubbed CRAI (Climate Reconstruction AI), focused on extreme events such as unusually warm or cold days and nights. 



CRAI outperformed traditional interpolation methods like Kriging and Inverse Distance Weighting, which predict temperatures at unmeasured locations using nearby weather station data.&nbsp;



These traditional methods often falter when station density is low, a gap that CRAI bridged effectively.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconstructing-climate-history">Reconstructing climate history</h2>



Using historical simulations from the CMIP6 archive (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project), the team trained CRAI to reconstruct past climate data.&nbsp;



The experts validated their results using standard metrics such as root mean square error and Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient, which measure accuracy and association between variables.



The results were promising. CRAI outperformed conventional methods in reconstructing the frequency of extreme events—such as the percentage of days with temperatures above the 90th percentile (warm days) or below the 10th percentile (cool days).



The researchers then applied CRAI to the HadEX3 dataset, which includes over 80 indices of extreme temperature and precipitation from 1901 to 2018. CRAI not only reconstructed past extremes with high accuracy but also uncovered long-forgotten events.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unearthing-unknown-climate-extremes">Unearthing unknown climate extremes</h2>



One of the most striking findings was CRAI’s ability to reveal previously unrecorded climate extremes. For instance, the AI uncovered a severe cold spell in 1929 and a major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-heatwaves-are-expanding-their-reach-across-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heatwave</a> in 1911, events that were only hinted at anecdotally due to sparse data at the time.



“Our research demonstrates both the necessity and the potential benefits of applying this approach to the global scale or other regions with scarce data,” the authors explained.&nbsp;



They emphasized that AI-based reconstruction enhances accuracy, particularly in data-poor regions, and opens new possibilities for climate research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-potential-of-ai-in-climate-science">The potential of AI in climate science</h2>



The study highlights AI’s transformative potential to improve our understanding of climate extremes and their long-term changes.&nbsp;



By training models like CRAI on larger datasets, researchers can achieve even greater accuracy and uncover hidden patterns in global climate history.



“This work underscores the transformative potential of AI to improve our understanding of climate extremes and their long-term changes,” the researchers concluded.



As climate change continues to intensify, AI tools like CRAI offer a powerful means to analyze past data, predict future trends, and guide adaptation strategies in an increasingly extreme world.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53464-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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AI reveals hidden climate extremes in Europe

With over 30,000 weather stations worldwide collecting daily data on...

Light is something we interact with every day, but have you ever wondered what the shape of a single particle of light -- the photon -- actually looks like? 



For the first time, researchers have defined the <a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/photon-single_precise-shape_credit-Benjamin-Yuen_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">precise shape</a> of a single photon, a huge leap forward in quantum physics and material science.



Dr. Benjamin Yuen from the <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Birmingham</a> led the groundbreaking research that delves deep into the quantum level of light and matter interaction. 



His team's findings, published in Physical Review Letters, provide a visual representation of a photon while enhancing our understanding of how photons are emitted and shaped by their environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-photons-the-basics">Understanding photons -- the basics</h2>



A photon is the fundamental unit of light and all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lightning-sparks-the-discovery-of-a-new-electromagnetic-wave/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">electromagnetic radiation</a>. Unlike particles that have mass, photons are massless and always move at the speed of light.



They exhibit both particle-like and wave-like properties, a concept known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-tunneling-allow-particles-break-light-speed-barrier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wave-particle duality</a>.



Photons carry energy and momentum, determined by their frequency or wavelength. Simply put, the higher the frequency, the more energy a photon possesses. 



This unique dual nature allows photons to interact with matter in special ways, such as being absorbed or emitted by atoms. 



These interactions are essential for processes like vision, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">photosynthesis</a>, and the technology behind our electronic devices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-photon-shape-and-the-far-field">Photon shape and the "far field"</h2>



The interaction between photons and their environment leads to endless possibilities for how light exists and travels. 



This limitless potential makes modeling these interactions exceptionally challenging -- a puzzle that quantum physicists have been trying to solve for decades.



"Our calculations enabled us to convert a seemingly unsolvable problem into something that can be computed," Dr. Yuen explained.



"And, almost as a byproduct of the model, we were able to produce this image of a photon, something that hasn't been seen before in physics."



By grouping the infinite possibilities of photon interactions into distinct sets, the team produced a model that describes not only <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-leap-making-light-waves-stand-still-photonic-crystals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how photons interact </a>with the atoms or molecules that emit them, but also how the energy from that interaction travels into the distant surroundings, known as the "far field."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-do-we-care-about-photon-shape">Why do we care about photon shape?</h2>



We depend on photons more than we might realize. Our eyes detect photons, allowing us to see the world around us. 



In technology, photons are crucial for solar panels that convert light into electricity and fiber optic cables that provide high-speed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificial-atoms-qkd-quantum-communication-revolutionizing-data-protection-privacy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">internet and communications</a>.



Photons also play a significant role in scientific research. They are central to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/like-charged-particles-attract-each-other-defying-coulombs-laws-of-physics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum electrodynamics</a> (QED), the theory that describes how light and matter interact. 



Photons act as force carriers for the electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces in the universe. 



They facilitate interactions between charged particles like electrons and protons, governing a wide range of physical phenomena.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advancing-quantum-physics">Advancing quantum physics</h2>



"The geometry and optical properties of the environment have profound consequences for how photons are emitted, including defining the photons' shape, color, and even how likely it is to exist," explained co-author Professor Angela Demetriadou.



Understanding the precise shape and behavior of photons could revolutionize the way we design <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trapped-atoms-forced-to-serve-as-transistors-quantum-network/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nanophotonic technologies</a>. 



This could lead to advancements in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unbreakable-encryption-brings-quantum-internet-communication-closer-to-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">secure communication methods</a>, improved detection of pathogens, and even control over chemical reactions at a molecular level.



"This work helps us to increase our understanding of the energy exchange between light and matter, and to better understand how light radiates into its nearby and distant surroundings," Dr. Yuen added.



"Lots of this information had previously been thought of as just 'noise' -- but there's so much information within it that we can now make sense of and make use of."



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



By comprehending how photons interact with their environment, scientists can engineer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/if-shadows-are-created-by-light-how-can-laser-light-cast-a-shadow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light-matter interactions</a> for future applications. 



Imagine better sensors that can detect diseases at an early stage, more efficient solar cells that provide cleaner energy, or advancements in quantum computing that could solve complex problems in seconds.



"By understanding this, we set the foundations to be able to engineer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-ping-pong-game-played-by-two-atoms-controlling-photons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">light-matter interactions</a> for future applications," says Dr. Yuen. 



The possibilities are vast and could significantly impact various fields, from healthcare to technology and environmental science.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-photon-shape-and-future-technology">Photon shape and future technology</h2>



To sum it all up, this fascinating research represents a significant step forward in quantum physics. 



By defining the precise shape of a single photon, the team has provided a tool that could help scientists and engineers design new technologies that harness the unique properties of light.



The findings not only answer long-standing questions about the fundamental nature of photons but also open up new questions and research paths. 



As we continue to explore the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-quantum-revolution-will-impact-all-aspects-of-society/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quantum world</a>, understanding the building blocks of light will be crucial in pushing the boundaries of what's possible.



The visualization of a photon is a testament to human curiosity and our desire to understand the universe at its most fundamental level. 



With this new knowledge, we're not just looking at light differently -- we're poised to use it in ways we never thought possible.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.203604" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physical Review Letters</a>.



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Exact shape of a single photon revealed for the first time

Light is something we interact with every day, but have...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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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



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Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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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



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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



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The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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



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Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

[sendtonews key="vpljfR2VBX-2560867-12187" 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> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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



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Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

[sendtonews key="MHyhtebibJ-2200368-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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