In a remarkable medical breakthrough, engineers have developed a light-activated pacemaker so tiny that doctors can inject it into the body through a syringe. Remarkably, the device simply dissolves after it’s no longer needed.&nbsp;



Designed for newborns, the pacemaker could transform temporary heart care after congenital defect surgeries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-the-heart-with-light">Controlling the heart with light</h2>



The new pacemaker is smaller than a grain of rice. It's wirelessly activated through pulses of light which are delivered by a soft, wearable device mounted on the patient’s chest.



The external controller detects abnormal rhythms and sends light through the body to activate the pacemaker and restore heartbeat. The study demonstrates the device’s effectiveness across animal and human donor hearts.&nbsp;



The development of the pacemaker was led by John A. Rogers, a professor of material science, biomedical engineering, and neurological surgery at <a href="https://www.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwestern University</a>.&nbsp;



“We have developed what is, to our knowledge, the world’s smallest pacemaker,” said Professor Rogers.



“There’s a crucial need for temporary pacemakers in the context of pediatric heart surgeries, and that’s a use case where size miniaturization is incredibly important. In terms of the device load on the body - the smaller, the better.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solution-designed-for-newborns">Solution designed for newborns</h2>



Though the light-activated pacemaker can function in patients of all sizes, its miniaturized design was motivated by the needs of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/infant-speech-is-driven-by-heart-rate-activity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">infants</a>. 



Igor Efimov is a co-leader of the study and experimental cardiologist at Northwestern.&nbsp;



“About 1% of children are born with congenital heart defects. The good news is that these children only need temporary pacing after a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-smallest-robot-could-transform-minimally-invasive-surgery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surgery</a>. In about seven days or so, most patients’ hearts will self-repair. But those seven days are absolutely critical," said Efimov.



Traditional pacemakers require surgery and have wires sticking out of the chest to connect to an external device. When they are no longer needed, the wires are removed - risking bleeding, tissue damage, or even death.



“Wires literally protrude from the body, attached to a pacemaker outside the body,” Efimov explained. “When the pacemaker is no longer needed, a physician pulls it out. The wires can become enveloped in scar tissue. That’s actually how Neil Armstrong died.”



The new injectable pacemaker addresses these risks. All of its components are biocompatible and bioresorbable, meaning they safely dissolve in the body’s fluids without needing surgical removal. Once the device has served its purpose, it simply disappears.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refining-the-light-activated-pacemaker">Refining the light-activated pacemaker</h2>



This innovation builds on <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00948-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earlier work</a> by Rogers and Efimov, who developed a quarter-sized dissolvable pacemaker in 2021. Surgeons asked for a smaller version to allow easier placement and suit the smallest patients.&nbsp;



The original device used near-field communication (NFC), but its antenna limited how small the device could be made. To overcome this, the team replaced the NFC system with a novel light-based mechanism.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pacemaker_light-activated_worlds-smallest_heart-health_Northwestern_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pacemaker_light-activated_worlds-smallest_heart-health_Northwestern_1s.webp" alt="The tiny pacemaker sits next to a single grain of rice on a fingertip. The device is so small that it can be non-invasively injected into the body via a syringe. Credit: John A. Rogers/Northwestern University" class="wp-image-1964846"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The tiny pacemaker sits next to a single grain of rice on a fingertip. The device is so small that it can be non-invasively injected into the body via a syringe. Click image to enlarge. Credit: John A. Rogers/Northwestern University</figcaption></figure>



“Instead of using the radio frequency scheme for wireless control, we developed a light-based scheme for turning the pacemaker on and delivering stimulation pulses to the surface of the heart. This is one feature that allowed us to dramatically reduce the size,” said Professor Rogers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-powered-by-the-body-s-own-fluids">Powered by the body’s own fluids</h2>



The engineers also reimagined how to power the tiny pacemaker. Rather than requiring a battery or external power source, the device uses a simple galvanic cell - a chemical battery formed by two different metals as electrodes.&nbsp;



When the device is inside the body, surrounding biofluids act as the electrolyte, allowing electrical current to flow and stimulate the heart.



“A very tiny light-activated switch on the opposite side from the battery allows us to turn the device from its ‘off’ state to an ‘on’ state upon delivery of light that passes through the patient’s body from the skin-mounted patch,” explained Professor Rogers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-trauma-and-risk">Reducing trauma and risk</h2>



Using infrared light, which can safely penetrate deep into the body, the wearable controller detects when a patient’s heart rate falls too low. It then triggers a light-emitting diode (LED) to flash on and off at the desired pacing rhythm.&nbsp;



“Infrared light penetrates very well through the body,” Efimov said. “If you put a flashlight against your palm, you will see the light glow through the other side of your hand. It turns out that our bodies are great conductors of light.”



Despite its microscopic size - just 1.8 mm wide, 3.5 mm long, and 1 mm thick - the pacemaker delivers stimulation on par with traditional devices. “The heart requires a tiny amount of electrical stimulation,” Rogers said.&nbsp;



“By minimizing the size, we dramatically simplify the implantation procedures, we reduce trauma and risk to the patient, and, with the dissolvable nature of the device, we eliminate any need for secondary surgical extraction procedures.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-era-of-heart-care">A new era of heart care</h2>



Because these light-activated pacemakers are so small and wireless, doctors could one day deploy multiple units on different parts of the heart to create more advanced pacing systems. 



Each device could be controlled independently using different light wavelengths, enabling personalized and precisely timed stimulation across the heart’s surface.



“We can deploy a number of such small pacemakers onto the outside of the heart and control each one,” Efimov said. “Then we can achieve improved synchronized functional care.”



Professor Rogers noted that because it’s so small, the pacemaker can be integrated with almost any kind of implantable device.



“We also demonstrated integration of collections of these devices across the frameworks that serve as transcatheter aortic valve replacements to address complications that can occur during a patient’s recovery process," said Rogers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-bioelectronic-medicine">Future of bioelectronic medicine</h2>



While this breakthrough has clear implications for pediatric heart care, the technology could pave the way for a new generation of bioelectronic medicine.&nbsp;



These tiny, dissolvable devices could one day be adapted to promote nerve and bone regeneration, manage <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mindfulness-meditation-is-a-powerful-weapon-against-chronic-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pain</a>, support wound healing, and more.



Northwestern engineers shrank the device and removed risks by making it dissolve after use. In doing so, they’ve created a tool that could reshape how doctors care for the heart - from the tiniest patients to adults.



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Click here to <a href="https://youtu.be/j_0hZ8cUwgo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watch a video interview...</a>



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08726-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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World's smallest pacemaker is set to revolutionize heart health

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, engineers have developed a light-activated pacemaker so tiny that doctors can inject it into the body through a syringe. Remarkably, the device simply dissolves after it’s no longer needed.&nbsp; Designed for newborns, the pacemaker could transform temporary heart care after congenital defect surgeries. Controlling the heart with light The new pacemaker is smaller than a grain of rice. It's wirelessly activated through pulses of light which are delivered by a soft, wearable device mounted on the patient’s chest. The external controller detects...

Peering into the dynamic frontier where the ocean and the atmosphere meet, we uncover a unique and delicate micro-environment known as the sea surface microlayer. 



This thin, yet vital, boundary is teeming with complex interactions that govern the delicate balance between the air and sea.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-surface-microlayer">Sea surface microlayer</h2>



Crucially, the sea surface microlayer has enormous implications for nutrient exchange, pollutant migration, and the transport of organic matter between the ocean and the atmosphere. It plays a pivotal role in both local ecosystems and global climate regulation.



A dedicated team of researchers from the University of Delaware (UD) and the University of Georgia (UGA) set out to better understand the fine nuances of this oceanic phenomenon and its role in climate regulation and carbon cycles



The research team faced setbacks on two previous cruises due to stormy weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they remained undeterred, embarking on their third attempt aboard UD's Research Vessel Hugh R. Sharp.



The goal was to unlock the mysteries of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/monitoring-the-dynamic-shape-of-the-sea-surface/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea surface</a> microlayer in the North Atlantic Ocean.



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



Andrew Wozniak, an associate professor in UD’s <a href="https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/ceoe/departments/smsp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Marine Science and Policy</a> (SMSP), emphasized the significance of this ocean layer. He said the sea surface microlayer is a unique micro-environment.



"It accumulates organic material of a certain kind and then reaches the air-sea interface and accumulates there, creating interesting physical properties that influence the exchange of materials back and forth,” said Wozniak. 



This delicate balance of materials between air and sea could reshape our understanding of gas exchange and the emission of particles into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-atmosphere-is-expanding-due-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmosphere</a>, explained Wozniak.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surfactants-and-atmospheric-chemistry">Surfactants and atmospheric chemistry</h2>



A key focus of the team’s research involved surfactants - compounds that reduce the surface tension of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-time-capsules-seawater-holds-secrets-of-ancient-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seawater</a>.



“We want to understand what surfactants are in the ocean, how they partition to the microlayer, and what affects their concentration and their composition,” said Amanda Frossard, an associate professor in UGA’s Department of Chemistry.



The research is crucial for understanding how surfactants influence air-sea gas exchange and atmospheric chemistry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-samples-from-the-sea-surface-microlayer">Samples from the sea surface microlayer</h2>



Studying the sea surface microlayer presents a host of technical challenges, largely due to its incredibly thin structure, measuring only 100 micrometers -approximately the thickness of a piece of copy paper.



To collect enough samples, the research team repurposed a Rosette sampler, which is traditionally used for deep water sampling.



“We extend the sampler off the back of the boat, dip it in, lift it up and bring it back on board, and then scrape the glass,” explained Wozniak.



This technique allowed the researchers to collect the surfactant molecules clinging to the glass plate as it emerged from the water.



The significance of these surfactants, said Wozniak, lies in their ability to reduce surface tension, which directly impacts turbulence at the air-water interface. "That <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-ocean-turbulence-impacts-carbon-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">turbulence</a> is a key factor in how gases can go back and forth."



Although wind speed has traditionally been the key factor in quantifying gas exchange, Wozniak and his team believe that surfactants play a significant role in influencing these models, which currently have large margins of error.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-sea-and-oceanic-research">Future of sea and oceanic research</h2>



Once the samples were collected, the team conducted detailed analyses both onboard and back at their respective universities. 



Students, including doctoral candidates Felix Agblemanyo and Tia Ouyang from UD, as well as undergraduates Audrey Tong and Ava Grove, contributed to the research, gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge climate science.



“This was our solution to study the sea-surface microlayer, and it really is a great example of collaboration between the ship crew and the scientists to solve a real challenge,” said Wozniak.



With this foundational research, the team hopes to refine climate models and further our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-spray-releases-water-pollution-into-the-air/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air-sea</a> interactions, paving the way for more accurate predictions of carbon cycles and climate regulation.



As we continue to strive for a deeper understanding of our oceans and the complex processes at play, this oceanographic research stands as a powerful example of the perseverance and collaborative efforts required in the face of such intricate environmental challenges.



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Sea surface microlayer has a hidden impact on climate

Peering into the dynamic frontier where the ocean and the...

Have you ever wondered about what happens in the universe's more lively neighborhoods? A recent discovery showcases how a jet beam from a black hole may be causing astral fireworks.



What if, in the heart of a gigantic galaxy, a supermassive black hole's blowtorch-like jet was the catalyst for stars to erupt along its trajectory? 



Well, that's what astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have recently discovered.



These erupting stars, known as novae, aren't caught right inside the jet. Instead, they seem to reside in a dangerous vicinity of the jet.



"We don't know what's going on, but it's just a very exciting finding. This means there's something missing from our understanding of how black hole <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-jets-are-like-million-light-year-long-jedi-lightsabers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">jets</a> interact with their surroundings," explained Alec Lessing of <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanford University</a>, lead author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-a-nova-erupts-near-black-hole-jet">How a nova erupts near black hole jet</h2>



To better understand this complex process, think of it as a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mini-neptune-toi-4633c-habitable-zone-binary-star-system-puzzles-astronomers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">double-star</a> system, where a normal star, now aged and swollen, spills hydrogen onto a companion star -- a white dwarf that has burned out.



Now, when this dwarf fills up with a mile-deep surface layer of this hydrogen, it detonates in a colossal nuclear explosion. 



Interestingly, the dwarf remains unharmed, and the cycle just starts all over again.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-galactic-inferno-in-action">Galactic inferno in action</h2>



Hubble's study revealed twice as many novae erupting near the black hole’s jet than elsewhere in the galaxy. 



At the center of this phenomenon is a 6.5-billion-solar-mass black hole, surrounded by swirling matter. 



As the black hole engulfs infalling material, it launches a 3,000-light-year-long jet of plasma at nearly the speed of light. 



The jet's powerful beam could fry anything directly in its path, but even the nearby regions are hazardous, as shown by the increased <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/one-novae-star-explosion-may-be-origin-phosphorus-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nova activity</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-are-novae-birthed-near-the-jet">Why are novae birthed near the jet?</h2>



The discovery suggests that either there are more double-star systems capable of forming novae near the jet or that these systems erupt more frequently.



"Maybe the jet somehow snowplows hydrogen fuel onto the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/white-dwarf-stars-may-be-billions-of-years-older-than-estimated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">white dwarfs</a>, causing them to erupt more frequently. But it's not clear that it's a physical pushing," Lessing pondered.



It could be the effect of the pressure of the light emanating from the jet. When you deliver hydrogen faster, you get eruptions faster. Something might be doubling the mass transfer rate onto the white dwarfs near the jet.



"We're not the first people who've said that it looks like there's more activity going on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/black-hole-jets-are-like-million-light-year-long-jedi-lightsabers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">around the M87 jet</a>," added Michael Shara, co-investigator from the <a href="https://www.amnh.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Museum of Natural History</a> in New York City.



"But Hubble has shown this enhanced activity with far more examples and statistical significance than we ever had before."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stars-and-black-hole-jets-align-for-hubble">Stars and black hole jets align for Hubble</h2>



In fact, the <a href="https://hubblesite.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble Space Telescope</a> has managed to shed more light on this cosmic phenomena with far more examples and statistical significance than previously possible.



A vital part of this exciting discovery was revisiting a region every five days to count the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/t-coronae-borealis-nova-explosion-nearby-star-light-up-earths-skies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">erupting novae</a>, which culminated in the deepest images of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/highest-resolution-eht-black-hole-images-ever-taken-usher-in-new-era/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy M87</a> ever taken.



The Hubble discovered 94 novae in just one-third of M87 that its camera can encompass. 



"Once you plotted all known novae on top of M87, you didn't need statistics to convince yourself that there is an excess of novae along the jet," the scientists explained.



"This discovery was made simply by looking at the images. Our statistical analyses of the data confirmed what we clearly saw."



Lastly, let's acknowledge that these novae are no rare event. In <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/echo-of-gravitational-waves-heard-for-the-first-time-finally-confirming-their-existence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy M87</a> alone, one nova erupts every single day.



With around 100 billion galaxies throughout the visible universe, there's a dazzling light show with around 1 million novae erupting every second somewhere out there.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-hole-jets-as-cosmic-catalysts">Black hole jets as cosmic catalysts</h2>



Beyond their immense gravitational pull, black holes exert influence through their powerful jets of plasma, which can stretch for thousands of light-years. 



In the case of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monster-black-hole-is-spinning-in-the-nearby-galaxy-m87-study-confurms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">M87’s 6.5-billion-solar-mass</a> supermassive black hole, the jet appears to play an unexpected role in stellar behavior.



Rather than merely ejecting matter at nearly the speed of light, this jet seems to be increasing the frequency of nova eruptions in nearby double-star systems.



The exact mechanism behind this phenomenon is still unclear, but researchers suspect that the energetic outflow from the black hole could be altering the environment in a way that accelerates mass transfer between stars in these systems. 



This newfound connection between black hole jets and stellar eruptions adds another layer of complexity to our understanding of how black holes interact with their surroundings.



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Black hole jets cause stars to erupt as they pass through galaxies

Have you ever wondered about what happens in the universe's...

You know those ants you see scuttling around your garden? Have you ever thought about how they look when they are sick? 



A research team led by the University of Oxford has unveiled a startling discovery about these industrious insects. Queen ants, instead of nursing their sick young, opt for a rather grim alternative.



The moment they notice an offspring showing signs of illness, they chow down on them. Yes, they eat their ailing larvae, transforming them into energy to produce new eggs. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannibalism-for-ant-colony-survival">Cannibalism for ant colony survival</h2>



But why such a seemingly harsh measure? Well, ant queens are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-employ-safeguards-social-distancing-to-prevent-spread-of-diseases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">typically lone wolves</a> when it comes to setting up new colonies. 



During these early stages, the brood is extremely prone to diseases, posing a serious threat to the colony's survival. 



To combat this, the queen puts on her chef's hat and whips up a meal out of the sick larvae before they become infectious.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-presenting-ant-queens-with-sick-larvae">Presenting ant queens with sick larvae </h2>



How was this discovered? Well, <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford</a>'s Department of Biology presented the queens of the black garden ant with larvae infected with a lethal fungal pathogen. 



The infection was deadly, but not yet contagious when the queens were introduced. And then, what a feast it was. The queens devoured 92% of the uninfected larvae, leaving no trace behind.



"We observed the queens get to work immediately as they find a sick larva in their pile. They spend several hours making sure every piece is consumed," noted Dr. Chris Pull, the lead researcher and a member of Oxford's <a href="https://www.biology.ox.ac.uk/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Department of Biology</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-the-queens-avoid-illness">How do the queens avoid illness?</h2>



Interestingly, all queens survived the feast despite the potential risk of contagion. 



The scientists believe that the queens shield themselves by swallowing an antimicrobial venom that they produce in a unique gland at their abdomen's tail end.



Some queen ants were even witnessed massaging this gland during their mealting sessions. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cannibalism-gives-ants-a-reproductive-boost">Cannibalism gives ants a reproductive boost</h2>



And that's not all, the queens who consumed their infected larvae saw a 55% hike in their egg production compared to their non-cannibalizing counterparts. 



This suggests that the ingested offspring's nutrients are recycled for reproduction - a process we could term, quite appropriately, 'recycling life.'



"The queens start their colonies alone, sacrificing a lot of their own sustenance to raise their first batch of workers. The queens who churn out the most workers stand a greater chance at survival," explained study co-author Flynn Bizzell.



"By eating and recycling infected larvae into brood production, invaluable resources are not lost."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ants-control-disease-through-cannibalism">Ants control disease through cannibalism</h2>



Interestingly, the queens did not consume larvae that had reached the infectious stage. Instead, they sprayed the larvae with their antimicrobial venom, seemingly attempting to control the infection.



However, the majority (80%) contracted the disease and later died, emphasizing the importance of nipping the problem in the bud.



The ability of ant queens to selectively consume larvae before they become infectious and to utilize antimicrobial venom as a line of defense highlights a sophisticated evolutionary strategy for disease management. 



This dual approach ensures that resources are not wasted on doomed individuals while simultaneously fortifying the remaining larvae against threats. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maintaining-the-health-of-the-colony">Maintaining the health of the colony</h2>



The venom, believed to contain potent antimicrobial compounds, plays a critical role in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/white-ants-have-dual-roles-as-builders-and-decomposers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maintaining the health of the colony</a> at its most vulnerable stage. 



By employing this venom to spray infected larvae, queens attempt to curb disease spread and protect their investment in future generations. 



The chemical composition of this venom is now a subject of rigorous inquiry, as it may offer insights into developing new biocontrol agents and therapeutic compounds in broader biological applications.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-optimal-use-of-limited-resources">Optimal use of limited resources </h2>



This intriguing cannibalism behavior unveils the complex calculus of reproductive strategy in ants, where every action is directed towards <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ants-are-now-using-cars-to-travel-spread-to-new-locations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maximizing the colony's success</a>. 



The queens' decision to consume their sick offspring not only enhances their immediate reproductive output but also secures the long-term viability of the colony. 



By effectively 'recycling' the nutrients, queens ensure the optimal use of limited resources, particularly during the crucial phase of colony establishment. 



Viewing this behavior through an evolutionary lens, it becomes clear that such extreme measures are the products of natural selection, fine-tuned over millennia to increase the likelihood of survival in harsh environments. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hygienic-cannibalism-of-ants">"Hygienic cannibalism" of ants</h2>



The survival strategy of ant queens, known as "hygienic cannibalism," has only been witnessed among queens and never among <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/larger-ant-colonies-drove-the-evolution-of-worker-castes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mature worker ants</a>.



Unlike queens that seal themselves into the nest, worker ants can dispose of infected larvae by carrying them out of the nest. 



Ant queens, on the other hand, have found a way to turn a potential disaster into a means of long-term survival using cannibalism.



"Our findings show that cannibalism addresses disease containment and corpse disposal in the queens' underground bunker while ensuring valuable nutrients are not wasted," said Dr. Pull. "This significantly improves their odds of successfully establishing a colony."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(24)01001-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.



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Ant queens turn to cannibalism for controlling disease in their colonies

You know those ants you see scuttling around your garden?...

Imagine a world where the ice that has held our planet's deep secrets for millenia begins to melt. Permafrost, a thick layer of frozen soil that blankets the Arctic and Subarctic regions, is under threat from global warming.



Aided by warmer climates, this icy ground is now thawing at an unprecedented rate with a ripple effect of repercussions including dangerous wildfires.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permafrost-thaw-and-wildfires">Permafrost thaw and wildfires</h2>



In a recent publication, a team of international climate scientists and permafrost experts unravel the chilling consequences of the accelerating permafrost thaw.



The study is yet another confirmation that greenhouse gas emissions are setting us on an irreversible course of climate change.



Guided by a new breed of climate computer models, the research presents an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-arctic-ice-weakens-the-strength-of-el-nino-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alarming scenario</a> - thawing permafrost could trigger a surge in wildfires in the Subarctic and Arctic regions of northern Canada and Siberia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sowing-the-seeds-of-destruction">Sowing the seeds of destruction</h2>



As our planet heats up and permafrost thaws, the soil loses its moisture content. This one-two punch of increased warmth and dryness paves the way for wildfires to thrive.



And this isn't just a theory. Observations already point to the fact that warm and unusually dry conditions have intensified wildfires in the Arctic region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permafrost-thaw-wildfires-and-climate-change">Permafrost thaw, wildfires, and climate change</h2>



Previously, climate models skimmed over the complex interplay between global warming, permafrost thawing, soil water, and wildfires. 



However, this new study takes a giant leap forward by incorporating these factors into the <a href="https://www.cesm.ucar.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Community Earth System Model</a>, a comprehensive earth system model that dovetails the interactions between soil water, permafrost, and wildfires.



Understanding and simulating future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-arctic-ice-changing-global-climate-warm-arctic-cold-eurasia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anthropogenic warm</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-arctic-ice-changing-global-climate-warm-arctic-cold-eurasia/">ing</a> and its impact on wildfire occurrence is no small feat. The role of accelerated permafrost thawing must be taken into consideration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-trip-through-time">A trip through time</h2>



In their quest to separate the human-induced increase in greenhouse gas emissions from naturally occurring variations in climate, the research team turned to a sophisticated ensemble of 50 past-to-future simulations. 



The experts journeyed through time, spanning from 1850 to the projected future of 2100 CE under a specific greenhouse gas emission scenario.



This time-traveling exercise was conducted by scientists from the <a href="https://ibsclimate.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IBS Center for Climate Physics</a> in Busan, South Korea, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.



The simulations, generated on the IBS supercomputer Aleph, revealed a chilling reality.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tipping-point-of-fire-and-ice">Tipping point of fire and ice</h2>



According to the simulations, anthropogenic permafrost thawing in the Subarctic and Arctic regions will intensify by the mid to late 21st century. 



Excess soil water will drain quickly in many areas, resulting in a steep decline in soil moisture, and a subsequent rise in surface warming and atmospheric drying.



"These conditions will intensify wildfires," said Dr. In-Won Kim, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at the IBS Center for Climate Physics, South Korea.



Dr. Kim warns of drastic transitions from virtually no fires to very intense wildfires in just a matter of years in the second half of the 21st century.



Vegetation biomass, a significant player in fire propagation, is predicted to increase in high-latitude areas due to rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. This so-called CO2 fertilization effect acts as an accelerant to the already burgeoning fire crisis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permafrost-thaw-and-wildfire-intensification">Permafrost thaw and wildfire intensification </h2>



Professor Hanna Lee, co-author of the study at the <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norwegian University of Science and Technology</a>, emphasized the importance of improving our understanding of small-scale hydrological processes in climate models.



Permafrost thaw and wildfire intensification dynamics are not merely isolated phenomena, but they are components of a complex feedback loop.



"Wildfires release carbon dioxide, and black and organic carbon into the atmosphere, which can affect climate and feed back to the permafrost thawing processes in the Arctic," noted study co-author Professor Axel Timmermann, director of the ICCP.



The next step calls for the integration of fire emissions and atmospheric processes into earth system models. 



Our understanding of the great thaw and its repercussions continues to evolve. The question is - can we adapt swiftly enough to prevent the flames of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildly-unexpected-consequences-polar-ice-melt-earth-rotation-spin-day-length/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate chan</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildly-unexpected-consequences-polar-ice-melt-earth-rotation-spin-day-length/">ge</a> from consuming our future?



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51471-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Arctic wildfires will drastically intensify as permafrost thaws

Imagine a world where the ice that has held our...

Scientists have taken us on an incredible journey by extracting and analyzing DNA from the world’s oldest cheese samples, discovered alongside the ancient Tarim Basin mummies in Northwestern China. It's fascinating to think about how our ancestors enjoyed cheese thousands of years ago.



These findings, dating back about 3,600 years, are revealing new information about the origins of kefir cheese and probiotic bacteria.



The research, published in the journal Cell, represents a significant step forward in understanding ancient dietary practices and microbial evolution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-dairy-delicacy">Ancient dairy delicacy</h2>



The quest for these gastronomic answers began nearly two decades ago when a team of archaeologists uncovered curious white substances smeared on the heads and necks of several&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cocaine-use-detected-in-the-brains-of-17th-century-mummies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mummies</a>&nbsp;in the Xiaohe cemetery of the Tarim Basin.&nbsp;



These ancient mummies, dating back about 3,300 to 3,600 years, have fascinated scientists for ages. They have wondered if the mysterious white substance found on them could be a type of fermented dairy product. 



“This is the oldest known cheese sample ever discovered in the world,” said Qiaomei Fu, the study’s corresponding author at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology,&nbsp;<a href="https://english.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>.



“Food items like cheese are extremely difficult to preserve over thousands of years, making this a rare and valuable opportunity. Studying the ancient cheese in great detail can help us better understand our ancestors’ diet and culture.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-composition-of-the-ancient-cheese">Composition of the ancient cheese</h2>



Fast-forward to recent years, and advancements in ancient&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-analysis-can-predict-which-animals-are-at-risk-of-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DNA analysis</a>&nbsp;have finally allowed Fu and her team to unravel this ancient enigma.&nbsp;



The researchers successfully extracted mitochondrial DNA from the samples found in three different tombs in the Xiaohe cemetery.&nbsp;



The team identified both cow and goat DNA in the cheese samples, revealing that the ancient Xiaohe people made cheese in separate batches using different sources of animal milk - an intriguing deviation from the mixed-milk methods used in Middle Eastern and Greek cheesemaking.



Most remarkably, Fu and her colleagues recovered the DNA of microorganisms from the dairy samples, confirming that the white substances were indeed kefir cheese.&nbsp;



The samples contained bacterial and fungal species such as&nbsp;Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens&nbsp;and&nbsp;Pichia kudriavzevii, both commonly found in present-day kefir grains.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glimpse-into-probiotic-evolution">Glimpse into probiotic evolution</h2>



Kefir grains, much like a sourdough starter, are symbiotic cultures of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/probiotics-could-be-part-of-the-solution-to-childhood-obesity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">probiotic bacteria</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/elusive-ancestor-of-lager-yeast-found-in-ireland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">yeast</a>&nbsp;used to ferment milk into kefir cheese.&nbsp;



By analyzing bacterial genes from ancient samples, Fu’s team has traced the evolution of probiotic bacteria over the last 3,600 years.



The experts compared the ancient Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens to its modern-day counterparts, unveiling key evolutionary changes.



Today, there are two dominant groups of&nbsp;Lactobacillus - one originating in Russia and another from Tibet.&nbsp;



The Russian variety is the most common for making yogurt and cheese. However, the ancient Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens in kefir cheese is more similar to the Tibetan group, questioning the belief that kefir only came from Russia's North Caucasus region.



“Our observation suggests kefir culture has been maintained in Northwestern China’s Xinjiang region since the Bronze Age,” noted Fu.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cultural-exchange-and-trade">Cultural exchange and trade</h2>



This remarkable discovery also provides insight into the cultural and economic exchanges occurring during the Bronze Age. 



The presence of kefir cheese in the Xiaohe region suggests that there was a significant transfer of culinary knowledge and techniques across vast distances. The adaptation of kefir culture from Tibet to Northwestern China hints at a rich tapestry of interaction among different peoples and societies. 



Such exchanges were likely not limited to culinary practices but may have encompassed other aspects of life, leading to the development of complex trade networks. 



These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the interconnected nature of ancient civilizations and their shared histories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-investigation-of-ancient-cheese">Investigation of ancient cheese</h2>



As researchers continue to parse the data from this study, there are several avenues for future exploration. 



One promising direction is the investigation of other ancient cheese samples in different archeological contexts to compare methods of production and ingredients used by various cultures.



The study also reveals that Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens exchanged genetic material with related strains, enhancing its genetic stability and milk fermentation capabilities over time. 



The genetic exchanges likely helped Lactobacillus adapt to human hosts, making modern-day bacteria less likely to trigger immune responses in the human intestine than their ancient counterparts. 



This co-evolution between humans and bacteria highlights the depth of our ancient relationship with food and the environment.



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



“This is an unprecedented study, allowing us to observe how a bacterium evolved over the past 3,000 years,” said Fu.



“Moreover, by examining&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cheese-may-contain-nutrients-that-prevent-cognitive-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dairy products</a>, we’ve gained a clearer picture of ancient human life and their interactions with the world. This is just the beginning, and with this technology, we hope to explore other previously unknown artifacts.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867424008997" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell</a>.



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World's oldest cheese discovered alongside ancient mummies

Scientists have taken us on an incredible journey by extracting...

In a thrilling revelation that challenges existing theories about the structure of Earth's interior, scientists have uncovered evidence of an ancient seafloor that sank deep into the Earth during the age of dinosaurs.



This previously unstudied tract of seafloor, located in the East Pacific Rise, has opened a window into how the planet’s surface has evolved over millions of years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-seafloor-in-earth-s-mantle">Ancient seafloor in Earth's mantle</h2>



Led by researchers from the <a href="https://umd.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a>, the study changes our understanding of Earth's mantle transition zone, located between the upper and lower mantles.



At the helm of this research was postdoctoral researcher Jingchuan Wang, who led the team using advanced seismic imaging technologies.



By peering into the mantle - 410 to 660 kilometers below Earth's surface - the researchers discovered a peculiarly thick zone.



“This thickened area is like a fossilized fingerprint of an ancient piece of seafloor that subducted into the Earth approximately 250 million years ago,” said Wang. “It’s giving us a glimpse into Earth’s past that we’ve never had before.”



The discovery challenges existing models of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/major-volcanic-events-linked-to-the-slowing-of-tectonic-plates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tectonic plate</a> movement and mantle dynamics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-time-machine">Geological time machine</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-the-atlantic-ocean-may-ultimately-vanish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subduction</a>, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another, often leaves traces in the form of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/volcanoes-stabilize-temperatures-at-earths-surface/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanoes</a>, earthquakes, and marine trenches.



Typically, researchers study subduction by examining rock samples, but Wang and his colleagues took a different approach.



Working with Professor&nbsp;Vedran Lekic and Professor&nbsp;Nicholas Schmerr, Wang used seismic waves to analyze the structure of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mystery-deepens-over-origin-of-thousands-of-massive-holes-on-the-ocean-floor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean floor</a>.



“You can think of seismic imaging as something similar to a CT scan. It’s basically allowed us to have a cross-sectional view of our planet’s insides,” said Wang. 



“Usually, oceanic slabs of material are consumed by the Earth completely, leaving no discernible traces on the surface. But seeing the ancient subduction slab through this perspective gave us new insights into the relationship between very deep Earth structures and surface geology, which were not obvious before.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-mantle-influences-the-surface">Earth's mantle influences the surface</h2>



The team's findings suggest that material in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-breaking-hole-drilled-into-earths-mantle-scientific-goldmine-magma-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mantle</a> moves much slower than previously thought. 



Wang believes the unusual thickness in the mantle transition zone is caused by colder material, indicating that some oceanic slabs may be getting stuck mid-way as they descend. 



This discovery challenges the assumption that subducted material always moves smoothly through the mantle, raising new questions about how these stalled slabs affect long-term tectonic activity, volcanic hotspots, and even the planet’s magnetic field.



“We found that in this region, the material was sinking at about half the speed we expected, which suggests that the mantle transition zone can act like a barrier and slow down the movement of material through the Earth,” Wang explained. 



“Our discovery opens up new questions about how the deep Earth influences what we see on the surface across vast distances and timescales.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-and-mantle-dynamics">Climate and mantle dynamics</h2>



The research may also reshape our understanding of the mantle's thermal and compositional structure.



The subduction of ancient seafloor slabs plays a critical role in Earth's carbon cycle and mantle dynamics. 



As these slabs descend, they transport surface materials, including carbon, deep into the mantle, influencing long-term carbon storage and release through volcanic activity. 



This process also affects mantle convection, with thicker slabs slowing down heat transfer and altering tectonic and volcanic behavior. 



The discovery of these ancient slabs reshapes our understanding of how Earth's interior processes impact surface climate and geodynamics over time.



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



Looking ahead, the team plans to expand their research across the Pacific Ocean and beyond, mapping ancient subduction zones and their impact on Earth's surface and deep structures.



The researchers aim to gather more seismic data to create a detailed global map of these hidden formations, helping scientists better understand how tectonic movements have shaped the planet over millions of years.



The research could also have practical applications for geohazard prediction, improving early warning systems for earthquakes and volcanic activity in high-risk areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-about-earth-and-other-planets">Insights about Earth and other planets</h2>



In addition, the methods and insights developed in this study could be applied to the exploration of other planets. 



Similar geological processes may be at work beneath the surfaces of Mars and Venus, offering clues to their histories and internal structures.



“This is just the beginning,” Wang said. “We believe that there are many more ancient structures waiting to be discovered in Earth’s deep interior."



"Each one has the potential to reveal many new insights about our planet’s complex past - and even lead to a better understanding of other planets beyond ours.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ado1219." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Ancient seafloor re-emerges, giving us a new look at Earth's past

In a thrilling revelation that challenges existing theories about the...

Scientists have seemingly stumbled upon a "pause button" that has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of early human life development and reproductive technologies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pausing-embryonic-development">Pausing embryonic development</h2>



Among the realms of mammals, some possess the ability to control their embryonic development timing to enhance survival probabilities for both the mother and the embryo. 



In scientific terms, this phenomenon is dubbed "embryonic diapause." This intriguing event usually happens at the blastocyst stage right before the embryo implants itself into the uterus.



As a result, the embryo remains free-floating, extending the pregnancy period. This dormant condition can last from weeks to months before development starts all over again when the conditions are optimal. 



However, whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/will-men-disappear-the-y-chromosome-is-constantly-shrinking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human cells</a> can respond to these diapause triggers has remained a mystery - until now.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pause-button-for-human-cell-development">Pause button for human cell development</h2>



In a new study, experts have discovered that the molecular mechanisms which control embryonic diapause are also actionable in human cells.



The research was conducted in the labs of Aydan Bulut-Karslıoğlu at the <a href="https://www.molgen.mpg.de/2168/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics</a> and Nicolas Rivron at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. 



The scientists did not experiment on human embryos. Instead, they made use of stem cells and stem cell-based blastocyst models named blastoids.



Safe, scientific, and ethical - this alternative means of research led to the discovery that the mTOR signaling pathway could induce a state comparable to diapause upon modulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regulator-of-human-growth-and-development">Regulator of human growth and development</h2>



"The mTOR pathway is a major regulator of growth and developmental progression in mouse embryos," explained Bulut-Karslioglu.



"When we treated human stem cells and blastoids with an mTOR inhibitor, we observed a developmental delay, indicating human cells can elicit a diapause-like response." 



The dormant condition is marked by reduced cell division and slower development, also decreasing the ability to attach to the uterine lining. 



However, the capability to enter this dormant stage seems to be restricted to a brief developmental period.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-reproductive-technologies">Future reproductive technologies</h2>



The discovery of inducing diapause-like states in human cells opens new avenues for reproductive technology advancements. 



By harnessing the mTOR pathway, scientists might potentially regulate the timing of embryo implantation, which could prove invaluable for assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). 



This capability could increase implantation success rates by ensuring embryos implant at the most favorable time, thus enhancing pregnancy outcomes. 



Moreover, this insight into controlling embryonic development could lead to groundbreaking methods in preserving fertility, particularly in cancer patients who may require treatments that impact their reproductive health. 



The implications of manipulating this "pause button" for human development could indeed transform reproductive medicine, paving the way for tailored therapeutic interventions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ethical-considerations-of-modifying-development">Ethical considerations of modifying development </h2>



As with many scientific advancements, the ability to modulate embryonic development raises important ethical questions that need thorough exploration. 



While the potential benefits are significant, the conversation about how these technologies are employed and regulated is crucial. Ethical considerations must encompass the safety and long-term consequences of manipulating developmental stages. 



Future research will need to address these concerns, ensuring that technological advancements align with societal values and ethical standards. 



Moving forward, interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists, ethicists, and policymakers will be pivotal in navigating the challenges and opportunities stemming from this discovery. 



This breakthrough in human development not only highlights the potential of scientific innovation but also highlights the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/knowing-which-fish-to-eat-during-pregnancy-is-very-important/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responsibility that accompanies it</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-and-the-potential">Implications and the potential</h2>



The ability to control the timing of embryonic development might possess significant implications for IVF. 



"Undergoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-pregnancy-changes-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">faster development</a> increases the success rate of IVF, and enhancing mTOR activity could achieve this," said Rivron.



"Conversely, triggering a dormant state during an IVF procedure could provide a larger time window to assess embryo health and to synchronize it with the mother for better implantation inside the uterus."



Thus, the research not only opens up new possibilities of understanding how cells perceive various signals during their developmental journey but also highlights the importance of collaborative research in advancing science.



What's the final take? These remarkable findings could be our ticket to enhancing reproductive health and improving our understanding of the earliest stages of human development.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)00977-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cell</a>.



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Human development has a 'pause button'

Scientists have seemingly stumbled upon a "pause button" that has...

A recent study suggests that dogs could be the key to unlocking an unexpected boon for children’s mental and emotional health.



The secret lies in a hormone called oxytocin. You may know it as the "love hormone," but its job description extends further than just fluttering hearts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mood-boosting-hormone">Mood-boosting hormone</h2>



Oxytocin, produced in the brain's hypothalamus and released into our bloodstream, is a mood booster. It reduces stress, makes us feel more sociable, and helps us express our emotions healthily.



Now, picture this: children's bodies flooding with this feel-good hormone following playful romps with none other than man’s best friend. 



Scientists have observed higher concentrations of oxytocin in children following <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dog-and-human-brains-sync-up-during-eye-contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">engagements with dogs</a>, as compared to when kids played alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oxytocin-levels-in-dogs-and-children">Oxytocin levels in dogs and children</h2>



Dr. Gitanjali E. Gnanadesikan, a postdoctoral fellow at the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona</a>'s School of Anthropology, led this intriguing investigation.



The research was focused on 55 children aged between 8 and 10 years at the Arizona Canine Cognition Center. Over a series of visits, the young participants played with their pet dogs, an unfamiliar dog, and also had a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/interacting-with-dogs-can-ease-physical-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">solo play session</a>.



Throughout these engagements, the research team measured oxytocin levels in both the children and the dogs. The results? 



"To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence for an effect of affiliative social interactions with dogs on oxytocin concentrations in children," said Dr. Gnanadesikan. Both familiar and unfamiliar dog interactions led to an oxytocin boost in children.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dogs-benefit-from-children-as-well">Dogs benefit from children as well</h2>



What's more interesting is that it didn't matter whether the dog was a family pet or a stranger to the child, the oxytocin increase was noted in both cases. 



However, it’s worth mentioning that the pet dogs also exhibited a surge in their salivary oxytocin levels, but this wasn’t seen in unfamiliar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-learn-better-with-praise-and-petting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dogs</a>. 



This hints at the possibility that our canine friends may also reap the emotional benefits of these interactions, given that the child is a familiar companion.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-better-communication-skills">Building better communication skills</h2>



Beyond the biochemical exchanges that occur, the symbiotic relationship between dogs and children also plays a crucial role in the social dimension of childhood development. 



Interactions with dogs often lead to enhanced communication skills, as children learn to interpret their pet's body language, expressions, and needs. 



This non-verbal communication can then translate into more effective interpersonal skills when interacting with peers and adults. 



Additionally, dogs can serve as a bridge to social interaction, often drawing children into conversations with other pet owners or enthusiasts, thereby expanding their social circles and fortifying their confidence in expressing themselves.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications-of-the-research">Broader implications of the research </h2>



The implications of these findings extend beyond individual well-being and social skills, potentially influencing educational and therapeutic settings. 



Schools and therapy programs are increasingly incorporating animal-assisted interventions to support emotional regulation, decrease anxiety, and motivate learning for children who face challenges such as autism or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toddler-screen-time-linked-to-atypical-sensory-behaviors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ADHD</a>. 



The presence of a friendly dog can create a calming atmosphere, encouraging focus and reducing stress in academic settings. 



As evidence of the benefits continues to mount, educators and healthcare professionals might advocate for more widespread integration of animals in pedagogical and therapeutic practices. 



This could pave the way for children to thrive both academically and emotionally through playful and nurturing relationships with dogs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adult-supervision-is-needed">Adult supervision is needed</h2>



There is a catch, though. It is crucial to monitor these canine-kid interactions to ensure a fun and safe playtime.



Remember, not all dog breeds may be suited for play with children, and not all children may understand the nuances of interacting with dogs. 



A watchful adult eye is necessary, especially when it comes to infants and toddlers who are more vulnerable. "Children and dogs should not be left alone together without adult supervision," noted Blue Cross.



Ultimately, though, the science speaks for itself. Our loveable, loyal, four-legged companions could be key to enhancing our children’s emotional well-being, providing us with yet another reason to cherish our cuddly pals even more.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453024001926" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Psycho-neuroendocrinology</a>.



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Children get a rush of the 'love hormone' by playing with dogs

A recent study suggests that dogs could be the key...

For over two centuries, Ceres has captivated astronomers as the largest asteroid in our solar system. Discovered in 1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi, this dwarf planet nestled in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter has long been a subject of intrigue and study. 



Recent research, however, is shedding new light on Ceres, challenging our previous understanding of its composition and history.



The findings suggest that Ceres may harbor a substantial amount of water ice beneath its surface, painting a picture of an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dwarf-planet-ceres-could-potentially-sustain-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient ocean world</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rewriting-the-story-of-asteroid-ceres">Rewriting the story of asteroid Ceres</h2>



Traditionally, scientists believed that Ceres was relatively dry, estimating its ice content to be less than 30%. This assumption stemmed from the observation of numerous impact craters on its surface, which indicated a lack of significant ice. 



<a href="https://www.eaps.purdue.edu/people/profile/msori.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Mike Sori</a>, an assistant professor in Purdue’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, and <a href="https://www.michaelmsori.com/people" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ian Pamerleau</a>, a PhD student at <a href="https://www.purdue.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Purdue</a>, alongside Jennifer Scully from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), are the brains behind these new insights into Ceres' icy nature. 



"People used to think that if Ceres was very icy, the craters would deform quickly over time, like glaciers flowing on Earth, or like gooey flowing honey," explained Dr. Sori. 



"However, we've shown through our simulations that ice can be much stronger in conditions on Ceres than previously predicted if you mix in just a little bit of solid rock."



This revelation flips the script on decades-old theories. The research team utilized advanced computer simulations to model how Ceres’ craters have evolved over billions of years. 



Their work suggests that the surface of Ceres is composed of a "dirty ice crust," which is predominantly ice mixed with rocky material. 



This mixture allows the ice to remain stable over extensive periods, preserving the crater structures that once led scientists to believe Ceres was mostly dry.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-data-from-nasa-s-dawn-mission">Surprising data from NASA's Dawn mission</h2>



NASA’s <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/dawn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dawn mission</a>, launched on September 27, 2007, played a crucial role in this discovery. As the first and only spacecraft to orbit two extraterrestrial bodies -- Vesta and Ceres -- Dawn provided invaluable data from 2015 to 2018. 



"We used multiple observations made with Dawn data as motivation for finding an ice-rich crust that resisted crater relaxation on Ceres," Pamerleau noted. 



The spacecraft's spectrographic data indicated the presence of ice beneath Ceres' surface, and gravity measurements supported the idea of an impure ice composition.



The team's simulations accounted for a new way that ice can flow when even a small amount of rocky material is present. 



This finding reconciles the presence of numerous craters with the high ice content, suggesting that Ceres could indeed be an icy world without the surface ice rapidly flowing away. 



"We tested different crustal structures in these simulations and found that a gradational crust with a high ice content near the surface that grades down to lower ice with depth was the best way to limit relaxation of Cerean craters," Pamerleau added.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-ordinary-asteroid">No ordinary asteroid</h2>



Ceres stands out not just for its size -- about 940 kilometers (584 miles) in diameter making it the most massive object <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asteroid-chicxulub-caused-dinosaurs-extinction-event-traced-to-origin-kuiper-belt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in the asteroid belt</a> -- but also for its complex geology. 



"Ceres really looks more like a planet," Dr. Sori remarked. Its nearly spherical shape, along with features like craters, volcanoes, and landslides, make it a fascinating subject for planetary scientists.



The idea that Ceres could have been an ocean world similar to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/europa-clipper-mission-set-to-search-for-life-on-jupiters-ocean-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jupiter's moon Europa</a> opens up exciting possibilities. 



"To me, the exciting part of all this, if we're right, is that we have a frozen ocean world pretty close to Earth," said Dr. Sori. 



This makes Ceres an attractive target for future missions aiming to explore potential <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-finds-17-exoplanets-that-have-oceans-and-possibly-alien-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subsurface oceans</a> and the conditions that might support life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-window-into-the-solar-system-s-past">Window into the solar system's past</h2>



Understanding Ceres' composition and history offers valuable clues about the early solar system. 



As the largest asteroid, Ceres holds a significant portion of the asteroid belt's mass, making it a key player in theories about planetary formation and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-detects-water-on-asteroid-psyche/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">distribution of water</a> in our solar neighborhood. 



"Ceres may be a valuable point of comparison for the ocean-hosting icy moons of the outer solar system," Dr. Sori explained.



Moreover, the discovery of a dirty ice crust suggests that Ceres could have resources like water ice, which might be crucial for future space exploration endeavors. 



This ice could potentially be used for life support or as a component for fuel, making Ceres not just an object of scientific interest but also a potential hub for human activity in space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-comes-next-for-asteroid-ceres">What comes next for asteroid Ceres?</h2>



With Ceres now identified as a likely icy world, the next steps for scientists involve more detailed exploration. 



Future missions could aim to drill below the surface to directly sample the ice and rocky mixture, providing definitive evidence of Ceres' oceanic past. 



Additionally, studying Ceres helps scientists draw parallels with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dark-comets-hidden-near-earth-ice-giants-can-be-both-friend-and-foe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">other icy bodies</a>, enhancing our understanding of the conditions that lead to the formation of oceans and possibly life.



Dr. Sori and his team emphasize that Ceres is the most accessible icy world we know of, making it an ideal candidate for continued exploration. 



"Some of the bright features we see at Ceres' surface are the remnants of Ceres' muddy ocean, now mostly or entirely frozen, erupted onto the surface," Pamerleau said. 



This presents a unique opportunity to collect samples from an ancient ocean without the extreme challenges posed by more distant icy moons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-system-mysteries">Solar system mysteries</h2>



To sum it all up, the newfound understanding of Ceres as an icy giant reshapes our perspective on the asteroid belt and the broader <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psyche-asteroid-is-worth-10000-quadrillion-and-nasa-is-sending-a-space-probe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dynamics of our solar system</a>. 



By confirming that Ceres has a significant ice component, researchers have answered longstanding questions while spawning new ones about the potential for life and the history of water in our celestial neighborhood.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02350-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Astronomy</a>.



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Largest asteroid in our solar system used to be an ocean planet

For over two centuries, Ceres has captivated astronomers as the...

It's a fact as solid as gravity. Lose a limb or sustain damage to the spinal cord, and our human bodies can't self-repair. However, some members of the animal kingdom, like the African killifish, boast an extraordinary capacity to regenerate after injury.



Sequencing a precise chain of cellular events, they can restore missing body parts in a way our species can only marvel at. 



Recently, researchers at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have made strides in understanding one aspect of this regeneration process - the timing of cellular response to injury in killifish.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-killifish-tail-regeneration">Killifish tail regeneration </h2>



The study was led by Dr. Augusto Ortega Granillo, in collaboration with Dr. Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, President and Chief Scientific Officer at <a href="https://www.stowers.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stowers</a>.



The team investigated how the African killifish can <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/secrets-of-zebrafish-heart-regeneration-could-transform-human-cardiac-care/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regrow</a> its tail fin after an injury, focusing on what influences the duration and frequency of cellular engagement in the repair process.



“One of the greatest unsolved mysteries of regeneration is how an organism knows what has been lost after injury,” noted Dr. Sánchez Alvarado.



“Essentially, the study points to a new variable in the equation of regeneration. If we can modulate the rate and the length of time that a tissue can launch a regenerative response, this could help us devise therapies that may activate and perhaps prolong the regenerative response of tissues that normally would not do so.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-repair-response-after-injury">Repair response after injury</h2>



What happens when the tail of a killifish gets injured? The remaining tissue has to gauge the extent of the damage. 



Then, the right number of repair cells must be mobilized to the injury site for the appropriate duration of time. This entire process rests on the coordination of damage sensing, repair cell recruitment, and timing.



The team studied different injury locations in the killifish tail fin. They discovered that skin cells – not just at the injury site, but also at distant, uninjured regions – initiated a genetic program to prepare the entire organism for the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/axolotls-regeneration-powers-critically-endangered/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">repair response</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-extracellular-matrix">The extracellular matrix</h2>



These skin cells then sustained this response, temporarily altering their state to modify the surrounding material, also known as the extracellular matrix.



“We very clearly defined when and where - at 24 hours post-injury and in the extracellular matrix - the transient cell state is acting in the fin tissue," explained Dr. Ortega Granillo.



"Knowing when and where to look allowed us to make genetic disruptions and gain a better understanding of the function of these cell states during regeneration."



To comprehend how the unique cellular states convey information to the extracellular matrix during the repair process, the team turned to the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique. 



Profiling a gene known to modify the extracellular matrix, the experts found that disrupting the function of this gene led to a deficient speed in tissue growth.



“This is telling us that by changing the extracellular space, skin cells inform the tissue how much was lost and how fast it should grow,” said Dr. Ortega Granillo.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-aspects-of-killifish-regeneration">Evolutionary aspects of killifish regeneration </h2>



The team demonstrated that controlling the state of the cells that modify the extracellular matrix could potentially amplify regenerative regrowth. This could lead to more robust regeneration responses, opening up exciting possibilities for regenerative medicine.



“Our goal is to understand how to shape and grow tissues. For people who sustain injuries or organ failure, regenerative therapies could restore function that was compromised during illness or following injury,” noted Dr. Ortega Granillo.



However, the matter isn't closed. Understanding why certain organisms are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crown-of-thorns-starfish-gene-expression-may-help-protect-reefs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prodigious regenerators</a>, while others like humans have limited regenerative abilities, is still a driving force in the field of regenerative biology. 



By dissecting the principles observed in organisms with high regenerative capacity, researchers aim to apply these insights to enhance regeneration in humans. This could not only unveil the evolutionary aspects of regeneration but also instigate the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regenerative-medicine-in-humans">Regenerative medicine in humans </h2>



The findings hint at the tantalizing possibility of deploying regenerative medicine in humans, bringing us one step closer to bridging the gap. 



The African killifish, in its seemingly mundane existence, unlocks a world of potential therapeutic strategies that could one day revolutionize the way humans heal.



Until then, the scientific community remains relentlessly committed to exploring the enigma of regeneration, inching closer to answers one experiment at a time.



The research was supported by the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (<a href="https://www.hhmi.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HHMI</a>).



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(24)01962-X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">iScience</a>.



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Secrets of killifish regeneration may help us heal humans

It's a fact as solid as gravity. Lose a limb...

The Ice Age, which peaked around 20,000 years ago, offers a window into dramatic climate shifts that reshaped Earth’s oceans, landscapes, and ecosystems. 



Researchers now believe that this frigid epoch could provide crucial insights into future El Niño weather events, one of the most influential climate patterns affecting global weather today. 



By examining data from the last Ice Age, scientists are uncovering clues about how El Niño might behave in a warming world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ice-age-link-to-el-nino">Ice Age link to El Niño</h2>



El Niño is a climate pattern marked by irregular warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.



It may seem odd to connect the frosty Ice Age and the warming <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/el-nino-event-may-push-earth-towards-its-hottest-year-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Niño</a> phenomenon, but a recent study led by the University of Arizona bridges this gap. 



The research, published in the journal Nature, combines data from ancient marine shells and advanced climate modeling to explore how El Niño patterns might evolve in a warming world.



Kaustubh Thirumalai is the study's co-lead author and assistant professor in the University of Arizona’s Department of Geosciences.



"El Niño is a formidable force of nature - it induces <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/growing-risk-of-summer-droughts-linked-to-changes-in-river-flow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">droughts</a>, floods, and wildfires, disrupting marine and terrestrial ecosystems across the planet, with pervasive societal impacts across numerous sectors, from agriculture to the aviation industry," said Thirumalai.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-el-nino-conundrum">The El Niño conundrum</h2>



El Niño events typically recur every two to seven years. However, forecasting how these events may change in the future is a key challenge for climate scientists. 



"There are several state-of-the-art <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-temperature-increase-2023-blew-past-all-climate-models/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate models</a> out there, and they suggest different El Niño responses to ongoing and future human-caused warming," noted Thirumalai



"Some say El Niño variations will increase, others say they will decrease - it is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon. So, addressing what might happen to El Niño is a key priority for climate science."



To address this uncertainty, the research team - including collaborators from the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu/admissions?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_term=university%20of%20arizona&amp;utm_campaign=brand_us_tier_3_search&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw0t63BhAUEiwA5xP54fRMMjcyfERK9cf8gWAldTc6J9yx2PQFqRH-DzW1bEZJWzY7QcbydhoCyNEQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona</a>, UC Boulder, University of Texas, Middlebury College, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - turned to the past.



The experts focused on the Last Glacial Maximum, a period around 20,000 years ago when ice sheets covered much of North America and Europe.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-capsules-unlocking-el-nino-s-past">Time capsules: Unlocking El Niño's past</h2>



To simulate conditions from the Last Glacial Maximum to the present day, the researchers employed the Community Earth System Model, a project primarily led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. 



To validate this model, the team compared the results with data from tiny marine organisms called foraminifera. 



"These beautiful, microscopic creatures, which float in the upper ocean, build shells that lock in the ocean temperature when they were alive," said Thirumalai.



By analyzing the shells in different sediment layers, the scientists were able to reconstruct <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-ocean-water-discovery-is-unlocking-secrets-of-earths-past/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient ocean</a> temperatures and match them with the model’s simulations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-toward-a-warmer-future">Looking toward a warmer future</h2>



The study revealed that El Niño variability was significantly lower during the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-were-in-north-america-during-last-glacial-maximum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Last Glacial Maximum</a> compared to today. 



However, as the planet continues to warm, extreme El Niño events could become more frequent and intense, leading to severe weather disruptions globally.



"This gives us more confidence in the model's projections for the future," noted Thirumalai. "If it can accurately simulate past climate changes, it’s more likely to give us reliable predictions about future changes in the El Niño system."



The research shines a light on how studying Earth’s icy past can help prepare us for the warming world ahead warming world.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-impact-of-the-ice-age">Broader impact of the Ice Age</h2>



The Ice Age, spanning thousands of years, was not only a time of massive glaciation but also a period of significant atmospheric and oceanic shifts. 



During the Last Glacial Maximum, the Earth’s climate was drastically different from today, with ice sheets covering large portions of North America, Europe, and Asia. These ice sheets reflected much of the sun’s energy, cooling the planet and altering wind and ocean currents.



The Ice Age also influenced global weather patterns, affecting the frequency and intensity of events like El Niño. 



As glaciers melted and sea levels rose, the redistribution of heat and water transformed ocean circulation, which in turn impacted the climate on a global scale. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-earth-s-response-to-natural-changes">Predicting Earth's response to natural changes</h2>



Understanding these ancient systems is crucial because they hold key lessons about how Earth's climate responds to natural changes, allowing scientists to refine models for future climate behavior.



The lasting effects of the Ice Age can still be seen in today’s climate, and this type of study helps researchers piece together how slow-moving but profound climate shifts have historically shaped the environment.



As we look to predict future extreme weather events, particularly El Niño, the Ice Age provides a critical backdrop for understanding the larger forces that govern our planet’s climate.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07984-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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What the Ice Age can tell us about future El Niño events

The Ice Age, which peaked around 20,000 years ago, offers...

A recent study reveals a startling development for two endangered primate species in Bangladesh. Phayre's langurs and capped langurs might be headed for an unexpected twist in their evolutionary tale - hybridization.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-langur-hybridization-in-bangladesh">Langur hybridization in Bangladesh</h2>



A research team led by Tanvir Ahmed, a PhD student at the <a href="https://www.dpz.eu/en/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">German Primate Center</a>, took on the monumental task of studying langur populations in northeastern Bangladesh.



Over a five-year period, from 2018 to 2023, the researchers chipped away at the mysteries hidden within these populations.



Out of the 98 langur groups studied, the experts discovered that 8 were mixed groups that consisted of both Phayre's and capped langurs.



In three of these mixed groups, some individuals presented as unique blends of the two species. But what did this mean, and does it hold any significant implications?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-evidence-from-hybrid-langurs">Genetic evidence from hybrid langurs</h2>



When faced with an intriguing puzzle, every scientist knows that the key to deciphering it lies within the data's fine details. 



Once the team collected genetic samples from these hybrid individuals, they were transported to the lab at the German Primate Center for analysis. 



The tests confirmed that there had been an instance of hybridization. In this case, the hybrid langur was born to a capped langur mother and a Phayre's langur father. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ripple-effect-of-langur-hybridization">Ripple effect of langur hybridization</h2>



Hybridization among <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/small-primates-struggle-more-with-extreme-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primates</a> - the blending of two different species - is a rare phenomenon in itself. Typically, it only occurs where two related species find their territories overlapping. 



Unnatural activities such as deforestation, trapping, and hunting can lead to population thinning. This restricts the movement of individuals, and thus, can unintentionally spur such hybridization. 



"The existence of fertile hybrids is particularly alarming because it suggests that gene flow between these two endangered species could irreversibly affect their future genetic composition," said Tanvir Ahmed, lead author of the study. 



"This is not just a local problem. When habitats are destroyed, animals mix unnaturally and form mixed groups and hybridization might occur. This can even mean the extinction of one or both species," noted study co-author and lead scientist Christian Roos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-conservation-an-urgent-priority">Forest conservation: An urgent priority</h2>



The study also revealed that forests which are better protected host bigger langur populations.



However, the situation is never as simple as it seems. Even these protected forests are often too small and fragmented to guarantee the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primate-bonds-are-not-just-about-love-theyre-strategic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">survival of the species</a>. 



Ahmed emphasized that forest conservation should become a national priority. Otherwise, we risk losing these langurs and a significant chunk of Bangladesh's biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-langur-hybridization">Impact of langur hybridization</h2>



Ongoing research efforts are needed to understand the full impact of hybridization on the endangered langurs.



"This study is a wake-up call. We need more data to develop effective long-term conservation strategies," said Dietmar Zinner, a co-author of the study. 



The survival of the less than 500 Phayre's langurs and 600 capped langurs in northeast Bangladesh hangs in the balance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-for-endangered-langurs">Conservation for endangered langurs</h2>



Protection is urgently needed to keep Phayre's and capped langurs from disappearing forever. The focus should be on preserving and restoring their natural habitats, making sure these amazing primates have enough resources and space to thrive. 



This means tackling issues like deforestation and illegal hunting that harm their homes and split up their populations.



Working with local communities is crucial; education and awareness can help create a strong culture of conservation and sustainable living. In addition, better laws and enforcement are needed to guard against habitat destruction, ensuring a safer future for these vulnerable species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaboration-on-a-global-scale">Collaboration on a global scale</h2>



The findings from Bangladesh transcend national boundaries, emphasizing the need for a concerted international effort in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/primates-who-are-facially-expressive-make-the-best-leaders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primate conservation</a>. 



Establishing global partnerships, particularly with organizations specializing in primate research and conservation, can share crucial resources, expertise, and funding. 



This collaborative approach enables monitoring and research initiatives to embrace a more comprehensive understanding of langur populations, hybridization and their ecosystems. 



Equipped with his discoveries, Ahmed is now focusing his doctoral project on a comprehensive genetic study of endangered langur populations. He aims to explore their vulnerability to climate change, a vital step in forming an effective action plan.



The study is published in the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10764-024-00459-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Journal of Primatology.</a> 



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Forest loss is forcing endangered primates to interbreed

A recent study reveals a startling development for two endangered...

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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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



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.

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



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

The 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



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.

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



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

Satellites 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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