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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

In a stunning new discovery, a team of researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham have unearthed a massive expanse of quarry floor filled with hundreds of different dinosaur footprints, creating a variety of enormous trackways.&nbsp;



These footprints, located at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, date back to the Middle Jurassic Period, approximately 166 million years ago.&nbsp;



According to the scientists, these trackways form part of a huge “dinosaur highway” and include footprints from the nine-meter predator Megalosaurus, as well as from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/isle-of-wight-fossils-suggest-that-europe-had-unique-plant-eating-dinosaurs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">herbivorous dinosaurs</a> that were up to twice that size.



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



"The Dinosaur Highway" refers to a stretch of coastline in the southeast of England, particularly around the Isle of Wight and the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. This area is famous for its rich fossil deposits, where dinosaur tracks and fossils have been discovered. 



The Isle of Wight, often called the "Dinosaur Island," is especially known for having some of the best-preserved dinosaur footprints in the world. 



Scientists have found evidence of many different species that lived millions of years ago, from plant-eating herbivores to massive carnivorous predators.



The Jurassic Coast, a <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO World Heritage site</a>, stretches across Dorset and East Devon and is another key part of this "Dinosaur Highway." 



This coastline is not just home to dinosaur fossils but also offers a stunning view of Earth's geological history, with layers of rock dating back to the Mesozoic era.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extensive-trackways-on-the-dinosaur-highway">Extensive trackways on the dinosaur highway</h2>



The excavation uncovered five main trackways, with indications of additional footprints in the surrounding area. One trackway spans over 150 meters. 



Four of the trackways were traced to gigantic, long-necked sauropods, likely Cetiosaurus, reaching up to 18 meters in length. 



The fifth belonged to a carnivorous <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/large-theropod-dinosaurs-thrived-in-polar-environments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">theropod</a> dinosaur, Megalosaurus, recognized by its large, three-toed footprints. 



In one section, sauropod footprints and Megalosaurus tracks intersect, hinting at the possibility of these dinosaurs encountering each other in this prehistoric setting.



“Scientists have known about and been studying Megalosaurus for longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, and yet these recent discoveries prove there is still new evidence of these animals out there, waiting to be found,” said Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist at the <a href="https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford University Museum of Natural History</a> (OUMNH).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-sparked-by-keen-observations">Discovery sparked by keen observations</h2>



The footprints lay hidden under mud until quarry worker Gary Johnson noticed “unusual bumps” while clearing clay to expose the quarry floor. At that point, experts were brought in to investigate the site more closely.&nbsp;



Supported by Quarry Manager Mark Stanway and his staff, a large research team from the Universities of <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oxford</a> and <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Birmingham</a> spent a week in June 2024 carefully revealing around 200 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/matching-dinosaur-footprints-on-different-continents-trace-their-global-travels-gondwana/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">footprints</a>.&nbsp;



They used aerial drone photography to build highly detailed 3D models, ensuring the footprints are documented for future scientific research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-link-to-previous-finds">A link to previous finds</h2>



These new trackways connect with discoveries made in the same area in 1997. Past limestone quarrying had then revealed over 40 sets of footprints, some stretching 180 meters.&nbsp;



The earlier finds provided crucial insight into the types of dinosaurs that roamed the United Kingdom during the Middle Jurassic and helped establish the location as a “Site of Special Scientific Interest.”



Nevertheless, technology at that time did not allow for extensive digital or drone-based documentation. Modern techniques permit much more thorough recording of footprints, yielding a deeper understanding of dinosaur biology and behavior.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-window-into-ancient-environments">A window into ancient environments</h2>



“These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited,” said Kirsty Edgar, a micropaleontologist at the University of Birmingham.&nbsp;



More than 20,000 images were taken of the prints, forming a valuable resource for further study. Scientists hope this archive will help them reconstruct details about how dinosaurs moved, their potential speeds, and whether and how they may have interacted.



Beyond footprints, the site’s rich geological context can offer insight into its ancient environment, a muddy lagoon where these creatures walked millennia ago.&nbsp;



“The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaur’s feet squelched in and out. Along with other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossils-capture-a-turning-point-in-the-evolution-of-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossils</a> like burrows, shells and plants, we can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment the dinosaurs walked through,” said Duncan Murdock, an Earth scientist at OUMNH.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-viewing-fossils-from-the-dinosaur-highway">Viewing fossils from the dinosaur highway</h2>



BBC’s Digging for Britain covered the excavation as part of a new series, set to be shown on iPlayer from January 7 and on BBC2 on January 8, 2025. 



Hosted by Professor Alice Roberts, the program delves into the significance of the trackways and how they inform modern dinosaur research.



The discovery will also appear in the upcoming “Breaking Ground” exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, illustrating major turning points in our knowledge of Earth’s and life’s history.&nbsp;



Visitors can view original Megalosaurus fossils alongside images and video from the site, learning about cutting-edge paleontological tools and techniques.



These extensive trackways in Oxfordshire not only deepen our view of the Middle Jurassic but also demonstrate the power of modern technology to transform and enrich our understanding of the distant past.



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Hundreds of new and unique footprints found on the "dinosaur highway"

In a stunning new discovery, a team of researchers from...

Bats, often overshadowed by birds in discussions of long-distance migration, are now starting to be recognized for their remarkable travel feats.&nbsp;



A new study by scientists at the <a href="https://www.ab.mpg.de/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior</a> (MPI-AB) has provided unprecedented insights into the migration strategies of common noctule <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bats-can-ramp-up-their-heart-rate-to-900-beats-per-minute/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bats</a>. 



Using advanced tracking technology, the researchers discovered that these small mammals exploit storm fronts to maximize their energy efficiency during migration.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-high-tech-window-into-bat-behavior">High-tech window into bat behavior</h2>



“The sensor data are amazing!” said Edward Hurme, a postdoctoral researcher at MPI-AB and the Cluster of Excellence Collective Behavior at the <a href="https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Konstanz</a>.&nbsp;



“We don’t just see the path that bats took, we also see what they experienced in the environment as they migrated. It’s this context that gives us insight into the crucial decisions that bats made during their costly and dangerous journeys.”



The team employed lightweight, intelligent tracking devices developed by MPI-AB engineers. These tags, which weighed just five percent of the bats’ body mass, recorded extensive data, including activity levels and air temperature, throughout the migration.&nbsp;



The data were transmitted via a long-range network that provided coverage across Europe.&nbsp;



“The tags communicate with us from wherever the bats are because they have coverage across Europe much like a cell phone network,” explained Timm Wild, who led the development of the ICARUS-TinyFoxBatt tag at MPI-AB.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-and-variable-bat-migration-path">Unique and variable bat migration path</h2>



The study focused on 71 common noctule bats during their spring migration, covering up to four weeks. Unlike the predictable corridors often seen in bird migrations, the noctule bats took varied routes, though all moved in a general northeast direction.&nbsp;



“There is no migration corridor,” said Dina Dechmann, a senior author from MPI-AB. “We had assumed that bats were following a unified path, but we now see they are moving all over the landscape in a general northeast direction.”



The research also revealed that noctules can travel nearly 400 kilometers in a single night, a record for the species. However, their migration differs significantly from that of birds.&nbsp;



“Unlike <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-migratory-birds-navigate-with-such-accuracy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">migratory birds</a>, bats don’t gain weight in preparation for migration,” Dechmann noted. “They need to refuel every night, so their migration has a hopping pattern rather than a straight shot.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-migration-with-weather">Timing migration with weather</h2>



On some nights, the researchers observed a dramatic increase in departures, which Hurme likened to “bat fireworks.” This led the team to investigate the environmental triggers for these events.&nbsp;



They discovered that bats tended to leave when air pressure dropped and temperatures rose - conditions associated with approaching storms.&nbsp;



“They were riding storm fronts, using the support of warm tailwinds,” Hurme explained. The tags also showed that bats expended less energy on these nights, confirming that they harness wind support to power their flights.&nbsp;



“It was known that birds use wind support during migration, and now we see that bats do too,” he added.



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



These findings have significant implications for bat conservation, particularly in mitigating the risks posed by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wind-turbines-are-displacing-bats-from-their-forest-habitats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wind turbines</a>, a leading cause of bat mortality. “Before this study, we didn’t know what triggered bats to start migrating,” said Hurme.&nbsp;



He expressed optimism that further research could lead to systems capable of forecasting bat migration. Such systems could help wind farms adjust operations to reduce collisions. 



“We can be stewards of bats, helping wind farms to turn off their turbines on nights when bats are streaming through. This is just a small glimpse of what we will find if we all keep working to open that black box.”



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



Despite these breakthroughs, much remains unknown about the full migration cycle of noctule <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-bats-use-earths-magnetic-field-as-a-compass/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bats</a>, which spans approximately 1,600 kilometers annually. The study’s novel tracking technology marks an important step in uncovering the complexities of their behavior. 



“We are still far from observing the complete yearly cycle of long-distance bat migration,” Hurme acknowledged. “The behavior is still a black box, but at least we have a tool that has shed some light.”



By continuing to explore these mysteries, researchers hope to deepen their understanding of bat migration, paving the way for effective conservation strategies and contributing to a broader understanding of animal migration.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ade7441" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Bats 'surf' the winds of storms during migration 

Bats, often overshadowed by birds in discussions of long-distance migration,...

Who knew that a simple catch-up with your pals could hold the secret to a longer, healthier life? A recent study has suggested an intriguing link between our levels of social interaction and loneliness, and our physical health.



Leading the study was Dr. Chun Shen, along with his dedicated team from the University of Cambridge. The researchers found that a lack of social contact might be more harmful than previously suspected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-problem-of-loneliness">Growing problem of loneliness</h2>



Loneliness has become a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/social-isolation-and-loneliness-trigger-changes-in-blood-proteins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global public health issue</a> that affects people of all ages. While often associated with the elderly, loneliness has surged among younger generations as well, with 61% of 18–25-year-olds reporting frequent feelings of isolation.



Technology, despite promoting virtual connections, has deepened the problem by replacing meaningful, face-to-face interactions with superficial, online relationships.



Workplace changes, like remote work, have also reduced casual interactions and increased isolation among employees. Urban environments, with their fast-paced, individualistic cultures, paradoxically leave many feeling disconnected despite being surrounded by people.



Governments worldwide are recognizing loneliness as a crisis. The U.K. appointed a Minister for Loneliness, and Japan has initiatives to address extreme social withdrawal. The World Health Organization has also flagged loneliness as a growing concern.



Addressing loneliness requires promoting inclusive communities, encouraging social connections, and raising awareness to counter its significant emotional, physical, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-disrupts-college-students-sleep-more-than-screen-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">societal impacts</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-proteins-loneliness-and-health">Proteins, loneliness, and health</h2>



Researchers from the University of Cambridge analyzed blood samples from 42,000 adults aged 40-69, collected through the <a href="https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.K. Biobank</a>. Their study revealed a critical insight: loneliness increases the production of five specific proteins.



These proteins are directly linked to serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and even early death. This finding sheds light on the biological mechanisms through which loneliness can harm physical health.



“We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why. Our work has highlighted a number of proteins that appear to play a key role in this relationship,” explained Dr. Shen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-social-contact">Role of social contact</h2>



The study emphasizes how social bonds act as a protective shield against many health issues. Loneliness and social isolation have long been associated with reduced well-being and early mortality. 



However, this research offers new insights into the biological mechanisms at play.



“These findings drive home the importance of social contact in keeping us well," noted Professor Barbara Sahakian from the Department of Psychiatry at the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Cambridge</a>.



"More and more people of all ages are reporting feeling lonely. That’s why the World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHO</a>) has described social isolation and loneliness as a ‘global public health concern.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-of-loneliness-and-health">The science of loneliness and health</h2>



The research indicated that loneliness was linked to the increased production of five distinct proteins in the body.



One of the primary ways loneliness affects health is through chronic stress. When people feel socially isolated, their bodies may register stress and prepare them for a state of “fight or flight.”



This stress response can elevate inflammation, disrupt hormone regulation, and impair immune system function. Over time, these physiological changes contribute to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loneliness-harms-health-more-than-alcohol-obesity-or-smoking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development of diseases</a>.



Additionally, loneliness impacts heart health by influencing blood pressure and increasing the likelihood of conditions such as hypertension. It also contributes to metabolic changes, which can lead to insulin resistance - a precursor to type 2 diabetes.



These findings reveal that loneliness is not just a social or emotional issue but a biological one with far-reaching implications for overall health. Understanding the science behind these processes emphasizes the importance of addressing loneliness to prevent its harmful effects on the body.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-tips-for-staying-connected">Practical tips for staying connected</h2>



Promoting relationships and staying socially connected can significantly improve your well-being. Below are some practical ways to build and maintain connections while reducing feelings of loneliness.



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Reconnect with friends and family
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Send a message, make a call, or schedule regular meetups.</li>



<li>Plan activities like meals, walks, or shared hobbies.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Engage in community activities
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Join local groups or clubs, such as book clubs or fitness classes.</li>



<li>Volunteer in your community to meet people and make a difference.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Build new social networks
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Attend events like workshops, networking meetups, or local festivals.</li>



<li>Use platforms like Meetup or Facebook Groups to find people with similar interests.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Strengthen everyday interactions
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Greet your neighbors, chat with coworkers, or start conversations in daily settings.</li>



<li>Smile, make eye contact, and show interest to encourage connections.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Focus on quality over quantity
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Spend time nurturing relationships that bring joy and support.</li>



<li>Prioritize meaningful connections over having a large social circle.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-combating-loneliness-for-better-health">Combating loneliness for better health</h2>



The findings, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, stress the need for society to prioritize social contact. Whether through community programs, mental health support, or simply reaching out to loved ones, staying socially connected can significantly improve overall health.



In a world that often feels more digitally connected but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeling-lonely-and-unhappy-can-age-you-faster-than-smoking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">socially distant</a>, these insights remind us of the importance of nurturing real-life relationships - for both our hearts and our health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02078-1">Nature Human Behaviour.</a>



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Social contact is a protective shield against health issues

Who knew that a simple catch-up with your pals could...

Icy bodies like Europa and Enceladus have drawn attention as places that might offer answers to the age-old question of whether life exists beyond Earth. 



Beneath their thick ice layers, vast oceans may hold conditions that allow microorganisms to survive, just as certain organisms thrive in Earth’s extreme ocean habitats. 



Scientists are eager to explore these hidden frontiers, and several space agencies, including <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a> and German Aerospace Center (<a href="https://www.dlr.de/de" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DLR</a>), have shown strong interest in missions that involve advanced underwater craft designed for these cold environments.



The submersible craft, known as Extraterrestrial Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (Exo-AUVs), could travel through the ice, analyze the ocean below, and help researchers learn <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-could-survive-near-surface-europa-enceladus-moons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whether life may be lurking</a> in these deep waters.



Mission planners must decide where to look, which technologies to use, and how to meet core objectives for any future life detection effort.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-exo-auv-technology">Significance of Exo-AUV technology</h2>



Exo-AUVs have the ability to collect and analyze samples while cruising through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-evidence-jupiter-moon-europa-deep-ocean-shifting-icy-shell/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice-covered seas</a>. They can operate in challenging conditions that include high pressures, low temperatures, and limited light. 



Studies emphasize that these vehicles should carry an array of tools, including instruments for acoustics, vision, spectroscopy, and biological tests. 



Each Exo-AUV would scan large areas, identify spots with a higher chance of hosting microorganisms, and gather physical and chemical data before sending updates back to Earth.



Researchers see these machines as important because they can perform “multi-object, multi-scale and multi-dimensional detection autonomously and efficiently.” 



In other words, they are built to roam underwater for long periods, cover wide swaths of territory, and carry out detailed analyses. 



Agencies are excited about the chance to apply these methods on icy satellites, where getting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/europa-clipper-will-search-for-signs-of-life-on-jupiters-icy-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">answers about life</a> may finally be possible in the coming decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-for-biological-potential">Searching for "biological potential"</h2>



A key mission goal for Europa or Enceladus involves searching for strong evidence of possible biological processes, rather than expecting an immediate yes-or-no answer. 



By focusing on “biological potential,” mission planners can concentrate on scanning for biosignatures and perhaps even extant microorganisms. 



The ice shell, the boundary where ice meets liquid water, and the seafloor all feature conditions that might support life.



Thick ice can limit sunlight, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-hydrothermal-vents-provide-clues-about-the-origin-of-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hydrothermal vents</a> on the ocean floor could still provide essential energy sources. In settings like these, even fragile clues might indicate living systems. 



Researchers stress that identifying the right areas to investigate, coupled with the best equipment, is essential for spotting subtle signals that standard methods may miss.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exo-auvs-need-cutting-edge-tech">Exo-AUVs need cutting-edge tech</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/europa-clipper-is-on-a-1-8-billion-mile-journey-to-jupiters-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Europa’s icy crust</a> can reach around several miles thick, which poses a major obstacle for any vehicle hoping to access the underlying water. 



A carrier craft must melt or cut through this thick shell, enter the ocean, and release smaller underwater units into the sea. 



Plans call for using power sources like Radioisotope Thermal Generators (<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-science/programs/radioisotope-power-systems/power-radioisotope-thermoelectric-generators/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RTGs</a>) or Small Modular Reactors, which can generate both the heat and energy needed for drilling or melting through ice.



The intense radiation near Jupiter adds another hurdle. Protective materials are vital to keep the systems safe. Meanwhile, the limited payload capacity of launch vehicles demands careful design to keep spacecraft components small and light. 



Scientists are turning to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) to miniaturize the instruments, shrinking everything from cameras to chemical sensors without losing performance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-plan">What's the plan?</h2>



A proposed roadmap sets out the path for designing Exo-AUVs that can tackle these tasks with more autonomy than any rover or lander developed for planetary science so far. 



Mission outlines call for vehicles that start by exploring larger areas, then switch to closer observations in smaller zones to collect <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-sparking-energy-source-found-on-saturns-moon-enceladus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clues about life</a>. 



Researchers suggest that the roadmap should address crucial factors such as ice-penetrating methods, hull design, payload selection, and onboard autonomy for science tasks.



By following this plan, developers hope to avoid repeating mistakes from past missions that offered limited biological searches. 



Each step aims to refine the design, allowing the Exo-AUV to move smoothly and monitor everything from local chemistry to possible cell structures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-multiple-exo-auv-system-to-tackle-europa">Multiple Exo-AUV system to tackle Europa</h2>



A Concept of Operations for Multiple Exo-AUV System (<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-concept-of-operations-for-Exo-AUV-system-ConOps-for-MESA_fig3_384574932" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ConOps for MEAS</a>) has been introduced to tackle Europa’s varied environments. 



The idea involves a carrier vehicle, called an ice-penetrating Exo-AUV Carrier (EAC), and two smaller Exo-AUVs with different specializations. 



One is a Survey Module-equipped craft (EAS) designed to cover large areas and spot major objects on the seafloor or near the ice-water boundary. The other is an Observation Module-equipped unit (EAO) that can focus on tiny targets in localized spots.



This multi-vehicle setup also plans for in-water connection and disconnection, data sharing, and recharging - reducing wasted space and energy.



The EAC would stay under the ice as a home base for navigation and communication, while the two smaller craft carry out more targeted tasks.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-exo-auvs-to-find-alien-life">Using Exo-AUVs to find alien life</h2>



To sum it all up, experts suggest that the approach of combining precise instruments, robust power sources, and autonomy could finally provide strong insights into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extraterrestrial-life-moons-planets-detected-single-grain-ice-floating/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">whether life exists</a> on Europa or other icy bodies. 



If any findings from an exo-AUV mission hint at active biology, more craft could follow to expand coverage and confirm the results.



The vision is to conduct thorough investigations that adapt as fresh data arrives, reducing human interference caused by long communication delays of around 30 minutes each way. 



By using multiple vehicles and flexible scientific methods, researchers hope to unlock the secrets hidden under miles of ice.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11430-023-1390-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science China Earth Sciences</a>.



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Searching for life on alien ocean worlds will involve these types of robots

Icy bodies like Europa and Enceladus have drawn attention as...

Using the extraordinary capabilities of NASA’s Webb Telescope and the natural phenomenon of gravitational lensing, astronomers have achieved an unprecedented feat: observing individual stars in a galaxy called Dragon Arc that is 6.5 billion light-years away.



This breakthrough offers a unique opportunity to study the evolution of galaxies, the nature of dark matter, and the life cycle of distant stars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dragon-arc">The Dragon Arc</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Dragon-Arc.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The galaxy</a>, known as the Dragon Arc, was observed along the line of sight to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/titanic-galaxy-cluster-collision-defies-all-current-understanding-of-the-universe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy cluster</a> Abell 370, which acts as a cosmic magnifying glass. 



The cluster’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-galaxy-jwst-er1g-dark-matter-einstein-ring-mystery-solved/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravitational field stretches</a> and amplifies the light from the Dragon Arc, transforming its spiral structure into an elongated arc.



This macrolensing effect enabled astronomers to resolve individual stars in the distant galaxy for the first time.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-arc-galaxy_abell-370_macrolens-illustration_credit-Yoshinobu-Fudamoto_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-arc-galaxy_abell-370_macrolens-illustration_credit-Yoshinobu-Fudamoto_1s.webp" alt="The massive, yet invisible halo of dark matter of a galaxy cluster works as a &quot;macrolens,&quot;, while lone, unbound stars drifting through the cluster act as additional &quot;microlenses, multiplying the factor of magnification. Credit: Yoshinobu Fudamoto" class="wp-image-1955944"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The massive, yet invisible halo of dark matter of a galaxy cluster works as a "macrolens,", while lone, unbound stars drifting through the cluster act as additional "microlenses, multiplying the factor of magnification. Credit: Yoshinobu Fudamoto</figcaption></figure>



“Inside the galaxy cluster, there are many stars floating around that are not bound by any galaxy,” explained co-author Eiichi Egami, a research professor at the <a href="https://astro.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona's Steward Observatory</a>.&nbsp;



“When one of them happens to pass in front of the background star in the distant galaxy along the line of sight with Earth, it acts as a microlens, in addition to the macrolensing effect of the galaxy cluster as a whole.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-44-individual-stars-identified">44 individual stars identified</h2>



The study, led by Yoshinobu Fudamoto of <a href="https://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/e/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chiba University</a> in Japan, identified 44 individual stars in the Dragon Arc, the largest number ever detected in such a distant galaxy. 



These findings represent a significant leap in the study of distant galaxies, where stars typically appear as a blended glow due to the immense distance.



“To us, galaxies that are very far away usually look like a diffuse, fuzzy blob,” said Fudamoto. “But actually, those blobs consist of many, many individual stars. We just can't resolve them with our telescopes.”



Thanks to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/expansion-rate-of-the-universe-confirmed-by-jwst/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JWST</a>’s incredible sensitivity and the combined effects of macro- and microlensing, the team was able to track brightness variations in these stars over time. 



These changes occurred because the relative motion of stars in the galaxy cluster altered the alignment and magnification of the distant stars.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distant-stars-of-the-dragon-arc-nbsp">Distant stars of the Dragon Arc&nbsp;</h2>



The stars observed within the Dragon Arc were predominantly red supergiants - massive stars nearing the end of their lives, similar to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/betelgeuse-one-of-our-brightest-stars-will-vanish-from-sight-next-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Betelgeuse</a> in the Orion constellation. 



This contrasts with earlier discoveries that primarily identified blue supergiants, thanks to JWST’s ability to detect cooler stars through its infrared capabilities.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-arc-galaxy_abell-370-galaxy-cluster_JWST_UArizona_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/dragon-arc-galaxy_abell-370-galaxy-cluster_JWST_UArizona_1s.webp" alt="Abell 370, a galaxy cluster located nearly 4 billion light-years away from Earth features several arcs of light, including the &quot;Dragon Arc&quot; (lower left of center). These arcs are caused by gravitational lensing: Light from distant galaxies far behind the massive galaxy cluster coming toward Earth is bent around Abell 370 by its massive gravity, resulting in contorted images. Credit: NASA" class="wp-image-1955946"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Abell 370, a galaxy cluster located nearly 4 billion light-years away from Earth features several arcs of light, including the "Dragon Arc" (lower left of center). These arcs are caused by gravitational lensing: Light from distant galaxies far behind the massive galaxy cluster coming toward Earth is bent around Abell 370 by its massive gravity, resulting in contorted images. Credit: NASA</figcaption></figure>



“This groundbreaking discovery demonstrates, for the first time, that studying large numbers of individual stars in a distant galaxy is possible,” said Fengwu Sun, a co-author and postdoctoral scholar at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard &amp; Smithsonian (<a href="https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CfA</a>). 



The ability to identify and study different stellar types provides valuable insights into star formation and the chemical composition of distant galaxies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dark-matter-and-galactic-evolution">Dark matter and galactic evolution</h2>



The findings have profound implications for our understanding of the universe. Observing individual stars in distant galaxies allows scientists to probe the structure of gravitational lenses, offering a novel way to study <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/existence-of-dark-matter-confirmed-by-new-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dark matter</a>, which is believed to shape the formation of galaxies.&nbsp;



Moreover, the alignment of microlensing stars opens a window into the physical properties and behaviors of distant stellar populations.



By studying the brightness and color changes of these stars, astronomers can gain insights into the dynamics of galaxy clusters and the conditions that influence star formation and survival in the early universe.



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



The Dragon Arc is just the beginning. Future observations using JWST are expected to uncover even more stars in distant galaxies, enabling detailed studies of their life cycles and interactions. 



These efforts could yield hundreds of individual stellar profiles, expanding our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-galactic-explosion-provides-clues-about-galaxy-evolution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">galaxy evolution</a> over billions of years.



“By observing the same galaxy multiple times, we can spot stars in distant galaxies because they appear to pop in and out of existence,” Fudamoto explained.&nbsp;



This technique, combined with the natural magnification effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-telescope-finds-a-second-lensed-supernova-in-a-distant-galaxy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gravitational lensing</a>, could revolutionize our approach to studying the cosmos.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unlocking-the-mysteries-of-the-universe">Unlocking the mysteries of the universe</h2>



This landmark discovery demonstrates the immense potential of JWST and gravitational lensing to push the boundaries of observational astronomy.&nbsp;



By resolving individual stars billions of light-years away, scientists are unraveling some of the universe's greatest mysteries, from the nature of dark matter to the intricate dynamics of galactic evolution.



This study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02432-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Astronomy</a>, paves the way for a deeper exploration of the cosmos, providing a foundation for future studies that will continue to expand humanity’s understanding of our place in the universe.



Image Credit: NASA



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Dragon Arc: Webb telescope captures the most distant stars ever seen

Using the extraordinary capabilities of NASA’s Webb Telescope and the...

In a fast-paced, digitized world, excessive screen time among children is a rising concern - but it seems nature has something to say about it. 



A study from the University of Michigan indicates that the secret to pulling children away from screens might be as simple as offering them access to green spaces.



The study emphasizes that community programs aiming to reduce screen time work more effectively when children have access to local green spaces such as parks, forests, and lawns.



"Neighborhood green spaces may draw children out of the house and give them an alternative space to engage in activities other than screen time," explained study lead author Ian-Marshall Lang from U-M's School of Kinesiology.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dangers-of-excessive-screen-time">Dangers of excessive screen time</h2>



Excessive screen time has become a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/swedish-pediatricians-no-screen-time-for-children-under-two/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">growing concern for children</a> worldwide. Experts recommend no more than two hours of recreational screen use per day for children aged 6 to 17. 



However, about two-thirds of children exceed this limit. Prolonged screen use can contribute to various issues, including reduced physical activity, disrupted sleep patterns, and increased risks of obesity and mental health challenges.



Children who spend more time on screens often miss opportunities to engage in healthier activities like outdoor play, social interactions, and physical exercise. These behaviors are vital for their physical, emotional, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/kids-with-too-much-screen-time-struggle-to-gain-language-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cognitive development</a>. 



Despite the efforts of community programs and policies aimed at curbing screen time, many of these initiatives face challenges in effectiveness - particularly in neighborhoods lacking supportive environments like accessible green spaces.



This imbalance highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of excessive screen time, including environmental factors, to ensure all children can benefit from healthier, more balanced lifestyles.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-green-spaces-and-screen-time">Green spaces and screen time</h2>



The study revealed that not all neighborhoods have equal access to green spaces. The researchers found that areas with higher Black and Hispanic populations often have fewer parks, open spaces, or natural areas.



The unequal distribution of green spaces creates barriers for children in these neighborhoods to engage in outdoor activities, impacting their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-screen-time-changes-the-brain-based-on-23-years-of-research/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health and well-being</a>.



The researchers explored why some community programs show varying success across racial and ethnic groups. 



"National research shows racial and ethnic inequities in green space availability. These unfair differences in green space access might explain why community programs and policies are less effective in reducing screen time among different racial groups," said Lang.



The findings emphasize the importance of creating equitable, supportive environments. Merely increasing program intensity won't solve the issue without addressing environmental barriers.



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



The study suggests that improving access to green spaces could bolster the success of these programs. 



Initiatives like the 10-Minute Walk Program - which aims to ensure access to quality parks within a 10-minute walk for all U.S. residents - offer promising solutions.



"Our findings provide evidence-based support for initiatives to address inequities in green space access and promote healthier communities," noted Lang.



This research adds to a growing body of evidence that shows how unequal access to green spaces <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-screen-time-affect-preteens-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">affects health</a>. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-equitable-access-to-green-spaces">Equitable access to green spaces </h2>



Communities with fewer parks or outdoor areas often see poorer health outcomes, including higher rates of screen time among children. Green spaces encourage physical activity, which can reduce reliance on screens and improve overall well-being.



The study emphasizes the need for targeted action by policymakers, urban planners, and community organizations to address these inequities. By investing in equitable access to green spaces, such as parks and recreational areas, we can create environments that support healthier habits for children. 



This approach of increasing access to green spaces not only promotes physical activity but also strengthens the effectiveness of community programs aimed at reducing screen time. 



Addressing these disparities ensures that all children, regardless of their neighborhood or background, have the opportunity to lead healthier lives.



The research was supported by the&nbsp;National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute&nbsp;and other NIH organizations. Co-authors included experts from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umich.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://sc.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of South Carolina</a>, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ku.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Kansas</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1353829224001692?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Health &amp; Place</a>.



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Green spaces are key to reducing kids' screen time

In a fast-paced, digitized world, excessive screen time among children...

Could you spare just one hour a week to improve your health and happiness? This small commitment could slow your biological aging while enhancing your mental health. It might even help you live longer and enjoy life more. The best part? All you need to do is volunteer.



A recent study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine reveals a fascinating link: volunteering for as little as one hour each week is associated with slower biological aging.



“Volunteering is more than a good deed; it’s an investment in your own well-being,” explained study lead author Dr. Susan Harris, a sociologist at the University of Michigan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-biological-aging">What is biological aging?</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discrimination-speeds-up-aging-molecular-level/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Biological aging</a> measures how well your cells and tissues function compared to your actual age. 



While your chronological age ticks forward predictably, your biological age reflects the wear and tear your body has endured. Lifestyle choices, environment, and stress play significant roles.



Researchers commonly assess biological aging using epigenetic testing, which analyzes changes in DNA expression influenced by behavior and surroundings. The study highlights that volunteering could be one such behavior that slows the clock on your cells.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-volunteering-slow-aging">How does volunteering slow aging?</h2>



Volunteering has a unique ability to improve physical, social, and psychological health - all of which contribute to slower aging.



Physical activities involved in helping others - such as walking - keep your body active. In addition, social connections are often built and strengthened through volunteering.



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/older-adults-make-decisions-and-take-risks-just-like-young-people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humans</a> are wired for connectedness,” said Dr. Harris. “Volunteering provides that connection while buffering against stress, depression, and loneliness.” 



These benefits create a ripple effect, boosting cognitive function, mental resilience, and overall well-being.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-volunteering-as-a-family">Volunteering as a family</h2>



Volunteering doesn’t have to be a solo mission. When families come together to serve, everyone wins. Children learn compassion, patience, and gratitude, while parents model values that words alone can’t teach.



“Family volunteering strengthens bonds and creates shared traditions. It’s an opportunity to instill lifelong values in children,” said Dr. Harris.



Nonprofits benefit tremendously from family volunteers. These organizations often lack the resources to fulfill their missions without community support. By uniting for a cause, families amplify their impact while creating meaningful experiences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-your-cause">Finding your cause</h2>



If you’re considering volunteering, start with what resonates most with you and your family. Ask yourself these questions:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>What issues are you passionate about?</li>



<li>How old are your children, and what activities suit their abilities?</li>



<li>How often can you commit time?</li>



<li>What skills or talents can your family offer?</li>
</ul>



From helping the homeless to supporting the elderly, opportunities abound. For example, about 3.5 million people in the U.S. experience homelessness annually, and 40% are children. You can donate toiletries, collect school supplies, or provide transportation.



Alternatively, consider aiding the elderly, who often need companionship and assistance. Deliver meals, rake leaves, or simply listen to their stories. Even small gestures, like clearing snow from a neighbor’s car, can make a difference.



Children in homeless shelters also benefit from kindness. Volunteer to read, organize craft sessions, or teach skills like music or computer literacy. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-getting-started-resources-to-help">Getting started: Resources to help</h2>



Ready to take the plunge? Several organizations can help you find the right fit for your skills and schedule:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.volunteermatch.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VolunteerMatch</a>: Search for opportunities by location and interest.</li>



<li><a href="https://kidsthatdogood.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kids That Do Good</a>: Tailored for families, this platform connects you with charities and projects.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.doinggoodtogether.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Doing Good Together</a>: Focused on family-oriented volunteering, this group offers tips and local partnerships.</li>
</ol>



These resources ensure you can match your interests with meaningful ways to give back.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-volunteering">Benefits of volunteering </h2>



The benefits of volunteering extend beyond the individual to create a ripple effect throughout communities. 



For parents, it’s an opportunity to bond with children while instilling essential values. For children, it’s a chance to learn empathy and responsibility. And for the people you help? Your time and effort can transform lives.



The team from the <a href="https://www.umich.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Michigan</a> believes that volunteering is a cornerstone of healthy aging and thriving communities. 



“When you give to others, you receive much more in return - health, happiness, and a deeper connection to the world around you,” noted Dr. Harris.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boosting-healthy-aging-through-volunteering">Boosting healthy aging through volunteering</h2>



The science behind volunteering highlights its profound impact on physical, mental, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/public-perception-of-old-age-has-shifted-to-later-in-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social well-being</a>. 



As research continues to explore this connection, one thing is clear: the act of helping others enriches both the giver and the receiver.



The next time you consider how to spend your time, think about volunteering. It’s a simple way to invest in your health, happiness, and community. Who wouldn’t want to add life to their years while making the world a better place?



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953624009559?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Social Science and Medicine</a>.



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Volunteering for just one hour a week slows aging

Could you spare just one hour a week to improve...

In our vast oceans and water bodies, an intricate ecological dance unfolds beneath the surface, guided in part by light-detecting molecules called phytochromes. 



These remarkable sensors are found in the bodies of tiny phytoplankton, and enable them to adapt and thrive in dynamic aquatic environments.



Phytoplankton are the backbone of marine food chains. They play a critical role in regulating our planet's climate by absorbing atmospheric CO2 and producing half of the world's oxygen through photosynthesis.



Despite their immense importance, the mechanisms behind the distribution and behavior of phytoplankton remain a scientific mystery that sparks ongoing curiosity and research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diatoms-with-built-in-light-detection">Diatoms with built-in light detection </h2>



In a joint effort, scientists from <a href="https://www.cnrs.fr/fr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNRS</a> and <a href="https://www.sorbonne-universite.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sorbonne University</a> set out to investigate the movements of these microscopic organisms in the water column. The focus was primarily on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tiny-plankton-play-a-big-role-in-the-global-carbon-cycle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diatoms</a>, a major group of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-heatwaves-have-complex-effects-on-phytoplankton-food-web/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phytoplankton</a>.



Through rigorous research, the experts discovered that diatoms have a built-in light detection system, comprising sensors that are encoded directly into their genomes. 



The light-sensitive pigments, known as phytochromes, are essentially microscopic "eyes" that allow diatoms to perceive changes in the light spectrum present at different depths of water. This provides the diatoms with data about their vertical position in the water column.



Knowing whether you are shallow or deep in the water becomes incredibly useful, especially in turbulent water bodies like the high latitude, temperate, and polar regions that witness intense <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atlantic-and-arctic-mixing-is-crucial-for-earths-climate-stability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">water mixing</a>.



By interpreting the information relayed by phytochromes, diatoms adjust their photosynthetic activity, and thus, survive and thrive.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-timekeepers-of-the-aquatic-world">Tiny timekeepers of the aquatic world</h2>



The researchers took their study a step further by scrutinizing environmental genomic data gathered from marine sampling expeditions. They observed an intriguing pattern: phytochromes were solely present in diatoms from zones outside the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.



These regions are marked by notable differences in day length, highlighting a strong sense of seasonality.



The presence of phytochromes in diatoms from these latitudes suggests that the light sensors may also double as biological clocks, helping diatoms measure the passage of time translating into seasons.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-insights-into-phytoplankton-behavior">Critical insights into phytoplankton behavior</h2>



The research, published in the journal Nature, provides a fresh perspective on how phytoplankton, specifically diatoms, perceive and react to light in order to navigate their surroundings.



Probing into the secrets of phytoplankton behavior and their adaptive mechanisms doesn't just feed scientific curiosity - it holds the potential to profoundly enhance our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-and-habitat-degradation-have-devastated-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine ecosystems</a> and the complex dynamics that govern them.



As our environments continue to change, such insights could prove invaluable in preserving the ecological balance of aquatic ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phytochromes-beyond-light-detection">Phytochromes: Beyond light detection</h2>



While the role of phytochromes in light detection is remarkable, their functionality may extend beyond navigation and adaptation to light conditions. 



Emerging research suggests that these molecular sensors could influence the efficiency of photosynthesis in diatoms. 



By detecting subtle changes in the light spectrum around diatoms, phytochromes may help optimize the energy conversion process, allowing diatoms to make the most of varying light availability in their environment.



This adaptive advantage is particularly significant in turbulent waters, where light intensity and quality shift rapidly. 



Diatoms equipped with phytochromes are better positioned to compete for resources, which ensures their survival and their ability to sequester carbon and produce oxygen. 



Understanding how phytochromes contribute to these processes could unlock innovative approaches to mitigating climate change. For example, experts could potentially harness phytoplankton's natural abilities to absorb atmospheric CO2.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-global-importance-of-phytoplankton">The global importance of phytoplankton</h2>



Phytoplankton may be microscopic, but their impact extends across the entire planet. These tiny organisms form the foundation of the marine food webs that support everything from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zooplankton-are-rapidly-escalating-the-threat-of-nanoplastics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">zooplankton</a> to the largest whales.



Beyond their ecological role, they are also crucial to Earth's climate system. By absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, phytoplankton act as a natural buffer against global warming, and help to regulate atmospheric CO2 levels.



However, this delicate balance is increasingly under threat. Climate change, pollution, and ocean acidification are altering marine environments, and disrupting phytoplankton populations along with the ecosystems they support.



Research into the adaptive mechanisms of phytoplankton highlights the urgency of preserving the health of our oceans. Protecting phytoplankton is not just about saving marine life - it’s about safeguarding the stability of our planet's climate and resources for future generations.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08301-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



Image Credit: John Dolan/CNRS Images



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Light-detecting molecules guide diatoms through turbulent waters

In our vast oceans and water bodies, an intricate ecological...

Tiny microplastic particles that shed from everyday products like clothing, packaging, and other plastics are ending up in the fish people eat, according to new research conducted by Portland State University (PSU). 



The study highlights the need for strategies and technologies to curb microfiber pollution entering the environment and, ultimately, the human food chain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seafood-contaminated-with-microplastics-nbsp">Seafood contaminated with microplastics&nbsp;</h2>



Previously, <a href="https://www.pdx.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland State University</a>’s Applied Coastal Ecology Lab - led by Elise Granek, professor of environmental science and management - investigated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-are-steadily-increasing-in-freshwater-environments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microplastics</a> in bivalves like Pacific oysters and razor clams.&nbsp;



Building on these findings, the researchers turned their attention to commonly consumed finfish and crustaceans.



Summer Traylor, who finished her master’s in environmental management in 2022, led the project with support from undergraduate environmental science major Marilyn Duncan, a 2024 graduate.&nbsp;



They aimed to explore microplastic contamination in Oregon finfish and shellfish, examine differences across trophic levels, and understand how contamination might vary between fish acquired directly from research fishing vessels versus those from supermarkets and seafood vendors.&nbsp;



Traylor’s work later helped her secure a position with the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA), while Duncan plans to pursue microplastics research in graduate school.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-microplastics-in-seafood-species">Identifying microplastics in seafood species</h2>



The research team focused on six species of economic or cultural importance in Oregon: black rockfish, lingcod, Chinook salmon, Pacific herring, Pacific lamprey, and pink <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrimp-crisis-alarming-virus-threatens-global-seafood-supplies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shrimp</a>. They evaluated the amount of anthropogenic particles - materials produced or modified by humans - found in the edible tissues of these species.



In collaboration with Susanne Brander, an ecotoxicologist and associate professor in Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, the researchers confirmed a subset of suspected microplastics.&nbsp;



The study, published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2024.1469995" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Toxicology</a>, reported 1,806 suspected particles across 180 of 182 individual samples. Fibers dominated the findings, followed by fragments and films.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-smaller-species-have-higher-contamination-levels">Smaller species have higher contamination levels</h2>



Among the species tested, pink shrimp, which filter-feed close to the water’s surface, displayed the highest concentrations of particles in their edible tissues. Chinook salmon registered the lowest, with black rockfish and lingcod falling somewhere in the middle.



“We found that the smaller organisms that we sampled seem to be ingesting more anthropogenic, non-nutritious particles,” Granek said.&nbsp;



“Shrimp and small fish, like herring, are eating smaller food items like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/zooplankton-poop-can-be-used-to-store-carbon-in-the-deep-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">zooplankton</a>. Other studies have found high concentrations of plastics in the area in which zooplankton accumulate and these anthropogenic particles may resemble zooplankton and thus be taken up for animals that feed on zooplankton.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microplastic-contamination-in-processed-fish">Microplastic contamination in processed fish</h2>



Although the researchers initially believed that handling and packaging fish might introduce additional microplastics, their findings varied among the species.&nbsp;



The experts rinsed off fillets and shrimp to simulate typical home preparation, suggesting that in certain cases, external contaminants on the surface may be washed away before cooking.&nbsp;



Even so, the study provides clear evidence of widespread microplastic contamination within the tissues of Oregon’s marine and freshwater species.



“It’s very concerning that microfibers appear to move from the gut into other tissues such as muscle,” Brander said. “This has wide implications for other organisms, potentially including humans too.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microplastics-are-widespread-in-the-environment-nbsp">Microplastics are widespread in the environment&nbsp;</h2>



The results signal the need for further research on how these particles move into muscle tissue, which humans consume, and on policy actions to regulate anthropogenic particles.&nbsp;



“This project established critical baseline data for West Coast fisheries stakeholders and highlighted how much we still do not know about these pervasive microplastic pollutants,” Traylor noted. Now a NOAA Corps Officer, she is continuing to gather baseline microplastic data in the Gulf of Mexico.



Granek cautions against avoiding seafood altogether, reminding people that microplastics permeate many parts of our environment.&nbsp;



“If we are disposing of and utilizing products that release microplastics, those microplastics make their way into the environment, and are taken up by things we eat,” she said. “What we put out into the environment ends up back on our plates.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-solutions-for-safer-seafood">Finding solutions for safer seafood</h2>



In response to these findings, Granek’s lab is increasingly working toward finding viable solutions.&nbsp;



“We’re continuing to do work to understand the effects of anthropogenic particles on animals, but we’re also moving into experimental work to test what are effective solutions to reduce microplastics entering <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-and-habitat-degradation-have-devastated-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine ecosystems</a>,” she explained.



Granek leads a $1.9 million NOAA-funded project exploring cost-effective filtration solutions for washing machines, dishwashers, and clothes dryers.&nbsp;



Another project, supported by Oregon Sea Grant, will install six catch basin filters in stormwater drains in two coastal towns. These filters aim to reduce road runoff before it flows into waterways. Brander’s lab collaborates on both projects, further illustrating the collective effort to confront microplastic pollution.



As evidenced by this study, microplastics in marine species have broader environmental and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-marine-protected-areas-boost-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">human health</a> implications.&nbsp;



By continuing to research contamination levels, understanding the biological pathways of microplastics, and developing practical solutions, scientists hope to protect marine ecosystems and ensure that the seafood reaching dinner tables is safer for everyone.



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If you eat fish or any kind of seafood, you are likely eating microplastics

Tiny microplastic particles that shed from everyday products like clothing,...

When a new species enters an ecosystem, it might establish itself successfully or fail to gain a foothold. Researchers at MIT have recently devised a formula to predict these outcomes. The research is based on extensive modeling and laboratory experiments with soil bacteria. 



The findings, which could apply to ecosystems ranging from forests to the human gut microbiome, offer valuable insights into the dynamics of species interactions and potential applications in medicine and environmental science.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mechanics-of-species-invasions">Mechanics of species invasions</h2>



<a href="https://www.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a> physicists, led by Jeff Gore, a professor of physics, analyzed hundreds of experimental scenarios to determine the factors that influence whether an introduced species succeeds.&nbsp;



The team’s formula, grounded in their research on bacterial communities, could have implications for understanding natural ecosystems, improving probiotics, or enhancing treatments like fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).



“People eat a lot of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/probiotics-help-overweight-dogs-shed-pounds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">probiotics</a>, but many of them can never invade our gut microbiome at all, because if you introduce it, it does not necessarily mean that it can grow and colonize and benefit your health,” noted study lead author Jiliang Hu, a PhD student at MIT.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experimenting-with-bacterial-communities">Experimenting with bacterial communities</h2>



The researchers studied over 400 soil bacterial communities, each comprising 12 to 20 species native to soil around MIT. They introduced a new bacterial species into each community and monitored the outcomes over 12 days.&nbsp;



By sequencing bacterial genomes, the team assessed whether the invader had successfully established itself.



To further understand the role of environmental factors, the team varied the nutrient levels in the bacteria’s culture medium. High nutrient levels often led to intense species interactions, such as competition for food or inhibition through mechanisms like pH-mediated cross-toxin effects.



The researchers observed two types of community behavior: stable populations, where species numbers remained constant, and fluctuating populations, where species abundance varied over time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-factors-in-successful-species-invasions-nbsp">Key factors in successful species invasions&nbsp;</h2>



The study revealed that fluctuations in population size were a critical determinant of invasion success. Communities with higher levels of fluctuation were more diverse and more prone to successful invasions.&nbsp;



“The fluctuation is not driven by changes in the environment, but it is internal fluctuation driven by the species interaction,” Hu explained. “And what we found is that the fluctuating communities are more readily invaded and also more diverse than the stable ones.”



In stable communities with less diversity and stronger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-evolution-was-shaped-by-competition-not-just-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interspecies competition</a>, invaders were less likely to succeed. In fluctuating ecosystems, however, the invader sometimes coexisted with the original species, albeit in smaller numbers. In other cases, the invader outcompeted and replaced certain resident species.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-species-interactions-and-the-survival-fraction-nbsp">Species interactions and the “survival fraction”&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers identified a factor they call the “survival fraction” - the proportion of the original species that remain after an invasion - as a reliable predictor of invasion success.&nbsp;



In natural ecosystems, this survival fraction could be approximated by comparing local diversity (species in a specific area) to regional diversity (species in a broader region).



Another important finding was the influence of the order in which species arrive in an ecosystem.&nbsp;



When species interactions were strong, the likelihood of an invader succeeding decreased if it was introduced later. However, when interactions were weaker, the arrival order had little impact, and communities reached similar equilibrium states regardless.



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



The researchers plan to apply their formula to larger ecosystems and explore its relevance to the human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gut-bacteria-have-very-clever-ways-of-supporting-human-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gut microbiome</a>. For example, the formula could help predict the success of probiotics or FMT treatments for infections like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-hospital-infections-have-a-mysterious-trigger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">C. difficile</a>.&nbsp;



“Invasions can be harmful or can be good depending on the context,” Hu noted. “In some cases, like probiotics, or FMT to treat C. difficile infection, we want the healthy species to invade successfully.”



In agriculture, the formula could guide efforts to introduce beneficial microbes into soil to enhance plant growth or protect crops from pathogens.&nbsp;



Similarly, it could inform conservation strategies by predicting how ecosystems might respond to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/growing-threat-of-invasive-species-requires-immediate-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">invasive species</a> or restoration efforts.



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



Future studies will test whether the local-to-regional diversity ratio can predict invasion success in ecosystems where diversity data is available.&nbsp;



The team also aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms that drive the observed population fluctuations and how these dynamics apply across various ecological contexts.



This study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-024-02618-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Ecology and Evolution</a>, sheds light on the complex interplay of species interactions, diversity, and environmental factors in shaping the outcomes of biological invasions, with potential applications spanning environmental conservation, agriculture, and human health.



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Ecosystem attack: Predicting the success of species invasions

When a new species enters an ecosystem, it might establish...

Something strange is happening in Earth's magnetic field, and it has caught NASA's attention. A massive region of lower magnetic intensity, known as the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), has appeared above our planet.



This dent in Earth's magnetic field, or "space pothole," stretches from South America to southwest Africa. The mysterious anomaly has puzzled scientists for years.



But <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/earth/earth-magnetic-field/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>, with its fleet of satellites and spacecraft, is perhaps the most invested observer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-earth-s-magnetic-field">Importance of Earth's magnetic field</h2>



Earth's magnetic field is like an invisible shield that surrounds our planet, generated by the movement of molten metal in Earth's outer core. This movement creates electric currents, which in turn produce a magnetic field. 



The field has two main poles - north and south - just like a magnet, and it stretches far into space. It’s not just a cool scientific feature; it plays a huge role in protecting us from harmful solar radiation. 



Without it, the solar wind (a stream of charged particles from the sun) could strip away our atmosphere and make Earth much less hospitable for life.



The magnetic field also helps animals navigate. Many species, like birds and sea turtles, use it as a kind of natural GPS system to travel long distances. 



Additionally, Earth's magnetic field is crucial for technology. It helps guide everything from compasses to spacecraft and even plays a role in how satellites orbit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effects-of-the-south-atlantic-anomaly">Effects of the South Atlantic Anomaly </h2>



NASA's interest in the South Atlantic Anomaly is not just academic curiosity. The anomaly represents a tangible risk to their space-bound technology.



As satellites and spacecraft traverse this region while orbiting the Earth, they are exposed to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=weakened%20magnetic%20field&amp;start=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weakened magnetic field</a> within the anomaly.



The reduced field strength allows charged particles from the Sun to assault the vehicles, potentially causing technological systems onboard to malfunction or even short-circuit.



These unexpected high-energy proton strikes typically result in minor glitches. However, they can also cause significant data loss or irreparable damage to key components. 



As a result, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-first-greenhouse-gas-detecting-satellite-is-now-in-orbit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">satellite</a> operators are compelled to shut down spacecraft systems routinely when they are about to enter the anomaly zone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sources-of-earth-s-magnetic-field">Sources of Earth's magnetic field </h2>



This anomaly also presents a fantastic opportunity to investigate a complex and hard-to-understand phenomenon.



Terry Sabaka, a geophysicist from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, explained: "The magnetic field is actually a superposition of fields from many current sources."



Deemed the primary source, a churning ocean of molten iron in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-outer-core-is-its-largest-carbon-reservoir/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's outer core</a> generates electric currents that create Earth's magnetic field. 



This formation, however, isn't uniform. It's disturbed by a massive dense rock reservoir known as the African Large Low Shear Velocity Province, located about 2,900 kilometers below the African continent.



This disturbance, combined with the tilt of our planet's magnetic axis, results in the dramatic weakening effect observed in the South Atlantic Anomaly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-evolving-dent-in-earth-s-magnetic-field">The evolving dent in Earth's magnetic field</h2>



Despite the wealth of insight scientists have gathered, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/the-south-atlantic-anomaly-is-evolving/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SAA</a> and its implications remain largely misunderstood. Yet, experts continue to discover new information about this vast magnetic oddity.



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="MLiGoiAfTm-4184834-12187" type="single"]</div>



Research led by NASA heliophysicist Ashley Greeley in 2016 revealed that the South Atlantic Anomaly isn't stagnant; it's drifting slowly. This drift was confirmed through subsequent tracking from CubeSats in a 2021 study.



Moreover, the anomaly seems to be splitting into two distinct cells, each representing a separate center of minimum magnetic intensity within the greater anomaly. The implications of this division, however, remain unknown.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-and-future-impacts">Historical and future impacts</h2>



Contrary to what one might expect, the South Atlantic Anomaly isn't a new phenomenon.



A study published in July 2020 suggested this to be a recurrent magnetic event, potentially present as far back as 11 million years.



This finding contradicts the idea that the SAA could be a precursor to the entire planet's magnetic field flipping - an event that occurs every few hundred thousand years.



Another recent study found that the South Atlantic Anomaly also impacts Earth's auroras. Despite these advances, many questions about the SAA remain unanswered.



However, with an entity like NASA dedicating resources to monitor the anomaly, we can expect more revelations.



"Even though the SAA is slow-moving, it is going through some change in morphology, so it's also important that we keep observing it by having continued missions. Because that's what helps us make models and predictions," said Sabaka.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-magnetic-field-fluctuations-and-life-on-earth">Magnetic field fluctuations and life on Earth</h2>



Earth's magnetic field serves as a critical shield, protecting the planet from harmful solar radiation and charged particles from space. 



The South Atlantic Anomaly represents a weak point in this protective barrier, allowing higher levels of solar and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakthrough-surges-of-cosmic-radiation-from-space-directly-linked-to-earthquakes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cosmic radiation</a> to reach closer to Earth's surface. 



While this poses minimal risk to life on the ground, it creates challenges for technology in orbit, such as satellites and the International Space Station.



Ongoing changes in the magnetic field, like those seen in the South Atlantic Anomaly, could offer new insights into the processes occurring deep within Earth's core.



These observations not only help refine predictive models but also improve our understanding of how magnetic field fluctuations have influenced Earth's climate and life throughout history.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center



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Earth’s magnetic field has a dent, and NASA is watching closely

Something strange is happening in Earth's magnetic field, and it...

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a rapidly growing problem. Each year, the world generates approximately 50 million tons of this type of waste.



It's alarming to note that only 20% of e-waste is recycled, while the rest finds its way to landfills or incineration - both of which contribute to environmental pollution.



However, scientists have found a shining opportunity amid this grim reality, proving that every cloud truly has a silver (or gold) lining.



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



As technology advances quickly, people upgrade their gadgets, leaving behind old devices that often end up in landfills. 



Unfortunately, e-waste can be <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/electronic-waste-is-growing-five-times-faster-than-recycling/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">harmful to the environment</a> because many electronic items contain hazardous materials, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. 



These toxic substances can leach into the soil and water, polluting ecosystems and posing health risks to both humans and wildlife.



Many parts of electronic devices, like metals, plastics, and glass, can be reused in the manufacturing of new products. Proper recycling of e-waste not only helps reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-day-of-zero-waste-a-global-commitment-to-a-sustainable-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental pollution</a> but also conserves valuable resources.



However, recycling e-waste requires specialized processes to safely extract these materials, and not all recycling centers are equipped to handle it.



Scientists are hoping that this new discovery will make the recycling process much more profitable for centers, encouraging more of them to help the world tackle this e-waste problem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transforming-e-waste-into-gold">Transforming e-waste into gold</h2>



The idea of extracting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supergiant-gold-deposit-find-claims-to-be-the-worlds-largest-discovery-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gold</a> from electronic waste is not new. It is estimated that a ton of electronic waste contains at least 10 times more gold than a ton of regular ore from which gold is mined.



But the devil is in the detail, or in this case, in the gold extraction process. Traditional techniques involve using harsh toxins like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cyanide-may-have-contributed-to-the-emergence-of-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cyanide</a>, which pose major environmental risks.



Yet, scientists at the <a href="https://cals.cornell.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell</a> have devised an ingenious solution that is eco-friendly and doubly beneficial.



The new method does not just extract gold from e-waste, it also uses the precious metal to convert carbon dioxide (CO2), a key greenhouse gas, into useful chemicals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extracting-gold-with-precision">Extracting gold with precision </h2>



The research, led by postdoc researcher Amin Zadehnazari, is rooted in the creation of vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks (VCOFs).



These VCOFs are designed to pick out gold ions and nanoparticles from the intricate circuit boards found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-e-waste-millions-of-tons-discarded-in-the-us-each-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discarded electronic devices</a>, and they do so with remarkable precision and efficiency.



One of the VCOFs was found to capture a whopping 99.9% of the gold, leaving behind other metals like nickel and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/copper-industry-of-king-solomons-era-didnt-harm-the-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">copper</a>.



“We can then use the gold-loaded COFs to convert CO2 into useful chemicals,” noted Zadehnazari. “By transforming &nbsp;CO2 into value-added materials, we not only reduce waste disposal demands, we also provide both environmental and practical benefits. It’s kind of a win-win for the environment.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-a-greener-future">Building a greener future</h2>



The unique properties of the VCOFs lie in their building blocks - tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and tetraphenylethylene (TPE). 



Tetrathiafulvalene is rich in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sulfur-may-have-played-key-role-origin-of-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sulfur</a>, which makes it a natural magnet for gold. TTF also demonstrated an amazing endurance, withstanding 16 washings and reuses without showing significant loss of adsorption efficiency.



Another fascinating aspect of this method is its ability to convert CO2 into organic matter under ambient CO2 pressure at 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), a result of carboxylation.



This process doubles the benefit of the technique, as it is not just extracting precious metal but also reducing the levels of a potent greenhouse gas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-selectively-capturing-gold-from-e-waste">Selectively capturing gold from e-waste </h2>



Study co-author Alireza Abbaspourrad, a professor of food chemistry and ingredient technology, emphasized the importance of this selective recovery.



“Knowing how much gold and other precious metals go into these types of electronics devices, being able to recover them in a way where you can selectively capture the metal you want - in this case, gold - is very important,” said Abbaspourrad.



As we face a future burdened with 80 million metric tons of e-waste by 2030, it has become more crucial than ever to find sustainable ways of dealing with this issue.



The method developed by the Cornell team provides us with a glimmer of hope - a vision of a future where waste becomes wealth, and where our technological habits serve nature rather than harm it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-growing-challenge-of-e-waste">The growing challenge of e-waste</h2>



E-waste is more than just an environmental problem; it’s a global crisis. Rapid technological advances and shorter product lifespans have fueled an unprecedented rise in discarded electronics.



Most of the waste comes from high-income countries, but its disposal disproportionately affects lower-income countries, where lax regulations result in unsafe recycling practices.



E-waste is manually dismantled in informal sectors in many regions, often exposing workers to hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and brominated flame retardants. 



These toxic chemicals not only harm human health but also leach into soil and water, posing long-term ecological risks.



The new VCOF technology developed at Cornell is a critical step forward in addressing the growing challenges of e-waste.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55156-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Electronic waste can literally be turned into gold with new recycling process

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a rapidly growing problem. Each...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



-----



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



The full study was published in the journal Current Biology.



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The environmental problem we actually solved

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

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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What to plant in your garden in mid-July

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

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

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



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



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
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Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

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

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



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



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



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



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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



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

How does salt makes things taste better?

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

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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Santiago, Chile in South America

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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



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

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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



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

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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

Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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



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

Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

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

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